December 07, 2004
DON'T Ask John
John over at Animenation is a raving otaku.
Period.
In one of his recent "Ask John" columns, he blames anime fans for companies such as Funimation and 4kids, and not so subtly tells us that if we were to all demand our anime in orginal Japanese, there would be little problem with mass editing and story changes.
Give me a friggen break.
I'll agree on some level, those who still insist on buying crap distributed by the likes of 4Kids actually DO contribute to the monster they've become...but the rest of us? Just because a few of us prefer dubs, we are in the wrong and should just shut up when crappy dubbing occurs. If we just watched the Japanese version, there'd be no issue. We "reap what we sow" right John?
How about this? Those stupid otaku who loath dubs so much, why don't they NOT watch them, shut up about them, and let those of us who do like dubs worry about the state of them. That's right, go sit on your tatami, cuddle up with your kotatsu, eat your miso and pocky, and just shut the hell up.
Damn wannabe's...
Anyway...
The entire column started because some Narutard obviously can't read the gazillion threads out there asking "Why hasn't Naruto been licensed" and apparently thinks John is the all seeing, all knowing god of everything in the anime world. News flash newbies, John is an otaku. Run from him. His facts are often just his opinions, which is a common trait of all otaku. Granted, he does have knowledge of many things in anime and manga, but until he's able to seperate opinion from fact, take him with a grain of salt.
As for Naruto, John uses this show as an example of why we shouldn't be buying dubs. I mean, Naruto is so hugely popular here in the US already, exactly the kind of cash cow companies like 4Kids are looking for. Yes, and we all know those thousands of downloads that happen each week of the new Naruto release are by children ages 5-12...and 4Kids knows it too...that's why they continue to pick up popular shows which the anime community demands to be licenses. (this is sarcasim)
News flash John. 4Kids is a business, and Naruto would make them a huge profit. Admitidly, children will enjoy this show. My son LOVES it. So do his friends. However, 4Kids isn't trolling bit torrent sites trying to find out who's popular and who's not. They're focused on a demographic that pertains to children...young children...not anime fans who download shows via bit torrent or bit tornado or what ever other shareware they have out there. So, exactly how is it our fault when 4Kids goes out there and picks up show such as, One Piece or Naruto? Hmmm? They obviously don't give a damn about the older fans of these shows. You have to look no further than the crap they put on TV and their (until recently) refusal to at least release an uncut Japanese version on DVD.
Oh, and TV edits? Has John even bothered watching CN as of late? Edits are few and far between, my lazy, deluded otaku morons. Certainly, they are there, but Braveheart was edited for TV too, and did you get your panties in a twist over that one? Edits are bound to happen, however, CN has done a great job (specifically AS) and keeping them to a minumum. Did anyone catch the premier episode of Ghost in the Shell? People got all sorts of shot up. Or how about FMA? Anyone see Ed bleeding all over the floor with his leg cut off? I did. A few years ago, that sort of stuff would have never made the cut. Kudos for them for keeping the shows intact the best they can.
Go get some perspective otaku!
As for Naruto. Yes, us fans want it licensed. I want to see a decent dub and perhaps a spot on AS. Apparently, the bidding war is astounding for this show. I have a feeling it will go to a company like Funi, but that's just me. I don't mind, considering Funi has done an excellent job on many of their other projects (some fans just can't let go of the DBZ folly). If I can have an uncut, sub release on DVD, I'll be very happy. Though, I would like to have an uncut, soild dub instead (Getbackers is a good example...excellent dub by ADV).
Some Naruto images, for fun:
(Naruto, the hero)
This guy would scare even Chucky
The villian, Orochimaru...he's pretty scary himself