As discussed in the "Panels!!" topic, Mike gave me the go ahead to start this topic, for my anime club's idea.

Introducing the State of Otakudom Address!

Not completely like our President's annual review of the Union, this panel is mostly an informal fan discussion about the fandom in our otaku community. This can include anime, convention, gaming, Internet memes, etc. What I'd like to hit on are key issues that are happening most recently in fandom.

While this panel is kinda informal, I'd also love to have some fair intelligent content, doing point/counterpoints on most, if not all topics that are overviewed. This way, everyone can have their say and we can reach a 'final thought' on just what kinda direction otakudom is flowing.

As I stated in the other topic, I do not want to do this alone. Not only do I think I'm wrong on some things, but I'm also quite bias on some issues that can be debated for hours *coughevacough*. Thus, I'd like for this to be a collaborative project.

If you wanna help out, please PM me some commentary on an issue that you feel strongly about. This issue must be current, like in the last 2-3 years or so. From there, I'll look into the issue in various sources online (as well as a discussion in club) and find overall opinion that fandom sees the issue in.

I ask you guys to please keep most of the discussion in PMs, emails, and IMs. If too much talk happens in this topic, then ppl would already know the content without having to go to the actual panel. So in this topic, let's give short statements and whatnot, then more in depth off the boards. *crosses fingers in hopes to avoid off topicness*

Here's a few topics that can be talked about...meaning they might not be at the panel. Still, it's some ideas:
Official Fansub? - Viz Media licenses Death Note in a revolutionary way
Welcome, It's Safe - the anime con and how it's making magic happen
Convention Drama - Why is it that some cons hate other cons?
Generation Why - to the fans from the 80s, we're still noobs....but now we (the 90s kids) got a new gen to usher in. karma = bitch. Also, how dubbed anime affects these new fans
Yaoi Ka-Zowie - Since Gravitation was unleashed in 2003, yaoi is everywhere. Is it too much or just a silent fandom that now has a voice?
desudesudesu, WROOONG!! - memes/fads from 4chan, YTMND, etc as the new face of smartass humor on the Interweb......NEDM *runs*
The Birth of a Subgenre - Don't look now guys, but ya realize how HUGE anime has become? We're no longer an unknown breed... the revolution has won...


More topics shall be added (or removed or edited) as they are thought up. If there's something here that you know of, bring it up! Thanks!

I, for one, would warn against highlighting fansubs so much. People never change and that debate always causs more crap to fly than is really necessary. What's more, it's been done to death, hasn't it?

The beauty of this event though is that there is no debate, just chearing or booing, and we speak from the position of authority.

I don't think we should fuck around with this thing, and should take it seriously. If we do a good job the youtubing could be intense! Plus I think it might be the first time something like this has been done outside of rants on forums and mailing lists (which we should track down and read for research). Nearly every con has a "State of the industry" panel and in 2004 I sheduled an open forum on fandom at Ikasucon, but never has it taken the form of a legitimate address to the people.

A few topics I'd like to address are:
Convention, their place in otakudom, their proliferation, and the effect this is having on fandom.
The quality of anime being released in Japan and licensed in America, including older titles that have recently been picked up.
The effect that American "anime" is having on fandom.
How internet culture and internet counterculture (ie 4chan) are being adopted into anime fandom.
The state of fans themselves, their quality and caliber, whether they are better or worse than previous generations, and whether or not previous generations were so great themselves.

It has to be addressed, though, as fansubs are still the primary way the average viewer is first exposed to fandom. Whatever anyone thinks about them, fansubs are still THE medium of fandom in the west. Trouble is that it usually devolves into a "sub vs. dub" debate, and then it goes all to hell.

Any state of otakudom address will have to include fansubs as a sizable portion of the program.

- Edit - Maybe talk about this on the Punchtastic! list?

While I disagree that it's how we get exposed to fandom (which I would argue is usually through whatever is on TV) it's certainly a big element of western fandom and one that needs to be addressed. This year I don't think there were any big fandub vs industy debackles like there have been in recent years, but I'm sure there are some big issues in fansubbing. Perhaps in the form of picking up less popular shows, or in the generally shittyness of translation that most of the digisubbers have.

Not anime, but fandom. Casual anime viewers probably don't discuss whether a title has been licensed or not. Of course, I've been down the rabbit hole for so long that I have no clue what color the sky is anymore, but I think that's the case.

In my opinion, the level of debate here is going to be beyond whether or not the Naruto dub is any good, or even the "naked child events" of fansubbers, but fansubbing does have a place.

Well, there's some interesting comparisons I've seen between the different versions of say, Naruto, and how the different subbing groups translate them.. but I don't know much drama really. I don't pay much attention to the groups usually, I just yoink the stuff that looks interesting.

What about the changes that official localization companies make to different manga and anime when they bring them over? Some of the changes are about as questionable as the mistranslations that fansub/fanscan groups make. I suppose if the subject interests I can PM you the stuff I know off the top of my head (though, I don't profess to be an expert on the subject.)

hmmm....I understand the points on fansubs and how shaky that topic can be...that's kinda the industry's job to give the 'state of' thing on those, I think....I still say the Death Note news should be mentioned

*first edit of first post*

lookit that last one, folks....that's the big fucking point of the panel. I want some goddamn PASSION in that! The moment I realized that point was honestly the L'arc-en-Ciel concert at Otakon 04...not just that but the OTAKU ARMY THAT MARCHED the Baltimore streets afterward. In my eyes, the wall standing in our path got nuked.

I want everyone to keep their eyes and ears open for any articles, editorials, rants, or newsposts relating to any of these issues and more. When you find something, regardless of how insignificant it is, email a link or the info to conchair@animepunch.org and maybe post it here too. Only with enough peoples support can something meaningful be accomplished here.

14 page paper on yaoi fandom
http://moongsil.com/study/yaoi_eng.pdf

10 pager written by moi, sending the call to advocate anime
http://www.otakuunite.com/underappreciated.html

Death Note's different license
http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2007-...ed-to-downloads

more to come!

now conducting interviews via AIM. if you'd like to discuss any one of the currently bothering topics of today's fandom, please contact me at Kinggalaxia7....and tell me about it

...wow, that sounded like a Jerry Springer plug for a future show...

If your an otaku suffering from a problem call 1-800-FANBOY and tell us your story.