A question about Naruto and licensing

[KameronFrye]

Inu Yasha got licensed after it hit the point where Naruto is now, it seems like. If not this point, then very close to. Is it possible that someone sublicensed it, as Viz does with that company that brought them crap like Megaman NT and such, and is holding out for the big cash? Because if so, they'll dilute the license over things like the games... waiting too long to release it here will mean that the GCN/PS2 games would have to be remade for newer systems, given that the second GCN game isn't recommended to be played until you're into Naruto after 60+ episodes, which would take over a year to get to even if fast tracked. The show has too much underground popularity (i.e. IGN focusing reviews/previews of games, the Naruto GBA hardware preview, the fact that anime cons are overrunning with Narutards) too have gone completely unnoticed, and anime companies are mum when asked about it. I figured Bandai America would have taken it, given that they developed in in Japan and are establishing a somewhat independency from Pioneer/Geneon and this would be the current DBZ to run with. Shit, if I could afford to open an anime distro company, I'd do it and open with Naruto, simply because I know it would succeed. The prices on Ebay for Naruto stuff says that alone. Thoughts?

[Eurasian]

i don't know why u r so mad. if it was licensed, i would cry. even tho i know some remaining groups would still probably sub it, but it'll be harder to find. but i can see where u r going. i'm pretty sure those companies have notice naruto (cuz they would be idiots and not multimillion companies). maybe they think that america is not ready for naruto (i really don't know, just guessing). when it's the right time, they will license it. those companies even license some not-so-popular anime (i heard karekano wasn't popular so that's why the anime is imcomplete, like it doesn't have an ending, even tho i don't know why cuz i LOVE karekano). Or maybe Kishimoto doesn't want the anime to be in america. but if he allowed his manga to be in america, i can't see why he doesn't want to anime to be license.

i wish i could read minds so i know what is going on in the mind of kishimoto or those executives.

[Einzelgänger]

I'm damn glad it hasen't been licensed, the companys that edit and bring animes over to the US are stupid, and they edit out way too much stuff. DragonBallZ was good in Japan, in the US it's the stupidest thing I have ever seen, they took out the blood, they took out a good portion of the violance, and alot of the back story too. Just leave it to be subbed I say. As long as you can get them subbed there is no need for them to be licensed.

[Deblas]

Originally posted by: Einzelg?nger
I'm damn glad it hasen't been licensed, the companys that edit and bring animes over to the US are stupid, and they edit out way too much stuff. DragonBallZ was good in <a href="http://www.ntsearch.com/search.php?q=Japan&v=56">Japan</a>, in the US it's the stupidest thing I have ever seen, they took out the blood, they took out a good portion of the violance, and alot of the back story too. Just leave it to be subbed I say. As long as you can get them subbed there is no need for them to be licensed.

Exactly, Naruto has a hell of alot violent scenes not to mention sexual content so if they bring there just gonna edit it and it wont be the same

[KameronFrye]

It's not that I'm mad over it, mainly that I'm confused.
Honestly, looking from a business standpoint, whatever it costs to release the series here will be repaid en masse. I honestly would like to walk into a toy store and NOT have to spend $30 + overseas shipping per figure. I'd like to be able to play the game and unlock all the features, knowing what all of them are/what they do without having to have an expert in Japanese on hand. I won't say that I don't like the Japanese games, because I love them. And I own some of the figures/UFO catchers/etc, but the more cool stuff for it that comes out, the more money I end up spending. And there's others like me, going on the fact that there are 1405 auctions found under searching "Naruto", compared with 1388 for "Inuyasha", 1091 for "Inu Yasha", and 1423 for "Dragon Ball Z". It is not even licensed for release in America, but it ranks in there with two series that are running/have run in America. But no company wants it? That doesn't strike you as weird?

