I’m really curious to see how many fansub groups this official stream deters. Since the stream is only available for those in the US and France, there will likely still be foreign language sub efforts. It’s probably presumptuous of me, but I feel at least a little confident in guessing that a significant portion of fansubbers and leechers reside in the US. I don’t usually keep up with these things, so I’m not sure if any major fansub groups have already announced FMA:Brotherhood as a project, but if there have been, I wonder if any will drop it out right following this announcement.

Dattebayo dropping Naruto when Viz started its simulcast was a big deal. It’s exciting to see FUNimation starting to do something similar with a new series — especially FMA, which is already wildly popular in the States.

As for this series… I’m still kind of pessimistic about it; its very existence right now annoys me. Even though I’m a little relieved that it isn’t a sequel after all, the fact that it’s a remake doesn’t help that much either. The bottom line I have to repeat is that the manga still isn’t finished; why are you remaking the series now? If you’re going to remake a series so it’s more faithful to its source, why don’t you wait until the source is actually complete so you aren’t inevitably forced to start making stuff up like you did the first time? What’s going to change in this remake? Seriously, what’s going to change?

Haha, honestly, I think I’m now more excited about FUNimation’s stream of the series than the series itself. There’s been a lot of experimentating with the digital streaming, and it’s been confusing because most companies will have a site stream in addition to a YouTube and Hulu channel. I actually really like FUNi’s video site though, so I definitely look forward to having a completely legitmate way of watching this series as it airs. I almost wish FUNi had more ads on its video site — I do want to support them, and if I can do it without actually buying anything (hey, we’re all struggling, y’know?), then all the better. These are still experiments — they are undoubtedly still messing around and seeing what works — but I want them to succeed.

The animation looks gorgeous and, for me at least, erases many of the doubts that came with the first look at the artwork a few months back. The character designs are very faithful, as are the backgrounds, and the action. The music reminds me a lot of Baccano!, which threw me off a little at first — it’s very energetic, upbeat, and kind of hookey, which clashes with some of DOGS’s darker undertones. But considering that the OAV will only follow the storyline from “Stray dogs howling in the dark” rather than Bullets&Carnage, the humorous energy isn’t all that misplaced.

The trailer itself isn’t a great indication of story, so those unfamiliar with the manga probably won’t be impressed by much, though the action does looks nice. I’m really eager to see a trailer that will show more general background music and that will show speaking parts. I listened to the first drama CD again not long ago; it still sounded great, so I’m excited to see it all match up with their animated images. Gleeeee.

In the meantime, I’ve got “volume 0″ of Viz’s release of the DOGS manga on preorder and can’t wait to get it~.

It’s a Catch-22, I suppose.

Code Geass was pulled for low ratings, but it will only continue to suffer low ratings in that 5:00 am deathslot. I find it hilarious that CN is claiming to keep anime on [adultswim] though, especially the “focus on new series” line. Hello? Did you not just sentence Moribito to death after premiering three fucking episodes? And for what? Fullmetal Alchemist reruns. New series my ass. Then again, I also find it a bit paradoxical that fans are indignant at such treatment of their new series… while giving those damned reruns the stronger ratings that put them there in the first place. Yes, yes, we all love FMA and Cowboy Bebop, but seriously — haven’t you seen them enough times already? STOP WATCHING IT. Then maybe they’ll stop showing it. WATCH THE PREMIERE SHOWS. Then maybe they won’t be sent off to die.

As for Toonami, I find it insulting that CN waited until the day of the final airing to announce that Toonami was going to die. AWA isn’t a small convention, but it isn’t the biggest, and I don’t see why they couldn’t have said something at AX or Otakon, give the kids a bit more time to accept the loss and all that. I really wonder what the death of Toonami will have on the anime community as a whole though — for years and years, it was the place to watch anime. It premiered dozens of series that went on to define the fandom and to catapult fans towards more obscure things. Toonami debuted Dragonball Z and Sailor Moon, two series that thousands of fans will cite as their gateway to greater things. Some older fans like to rail on Naruto and whine about how anime “isn’t what it used to be,” but Naruto, without a doubt, is the DBZ and Sailor Moon of the current generation. What’s going to be the gateway now that Toonami is gone? No other channel’s block ever really gave anime the attention that Toonami did, but really, anime programming has been disappearing bit by bit for a while now.

I also missed AWA’s “Is Anime Over?” panel on Sunday, but I kind of think the ending of Toonami can be taken as an indication that while not dead, the fandom is definitely in decline. Low ratings are low ratings. Low sales are low. Even though convention attendance for just about every con has only risen in recent years, a vast majority of artists I talked to, and even some dealers, are citing lower sales. I still think the economy is a huge factor (have I mentioned that Lehman Brothers just went bankrupt after 150-some years in business?), the biggest one, even, but it’s hard to deny that there are other factors as well, among them, oversaturation and piracy among the digital evolution.

Interestingly enough, Toonami Jetstream is still a go — another nod at the gradual dominance of the Internet over television broadcast as people’s primary means of obtaining anime. If kids these days really are so wired, then maybe it won’t be such a loss. Maybe they can still get their Naruto online. Maybe Shippuden will premiere there. Maybe.

Me? I’m just conflicted as to how I should feel about no longer having a reason to turn on a TV after Gurren Lagann finishes its run on Sci-fi. Oh, wait, Gundam 00 is airing after it. Nevermind! :P