Watching raw anime without knowing Japanese [Archive]

BonifaceVIII

03-18-2009, 10:26 PM

Fencedude

03-18-2009, 10:46 PM

I used to do it more than I do now, it was either watch it raw or get spoiled anyway, but now that I've severely cut down on my time on 4chan, I find less reason to do so.

I will be watching Valkyria Chronicles RAW, at least at first, but I've played the game so I shoudl be able to follow along decently. And if subs keep up at a good pace I'll probably stop after a few episodes.

something

03-18-2009, 10:55 PM

I know a lot of people like to watch raw anime episodes even when their Japanese is poor or nonexistent. I've just never understood it.
Me neither. I can sort of understand it when subs don't exist and it's watch raw or don't watch at all (I choose not to watch at all, personally), but if subs are less then a couple weeks behind I just can't fathom it. Especially when a show is dialog heavy.

Some argue that you can just watch it again when subs are available but I'm all about the first experience being the best possible one so I can't, personally, accept watching something and not understanding the vast majority of the words being spoken. It's just something I will not do.

Suwako Moriya

03-18-2009, 11:31 PM

I don't watch everything raw. It's really a case by case basis. However there are a variety of reasons I get tempted into watching raws of either select episodes or entire series.

Sometimes the subs are none-existent or slow as heck. Or at least they are at the time that I watched the series in question. Sure the series might finally get translated later, but even so...

I have strong love for certain series and want to see the episodes as soon as possible. Other times, I end up watching a series "live" when possible like I did with Sunshine Sketch X 365. Streaming Live series can be fun...

There are times an episode will end in such a way that I won't be able to resist waiting and will want to see the next episode as soon as possible. On that note, there are times I feel it's better to just go ahead and watch the episode rather than take risks.

I realize watching raw means potentially having to re-watch later, but if a series is good enough that shouldn't be a problem. Never mind the fact that with some series I've watch the raw multiple times before seeing the translated version.

Draneor

03-18-2009, 11:39 PM

I'll sometimes watch an anime raw after I've already seen it subtitled (I need to get some use out of my R2 and R3 collection). Generally though, I still need the subtitles to fill in blanks in my vocabulary and also help me to synthesis the specific meaning of a line. On the other hand, after a few listens, I can understand the general sense of an audio drama. I'm not sure why I find audio dramas easier to comprehend than anime, other than perhaps my mind is entirely focused on listening. Also, I'm already familiar with the characters and general content through other mediums.

But as far as anime goes, I'm fairly patient and have waited years for the chance to finish a show I started (and am still waiting for many). I'd never watch a show raw just because I'm impatient.

Herron

03-18-2009, 11:42 PM

Interesting that this came up as I was just thinking some on the subject due to someone posting opinions on episodes they watched raw that were pretty far off... :sweat: At first I didn't realize they were watching it raw and I kept going... did they watch the same episode!?

Some of the above seemed like a, I wanna be first to comment on this show so I'll watch raw and just hope I understand what's happening. Just in order to be first.

As for myself, I've watched a few episodes raw... but it just didn't feel fun. In fact, for me, it sucked. I just felt I was missing out too much.

Fencedude

03-18-2009, 11:47 PM

philnicau

03-18-2009, 11:53 PM

Now this takes me back to the early days of Fandom in the Late 80s when Raw was often the only way we saw anime, except for an occasional (often poor quality) fan sub.
I still sometimes watch Raw anime often bringing DVDs home from Japan (most recently Macross Frontier, Sekirei, Spice & Wolf and Garden of Sinners).

Westlo

03-19-2009, 01:40 AM

I know a lot of people like to watch raw anime episodes even when their Japanese is poor or nonexistent. I've just never understood it.

I'd much rather wait until subtitles are available for an episode before watching it, but I'd like to hear the motivations of those who "jump the gun", so to speak.

Generally when I watch a raw it's when a new anime season has started and I want to check out the animation and stuff.. especially for series which don't get subbed within 2-3 days.

Sometimes it's when a show is adapting from a manga and I want to see how they went about it, I watched Kannagi episode 1 like that.. other times I know a great moment/action scene is involved and I want to see it, Mifune Vs Black Star from Soul Eater 28 would be an example of me doing that.

Though following a series raw like the example you mentioned in your post is very rare, the only show I've done that with is Macross Frontier... I watched probably... 2 thirds of that series raw.. many towards the end off streams.. this show popped my raw cherry so to say.. and heck after waiting 3 months for episode 2 there was no way I was waiting for subs.. and that action scene at the start is stunning, no need to know the words.

