Star Ocean TOS: The First Five Hours (part 1)

Folks, something I want to do here for important reasons: Im a Fan of Star Trek and TOS is being remade.

Not to Be Outdone – another remake is also dealing with the aspects of Trek – its called Star Ocean. This is the first in what the silly little shows over at TV land would say “mini reality series” That will review three JRPG’s – Star Ocean: First Encounter (US: Departure) Star Ocean: The Second Story (US PSP Remake: Second Encounter) and Star Ocean: Till the End of Time (Japan: Directors Cut) – it connections to Star Trek,  about the company that did these games and how far they have fallen from grace.

The Series started in 1996, on the SNES. It was subbed by DeJap in late 2001. The Next game came on the PS1 and then the Third on The PS2. But the upcoming 4th game is gonna take a detour to the past – we will explain more when this “mini series” ends

Note: There will be spoilers for all of the games: that why it will be split from here on in starting now:

The markets – why they have failed the animation world.

The focus of this work is to showcase issues that dealt with the media companies and what is slated to happen down the road.

Years ago, the animation world survived under larger confederated businesses. Taft (who is connected via the former founder – Hulbert Taft – who is the Nephew of William Taft, 27th President of the United States) owned Hanna Barberra (and you kinda noticed it did you – they bought the Company in 1967.) Filmmation (First owned by Telepromter from 1962 to 1982 then by Westinghouse/Group W from 1982 to 1989) and Ruby-Spears (which was a part of Taft). Disney and MGM were once like Pixar and Disney before Disney bought Pixar – Warner Brothers after the 1940’s started to get shifted around like hot potatoes. DIC was with Capital Cities – and Saban was once apart of New World Communications – owned by Roger Corman – who started the careers of 3 major directors and one major star.

Today, The Kids companies outside 4Kids, Cookie Jar, StarzMedia (Via Manga ENT and Kids Co) CineGroup, Nevana/Corus are all owned by major OverCogloms – The main three being Warner/Turners Cartoon Network – MTV/ParamountDTV’s Nick Kids and Family and Disney’s Disney Channel and Upcoming Disney XD.

But the money that has gone into TV production at least State side – is drying up. Badly. Did the markets have anything to do with this? Partly because of the markets – but mostly at the hands and feet of your friends at “our saviors” at Mother Government - who if the Comptroller of the Federal Reserve bank in Dallas, Texas is to be believed – is so bankrupt since 2006 – that the recent “attacks” to certain affiliates by the FCC over certain episodes of Pokemon – may have been a desperate attempt by the FCC to stay afloat. 

The E/I compliance – which has also effected Univision may be “bankrupting” our “friends” at the FCC. Lets just say that if the government cannot pay its debts – the FCC gets no money. They increased the fees for Indecent Content – which according to a study – 95% of the complaints come from one source. I give you a few guesses on who they are. 

But why did the markets effect the animation world.

The real simple answer – certain “pro – coglom” members of the WGA – are in a humongous proxy war against TAG – and the IATSE via the SAG contract (the Favored Nations aspect) This was shown during the Sony issues between WGA writers and the IATSE – TAG contract Sony made with them during 1996. The proxy war could lead into the possible destruction of the TAG union – who in both WGA and some in SAG’s eyes are nothing more than AMPTP shills. But TAG is also anti independent kids producer/anime dubber etc.  Nothing made Steve Prulit happy than to see DIC to be owned by Cookie Jar. But he senses problems because the WGA maybe riding on the coat tales of HSM 3 – something that money could be used in the TV side of the production – where  the ratings and the money and the union (with the new contract) are going to the WGA and Fox respectfully. 

See, without funding from many outside sources (and this has been a major bone of contention with animators since the end of the 1940’s) - animation would have been in the hands of those that would have the time, but not necessarily the skill to produce reasonable work. But this doesn’t mean that deals can be made to get content from the states to international waters, and the same vice versa.  

But what is happening is that even the international side of the business - despite producing work, are not getting back much in return. There have been calls to lessen the content, go local, get rid of the junk ads and what not and what have you.

But what you dont realize – and what is important - is that there is a massive proxy war. Its a war that deals with certain aspects of what its called Symbology. It has been used in Advertising for years. Who ever controls the symbols, controls the money they make and then control the animation film library, which in and of its self is more precious than gold in the animation world. Those that do, are able to stay alive. Those that don’t usually dont live long. 

But, now – it doesn’t matter about the library one has – you have offshore accounts – to go along with offshore animated networks such as KidsCo. No matter how many deals 4Kids makes on the international level, and despite its size – it can make these deals – War Street (as I now call it) has stated it isn’t good enough. It isn’t forward thinking. Its all about the off shoring of not ONLY our brain-trust - but now the “symbols” that we have used in animation for years. 

I can get the reason why many of the mainstream animation fans are so worried.

