If I were a man who truly had his priorities straightened out, I'd be taking the time to point out the online public consultation that the Canadian government is currently conducting in regards to the new copyright legislation which is set to be introduced this autumn. After all, all you need to do is register on their boards and communicate to them the dangers that allowing blanket digital lock protections and eliminating fair dealing rights will mean to Canadian innovators and ordinary citizens alike. I'd probably also take the time to talk about the new line-ups YTV and Teletoon have planned for September, since that's the type of info the majority of readers come here for.

Instead, I'm just going to take the time to implore all of you to go out and purchase The Spectacular Spider-Man: The Complete First Season which was released on DVD just yesterday. I've probably sung more than enough praises for this show in the past, which I still feel is not only the best portrayal of the character in any medium, but is also rivaled only by The Venture Bros. as the best animated show currently running on television. After all, Greg Weisman, creator of Gargoyles, is lead writer on the series, and I honestly feel he's done a better job this time around.

Unfortunately, the series' future is in doubt at the moment. While it has done exceptionally well on Teletoon, it's being forced to prove itself all over again on its new US network, Disney XD, who are being unbelievably stingy about whether or not they will allow further seasons to be greenlit. However, since the show has done so well internationally, ensuring the show is a hit on DVD is the best way to help the series move forward. It is somewhat unfortunate, in that respect, that Future Shop, Best Buy, Zellers, and Wal-Mart don't seem to be carrying this title at all. HMV, on the other hand, is carrying it for $20, although you may have to ask the clerks where exactly they're keeping the title. If you live in the west, London Drugs is also selling the set, and should be willing to price match HMV in most cases.

As usual, an online purchase is an advisable option.

UPDATE: It looks like Future Shop and Best Buy are finally carrying The Spectacular Spider-Man: The Complete First Season! Availability does appear to be low right now, but quite a few locations should have it in. Be sure to get that HMV price match while you can!

Just a quick reminder to everyone that today marks the sixth anniversary of Zannen, Canada! I don't really have anything special to bring you guys today, but I will mention that the site is getting an upgrade and redesign later this summer. Content-wise it will remain basically the same, but I'm hoping to more firmly establish the current objectives and purpose of the site with the new design. Anyone who's followed this website from the beginning knows well that Zannen has rarely maintained an exact focus and has more or less served as whatever kind of outlet I need it to be. I'm sorry to say that the confused state the site has been in for the past couple of years can probably be attributed more to my own indecisiveness than the current chaotic state of the anime industry or Canadian television industry. Rest assured, though, this is being addressed on all fronts.

If you have any comments or suggestions for what you'd like to see on this site in the future, either in terms of design or content, please post a reply to this update!

Starting this week, the CRTC is conducting what very well be one of their most important series of hearings ever: determining whether or not ISPs are in the right to throttle their traffic by discriminating against certain types of user activities. This landmark preceding, regardless of what the results may be, will determine the future of net neutrality in Canada for some time to come, and likely set a firm precedent on the rights of individual users versus those of the providers who act as gatekeepers to new media.

I would consider making a futile effort to provide you all with day-by-day coverage of this, but there isn't really much point when you could be getting far better daily insight from University of Ottawa law professor/internet superhero Michael Geist's blog, which I cannot stress enough as essential reading for anyone who likes the internet. Also don't hesitate to show your support to SaveOurNet.ca!

You may have noticed that Pretty Cure is no longer airing new episodes on a weekly basis. The reason for this is that the series has clearly become established enough to earn a weekday timeslot. In a move that curiously mirrors a similar strategy which many may remember from a little over a decade ago, Pretty Cure can now be seen Monday-Friday at 3:00pm EST/PST on YTV.

There was a small case of panic spreading around last week over the possibility that Pretty Cure's recently instated weekday airing would be quickly usurped by an onslaught of Spongebob airings, but schedules now indicate that will not be the case. Hopefully support for the series will keep going strong through the latter half of the year!

As you've no doubt heard, CTV and Global's bid to have a fee put in place for carriers such as Bell, Rogers and Shaw to carry their signals (which are transmitted for free over-the-air and they are required by regulation to carry anyway) has been shot down by the Canadian government. In a report recently released by the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage, they made no recommendation on the matter, stating that it was a decision for the CRTC. Since the CRTC has twice previously rejected fee-for-carriage for Canadian broadcasters, this issue may very well be dead in the water.

