Toei Animation has begun adding anime to the streaming site Crunchyroll. Among the anime listed are Hokuto no Ken, Slam Dunk, Pretty Cure and Digimon Adventure 2. These titles have already been posted on IGN's Direct2Drive service.
Crunchyroll is a site that has experienced tremendous growth in the wake of the collapse of the anime industry. Its popularity is built off streaming digital fan subtitles for unlicensed material. Because of this it has experienced the ire of both 'fansubbers' and the anime industry which has experienced loss in the economic slump of both Japan and America.
-ANN.
It is great that someone is trying to get Hokuto no Ken out there for people to see. It shall be asked whether or not I will use this service the view HnK and I shall be brief and direct in my answer. I must concur with the ancients of the ongoing battle between good and evil in our existence. In Japan the value they hold up high is not Justice as Westeners view, but is a more communal (and complete) form. Yamato, meaning 'big harmony' can be achieved things like loyalty, honesty, consensus and so on.
In terms of morality has Crunchyroll fulfilled these? Even though the titles are unlicensed they violate Harmony. In this world Harmony has not been achieved. There is a constant battle between the industry and the anime fan. To download or not to download is not the question, but instead it should be 'does this action induce harmony?'
Crunchyroll's existence only adds fuel to the fire to the rift between individual and company. There is a middle ground where Harmony can be achieved. It seems unlikely. The selfish actions of individuals in their privacy hinder Harmony. This world is too disconnected. In order for Harmony to be achieved, sites like Crunchyroll must begin respecting the industry and copyright. Unlicensed material is still copyright material. People refuse to admit it, but there are black and whites when held up to morality. Not only Crunchyroll is to blame here, both sides have blundered. If all own up to their mistakes like REAL men and stop behaving like pansies under veils of 'fairness' and 'copyright'* then Harmony can be achieved.
I am not condemning copyright or fairness, I am only saying that when they are threats to Harmony then they must be eliminated. Also note that I earlier spoke of how sites like Crunchyroll must adhere to copyright. What I mean here is that purpose of law is Harmony and social order. However, when I seemingly contradict myself in the last sentence it is not so. I am referring to industries hiding their blunders beneath a veil of law. While I attack fairness I am only attacking people who say things are unfair. If fairness is in the way of Harmony then it must not take precedence.
In other words, what I have been trying to say is 'Society First'. I may sound crass (and I am) but that's what one must take in when he steps into the Social Contract.
