I read The Anime Almanac‘s recent essay with a great interest. Effectively titled “Greg Ayres and the Fight Against Fansubs”, it presents an industry-biased perspective on the massive proliferation of anime fansubs, via the enthusiasm of Greg Ayres, a “hardcore otaku” turned professional English dub actor. Basically, this colourful-looking chap travels to conventions dotted all over North America to preach the ills of downloading anime. According to the essay, one fan of his (called ‘Steve’) even goes so far as to admit that “I just wanted to say that because of your blog on MySpace, I have sworn off of fansubs as my New Years resolution for this year” which is impressive, though a more cynical person would point to the fact that this Steve is already enough of a fan of Ayres to be reading the man’s blog in the first place.
I don’t think he’s preaching to the choir, but at the same time, there doesn’t seem to be enough dialogue with the “hated minority”, as the Anime Almanac hyperbolically puts it. Viewing jpmeyer‘s video of the panel, one senses that there is some intimidation at work, as if Ayres (and by extension, the majority of the crowd) isn’t willing to listen to the speaker’s argument. Instead, as is usually the case with the fansubbing debate online, there is no grey area and no discussion, just white noise. A line is drawn between fans, who then proceed to shout at each other until blue in the face. Ayres is quoted as saying “the biggest wussies will always draw their swords on the internet”, but looking at jpmeyer‘s above video and considering that Ayres‘ insult was itself intended for an online publication, it’s a shame that the opportunity for a potentially important debate is lost within such double standards.
Though I’m not such an ardent supporter of fansubs, I regard the idea of fighting against them today about as useful as a chocolate tea-cup. The moment to fight the fansub movement was 10 years ago, but now, regardless of whatever moral stance you may take, they are here to stay, and the industry has to either compete or die. Asking anime fans to stop watching anime, even if you do it nicely, won’t work.
All hope isn’t lost, but most of all, it relies on the typically slow to react Japanese companies being brave enough to take on responsibility for their industry outside of Japan. Justin Sevakis‘ open letter, published via Anime News Network, is an excellent critique of the current environment, especially in comparison with Greg Ayres‘ old hat rhetoric. There is real hope to be found in GDH (Gonzo), who have the right idea with their free online streaming of Blassreiter and The Tower of Druaga . I just hope it catches on with the other companies too, because I know I’d be more than willing to part with money for subtitled episodes of, to use a current example, Kaiba, if it meant getting to see the latest installments just a few days after they air in Japan.
An unfortunate side-effect of the way anime (and manga, too) distribution seems to going is that it will inevitably spell the end for the middle-men and third-party DVD publishers like Grey Ayres and ADV Films. Unlike a few years ago, expensive English dubs can only be financed for anime series that sell well, while many of the biggest licenses will only go to companies with strong connections in Japan. Back in the mid-90s, ADV were able to stump up the cash for Neon Genesis Evangelion because the US anime industry was still relatively small-fry. In 2006, a series of similar stature in The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya was brought to North America by Kadokawa Pictures USA. The Japanese are taking care of their own businesses now, and that has left the likes of ADV stuck in real turmoil.
Indeed, this is a strange time to be an anime fan. Previously huge anime publishers are dying (or have died already) and the previously unshakable DVD market is falling into a global recession. Everything is changing on an almost monthly basis; magazines fold, series get canceled and people lose their jobs. We’re about to embark on a new era for the anime industry and fighting it is pointless.
I know it’s a fruitless cause to be fighting for, and I’m predicting that the problem will be fixed completely on the Japanese side, which is what we’re seeing from Gonzo. I wish every company was doing what Gonzo is doing, but sadly, that’s not going to happen until the American money stops coming in. Considering the fall of Genoen and ADV, that critical turning point is coming soon, as you said in your write-up.
The purpose of the article was to show that the type of fan who does listen to Ayres does not have that same greedy sense of entitlement that we see in our own little blogging community.
I think we all have a certain stage in our personal fandom history where we respected people like Ayres, and we would do anything to show our support to this medium and industry. However, we all lost this innocence somewhere along the way, and it’s so obvious in the way how we all steal anime and feel no need to pay for it.
In two sentences, you’ve gave form to my feelings.
I’d like to see more discussions on what the industry aims to replace fansubs with. What would happen if everyone stopped downloading fansubs, and the only anime available was what was on TV dubbed or what had been released on DVD?
@Scott: Just by blogging, I think we’re contributing our support to the industry. Every word and article written about anime helps further establish it as a medium and, in the best possible scenario, might even help introduce someone new to this great hobby.
A major issue I have with this debate is simply that it’s old hat. Ayres is bemoaning the lack of DVD sales, yet this isn’t an issue effecting just the anime community, DVDs in every genre aren’t selling as well as they used to. Perhaps it’s just that anime fans aren’t as materialistic as they used to be? They are no longer willing to invest in the mediocre anime released by companies like ADV? It’s a really complex issue, but to blame the fans, for the industry to blame its customers, is an absolute rock bottom. Look at ADV’s catalog of anime, so much of it is complete and utter tripe. The fans just wised up is all; the novelty of owning anime on DVD wore off for John Smith the moment he wasted $100+ on Gad Guard.
Anyway, just wanted to add, I think it’s really cool that you published that article, Scott. It’s opened up a can of worms and though I don’t necessarily agree with your stance, I totally respect you for being brave enough to go against the grain.
@Kabitzin: Hypothetically, if fansubs did suddenly just vanish, the industry would revert to its pre-digisub state. The fan-base for anime would shrink over night and things like anime magazines could well thrive, as those fans that remain would be searching for an alternative means of finding information/previewing series they’re interested in watching. It would boost the US industry, but would cut at least half the number of fans within the community. Kind of ironic how that, while all this industry stuff is happening, anime convention attendances continue to rise.
Random comment from a fan…I know that it doesn’t support the industry, but I second what Kabitzin said. I can’t stand dubs, and the number of industry-released imports is pretty limited. Not only do I prefer subs, but I also like seeing the differences in translation from one subber to the next. I wish there were easier solutions to how to support the artists, but it seems to me that the more industry money and attention a series gets, the crappier it becomes.
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My LiveJournal Post:
http://tyrenol.livejournal.com/113095.html
Nice post. Worth quoting. Will link.
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While I sympathise with Greg’s protesting to keep his livelihood, I’m tired of the industry pretending that fansubbing is an outside force separate from the fanbase. There’s a difference between fansubbing and piracy: I admit that both can have an adverse effect on sales and hence profits, but fansubbers and their ‘customers’ are part of the fanbase itself as opposed to outsiders who are out to first and foremost make money.
In others words, complaining is a waste of time and effort – the fansub community is part of the fan community, for better or for worse; when King Canute tried fighting the tide all he did was get his feet wet.
Fansubs really are here to stay unless a huge (and wasteful) amount of money is pumped into the digital arms race in order to stop distribution. The industry’s best bet is to instead accept their existence and learn how to turn their practices to its own advantage.
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After all arguments though:
I’d rather have Coleen Clinkenbeard, Caitlin Glass, Lucy “Hold On” Christian, Hillary Haas, Monica Rial, and Jamie Marchi tell me not to steal anime than Greg Ayers. Attractive women tend to do more good than oft-looking otaku.
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