We here at AnimeGrAvy think it's important to educate people about bootleg anime and how to be able to spot them, because most likely someone's been ripped off and hasn't even known it, be sure to look for these signs--------------Check the packaging. While some bootleg copies are pretty hi-tech and "compressed" just like the studios do, others are ripped right on someone's computer and with just a little scrutiny, you'll notice things like pixelating on the cover art or even a DVD that actually says "DVD-R." A lot of bootlegs also use cheaper paper for the cover insert (think printer paper vs high gloss) and it's not often that you'll see one with those impossible to remove "Security" stickers all over the jacket. Likewise, if the DVD comes in a plain sleeve or other alternative packaging, such as a clear slip cover over the box, and if you look at the back it will either have too much information, or none at all with most likely (commonly) along with a black rectangle at the bottom that says something like "Original japanese dialogure/english dialogue with english subtitles 3 (or # of disc) all-coded dvd discs version episodes 1- (however many there is)" you probably have a fake in your hands, sadly this also includes a lot of plushies, key chains, and buttons.-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------Check the audio. If there's no English dub, then it's probably a bootleg. There are exceptions to this, of course, such as a true import DVD from Japan, but in general, DVDs released for the North American audience are going to have an English dub. If the one you're considering is a Japanese language-only DVD with Chinese and English subtitles, chances are it's a fake. And if you're thinking "who cares," keep in mind that the translation most likely went from Japanese to Chinese to English so don't count on a high-quality sub.--------------------------Check the region. DVDs released for North America and Canada are Region 1. Import DVDs from Japan will be Region 2. To get past this encoding problem, many foreign bootleggers will encode as "Region Free" or "Region 0." But take note: the legitimate studios DO NOT put out "Region free" or "Region 0" DVDs. They just don't do it. If yours is region free or region 0, you're most likely holding a fake.-------------------------------------------------------Check the number of episodes. If you haven't already noticed, most legitimate anime DVDs come with anywhere from three to five episodes per DVD on average. Yes, you may find some that only have two and yes, you may find some that have six, but it's probably safe to say that you won't find a single-disc release with twelve or thirteen episodes on it. Likewise, if it's a two-disc release, the episodes are usually pretty evenly split between the two. If yours isn't or has an usually large number of episodes on one disc, your DVD is a bootleg.--------------------------------Check the price. We all love a bargain. Especially when it comes to our anime and I'll be the first to admit that you'll sometimes luck into a really good (and legitimate) find. So while price alone shouldn't make or break your decision, it should be a flag to take a closer look.--------------------------------------------------------------------Check the seller. A DVD bought direct from Amazon is probably okay, but a DVD bought from an individual seller through the Amazon marketplace isn't guaranteed. Similarly, if you're out buying at a convention or on eBay, you need to pay a little more attention than you would if you purchased something from a known and reputable dealer.------------------------------------------------------------------Tips:
If you're still not sure, do some research.
Compare the artwork and packaging to a release that you know is legit.
Check the release dates. Most anime DVDs are released in Japan before they hit the states, so if you're looking at a copy of something that you didn't think was out yet, you might want to double-check before you buy.
If you're buying at an online auction such as eBay, check the descriptions, most (but not all) legit sellers will say "this is not a bootleg." Even more important, however, is the description itself. If the seller tells you that it's "high quality audio/video," it's probably a rip.
Use common sense. While you can't always tell a bootleg from the real deal until after you buy, there are usually some pretty good indicators to help you weed out most of the fakes. If it's a rare edition and the seller has a large number of copies for a really cheap price, you're probably looking at a bootleg. The bottom line? If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.-----------------------------------------------------------------------------How To Spot Anime Bootleg Audio CD.------------Now, CD bootlegs are slightly trickier to spot, since there aren't as many discrepancies between the bootlegs and the originals, but if you look carefully you'll know a bootleg from a legit CD.--------------------------------------------The CD will be made by either SonMay or EverAnime; both of those companies are well-known CD bootleggers. This is an example of the SonMay logo, and here's one of the EverAnime logo. Even if you can't spot these logos on the CDs themselves, you can usually ask the seller and they'll tell you if they were produced by one of these companies.--------------------------------------------------------------------If it's a bootleg, it will be sold (new, usually) very cheaply. The thing you have to understand about import Japanese CDs is that not only are they going to be more expensive than a domestic CD, but that you also have to consider shipping charges. The prices at which the CD bootlegs usually sell is around $10 (sometimes more, sometimes less). For a legit Japanese CD, that might just barely cover the shipping charges. If someone can afford to charge that little for a Japanese CD and they aren't running at a loss, then something fishy is up. This is a good sign that what you're being sold is a bootleg.---------------------------------------------------------------------And finally, if the CD is imported from either Hong Kong or Taiwan, odds are that it's a bootleg. Just like with video piracy, copyright laws aren't very strongly enforced in these two nations. As such, they are prime locations for bootleggers.------------------------------------------------REMEMBER THESES COMPANIES! These are some of the REAL Deal
ADV Films
- FUNimation Production Ltd.
- Bandai Entertainment
- Bandai Visual (now defunct, but their products are still out there under Bandai Entertainment)
- Geneon/Pioneer (now defunct, but their products are still out there under FUNimation)
- Media Works (a.k.a. Media Blasters)
- Viz
- Central Park Media (a.k.a. CPM)
- Manga Entertainment---------------------------------------If the DVD you're looking at does NOT have any of these companies listed, then you're probably holding a fake. If no company is listed, then you're definitely holding a fake. If you're not sure who the publisher of a specific title is, do a quick net-search-----------------------------If you need more information, Ebay also has a very informative page about how to spot bootlegs-----------------------------------------------------------------------------http://reviews.ebay.com/How-to-spot-bootleg-anime_W0QQugidZ10000000000969242 ---------------------------(Also avaible at our links page)
