This marks my first Japanese news post

Japanese animation in danger


It is reported that some 60% of the world's TV cartoons are Japanese productions, including such popular series as "Pokemon" and "Dragonball."

Shuhei Kishimoto, a consulting fellow at the Research Institute of Economy, Trade and Industry, however, expresses serious misgivings about the future of this industry in "Japanese Animation Will Decline If Nothing Is Changed" (Chuo Koron).

Kishimoto exposes the exploitation of the creators of program contents, who work as subcontractors, by the television and movie companies handling the distribution of the finished products.

In order for this content business to develop into a strategic industry, he believes, fair competition must be ensured through application of the Antimonopoly Law, and an environment in which animation producers can raise capital on their own must be brought into being.

According to Kishimoto, the production companies — mostly small businesses — are not told how much the program sponsors are spending for commercials. In the case of a 30-minute animated program for terrestrial TV broadcast, they will be provided only with a budgeted amount in the 8 million yen to 12 million yen range, which is not enough to cover the production cost. They rely on royalties from the sale of related goods and proceeds from overseas distribution to break even.

There are some favorable signs on the horizon, though. The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry is to set up an office to look into fair trade in the media content industry in April, and major commercial banks are considering taking intellectual property into account when extending loans.

But there are many issues still to be addressed, such as the absence of provisions for intellectual property in the Trust Business Law, which is holding back the creation of fund-raising schemes. (Foreign Press Center)

April 27, 2004

Oh no is right. They better get it together otherwise japan will not be able to make money off of the millions of people that love anime. That would be a terrible thing for our economy.

Luckily, I am not the stupid one who loves the anime like hell.

It really doesn't matter because hundreds will buy animation in your place.

I guess you're the only one because we all like anime like heaven

Splendid. Encourage your friends and family to get into it as well.

Cowboy Bebop! Inuyasha!

That's pathetic

I like Japanese animation to a point. Since I don't watch it too often (go Cartoon Network) and when I do I have no clue what's going on storyline-wise.

Once in a while I'll watch Dragonball Z, GT, or whatever... and I always have no idea what's going on in any of the shows.

The one thing I've noticed about the anime shows I see on Cartoon Network: a whole lot of talking and contemplating their next moves.

But the biggest problem I have with Japanese animation is when it takes over American animation. For example: Transformers Armada is inexcusible. Way to make my childhood animation and turn it into total Pokemon-like crap. Although I do like Pokemon, that show makes me laugh I'll admit it. Go Team Rocket.

Way to rant.

ahh maybe people should stop dl anime off the internet and just go buy them

Thats right! If you steal the anime. The artists that worked hard to bring it to you will not get payment for their work. Now tell me is that the right thing to do? Of course not! It is un american.

I always download the anime I want to see from of the internet, too lazy to get up and go to store to buy an anime...

yes... stealing is bad

Not all of us are American, you know.

Anyway, fansubs at least are in that convenient legal limbo of which we can take advantage without fearing serious consequences.

I hate dl movies and stuff so I just go buy them

it was supposed to be

ANYWAYS!!

D/Ling animes are legal only if they are not LICENSED by American companies. If they are licensed by Amiercans companies, then it is considered ILLEGAL and STEALING.

I download anime a LOT and when i mean A LOT i mean.. AA LLLOOTTT both legally AND illegally.

But when it comes down to it, buying them is much better because you get the real quality they were produced in... fansub qualities are great but the animation and presentation is so different when you watch the REAL stuff. :genius:

A lot of japanese animations are excellent...

especially miyazaki works.

anime is realy cool!!!!!!! it has loadsa different styles and its so cool to watch

i hope it doesn't ever go ever.

At anytime.

In the future.

ever

Perhaps you can help the fight if you buy two copies of your favorite japan cartoon. Tell those that you know about how great your favorite show is and not to steal from japanese creators. It is up to you soldier.

Don't think so...

Anime is getting more popular here in The Netherlands every day.

yep yep, that's so true!!! I d/l some anime...and read some online scanlations stuff...but I still buy the real thing when they come out!!!
Let's all support the hard-working artists!!!!!

I'm not heavily into anime but i do d/l some (only unlicensed stuff) and then i buy some like Hellsing boxset for example. I like the legal limbo stuff but i usually go back and buy the DVD of the real thing.

Hi!

I think it's a great problem that many people believe that anime = Dragonball, Pokemon, etc., so the series that you might see on TV every day.

In my opinion, these are very low quality animes (both in drawing and storyline), to feed the 'common'. Only one good point for them: when I was little I really enjoyed them (fighting and stuff, you know), and turned to seek more anime.

