Ghost In The Shell TV Series

Briareos writes: "Just found out over at animeondvd.com's forums (no link provided to protect the innocent...) that Production I.G. finally revealed quite some info about the GITS TV series they're currently working on. (I also thought it was a nice birthday present for me, by the way... :)"

Comments

Cool! Who's Directing it?

[NoTheory]

Do they have info on who's voice acting for it and such?

Story synopsis from the website

[Anonymous Coward]

The approximation of mobile media to physical human body started with portable then wearable terminals, and finally settled to implantable terminals which ushered civilization into a new era where man and machine were no longer separate.

Such integration was realized by direct transplanting of communication terminals to the physical body, allowing the body and mind to interact immediately with standard computer and network technology. These implantables gradually took over the outdated portable/wearable technology, to be recognized as the prototype of "Cyberbrain."

After the ever-growing technology introduced the practical utility of micro-machines, cyberbrains became both safe and inexpensive. This caused rapid popularization of cyberbrains within countries that had little or no religion restrictions, such as Japan.

But the wide prevalence of cyberbrains caused social anxiety: people were exposed to risks of brain-hack because of their neural connection to the entire population using cyberbrains.

The most serious brain-hacking crime was "Ghost Hack", a case where total individuality including past memories and body discretion of a certain person became the subject of the hacker. Various countermeasures were taken, such as the development of numerous protective walls and barriers along with reinforcement of regulations, not to mention security intensification within the neural network system.

But they failed to abolish cyber-crimes, thus resulting in a rat race: further development of protective walls and barriers, and the emergence of more intelligent and original hackers.

No info on where it'll be picked up?

[SirSlud]

Is this to air in NA, or will it be import only for us westerners? Couldn't find it on the site.

Obligatory "me too" props to the movie. I hope is the show is good.

Now if only I could afford all the Cowboy Bebop episodes I might have to start collecting this stuff, but dam, between the computer parts, the games, the pron, and the consoles, who has money left over for anime imports? :P

Re:No info on where it'll be picked up?

[GigsVT]

The site was really devoid of info, but why else would the launch the site in two languages? There is also a link at the bottom of the page for "broadcast and licensing outside asia". It looks like they are at least hoping to get picked up.

I wish Cartoon Network would branch off a network for adult animation, there is only so much you can hack up anime to make it suitable for kids.

Re:No info on where it'll be picked up?

[Microlith]

Chances are Bandai Entertainment will be handling the North American release. Same people who handled Cowboy Bebop.

Whether it'll air on TV or not depends on who gets it, but I guarantee CN will not get it.

Maybe the Action Channel, or Showtime.

Or you could just buy the DVDs. And don't buy Hong Kong bootlegs.

Re:No info on where it'll be picked up?

[jnik]

Production IG is actually getting pretty seriously into the North American market themselves; they've been working with Bandai (the Love Hina and Candidate for Goddess DVD's are technically Prod IG releases with Bandai distribution) and Synch-Point/Digital Manga. Sounds like Bandai will be distroing GiTS (being a more established company that makes sense) but Prod IG probably will be very closely involved. At any rate they'd have to be brain-dead to not bring it to the US in some form, given the popularity of the movie and the fact that they're already moving in this market.

Re:No info on where it'll be picked up?

[Surak]

Or Sci Fi

Re:No info on where it'll be picked up?

[Anonymous Coward]

You pay for pron? Haven't you ever heard of the internet?

Re:No info on where it'll be picked up?

[xenocide2]

I don't see why it wouldn't be picked up by Cartoon Network provided CN thinks they can get it approved for Adult Swim. They're hurting for new content as it stands.

Re:No info on where it'll be picked up?

[Microlith]

Bandai Entertainment HAS officially confirmed they are handling all licensing/release outside Asia...

Re:No info on where it'll be picked up?

[AceCaseOR]

Not Sci-Fi. They basically haven't shown any anime for at least a year. It is rather unfortunate, and I really miss their "Saturday Anime" (And I remember when they first started their "Festival of Japanimation" too).

Frankly, the only channel that I know about that has shown Anime fairly regularly is the Action Channel, though they have mainly shown movies, not series. In fact, their anime is fairly rare, instead showing mostly American action films. Still, hopefully Action Channel will pick up the series, and other Anime (possibly Evangelion?).

Now I just hope that I can get a better job so I can afford to get the Starz channels (bloody crappy economy)...

Invisibility a la Predator

[Anonymous Coward]

Will she still have to take her clothes off to become invisible :)

Re:Invisibility a la Predator

[Provocateur]

Anybody selling the *uncensored* version of the comicbook, by any chance

Re:Invisibility a la Predator

[Anonymous Coward]

What was censored in the manga? I'm not saying it wasn't, I'm just curious (I have the graphic novel from Dark Horse).

If anyone hasn't read it (or seen it), in the version I have at least, the cloaking doesn't require undressing in the manga (whereas in the movie it's basically a skin tight suit or something (there is a seam on the neck if you look) so she has to strip down).

Re:Invisibility a la Predator

[Anonymous Coward]

Between page 56 and 57 (in the Dark Horse version at least), there should be a page showing the Major and her girl friens having sex. In the picture at the bottom of page 56 Motoko should be naked and her girlfrriens to. Have you not wonderd why Batou hits him self in the face? That's because the Major causes that when she discovers that he brain dived her while she was having sex.

Search the net and you'll find the missing page.

Re:Invisibility a la Predator

[Anonymous Coward]

Ask and ye shall receive

Re:Invisibility a la Predator

[Anonymous Coward]

Great... now I'm gonna have to go and whack off.

Re:Invisibility a la Predator

[cpt kangarooski]

I seem to vaguely recall that they're not really her girlfirends, per se. Besides -- does Kusanagi really seem like the sort of person that would be prone to making friends outside of her circle? Her boyfriend is in Section 1, and I'd wager she still feels a bit superior to him. I doubt she would tolerate an O.L. or something. They'd have nothing in common.

