Back in the Groove of the Japanimation Scene

September 29th, 2006 at 10:30 am (Anime, Articles, Take)

It’s been a hectic week for this lone vagabond blogger, so apologies for the inactivity. That and the recent storm that swept most of the metropolis and taken the residents (yes that includes me) literally by storm makes me one troubled anime blogger, fearing for his personal safety first and foremost. A lot of electric posts, telephone lines, pieces of roofs were toppled down. Even tall billboards were not spared from the wrath of the storm, so thus the delay.

These are the only Japanimation-related news I’ve picked up. Koizumi Gets Animated - ANN (dated Septermber 25 @ 14:10) I am at a loss for words on this one, but I have to say this: What were they thinking. Hoepfully no slandering would take place, especially given his record of visitations to the Yasukuni Shrine, thus triggering anti-Japanese sentiments, mostly from the side of the Red Giant. Also, good thing such a production wasn’t made here in the Pearl of the Orient.

Anime Forever - PDI (dated September 27 @ 10:05) Looking through the different sections of today’s local newspaper, I came across a particular “interesting” article, and this is somewhat related to anime I might crosspost this somewhere else… maybe on my other blog.

Anyway, so there was this huge event at a large plaza. Animax was involved here, since I was it among the list of sponsors.

This part brought a smile to my face.

Who says animé is just for kids? Definitely not us. Animax is set on backing up its slogan, “Animé for Everyone,” with new tricks and out-of-the-box ideas, with this event being just the tip of the iceberg. “This party gives viewers a unique opportunity to experience the big animation buzz firsthand and get into the Animax Refresh lifestyle, which is fun and edgy,” explained Betty Tsui, vice president of Animax, Programming and Production, SPE Networks-Asia. Animax Refresh, which is the channel’s revamped image, aims to cater to an even broader range of viewers: the young adult crowd aged 15-24, as well as the young at heart with a penchant for compelling and beautifully crafted animation with more mature themes. So before your parents reprimand you for watching cartoons at the age of, say, 30, invite them to sit and watch with you. Who knows? They just might get hooked, too.

Indeed.

Now my take on the article.

So basically, contrary to my earlier assertions about the state of anime here, it looks like they’re trying to win over some of their lost audience since the change in dubbing language. I’ve kept tabs on bluemist’s Animax saga (found here, here, here, here, here, here, here, and here, ),# and I was noticed the negative “impression” it has garnered. This coming from a fellow countrymen, but with a different taste than mine, I somehow believed him. But of course as with “impressions”, coming from someone else, I apply skepticism to everything I see, read, and hear.

Hmm… maybe I should change part of my About page talking about the sad state of anime broadcasted on TV.

#For those of you still following the series of posts from bluemist, here’s the continuation: post#8, post#9

6 Comments

  1. bluemist said,

    September 29, 2006 at 2:45 pm

    Oh, the saga continues here and here too, sorry I didn’t edit the old ones: http://bluemist.animeblogger.net/archives/animax-asia-dubbed-in-english-8/ http://bluemist.animeblogger.net/archives/animax-asia-dubbed-in-english-9/

    Hmm… Animax Refresh? Never heard, but anyway they have a powerful lineup yet again, I continue to be amazed! (H&C, Kamichu, Parakiss, Jigoku Shoujo).

    I think that really the only fault of the channel is the English dubbing. Even with this kinda-mature campaign of theirs, they still can’t capture the real audience. Them 15-24 year olds know even more of the sub/dub debate than the Animax kid audience do. I’m one of them after all.

  2. Ronin said,

    October 1, 2006 at 3:05 pm

    bluemist Says:

    I think that really the only fault of the channel is the English dubbing. Even with this kinda-mature campaign of theirs, they still can’t capture the real audience. Them 15-24 year olds know even more of the sub/dub debate than the Animax kid audience do. I’m one of them after all.
    I think you mean they’re capturing only a part of the audience target, which is those who favor dubs over subs.

    Sadly, yes I have to agree with that.

    Oh and on the issue of the in-house dubbing cast of Animax-Asia, I say they undergo another session of voice training, this time to better expand their voice (as well as tonal) range. I know it’s kinda disappointing when you recognize the same voice actor/actress in more than 5 or 10 series, despite the differences in the personalities of the characters they voice over.

  3. Ohkramon said,

    October 2, 2006 at 12:57 pm

    I think I felt the same. Since ANIMAX turned dubbing to ENGLISH, I’ve lost interest on watching their titles.

    For me, I’d RATHER watch PINOY DUBBED animes here in the Philipines. Why? Because, the pinoy dubbers can capture the chara’s personality, especially the dubbers from HERO and QTV as if they’re the pinoy versions of the orig seiyuus . :D

    Hehe… I also felt strange on this typhoon that hit Philippines last week. Of all the SUPER ONES, this MILENYO STORM did really dead serious. Uprooted big trees, Uprooted billboards(?), flying rooftops like it was just a piece of paper blown in the air and falling electric post like it was a domino piece. Well I hope that’s the last one. I also think that maybe it’s better to put wires and cables underground… :)

    Huh? Animax Refresh? More themes? So could that also mean they’ll put naughty animes there? Hmm… I hope the dubbing won’t spoil the fun. Can’t imagine the same peeps dubbing a suspicious tone of voice. LOL! :D

  4. Ronin said,

    October 2, 2006 at 9:03 pm

    Ohkramon Says:

    For me, I’d RATHER watch PINOY DUBBED animes here in the Philipines. Why? Because, the pinoy dubbers can capture the chara’s personality, especially the dubbers from HERO and QTV as if they’re the pinoy versions of the orig seiyuus .
    Oh indeed. I’ve already seen some of their work in shows such as Mirmo de Pon, Full Metal Panic, Yakitake Ja-pan, and Chrno Crusade, to name a few. Now only if they will voice the characters in anime titles with more mature themes will I feel a higher level of satisfaction. :d

  5. Ohkramon said,

    October 3, 2006 at 12:45 am

    Same here. I’m kinda curious and wondering and also imagining what’ll I hear. Hearing the female charas in a naughty way pinoy style? Hmm not bad… not bad at all. It’s a pretty good challenge for them. I guess this will be something to look forward to.

  6. yuirei said,

    October 5, 2006 at 3:00 pm

    yo =) !! hehe pinoy ka din pala, just noticed when ohkramon told me :D jya yoroshiku ne ^^ !!

    I think it’ll be better if they just “subbed” it instead of “dubbed” =) Unfortunately to cater for the “many” they resolved to a “low-quality” solution. One more thing, aside from voice talent quality .. the language context could differ significantly (which further lowers the quality). One person who had watched Rurouni Kenshin Japanese and English version could prove this one. (there’s no English equivalent of the “sonkeigo” :D - it’s a reflection of Japanese culture and thus it’s unique to them)