[Overseas] Anime News & Announcements

Mangaranga said:
I'll probably buy it because it's an AniplexUSA release, but the show itself is terrible.
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Sorry, just curious. Why would you buy something if you thought it was terrible? Would it not be better just to save the cash for something you actually like.
 
Emulsion said:
Mangaranga said:
I'll probably buy it because it's an AniplexUSA release, but the show itself is terrible.
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Sorry, just curious. Why would you buy something if you thought it was terrible? Would it not be better just to save the cash for something you actually like.
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I love Aniplex releases, and the completionist in me wants to get it to go with the also terrible first animated series. I don't buy terrible releases as much as I used to anymore, hence why I've barely bought anything from Sentai this year.
 
We've been getting a couple questions a lot recently, so let's try to clear them up!

Will we be releasing a complete season box set or a standard edition later?
I made some queries around the office to get confirmation about this, but the answer is that we currently have no plans to do so. We will be focusing our efforts on the Collectors' Edition Box Sets. We would like to bring high-quality animation that was produced in Japan to North American fans while keeping the quality intact as much as possible.

Why are the subtitles locked on DENKI-GAI Box Sets?
I spoke with the production producer in charge of DENKI-GAI, Mr. Shinji Horikiri, and this was in order to prevent reverse importation. It was also because this show does not include an English dub that necessitates removing the subtitles.

Thanks to everyone who sent us questions. We'll do our best to continue to provide answers!
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At that moment, Ponycan USA realised. They have F**ked up.
 
Yami said:
Just a heads up to folks here that it looks like the US Patlabor movie Blu-Rays are slightly inferior in picture quality to the 8 year old Japanese editions (that have English subtitles). They also don't include the original stereo tracks.
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Meh. I can live with ever-so-slightly higher levels of DNR and compression given the difference in price between the Japanese and US releases and the original stereo track is no great loss to me having never actually heard it.
 
ayase said:
Yami said:
Just a heads up to folks here that it looks like the US Patlabor movie Blu-Rays are slightly inferior in picture quality to the 8 year old Japanese editions (that have English subtitles). They also don't include the original stereo tracks.
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Meh. I can live with ever-so-slightly higher levels of DNR and compression given the difference in price between the Japanese and US releases and the original stereo track is no great loss to me having never actually heard it.
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To be honest, I'd probably live with the picture quality as well if it retained the stereo track. I'm a bit of a purist when it comes to owning films the way they were originally meant to be seen/heard, without going as far as getting a warehouse for 35mm film obviously.

I don't know much about Sentai, but - regardless of how slight - releasing a product inferior to another edition produced 8 years ago and not including the making of that was on the old DVD is just shoddy.
 
NormanicGrav said:
We've been getting a couple questions a lot recently, so let's try to clear them up!

Will we be releasing a complete season box set or a standard edition later?
I made some queries around the office to get confirmation about this, but the answer is that we currently have no plans to do so. We will be focusing our efforts on the Collectors' Edition Box Sets. We would like to bring high-quality animation that was produced in Japan to North American fans while keeping the quality intact as much as possible.

Why are the subtitles locked on DENKI-GAI Box Sets?
I spoke with the production producer in charge of DENKI-GAI, Mr. Shinji Horikiri, and this was in order to prevent reverse importation. It was also because this show does not include an English dub that necessitates removing the subtitles.

Thanks to everyone who sent us questions. We'll do our best to continue to provide answers!
Click to expand...

At that moment, Ponycan USA realised. They have F**ked up.
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I was about to make the argument as to why you would lock subtitles when you're the most expensive R1 company, but in the case of Denki-Gai I seem to remember that show having abysmal sales figures on home video in Japan. Not that I consider that an excuse in any way, but that's probably the reason for it. PONYCAN have done absolutely nothing right in my books so far anyway. Awful unattractive packaging, compressed video for Yuki Yuna to fit a BD25 rather than the JP masters and now locked subtitles - all for a higher price than AniplexUSA. This does not constitute a Japanese quality release to me at all.
 
