Overseas The Discotek Media Thread (plus AnimEigo)

[zappi]

Can someone recommend a region free player to buy? I decided to finally cave in and buy one.

I've got a Sony UBP-X500, it doesn't come with any apps but I didn't want them as my TV does that already.
it's been absolutely rock solid for me so far, played everything I've thrown at it including h265 mkvs via the USB. also remembers where you are on a disc if you pause and switch it off, so you can immediately start where you left off without going thru all the startup & menus. v handy for anime season discs!

 

[mikezilla2]

When abouts is this SF2 UHD supposed to go up for pre order ?

 

[NormanicGrav]

Discotek's November 2023 line-up is now available to pre-order on Rightstuf. All were announced during their last two panels (plus one that had an update recently).

Anime	SRP	Audio/Subs	Content	Format
Aim for the Ace: Another Match	$29.95	Japanese with English Subs	13 episodes	Blu-ray
The Bullet Train 新幹線大爆破	$19.95	English & Japanese with English Subs	Film [NIHON NIGHTS]	Blu-ray
Chargeman Ken	$39.95	Japanese with English Subs	65 episodes	Blu-ray
Crying Freeman	$39.95	English & Japanese with English Subs	6 OVAs	Blu-ray
Fist of the North Star: The Legends of the True Savior: Legend of Yuria/Legend of Toki	$29.95	English & Japanese with English Subs	2 OVAs	Blu-ray
Recently, My Sister is Unusual 最近、妹のようすがちょっとおかしいんだが。	$24.95	Japanese with English Subs	Film [NIHON NIGHTS]	Blu-ray
Street Fighter II: The Animated Movie	$34.95	English & Japanese with English Subs	Film	4K Ultra HD

Unreleased List so far:

Spoiler

Discotek:

• Blue Comet SPT Layzner
• Digimon Adventure 02 (Japanese version of Digimon: Digital Monsters Season 2)
• Digimon Movie Collection 1
• Digimon: Digital Monsters Season 2 (English version of Digimon Adventure 02)
• Fist of the North Star: The Legends of the True Savior: Legend of Raoh: Chapter of Fierce Fight
• Fist of the North Star: The Legends of the True Savior: Zero: Legend of Kenshiro
• Lady Georgie
• Lupin the Third: Seven Days Rhapsody
• Mazinger Z Collection 2
• Medarot Damashii (Japanese version of Medabots Spirits)
• Overman King Gainer
• Sgt. Frog Season 5 + 6 + 7
• Urusei Yatsura Collection 4

Nihon Nights:

• Tachigui: The Amazing Lives of the Fast Food Grifters (立喰師列伝)

 

[Girls with Guns]

Just Aim for the Ace: Another Match for me from that list.

 

[NormanicGrav]

Dear Brother, which has been on the 'Almost OOP' notice since December or so, has now finally sold out.

At the time of this write-up, there are a few copies left on Amazon UK (via AmazonGlobal shipping). [Disclaimer: link is affiliated]

 

[NormanicGrav]

A mini first-post update - I have managed to make a note of the remainder of the Discotek DVD releases (there was a gap between pre-2014 and 2016 that I didn't sort out months back.

Discotek's live-stream starts on Tuesday 17th October at 2am BST over on YouTube so I would not be surprised if the live stream will be available to watch when it finishes given YouTube does have that option. There's been many teases, but do expect the December home video slate to be revealed as well. Their newsletter suggests it'll be available to pre-order on the Crunchyroll store as per usual.

On a different note, if you were interested in The Legend of Calamity Jane, Scavenger on BD forum mentioned it's not going to be renewed so once it's gone, it's gone. Should be fine to not buy immediately but if you're a fan may as well get it out of the way than wait.

 

[NormanicGrav]

DISCOTEK PANEL: SPOOKY STREAM (OCT '23) EDITION:

Discotek have ventured to the YouTube scene, rather than Twitch! Yes the stream is available as that was how I was able to summarise this post at this time (because I work).

---

Announcement #1 | Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha
TV Series - Blu-ray (HD)

• 2004 series by Seven Arcs
• 13 episodes.
• Japanese with English subtitles + Bang Zoom! English dub from Geneon
• Upscaled to HD (really nice, according to Sevakis)
• Freshly cleaned up subtitles
• Extras TBD
• 2024 release window

Announcement #2 | Hand Maid May
TV Series - Blu-ray (HD)

• 2000 series by TNK series
• 10 episodes + OVA (Tokyo Kids animated OVA)
• Japanese with English subtitles + Pioneer English Dub
• New restored upscale "which is still rough due to the series being an early digipaint but looks much better now"
• Touched-up subtitles
• Extras include A loving presentation of all the quirky early DVD bonus features, Clean OP/ED segment, Promo clips.
• Trivia: One of the first anime to feature otaku maids
• 2024 release window

