Hunter x Hunter: Closing Song 2 Excluded from DVD Release

[Brent Long]

Just got in the third volume of Hunter x Hunter today.

For whatever reason, I always had a bad feeling Viz would have trouble with the other openings and closings for the show, once they came up. This DVD release is the first time I've ever actually seen the show, so I can't comment on the quality of the second opening and the second and third closing.

Well, I can now confirm that closing song #2: by Masato Nagai's "E-Jan - Do You Feel Like I Feel," which (assuming ANN's listing is reliable) was supposed to start with episode 32 is not present on the DVDs, with the first closing being used in its place.

That having been said, commence the controversy!

Also, for those curious, the cast credits are still only listing the four leads and Hisoka. Now sure, all the companies have had their bad days when it's come to compiling and editing the dub credits (especially the cast list). But I am getting utterly sick and tired of condoning this type of shoddiness.

Now sure, it's often forgotten that online editing is an expense. And even with the ever growing capabilities of low-cost NLEs, it still is something that requires definite budgetary decisions.

Still though, if your video budget is too low to be more complete with the cast and/or crew, at least make the information available somewhere. Online? The show's site or something would be appropriate. Because there's only so many uncredited cast members that audiences can recognize by ear or crew members who submit their uncredited work to an online database or lists said work on their resumes/websites.

And the fact that it comes down to fans so often to have to complete this information is a joke. Of course, I'd rather have a dub with limited credits (or a lack thereof) than a sub-only release with more complete localization credits. But as far as I'm concerned, this really shouldn't be a problem that surfaces very often. Unless the performer or crewperson specifies otherwise (pseudonyms, desire to go uncredited), you have an obligation to let it be known what they did. No ifs, ands, or buts about it.

Region 1 release studios, get your bloody act together.

[something]

Thankfully, all HxH music is absolutely horrid (if there was a good OP or ED in the whole show, I guess I've forgotten), so I'm not too worked up in a practical sense. It's pretty irksome on principle, though. I really hate these rights issues (or whatever caused it).

The laziness in the credits is another thing that's really, really irksome on principle. In reality I'll just hit up ANN or Wiki, which is much easier than pouring through a credit scroll. But seriously now, whether it's R1's fault or Japan's fault or both, why is getting an accurate cast list on an episode by episode basis seemingly so difficult?

[Doom85]

Hey now, I liked the first OP and think the in-show music is fairly good. But I've totally forgotten what the second ED sounds like, but if it was that good, I'll just download it. As for credits, it is a shame, but since ANN exists, I can easily read the credits without having to pause every five seconds.

I'm just grateful we have confirmation of the last season set, thus ending people's arguments that Viz wouldn't ever finish a series that isn't mainstream (I dunno, maybe H x H did sell quite well, but I'm doubtful given its age).

[Thanatos]

It's always very disappointing when this sort of thing happens. Though it is also possible that there were circumstances completely making the original song's inclusion impossible.

[LordGeo]

It's always very disappointing when this sort of thing happens. Though it is also possible that there were circumstances completely making the original song's inclusion impossible.

Which would really suck as the 3rd ending, Hotaru, is done by the same performer. And really, out of all ofthe openings and endings for this anime, the 1st ending is the only one I didn't like that much.

I'll still be buying these DVDs, as it's still better than having no Hunter X Hunter anime over here at all, but that is a shame. Hopefully the 2nd opening, which is appropriately dark for the story arc it's used for, will remain and if Viz gets the OVAs then those songs stay as well.

[bleachjoj]

don't care as long as the dvd is in my hands. Can't wait till I get it.

[WTK]

That's kind of disappointing. It's not the worst thing that could have happened. I will still get it though I probably won't get it until fall/winter.

[muhootsaver]

You know, I understand that there can be complicated right issues regarding OP/ED. This isn't the first time and when it happens, it sucks. But we'll have to suck it up. I get it. HOWEVER, I think they should clearly indicate this beforehand, like Funimation did for some of their series. To some, it's a matter of getting things uncut.