Then I got a bit older and saw some real diamondsof anime. If you think anime is Dragonball, I would encourage you to go and watch one of these (these are movies, not series):

- Naushikaa (Sometimes written as Nausicaa, incorrectly) (Kaze no Tani no Naushikaa)
- Mononoke Hime (Princess Mononoke)
- Sen to Chihiro no Kamikakushi (Chihiro)(Spirited Away)

These three are my ever-top animes.

One more suggestion: Never watch an anime dubbed. I'm sorry but English dubs are too numb and out-of-character. Watch once subbed, and second without sub.

Some more quality pieces if you are interested:

- Laputa (Castle in the Sky)
- Hoshi no Koe (Voices of a [distant] Star)
- Whisper of the heart
- My Neighbours the Yamadas
- Perfect Blue

Last thing: I do not want to start a mission or anything, if you like Dragonball or anything be happy with it.

I don't like DBZ. I hate it.

It's like this

Charge up
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

........ next episode....

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH


Just cartoons on steriods who charge up for like 2 episodes before a fight begins.

I love LOVE macross

There are seom good dubs out there. i.e Cowboy Bebop was a good dub. There are other but CB is the best english dub.

It's not legal.

don't like dbz to because all the thing that they are doing ther is screaming and fighting nothing more

and finally someone that agrees with me!

i love's shinzo, card captor sakura!

i think that they are a very good animes ....what do you think?

i can't live without anime!!!!

Blame the dubbers just to say the least.

In the UK, Anime isn't that big anymore. Sure we had 'Spirited Away' recently but I feel that on the whole, the interest is on the decline. Apart from the kidz being hooked, anime just doesn't generate the same sort of interest like before.

One thing anime has did for me is make me be able to draw anime-style characters. I was always amazed in the way the characters were drawn. The fashion those characters wore, some were so cool!

Cowboy Bebop is better in the english dub. It's that guy from Metal Gear Solid who did the voice, and he made that part ROCK!

Everything about it, from the different story sessions, made it look fresh! The music, what can i say, it's awesome!

Cowboy Bebop wasn't just great to watch, it had such deep themes in it. Like you can change your life if you are willing to take the risks and that life is what you make of it.

In danger? With the way they gave a new lease of life to super-old series like DragonBall Z through exporting to other countries, I do not think it is at all possible.

LMAO!! that's Exactly why i hate it too i mean when i was a kid it's was so cool but now.... lol woo that was funny

anyways maybe Japan Animation is in Danger i mean there is about 3 series i see now that are different and all the rest are the same s**t but if they keep making it i'll keep buying/downloading it

humm.. andone ever post japanese pop songs...
i like them and like them anime tooo but japan got a differnt way of thinking bout sex in there country..anime could be porn in america and anime can be kids show in japan right..???

don't get what i mean ..i can't put it any simpler then that also my grammer sux crap..
anyways anyone like j@p music i do i do...
1 good artist i know is T.M.Revolution( guy made some songs fore gundam seed)
also i know this women so sang a song call no way to say or something like that i like hr but belive she had plasic sergtry..
plastic sergty piss me off...... i'll goanna post something bout that...
hey this not chating.... itss.... board posting where the fu-king chating... live CHAT where R U!!!!!

i buy most of my anime and manga. but first i check them out in magazines that i buy with trailers of the first episodes.. yeah it's so horrible for the creaters to work so hard on it and have millions of copies of their work out there that they dont make a cent for even thought they created it.

oh yeah about the DBZ thing... i hate DBZ..kinda stupid i'd say.. someone once said to me "OMFG!! you watch anime and u never saw DBZ!?!?! wat are u new? have u just started watching anime?"...actually i watch anime since i was three.

and also...im ANTI dubbed anime. i prefer original work with pro voice actors instead of some random person who doesn't have a good voice that fit the character well. so annoying to have a voice that doesn't fit the way the character's person itself. ex: yu yu hakusho on cable rite now... it gets on my last nerves.. . *me flipping thro tv and stops at YYH* *waits* *twitches* ^^;;

oh yeah...someone mentioned whisper of the heart as a quality piece...i absolutely agree... it's one of my all time favorites actually. theres something about it thats so appealing. ^^;;

it's sad about how much money i spend on anime/manga/magazines isince they are all related in some way. it's fustrating to have very very cheap fans.. i'd say at least get one set of anime to be supportive. ^__^

I LOOOOVE Japanese animation. Most animaiton looks so adorable(maybe because I'm a girl). Anyhow, before anyone bites my head off, I was reading this article. During the time cartoon networks was awesome, Bugs bunny would say stuff like "damn Japanese this and that" because of the war(pearl harbor) and supposedly Japanese didn't like that so they came up with animations such as POKEMON to get American kids addicted and waste their money on miscellenous things like pokemon dolls and card games... so is it true or japanese animation has always been hynotizing and addicting????