Or maybe, MAYBE it's that Kishimoto has such high standards of it that he won't let it be ruined here, as the anime form. The seller of the rights sets the terms for what is done and what they'll allow to be cut. Would you object to having to buy the DVDs, if they were ran in Japanese as they are on BT, completely uncut? Would you have any excuse other than "I don't buy it because I can get it for free" if it were as good or better quality video? Everything I have on my HD, I've bought. I support anime. You can't just watch anime and not buy the DVDs, claiming to support it. Sure, a lot of the money goes into the pockets of the company that brought over whatever series from Japan, and that's business. But you can't claim you're a supporter if the only thing you do is complain about how anime is rubbish over here, but not buying their DVDs or applying to any companies and try giving them your side, if not starting your own. Hell, even going to Cons and talking to people that work for anime companies is a start, let them know what they're doing right or wrong for you. I work in a store where I suggest anime to kids that are getting into it, or don't watch Adult Swim for their anime. I purchase the anime releases that make it over here. I contribute to the market on all ends possible, and I feel I've earned the right to question this.

As for "companies that bring over anime are stupid, they shouldn't", you would probably not be into anime if it weren't for those same companies. If it weren't for Pioneer, you'd never have seen Akira. You might still have not, but whomever turned you on to Naruto may not have seen Akira if it weren't for Pioneer. If there weren't companies distributing anime in America, you wouldn't be here typing on these boards. Before Naruto and Full Metal, there was DBZ; and long before that there was Akira,Ninja Scroll, Ghost In The Shell, Robotech, and a bunch of other reinvented series that were brand new a decade ago and longer. You fail to realize that without the years of effort in getting these and many other features brought over here, there may not have been interest in animation, unless you were about 10 years old or watching Beavis and Butthead. Before Bittorrent and the Internet, there was the day when you HAD no choice but to watch anime brought over by companies. They instigated the interest and nurtured the hell out of it, and it is only fair that they get to cash in for the effort they have put in for over 20 years now.

[Himura_san]

Just be glad it's not licensed yet and quit worrying and learn to love fansubs.

[kaigan]

It doesn't bother me if naruto got licensed.

[Eurasian]

kaigan, wth r u talking about??? License = bad for dlers

i can only hope fansubs are still subbing.

[Knives122]

I dont think they will, a business doesnt drop a product just b/c another business picks it up do they(like MP3 players)? No, My guess is that if it is license it wont be dropped by any of them

[ilabb]

Originally posted by: Knives122
I dont think they will, a business doesnt drop a product just b/c another business picks it up do they(like MP3 players)? No, My guess is that if it is license it wont be dropped by any of them

AonE dropped FMA when it got licensed, right? What makes you think their morals would change for Naruto? Anbu/AonE and TW will most definately drop it when it's licensed, I can gaurentee it. Not to mention that's an invalid point, fansubbers aren't paid, so it's not a business, so you can't compare fansubbing and licensors to businesses and other businesses...

Fansubbing = no profit, everything else = profit.

[Coolman]

If they license Naruto to a network I don't get in Canada, I will cry and pray that other subbers continue subbing.

Actually, if almost anyone licenses it, i'll cry. They cut out the good parts, and tone down everything.

[Lefty]

What we should be worrying about is that the only good company that would do and unedited version would be ADV and then we would all be screwed because they would forcefully shut down any and all Fansubers that kept their product up for download. Look at what happened to boxtorrents. I do agree with the Kishimoto being over protective of the Anime, the manga was ruined by Viz and he was not happy from what I have heared(remember what i heard not know). But also look at what happenbed whne Inuyasha was liscened the seeries is still runnning so the dub company is lossing money since the voice actors are under contract and are paid on a monthly basis. If they wait for naruto to finish they can take it dub it and release it in a cheaper amount of time.

[Coolman]

Originally posted by: LeftyIf they wait for naruto to finish they can take it dub it and release it in a cheaper amount of time.

Heres hoping. But that could be a while.

Its kinda funny how they have Naruto games in the US, yet its a series that technically shouldn't be seen by any of us.