[Yuriko]

Well, this is lame. I know it happens but it seems to happen to Viz with startling frequency compared to everyone else (Ranma, Maison Ikkoku, Nana, Prince of Tennis and now Hunter x Hunter just from the series I know offhand). Perhaps it's some kind of official company tradition.

I'll probably still get HxH (I was stoically refusing to buy it until I was sure it was complete, given their pathetic track record; it seems this time they managed it) but I wish they'd sort themselves out and try to at least feign interest in their less popular shows. I tend to prioritise buying shows from companies who create the illusion of caring about their properties over Viz nowadays.

~Y

[Raye]

It's Viz! I'm not surprised. Sadly, this was my favorite ending of the anime. Haven't bought it on DVD yet, but it looks like I won't be now.

[KudosForce]

A bit of a shame, rather. :(

I can live with that, though. I'll get the set anyway, since I've been waiting the arrival of this show in R1 for so long.

[Hayate Kurogane]

Also, for those curious, the cast credits are still only listing the four leads and Hisoka. Now sure, all the companies have had their bad days when it's come to compiling and editing the dub credits (especially the cast list). But I am getting utterly sick and tired of condoning this type of shoddiness.

To clarify, are you talking about the Japanese cast or the English cast (pretty sure it's the latter based on the second sentence in the quote)?

If it's the former, then it's likely due to the list as it is being all that the Japanese approved for inclusion. If it's the latter, then it smacks of pure laziness, unless the English cast for some reason did not want to be fully credited or the dub studio did not/could not credit all its cast participants, which would be...bizarre.

[Daimao Raki]

Damn is it really this hard for Viz to do what all the other R1 companies are doing?

[russ869]

Hmm... I can't wait to get this set! But I am not amused at this news. I don't know of any other DVDs I own that are missing OP/ED songs they are supposed to have.

They had better have OP2: "Taiyou wa Yoru mo Kagayaku" on the last set. It's not my favorite song, but the animation of that opening is one of the things that originally drew me to the series. The tone of the series just changes completely in that arc.

[james_039]

This is one of my greatest pet peeves about licensing... when companies cut costs by not getting specific sub licenses, such as music. I'd not been collecting Hunter x Hunter, but I understand the disappointment all too well.

Viz is supposed to be so well connected in Japan, why are they cutting music so much lately? First Nana, and now this?

[Betenoire]

This is one of my greatest pet peeves about licensing... when companies cut costs by not getting specific sub licenses, such as music. I'd not been collecting Hunter x Hunter, but I understand the disappointment all too well.

Viz is supposed to be so well connected in Japan, why are they cutting music so much lately? First Nana, and now this?

But music is on a case by case basis. Each company that owns the rights charges what they see fit. Viz not getting the rights to a song is not ideal, but if they option is that or them not licensing the title to begin with, which is the preferable choice?

It is possible that licensing the song would increase the amount Viz has to make back past reasonable expectations on a title in the current R1 market. Or the expectations may set the sales bar so high that it runs the risk of cancellation if those lofty numbers aren't met. And sometimes the music just isn't made available for whatever reason-the artist may not want it licensed or something. that is hardly Viz's fault.

I'll stand in line to take shots at Viz where I feel it is valid, but in this case it maybe just simple economics-not enough projected buyers to balance out additional costs (assuming the option of licensing the music was even available).

[james_039]

But music is on a case by case basis. Each company that owns the rights charges what they see fit. Viz not getting the rights to a song is not ideal, but if they option is that or them not licensing the title to begin with, which is the preferable choice?

It is possible that licensing the song would increase the amount Viz has to make back past reasonable expectations on a title in the current R1 market. Or the expectations may set the sales bar so high that it runs the risk of cancellation if those lofty numbers aren't met. And sometimes the music just isn't made available for whatever reason-the artist may not want it licensed or something. that is hardly Viz's fault.

I'll stand in line to take shots at Viz where I feel it is valid, but in this case it maybe just simple economics-not enough projected buyers to balance out additional costs (assuming the option of licensing the music was even available).

