What are MAD Organizations?
In the early 2000s, China's internet penetration rate was low, and major video websites had imperfect systems. Opportunities for exchange between China and Japan were limited, and there were no anime conventions. As a result, creating MAD faced technical and communication challenges, making it difficult for individuals to produce works alone. Fans came together to collaboratively complete projects. Due to the underdeveloped state of websites, finished MAD works could only be distributed in the form of DVDs produced by a few individuals and sold at anime conventions, which marked the origin of Teams.
Later, as Japan's copyright control became increasingly strict, the production of DVDs faced restrictions. By around 2010, the internet had gradually improved, allowing MAD creators to start submitting their works to websites. Around 2013, Bilibili (B站) rapidly rose in popularity, prompting creators to shift to publishing their works on that platform. Consequently, the format of Teams also changed from offline to purely online. However, the tradition that offline Team members can only join one Team has persisted, leading to the saying "a person can only join one Team."
Today's MAD organizations can be roughly divided into five categories:
- Team: A Team is generally a gathering place for a group of high-quality MAD enthusiasts and is the identity that best reflects your skills. The overall quality of a Team is high, requiring members to maintain a certain level of activity, and the entry threshold is relatively high. However, being part of a Team provides a better environment for chat and a quieter community.
- Club: A Club is generally a gathering place for MAD enthusiasts, usually consisting of a larger number of members. The entry threshold is lower, and the atmosphere is conducive to chat and interaction.
- Studio: A Studio is typically formed by individuals coming together for a specific purpose. Some Studios also provide a significant number of commercial projects for profit. The entry threshold varies depending on the circumstances.
- Group Chats: Some group chats are filled with various Maders who engage in lively discussions about everything.
- Contest Organizers: Many organizations themselves serve as contest organizers, so they will not be displayed on this page.