IIRC, the women are her clients. This is a little side business she has. Recall the conversation about cyborg construction with the nurse. Kusanagi's body has a much higher degree of sensitivity to stimuli than regular humans do, or even most cyborgs. The two women are plugged into _her_, piggybacking on her sensations. That's why when she leaves, they cannot continue by themselves.

It has to be with women though, because Kusanagi's body is female. It wouldn't work, IIRC, with a man, and vice versa. (though I'd rather not think of Batou doing the same thing!)

Also there are four pages missing or retouched, in total. ;)

Re:Invisibility a la Predator

[Anonymous Coward]

Oh yeah, like you weren't going to anyways....

Makes sense

[inkswamp]

Normally, my attitude toward turning a movie into a series is not enthusiastic, but if any film ended in such a way as to beg for more, Ghost in the Shell is it. Fingers crossed that they don't botch it up by losing sight of the themes and philosophical points of the film.

In fact, it almost seems like it was ended in such a way as to lead intentionally in to a series. (or a sequel.) Does anyone know whether such a thing was planned originally or not?

Re:Makes sense

[Apreche]

Ghost in the Shell was originally a Manga. You can buy the manga if you look around amazon or other books sellers. In the manga is pretty much the WHOLE story in detail. There is also Ghost in the Shell 2, which I'm not sure what happened to it. I can buy the action figures at Media Play for it, but I'm not sure if it was an anime or a manga. This series is pretty much the manga animated and not compressed into one hour, like the movie was. Remember most anime starts out as a manga. The manga usually has a lot more detail and a lot less plot holes, however it is also less shiny and requires you to read. It's also sometimes harder to get manga in English than it is to get anime in english. However, tokyopop (http://www.tokyopop.com) is helping solve this problem. Yay! ^_^

Re:Makes sense

[Hast]

I've seen a preview of the first ep of GITS2 in manga form. From that I assume that it will be manga, and possibly anime afterwards.

Re:Makes sense

[Tom Dunne]

The manga of Ghost in the Shell is significantly more in-depth than the film. While most American fans love the anime (it is well done), I was always disappointed in it because it barely skimmed the surface of the printed story. The anime only followed the core plot that ran through the manga, neglecting some of the really interesting side stories that developed the characters. This was of course necessary to compact 300-some pages of work into a two hour film, but the end result wasn't quite as satisfying (not to this otaku, at any rate!). IMO, Ghost really needed to be done as a series from the beginning, and I'm thrilled to hear that it's being done. If you get into something like Cowboy Bebop, you can really appreciate the depth of storytelling that can go into an animated limited series.

Regarding Ghost in the Shell 2, the creator (Masamune Shirow) has already finished and released the new series in Japan, and is in the process of converting it for an English-speaking audience. The first issue is hopefully due in October of this year, but don't hold your breath - Shirow is notorious for taking his time with these things. To keep an eye on how the manga translation is going, check out www.studioproteus.com and the fan feedback section in particular. Toren Smith updates more or less monthly, and almost always with news regarding GitS2.

Re:Makes sense

[randombit]

The manga of Ghost in the Shell is significantly more in-depth than the film. While most American fans love the anime (it is well done), I was always disappointed in it because it barely skimmed the surface of the printed story.

I agree that a movie would have been a better format for this. Most of the anime movies I've seen tend to be like that, particularly Akira and Ghost in the Shell. Though doing a whole series of Akira, and keeping the level of visual quality would have come at an outragous cost, I'm sure.

Compared to the differences between the movie and print versions of Akira, the changes in GiTS are absolutely trivial. Not to say the Akira movie didn't rock (it still is about the best animation I've ever seen), but the manga has so much more detail it's insane.

I only read the manga after seeing the movie (GiTS was the first 'real' anime I ever saw), so I've never felt too disapointed by the movie. Actually, it enhanced reading the manga a lot, because I would read sections that cleared up some obscure reference or statement in the movie, and think 'Oh, so that's what they meant!', which was kind of cool.

Re:Makes sense

[SageLikeFool]

Ghost in the Shell 2 is Manga, but hasn't been officially translated to english yet. That is why it isn't for sale over here yet. If you are interested in more manga by Shirow Masamune, check your local comic book shop. Before Ghost in the Shell, he also did Dominion: Tank Police, Appleseed, Orion, Black Magic, and so on.

GITS2 will eventually make it over to here (probably through a translation by Dark Horse if that isn't already happening), and I believe in Japan a movie based on it is already being made, though I could be wrong.

Re:Makes sense

[Dixie_Flatline]

Dammit. I love GitS, but my REAL love is Appleseed. Where's my Appleseed 5? :)

Re:Makes sense

[lunatik17]

Compared to the differences between the movie and print versions of Akira, the changes in GiTS are absolutely trivial.

Akira and Ghost in the Shell both sufferend from typical compression that all movie adaptations go though. But in GitS, they completely changed the main character. I wouldn't call that trivial.

Re:Makes sense

[jandrese]

Well, I had the feeling the GiTS movie was supposed to only be based on the Manga, not a direct adaption of the storyline. To be honest, the manga wanders around a lot and it would have made for a rather long and boring movie. Print media is different than film, you can't always do the same thing in both and have it work.

That said, I hope they go into depth about the Fuchikomas in the TV series. I was really disappointed they didn't even make a cameo appearance in the movie. Maybe the TV series will take a minute at some point to explain why you need a full cyborg body if you want to enhance your strength and why you can't just replace your muscles with super strong servoes[1].

[1] Arm bends as commanded.

Re:Makes sense

[themurray]

I have been getting more into Manga even if my main habit is still Anime. The stories are typically much better (Akira: Manga vs. Akira the Movie - the movie loses big time to the the manga in story quality and depth).

Re:Makes sense

[AndyChrist]

The Ghost in the Shell 2 manga was released last summer in Japan. around 1500 yen, with a tiny little mousepad, to go with it.

I'm not sure when/where it was serialized.