I am not an industry insider, so I can't know if when this happens, (and it has happened quite a few times in R1), if the situation from the rights holder was simply, "No, we're not ever licensing this music for use outside of Japan. Ever. Goodbye", or "We want $xxxxxxx dollars in royalties or else", making it cost prohibitive, or if the R1 company sets aside an $xxx budget and paying for all the music would've exceeded it.

Also, because I can't know *who* is more to blame, be it the R1 company being too cheap, or the rights holder being stubborn or greedy, I really can't point fingers at any one party. Though it is easy to just blame the licensor when it happens, since they are responsible for the product that comes out in their region.

I don't like edited DVD's however, so I usually don't buy them. My opinion is that these situations are very annoying, especially if it was a title I had wanted to buy. As an example, I wanted Hare nochi guu a while back, but ended up passing on the R1 release since an ending was missing. The licensor was not to blame for that one, and was very open about it to the fans, but it still sucked the value out of the product (for me).

[Brent Long]

To clarify, are you talking about the Japanese cast or the English cast (pretty sure it's the latter based on the second sentence in the quote)?

If it's the former, then it's likely due to the list as it is being all that the Japanese approved for inclusion. If it's the latter, then it smacks of pure laziness, unless the English cast for some reason did not want to be fully credited or the dub studio did not/could not credit all its cast participants, which would be...bizarre.

Sorry. I could understand how my post would be confusing in that regard.

I'm talking about the dub cast. The Japanese cast (and a bunch of their crew) aren't credited. But like you say, the Japanese licensors can and do impede these credits. This doesn't make me happy either, but at least a lot of this information is technically out there somewhere already (unless the Japanese approved crediting someone in the R1 release who wasn't credited originally--I think this has happened before too...).

And the licensors being so enigmatically finnicky when it comes to this seems to be a lot more prevalent than we think, and release studios have in fact gotten in trouble for translating all the original Japanese writing credits themselves (CPM and FUNi years ago). Since we seldom seem to get official word from any reliable sources on whether particular credit exclusions were licensor-related or cost-cutting, I tend to give the R1s the benefit of the doubt. Wouldn't want to put them on the cross for what very well could be silly licensor concerns.

But there simply isn't much to justify dub cast credits being so incomplete. Animaze supposedly had it in their contracts that their non-union dub casts (just lists of the involved actors) were forbidden from being expounded by the release studio with the roles (i.e., putting roles to the actors listed without them in the credits).

However, this seems to be the exception and not the rule (comparatively, Animaze is a very unique ADR outfit who plays things very differently than their "competitors"), as you won't find much in the way of any more explanations for the incompleteness not having to do with cost cutting. And I can't really think of any proven instances where the entire cast declined credit absolutely. Usually, if the content's sketchy or it's a non-union gig, no one has a problem just playing the pseudonym game. Some will decline credit completely, but it's never really more than just one or two of the involved actors.

And it's difficult to discern when the actor intentionally went uncredited, as they obviously usually wouldn't want to reveal their involvement. It's not uncommon for one particular major character to be missing from the dub cast list, while the rest of the characters of similar importance are clearly there, and the scenario isn't the result of guile but the result of an egregious mistake. Seems to me it's the latter situation a heck of a lot more than it's the former.

Also, I should note that my final address to the R1 release studios was regarding the dub credits issue and not the closing song exclusion, to which I would consider my feelings comparable to my aforementioned feelings on the detail of the English release versions of the original Japanese credits. Sometimes, it's cheapness. Sometimes, it's trouble an ocean away that ain't going away. Thus, benefit of the doubt in the R1s favor again.

[BigPants]

Damn, that was my favorite ending theme. :| So, should I not hold out hope for the other themes (particularly "Hotaru" ? )

[Shirou Emiya]

don't care as long as the dvd is in my hands. Can't wait till I get it.

I feel the same as you. I will still be getting and watching Episodes 31-62, despite this mess-up.

[Drgnfuel]

The only music from HxH that has ever struck a chord with me was the original opening song. While it is a shame it is cut for the people that liked the music I am unaffected.:sweat:

[LelouchLamperouge]

It's no biggie for me as well, I'll just continue to enjoy the series and life goes on.

