I’ve been watching anime my entire life and for the last eight or so years, it has been watching fansubs. I suppose the honest thing to do is actually support the companies that release dubbed anime in America.
But I don’t support the companies that release anime for mainstream America, because the original production gets changed or censorered from its Japanese release. It also takes a lot longer for anime to get released onto DVD, if you wait for it. There’s also the cost factor, about $20 for one disc of American stuff like Pioneer or Genneon releases.
Watching fansubs is a way in keeping me updated of my hobby. While selling it for a profit reflects a capitalistic view (from the various Chinatown stores selling DVDs is where I get my idea from… then what is the intention of the various groups on the Internet like Lunar or Shinsen-subs?)
Perhaps I contridict myself on several levels, but the releases that they have in Japanese stores, wouldn’t have English subtitles, so then how can I read them? Anime dvds are different from it’s cd counterparts. I can always support imported cds, but I can’t support American releases of DVD’s.
One of the reasons why I lost faith in American dubs is the way they didn’t finish dubing the last season of Sailor Moon, or how they blightenly dub One Piece and various aspects of Pokemon.. not something I favor.
Tonight I was particulaly nostalgic… since I watched the double episode release of One Piece 277-278. In moments like this, I wish I can actually learn how to speak and write Japanese.