Little Women II - Jo's Boys Episode 6 released!

Because of the troublesome cough Nat prefered to stay at home with the four small boys, and spent a happy morning in Mrs. Bhaer's room, listening to the stories she read them, learning the hymns she taught them, and then quietly employing himself pasting pictures into an old ledger.

"This is my Sunday closet," she said, showing him shelves filled with picture-books, paint-boxes, architectural blocks, little diaries, and materials for letter-writing. "I want my boys to love Sunday, to find it a peaceful, pleasant day, when they can rest from common study and play, yet enjoy quiet pleasures, and learn, in simple ways, lessons more important than any taught in school. Do you understand me?" she asked, watching Nat's attentive face.

"You mean to be good?" he said, after hesitating a minute.

"Yes; to be good, and to love to be good. It is hard work sometimes, I know very well; but we all help one another, and so we get on. This is one of the ways in which I try to help my boys," and she took down a thick book, which seemed half-full of writing, and opened at a page on which there was one word at the top.

"Why, that's my name!" cried Nat, looking both surprised and interested.

"Yes; I have a page for each boy. I keep a little account of how he gets on through the week, and Sunday night I show him the record. If it is bad I am sorry and disappointed, if it is good I am glad and proud; but, whichever it is, the boys know I want to help them, and they try to do their best for love of me and Father Bhaer."

- Little Men, Chapter 3

In this episode, Nat learns more about how Plumfield works, while trying to work around how he should tell people that he was not capable of reading or writing.

You can obtain this episode from your standard anime torrent indexing sites.

This is a reminder that Licca Fansubs is recruiting translators and timers.  Please contact us if you wish to contribute your skills.

Pollyanna Episode 32 released!

Mrs. Carew, however, did not like new experiences, and she was having a good many of them these days. For one who is tired of everything to be in so intimate a companionship with one to whom everything is a fresh and fascinating joy must needs result in annoyance, to say the least. And Mrs. Carew was more than annoyed. She was exasperated. Yet to herself she was forced to admit that if any one asked her why she was exasperated, the only reason she could give would be "Because Pollyanna is so glad"—and even Mrs. Carew would hardly like to give an answer like that.

To Della, however, Mrs. Carew did write that the word "glad" had got on her nerves, and that sometimes she wished she might never hear it again. She still admitted that Pollyanna had not preached—that she had not even once tried to make her play the game. What the child did do, however, was invariably to take Mrs. Carew's "gladness" as a matter of course, which, to one who HAD no gladness, was most provoking.

- Pollyanna Grows Up, Chapter 4

In this episode, Pollyanna manages to get back to the Carew mansion after a rather incredible stroke of luck.  However, due to everyone worrying about her, Mrs. Carew promptly restricts Pollyanna's freedom to walk out of the house, and asks Sadie to be her playmate.

You can obtain this episode from your standard anime torrent indexing sites.

This is a reminder that Licca Fansubs is recruiting translators and timers.  Please contact us if you wish to contribute your skills.

Happy Kappi Episode 16 released!

In this episode, Suguri and Kappi make a wedding anniversary into something very memorable.

You can obtain this episode from your standard anime torrent indexing sites.

This is a reminder that Licca Fansubs is recruiting translators and timers.  Please contact us if you wish to contribute your skills.

A perspective on using the Matroska container for hardsubs

I've gotten some criticism for using the Matroska container for hardsubs.  (No, we are not going to softsubs, and certain things have happened that have really hardened our stance against softsubs.)

One of the criticisms I've gotten is that I'm not using all the features of the Matroska container.  The way I would like to address that is by an analogy.

Like many people in the United States, I drive a car.  It's not the cheapest car, but it's certainly not the most expensive car.  My car has certain features, such as a radio, power locks/windows, air conditioning, a fuel gauge, etc.  Every car has a certain feature set.  Some features are required by law, others are optional.  Just because I have a feature in the car doesn't necessarily mean I have to use it.  For example, my car's radio has access to XM satellite radio.  Do I have to listen to XM satellite radio?

