This paper examines the strategies and translation practices of anime fansub groups in China, situated within otaku culture. It compares fansubs with professional subtitling, highlighting key distinctions in workflow, linguistic style, visual presentation, and the use of explanatory notes. The analysis further explores the operational challenges these amateur collectives face, including staffing, competition, and copyright issues. While the rise of licensed streaming platforms poses existential questions, the study concludes that fansubs persist by fulfilling unmet demand for culturally nuanced translations of niche or unofficially licensed content, maintaining a distinctive role in cross-cultural media circulation.