I tried reading it, but DAMN....DAMN. That's hard stuff. (And I've translated some damned hard shit)

Re:Makes sense

[Anonymous Coward]

Compared to the differences between the movie and print versions of Akira, the changes in GiTS are absolutely trivial.

Unless you count the absolute butchery of the Main character's personality. Try replacing Madoka from Orange Road with an ass ugly version of Rei from Eva, and you get the idea.

Re:Makes sense

[randombit]

But in GitS, they completely changed the main character. I wouldn't call that trivial.

OK. Maybe it's just because I was up all night, but am I missing something? Yes, Motoko kills quite a few less people in the movie, and she's much less of a smartmouth. But I re-read the first half of the manga last night (up to the fight with the guys in Section 1), and I don't think she was completely changed. But given that two responses were made to that effect, maybe I'm wrong, so please clarify.

Even if we agreed on this point, I would still think the delta between Akira(manga) and Akira(movie) is far larger, given that the movie basically is the first 3 (or 2?) volumes, then it skips ahead to the very end of volume 6.

Re:Makes sense

[Zugok]

Something worth a mention about, Akira and Nausicaa of the Valley of Wind, was that the manga was far from being complete when the anime was made. In addition these are multi volume books as well. Akira, six, and if I recall, Nausicaa seven or eight.

The same could not be said of Ghost in the Shell. Could the GiTS anime faithfully follow the manga, possibly, but even still would be looking at a two movies.

Re:Makes sense

[Anonymous Coward]

You never had the chance to read the manga didn't you? The manga story has enough to fuel a TV series. The movie version was and was not that similar to the original manga. --BIG Anonymous Coward

sweet

[StandardDeviant]

This might be the reason for me to get a dvd playback device. ;-) (If it comes out on dvd, which i hope it does.) I really don't know which story I like better, Ghost In The Shell or Battle Angel Alita... I suppose I should just count myself lucky to have found both.

from the article

[nesthigh]

broadcast and licensing outside Asia :: Bandai Entertainment Inc. http://www.bandai-ent.com/

Anime Lovers

[batboy78]

For those anime lovers, Cowboy Bebop - The Movie is being posted over in alt.binaries.anime.vcd. If you haven't seen it check it out.

Re:Anime Lovers

[Microlith]

Shut up troll boy.

Dimension Films here in the US will be premiering the Cowboy Bebop movie in a matter of weeks.

Then the R1 DVD release will be out.

Support the creators, we say here on Slashdot.

DON'T download vcds.
DON'T buy bootlegs.
SUPPORT the creators and buy a legit copy.

Re:Anime Lovers

[Anonymous Coward]

Hey fanboy if someone sees something on USENET, then maybe they will purchase it. A VCD is no replacement for a high quality DVD. Personally I haven't seen Cowboy Bebop yet, maybe I will go check it out, and if its worth the purchase then I will go over to Amazon and order it.

Re:Anime Lovers

[Microlith]

If you're anywhere in North America, you can probably watch it on Cartoon Network.

Or go try and rent it.

Otherwise, just buy blind. I did when I first got into it, and as you said, I am now a crazed fanboy of the series.

Gotta love it :D

Re:Anime Lovers

[CrazyDuke]

My 2 cents...

I do not buy DVD's, CD's, Games, etc without watching/trying it first. When I try to do it blind, I almost always end up disappointed. I'm not donating $20 to the new-jet-fund of some old corporate fat-boy with me ending up with what might as well be an ordinary chunk of plastic.

Yeah, I leech. I also have over 100 original DVDs(mostly anime), CDs, and tapes. Compare that to less than 10 CDs and a couple of tapes before I started leeching warez, moviez, and mp3z off the internet.

Its not like just because people can and do get it for free, that they will not pay for it.

As for purchasing bootlegs, I do not knowingly buy bootlegs. The one time I did end up with one, I got pissed because I purchased it thinking it was an original. (go ebay...)

P.S. Beware of anime DVD's sold on the net with both Chinesse and English subs.

Re:Anime Lovers

[Anonymous Coward]

Ehh, I dunno about cartoon network, I think the only series I've watched that's been on that was Cowboy Bebop...and that was *after* I'd already seen most of it and preordered the DVD set.

I do agree with the main point of buying what you like if it's released (of course, there is a limit to what one can spend...).

I think though that fansubs shouldn't be discouraged just because CN picked up another Gundam series.

On a related note, I've heard that Movie Gallery (formerly Video Update, formerly Moovies) has even gotten Excel Saga DVDs in (!). Times could be a-changin'

Re:Anime Lovers

[AceCaseOR]

Well, with trying before you buy with anime, there's a very simple way I know about to do this without downloading fansubs/dubs off the net. Go to your public library and check the electronic card catalog for the anime you're interested in. If it's there, check out/put a hold on the first few episodes and watch them. You like it, then go buy it. Hate it, then go stick the tapes back in the return box. It's what works for me!

weekly vs. cenimatic

[Anonymous Coward]

Back in the early 80's, when I was about 7...my absolute favorite activity was getting up Saturday morning to watch anime. I didn't know it was called anime, but I liked it anyway.

As I grew older tho, I turned into a snob *grin* and decided that I needed a minimum level of artistic quality in order to enjoy anime. I still shake my head in disbelief every time I watch Akira.

Anyway I wrote this post because GOS had fabulous artistic merit...and there's no way to reproduce that in a weekly. It just takes too much time to hand draw all those frames.

Re:weekly vs. cenimatic

[Microlith]

Early 80s had very little anime.

Hell, Gundam was just picking up steam in Japan.

Mid to Late 80s more stuff was coming over, albeit in the form of stuff shown on Nickelodeon given the shaft by DiC and Nelvana.

And actually, many series are done on a weekly basis. Sure, they can't match movie quality artistry on a week by week basis (too expensive), but they can come close. Most stuff these days is done entirely digitally after storyboards are constructed.

No cels, no ink. All digital.

Re:weekly vs. cenimatic

[dacarr]

Most stuff these days is done entirely digitally after storyboards are constructed. Odd. I was under the impression that, while it is slowly picking up steam, studios in Japan are deprecating digital as too costly. Granted, I could be wrong....