Now, there are certain features which are pretty much required.  For example, brakes and tires/wheels are required.  Of course this list is not all-inclusive, but hopefully everyone gets the idea.

To compare this to a video container, our required features are the ability to hold video and audio.  Those of you familiar with Matroska know that it's capable of holding and managing a great variety of things, including styled softsubs and ordered chapters.  However, just because a feature is there doesn't mean you have to use it.

I personally believe in keeping things simple.  As long as things are kept simple, there is less of a likelihood something will break.  In the case of our encoded video, the less someone has to do to set things up so they can play the video, the better.  This does come at a cost to quality (as hardsubs require more storage space for the same quality), but encoding video is a matter of compromise between quality and accessibility.  (Accessibility includes file sizes as well.)  This is probably one of the biggest reasons why I like VP8 and WebM.  The WebM video format is locked down in a way that ensures accessibility.

Mermaid Melody Pichi Pichi Pitch Pure Episode 5 released!

This episode is about how music can influence the mood of people.  We see this from several perspectives, both good and bad.

You can obtain this episode from your standard anime torrent indexing sites.

Little Women II - Jo's Boys Episode 5 released!

It was the proudest, happiest minute of the poor boy's life when he was led to the place of honor by the piano, and the lads gathered round, never heeding his poor clothes, but eying him respectfully and waiting eagerly to hear him play again.

They chose a song he knew; and after one or two false starts they got going, and violin, flute, and piano led a chorus of boyish voices that made the old roof ring again. It was too much for Nat, more feeble than he knew; and as the final shout died away, his face began to work, he dropped the fiddle, and turning to the wall sobbed like a little child.

"My dear, what is it?" asked Mrs. Bhaer, who had been singing with all her might, and trying to keep little Rob from beating time with his boots.

"You are all so kind and it's so beautiful I can't help it," sobbed Nat, coughing till he was breathless.

"Come with me, dear; you must go to bed and rest; you are worn out, and this is too noisy a place for you," whispered Mrs. Bhaer; and took him away to her own parlor, where she let him cry himself quiet.

Then she won him to tell her all his troubles, and listened to the little story with tears in her own eyes, though it was not a new one to her.

"My child, you have got a father and a mother now, and this is home. Don't think of those sad times any more, but get well and happy; and be sure you shall never suffer again, if we can help it. This place is made for all sorts of boys to have a good time in, and to learn how to help themselves and be useful men, I hope. You shall have as much music as you want, only you must get strong first. Now come up to Nursey and have a bath, and then go to bed, and to-morrow we will lay some nice little plans together."

- Little Men, Chapter 1

In this episode, we return to the beginning of the novel and introduce Nat Blake, the orphaned street performer.  His arrival at Plumfield is almost as unorthodox as Nan's arrival, and the amount of commotion and work needed to accomodate him puts the whole school in a frenzy.

You can obtain this episode from your standard anime torrent indexing sites.

This is a reminder that Licca Fansubs is recruiting translators and timers.  Please contact us if you wish to contribute your skills.

Pollyanna Episode 31 released!

Boston, to Pollyanna, was a new experience, and certainly Pollyanna, to Boston—such part of it as was privileged to know her—was very much of a new experience.

Pollyanna said she liked Boston, but that she did wish it was not quite so big.

"You see," she explained earnestly to Mrs. Carew, the day following her arrival, "I want to see and know it ALL, and I can't. It's just like Aunt Polly's company dinners; there's so much to eat—I mean, to see—that you don't eat—I mean, see—anything, because you're always trying to decide what to eat—I mean, to see.

"Of course you can be glad there IS such a lot," resumed Pollyanna, after taking breath, "'cause a whole lot of anything is nice—that is, GOOD things; not such things as medicine and funerals, of course!—but at the same time I couldn't used to help wishing Aunt Polly's company dinners could be spread out a little over the days when there wasn't any cake and pie; and I feel the same way about Boston. I wish I could take part of it home with me up to Beldingsville so I'd have SOMETHING new next summer. But of course I can't. Cities aren't like frosted cake—and, anyhow, even the cake didn't keep very well. I tried it, and it dried up, 'specially the frosting. I reckon the time to take frosting and good times is while they are going; so I want to see all I can now while I'm here."

