Anime Episodes: online download - last fronteer

• 26/11/2008 - 00:00
• Author: Ryuichi
• Editorials
• 0 Comments
• Read in IT

The future anime distribution system is already here? Well, it seems, because OverDrive is making the first steps; a system to manage the online-rentals of digital anime episodes.

    

The future is going on internet and anime world is going on the same way. With the OverDrive system and a good WebMaster any distributor, library or producer, can make his anime rentable on the web.

And you, end user, have to download the mysterious OverDrive Media Console™ v2.0. This program is just a player for the rented videos.

The program is free and it's already available but it's still not well known. That's why OverDrive has decided, starting from this month, to let you download FOR FREE some anime and movies episodes.

A little example is the Brooklyn Public Library that makes available a lot of anime for rental, for 7 days.

Here you can find how Brooklyn Public Library distributes its anime: you can find Pluss, Ninja Scroll, Read or Die and a lot more.

The system works only with Windows and delivers DRM-protected WMV files. It means that you can't copy them. No, even the screen grabbing doesn't work, since the Alpha channel managed by the program is encrypted. So the distributors would be happy. We still have no news for iPods or Macs.

How much does it costs? Who knows! Now the download is free, at least during this launch month. Afterwards the price would be set by distributors and whoever decides to manage the plattform.

This experiment is still in beta in America, but I'm quite sure that some of our distributors is hearing the bells. Distributors? Are you interested in? I will come to you and install it for you!!

Which advantages could have this digital distribution? Well, of course there aren't packaging, printing and what so over costs . The user downloads his movie and he can watch it for 7 days. The rental price is usally competitive (try to imagine an iTunes HD movie, 3$ rental price ). Why downloading anime with a very poor quality when you can see the original for just 2,5 €?

Well, are you asking me if I believe that digital distribution will extinguish the standard DVD one? Of course not! The happiness of having something in your hands, expose your DVD collection of your preferred serie will remain a must for everyone.

So, what's the meaning of this? Well it's a way to understand if you would like a serie. You have spent 2,5€, you have seen the episode in HD and now if you liked it you can go to your preferred shop and buy it... or even online, if you are lazy! And don't forget the evenings when you want to watch an anime laying on the sofa...

What do you think? Will this technology reach your country? Will it work?