Re:weekly vs. cenimatic

[Nogami_Saeko]

I had nearly the same experience. Didn't know it was anime, but I loved the stories and the animation style. Starblazers (Yamato) was the first that I remember watching as much as I could.

I suppose I turned into an anime snob too, but more against dubs (ya, dubs suck), and genres (I have no time for pokemon, dragonball, ninja scroll, etc).

I find myself watching less and less anime though, I don't know if that's because I'm getting older, or because everything is going domestic and just isn't as cool as it used to be when it was obscure and exciting (the golden age of fansubs).

Re:weekly vs. cenimatic

[Microlith]

They're deprecating cel based animation because cel inking, and outsourcing all the inbetweeners is very expensive, never mind the need to shoot each cel one by one with minor, almost totally by hand alterations to make it animated.

Digital just simplifies everything, and makes it cheaper.

But it won't make a bad story better.

Re:weekly vs. cenimatic

[dacarr]

Hmm... point. Just something in the back of my head, though - while I concur that it won't make a bad story better, I still have images of (say) Mononoke Hime being done on computer. There's just a lot of places that hand worked art is something you want.

On the other hand, I don't think Miyazaki would be caught dead doing (say) Lara Croft. =^_^=

Re:weekly vs. cenimatic

[AceCaseOR]

Well, there is one exception to the dub rule that proves it (IMHO). That's Cowboy Bebop. The dubbing is very good, and the voice actors they picked for the english dub fit the parts very, very well. I reccomend it to all of you who are looking for an example of a good dub.

Re:weekly vs. cenimatic

[BJH]

Don't bet on digital being cheaper - I remember reading something written by an ex-celpainter in Japan, where he said that no-one made enough money from celpainting to live on, so they all did extra work on the side. The pay per cel is very, very cheap.

Re:weekly vs. cenimatic

[lugonn]

"Early 80s had very little anime."

ARE YOU CRAZY!

Dude, seriously...were you under a rock or something?!

I used to watch Robotech, Voltron, Galaxy Rangers, and G-Force every afternoon in the early 80's, no cable either. That was all anime. I'd never even heard of Gundam, until I saw a commercial for those suit models a couple months ago. I still don't know the difference between Manga and Anime?

In fact, Galaxy Rangers is the first cartoon I can remember that used Computer Animation in with the drawings, and that was like '84.

DBZ just fuckin' rocks!

Ghost in a shell II graphic novel release

[Anonymous Coward]

When is the second graphic novel going to be released in english? They're taking for ever to do a stupid translation, how hard can it be?! Anybody know the release date?

Re:Ghost in a shell II graphic novel release

[BJH]

They're taking for ever to do a stupid translation, how hard can it be?!

Well, it's pretty obvious that *you* wouldn't know...

Re:Ghost in a shell II graphic novel release

[Tom Dunne]

It's hopefully due in October of this year. And keep in mind that it's not a strict translation. Japanese books, including comics/manga, read from right to left instead of the left to right style in English. That means the artwork is also designed to flow from right to left, and has to be carefully modified for English-reading audiences.

Before you ask - no, you can't just mirror the artwork. Right-handed characters would become left-handed, Japan would have people driving on the wrong side of the road, all signs and writing would be backwards, etc. Most of the best-translated manga spends a lot of time back on the drawing table being layed out and adjusted to account for that.

Re:Ghost in a shell II graphic novel release

[Anonymous Coward]

A flame, but hardly flamebait.

Re:Ghost in a shell II graphic novel release

[(H)elix1]

Before you ask - no, you can't just mirror the artwork. Right-handed characters would become left-handed, Japan would have people driving on the wrong side of the road, all signs and writing would be backwards, etc.

Hey now... they don't drive on the wrong side of the road if you use a mirror -- they are British.

Re:Ghost in a shell II graphic novel release

[Batou]

Before you ask - no, you can't just mirror the artwork. Right-handed characters would become left-handed, Japan would have people driving on the wrong side of the road, all signs and writing would be backwards, etc.

Actually, this is exactly what is done in most cases - and it is certainly done in all of Shirow's works that have been pubished in Enlgish (yes I have most of them and have been a fan of his work for years). Shirow is unusual as far as the fact that he does most of the artwork conversion himself for these releases (mostly changing the shape and size of the dialog "bubbles", but he does other stuff too).

But, the artwork is, in fact, mirrored, and right-handed people do indeed wind up using their left hands for everything.

Re:Ghost in a shell II graphic novel release

[Anonymous Coward]

He means the wrong side of the road *for Japan*, dork.

Re:Ghost in a shell II graphic novel release

[Hast]

Which is why you should just get the Tokyopop versions in any case. Personally I think it's better when they do as little as possible. Because they will always miss some details.

In some of the "Blade - of the immortal" (No not the wimpy vampire.) the action gets confusing because all of a sudden the fighter who was hit in the left leg is now hurting in the right leg and such.

It takes about 10 seconds to adjust to reading right to left, and IMHO it adds a certain "geekiness" to the books as well. (In a good way.)

I just don't see why they bother so much flipping the pages. It's not like you can fail to notice that it's Japanese anyways.

Re:Ghost in a shell II graphic novel release

[ixache]

Hey now... they don't drive on the wrong side of the road if you use a mirror -- they are "British"

You know, it's funny, because in that respect Japan is already British: they drive on the left. So when you mirror manga artwork, you actually get cars driving on the "right" (in more sense than one for most of the world) side of the road.

All of this shows that the moderator of the above post was as clueless as the original poster.

Useless bit of trivia: did you know that Sweden went from left-side driving to right-side driving in the sixties? They had to stop traffic for three days.

Xavier

What I want to know

[Anonymous Coward]

When do I get to ghost hack, and can someone give me the IP of Billy boy's, the RIAA/MPAA directors', Sen. Holling's, and John Ashcroft's cyberbrains? Maybe if we have direct access to these people, we can probably distribute clue to them.

