*Kevin Sorbo Hercules voice* Disappointed!

[rogueslayer452]

++ The Yuri!!! On Ice movie, Ice Adolescence, has officially been cancelled.

I didn't watch the show, although it's been on my list to and I've only seen some clips (both in Japanese and English dubbed), but I do remember how big it was when it first came out. It gained massive attention and popularity, so when the announcement of a follow-up movie was to happen shortly thereafter along with a teaser trailer fans were understandably excited and happily awaiting for it to arrive. And then nothing. No update announcements for years. I think it's fair to say that while the cancellation announcement wasn't so much of a surprise considering the years wait, it's still disappointing especially for the fans who were holding out some hope that it would happen. What happened behind-the-scenes or why they didn't announce this sooner, we may never know. But it's sad how they really truly fumbled with this.

Speaking of fumbling the ball....

++ Watcher Entertainment has announced they are leaving YouTube for their own streaming service and basically putting their work behind a paywall. The response from the fanbase has been overwhelmingly negative.

Honestly, watching this unfold in real time has been absolutely fascinating to witness, tons of back and forth fan reactions and responses with varying degrees of emotions. While some may have gone a little overboard with their accusations and particular takes on the situation, based on what I've seen the general consensus is the collective disappointment with legitimate criticisms and concerns with this being a bad business decision in general.

As for myself, my feelings on the matter is disappointment, though mostly just feeling incredibly bummed. Bummed about the business decision, bummed from how this has broken and divided the fandom. Admittedly, I haven't watched anything there in a while besides some Puppet History which has been an absolute delight, but after everything with Shane and Ryan leaving Buzzfeed and creating their own company to have creative freedom to do what they were previously doing but on their own terms, and for this to happen is kind of astounding to me. I get that running a company is hard work and that YouTube isn't ideal particularly nowadays for creative individuals for numerous reasons, and of course artists and workers need to be compensated, but this isn't the way to go about it, especially in the manner it was presented which has rubbed me, and many others, the wrong way. Watcher Entertainment is still in its infancy, it doesn't have enough material to sustain itself as its own streaming service. At the very least they could try looking for what can be rearranged or fixed internally instead of looking for external answers.

I don't know. This is still developing so we'll have to wait and see what happens.

Comments

[adore]

As someone who watched and loved the Yuri on Ice anime, I'm bummed :(

[rogueslayer452]

I'm so sorry, it definitely sucks whenever something you like ends up getting a future installment that was promised cancelled. :(

[adore]

It does suck. I think what really disappoints me is that all my childhood nostalgia things stop being in circulation, especially when I didn't get to actually have them as a child and was waiting for the financial freedom of adulthood to get them. Like the Bratz dolls and more recently the BellaSara cards, books and virtual world... it also saddens me when books I want to read are out of print. If only things we loved would stay forever.

[night_owl_9]

Having seen the show myself, the recent news bummed me out.

[profiterole_reads]

I loved the show and would have liked a second season about Yurio and Otabek. I can't say I cared about a prequel movie.

[wearing_tearing]

That's such a decision by Watcher Entertainment, wow.

[rogueslayer452]

Seriously. I mean, it's ultimately their decision to make, I'm just not going to be following them regardless of my enjoyment of some of what they've put out. It's just not the smartest business move and from the fan reaction they'll be feeling that for a long time.

[wearing_tearing]

Yeah, I went to check their announcement video and pretty much all comments seem to be negative. I honestly don't understand how they came up with this idea aside from it being a way to try and make more money...

[rogueslayer452]

They just posted a response video today, basically apologizing, admitted they fucked up, and have walked it back and are readjusting what they're going to do. Which is good, and so far people are liking this a bit better since it was what they were hoping they'd do.

I'm just confused on why this wasn't the option in the first place.

[wearing_tearing]

I'm watching that now! The thought of them having to shut down Watcher due to not making enough money on YouTube and other places is concerning in terms of what they're spending their money on. And then to come out with their own streaming platform that is also going to be expensive to host??? Odd odd odd. It's really good that they've walked this back, though, and are still making stuff available to people on YouTube for free.

[rogueslayer452]

Honestly, they're just not business people. This horrible mismanaging of their fiances has kind of turned on them in the worst way. They really need to hire someone who understands and knows how to run a company.

[wearing_tearing]

They really do! I'm surprised they don't have a finance person already. Good luck to them on this journey, I guess.

[elizalavelle]

Everything having it's own platform for streaming that costs money is just not sustainable. No one can afford to buy everything and it just cuts off potential fans.

I think something like Patreon could work for a lot of these creators. Set up some low level buy ins for extra content but keep at least some of what you do free so that you attract new viewers.

[rogueslayer452]

Funnily enough, Watcher Entertainment does have a Patreon and has had one for years, which many people, myself included, were unaware of because they never pushed it. They got quite a good amount of money there from those signed up, so logically there was no reason for them to pull this stunt that they did.

The fact that most things nowadays are behind a paywall, from streaming services to online articles, is ridiculous. I get it, things cost money, but sometimes certain things aren't worth what they're asking for, imho.

[elizalavelle]

I agree. It's like death by 1000 cuts. I do want to support people who create content that I enjoy. I also do not have the capability to pay each one a monthly payment spread over multiple different platforms.