I was pretty shocked to discover that people are fansubbing
The Melancholy of Haruhi-chan Suzumiya, considering that it's available subtitled from Kadokawa on YouTube.
Apparently the reasoning was twofold: first, the English in the original Kadokawa subtitles really isn't very good. Second, the videos weren't uploaded at YouTube's highest quality, and thus would be improved by a fansub from the DVD release.
Both of these seem kind of fishy to me. I mean, the claimed ethical justification for fansubbing is that it makes anime available in places and to people that otherwise wouldn't have had it. By putting
Haruhi-chan with English subtitles on YouTube, Kadokawa's made it available to English speakers worldwide. I'm not sure if an upgrade in quality is really sufficient reason to engage in this kind of thing.
Legally, of course, the fansubbers haven't ever had a leg to stand on. But ethically? I'm not sure.
Haruhi-chan DVDs aren't for sale here, and so it's tough to argue that fansubs interfere with Kadokawa's ability to make money.
But I wouldn't have done it, just the same.
words from chris, 2009-10-29 01:00:32, los angeles