In related news...

[OneFix]

The series Rahxephon has been picked up by AD Vision. For those that don't know, it's a series similar to Eva. The series is just finishing up its run in Japan, but it's almost impossible to find the subs now. I'm always hoping someone like Cartoon Network or Sci-Fi will pick up some of these better Mini-Series. That's the problem though, they like stuff like DBZ that they can rerun to death.

Re:In related news...

[tempmpi]

Actually a lot of stuff has been picked up and was announced at Anime-Expo two weeks ago. I think they picked up many much better series than Rahxephon. Rahxephon is just a bad NGE ripoff.
Pioneer announced "Mahoromatic", a nice and entertaining series from the creators of NGE, Gainax. They also announced "Chobits". Bandai announced "Argento Soma", a nicer NGE ripoff and "Infinite Ryvius".
If you want to know why it has become hard to find Rahxephon subs now, you should check this node explaining the ethics of fansubbing. If you don't know what fansubbing is all about, you may check this node or the homepages of Animeco or Elite Fansubs. Two of the larger fansub groups. Look at "Jungle wa itsumo hale nochi guu" for an example why fansubbing is still usefull.

Re:In related news...

[OneFix]

a bad NGE ripoff.

Ripoff maybe, but bad is an opinion. I personally think it is more likely to be aired in the US than Eva, but I still think it's a half-way decent show. I would have to agree that the design style is similar.

Then again, BGC is technically a ripoff of Blade Runner, so it's all relevant.

from the creators of NGE...

And you'ld be refering to those SOBs who couldn't leave well enough alone and gave us "Death and Rebirth". The series was great until that.

First, I know why it's hard to find the fansubs...I know all too well about the ethics behind it, and you CAN still find fansubs, they just aren't as easy. And it's really up to the group that's doing it. Some will stop releasing the fansubs as soon as the title is picked up, and some will not stop until the first commercial sub/dub is released. On the other hand, some of the lesser known groups pick up the remaining episodes if there are only a few left...in the case of Rahxephon there are 6 (I think) left...and another group has started doing the subs.

As for fan subs, you're preaching to the choir ... After seeing the subs of BGC (the origonal), the dubs are laughable. (Pris with a valley girl accent) :)

So, I can say that I know why they are hard to find, but that doesn't make one happy when I am following a series and right at the climax it's picked up by a commercial house and I have to wait a year or longer just to pick up where I left off.

And I also realise why the dubs are necessary (mass market appeal)....

Re:In related news...

[Cryptnotic]

Ethics of fansubbing is a contradiction. Fansubbing IS piracy. The "rules" that fansubbers follow are simply a way to justify that piracy.

For the record, let it be known that I download fansubs. For the things I greatly enjoy, I buy the DVD's to have a high-quality archive copy. For the things I don't greatly enjoy, I delete the files to make room for more fansubs.

I used to be very "straight-edge" and would only buy R2 DVD's or Laserdiscs. This was especially true when US localizers who did things I didn't agree with (like ADV and the Nadesico overlays). I would import R2's to spite the American companies. Recently though, I have realized that R2's are in general a waste of money.

Re:In related news...

[AceCaseOR]

Well, with Death and Rebirth, I can understand why they made them. They were making/planning on making End of Eva, which I'm guessing is how they planned to end the series all along, but they didn't want to PO their fans by ending the series that way (the ending, from what I've heard, is about as dark as Akira). To do this, I'm inferring that they had to tweak the timeline somewhat. So, instead of doing a "Neon Genesis Evangelion B" or whatever, they instead decided to do "Death and Rebirth" or something like that.

I myself have not seen Death and Rebirth and End of Eva, as I have not been able to get near an Anime convention due to Lack of Funds. So please forgive anything that I've messed up in this message.

Re:In related news...

[Yokaze]

> Rahxephon is just a bad NGE ripoff

Objection, sir.

First, the "ripoff" part. Practically, you can reduce every story so much, so that it is practically a rip off of another story.
(NGE is certainly not the first "Boy Fights Aliens in Robot"-Anime)

Some minor details, which RahXephon contains in contrast to NGE and Argent Soma: RahXephon tells much more about the opponent, who is quite different from NGE and Argent Soma. Ah, and the Time in RahXephon is a bit more twisted.

Second, the "bad" part. This is certainly a personal opinion, but I find the series well drawn and told, not to mention that the soundtrack is by Yoko Kanno. Have a look at her discography. I guess, she can choose the projects she works on.

Briarios?

[Anonymous Coward]

As in ex-loki software programmer?

Re:Briarios?

[vpreHoose]

BriarEos!

Why does computer geek = anime geek?

[kir]

I've been reading slashdot for years and have never figured why anime keeps cropping up here. Does computer geek = anime geek or does the vocal minority here simply make it appear as such?

I ask this question as a computer geek. I hate anime and know very few other computer geeks that really like it. I've known a few anime geeks in my time and sure, they used computers, but they were far from reaching the geekdom truly deserved of the title "computer geek" (whatever that means).

Basically, I'm ranting. I can sort of see how anime is "News for Nerds", but it would be quite a stretch to consider it "Stuff that matters".

Re:Why does computer geek = anime geek?

[Microlith]

Chance coincidence.

I know many people not terribly savvy with computers that love anime.

I also know a LOT of people who do a lot of work who like anime. I also know a lot who don't like anime at all.

Taco and a number of the /. crew seem to as well. That's all.

Re:Why does computer geek = anime geek?