- Pollyanna Grows Up, Chapter 4

In this episode, Pollyanna sneaks out of Mrs. Carew's mansion to attempt to find Chipmunk, which leads her to various parts of Boston.  However, Pollyanna soon gets into more than she can handle...

You can obtain this episode from your standard anime torrent indexing sites.

This is a reminder that Licca Fansubs is recruiting translators and timers. If you wish to contribute your skills, please contact us.

Delays

Pollyanna episode 31 will be delayed.  The episode is extremely difficult to translate for us, so it is taking us longer to get a proper translation done.  We already have a rough translation, but there are significant holes in the translation that need to be filled.

Happy Kappi episode 16 is also going to be delayed.  We do not have a raw for this episode yet.  If anyone has a raw for this episode of Happy Kappi or knows someone who can capture this episode, please contact us.

Little Women II episode 5 is still slated for release this Sunday.

We apologize for the inconvenience.

Little Women II - Jo's Boys Episode 4 released!

"Did your mother whip you?" asked Nan, curiously.

"She never whipped me but once, and then she begged my pardon, or I don't think I ever should have forgiven her, it hurt my feelings so much."

"Why did she beg your pardon? my father don't."

"Because, when she had done it, I turned round and said, 'Well, you are mad yourself, and ought to be whipped as much as me.' She looked at me a minute, then her anger all died out, and she said, as if ashamed, 'You are right, Jo, I am angry; and why should I punish you for being in a passion when I set you such a bad example? Forgive me, dear, and let us try to help one another in a better way.' I never forgot it, and it did me more good than a dozen rods."

Nan sat thoughtfully turning the little cold-cream jar for a minute, and Mrs. Jo said nothing, but let that idea get well into the busy little mind that was so quick to see and feel what went on about her.

"I like that," said Nan, presently, and her face looked less elfish, with its sharp eyes, inquisitive nose, and mischievous mouth. "What did your mother do to you when you ran away that time?"

"She tied me to the bed-post with a long string, so that I could not go out of the room, and there I stayed all day with the little worn-out shoes hanging up before me to remind me of my fault."

"I should think that would cure anybody," cried Nan, who loved her liberty above all things.

"It did cure me, and I think it will you, so I am going to try it," said Mrs. Jo, suddenly taking a ball of strong twine out of a drawer in her work-table.

- Little Men, Chapter 12

This episode is the aftermath of what happened in episode 3.

You can obtain this episode from your standard anime torrent indexing sites.

This is a reminder that Licca Fansubs is recruiting translators and timers.  Please contact us if you wish to contribute your skills.

Pollyanna Episode 30 released!

"But, really, Della, she is impossible. Listen. In the first place she is wild with delight over the house. The very first day she got here she begged me to open every room; and she was not satisfied until every shade in the house was up, so that she might 'see all the perfectly lovely things,' which, she declared, were even nicer than Mr. John Pendleton's—whoever he may be, somebody in Beldingsville, I believe. Anyhow, he isn't a Ladies' Aider. I've found out that much.

"Then, as if it wasn't enough to keep me running from room to room (as if I were the guide on a 'personally conducted'), what did she do but discover a white satin evening gown that I hadn't worn for years, and beseech me to put it on. And I did put it on—why, I can't imagine, only that I found myself utterly helpless in her hands.

"But that was only the beginning. She begged then to see everything that I had, and she was so perfectly funny in her stories of the missionary barrels, which she used to 'dress out of,' that I had to laugh—though I almost cried, too, to think of the wretched things that poor child had to wear. Of course gowns led to jewels, and she made such a fuss over my two or three rings that I foolishly opened the safe, just to see her eyes pop out. And, Della, I thought that child would go crazy. She put on to me every ring, brooch, bracelet, and necklace that I owned, and insisted on fastening both diamond tiaras in my hair (when she found out what they were), until there I sat, hung with pearls and diamonds and emeralds, and feeling like a heathen goddess in a Hindu temple, especially when that preposterous child began to dance round and round me, clapping her hands and chanting, 'Oh, how perfectly lovely, how perfectly lovely! How I would love to hang you on a string in the window—you'd make such a beautiful prism!'

