I finally watched all of Death Note thanks to Hulu. It was a surprisingly good show with how little action it had.

DELETE

Rumbling Hearts was also added for those who wish for more dramatic works ;)

Finally got around to watching the first episode of Shikabane Hime on it. Not a bad service. Just have to remember to turn your screen saver off.

I didn't care for the adds, but that's because the Edge adds were stupid, not because of the fact that there were adds. Also, more variety would be nice, as opposed to seeing the same add three times.

Hulu is looking to be really competent now. Shikabane Hime is on it? I gotta get over there.

EEEEEEEEEW

All the stuff is dubbed.

I love hulu, watching Rockford Files on it as I type this, but why is all the anime dubbed.


However I commend them for releasing shikabane hime so quickly on hulu and for it being in sub form.

I'd like to see more of this happen with other shows.

I understand speed is an issue with dubs, but that shouldn't be the case with subs.

I honestly don't care if we're behind a month to the japanese release, I'm willing to wait if it means I get to watch the shit legally.

Come on funimation, start churning out those quick subs online.

(man I was really interested in re-watching slayers...ugh dub is so bad)

@byrc

Predominately english-speaking folks generally like to watch their TV in the same language, hence the dubbing.

FUNi has stated that if the market demands it (see: not hardcore fanboys), they will have more sub-only streams.

English dubs are usually more entertaining than the japanese ones.

Also Death Note sucks but it can always provide a good laugh.

Also Hulu is pretty cool.

And with PlayOn, you can use your computer to stream Hulu to your TV through an Xbox 360 or a PS3. :D

Wow... I was impressed last time when they added Mushishi, but now Shuffle, Shikibane Hime, and Rumbling Hearts? Dang, I'm impressed...

@byrc: If you want an annoying dub try watching Shuffle dubbed (but then again, the japanese voices were just as annoying). I just wouldn't be bugging them though just cause they don't have subs for all of them, especially since by a large margin the majority of fans like dubs more.

Is this legal?

@heero yuy

When did that change?


I remember when I was in highschool most anime people i knew in real life and online wanted subs only.

When I went to college in 2002 and was part of one largest college anime clubs in the US, most people wanted subs not dubs.

Do anime fans really want dub more than subs now?

wow that sure is different than how it use to be in 90s and early 2000s.

Could it be that unlike during the 90s, whose anime fans were more "hardcore", anime has attracted a larger more casual fanbase?

I'm not whining or dissing anyone, I just fine Heero's comments interesting.

Could it be the makeup of the US Anime-fandom change that much in the last 10 years?

I guess I'm a dying breed.

I feel old now...

@byrc: That's because the subs fans are a really vocal minority. A lot of anime clubs I know do subs because while there are sub fans that absolutely hate all dubs, there's not as many dub fans who can't stand subs at all. Thus, you'll probably please more people.

Plus, dubs have been generally better than they were a decade, decade and a half ago. The casual audience also does have something to do with it. A lot of popular stuff on TV usually has a passable to decent to really good dub, so that kind of enforces it.

Speaking of anime clubs though, anyone in a club watch anime on streaming sites? I'm considering an episode of Shikabane Princess, and this would save me going to download it, as well as somewhat promote the service that I think is a good idea. Any thoughts?

@byrc: I have no idea where you live, but almost every anime fan I've ever known since middle school with the exception of one or two preferred dubs for whatever reasons. During high school in anime club and out was the same thing, and the only time I ever heard anyone complain about a dub was the Naruto dub when it came out because it was "the thing to do/make fun of". The only reason the Japanese club at my college now watches things subbed is because either it's something super obscure that was never dubbed or so we can use the excuse that it's not an anime club but a Japanese club "because we're watching stuff in Japanese" (you know, bureaucratic crap).

It may be a factor of my generation, since with Toonami and the like the popularity of anime exploded, whereas before it may have been more a subs-centric fanbase.... I don't know.... All I know is right now dubs are more popular and have been for at least a few years.

Regardless, I think the whole argument of dubs vs. subs is pretty stupid considering the stuff is FREE. I mean that's like the company we work for is hosting a reception with free food and some people are angry that they have yellow cake instead of chocolate...

@Niko - Showing a stream at a club would still require permission to show if you are trying to run your club on the up and up. If you fall into the "bunch of guys just watching junk" type of club, then you wouldn't be asking, now would you?

And while I haven't been to a college anime club in 10 years, I never saw a dub. Course, I grew up in a different time, when we were still circulating the fansubs on VHS (GET OFF MY LAWN!). There are some dubs that are just painful to watch, and don't get me started when American actors try to imitate bubbly Japanese high school girls. Having said all that, FREE ANIME BABY YEA!!!

*grumbles at US exclusive content and returns to his piratey ways*

*grumbles at the idea of companies wanting to be asked permission to show something freely, especially if the content is free in the first place like in streaming content or demo discs that come with magazines*