Monster Parent

Elaine Barlow
Reading time: 26 minutes
JDrama Monster Parent (2009) starring Yonekura Ryoko

This essay was originally part of ADRAMAOTAKU.com; an Asian Drama analysis and review site created by Elaine Barlow that ran from 2009 to 2011.

About Monster Parent

About The Subs

I am watching a 704×396 .avi soft sub version of this drama. The RAW files are provided by XrayMind, editing by Phoenix, and subs by Haruspex. The quality is excellent and I commend Haruspex and Phoenix for their work on this drama. As with all of the material on this website, I wouldn’t be able to watch it and review it without the amazing efforts of the fansubbers out there. I used to help out greatly in the anime fansub world from way back, long before all this great tech was available, so I understand how difficult, time consuming, and love-labor intensive fansubbing is. I understand the feelings involved in putting out a release to the community. However, something that I believe strongly in is doing things for the right reasons, as anyone who has read my Kiina review already knows.

The “streaming issue” has affected nearly every fansub group/individual out there and each one has been responding in their own way. Some ways are understandable and mature and other ways are not. The situation with the subs of “Monster Parent” is that Haruspex has subbed all 11 episodes but is withholding episodes 7 and 8 probably due to the fact that people have been uploading his subs to streaming sites. Haruspex has encouraged this same kind of withholding action to others as well.

Completing the subs for an entire series and then withholding what are probably crucial episodes towards the end out of spite is not the best way of getting a message across. Who are you sending this message to? Dedicated fans who have been watching the show since the beginning or to the assholes who upload the subs to streaming sites? Who is being made to suffer more? And for what … an illegal act on top of another illegal act? There is honor amongst thieves but don’t forget that you’re still a thief. Robin Hood may have stolen from the rich to give to the poor but he still STOLE. Are you angry because you feel you have lost honor and respect or are you angry because your “legitimate thievery” is being stolen BACK from you by “illegitimate thieves” who sell your stolen goods for their own profit. That’s more or less what this is about. Come on people. You’re about as logical as the Monster Parents in this drama.

The concept of keeping subs within the dedicated community makes senses given the legal aspects around fansubbing, but the fact remains that no matter who does what, the actions of each party are going to be called into question by an outside eye. (I used to work closely with the commercial anime industry so I know how it works.) While trying to punish an invisible/unreachable entity who has disrespected your hard work, you only succeed in additionally disrespecting and hurting the dedicated fandom who easily outnumber the jackass (or asses) in question. This kind of narrow attitude will only keep more people from discovering and enjoying dramas and turning to streaming sites who could care less who gets credit for that hard work. If something can be done to spread the word about stopping or hindering these streaming sites, it needs to be done with the combined power and support of the Asian drama community. Punishing the community only further separates you from it and does nothing for the cause. What it does do is create a larger gulf between fans and fansubbers.

I see people say, “Streaming takes the joy away from our work lately” and things of this nature. How does this attitude help to find a solution to the true problem at hand? Do you sub for recognition and respect, or do you sub because you can, because you want to, and so others can enjoy something entertaining, educational, and beautiful? What “joy” is there to speak of if you only do things to serve your own needs? I assure you that selfishness never brought anyone joy. Think about your actions, how it they affect others, and then think about if you’re really helping the community or only serving your own ego.