I remember seeing nadesico back in 97 or 98 back on fansub and I really liked it, it was one of my favorites. It's too bad adv decided to ignore the fans and use overlays all over the place, otherwise I would have purchased it. I hate boycotting series I like. But if you don't mind overlays, then go ahead and get it, it's still decent. I am buying sorcerer hunters, but I found one overlay so far besides the title, but I know since adv doesn't care what I think, I won't bother to tell them again. I'm mainly buying it cause 4 dvds take up a lot less space than 8 vhs tapes. It's too bad they go back on what they say. But the point of this thread is not to bash adv, so I'll stop.

Now jubei-chan, that's how it should be done.

Oh, by the way, I forgot to say I'm slowly translating the excel saga manga. I know it's manga, not anime, but it's to tide me over until I can afford region 2 discs cause adv has the american rights. But if anyone cares to read the manga, I can put translations (very slowly) on my web site. But chances are, no one cares.

I'm actually pretty fond of ADV... I assume the overlays you're talking about is when they show some japanese characters and they overlay text to indicate what the characters say in english, right? At first I wasn't really into that, but it doesn't really bother me now - I can't read those characters and it's nice to know what they say. I also don't mind that they put them up in the middle of the picture. Call me crazy... I wish they would do that for some HK films... in period HK movies, there's signs everywhere and it would be really nice to be able to know what they say. Occasionally they translate one or two and put the translation in quotes in the subtitles area. It's very inconsistent. I just think that ADV does really nice transfers and have quality anime, but I can totally understand why you don't like the overlays (assuming we're talking about the same thing) as it can be seen as defacing a work of art. Jubei Chan rules btw.

More Fun With Terms:

Overlays in anime: When an occurence of Japanese text is obscured, and replaced with English text. IE, a computer screen has Japanese kana on it. The translating company slaps a white rectangle containing the English translation of the Japanese text on it. You can no longer see the Japanese text. Has been called 'dubbing text', on occasion. (Most Glaring Examples: Evangelion, Nadesico)

Hard Subs: Subtitles actually on the video stream itself (not dvdsubs). Usually used, instead of overlays, to translate signs and such. Like regular subtitles, but usually located near the text being translated.

Soft Subs/DVDSubs: Signs are subtitled in the DVD subtitle stream, usually as a seperate line from spoken word, no changes made to the actual video itself (Example: Jubei-chan).

I hate overlays. They bug me. If not done correctly, they look tacky and are distracting as all get out.

That said, ADV is *not* the only company to do overlays. Outlaw Star, from Bandai, has overlays in every volume. ADV gets more guff for it for three reasons:

1.) A whole lot of their overlays are just plain tacky. The Nadesico ones look like something done on MS Paint. Welldone overlays won't detract from viewing a show. Poorly done ones are just horrific.

2.) They did it to fan-favorite titles. These are shows that have been seen by large numbers of fans. People are used to seeing the Japanese text, and English will be jarringly different. (And, in the case of the Eva DVDs, fans had years of overlay-free Eva from ADV. The addition of overlays was much of a shock)

3.) They used overlays as an editing-for-TV tool. In one episode of Lost Universe, a girl wakes up to find the five-letter B word written on her forhead--in English. The dub producer decided that didn't fit the flow of the show, so the English word was overlaid with "LOSER".

ADV isn't exactly an innocent victim, here. They catch more than their fair share of ire, but it's largely due to past problems. They are improving, though, and they've promised no overlays (outside of, of course, changing the title screen) in the future.

(Personally, I'd like to see a company try using DVD subs as overlays. Someone worked out a color combo that would allow studios to make boxes with text in DVD subs. Then, purists could turn the things off, and all would be in much happiness)

Just got Trigun 2 & 3...and saw that there is only 3 eps on each disc..WTF!!! Is the rest of the series only gonna be 3 eps per disc?

I personally see no excuse why overlays should still be used when bandai showed us how easy it is to make everyone happy with jubei-chan. If a show has overlays, I tend to boycott it for that aspect alone (though one person probably doesn't make any difference.) Hopefully the sorcerer hunters overlay will be just the one (though that's not really right cause adv promised they wouldn't do anymore.) So if anyone else doesn't like overlays, adv doesn't care what you say, so be like me and buy the region 2 versions. I have region 2 versions of slayers movies, evangelion tv and kenshin oavs and movies, and what a coincidence, adv owns all of them. That's because I don't want to totally pass on shows I like. hopefully, they'll keep their primise and keep the overlays out of excel saga, especially since the region 2 discs are the most expensive tv series I've ever seen.