Nork22

03-19-2009, 05:32 AM

A few reasons really but that's really dependent on how much I really like the show. Here's really the breakdown on why:

a) Because I'm impatient. If I seriously like the show (Mari-mite, Minami-ke) then absolutely I'll watch it raw. Some of the dialogue will fly thru my head, but then again, I get my brother to clarify what was said.

b) No subs. Well it's already episode 7 with Fresh! Pretty Cure and I couldn't be arse waiting since I know no one really bothers with it or take their time. Same with Major. Least with Pretty Cure, it's a kid's show so the dialogue isn't that hard to understand.

c) Bragging rights. Yeah, I used to be in that wagon too of wanting to be the first to post about the new episode, but I rarely do it these days.

d) Checking out the show first before it's worth continuing with subs. If I like it enough, and the subs are coming out decently then yeah watching a couple of episodes raw is no big deal. This though mainly applies to new anime.

Garasharp K7

03-19-2009, 06:50 AM

As far as current shows are concerned, I tend to wait for the subs, but I have watched the odd raw episode when the usual sources are too slow in getting the subbed versions out.
Dvds would be a different matter though. I've bought plenty of R2s over the years where I knew the shows would never see a western release. Mainly tokusatsu stuff, but I've picked up a few anime titles as well - monster of the week robot shows, that sort of thing. Those types of shows aren't too difficult to figure out anyway. :)

The Great Bear

03-19-2009, 07:47 AM

I don't watch fansubs, so for me, the only way I generally watch a show before an official R1 release is to see it raw (though that's now less common, since there are now official internet streams with subs, some of which I do watch).

And by raw, I mean on R2 DVDs, though I've stopped collecting them for the moment (lack of money, the usual reason). But when I was regularly collecting 1 or 2 R2 series a month, I would be watching them raw, then visiting one of the various anime blogs out there to see the summaries of what happened, to fill in the gaps from what I could get out of the episode just from the visuals and my 5% knowledge of what they were saying.

For me, the main draw of anime is the visuals, so I'd rather watch raw than with subtitles, so that I have nothing to distract me from the visuals. That's why I much prefer dubbed to subbed, again, so that I can see the show.

LordGeo

03-19-2009, 08:14 AM

I've seen anime raw only in certain cases, the main case being that subs don't seem to be coming at all. And even then, I think there have been only a few that I saw fully and not just skipping through. Since then, the stuff I watched raw has been subbed, either fully (Ring ni Kakero 1 Season 2) or at least what I watched raw (Braiger episode 1)... But these didn't happen until a good bit later, like months or even a year or so later.

My knowledge of Japanese is very, very rough, so a show like Ring ni Kakero 1 is an easier watch than a show like Akagi... And even then there were parts of the story in RnK that I missed until I watched it subbed.

Ring ni Kakero Season 2 was especially needed watching for me, and the raw provider was even thinking about dropping the show unless people seeded... So I seeded the hell out of all of the episodes as I could. Now that both seasons have been fully subbed there's a better chance that Season 3 will get subbed whenever it airs instead of months or even a year after it finishes airing... But, in honesty, I'm not going to take any chances and will start watching it raw and then rewatch it subbed if it happens.

Buckeye

03-19-2009, 08:22 AM

I've tried it before and it felt like watching an anime with the mute button pressed. You only can tell what is happening by the visuals, more or less.

sailor53

03-19-2009, 08:25 AM

I watch a few things raw mainly because that's the only way I can watch certain shows such as Lady Georgie and Minky Momo. I used to watch current shows raw first and then I would watch them subbed later. Then there are shows I've seen subbed enough times to not need subtitles anymore such as my Sailor Moon Sailor Stars R2 DVDs.

Nosredna

03-19-2009, 08:28 AM

Only if I really want to see the episode and I can't wait. Normally that's just if it's the last episode though.

bluesilo

03-19-2009, 11:35 AM

Only three series I remember doing this for were:

Clannad After Story (Still haven't watched the sub version yet)
Code Geass 1 (Took me 4 months after seeing it RAW to care to watch it subbed)
Gurren Lagann

Generally I did it because I read a lot of forums and didn't want someone else to tell me the ending before I saw it with my own eyes. Even if I can't understand more than 10 words in japanese I can follow what's happening in a very basic sort of way. I will also be watching Valkerie Chronicles RAW since I played the game. I guess I also do it for 1st episodes of the season. I'm just too excitied to wait for the first subs and I can usually tell if a show is good even without words.

Suwako Moriya

03-19-2009, 11:39 AM

On that note, the latter parts of Gundam Seed Destiny were faaaaar better when I didn't understand the dialog.

Heh, there probably are multiple series where you're better off not knowing how bad the dialogue actually is.

Swordbreaker

03-19-2009, 02:00 PM

Only time I've ever watched a show raw was Initial D 4th stage. And well...I kinda just skipped to any race scenes that had eurobeat playing>_>

03-19-2009, 04:30 PM

I don't understand the appeal either. I can't watch anything raw and probably never will. You can get the gist of what is going on in terms of emotion or "big picture" but without a working knowledge of the language at least 75% of the meaning in the episode is lost. I remember reading somewhere what an enlightening experience it is supposed to be to try to watch an episode raw just to see how much you can understand, but I haven't felt tempted to try it yet.

