Anime Fansub Documentary PART 1

Part one of the THE RISE AND FALL OF ANIME FANSUBS - a documentary I compiled over half a year. Enjoy it, agree with it, or be enraged by it... but you cannot deny the academic points it makes!

...INCIDENTALLY... that opening sequence took bloody ages to make, so do watch it at least fifty times if you can. Thanks. Lol
I think it shows the beautiful things you can do with parallax scrolling (anyone remember the sea in the background of the original Sonic the Hedgehog game?).

• Category

  Education

[Zalis116]

Yes, the DVD subs for Pani Poni Dash that actually translated the dialogue accurately into mostly-natural English (unlike the fansubbers) sure were "terrible." Granted, the signs weren't exact font/color matched, but they did the best they could under the technical limits of the medium, and even included optional notes for puns and references. I hardly see how that justifies scare quotes around "professional."

[Ratchetcomand]

There was bad subbers back in the 90's as well. Anyone remember how terrible Anime Labs was back in the 90's?

[ColonelHarry]

1:45 In France and Italy, the 80's were great. We had Dirty Pair (Dan & Dany), and most of the other animes.

[mp44christos]

actually in some cases they pay translators but thats like the 0.5% or even less... now about crediting their name they dont need to do that they dont own nothing about the video. do you see companies do that? no only after the movie ends as part of the subtitle not as fancy letters bigger that the anime logos. back in 2008 this was common.

[mp44christos]

Actually back in 2008 when this video came out fansubs were plagued with many problems. most of which he mentions in this series. now after 5 years most groups have improved a lot! no one uses karaoke and attack animations anymore (well some OP fansubs do but they need killing, KF i see you :P ), font selection has improved a ton etc... i have to agree though that he bitched for many things that dont need changing.

[almanacofsleep]

Err Gil Sans, Verdana and ubuntu are all very standard and legible typefaces, and would be good examples of a neutral typefaces. If you watch this doc they're obviously not what he is decries as bad subtitling.

[NinjaJedi]

As I have said before There are different types of neutral sans serif typefaces out there. Ubuntu, Verdana, Gill Sans. All subtle and non intrusive while complementing the "feel" of the show.

Helvetica isn't professional, and is just as "offensive" and inauthentic as the standards you yourself set on fansubbers.

I've seen how "professional" subs tackle shows like The Tatami Galaxy, and Pani Poni Dash. I highly doubt it comes close to "the same experience."

[almanacofsleep]

The fact that different typefaces have their own aesthetic qualities would mean that one would have to be careful in choosing a neutral typeface that doesn't distract from whats happening on the screen. Its not laziness, most professional translators do their best to offer their audiences the same experience Japanese audiences had. No flashy typefaces, no special effects and no trying to incorporating text as if it were part of the original artwork because its offensive to the original artists.

[kurosawanoriko]

This idiot wasted months making this useless garbage documentary (read rant) instead of doing something useful with his life. And I wasted my time watching it...oh well.