Q. This latest announcement had better be a troll.
A. You are forgiven for doubting us considering our checkered past. However this is not another troll. We will no longer be subbing Naruto Shippuuden as of 1/15/09.
Q. I have a really lame reason why you shouldn’t drop Shippuuden. (Such as: You owe it to the fans to keep going/You have no right to drop it/I’m too cheap to pay for subs/I’m afraid that it won’t be available where I live/I think you should totally risk getting the pants sued off of you so that I can save $2). Will you change your mind?
A. No. We like our pants, and our decision is final. DB will stop subbing Naruto when Viz beings streaming it in January 2009.
Q. Will you still be subbing the Naruto movies?
A. We’re not sure. It depends on how Viz decides to handle the release of the movies in the US, how the staff feels about it, and on a couple of other factors. You’ll know in April by whether or not we release it. Until then, please stop asking. Every second we spend reading your question takes away from time we could be spending reading mail we care about.
Q. Is this really the end of Naruto for Dattebayo? Please tell me the truth.
A. OK, here's the truth: This is really the end of Naruto for Dattebayo. We're really dropping it on January 15, 2009.
Q. What about Bleach? Are you dropping that too?
A. If you’d actually read our press release, you’d know the answer is no. Sadly, if you’re the kind of person who would ask this question, you’re probably not reading this either. However, if TV Tokyo and/or Viz begin releasing Bleach the way they are planning to do with Shippuuden, we will most likely drop it as well.
Q. Is this for real? I mean are you really going to stop?
A. Yes, it is for real this time. We are really going to stop subbing Naruto Shippuuden on 1/15/09.
Q. If you’re not going to be releasing Naruto anymore, someone else will, right? Will you link us to their site?
A. You obviously missed the point. We are dropping it because there will be fast, official, legal versions available. We are not going to recommend another fansubbing group to you, because one of the main reason we are ceasing to sub the show is to support the official versions.
Q. Are you really going to drop Naruto Shippuuden?
A. Yes, we really, honestly, truly are dropping Naruto Shippuuden in January 2009.
Q. Now that you are dropping Naruto Shippuuden, are you going to change your name?
A. No. Our name is our name. We aren't going to change it.
Q. I know your announcement is a troll because of some stupid reason (Such as: It's your 100th PR/The date coincides too neatly with the date Viz is starting their service/There was a typo in the PR/The date 1/15/09 doesn't exist).
A. It's cute that people are so busy looking for the clues that are meant to tell you this is a troll. The only problem is, it isn't. The 100th PR thing is just a coincidence, albeit a pretty neat one. The date we are dropping Naruto and the date that Viz's streaming starts is the same for an obvious reason. And to the person who believes the date "doesn't exist": that's how we write dates here in the US. But thanks for playing.