Today was a slow day at work, so I had some time to mill about the internet. I started looking up various websites to find some release dates from some manga and anime titles I'm collecting. While browsing the forums for info and the like, I ran across a thread stating that Funimation has registered a domaine for Full Metal Alchemist. Of course, being the FMA junkie that I am, I click on it to see what's going on.
I knew what I'd find. A bunch of speculators trying to pass themselves off as "all knowing" and of course, the rampant haters of Funimation. Curiosity killed the cat, as the saying goes....
First of all, there's no official press release, so no one outside of the Funi Suits know what's going on. Until the come out and say, we've got rights to FMA, it's all pure speculation...
Secondly, for all the Funimation bashers...give it a frickin rest already. Get over Dragonball Z and move on. Yes, Funi "hacked" the show up, but they made amends to quiet all you ungrateful bastards and gave you uncut and subtitled...they didn't have to, you know...The money DBZ makes for "older" fans is pure pennies compared to the bonanza it is among young kids. Funi doesn't need your money, they've got the kiddies to support DBZ...therefore they didn't have to give a subtitled, uncut release...Crying out loud...
And another thing...Dragonball isn't the only thing Funi has released...ever see Fruits Basket? It's probably one of the best dub jobs I've ever seen. It's beautiful. Try checking out some other releases before running off on a witch hunt. Half of the Funi haters are only Funi haters because "they've heard" what a bad job Funi does. Try thinking for yourself for once...or maybe that's too hard.
To all the DBZ fans. Grow up. You don't like it, stick to your fan subs and R2's. Am I a DBZ fan? Hell yeah! I love the show, I love Akira Toriyama! I have all the DVD's and movies that have been released! I have the manga too! Funi has gone above and beyond what a company should do to appease fans like you...and yet you're still whining.
It's getting really old.
What would I say to Funi getting FMA? Right on! I'd be estatic! I can't wait for FMA to be released here in the states! At least I'm confident that I'll get an uncut, subversion if Funi holds the license. Same goes for Naruto...
In my opinion, the only people who have a right to cry are fans of Shaman King, Yu-gi-oh, and any other anime 4kids has licensed. I hate those guys...While my 9 year old son enjoys Yu-gi-oh...he hates what they've done to Shaman King (since we've seen the show via fansub). Did I put him up to it...no. I conducted a test...*laughs* My son, being the demographic they target, I kept my mouth shut to see what he would say when he saw the first airing of the show in English. I was pretty surprised when he totally freaked out when they called Manta, "Mortimer"...however, it's not just the name changes that got him freaked...but I'm not going to go on about the cuts made to this show...
Needless to say, we don't buy anything 4kids releases. I'll be disappointed if shows like FMA or Naruto get destroyed by them, but they're a business. They're making money. That's what businesses do. However, I don't have to support them by buying their products, so I don't. Now, if they start putting uncut/subbed releases out, I'll be a happy camper, but I don't forsee that in the future. I've got my fansubs...
I think what bothers me the most about 4Kids and 99.9% of cartoons aimed at kids in the US, is that we take the children for granted. Kids aren't dumb...and we insult them by giving them "dumb" cartoons. To me, stupid shows like Barney, Spongebob, Ed Edd and Eddy are just another sign of American laziness...lets give our kids mindless shows with little or no meaning so we don't have to take the time to explain things to them and then hide behind the excuse that violent cartoons make bad children...That kind of thinking just pisses me off. Lucky for my son, I don't underestimate his intellegence, and I know he's smart enough to understand a cartoon that has a deeper meaning than just mere slapstick and potty jokes.
Do I hate all American Cartoons? Hell no! Slapstick is cool! But only when it's funny...if you get my point. Think Wilie E. and the RoadRunner...THAT is funny slap stick. I grew up on "dumb" cartoons...Jabber Jaw (I liked this one), My Little Ponies, Scooby Doo, Flinstones, Jetsons, etc...However, I was always more facinated with X-men, He-man, etc. Then Transformers came along...I got hooked...But I'm dating myself here. I love other cartoons too, not just Japanese cartoons! Family Guy, Futurama, Grim and Andy, Samurai Jack, Teen Titans, Jackie Chan, Simpsons, King of the Hill, South Park, Sealab, Aqua Teens, etc...I think they're all fantastic! (I even have the box sets of a few of these shows). Does anyone remember "The Tick"? OMG, that was the funniest damn cartoon I've ever seen! WHY did it get taken off the air! I laughed so hard during a couple episodes I cried. I wonder if I can find VHS or DVD's of that show anywhere...it was the best....
I've gone off topic again...Damn...
Anyway, now I'm getting sleepy (another symptom of old age), so I'm calling it quits for tonight. This weekend I might to a manga review...I've got Full Metal Panic in mind, since volume 3 was just incredibly halarious...but we'll see.
Take care!
Posted by Zoso at May 16, 2004 12:39 AM