[Apreche]

anime matters becuase it is quickly becoming very popular. It is the second time that somethign geeky has become mainstream thus decreasing the nerdiness of nerd-dom. The first time was when "normal" people started using computers in their homes. One of the main reasons for animes increase in popularity is peer to peer file sharing and divx ;-). Fansubbers are taking dvd rips of japanese shows, subtitling them before they are licensed and putting them up on the net for free download. They stop distribution when the show goes pro, and then everyone runs to media play to buy the anime on dvd. Not all computer geeks are anime geeks, and not all anime geeks are computer geeks. However, I go to RIT, the Rochester Institute of Technology. Our school consists of 60% IT/CS/Engineers, 40% Photo/Printing/Art, and NTID (National Technical Institute for the Deaf). The Anime club is one of the largest clubs on campus. The only club I can think of off hand that is larger is the F1 racing club.
A lot of geeks like anime. Some like it too much, they are known as fanboys. If you want to know more about anime fandom, go to Otakon, if you dare. www.otakon.com

Re:Why does computer geek = anime geek?

[OneFix]

Animation is just another format, like film or games. Anime is moreso, because much of it is already of a more mature nature than say video games and is generally Sci-Fi or Fantasy related. Most computer geeks are "into" Sci-Fi or Fantasy (for what ever reasons) ... as well, most "Computer Geeks" play games of some sort and are therefore more open to the idea of watching animation ("it's not just for kids").

So, it makes sense that alot of computer geeks, especially those that play video games will be likely to like Anime.

I like Anime (wouldn't call myself an Anime geek), but I own DVDs of Akira, Bubblegum Crisis, and Eva ...

And I would call myself a "Computer Geek" (I won't go into this, as it would be quite involving) ...

Re:Why does computer geek = anime geek?

[Otter]

I've been reading slashdot for years and have never figured why anime keeps cropping up here. Does computer geek = anime geek or does the vocal minority here simply make it appear as such?

To directly answer your question -- A year or so ago, Rob got into anime, started posting about it and soon gave it its own topic. (Partly because all the anime haters complained when it showed up in Movies or TV.)

As you say, it _is_ arguably News for Nerds but mostly it's like the Pete Townshend news that gets posted periodically. Hey, you're an old-timer -- don't you enjoy seeing Rob's fingerprint on the site sometimes? For the most part, it seems like he posts stories out of obligation but his heart hasn't been in the site for years.

Re:Why does computer geek = anime geek?

[sharph]

I wish people would stop critisizing anime. If you don't want it on slashdot, just use the nifty preferences page. These posts are really useless and I'm very tired of them. The posts before mine answer your question very nicely I think. The what "computer geek" means is like an unwritten law. No two geek are alike.

Re:Why does computer geek = anime geek?

[ashitaka]

The central theme in a lot of anime, at least the ones of interest to Slashdot denizens, is concerned with human-technology interaction.

e.g. Ghost in the Shell - involves AI, cybercrimes and robots.

Nerd enough for ya?

Personally I'm more partial to Miyazaki Hayao's productions and the manga of Akira Toriyama (Early Dragon Ball, Dr. Slump)

Re:Why does computer geek = anime geek?

[Cardhore]

I completely agree. Anime and Star Wars. Who gives a rats ass. This crap keeps cropping up and takes the place of what could have been something interesting. If I wanted to hear about movies I'd go to movienews.org or grab a newspaper.

Re:Why does computer geek = anime geek?

[Yosho]

I've been reading slashdot for years and have never figured why anime keeps cropping up here.

Have you ever taken the time to read any of the other threads just like yours in every other anime article ever posted on Slashdot?

*ahem* That is, other people have already answered your question. I like anime. I know a lot of geeks that like it, too -- in fact, out of the anime club at Texas Tech, I believe that all but two of the members are in Computer Science or Electrical Engineering.

Just because it doesn't matter to you doesn't mean it doesn't matter to anybody else. If you don't want to see it, disable it in your personal account settings.

Re:Why does computer geek = anime geek?

[Whammy666]

I think anime appeals to a lot of computer nerds simply because its rather esoteric - just like computer programming is to most folk. Of course now anime has gained wider acceptance so I guess that's not true any more. But I can offer this to anyone who has never seen the more sophisticated anime (Pokemon doesn't qualify), the story lines and character development is often far superior to any live action drama you're likely to see on prime time TV. It's much more imaginative, it's often science fiction set in the future, but not so far as to be unfamiliar which gives it nerd appeal, and the chicks are damn sexy. What more could you want?

====
Jim: I know, if we don't tell you, you're going to turn into an animal.

Aisha: Who are you calling an animal?!?!

Re:Why does computer geek = anime geek?

[ndnet]

Anime is part of geekdom in general. Another reply pointed out that also part of this heritage is DnD-style medieval fantasy stuff and the like.

These things are part of geekdom. You're a geek for collecting hundreds of Magic:TG cards, or for camping out in wait of Star Wars, or going to a Comic-Book con, or watching anime.

We all have different interests, but one of the most popular right now is anime, which happens to be popular with my age group (15-20). My father also reads Slashdot. Does he give a hoot about anime? Of course not. He rarely even cares about "His Rights Online."

That's why the categories exist. For exmaple, I loathe Katz. I could complain about him until I'm blue in the face, or I could block him. Mind you, I don't, because once in a blue moon he'll have a good point and exposition often ends up funny as heck, but if I wanted to badly enough, I could.

Heck, up to about a year ago, I hated DnD and the like. Now my tastes have changed. Slashdot doesn't carry much on the subject, but maybe it did help show me a bit.

Re:Why does computer geek = anime geek?

[kir]

Have you ever taken the time to read any of the other threads just like yours in every other anime article ever posted on Slashdot?

Actually, no. As I stated in the parent, I hate anime, so I never really read them. And yes, I can disable the anime topic in my settings. I mean to nearly every time I see an anime post, but I always seem to get caught up in something else.

But... have no fear. Someday I'll disable. I mean to as soon as I finish this post. Hopefully the phone doesn't ring or something.

Just because it doesn't matter to you doesn't mean it doesn't matter to anybody else.

Damn. It's not like I'm demanding anime be done with on slashdot. Please. I was asking a question. Why so hostile?

Re:Why does computer geek = anime geek?

[mr_zorg]

Obviously you're not a computer geek either. If you were, you'd know that should be "Why does computer geek == anime geek"!

Re:Why does computer geek = anime geek?