[Knives122]

It was an example, dont get so worked up over it

[joker-kun]

I would say it hasn't been licensed cause you make more money i think if you license a series after it is over. Also, maybe cause the show is so good their asking price is too much. DBZ was the most popular anime North America [atleast one of them] and Japan. Had the most hits EVER on like 5 search engines, and I don't *think it got licensed till the end or near the end.

[Lefty]

DBZ ended in like 1989 and GT finished in like 93. It was major old when it was picked up in what 96-97 even later than that. But yeja it will be a while before naruto will be picked up.

[LeCKeY]

Well the anime is not that good went on to long and most likly to many pieces of it are owned by diff companys so it might be hard to get them all to agree to one publisher to move them to the usa and well it sucks.... why would you want this translated to english dubb lol the show would be even worse other then that it is the lack of popularity/company % ownage i would figure are slowing down the process

[KameronFrye]

Simply because you do not enjoy dubs does not mean that a company could not put a quality dub together. Again, I hope for the best whenever this gets licensed, and I know the distinct possibility that we could get it over here and have Naruto saying "Art of the Doppleganger!" everytime he does shadow replication, and that thought is unsettling. But it's just that for the 30k+ of us that are watching it, there are another million people here that are not. I talk to anywhere between 5-15 people a day that watch a lot of anime, many of whom are interested in Naruto and want to see it over here, but are incapable of getting anime because their computer is too slow, internet connection is slow, no HD space, etc. It's ok for us, because we're all already in the middle of it. But think about the other people over here reading anime magazines and hearing about how good this series is who have no outlet to see it. This is what licensed anime is for, those people who are not us. Simply saying "screw anime companies" is basically also saying screw anime fans, because a lot of them rely on these companies to bring out DVDs. And yes, some like the dubs, but some like the dubs too. If Kishimoto is holding on to it to strive for the highest quality on the series translation, I applaud him. I would want this show to have the best presentation here and not end up like an Inu Yasha clone. But it'd be nice to walk into Toys 'r Us and actually get figures for the series that weren't released in Japan, because American toy companies are nuts about series too. There's 3 actual action figures (not counting the unposeable figs that have backgrounds and such), an American toy company would have double that for the first series of figures. Granted, later series would probably be the same as some of the earlier figures, but you could have more than 3. I collect action figures, and I'd like to see some more, in addition to the games in English.

[Samurai Maddy]

well guys, Funimation might be coming close to Naruto.

here's an interview with a guy from Funimation. it's mostly about FMA but they give some comments towards Naruto and if it might, in the future, be picked up by Funi.

Funimation talks about FMA, Case Closed and Brings up Naruto

man that sucks.
I was hoping ADV if it was licensed at all.

[KameronFrye]

In all honesty, ADV should be the next to last company you want to license Naruto, the last being 4Kids.
If ADV has the title, there will be no easy method to getting fansubs, what with their witchhunt department. FMA is still relatively easy/painless to get, and it's taken by Funi. Funi are mainstream enough to where they can afford little losses on the few people that outcry against buying licensed anime because they have an excellent marketing department. Dragon Ball Z and Yu Yu Hakusho are two testaments, and soon you'll see it in FMA. The drawback to Funi is that they may limit it down on the number of episodes per DVD, but they're using the $19.99/DVD formula on FMA, which I'm a little more eased about. Also, Funi are very punctual about timely releases. DBZ ran once a month, only skipping an odd month here and there, and that was 2 volumes at a time. So, if you collect anime from them, you can expect on time releases every 4-6 weeks. They're also pushing a lot of their anime for the Adult Swim block, which means less of the anime will be harshly edited come DVD time. Blue Gender suffered minimal edits for broadcast, and was nicely done on DVD. The subbing/dubbing was even decent for BG; however, in all fairness, they did not have to tackle Japanese-oriented attacks like "Chidori" and "Kage Bushin No Jutsu" for BG, so that leaves a little uneasiness in my stomach. But they will leave the Japtrack on their current licenses, which is good enough for me. I can easily ignore subtitles like that and focus on what I know their attacks to be, as long as it isn't dubbed (or dubbed bad).