[Gishra]

It was disappointing for me to realize this as well when I got my dvds, but really in the current economic environment in general and the dvd market for anime in particular, we as fans just have to give companies some slack when they look for ways to cut costs (if cost was indeed why this ending isn't in the box set).

[Brent Long]

Given Viz's track record, I feel I should note that all the Japanese signs and various text that I've seen in this volume thus far (I've watched up to part of episode 44) were translated, albeit not as a sub track by themselves.

I'm rather certain volumes 1-2 didn't have any signs requiring translatation, so it looks like a lack of text translation doesn't apply to this particular Viz series.

[hikaru004]

Did the song make it to the R2 DVD release and/or OST?

[russ869]

The only music from HxH that has ever struck a chord with me was the original opening song. While it is a shame it is cut for the people that liked the music I am unaffected.:sweat:
No you're not "unaffected." You're completely missing out on whatever closing animation is supposed to be there. I'm not really interested in listening to the song. It's just when I purchase a complete uncut anime series on home video I expect to get every piece of animation from those episodes. This isn't just like a next episode preview where the same shots are repeated later so you're not really missing anything. Now if I want to see the second ending animation I'll have to resort to something lame like watching it on Youtube.


I wanted Hare nochi guu a while back, but ended up passing on the R1 release since an ending was missing. The licensor was not to blame for that one, and was very open about it to the fans, but it still sucked the value out of the product (for me).
This is all I want; openness. If there's something edited on the R1 DVD, I want to hear about it from the licensing company honestly, instead of having to read about it on an internet forum post from someone who found out the hard way. At least then I can honestly weigh the costs/benefits and decide if it's still worth the money for me.

Given Viz's track record, I feel I should note that all the Japanese signs and various text that I've seen in this volume thus far (I've watched up to part of episode 44) were translated, albeit not as a sub track by themselves.

I'm rather certain volumes 1-2 didn't have any signs requiring translatation, so it looks like a lack of text translation doesn't apply to this particular Viz series.
But there isn't even any Japanese is this show! The written language in Hunter x Hunter is a fictional writing of utter gibberish. (although I think the manga author might have made some kind of translation guide) What could there possibly be to subtitle?

[Brent Long]

But there isn't even any Japanese is this show! The written language in Hunter x Hunter is a fictional writing of utter gibberish. (although I think the manga author might have made some kind of translation guide) What could there possibly be to subtitle?

The first two volumes worth of episodes did only use the show-specific language for signs, but some of the episodes in the third volume do in fact contain some Japanese written language on occasion.

[Njr Scrawl]

I knew about Maison Ikkoku - only a special op & ed for ep. 24 - but not about Ranma. What didn't Viz give us there?

Its not just Viz & Funi (Kodosha), Bandai changed music for Z Gundam's op & ed, & also for an in-episode tune in Gunbuster.

The missing credits for HxH are salt in the wound IMO. Its not the first time in R1 licensing either...

[Dracula on a bike]

I knew about Maison Ikkoku - only a special op & ed for ep. 24 - but not about Ranma. What didn't Viz give us there?

Each of OVA episodes 7 through 11 originally had its own OP and ED, but Viz took one of the OPs (the one from episode 7) and used it for all of these episodes. Maybe they also did the same with the ED; if so, I don't remember which one it was that they used.

[sailor53]

I knew about Maison Ikkoku - only a special op & ed for ep. 24 - but not about Ranma. What didn't Viz give us there?

Each of OVA episodes 7 through 11 originally had its own OP and ED, but Viz took one of the OPs (the one from episode 7) and used it for all of these episodes. Maybe they also did the same with the ED; if so, I don't remember which one it was that they used.

On the old DVD release the included all the OP & ED's textless as extras. On the new DVD release they put the individual OP & ED's on the correct episodes.

[Yuriko]

The Ranma OAVs were jumbled but they did actually include them all as extras. The missing track in the TV series was the ending theme "Present". I'm pretty sure it's not even on the final discs as an extra.

Releases from Viz with the correct music in completeness seem to be the exception.

~Y