wel i a guy and like anime...maybe it just cuz i a boy... not a guy.. humm i think anime cute some.. but there are some sick anime also..anways i just want to say i belive not just girls like anime but also boys..mybe the gay ones??? crap hope i no gay..well i do like pretty girls.. that .... yea no think i gay... well not until in a few years cuz u never know what gaonn happeennn... :shocked:

well i got something to say.. i would love to want anime like u can but i can't freaking understand japanese over here... and reading the sub is crap... dudbed is the next best thing u can get to anime in animer..or if it was remade maybe it better so stop your craping bout dubed anime..it cool if u don't no jack bout japnese lang. so dissing the dub shows.. i like that YYH it good to watch even if its dub..at least there even anime on tv...

^-- im talking about personally. im not going around bishing about how everyone should just go and burn their dubbed anime am i? and true for at LEAST there is anime on tv.. but they can do so much better.

Yes, un-American, but very ASIAN hehe .. well, maybe not Japanese...

However, you seriously can't expect the majority of Asians (who aren't well off) to buy expensive Anime, software or other copiable things...."stealing" these things mucb easier...try telling China or Vietnam what a IP law is and they'll laugh their heads off.

Looking at the roots of piracy, it started mainly because such big movie studios and recording companies charge telephone number like prices for their products. If prices were prorportionately reasonable to the national GDP per capital, it would not attract so many fakes and copies.

Another consideration is the release of burners, one article suggested that if Sony et al. were so concerned and frustated with piracy, why bother realeasing home CD/DVD burners. Sony's answer? Because it was a very lucrative market, other electronics companies would have started to make them anyway sooner or later and they would cut some box office losses through sales of DVD/CD recordables.

LOL LOL

Hey, I love anime, k and I'm not gay. At least I don't think so.

Seriously, the first point of contact that any kid in the rest of Asia has with Japan is via the anime shown on local tv, which in 9 tims out of 10 is translated into the local language. That's how I started. And so begins a close affinity with all things Japanese in many a kids' life.

While your article brings up some very valid concerns, I don't think this is the case for most anime movies. I think this really only applies to anime shown on T.V. It's odd that animation studios would allow themselves to be put in this position.

Anime is awesome, I hope it's not in danger. Japanese anime beat out the vast majority of American animated movies.

It sad how spik got killded at the end but then he did die like 3 times before.. so sad none go that blue hair girl... what a sad ending but then all good things must come to an end.. and when u said that metel gear guy was he the voice of spik.. that white hair guy was col with his sward.. but they dreaw his face crap.. but i like how he killedpepes spik should have had the sward and the white heair guy shold have a gun when they killed each other..
well...humm thats all i have to comment..
o and also i wonder if anime clotheses will ever be populaurl.. where i live it's baggy pants and shirts.. any types of clothes that is big... will there be a time that anime clothese will be loved by all??

humm i think u shold look it the mirior it'll be less painful and more logical..

humm i understand what u mean...my bad if we got off on the wroung way or anything thing.. its just i just happy of what anime i can find ..the things that piss me off is somone america trys to draw anime and well it suck like crap..for example speed racer... i no dising it or anything but i dislike the show.... i belive its a bad name for anime.. if u like it pleses tell me why u do..

Hmm, this is strange, maybe they should cut certain parts of the productions, that'll save their costs... what I mean is keeping anime in Asia.
So that America's means of getting anime would be through fansub, and Asians would get it through television.

This way, the sponsors pay the animation companies and Americans could say goodbye to copyrited anime.

Besides, who gives a sh!t about dubbed anime??

And also, fansubbing is not illegal, meaning no RIAA bullsh!t can get you into trouble over anime.

In fact to say the truth, I don't watch any anime that's popular in America, meaning Hack//sign, Naruto, Trigun.. etc.. Anything popular in America means I'm not going after it, and there's lots of people like me.

If anything the leechers will only seem like ghosts that watch it, no one knows we do.

As long as production cost is down, anime is still up.
I just hope those producers are smart enough not to import their work.

..............................

true.. some people goes around thinking any "cartoon" with big eyes and blue hair= anime

Some of you are so easily influenced by this. Using a Japanese handle and such. It saddens me to see this.

Indeedy.

OMG IM USING A SPANISH/PORTUGESE/ITALIAN HANDLE!

Haha it does sadden me. Infact a few years ago I realized that anime and other ridiculous forms of popculture can be a very useful tool. However foreign children should be exposed to things from japan at a young age. The possibility for them to develop a fondness for japan should be pretty decent. Either fondness or obsession....