Criticism of Modern Fansubbing

Posted June 8th, 2008 by Nick

I just watched this documentory titled THE RISE AND FALL OF ANIME FANSUBS. Here you go:

PART 1

More parts and my opinions after the cut.

PART 2

PART 3

PART 4

PART 5

The narrator makes some very good points; I especially agree with the points about keeping honorifics, not translating words, and putting excessive liner notes on screen. I less agree about translating signs, but I do think putting the translation seamlessly into the animation is over-doing it. I do agree with the over-use of colors, karaoke, and other special effects, especially for opening and ending pieces.

Well, at least the fansubbers are doing this for free and I do get to see alot of anime that I'd normally wouldn't get to see otherwise, but I do prefer buying R1 DVDs for the reason that I think the translations for the subtitles tend to be much better.

Re: Criticism of Modern Fansubbing

On June 11th, 2008 Mitch H. (not verified) says:

He's made the radical discovery that fans aren't professional.

Stop the presses.

Really, in the last analysis, if you want a clean, professional, egoless subtitle experience - PAY FOR IT, YOU CHEAP FUCKING BASTARD!

And the creator should look into brevity as a persuasive technique. I ran out of interest mid-way through the second youtube. Luckily, I was able to get some work done while he ranted and raved, but even as a distraction from watching processes run, this crap isn't worth my time.

Re: Criticism of Modern Fansubbing

On June 12th, 2008 Nick says:

Of course, he isn't revealing anything all that much that is new or highly revealing, even if I agree with his premises. As for brevity, he's doing the old standard debate method of making a point and presenting evidence to back up that point. Though he's doing it in an, IMO, pretty amusing way. Just because you have the attention span of a goldfish doesn't make his technique ineffective in general.

He's also comparing modern fansubbing to a time when you couldn't get subtitled anime from official channels, which changes the situation. I definitely prefer today's world of unprofessional fansubs but mostly available official subtitled DVDS to the then time of professional-like fansubs but a small number of hard-to-find officially subtitled tapes or laser discs. But if he at least convinces a few groups to be a bit more professional in their work, it would be a plus. Still, I doubt he will have any effect.

And fansubbers are performing a service1 for free, and I can pick and choose if multiple groups are working on a certain series, though the choices between fansub groups is secondary to choosing the series I wish to see.