[Yosho]

Sorry about that.. But seriously, every time there's a topic about anime, there's at least one thread where somebody says how much they hate anime and they can't understand why it's on Slashdot, and they're usually just trolling.

I'll take your word for it that you were honestly asking a question, but really, walking in to any place and saying you hate the topic of discussion isn't a good way to start a conversation.

For example, according to the preferences page, there's a topic for Star Wars prequels.. I don't really like Star Wars at all; I fail to understand how people can even consider it science fiction. But I don't complain, I just ignore it.

Re:Why does computer geek = anime geek?

[Anonymous Coward]

I have serious misgivings towards anyone who dislikes something just because of categorization. It reeks of prejudice. I couldn't care less if you like anime or not, but closed-minded people suck.

Re:Why does computer geek = anime geek?

[crimson30]

Uh..if you don't want to read it, why don't you customize your account so that you don't? Some computer geek you are...

What I really don't get is why anime is on /. but mtg and rpg stuff isn't...

Re:Why does computer geek = anime geek?

[Anonymous Coward]

Does computer geek = anime geek or does the vocal minority here simply make it appear as such?

Anime geek definitely does not equal computer nerd, except on Slashdot. They have a strange idea of what we're supposed to be. Apparently we're all supposed to be in state of arrested development, permanent mental 12 year olds lost in a fantasy world of cartoons and comic books and childrens toys, utterly incable of appreciating or enjoying any art or literature that does not depict wizards or light sabers. That description may fit some geeks I know, but not most of them, and not the best of them.

Re:Slashdot in the shell!

[Anonymous Coward]

You have no rights, this is a PRIVATE website.

Question:

[CrazyDuke]

Anyone know if the series will follow the movie or the manga?

Re:Question:

[mj_sf]

The series is based upon the manga. The movie was just a compilation a certain aspects of the manga, put together in such a way that, to a first time viewer, it would seem to make sence (well, maybe after a few viewings) but to someone whos had the manga for years now and read it cover to cover far too many times (me for 1) it ended up slightly dissapointing and fairly confusing on first view. This has (now) changed for me as even with the dissapointment, it is still a technically outstanding piece of animation and CGI.

From what i have seen in the captured cells on Production I.G the series is looking fairly true to the manga, especially now that they have re-intruduced the Fuchikoma's (robots similar to spiders, som ewith their own personalities such as Batou's) that were criminally left out of the film adaption.

I'm very much looking forward to this series, be it dub'd or sub'd. It will certainly fulfill alot of angst left by the poorly cut-and-pasted plot line of the film.

Hope

[Fujisawa Sensei]

I just hope the TV Series keeps the spirit and personality of the manga. The movie was crap, and I'm sorry to see so many people actaully buying into hype surrounding it.

Re:Hope

[Anonymous Coward]

My appologies for not reading Kanji. Maybe if you have a few months free to teach me??

Re:Hope

[Anonymous Coward]

Wouldn't be in Kanji I don't think, for one....

But as mentioned, Dark Horse has an American edition out.

IMHO, the movie isn't nearly the same thing as the manga anyway, it basically deals with one subplot. Compared to other movies by the same director (Jin Roh, Blood) it's pretty standard for him.

The thing I miss most though is the wry sense of humor from the manga.

Re:Hope

[Anonymous Coward]

Finally.. someone who will admit it! I hated the Ghostin the Shell movie. it sucked. there's so much hype around it that people just assume it was good.

Re:Hope

[Anonymous Coward]

How long is it gonna take learn to got Barns and Noble, and buy a copy of it in English you ignorant muther fucker.

Re:Hope

[Anonymous Coward]

And get modded down for it, but some stupid ass fanbody.

Gunbuster 2?

[Anonymous Coward]

Anyone know more? Looked all over the net for even just a scrap more info. Anyone?

P-p-p-p-p-p-p-lease coach-o-sensei!

Reality check...

[steppin_razor_LA]

Many of us "nerds" also have interested in science fiction, sword & sorcery / dungeons and dragons, animation (computer and anime), electronic toys (gadgets and gizmos aplenty)... etc

It's all part of our shared, socially maladjusted heritage. While you may or may not share all of these interests, it shouldn't be too difficult to be able to understand why Slashdot covers them...

Re:Reality check...

[SQL Error]

And Lego. Can't forget Lego.

Re:Reality check...

[Anonymous Coward]

Lego Mindstorm.. Ahh, I wish I could afford it.. :>

Re:Reality check...

[Anonymous Coward]

It's all part of our shared, socially maladjusted heritage

For most of us, these things you mentioned were part of our childhood, but not part of out adult lives. I think the frustration you see in posts complaining about anime, Star Wars, etc., is that being an adult, and having adult tastes, is not tolerated here -- neither by the posters, the moderators, or the editors. Where on the web can the adult computer nerd go? (anyone who answers "K5" missed my point)

Cartoon Network pisses me off

[Whammy666]

I love the Adult Swim concept at CN and I look forward to it each Saturday. But I'm really getting pissed off by their mid-stream programming changes. They got to episode 24+/- of Outlaw Star and dropped it. (It only had 2 more episodes to go to finish the story.) The same thing happened with Tenchi Muyo OAV, Tenchi in Tokyo, and Pilot Candidate. ARRGGHHH!! YOU ASSHOLES!!!!

I tried to find some contact information on their website in order to scream at their programming director, but they seem to have strategically omitted it (or maybe I was just too pissed to see it).

But I think a network that featured the more adult anime on a regular basis (and would actually finish a series) would be great.

FYI: The best of Cowboy Bebop is supposed to be on CN next saturday (6 episodes).

** I'm not going there to die, I'm going there to see if I am still alive. **

Re:Cartoon Network pisses me off

[Tenchi-kun]

did you happen to know that Pilot Candidate was only 13 episodes in the first place? It was cut off in Japan before it ever got to the end of the storyline. I've heard that plans are in motion to continue it in the future, but nothing is in stone.

Just wanted to let you know so you don't keep ripping on CN for nothing they had control over.