Steve_the_Talking_Pie

03-19-2009, 05:05 PM

I could never see myself watching a raw Japanese show. As much as I would like to, I wouldn't understand any of it, and after all since anime is entertainment, if I don't understand what is going I am probably not having as much fun as I could (I have so much anime and movies to watch as it is, I can wait).

The only exceptions to the rule would be stuff I could never possibly see otherwise like the Maison Ikkoku OAV or Movie, or Tokimeki Tonight. As much as I would love to see these released, chances are very slim.

Fudce

03-19-2009, 05:07 PM

Bibulb

03-20-2009, 04:04 PM

Well, nowadays I wouldn't likely do it unless there was some R2 release without any English that I simply couldn't live without. (If I got the BGC Blu-Rays, I'd be in this boat.)

<crotchety old guy>
But back in the old days, if you were interested in anime, then raw was your only option. If you wanted a translation, you had to have the grad student in the front of the room hit pause and give an explanation while you were watching, or else you just held on for dear life and hoped what you were watching would make sense in the end. Frex, Akira raw was spectacular, but more than a little baffling, even if you HAD read the Epic Comics import beforehand. Meanwhile, one of the things that was so amazing about Kiki's Delivery Service was how much Miyazaki could convey simply through his directing - while there were certainly fiddly details that I didn't get until I watched it with subs, it was remarkably clear even without a common language.

And also, we had to walk to school every day, in the burning snow, uphill both ways. Now get off my lawn!

Suwako Moriya

03-20-2009, 04:20 PM

I also use the raws to make avatars so I download them anyway, so I might as well watch them.

I've done that before, but I've also taken advantage of the ability to turn off subs when it comes to some files.

You'd be surprised just how much you can understand without knowing Japanese.

Sometimes actions speak louder than words and are universal in any language.

TAS

03-20-2009, 10:52 PM

From the Toradora! discussion thread:
As for the episode, fantastic - I don't know what words were spoken but I got exactly what was going on instinctivly. I can't wait to rewatch this later with subtitles.
I know a lot of people like to watch raw anime episodes even when their Japanese is poor or nonexistent. I've just never understood it.

I did take a Japanese course as one of my non-science courses in University so I would say my Japanese is so-so. A simple slice of life show, or a kids show I can follow 80% or so, but a complex political drama is hard work!

I will sometimes watch an episode that I really want to see now raw (including the one that is the subject of this post, I expect I'll watch 25 too). I'll also switch to raw if the subtitles stall, or if only part of the series is subtitled.

There are only about 8 episodes of Hiatari Ryoukou subtitled, but I really liked the show so I bought the R2 box set. Even if a fansub is available I'll buy R2s of shows I like a lot like Denno Coil , Princess Tutu (bought the R1 too), and I'm thinking about Torodora R2 but no date yet. Also shows where the R2 is much higher quality then the R1 like Beautiful Dreamer.

Suwako Moriya

03-20-2009, 10:59 PM

I will sometimes watch an episode that I really want to see now raw (including the one that is the subject of this post, I expect I'll watch 25 too).

I'm confident that I'll be watching 25 of that as soon as possible. The closer to the final episode the less patient I am in some cases. Episode 24 of the show in question was one of those cases.

Even if a fansub is available I'll buy R2s of shows I like a lot like

If I could actually afford R2s, I'd consider going for select series. Sure I can't understand Japanese, but then again I could use the existing translations as a reference. Regardless this is a moot point since the chances of getting another series in R2 format quite low.

Arnold

03-20-2009, 11:13 PM

The only 100% raw anime I ever recall watching was Macross: Do You Remember Love. And in that case, what got me through it was the fact that the visuals were so striking, and the fact that I remembered "Robotech" from the 80s.

Unless it's visually a masterpiece (as Macross DYRL was) I don't really see the appeal of unsubbed anime if you don't know Japanese. I might watch it if someone just gave it to me, but I wouldn't go out of my way to get unsubbed anime.

TAS

03-21-2009, 08:44 PM

If I could actually afford R2s, I'd consider going for select series. Sure I can't understand Japanese, but then again I could use the existing translations as a reference. Regardless this is a moot point since the chances of getting another series in R2 format quite low.
I have to be more select my self now that the Canadian dollar has dropped about 30% compared to the yen since last October. Ouch!

Njr Scrawl

03-22-2009, 08:23 AM

If the manga has been licensed & translated before its anime version, that is a great bonus. Or even if a dub-only R1 version exists, which I've got.

Most shows I watch raw are old school ones, unlikely to be licensed, & which usually have simpler dialogue. If scripts can be found, or I have them, that is also an incentive.

The other occasion is if seiyuus are cast &/or characters I like from a licensed season, continue in future unlicensed/unlikely to be licensed seasons. Angel Heart, StrikerS, Real Drive, Touch, Miyuki, Ghost Sweeper Mikami, Dorvack, Shana 2, ZnT 2 are examples. The above also applies to VHS & LD, if no R2J/R3 releases on DVD or BD exist.