Anyway, trigun has 8 discs, firt and last volume have 4 episodes each, the rest have three. and at one disc every 2 months or more and for $30 each, I can clearly see why it doesn't sell too well. i really like the show and have all the volumes so far, but pioneer is really doing a double whammy by making them bimonthly and only 3 episodes, right after doing battle athletes which was the same thing except usually monthly. Anyway, I prefer that 1 billion times more than overlays. ADV, I'd wait a year or more between discs if you didn't do overlays with no complaining. It would save you time and probably some money if you didn't use overlays and make the fans upset by doing something you know you can get around with dvd subs and make everybody happy. Oh wait, I'm making my voice heard as a consumer, that's no good. The customer is always wrong. I'll shut up now. Overlays are the worst thing that can be done to a series (besides cutting out footage.)

Has anyone seen Urotsokudiju, The Overfiend... I think its called. Someone recommended it to me as it being strange. OThers tell me its complete trash and even more tell me its their favorite. I saw the complete collection on a 2disc set for 40 dollars. Anyone know if the movie and/or disc quality is good?

Urotsukidoji ... I'm not sure on the story line itself, but I do know that it's hentai ^_^; A fairly crude translation for that would be - anime porn (actually, it can be used in a number of other ways as well, ie to mean "pervert").

I care! I'm gonna go take a look right now

... Hmm, well I can't seem to find it, although your list of fansubs seems interesting enough ^^;

[Edited by PhoenixFlame on 04-15-01 at 01:48 PM]

I've only done the first 17 pages or so of book 1. as soon as I finish up to about page 33 (the first story) I'll put it up. Thanks for the interest. I figured as long as I'm translating it for myself, I might as well write it down for anyone else who wants to read.

I've said it before, I'll say it again:

ADV is not, NOT, /NOT/ the only company that does overlays.

Bandai, while responsible for well-done titles like Jubei-chan, used overlays. The series Outlaw Star is a good example. Pretty much the entire series has overlays, but it wasn't until the third DVD set where anyone caught on (Because of some pretty poorly done ones). Other companies do it too.

ADV's no-overlays promise supposedly took effect the day they announced. So, no titles that entered production after that point will have overlays. Backcatalogue titles, like Sorceror Hunters, Blue Seed, and Nadesico will have overlays on the DVDs, since the overlayed masters already exist. Following this logic, Excel Saga should be overlay-free.

ADV does a lot of stuff that bugs me. But they are *not* the only company to use overlays, and it's important people realize this.

the Urotsukidoji Perfect Collection is the one to get - it's hentai, but also has a decent story and is interesting to watch. The sex scenes aren't meant to be sexy so much as outrageous - worth watching for sure. (unless you can't stomach hentai). I got the 2 subsequent and more recent urotsukidoji discs and they aren't as good.

I know other companies use overlays, but I was talking about ADV's overlays. I'm particularly mad at them because they did overlays after they claim they won't and they are very clear they don't care what their consumers think of their product.

Anyway, the main purpose of this message is to say that the translation of Excel Saga manga book 1 mission 1 is done and on my web site. I will remove it if the original rights holders ask. Anyway, you can find it at http://www.geocities.com/tokyo/subway/3555 Thanks.

Really? When did they use overlays after their policy switch? Discs that were in production at that time don't count; ADV said they wouldn't remaster the discs in process, and /everyone/'s known about Nadesico for quite a while (Part of the problem being, people didn't really complain about the Nadesico overlays during the initial VHS release, so all of ADVs current masters are plastered with them). They've always said they'll keep changing the logo screens, which stinks, but they've been open about it.

ADV is of two minds reguarding their consumers. Half the company seems to be made of fans, the other half of people who just want the money. Part of the improvement has been a marked increase in changes ADV's been willing to make after fan complaints. Including:

The Rurouni Kenshin/Samurai X reversible DVD cover. The marketing department got to use the stupid name, but no Kenshin fan is forced to have the evil Sam X staring at them from their shelving unit (The Kenshin movie doesn't have this--A fault of the manufacturers, not ADV. They forgot to press the Kenshin side, or something).

The Sakura Diaries issue. The TV version was released. Somebody at ADV didn't do their homework, and so the version currently available on DVD is the silly version with painted-on bras.

