Hey, Answerman!

Think Of The Children

Hey, ladies and gents! Welcome back from Christmas and to the warm glow of Hey, Answerman!

Since we're in that awkward week in between Christmas and the new year, I thought I'd give some un-asked-for thoughts on this holiday's big movies, because I've seen almost all of them and I need to force my opinion down the throats of unsuspecting readers. Here they are in alphabetical order!

Anna Karenina: Joe Wright made Hannah, one of my favorite recent movies, so hearing that he went all stylistically bonkers with Anna Karenina gave me hope for something exciting. Nope! This is a dross, jumbled, weird boring mess.

Django Unchained: Zac called this "A big 'eff you' to the notion of the Antebellum South" and I completely agree. It's great in all the ways other Tarantino movies are great. The performances are easily the best part of the movie. DiCaprio's Calvin Candie is a great, snarling villain of the slimiest order, and his section of the film is SO GOOD it overshadows the rest of the film.

Skyfall: Awful song, really cool movie.

This is 40: A very funny movie, though the uncomfortable moments of honesty aren't quite as brutal as they were in, say, Funny People.

There's a couple Oscar Bait-y movies that haven't shown up yet, like The Sessions, and of course Zero Dark Thirty, which I'm dying to see but won't expand nationwide until mid-January. Anyway. You have some questions, I understand:

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Hey Answeman,

I am 14 and I have a question, I noticed that a lot of people I know usually saw and learned about manga\anime from Toonami's back on at least. To me, it looks like that without these type of things, it could be harder to introduce anime\manga to the younger generation and I ask you, with less of the younger generation getting into or knowing about anime\manga affect the sales and market for anime\manga long after someone like you is gone?

Now, I know a lot of old-timers are going to feel naturally upset about this - but maybe the way that younger kids are exposed to manga and anime is going to change, and maybe that's a good thing.

"B-but how will these kids know the pure, unfettered joy of rushing home from school to watch Dragon Ball Z?!? How will they know the thrill of picking up a magazine filled with manga at the bookstore?!?"

Here's the thing: let's give these "kids" some credit. They're just as comfortable watching Spotify will tell me all of the embarrassing songs my friends are listening to on repeat, and some I'm inclined to check out for myself. I think that's the secret sauce here.

Of course, cracking that nut in any feasible, monetizing way is going to take time and some serious cojones, so good luck to the Funimation's of the world who are trying to figure that out. Meanwhile dude, just keep telling your friends that anime and manga is a cool thing and list off all the easy ways to enjoy it. Because even though you can't flip through a magazine or watch Cartoon Network to find it anymore, it's easier than ever to share.

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Recently, I got some flak from a fellow fan for ing Mawaru Penguindrum last year, when I tried to tell them it was an example of piracy being "justified", as it were.

I ed Mawaru Penguindrum, and I enjoyed it so much, I imported the Japanese BluRays. Since then, I've bought two Sentai Filmworks pre-ordered.

The response that I was met with was essentially, "You still harmed the company by ing the show."

There was no other way for me to view the show other than waiting over a year, and I can say with no shadow of doubt that if I had not ed this show, there is an extremely extremely overwhelming chance that I would have never bought it.

Well, perhaps these people you're referring to could've handled things a bit more tactfully; but I agree. Piracy is never, ever "justified." It isn't. Jean Valjean stealing a loaf of bread to feed his sister's starving child? That's justified, sure. ing an .mkv from a torrent site? Nah - I can't really think of any life-or-death situation where that'll be justified. Unless there's some sort of man holding you hostage in some sort of Saw movie scenario where the only way to avoid having a metal spike being driven into your genitals is to a Penguindrum fansub from a torrent site, there's really no one-hundred-percent ethical and moral way to "justify" piracy.

Here's the deal, once more: it would be foolish and stupid for me to say "don't ever ever ever pirate things, it's bad." People will still pirate things, forever. My personal thing is - do not try to rationalize it or justify it. Importing those Blu Rays and buying the merchandise is awesome, but it doesn't white out that from your conscience. What you did was what everyone else does: you ed a fansub because it was the easiest and best way to watch it. That's all. I don't begrudge you or anyone else for doing that. That makes sense to me. Because that's simple human nature. If there's a way to get something we want with minimal effort, that's what we'll do. It's not even about money, really - importing a Blu Ray not only takes money, but tremendous amounts of time. A for a 22-minute episode will take about ten minutes. Whatever, man. That all makes sense.

But I cannot abide people "justifying" that as some sort of moral victory. "WELL I WOULD'VE ACQUIRED IT LEGALLY IF I COULD'VE." I'm sure you would, but you didn't. You can't prove an impossibility. It is a textbook example of a false positive paradox. And if there's anything I hate more in the world, it's paradoxes! Arrgh! Specifically, people trying to use logic to defend something even though that exact logical fallacy has been proven to be incorrect for eons.

