Distribution and playback
In the late 1990s and early 2000s, fansubs in electronic form were
primarily distributed much like VHS tapes: via mail on CD-Rs. Many
fans did not have high speed Internet and were unable to download
large files. Many of the early electronic fansubs were made from
regular VHS subs. In the case of Sailor Moon, the primary fansub in
distribution today is based on VHS fansubs made almost a decade
ago.
As of 2006, most fansubs are predominantly distributed through
BitTorrent and IRC channels. Anime fansub news websites provide
information about fansub releases. Because of a growing de-emphasis
on CD-R or DVD-R distribution, file size standards have become less
frequently followed.
An appropriate video and audio playback codec needs to be installed
on the computer for proper playback. In addition, many of the video
files use special multimedia container formats such OGM and
Matroska. Special decoders need to be acquired for these formats as
well. One main benefit of using Ogg media and Matroska multimedia
containers is that it is possible to create a single file that has
DVD-like features such as different audio tracks as well as
different subtitle tracks and chapter support. At the same time,
these multimedia containers can be demuxed back into their
individual files, the individual files can be altered (for example,
fixing a misspelling in the subtitles), and then remuxed back
together.
Dynamics of fansubbing
Although executives of domestic anime distributors have been vocal
about their objection to fansubs, most do not want to gain an image
as being hostile to their fans. Of special note, many in the anime
industry started as VHS fansubbers themselves, although fansubbing
as they knew it then has become profoundly different from
fansubbing as it is known today. This is due to the shift from
traditional fansubbing using VHS tape to modern digisubs that are
circulated on the internet.
During the early days of the Internet, it was difficult for
fansubbing groups to get the attention of their target audience.
Even during the early to mid 1990s, groups still had to charge a
nominal fee (usually $5 to $10 at most) for a VHS and shipping
charges to get the anime to its destination. Many people in the
general public were not willing to trust relatively unknown
internet businesses, especially during the primitive days of
internet security. Most of the American and UK anime distribution
companies were formed during the early 1990s, and had little
competition from such amateur groups.
Some companies even formed out of fansubbing circles. However, as
the internet grew in availability and speed, fansub groups were
able to host and distribute fansubs online easily. Indeed, it
became too easy, as many fans ignore official releases altogether,
and some websites started charging for easier downloading rates.
The development of new software and its newfound availability made
it very simple to copy, subtitle, distribute, and play back
fansubs, cutting into what DVDs offer, and their sales.
Many anime shows make their debut outside of Japan's shores in
electronic format, and it is rare that a popular anime will go
without fansubs. Recently, this has also applied to the tokusatsu
fandom due to the fact fansubs are actually being done for Super
Sentai, Kamen Rider, Ultraman, and various Daikaiju Movies which
were badly dubbed over the decades. In addition, J-Horror and
J-Drama, as well as other Asian Shows have been fansubbed as many
people are becoming more and more curious about Asian Cinema and
breaking away from the Kung Fu, Samurai, Giant Monsters films that
so many people were familiar with prior to fansubbing. However,
this simply undermines the work of companies like Animeigo,
TokyoShock, and BCI, who have all offered subtitled versions of
Samurai Films, Japanese Horror films, and in BCI's case, tokusatsu
series like Ultraman. The pirating of these materials undermines
the market of an already small, niche market, hurting potential
releases of by providing content for free.