Interestingly, one interesting ploy made by Shaw during this debacle was to purchase three local CTV stations in Ontario which CTV had threatened to close down for $1 a piece. Now that the matter is over, it looks as if Shaw has changed its mind and won't be purchasing the stations after all.

Forgive my use of an internet buzzword, but I can't help but wonder what would've happened if the BDUs had been outwitted in their Xanatos Roulette. If the fee-for-carriage had been imposed, the "must carry" status of CTV and Global stations may have been challenged. The subsequent possibility of stations being dropped by providers could very well have led to black-outs of foreign programs to which those national broadcasters own the rights. The state of absolute chaos which Canadian television would be thrown into by such an action could very well have led to a consumer revolt of unprecedented proportions. Not to sound like some kind of deluded radical, but I can't help but question whether or not that would actually be a bad thing.

by: Lanisatu

Moon Chase is conducting a survey that allows fans to give their opinions on voice actors and actresses for the dub. The survey includes possibilities for most major characters and most major villains. Aside from the English cast we all know, members of Funimation's roster that might be suitable for the dub are also included.

Please check out the post on Moon Chase with the survey link here (the survey link is at the bottom).

This is the first time in five years that a company has revealed serious interest in the series, and Funimation is in a great position to work with Toei for Sailor Moon as they currently license 99% of Toei's anime productions. This is your chance to let Funimation know who you'd like to see involved in a new dub of Sailor Moon and encourage Funimation and Toei to release the series again, for English speaking fans.

Let Funimation and Toei know you want to see Sailor Moon return and get the treatment it deserves to delight fans old and new!

It's somewhat bewildering to already have the convention upon us this year. As you may know, while the con usually takes place in August, Anime Evolution's new venue at the Vancouver Convention Centre has forced it into the month of June. The con promises to be a very different experience this time around, and as such I'll likely make my report a little less phoned-in than I have become used to recently. I'll do my best to have coverage up as quickly as possible, but if you are seeking some of my up-to-the-minute thoughts, feel free to keep an eye on my Twitter page this weekend.

I will be hosting three panels this weekend. If you're at the convention this weekend, please stop by!

State of Anime in Canada
Day and Time: Friday at 8:00pm
Room: 207, Panel 3

The Future of Copyright in Canada
Day and Time: Saturday at 6:00pm
Room: 207, Panel 3

Prince Adam's Fabulous Secret Panel
Day and Time: Saturday (Sunday morning) at 1:00am
Room: 202/203/204, Panel 1

The real fun will be seeing how long it takes for each of these to transform into a Spectacular Spider-Man panel.

Catching up on some more important stories, the CRTC announced last week that they will be extending their exemption of regulation for new media. You can read the full decision here.

Although the Commission was not able to find any compelling justification for the implementation of new media levies on ISPs or the establishment of so-called "Internet CanCon" regulations, they did state that the issue would be revisited at some point in the next five years. They have also called for a new national digital strategy, requiring new media broadcast undertakings (such as media streaming services) to report their activities, new offerings, and expenditures.

G4 Canada has a new nightly block which has absolutely nothing to do with swimming. Adult Digital Distraction (ADd) runs weeknights at 8pm, 11pm, and 2am (all times EST) beginning June 8 (ie: tonight). Here is their initial line-up:

- Freaks and Geeks (Monday-Friday)
- Delocated (Monday)
- The I.T. Crowd [US version] (Monday)
- Superjail (Tuesday)
- Aqua Teen Hunger Force (Tuesday)
- Tim and Eric Awesome Show Great Job (Wednesday)
- Tom Goes to the Mayor (Wednesday)
- The Venture Bros. (Thursday)
- Fat Guy Stuck in Internet (Friday)
- Web Soup (Friday)

So much for Teletoon's exclusivity deal on Adult Swim titles.

Some anime news for a change: I was really looking forward to posting a reminder tonight telling everyone to check out the first legal online simulcast of this week's episode of One Piece in Japan, which would have been made fully available to Canadian viewers. Unfortunately, an individual who clearly has far too much bitterness in their soul apparently thought that obtaining and leaking the episode a day early would do good for somebody, somewhere. Unfortunately, all they did was unleash Toei's misguided wrath, as indicated by the fact that all legal North American streams of One Piece have now been abolished, as indicated on the official website.

Should blame go to the degenerate twats who decided to pull this stunt, or Toei for overreacting? I'm sorry to say that this is one of those incidents that has brought out the worst of both sides.