NormanicGrav said:
HdE said:
Quick query:

Buddy Complex. I know Funimation streamed this, but do they have home video rights for it? That show looks pretty nifty.
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Yep. Blu-ray & DVD confirmed and estimated to arrive this year I think.
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Awesomethankyoulovelyjubbly!
 
SENTAI FILMWORKS LAUNCHES "SENTAI SELECTS"

5/18/2015 8:08:58 PM
HOUSTON, May 18, 2015 – Sentai Filmworks is proud to introduce an exciting new line of products that provides fans with essential programming with a budget conscience experience.

Sentai Selects™ will showcase anime that have withstood the test of time to remain popular and memorable works of their genre. A wide variety of titles have been included in the line to assure that something fresh and different is available for every release, while also being curated specifically to give fans an opportunity to discover new experiences without breaking the bank. This new line of titles will offer reversible cover artwork and other features where applicable.

“The Sentai Selects line was created for those who have recently become interested in anime and wish to expand their libraries with classic shows, as well as those who may have missed their chance to own these titles during their first run”, said David Del Rio, Vice President of Sentai Filmworks. “Our hope is to provide an ideal situation where both new and old fans alike can enjoy these must own anime at an affordable entry price.”

The debut release will be the sci-fi action movie Appleseed and will include enhanced Blu-ray audio and double-sided cover artwork.

Appleseed explores the society of Earth's last city, Olympus, which rose from the ashes of global war on the backs of Bioroids, artificial clones who make up half the city's population. Under the guidance of a supercomputer, humanity's last survivors enjoy peace, but only on the surface. Human terrorists within the military seek a return to power and clash with the government's forces led by Deunan, a legendary soldier and Brialeos, who is more machine than human.

More titles in the Sentai Selects™ line will soon be available.
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Interesting. Not an amazing film and kind of a weird one to start off a new line with, but I wonder if this means Sony are freeing up rights for their stuff. Cowboy Bebop movie BR now a potential?
 
Lutga said:
Interesting. Not an amazing film and kind of a weird one to start off a new line with, but I wonder if this means Sony are freeing up rights for their stuff. Cowboy Bebop movie BR now a potential?
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Well Sentai had the license for about five years now...
 
Lutga said:
Interesting. Not an amazing film and kind of a weird one to start off a new line with, but I wonder if this means Sony are freeing up rights for their stuff. Cowboy Bebop movie BR now a potential?
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Sony farm their titles out to lots of US distributors - Criterion, Twilight Time, Mill Creek to name a few. It's just Sony UK that refuse point blank.
 
Actually really pleased to hear of a fresh release for Appleseed on Blu Ray. Kind of perplexed as to why people seem to have a dim vi e of it as a movie, though - I thought it was great - miles better than Appleseed Alpha, which was crushingly mediocre for all its lovely visuals.

Now... DARE I HOPE that maybe this blu ray will be region B playable? The previous Sentai edition wasn't, and I hear that most recent Sentai BDs follow suit. So I doubt it. But, you never know...

This Sentai Select line could be a very good thing, though. I've spotted that quite a few older shows have been license-rescued by Sentai, such as Brain Powerd, Argentosoma, and a few others it's too late for me to recall properly. I wonder if there's any chance of some of these debuting on the new budget line?
 
Didn't really know where else to post this, but has anything been said so far about the video for Sentai's Knights of Sidonia?
It's a Sentai title so I wasn't hoping for much, but outside of the usual Sentai issues (excessive Noise/Banding etc) it also seems to be taken from an interlaced source. Few comparisons here for the eagle eyed.
I'd would've a guessed at first glance that it uses the HDTV masters (since it also has the English translated OP credits which were featured on the Netflix version), but the BD only directors cut of episode 12 is also affected.
This makes two Sentai "premium" releases in a row which are pretty shoddy when it comes to on disc content, and I'm not really impressed at all. I'll probably do a Gargantia again and dump the discs, extract the dub, create a Song/Sign track and sync it up to the superior JP BDs.
 