The Sorceror Hunters DVD Cover Issue. The original design for volume one sucked. Badly. The fans made their voices known, and ADV has promised to change it in all future pressings. There's supposedly a plan to offer trade-ins for those with the original cover, at some point in the future.

My problems with ADV are not customer-service related. They still use rediculous subtitle fonts (too widely spaced! too widely spaced!), and their dubs are mostly terrible (Kenshin OAV anyone?), but recent issues are showing vast improvement in that area. ADV used to be my absolute least-favorite anime company; now, Viz holds that esteemed spot (They're killing Maison Ikkoku! On purpose! That's evil).

Up up and away.


*Click* Excel manga translations are saved and archived

Speaking of overlay-o-rama, now that ADVFilms also owns Kareshi Kanojo no Jijou (His and Her Circumstances) or (Situations between Boyfriends and Girlfriends). There are many Japanese texts in this series, there is no way to translate all the background and dialogue at the same time for english readers unless they do overlays. I am afraid that is what is going to happen to KareKano (the short version name of the longer name, used both in Japan and in USA by fans). Luckily, I am slowly buying the R2 DVDs because I know that ADV will ruin this great shoujo series.

I agree with whomever, that overlays and hard subs have gotta go on DVD. They are completely annoying for DVD. They may be okay for video release, but not for DVD. Hasn't anyone in the anime community heard of a term called "seamless branching"??? Why not use that like Disney did with Princess Mononoke's intro?

As for 3 episodes per DVD, that's pretty normal and pretty efficient for serial episodes on DVD. It's almost the same as in Japan except there are 9 volumes in Japan, unlike here which there are 8.

ADV doesn't own the KareKano rights.

KareKano was picked up by The Right Stuf International (The people who did Tylor, and recently bought the rights to Boogiepop Phantom), and last I'd heard, they were still working on figuring out the right release format for the series.

Unless Right Stuf sold the KareKano rights to ADV (which is highly unlikely, since Right Stuf's web poll still has it listed as one of their own), ADV has nada to do with KareKano.

There have been distant rumblings that Right Stuf is going to overlay KareKano (At one point, people were reporting a frame-by-frame alteration), but nothing concrete yet.

Ah, you're right, it is TRSI, not ADV Films (my bad...these companies sometimes confuse me). But I was told it was not going to be altered, but I have my doubts.

KareKano is one that does need overlays if people are to understand it else it will be a lot of pausing and reading, else not translate the background

Soft subs or alternate angles or I won't buy it, enough said. I didn't like the series that much that I'd put up with overlays. Hard subs for all the text (much of which is unimportant and/or exactly the same as what is being voiced) would ruin it. just my opinion

hi all, i just recently saw zeiram II on Amazon. Does anyone know if this is a sequeal or just a rerelease of zeiram? if it is a sequel, is it any good? thanks

The first series of KareKano is albeit done, but only goes up to Manga Vol. #5 and the storyline is not finished yet. My feeling is that there will be a 2nd series, maybe not TV, but more along the lines of an OVA series and then maybe a movie to conclude the series all together. If Anno is going to still be directing the series, don't expect the new series anytime soon.

I choose seamless branching...so subbed people get softsubs, and dubbed gets overlays and/or hard subs.

Biggest problem with seamless branching is, of course, the large number of players that can't make it seamless. Companies have been asked questions about this in the past, and the reigning sentiment is that a large number of current DVD players don't handle seamless branching well.

It's a cool technology, but until the cheap-o DVD players can handle it really, really well, there's not much chance of it showing up in the average anime DVD release.

I like softsubs! They can be custom-colored to stand out, and certain fonts are /very/ easy to read. But I can deal with hardsubs (since buying only softsubbed titles would limit me to, like, less than a quarter of what I currently enjoy).

Of course, there's stuff like the Lain discs, where Pioneer Hardsubbed the master, forgot they did, and so put DVDsubs over it. That's just plain irritating.

Yeah - I've been wondering this as well... Zeriam II - does it have to do with Iria Zeriam stuff and is it good? Anybody actually seen this?

Hey...maybe this is the live action one that i was looking for...

[Edited by lazy bob on 04-18-01 at 01:37 AM]

congrats on 100 posts.

Awesome!!! This is the live action zeriam that i was looking for. Who would of thought i would find it in an anime thread. Another must have!!! Coming out in june oh well...plenty of movies to order before then