- Pollyanna Grows Up, Chapter 3

In this episode, Pollyanna arrives at the house of Ruth Carew, who is Della Wetherby's older sister.  Pollyanna's eyes do "pop out" as she sees the mansion that Mrs. Carew lives in...

You can obtain this episode from your standard anime torrent indexing sites.

This is a reminder that Licca Fansubs is recruiting translators and timers.  Please contact us if you wish to contribute your skills.

Pollyanna Episode 29 released!

Mrs. Chilton drew in her breath and bit her lip.

"But, Pollyanna, dear, you must not expect that they'll be quite alike," she ventured.

"Why, they're SISTERS, Aunt Polly," argued the little girl, her eyes widening; "and I thought sisters were always alike. We had two sets of 'em in the Ladies' Aiders. One set was twins, and THEY were so alike you couldn't tell which was Mrs. Peck and which was Mrs. Jones, until a wart grew on Mrs. Jones's nose, then of course we could, because we looked for the wart the first thing. And that's what I told her one day when she was complaining that people called her Mrs. Peck, and I said if they'd only look for the wart as I did, they'd know right off. But she acted real cross—I mean displeased, and I'm afraid she didn't like it—though I don't see why; for I should have thought she'd been glad there was something they could be told apart by, 'specially as she was the president, and didn't like it when folks didn't ACT as if she was the president—best seats and introductions and special attentions at church suppers, you know. But she didn't, and afterwards I heard Mrs. White tell Mrs. Rawson that Mrs. Jones had done everything she could think of to get rid of that wart, even to trying to put salt on a bird's tail. But I don't see how THAT could do any good. Aunt Polly, DOES putting salt on a bird's tail help the warts on people's noses?"

"Of course not, child! How you do run on, Pollyanna, especially if you get started on those Ladies' Aiders!"

"Do I, Aunt Polly?" asked the little girl, ruefully. "And does it plague you? I don't mean to plague you, honestly, Aunt Polly. And, anyway, if I do plague you about those Ladies' Aiders, you can be kind o' glad, for if I'm thinking of the Aiders, I'm sure to be thinking how glad I am that I don't belong to them any longer, but have got an aunt all my own. You can be glad of that, can't you, Aunt Polly?"

- Pollyanna Grows Up, Chapter 2

 

Pollyanna leaves for Boston again.  However, the time leading to her departure was not exactly dull per se.  This also sets up for the main plotline that will build for the next 10 episodes or so.

You can obtain this episode from your standard anime torrent indexing sites.

Happy Kappi Episode 15 released!

In this episode, Whippi manages to throw Suguri's bracelet out the window, where it gets picked up by various animals in the area.

You can obtain this episode from your normal anime torrent indexing sites.

This is a reminder that Licca Fansubs is recruiting translators and timers.  Please contact us if you wish to contribute your skills.

Resuming the regular release schedule

We are now back on our regular release schedule, more or less.

If everything goes well, we should have Happy Kappi episode 15 released late Tuesday or Wednesday, Pollyanna episode 29 released Thursday, episode 30 released Saturday or Sunday, and Little Women II episode 4 on Monday.

Little Women II - Jo's Boys Episode 3 released!

"Marmar will come and find me she always does; I ain't afraid now."

"She won't know where we are."

"She didn't know I was shut up in the ice-house, but she found me. I know she'll come," returned Robby, so trustfully, that Nan felt relieved, and sat down by him, saying, with a remorseful sigh,

"I wish we hadn't run away."

"You made me; but I don't mind much Marmar will love me just the same," answered Rob, clinging to his sheet-anchor when all other hope was gone.

"I'm so hungry. Let's eat our berries," proposed Nan, after a pause, during which Rob began to nod.

