a dilemma concerning anime purchasing

[rocklobster]

Every time I see you people promote anime that isn't licensed for TV, it makes me feel out of the loop. Is it wrong that I have to see an anime on TV or online first before I will shell out cash for it? I don't like to make blind purchases because I don't want to spend a lot of money just to find out if I like something.

[LadyRushia]

I don't find anything wrong with that at all, especially since now there are ways to watch anime online that aren't illegal. Though I haven't had time to get into any new series lately, I find that watching a few episodes helps me decided whether or not I want to buy it.

[minakichan]

It's not like people in Japan all go and buy DVDs without watching the telly first. =/

[KhakiBlueSocks]

[font="Trebuchet MS"][SIZE="4"][color="RoyalBlue"]To quote Robert Randolph & The Family Band:

"Ain't Nothing Wrong With That."

Seriously, nothing wrong with taking a risk every now and then. Though I do recommend you read the back of the DVD before investing, just to check rating, nudity, etc...

Besides, most places allow you to trade in DVD's for store credit. While it's not going to equal what you originally paid for it, it's better than nothing at all.[/color][/SIZE][/font]

[Roy Mustang]

The key word is if it is right or wrong is what you said in anime purchasing.

In this case, if you plan on purchasing it, but you are going to check it out a bit first to see it. Then that is fine, but if you are just going to go download it, not buy the anime on dvd and then say you own it. That is something that bugs that bugs me and I don't think that is right.

Plus anime companies are putting tiles online now to view anyway.




[font="Book Antiqua"][color="Red"]Col. Roy Mustang[/color][/font]

[rocklobster]

I don't download, Roy. I do use the online sites like YOutube for trying things out. What I was wondering is if I should try a blind purchase out one time.

[ADXC]

Hey I do the same thing. I usually don't make a blind purchase without a whole lot of stuff backing up the purchase. But I occasionally do make one just becuase Id like to see something different.

Well making a blind purchase is up to you, but if you do make sure you read the back of the DVD box like KBS said and check the content rating. You do not want to pick up something infront of your relatives that has unappropriate things on it. But if the story on the back sounds like something you'd want to watch then buy it. Sometimes spur-of-the-moment purchases are very memorable. You may find a hidden gem of an anime just by browsing. But more chances than not unfortunately, you may not like it. So if you do make a blind purchase, keep your wits about you!

[Roy Mustang]

I don't download, Roy. I do use the online sites like YOutube for trying things out. What I was wondering is if I should try a blind purchase out one time.

I meant as a whole, there are people out there that will go and download anime and not buy it at all and then say they still own it.

As for youtube and other sites, I look at this way, as long as its the anime company youtube page or web site, or other online sites like Joost and Hulu that is showing it, then its fine.

[color="Red"][font="Book Antiqua"]Col. Roy Mustang[/font][/color]

[Fish and Chips]

I don't find that sampling anything is wrong. There are a couple Manga and Anime I have since grown fond of and collected that I probably would have missed entirely if I hadn't previewed them first.

My personal experience with blind purchases has largely been a mixed bag. I bought the first two volumes of Fate/Stay Night based purely off a recommendation from a friend before I realized how much I disliked them, but I had better luck in picking up the Giant Robo OVA entirely on hearsay and I enjoyed it immensely, and also Kino's Journey, which ended up being wonderful. For Manga I tend to have worse mileage, striking out with Saiyuki and recovering slightly with Dororo, though I'm not particularly attached to that series either (but it's Tezuka, and therefore Beyond Criticism according to some people).

[Scarecrow]

Well... I blind buy just about everything ^_^ I just get the thin packs usually, which are dirt cheap compared to buying each volume. So its worth it to me. I will get a lowdown of what to expect with the content and if the story is any good as well as find out the general themes conveyed thoughout. I generally check out the animes opening on youtube if I get the chance to get a feel for the art/animation cause sometimes the art can put me off since one thing I love about anime is the artwork. But usually the box is good enough. I don't know if thats exactly 100% a blind but anyway.

So far I've had no rotten eggs in my collection of yet. I'm happy with all of them. I've had some where I started them and thought... oh great this is gonna suck but my tune changed about halfway through a few of the series. Oh... except that stupid Batman anime that came out not long ago. That was the only one I bought and thought... load of crap.

[EricTheFred]

I don't feel I've done anything wrong, no matter what, if I view a portion of a series before buying it. I could just as well borrow a friend's DVD as see a fansub, and frankly, that's what I would do if I were waiting for them to come out. I've also bought things after seeing a sample episode on free DVDs that come with anime magazines, so it isn't like the Anime companies don't understand this concept.

However, I believe it is wrong to fail to purchase the series once they make it available to me, if I have watched that series, or a large portion of it. And frankly, I would bet if the anime companies put up an English website for people to go pay them some reasonable price for the unlicensed fansubs they've watched, I think they would have plenty of people like me giving them money... especially if they refunded it upon proof of purchase of the series after it is licensed, so we aren't paying twice (or, they could send the payer a coupon to use on the purchase once the DVD comes out.)

Certainly, they would still be getting a lot of cheaters (probably a majority of the viewers) but they would be getting more money than they get now.

[termyt]

It's a gray area at best. There's nothing wrong with seeing before buying, in theory, so long as you are not taking, keeping, or passing out copies yourself.

However, for you to view the anime before buying, someone else is taking, keeping, and passing out copies. So is it right to benefit from someone else's wrong?

I have taken and I still own some fansubs of stuff that has never been made available over here. That's a light enough shade of gray for me. I do not do that with stuff that is licensed, though – I draw the line there. I also destroy and fansubs I have and buy the legitimate copies if they become available.

Thankfully, the industry is moving in the direction of providing free/inexpensive ways to view anime without having the shell out the money for DVD’s. I hope this trend continues.

[GeneD]

I won't buy a series without at least seeing a few episodes, but I've purchased a number of anime movies without knowing anything about them. Most of them have turned out excellent or at the very least good.

[KhakiBlueSocks]

[font="Trebuchet MS"][SIZE="4"][color="RoyalBlue"]One thing I would like clarification on--

What is considered a "blind" purchase? Is it having no knowledge whatsoever of the anime in question, or does reading about it in reviews and forums count?[/color][/SIZE][/font]

[Roy Mustang]

[font="Trebuchet MS"][SIZE="4"][color="RoyalBlue"]
What is considered a "blind" purchase? Is it having no knowledge whatsoever of the anime in question, or does reading about it in reviews and forums count?[/color][/SIZE][/font]

Putting on a blind fold, walking into a store and falling over anime dvds and grabbing one.


Hit it Kiyone!

:rim shot


[font="Book Antiqua"][color="Red"]Col. Roy Mustang[/color][/font]

[rocklobster]

a blind purchase is when you just purchase an anime with little or no info on it. I've only done it twice, and that was when I ordered two Miyazaki movies: Nausicaa and Howl's Moving Castle. But that was because by then I became a dyed in the wool Ghibli fan.

[ADXC]

@ Roy-XD. Yeah, at least that would be a true blind purchase.

It makes you wonder what kind of purchases Helen Keller would make.

Okay, I admit that was in bad taste.


But yeah, rocklobster's definition is accurate for this type of blind purchase.