The battle against the illegal downloading of TV anime has taken a new turn.
A new animated series, Tears To Tiara, is to become the first in the world to be broadcast simultaneously in Japan and across the rest of Asia, including Singapore.
Local anime distributor Odex says the same-time broadcast is to help combat the problem of illegal downloads.
Tears To Tiara, which depicts the epic struggle against a powerful empire set in a fantasy mediaeval world, will premiere on April 6 on Animax (StarHub Channel 84) in its original Japanese soundtrack with English and Chinese subtitles.
The series is based on a popular role-playing game available on personal computer and Sony PlayStation 3 platforms, and therefore is something many anime pirates would be keen to get first dibs on.
Odex managing director Peter Go says of the simulcast: 'This is a breakthrough because this is the first time that the Japanese side has allowed this.'
He notes that episodes of anime such as Naruto and Bleach are uploaded onto the legal website www.crunchyroll.com an hour after broadcast 'but the resolution is lower and hence easier to transmit'.
Pirates download the shows as they do not want to fork out big bucks for the genuine DVDs of the shows, which can cost $100 or more for a season and are often available only several months after being broadcast.
Odex had launched a crackdown on unauthorised downloads in May 2007 but the High Court ruled that Internet service providers could reveal the identities of the alleged downloaders only to the studios, the holders of the creative copyright - effectively throwing up a roadblock for the local distributor. This appears to be why five Japanese anime studios directly sued heavy downloaders here last November.
A simulcast means that tapes and materials have to be given out to the broadcaster in advance.
If there is a leak, viewership and sales back in Japan, the key source of revenue, will be affected.
'So they need to work with someone they can trust,' points out Odex's Mr Go.
Anime fan Eric Chew, a 29-year-old welding engineer, is happy about the same-day-and-time broadcast.
Asked if this will address the problem of illegal downloads, he said: 'Since one can watch it on TV, there's no point downloading and putting oneself in a high-risk situation.'
If caught, downloaders can find themselves in court and facing possible fines though globally, few rights owners who sue end-users of movies, music and games win.
Odex has the Asian licence for Tears To Tiara and is sub-licensing the title to Animax Asia for the TV broadcast. It plans to release the title on DVD three to six months after the initial broadcast.
Mr Go says Odex has spent years trying to convince the Japanese side that simulcast is the way to go 'so that there's no more reason to download anymore'.
Animax Asia's vice-president Gregory Ho says: 'The world is changing and it is changing fast.
The Japanese realise they are lagging behind. Downloading is no secret and it's a big problem. They realise they have to do something.'
Mr Go notes: 'For more than a year, we have been offering same-week broadcast and we were the first to do that in the world.'
His success in securing a same-day broadcast comes after a history of working with the Japanese. In 2007, the TV adaptation of the best-selling fantasy manga D.Gray-Man was broadcast on Central, now rebranded as okto, the same week of its Japanese telecast.
There are currently three titles broadcast the same week as Japan on okto channel: sci-fi drama Casshern Sins as well as romantic comedies Skip-Beat! and Toradora!
In addition to the simulcast of Tears To Tiara, the hugely anticipated Fullmetal Alchemist - The Brotherhood will make its debut on Animax on April 10 at 8.30pm, within six days of the Japanese broadcast.
This is the third onscreen rendition of the Fullmetal Alchemist franchise, following the original hit anime TV series (2003-2004) and movie sequel (2005).
They are all spin- offs of the best-selling manga about two brothers trying to restore their bodies after a disastrous attempt to bring their mother back to life through alchemy.
Mr Ho says: 'We tried to get a simulcast for Fullmetal Alchemist but they said it was out of the question. The bigger the title, the more conservative they tend to be and they don't come any bigger than Fullmetal.
'Tears To Tiara is a new title and they are more flexible and willing to try something different.'
Looking ahead, though, Odex's Mr Go said: 'I believe that the way to go is for all titles to be broadcast simultaneously and I hope to see this happen in two to three years.'
TEARS TO TIARA
Where: Animax (StarHub Channel 84)
When: Mondays from April 6, 12.35am
FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST - THE BROTHERHOOD
Where: Animax (StarHub Channel 84)
When: Fridays from April 10, 8.30pm
