UlasanAnime.com – Daisuki, an ambitious international streaming service spearheaded by a Japanese conglomerate, recently launched, offering a selection of free anime titles. The platform aims to promote digital distribution of anime overseas and features a range of shows, from new releases like Gundam Seed HD to classics such as Lupin the III’s second season. This diverse offering allows viewers to jump between vastly different anime experiences.
The site’s initial presentation is divided into a video section and a store. A comprehensive FAQ page addresses common inquiries for a retail website and also touches upon the possibility of a future subscription service, though neither of these features are currently available. Beyond some minor technical glitches, there isn’t much substantial content to discuss about Daisuki in its current state.
A significant technical aspect is the Digital Rights Management (DRM) implementation. It appears that Daisuki’s video playback necessitates Flash and local storage through Flash. This requirement means that users unable to get Flash working will be unable to view any content. Consequently, this also excludes a large number of devices, including most running Android 4.1+ and all iOS devices.
In contrast, the launch of AnimeSols two days prior presented a different scenario. This site, funded partially through Kickstarter and offering free streaming, debuted with eight titles from a selection of older anime. After watching an episode of Creamy Mami, the experience was surprisingly decent. AnimeSols utilizes HTML5 for its streaming, ensuring compatibility across most devices except for Firefox and certain versions of Internet Explorer. Essentially, they are providing DRM-free streaming.
However, AnimeSols is not without its considerable issues. The website’s design resembles a fan site from approximately six years ago. The pledge mechanism could be improved, for instance, by allowing users to freely cancel pledges before the deadline. The most critical flaw lies in a general misunderstanding of what makes successful crowdfunding projects thrive. Key components like an FAQ were missing at launch, although some were added later. The platform suffers from an overwhelming number of launch pledge titles, a near-nonexistent discovery mechanism, and generally poor marketing for its pledge drives. It’s unclear who is managing these drives or how they are intended to function. While it’s difficult to fully assess the situation without knowing the constraints faced by both Daisuki and AnimeSols, AnimeSols’ current state can be likened to a beautiful paper airplane from ef – impressive in concept, but destined for a crash and burn.
There are two ways to view these new ventures: with half an empty glass or half a full one. On one hand, the anime industry can be quite insular, and Japan isn’t particularly known for producing catchy tech businesses, especially those centered around animated children’s shows. Outside of Japan, the pool of individuals capable of creating truly top-notch services might be limited, especially when considering the success of Crunchyroll, arguably the only legitimate startup in the business. The old joke from Seizon season one about Strike Witches seems relevant here – producing anime requires a team, and selling it certainly does as well.
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Nevertheless, the author hopes to be proven wrong.
Both of these sites are in their nascent stages, and only time will tell their ultimate fate. In the meantime, users are encouraged to sign up for Daisuki, participate in contests, and vote for the content they wish to see. For those interested in “vintage merchandise” from the 1970s, sourced from the archives of anime studios, AnimeSols offers that option.
PS. This post’s topic was inspired by an adorable Twitter bot. The post itself is a product of the author’s inclination for puns.
PPS. The ANNCast featuring a Daisuki representative is regrettable. It’s unclear if this information was widely noted, but a significant takeaway is that older Toei titles are now open for acquisition. This could potentially lead to a surge in popularity for Daisuki if it becomes the exclusive platform for beloved shows like Sailor Moon, provided no obstacles arise.
PPPS. Hello there.
http://twitter.com/epitanime/statuses/335580302992887808