Why does slashdot = computer geek?

[starvingartist12]

And since when does "News for Nerds, Stuff that Matters" exclusively equal to a computer geek?

ghost in the shell?

[Anonymous Coward]

more like goatse in the shell

Because Tacoboy loves it!

[RasTafarii]

see http://cmdrtaco.net/

Contacting Cartoon Network

[sheilagh]

The Cartoon Network 1050 Techwood Dr., NW, P.O. Box 105264, Atlanta, Ga., 30318. 404-885-4390

From: http://www.sun-sentinel.com/entertainment/tv/sfl-t vradiocontact.htmlstory?coll=sfla-tv-utility

As well as the potentially lame: http://www.cartoonnetwork.com/gen/help/index.html

awwwww

[Anonymous Coward]

that 'anime' article-icon is so cute.

***Spoiler Alert!!!***

[EuroChild]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but at the end of the movie, Motoko Kusanagi has a different body, right? It was a body that bateu found on the black market, right? Now I can't remember if motoko was still with section 9 or not - but I guess because bateu got her new body on the black market, then that would mean that she is no longer with section 9, right? So if motoko's not with section 9 anymore then this series can't be a follow on from the movie... can it?

And if you haven't seen the movie - you should have read the spoiler warning.

Anime is discusting.

[Anonymous Coward]

The Anime section is the one that really makes me cringe. It's upstairs in the general releases since it's all, you know, cartoons, and some of it is charming fare like My Neighbor Totoro. But a lot of it is incredibly hardcore stuff - way worse than we'll allow in the real-people porn downstairs. My position on porn is that I'm fine with whatever floats your boat, as long as everyone involved is a consenting adult. Manga throws both of those rules out the window. Sure, all the boxes claim that all the characters are at least 18, but a lot of them are clearly drawn to look about 12. And there's a lot of raping. Not just run-of-the-mill raping, either - we're talking about triple-penetration rape by demons.

I consider myself a first-amendment feminist, but to be honest the anime section really makes me wrestle with that sometimes. And guys that rent the entire La Blue Girl series all at once (check out the box cover sometimes and you'll see what I mean) freak me out even worse than the guys who rent the Animal Trainer series.

Re:Anime is discusting.

[Derleth]

My position on porn is that I'm fine with whatever floats your boat, as long as everyone involved is a consenting adult. Manga throws both of those rules out the window. Sure, all the boxes claim that all the characters are at least 18, but a lot of them are clearly drawn to look about 12. And there's a lot of raping. Not just run-of-the-mill raping, either - we're talking about triple-penetration rape by demons.

This should either be +5, Funny or -1, Flamebait. I'm laughing at it because I always laugh at stupid ramblings, but I suppose I can't know the mind of the author. I'll advise my fellow users to mod the parent as the mood hits them.

The line "Not just run-of-the-mill raping, either - we're talking about triple-penetration rape by demons." is especially good and, I suppose, marks this as satire instead of flamebait.

At the risk of being taken as a whooshee, it's spelled 'disgusting'. I'm anal about spelling.

Re:Anime is discusting.

[Anonymous Coward]

Try "Troll".

Re:Anime is discusting.

[Dahan]

That's swiped from True Porn Clerk Stories. (Recently featured on Memepool).

Press Release

[Briareos]

Of course, this wasn't online yesterday when I submitted the story, but since the Production I.G. site linked to Bandai Entertainment for licensing outside of Asia anyway, it's not *that* surprising:

Bandai Entertainment Announces Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex

Woo, it's looking good...

[Tsuzuki]

The TV series looks way more faithful to the manga at least in style... which already beats that Manga-Entertainment-fanboy-whore of a movie. Can't wait to see how it turns out!

Re:Woo, it's looking good...

[Tom Dunne]

1) This series is being created by Production IG. The film was created by Production IG. GitS film, GitS series, same studio.

2) Manga Entertainment had nothing to do with the film beyond its distribution. The GitS movie was an entirely Japanese production. If you want to call the director, Mamoru Oshii a fanboy-whore, that's your call.

UPDATE: Bandai got it

[tempmpi]

Bandai Entertainment USA just announced that they got the video and BROADCAST rights to the Ghost In The Shell TV series.

stuck in the 70s...

[Anonymous Coward]

our Star Blazers...

Re:Slashdot in the shell!

[Anonymous Coward]

You idiot, open up your own website and run it as you wish. Why do you feel the need to whine like a little bitch about things that should have no bearing on you if you just LEAVE THE FUCKING WEBSITE and tend to your own shit. There are billions of other sites on the internet which i'm sure you won't agree with a good percentage of them, do you feel the need to write all them letter? Do you need a life? A psychiatrist maybe?

::whine::

[soupforare]

There is no way this won't suck :/

I've got GitS on every major media format from the past 20 years sans Betamax and RCA CED, though I doubt it came out on CED ::shrug::

Director

[Tsu-na-mi]

I hope they get Hiroyuki Kitakubo to direct it, instead of Mamoru Oshii. Kitakubo directed the Playstation GitS videogame opening, which IMHO looked way cooler than the movie and was more 'true' to the series. Oshii's a great director, but he's better off not screwing with someone else's story. His stuff is never faithful to the original.

--
Dave

Yay!

[paulcammish]

I can finally wander round saying things like "What we see now is like a dim image in a mirror. Then we shall see, tace to face." and not get looked at quite as odd as usual...

Plagarism

[Anonymous Coward]

This comes directly from this site, titled "True Porn Clerk Stories." I suspect that it was plagarized due to the fact that the woman who writes it wants to write professionally - and wouldn't have misspelled "disgusting."

Translation

[pyrote]

Personally I'd like to wait for the translation.
for anyone who has watched Speed Racer, there is a right way, and a wrong way to translate anime.

'All your base are belong to us.'... case dismissed

I love you

[perdida]

Slashdot desperately needs a James Traficant crapflooder. In my opinion, Mr. Traficant is one of the few normal human beings in Congress.

Keep up the good work.