What is John's Opinion of Oban Star Racers?

[Tama83]

I'm not sure if I'm asking an obvious question, so I'll ask anyway?

This show airs on the Jetix block on Toon Disney*, however, it's much different from the other shows. It has racing action, intrigue, and personal drama. In any case, it's that good. Additionally, it even has an ending theme song composed by Yoko Kanno with Japanese lyrics (although, the OP she composed was replaced, unfortunately). It also has a symphonic main score by Taku Iwasaki. Anyhow, not a lot of people seem to be talking about it (even though I made a thread all about it). It's a French-Japanese co-production that was animated in Japan by Hal Film Maker using similar techniques (with French created 3D animation), so this is technically an anime series.

However, have you seen the show John? If so, what do you think of it. I know you don't usually watched dubbed anime, but I'm just wondering if you've seen this particular one. If you haven't, then I recommend that you watch it even if it is dubbed. I REALLY think you'll like it.

*The ABC Family version of the block is being discontinued on Aug. 31st. The 30th will be the last day of Jetix on ABC Family.

[Leader Desslock]

You just have to go back a page in John's Viewing Journal thread:

http://www.animenation.net/forums/showpost.php?p=5833050&postcount=887

[John]

I did get around to grabbing 13 original French language episodes, although I haven't watched any of them yet. I did watch enough to realize that the original French opening animation is roughly double the length of the edited American opening animation sequence.

I don't hold out much hope of this show being released on American DVD with its original French language as an optional audio track, but if it hits American DVD, I may seriously consider picking it up.

[Tama83]

ROTFLMHO!

John, I sincerely doubt that any DVD release will have the French version (would be nice though). It will probably be English only, but in this case, it won't hurt the release at all, although I suppose it WOULD be nice if it would also include the (as yet to be seen) Japanese version, but I'm shooting the moon here...

EDIT: There is a Japanese version being made, but according to Moon Phase, it only has a vague release date of "Fall 2006".

Also, not to shoot down your opinion or anything, but basically you're saying that you don't consider this show anime because the original concept wasn't created in Japan. I don't want this to turn into an anime/not anime discussion, but IMHO, I find this logic to be flawed. Okay, so the original concept was created by a French guy, and the show was originally going to be an all-CGI, all French production. However, when he went to Japan's Hal Film Maker to create the animation, it "became" an anime by incorporating similar design and animation techniques. In any case, I don't agree with the idea of a show not being anime simply because the original concept didn't originate in Japan. However, "to each his own" as they say, so I won't force the issue.

[Leader Desslock]

John, I sincerely doubt that any DVD release will have the French version (would be nice though). It will probably be English only...
Not necessarily. If it's a popular French series, it might get marketed to Quebec, in which case you could pick up an R1 French/Japanese version from a Canadian retailer. It'd be the same deal as Mysterious Cities of Gold.

[John]

Also, not to shoot down your opinion or anything, but basically you're saying that you don't consider this show anime because the original concept wasn't created in Japan. I don't want this to turn into an anime/not anime discussion, but IMHO, I find this logic to be flawed. Okay, so the original concept was created by a French guy, and the show was originally going to be an all-CGI, all French production. However, when he went to Japan's Hal Film Maker to create the animation, it "became" an anime by incorporating similar design and animation techniques. In any case, I don't agree with the idea of a show not being anime simply because the original concept didn't originate in Japan. However, "to each his own" as they say, so I won't force the issue.

Likewise, I don't wish to start an argument, only rational discussion. I think that "anime" consists of more than just visual design. A series that wasn't designed or written by native Japanese artists won't have exactly the same attitude, perspective, philosophy, sense of humor, and sense of timing that an original Japanese creation would have. That doesn't mean that it's bad; only that it's different. There's no way to know exactly what Oban Star Racer would have looked like or felt like had it been entirely an original Japanese creation, but I have no doubt that it wouldn't have been exactly identical to the show that actually exists. I like the show very much, and I don't mean any insult when I refuse to call it "anime." But as far as I'm concerned, it's not anime; it's animation produced in Japan, similar to the Batman Animated Series, which was animated by TMS, but isn't anime. Likewise the Clerks animated series may have been animated in Korea, but it's not classified as Korean animation.

In my perspective, it's the natural and native creative influences and atmosphere that an artwork comes from which determines its origin and classification, not its visual style. The Final Fantasy: Spirits Within movie may have been a Japanese animated production, but it was made in Hawaii, by artists that have American personalities and perspectives on art and creativity, which is why it's not normally thought of as an anime.

Once again, I intend no offense, and take none when other people disagree with me.

[Tama83]

Not necessarily. If it's a popular French series, it might get marketed to Quebec, in which case you could pick up an R1 French/Japanese version from a Canadian retailer. It'd be the same deal as Mysterious Cities of Gold.

...which is only available in untranslated French, and only in Canada. I'm talking about a U.S. release. A U.S. release will likely not have the French version, and will likely be English only, which again, I don't think will hurt this particular series.

^The above stance on an English only U.S. release may change sometime down the road. I just don't really know yet.

[Dessa]

I will point out that 4crap does put French and Spanish audio tracks on the pokémon movies... so French audio tracks isn't so far fetched.

[Undrave]

I will point out that 4crap does put French and Spanish audio tracks on the pokémon movies... so French audio tracks isn't so far fetched.
Yeah I have Jirachi Wishmaker (though the movies are distributed by Miramax) with a Quebec french Dub.

I would expect a company distributing Oban Star Racer on DVD in Canada to simply produce a bilingual version, since it'd be simpler than to produce two version in both languages.

Altough, unless they put it up on Radio-Canada while I wasn't looking (Kim Possible and W.I.T.C.H. did show up there) Oban Star Racers has yet to air in my dear province.

Also if you ask me Anime isn't about where the animation is made, but about the culture that influenced the writing...off course considering how the French LOVE anime you could say the Japanese culture HAD a sizeable impact on Oban Star Racer and thus I would consider it a sort of 'hybrid' with influences from multiple cultures.

[Tama83]

I will point out that 4crap does put French and Spanish audio tracks on the pokémon movies... so French audio tracks isn't so far fetched.

Yes, but in those cases it's a "dub of a dub". Oban was recorded in both French AND English (with a Japanese recording of the show in development for "Fall 2006" as I said). In other words, neither version is a "dub" of the other.

FYI: Savin Yeatman-Eiffel (the creator, writer, producer and [co-]director of this show) personally directed the French voices and went to Canada to supervise the English voices (which were directed by Michael Donovan). Oh yeah, strange but true, SY-E is the great-grandson of the original designer of Paris' famous "Eiffel" Tower.