"So am I, but I can't eat mine, 'cause I told Marmar I'd keep them all for her."

- Little Men, Chapter 12

In this episode, Rob goes out to pick strawberries with the older kids.  However, Nan was in charge of him, and her nature gets both of them in serious trouble.

You can obtain this episode from your standard anime torrent indexing sites.

This is a reminder that Licca Fansubs is recruiting translators and timers.  Please contact us if you wish to contribute your skills.

Happy Kappi Episode 14 released!

In this episode, Suguri's attempt to disguise Kappi as a talking stuffed animal backfires, and Kappi's magic allows Suguri to bypass construction on the bridge.

You can obtain this episode from your standard anime torrent indexing sites.

This is a reminder that Licca Fansubs is recruiting translators and timers.  Please contact us if you wish to contribute your skills.

Happy Kappi Episode 13 released!

Imagine the sheer chaos when everyone from Kappimeshia shows up at Suguri's home!

You can obtain this episode from your standard anime torrent indexing sites.

This is a reminder that Licca Fansubs is recruiting translators and timers.  Please contact us if you wish to contribute your skills.

Little Women II - Jo's Boys Episode 2 released!

"No, I shouldn't; I hate boys!" said Nan fiercely, for her hand still smarted, and she began to think that she might have shown her courage in some wiser way.

"I am sorry you hate my boys, because they can be well-mannered, and most agreeable when they choose. Kindness in looks and words and ways is true politeness, and any one can have it if they only try to treat other people as they like to be treated themselves."

Mrs. Bhaer had addressed herself to Nan, but the boys nudged one another, and appeared to take the hint, for that time at least, and passed the butter; said "please," and "thank you," "yes, sir," and "no, ma'am," with unusual elegance and respect. Nan said nothing, but kept herself quiet and refrained from tickling Demi, though strongly tempted to do so, because of the dignified airs he put on. She also appeared to have forgotten her hatred of boys, and played "I spy" with them till dark. Stuffy was observed to offer her frequent sucks on his candy-ball during the game, which evidently sweetened her temper, for the last thing she said on going to bed was,

"When my battledore and shuttle-cock comes, I'll let you all play with 'em."

- Little Men, Chapter 7

For our second release today, we've got another episode of Little Women II - Jo's Boys.

In this episode, Nan finds out her punishment for what she did the day before: she has to teach a class, with everyone, including the Bhaers, as students!  How does she come up with course material that no one else would know?

You can obtain this episode from your standard anime torrent indexing sites.

Pollyanna Episode 28 released!

"You see, two years ago, or more, Pollyanna's father died, and the little girl was sent East to this aunt. In October she was hurt by an automobile, and was told she could never walk again. In April Dr. Chilton sent her to the Sanatorium, and she was there till last March--almost a year. She went home practically cured. You should have seen the child! There was just one cloud to mar her happiness: that she couldn't WALK all the way there. As near as I can gather, the whole town turned out to meet her with brass bands and banners.

"But you can't TELL about Pollyanna. One has to SEE her. And that's why I say I wish you could have a dose of Pollyanna. It would do you a world of good."

- Pollyanna Grows Up, Chapter 1

For the first of our releases today, we have Pollyanna episode 28.  In this episode, we begin the events of the second Pollyanna novel, Pollyanna Grows Up.  Pollyanna comes back to town with Aunt Polly and Dr. Chilton... but they arrive at a supposedly empty train station.  When they step out of the train station, there was a huge surprise waiting for her.

You can obtain this episode from your standard anime torrent indexing sites.

Background information for Little Women II - Jo's Boys

As a lot of this I'm about to describe is a spoiler in some sort, I'm going to put this behind a cut.

One of the conventions that I will use is that "Good Wives" is actually the second part of the Little Women novel.  The copy that I have has both of them in the same novel, with Good Wives being the second part.

Basically, this is information that is needed if you only watched the Little Women WMT anime and have not read the novel, as it only covers the first part and not the "Good Wives" part.