Now, I've written more about piracy since taking over this column than I ever expected to in my life; it's one of those "issues" that is omnipresent and always on people's minds, hence why everyone wants to ask about it. So I'll say this: Don't look to me to try and "justify" your . I won't do that, because I think it is, in fact, impossible to do that. And I'm not even saying that your is necessarily evil! At this point, the fact that people still stuff is just this inert fact - any words I write about whether or not people pirate things are meaningless. I'm not going to change anyone's mind on the subject. But I'm also not going to be the guy who validates what is and isn't "acceptable" piracy. I don't think there's any such thing.

Now, there's certainly "convenient" piracy, such as you were describing with Penguindrum - with no easily-accessible English version available, you turned to the only option available to watch it. Sure, whatever man. You and thousands of other people did the same thing. Unlike those thousands of other people, you made sure to "" the show by buying DVDs and merchandise, and you've got the R1 releases pre-ordered. More of that, please.

So, how's about this folks: don't try to "justify" ing stuff. Who cares, honestly. If you're trying to "justify" what you're ing, you feel guilty in some way - and that is certainly irable, because it means you care in some way about reimbursing the original creators. And if you need to "justify" your , do it like the original poster did. Maybe you don't need to import the DVDs or anything, but you certainly should "" the series however you can. More of that, less of the wasted dialog on the internet trying to defend your moral position on ing something.

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Hey Answerman, here's a question you may actually not have gotten before:

I was thinking recently about some of the editing Cartoon Network and Toonami subjected their programming to, and one way or another if Japan might do something similar. I realized this when I was taking a good look at Fullmetal Alchemist also seems to follow this pattern.

Of course there are counter examples: Gohan killed Cell for instance. However, every time the hero delivers the final blow, it seems like the enemy has to be something inhuman in form and obviously evil: Cell for example was a giant bug man-monster. Its been a while, but I kind of find myself doubting that there's ever been a clear instance of Naruto outright killing someone without the same rules applying (that the enemy has to be inhuman in form and undoubtedly evil).

I guess my question is this: are there strict guidelines in Japan regulating who is allowed to take a life and under what circumstances (for different genres)? Or am I just imagining things? Do the guidelines extend to anything else beyond killing?

Nope, you're imagining things. There are guidelines by the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly to protect minors from manga featuring "sexual intercourse and other unlawful sexual behavior," but when it comes to violence? That's all self-regulated by whichever publication prints it.

Of course, when we're talking about Shonen Jump, you have to understand that they also published Trigun edited out certain shots of guns being pointed at peoples' heads, for instance, as they were deemed to "intense" for a TV-14 rating. All by the network's own Standards & Practices department.

So, no, the reason that Naruto doesn't take a life isn't some sort of "mandate" by any governing agency or ordinance. Of course, behind the scenes, there could be a strict Shonen Jump editor demanding these things, but that's just conjecture, and also just as much part of the creative process as anything. And considering how crazy and violent the rest of the manga can be - what with its beheadings, stabbings, and numerous eviscerations - it's clear there's certainly a lax atmosphere when it comes to depicting bloodshed. The delicate handling of murder on behalf of the protagonist is strictly a creative one, not a corporate one.

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Alright, folks! This Christmas, I'm sure a lot of you opened up actual, physical things from wrapping paper, so in that spirit, I wanted you fine friends to wistfully think of some physical objects you'd like to purchase in 2013:

We'll start with Haley, and don't worry - I'm not going to nitpick about the date like that, I'm cool:

So, does something that didn't start in 2012 but continued in 2012 count? Maybe? I'll operate as if it does, because there's one manga series that has yet to be released in the US (despite being licensed not once, but twice) that kills a tiny part of my soul every time I we still don't have it in the USA.

Right Stuf and ANN constantly for news that the release date had been announced.

Then came the waiting. And more waiting. And then the unfortunate news that some sort of issue was preventing the series from coming out. And then... nothing.

This isn't to nitpick on Dark Horse, since I know these sorts of things happen sometimes, but it's really, really unfortunate in my eyes. I'm a huge fan of Daisuke Moriyama, and I feel like World Embryo shows an incredible amount of growth for him as a storyteller, particularly when it comes to pacing the plot and knowing when to reveal his hand and when to play it close to his chest. I've been gripped by the story and world from the beginning, and now that I've mostly given up on the series coming to our shores in the near future I'm importing the volumes from Japan so I can at least give back to the mangaka. But I'm not importing the English volumes from Australia. Why? Because there's still a small part of me that hopes it'll eventually come out and I'll be able to the series when it's released in the US. I can dream.

Or I can possibly offer myself up as a virgin sacrifice. Seriously, I'll throw on a white dress and everything. We can play The Rite of Spring, it'll be great.