4Kids cant be controlled by international “money sources” such as our Japanese friends who would LOVE, and I mean LOVE to the NTH degree – the moebob craze to reach our shores. Or rather our Pujabi friends over at India which have given money to Dreamworks to break away from Paramount or how about – YES … our Chinese Buddies who has helped, and i mean helped in many movie productions such as W. 

And thats one of the reasons why Disney – in its infinite wisdom, and great power – is trying, really trying to short the stock. There not playing ball. They must be destroyed at all cost. Use ADV as a wedge to create a website called ARLONG PARK, use your Money Power over at Best Buy, Wall Mart and all the rest and put those “sick toons” near that adult place where the thongs are located. 

And you wonder why – if you see all the connections – and I will reveal some in the future – then you know things are not going to get pretty.

We never needed the markets to “fund” animation. All you needed was wise men who knew how to sell product and entertainment and maybe a bit of truth here or there.

Al Kahn is one of those last wise men.

And are you shocked everybody is gunning for his head?

From the Land of Confusion: The Weekly Winners and Losers…

This winner is huge to me – Sinfest and Nouriel Roubini. Why? I will explain in a few days from now and it does deal with 4Kids and where they stack up compared to larger companies and showcase the massive problems that are stated to happen unless there is a return to industrial basis – its a psychological issue more than a racial, economic or other such recalcitrant talismanic labels. 

Sinfest put perfectly what Roubini has been stating for years – we are heading to a crash, a crash that was delayed three times. In my own idea – the crash was showcased more than 4 times in the animation industry – first by the death of Fox Kids, then Toonami’s move weekends to Saturday – then the shift to Genericism around 2005 completed by the success of HSM2 – ended by so far – the end of Kids WB then The end of Toonami. All of it was cased by a lack of capital and not what the PR spinbitches stated otherwise. The situation with the economic will effect this time – the media industries in this country. The effect may be just another version of this Event – Something that is slated to happen between next year and 2011. In another topic – I will explain why 2005 was the big year – the effects of which was going to be shown this year – which as you can see is getting worse by the day.

A loser that needs no explanation - the CW network. Oh – what a shock – Smackdown has grown 10 times over on MNTV – you know that network filled of Fox Stations not aired by fox and Tribune stations not filled by that Girls Station. If it wasn’t for Gossip Girl and 90210 being semi successes, CBS would have cut off ties long ago. 

Winner, Chaotic: Millerian Invasion. The series is the most underrated right now. It started a little slow but its picking up steam. 

Loser, Star Wars Clone Wars- and the You are Here block on CN. Stay Gold? Lord this whole block is a mess. Clone Wars was already told six times already – its time to move to the future with this franchise…

Loser, Japanese Gaming Metacuture (Yet, again) Why is this is becoming a theme here?

Winner, Hideo Kojima – telling the truth about the Japanese side of the business.

Loser, Square Enix – your losing me faster and faster and your dissing of Sony isnt making people happy.

Winner, Level 5 – the new JRPG prince – and soon to be its bigger king.  The games for the PSP are wonderful and yes the DS game has some friends over Ghilbi making it a major franchise – 2009 will be a good year for Sony. Dont forget about Rolo – the new Steam for PC’s in Japan – maybe a direct descendent of the Playstation Network? Maybe a PC to Playstation Network dealie just like XBL for Vista and 360? The mind wonders and my gaming hands are getting really happy. (Oh and didnt I mention White Knight Story the Biggest Level 5 RPG yet? Coming this Christmas to good Japanese video gamers everywhere.)

Winner – LittleBigPlanet – 15,000 keys on USA Today means you got much bigger mindshare than wii. This game is going to be the biggest since Mario, since Sonic. Sony needed this BIG time. Now – its up to us to buy it for our families and friends. From there – Sony needs continue to making the PS3 the best it can be (2.5 is a huge update with Flash Nine – 5.0 for PSP just as big with its own version of the Playstation Store) The gaming industry will just get larger and larger as the rest still fights for the crumbs – outside of a few productions…

Winner – The Anime that the subbers dont get a hand of, like Yatterman. Which did a Parody of the US election. See what happens when you keep focusing on Capu2 you sons of bitches.

Loser, The Music and in someways Movie industries – as they bring more fas-shon fascism and more Genericism – via the new Intellectual Property Czar and the new War on Pirating - it seems our friends at the good old “Company” sees something “encroaching” on there ill gotten gains. 

Winner, Casshern Sins, Michico no Hatchin – two good series that should be dubbed by Sci-Fi and BET respectfully – IF I RULED THE WORLD…but I dont and dont want to.

Loser, NFC East (except the Eagles.) BWAHAHAHAHA.

Winner, Phillies. One more game to another trip to the world series (I see this a more yearly accordance.)

And the biggest winner?

Cartoon Electro - 1,000 hits. Not bad for something not as promoted. 

More winners and losers soon.

More Tales From Annie Sweeny’s Disney’s tween pron Angels…

On Todays Tales: Dude (To Shia LeBouf) don’t do it! :

Either Selena Gomez isn’t dating Nick Jonas, or Jonas is a really understanding boyfriend.
Gomez, 16, surprised the red carpet press on Saturday night at the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital’s Runway for Life benefit when she suddenly shouted, “Let Shia know I’m available!”