So I've been away for a few hours to see Mad Max and now Sentai have announced the September line-up which is very impressive I must say:

Appleseed - Film [Sentai Selects]
Release Date: September 8th | Region: A/1 | Format: Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack | Languages: English/Japanese | Price (SRP): $19.98
Special Features: Alternate English Dub, Audio Commentary, The Birth of 3D Live Anime, Staff Profiles, Original Japanese Trailer, Special Japanese Trailer

Argevollen - Collection 1
Release Date: September 8th | Region: A | Format: Blu-ray | Languages: Japanese | Price (SRP): $59.98
Special Features: Clean Opening and Closing

Argevollen - Collection 1
Release Date: September 8th | Region: 1 | Format: DVD | Languages: Japanese | Price (SRP): $49.98
Special Features: Clean Opening and Closing

Hamatora the Animation - Season 1
Release Date: September 22nd | Region: A | Format: Blu-ray | Languages: English/Japanese | Price (SRP): $69.98
Special Features: Clean Opening and Closing, Japanese Disclaimers, Japanese Promos

Hamatora the Animation - Season 1
Release Date: September 22nd | Region: 1 | Format: DVD | Languages: English/Japanese | Price (SRP): $59.98
Special Features: Clean Opening and Closing, Japanese Disclaimers, Japanese Promos

K-On! - Season 1
Release Date: September 1st | Region: A | Format: Blu-ray | Languages: English/Japanese | Price (SRP): $59.98
Special Features: OVAs, Clean Opening and Closing

My Teen Romantic Comedy SNAFU - Season 1
Release Date: September 1st | Region: A | Format: Blu-ray | Languages: Japanese | Price (SRP): $59.98
Special Features: Clean Opening and Closing

Nobunaga the Fool - Collection 2
Release Date: September 29th | Region: A | Format: Blu-ray | Languages: English/Japanese | Price (SRP): $69.98
Special Features: Clean Opening and Closing

Nobunaga the Fool - Collection 2
Release Date: September 29th | Region: 1 | Format: DVD | Languages: English/Japanese | Price (SRP): $59.98
Special Features: Clean Opening and Closing

Patlabor WXIII - Film
Release Date: September 8th | Region: A | Format: Blu-ray | Languages: English/Japanese | Price (SRP): $39.98
Special Features: MINIPATO 1-3

Patlabor WXIII - Film
Release Date: September 8th | Region: 1 | Format: DVD | Languages: English/Japanese | Price (SRP): $29.98
Special Features: MINIPATO 1-3

Persona 4 the Animation - Complete Collection [Collector's Edition]
Release Date: September 29th | Region: A/1 | Format: Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack | Languages: English/Japanese | Price (SRP): $139.98
Special Features: Director's Cut Episode 1, Mr. Experiment Shorts, A Brief Lesson on Izanagi and Izanami, Clean Opening and Closing, Japanese Commentaries, Promos & TV Spots
Note: Special Features not finalised yet

Sabagebu! Survival Game Club - Complete Collection
Release Date: September 22nd | Region: A | Format: Blu-ray | Languages: Japanese | Price (SRP): $59.98
Special Features: OVAs, Clean Opening and Closing, Japanese Promos

Sabagebu! Survival Game Club - Complete Collection
Release Date: September 22nd | Region: 1 | Format: DVD | Languages: Japanese | Price (SRP): $49.98
Special Features: OVAs, Clean Opening and Closing

The Comic Artist and His Assistants - Complete Collection
Release Date: September 8th | Region: A | Format: Blu-ray | Languages: Japanese | Price (SRP): $49.98
Special Features: Clean Opening and Closing, Japanese Promos

The Comic Artist and His Assistants - Complete Collection
Release Date: September 8th | Region: 1 | Format: DVD | Languages: Japanese | Price (SRP): $39.98
Special Features: Clean Opening and Closing, Japanese Promos
 
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