Discussion Forums > Anime Discussions
Supporting the Anime Industry
EmptyMemory:
Earlier today, I watched a rant by a youtuber known as gigguk. While the entirety of said rant isn't necessarily relevant to the discussion I have in mind, his rant did make me want to question how I support the anime industry. As it stands, I'm mostly happy with the model I use to watch anime: I download fansubbed anime to my computer for free via torrents from BBT, Nyaa, or directly from the fansubber. While I recognize that this is great for me in the short run, I also realize that the anime industry would not be able sustain itself if all of its consumers did the same. Do you think that we, the consumer, should take responsibility by paying for our anime in some form (be it time spent watching advertisements or money to paid services such as crunchyroll), or should the industry take responsibility for their failing business model?
Let's look at crunchyroll (keeping in mind I only spent like 5 minutes researching). Currently, they offer streaming subbed anime at 1080p for C$ 6.95/month. Do I value anime enough to spend $7/mo for it? Obviously, I do, and I'm sure the same can be said for almost everyone with an account on this forum. But the truth of the matter is, the same good is offered for less elsewhere. With that in mind, the only way I would pass $7/mo to crunchyroll is if I valued the continued sustainability of the industry by that full amount, ignoring the value obtained by also being able to use crunchyroll's service (if that made any sense). But since I know crunchyroll is just a middleman for the anime industry, I'd rather pass my $7/mo directly to the producing company instead, since the service crunchyroll is providing is essentially worth nothing (to me), since its competitors (fansubbers) offer the same thing for free.
I'm rambling, but my point is, there needs to be a better way for me to support the anime industry for me to begin forking up my money.
Your thoughts?
Edit: What's a better way for the anime industry to get its overseas fanbase to contribute in a way that adds value to those consumers as well?
ConsiderPhlebas:
Buy a few Japanese DVD or BD that you love. Even if you don't understand any/all of it. That is the very best method of injecting money into new things being done.
Places like amazon.co.jp or cdjapan.co.jp sell and ship almost everywhere.
Ozzaharwood:
I think if the anime industry doesn't care enough about us to try and get the anime into American markets with subtitles, then why should we care about supporting them? Without fansubs, most of us wouldn't be watching anime anyway, because we wouldn't understand it unless we understood Japanese. We'd only be able to watch officially translated subbed or dubbed stuff. And the majority of anime series are not subbed/dubbed officially. Plus, it is no different from watching it airing on TV in Japan anyway. They are making money off the airing of it, and you are just watching those aired episodes that are ripped and subbed and put on the internet.
If you truly feel you should support the industry, do as Phlebas said. Order the BDs off the internet. Buy the translated manga. Buy figures and merchandise.
CappinHoff:
--- Quote from: EmptyMemory on May 17, 2013, 07:19:36 PM ---Earlier today, I watched a rant by a youtuber known as gigguk. While the entirety of said rant isn't necessarily relevant to the discussion I have in mind, his rant did make me want to question how I support the anime industry. As it stands, I'm mostly happy with the model I use to watch anime: I download fansubbed anime to my computer for free via torrents from BBT, Nyaa, or directly from the fansubber. While I recognize that this is great for me in the short run, I also realize that the anime industry would not be able sustain itself if all of its consumers did the same. Do you think that we, the consumer, should take responsibility by paying for our anime in some form (be it time spent watching advertisements or money to paid services such as crunchyroll), or should the industry take responsibility for their failing business model?
Let's look at crunchyroll (keeping in mind I only spent like 5 minutes researching). Currently, they offer streaming subbed anime at 1080p for C$ 6.95/month. Do I value anime enough to spend $7/mo for it? Obviously, I do, and I'm sure the same can be said for almost everyone with an account on this forum. But the truth of the matter is, the same good is offered for less elsewhere. With that in mind, the only way I would pass $7/mo to crunchyroll is if I valued the continued sustainability of the industry by that full amount, ignoring the value obtained by also being able to use crunchyroll's service (if that made any sense). But since I know crunchyroll is just a middleman for the anime industry, I'd rather pass my $7/mo directly to the producing company instead, since the service crunchyroll is providing is essentially worth nothing (to me), since its competitors (fansubbers) offer the same thing for free.
I'm rambling, but my point is, there needs to be a better way for me to support the anime industry for me to begin forking up my money.
Your thoughts?
Edit: What's a better way for the anime industry to get its overseas fanbase to contribute in a way that adds value to those consumers as well?
--- End quote ---
I have to point out that the anime industry in the USA is dying. Not in Japan. With that being said, the only way to boost the anime industry in the USA is to buy more.
--- Quote from: ConsiderPhlebas on May 17, 2013, 07:30:33 PM ---Buy a few Japanese DVD or BD that you love. Even if you don't understand any/all of it. That is the very best method of injecting money into new things being done.
Places like amazon.co.jp or cdjapan.co.jp sell and ship almost everywhere.
--- End quote ---
Buying non subbed/dubbed dvds or mangas isn't helping anime in the USA, and that's what that video was about. Buying the media that they put out for English speaking people is what will help. Anime in the USA is big, but not that big. Aside from a handful of shows that have become mainstream over here, most of the anime isn't. The reason why companies are stopping the production of subbed/dubbed anime for the USA is that it's not being sold. In order for anime to do better here, more anime needs to be bought and more needs to become mainstream to drag in more fans.
ConsiderPhlebas:
I was answering based on "I'd rather pass my $7/mo directly to the producing company instead," which implies OP isn't interested in supporting American licensors, but the people creating the stuff. Of course, anyone that wants to support licensed anime needs to buy Funimation-tachi DVD/BD or subscribe to CR.
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