YuYang BUSTS THAT ANSWER OUT:

One singluar title from 2012 that deserves a full-on western release? The answer, in my opinion, is Key product, though it is not produced by KyoAni. However, the story itself is a good mix of comedy and drama, as well as the splash of fantasy and intrigue that comes with any Key product. Overall, I feel that the story itself is very good, the characters are very diverse and memorable, and the gimmicks in the anime, like using the VN sprites in the previews, are awesome.

Don't worry, J. - I know a certain someone named Bamboo Dong who would you in the chorus:

I hope that I'm not the only one who would put Chihayafuru at the top of the list of anime which deserve a Western release. I understand why people might shy away from this. But it is not an anime about karuta, a Japanese card game, it's about students who play karuta. There is a reason why ANN readers rank it in the top 2% of anime (#65 out of 4076 as of this letter). Even without knowing the intricacies of the game, viewers get caught up in the excitement generated by the players.

No disrespect to other companies, but I really hope NIS America picks this up as a release. They could price it for a smaller audience, and a hardcover art book that explains some of the basics of karuta would be fantastic.

Steve, if I had a quarter for every time somebody answered with YKK, I'd have like, three or maybe four quarters:

I had been hoping for a QOTW like this since I started reading your column. Upon reading the question, my mind raced, and I shouted, "yes!". While I tend toget more miffed about anime or manga that get partial or botched Western releases, ones that have never even properly reached the West still tug at my aching, paranoid otaku heart. I think my brain is telling me there is some correlation (which I realize is completely untrue), in if my question gets picked, the anime/manga I choose will have better chances of being released in the West (I wish!). While there is at least half a boatload of titles I could say, one comes to my mind that really fits the DESERVED part of the question.

The Yokohama Kaidashi Kikou manga.

I first heard of this manga in a previous Answerman column, and I was intrigued. A concept I thought was unique, a nice design, and plenty of acclaim to boot. I checked out the two OVAs they made. While they were enjoyable, they just felt like small pieces of a much larger tale. I wanted to know the rest of that tale. I refuse to read scanalations, not for my legal dignity, but more because I don't want to read 14 volumes hunched over at my computer. I want to enjoy the series when I want, where I want. Like at a cafe in the countryside... yeah, you know what I'm talking about! I would probably blind buy it all if it ever got a Western Release, or at least blindly save up my money until I could afford every volume. It's in the site's top ten manga, that has to mean something... right? RIGHT!?!!?

Spread that word, Adam, TAKE MY ADVICE FROM MY EARLIER COMMENTS:

Hello, Answerman.

If there's one Anime I'd LOVE to see get a legitimate physical Western release, it's Neon Alley, or some other network. The word really needs to be spread about this show.

Lastly, here's VZMk2, who is unnaturally direct:

That's easy. YURU YURI!!

I'm a fan of a anime and I'd I've love to see the manga get an English language release. Maybe Yen Press could license that (hint hint). The anime needs an R1 release too!

Thanks again, everyone. So! What'll the first question of 2013 be? Read on! HINT: It's inspired by the first question!

Now you've got this week's question, and it's time to get answerin'.

For those of you new to Hey, Answerfans!, I'll explain the concept.

Believe it or not, I'm genuinely curious what you think.

That's right; as much as I love the sound of my own voice, I do love to listen to what other people have to say on a subject. I'm finding that over the last few years, the attitudes, reasoning and logic that today's anime fans use eludes, confuses or astounds me; I have so many questions for you, and I'm dying to hear what you have to say in response.

Welcome to Hey, Answerfans!

Basically, we're turning the tables. Each week I'm going to ask you a question, and I want you to email me your answer. Be as honest as you can. I'm looking for good answers; not answers I agree with or approve of, but good, thoughtful answers. People feel ionately about these subjects and I'd like to see that in the responses I get. I'll post the best answers I get, and maybe some of the crappy ones. Sometimes there may only be one or two good ones; sometimes five or more. It all depends on what I get in my inbox! Got it? Pretty simple, right? Start writing those answers and email them to answerman [at] animenewsnetwork dot com.

We do have a few simple ground rules to start with.

Things To Do:

* Be coherent.
* Be thoughtful.
* Be ionate.
* Write as much or as little as you feel you need to to get your point across in the best possible way.

Things Not To Do:

* Respond when the question doesn't apply to you. For instance, if your email response starts with "Well, I don't do whatever you're asking about in the question... " then I'm going to stop reading right there and hit delete.

* Be unnecessarily rude or use a lot of foul language.
* Go off-topic.

Thanks again for all the great content you guys keep giving me, week in and week out! Keep that train going by sending me any and all questions, comments, answers, and hatred to my humble email home at answerman(at)animenewsnetwork.cinevost.com! Have a safe and happy New Years, Answerpeople!