Via My Anime List.
My, that was certainly fast, we’re only going into the third episode and it’s already picked up. The current plan is to offer subbed episodes for free on their various streaming partners, including the ever-present Youtube. They’ll also be offering a high quality download of the episodes for $1.99 a pop. Click after the break to see my opinion.
Personally, I think this is a brilliant move and a real step toward restructuring the NA anime industry. It’s not the best series in the world to start with (but it’s Gainax, likely why it happened). But we’ve been crying for years about high priced DVDs and incredible turn-around times on releasing anime Stateside. Funimation’s going to offer it to us quickly and cheaply, exactly how we all like it. And yet, what I find absolutely amazing is that people are crying over fansubbers dropping the series now. Well, I guess it’s not that amazing, considering what hypocrites we tend to be. Seriously, you don’t always get to have your cake and eat it too, and this is far superior to the alternative of licensing it and not having a thing out for three months.
But what are your views on the aquisition and plan? Do you think this is the wave of a the future, or just another patch on the sinking Region-1 market ship?
CJ
Crisu
Rakuen
Dave
ladytemeraire
I’d like this to be the wave of the future for the R1 market. We’ve always complained about the time it takes for new Japanese shows to come out in America. While a two or three week delay isn’t a simultaneous release, it’s better than we’re used to.
But I’m already seeing people complaining online about the video quality that the streaming services offer. I don’t know how much of an impact this will make, to be honest. I think that some percentage of fansub watchers simply will not pay for anime, no matter what.
Hopefully there are enough anime fans worldwide that can and will pay to keep the Japanese industry afloat — otherwise, we’ll all have to start looking for another hobby.
I really hadn’t had much interest in Shikabane Hime. If it had been licensed under the traditional model, I doubt I ever would have given it a though. The novelty of this model ensures I’ll take a look at the YouTube or Joost stream… who knows, maybe it will net Funimation a sale?
As it was said on another forum, HD didn’t make SD look bad, it just looks better. Looking at a video I just saved off of Youtube, it’s encoded at 1037 kbps at 480×360. I don’t know exactly how high a quality it’s capable of, but it looks fine, it’s just small.