She was apparently inspired to make sure everyone knew about her longtime thing for 22-year-old Shia LaBeouf (she’s gushed about it in the past) after being asked about her celeb crushes.

Why are we not surprised by this?

Ways the animation industry and anime can change in the states – and ways to do it

Toonami has shown the path. It just came in dreamlike states.

Here is what i mean when I say change.

I don’t mean the change that is happening now. I will state that next week because what will happen in the next 3 years will effect the next 60 years. Lets just say the business will either gonna either gonna disappear, or transmute into a new type of industry – unbound by past constraints and future technology. We will get to that when it comes.

But here, what i mean is the very basic problem we have now. 

The animation industry both in the US and Japan and maybe Europe all go to Korean sources for the majority of their work. Some get 52 episode contracts – Others get 13, some others get 26. I stated before that if and when Korea ever becomes united, the kids companies in the states- the animated consortium in Japan and Europe will be in serious trouble. Its one of the reasons why Disney is spending tens of millions not for new animator union contracts – but for sets, props and lawyers for WGA lowballing. But when your getting back a billion bucks – then things seem gravy and the gravy train continues. Japan as of now is reaching a crescendo with their sex craze – there moving into the psychological treatise - which is very different from the High Dramatizem used in the late 80s and the majority of the 1990s. Europe is fast entering entropy. They had few successes – and the cash is thin (in more ways than one).

But the reason why I say these things is really simple. Not to hate on One Piece – but its very ironic that its has made such in impact in Italy. Because in a way – it is an Italian style series (im of the mind that certain anime and certain series succeed in certain areas because of historical, cultural and societal quirks. Italy’s major cities are under sea level so One Piece would succeed there – Pokemon succeeded in the US because it was outside of the school setting and was more about freedom – DBZ succeed because of one aspect of Asian culture that has been used from the 1970’s onwards – and the fact everybody knows about the Journey To The West story) and not purely Japanese and despite to what everybody thinks Oda likes about american style animation – a US influenced series. 

Here is what I mean: The fall series now in Japan – forget all the censorship or lack of it – could all air in the states – but the reason why they don’t is not because of lack of time or hours or dubbers or money or any such thing. The reason why they don’t air? Too short for any syndication deal. Pokemon has gone beyond the episodes of where it can air in Syndication forever. Same with Dragon Ball Z – but the reason being why they don’t air in Syndication is the E/I compliancy with the stations and the FCC. If it wasn’t for it – I don’t think we would see many Judge “whoever is there” series in Syndication. 

But for many other series – there too short to even be considered. What now needs to happen is to have Toonami like branded blocks on the networks and cable. Its very similar to what 4Kids did with the TMNT series – but i go one step further - that dvd’s/blu-ray’s need to have the Blocks branding on it.

But you say – the show then loses it’s identity!

No – it has it’s identity, but it isn’t enough to make it a success. Viz with very limited success has done well with the Jump moniker on there series. But it isn’t a brand that is like Toonami was. What Disney XD needs to do if any of there shows to have a success – is promote the network as the big thing and in the network – promote the shows. Its the same thing 4Kids does in a way – and the same way Toonami did it from time to time.

One reason why the major networks have continue to lose mindshare – is the words of Summer Redstone has been treated like Gospel and has continued to bring major problems. Yes – the shows that air on the networks are not owned by them and some have much larger sources of income that eliminate them from such branding. But for animation and anime – in this time where money is really, really tight and so on – the dubbers need to let go of there ego’s and do what is best for the future of the whole genre in the states and not just for themselfs. They saw what happened to Wall Street.

This is not about collectivism. This is about what worked in the past and has worked before and will continue to work well into the future. The first time in this nation Bugs Bunny was shown on TV to a nationwide audience - was in a ONE HOUR BLOCK branded by CBS. Many other local stations branded whole blocks with studio audiences sent all over the country. Toonami might be the last great american franchise – but that doesn’t mean it will be the end of branded blocks. What now needs to take place is not a new network – but first a new idea to promote a block as a franchise – and in that franchise, the shows. The shorter shows will get a chance to succeed – the longer series will be represented, and the big time shows will be the anchor legs. It doesn’t have to be action series. It can be female series – it could even be the same type of idea PBS Kids GO! and the Hosted Miss Hooper block has if PBS wasn’t so interested in being the lap dogs for Homeland Security and No Child Left Behind. 

Anime does have a future in the US – it just doesn’t have that mind share – and as shown recently not even the capital to succeed on its own. The Internet doesn’t have that brand based idea and never will – you first need to take it to the masses before you have any sort of Internet plan. (But then you say – what about Myspace and Facebook – one – Facebook was helped by the CIA – and MySpace was about music and still is in many ways)  People recognize brands, and not series per se. And until the dubbers realize this – they will be wondering why nothing is sticking.