Bootlegs?

[EricDent]

I am just curious what everybodys thoughts on Bootlegs are.

If you don't know what a bootleg is, basically it is a really cheaply done, and very illegal copy of a show. Be it anime, or even a movie.

You sometimes run into them at conventions, small comic stores, and especially on E-Bay. You can usually spot them pretty quick if you know what to look for.

A: Really cheaply made looking packageing. With Chinese or Japanese on the back.
B: Usually only in the original language with Chinese & English subtitles (most are made in Hong Kong). Sometimes there are exceptions (especially with older shows).
C: A really really cheap price. Say for example Outlaw Star (which has 6 disks) was $100 for the real legit version of the DVD set, but the bootleg (or sometimes called "international" version) was 3 discs for under $50.

Sometimes when I look at Half-Price Books I spot a bootleg, sometimes I mention it to the employees who work there.

The only possible good thing about a bootleg is maybe the series will NEVER (and I mean NEVER EVER) come out in the US due to licencing ownership issues (such as Macross Zero). Or if it is some really obscure (and disowned) TV special (say for example the infamous Star Wars Christmas Special).

Other than that, there is no need for any bootlegs IMO.

Personally I own exactly 5 bootleg VHS/DVDs. Most of them are Godzilla movies (which at the time looked like they would never come to the US, and when they did I bought the DVDs). The only anime one I have is the allready mentioned Macross Zero.

I am aware that this kind of sounds like a "Catch 22" on my part, due to my total dislike of illegal internet downloads of anime/movies. But at the time I bought these shows, I did not know they were bootlegs (well I did know in the case of Macross Zero, but I also knew that it won't ever get released here).

There is an anime store nearby (which is going out of business) and pretty much every DVD they have is a bootleg. However most of the ones that I was sort of interested in are rather old shows that licencers won't bother with. I am talking about Mazinger Z, Getter Robo, and a few others.

So what are your thoughts about bootlegs?

[Kaditsu]

I'd say my opinion isn't far off from yours. I don't personally own any bootlegs... any more. But a long time ago when I was just getting into DBZ I brought a couple of the movies off the net, and they weren't very great quality (and the subtitles were laughable... yes, I'm talking Animelabs Movie 13 dub, for those in the know...) but I would not look down on someone who brought a bootleg that has no legit release in there language.

When we get to Anime downloads, I'm at a crossroads. I do download Bleach weekly, but delete them after watching once and have brought each legit DVD as they have been released. So while I am partially guilty, I like to think that the creators and license holders get there money from me in the end anyway, I just get a one-watch preview of each episode.

The people who download them and then keep them/burn them and never actually pay for it are the ones that annoy me.

Anyway, that's my opinion!

[DBZ-metalhead]

The only bootlegs I have are some games from the early 90's, when we really didn't have money to get games otherwise. Bootleg is a funny word though, whenever I see it I hear a "Yarr" in my head

[EricDent]

Well that is pretty much why they are called Bootlegs, since they are a form of video piracy (much like fansubs).

I never said that I hate people who download anime to see if they like it and then buy the DVDs. I do not like people who always complain that "anime costs too much, so therefore I will always get it free". Then there are the people who think that anime is an artform that should be availible free (they think that anybody who makes money off of anime is evil). Anyways...that concludes the soapbox tirade for today.

[SpiritOfFire]

The people who download them and then keep them/burn them and never actually pay for it are the ones that annoy me.
I'd personally rather do that than buy every single series I've ever watched, or even buy good series like True Tears and Shigofumi for $50 per two-episode disc.

I'm not a fan of bootlegging, but I really don't care much either way. Everyone around me buys bootleg movies, I always get after them about it, but that's just to tease them.

[Timothy2035]

All:

Don't mention anything about personal downloads, even removing afterwards. This type of conversation is not permitted on Atari.

For reasons to keep this thread from misinterpretation, its best we don't discuss buying bootlegs either.

[EricDent]

Whoops! Sorry about that Tim, forgot that we can't talk about this stuff here for a second...

Go ahead & delete this if you need to.

[Mack_Tien]

Whoops! Sorry about that Tim, forgot that we can't talk about this stuff here for a second...

Go ahead & delete this if you need to.

EricDent, there's no need to delete or close this thread. Why? Because bootlegs have allowed for anime that are butchered when dubbed in the States, to be seen in their original, uncut entirety. Right now Naruto sounds like they paid a guy walking past the studio $200 to do all the voices. Besides the horrible dubbing, the script is horrendous, I hate hearing them say jutsu all day long. And with Orochimaru, they pronounce it like Orochi Maru, like it's two separate names!

Bootlegs also showcase anime that has been dubbed in the States access to all the episodes. For example, Shaman King DVDs for the series have been halted, and extremely likely the series' entirety will not be available on DVD. Personally, I can't stand majority of U.S. anime dubs, voices and scripts. And I really don't like when they change the music. I appreciate that anime is huge in America and all over the world, however, if ya gonna dub a show, at least do it with respect and do it correctly.

This is kind of off-topic, regardless, how many watched One Piece 4Kids version? Do you think they did the show justice (dumb question, but you'll get my point)? Funimation has the license now, and they will do a great job with the censoring and DVDs, but I prefer 4Kids voices better. What I'm trying to get at is if it wasn't for the bootlegged, original uncut version being showcased you know where and you know how, people would miss out on a great anime in it's purest form.

A great deal of American dubbed anime are mainly just being exploited because it is anime. Half the companies don't care about giving 100%, they dub rush jobs but take time editing, then push the anime on a wrong timeslot on the worst channels, anime isn't getting the respect it deserves in my opinion. That is why fans have backlashed DBZ dub and petitioned for original Japanese audio and music on the DVDs. They also petitioned and complained about the incessant "Believe it" ranting Naruto did the beginning of the series.

Bootlegs are hurting the industry, but companies aren't helping themselves either. Instead of putting 25 episode series on 2 or 3 volume sets at say $35, they extend them to about 3 eps. and like 8 volumes, at $25-30 a volume. I think the companies would make more money if they stop being stingy with the episodes. Dragonball is done correctly, 13-18 episodes for each volume, at $35-40, but initial releases for all anime usually have a $5 off sale, plus if you shop at a store with a membership, you can maybe get 10% off, just try to play your cards right and shop at stores with the %10 discount option. My anime collection is very limited because of how slow the U.S. releases are on DVD. Anime has high demand, companies know this, and they make people wait, which is a no no, and they end up losing customers, another bad business move. I'd prefer if the bootlegging stops, but sadly anime will continue to be released in such porous states in America (not all, but a high percentage have and will) that bootleg versions, illegal versions are the only way for many fans to watch certain anime in it's respective form.

Sorry for the rant, just got caught up in the moment.

[SpiritOfFire]

Your argument is a terrible one, Mack Tien. but props for making it.

[EricDent]

Well obviously everybody has an opinion on what is good or bad about this subject. Obviously I am a little biased towards not illegally obtaining anime. Even though I said that I have in the past, I don't plan on doing again.

Obviously certain people like different things. Naruto (for all it's faults) is still pretty darn popular. Unfortuneatly not everyone has either the Funimation Channel or Anime Network, so they have to get their anime from Cartoon Network.

I agree that certain shows are treated like crap. Which is why I stick to shorter shows, no insane numbers of DVDs to collect. The longest show I have is 102 episodes long (Gatchaman), and the dub is really good.

Not every company does a good job with dubs. However, there are some companies (and voice actors) who are just plain amazing. Yes I have listened to the Japanese versions, and I must say that the English VAs on some of the shows, got it dead on (if not better) than the Japanese version.