Announcement #3 | Dual! Parallel Trouble Adventure
TV Series - SD on Blu-ray

• 1999 series by AIC by director Katsuhito Akiyama and creator Masaki Kajishima (Tenchi Muyo!)
• 13 episodes + OVA
• Japanese with English subtitles + Pioneer English Dub
• Improved subtitles include text touch-up and no 'burned in' signs like in the previous Pioneer DVD releases
• Extras include Clean OP/ED, Promo clips, and for the first time Character Messages and ADR Report short (Japanese). Easter Eggs from DVD release also included.
• 2024 release window

Announcement #4 | Lupin the Third: Sweet Lost Night
TV Special - Blu-ray (HD)

• 2008 television special (20th Lupin special) by studio TMS Entertainment
• Japanese with English subtitles
• A lot of work was done to fix up the master for the Blu-ray release (now in progressive).
• Extras include TV Commercials and Liner Notes
• 2024 release window

Announcement #5 | BELA: Humanoid Monster (妖怪人間ベラ)
Film - Nihon Nights Blu-ray (HD)

• 2020 film directed by Tsutomu Hanabusa (Grand Blue Dreaming live-action film)
• Japanese with English subtitles (Japanese 2.0 & 5.1)
• A spin-off of the Humanoid Monster Bem franchise.
• Written by Daisuke Hozaka and stars Win Morisaki (Ready Player One).
• Includes trailer.
• December 2023 release window

Announcement #6 | Fatal Frame (零)
Film - Nihon Nights Blu-ray (HD)

• 2014 film directed by Mari Asato (Hyouka live-action film, Ju-On: Black Ghost)
• Japanese with English subtitles
• A live-action adaptation for the Eiji Ōtsuka novelisation for Koei Tecmo's survival horror franchise Fatal Frame (Project Zero).
• Newly translated subtitles.
• Extras include Teaser, Trailer, TV Spots.
• 2024 release window

Announcement #6 | Kamikaze Girls (下妻物語)
Film - Nihon Nights Blu-ray (HD)

• 2004 film directed by Tetsuya Nakashima (Confessions, Memories of Matsuko)
• Japanese with English subtitles
• Also known as Shimotsuma Monogatari: Yankī-chan to Rorīta-chan
• Newly revised, more authentic translation for subtitles.
• Third Window Films released this for the UK on Blu-ray and in the US it was Viz Media on DVD years back.
• Extras include a lot (most if not all were included on a bonus DVD by Third Window Film in the UK release):
  • 40 minute Making of
  • Never-before translated interviews with the cast, director, production designer and head of animation from Studio 4°C
  • Workprint footage
  • Press conference and Promotional Event
  • Teasers, Trailer, TV Spots, International Trailer
  • An Omake, a Short Film (The Birth of Unicorn Ryuji) and a Anna Tsuchiya Music Video
• 2024 release window

Announcement #7 | Hurricane Polymar (破裏拳ポリマー)
Film - Toku Time Blu-ray (HD)

• 2016 film directed by Koichi Sakamoto (Kamen Rider, Ultraman series)
• Japanese with English subtitles
• Stars Yuki Yamada (Kamen Rider x Super Sentai: Super Hero Taisen)
• A live-action adaptation of the Tatsunoko Productions 1974 anime series of the same name.
• A few extras TBD
• 2024 release window

Announcement #8 | Extreme Dinosaurs
TV Series - Western Animated Series SD on Blu-ray

• 1997 series by DIC Productions & Bohbot Entertainment, based on the 1996 Mattel toyline and a spin-off to Street Sharks.
• English with English Hard of Hearing subtitles
• All 52 episodes in Standard Definition and on one SD-BD disc.
• Sourced from the best available elements for this release (condition of the materials being not the best is common for these animated shows)
• Audio is Mono.
• 2024 release window

Announcement #9 | Belladonna of Sadness
Film - 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray & Blu-ray (HD)

• 1973 film by Mushi Productions and directed by Eiichi Yamamoto
• Japanese with English subtitles
• Coming to 4K with a new HDR grade "the colors are eyeball-searing" (with Green manage)
• Better compression than releases done elsewhere, and considered the definitive version of the film.
• Subtitles freshly proofed.
• The third & final part of the Animerama trilogy (Discotek did release 1001 Nights & Cleopatra).
• Anime Limited released this on 4K UHD & Blu-ray in the UK. Cinelicious Pics did the 4K restoration but their US Blu-ray release eventually discontinued.
• Discotek will be releasing this as a combo pack for the first time.
• Mike Toole also provided an all-new historical commentary (which includes him saying the wrong title and correcting himself).
• Extras also include all of the interviews from the previous release.
• 2024 release window.

Announcement #10 | Kurokami: The Animation
TV Special - Blu-ray (HD)

• 2009 series by Sunrise and based on a manga by Lim Dall-young (Freezing)
• Japanese with English subtitles + Bandai Ent. English dub
• Justin Sevakis worked on the previous release by Bandai Entertainment (and was his first BD authored disc), but at the time it was English audio only. This Discotek release is now bilingual.
• First simuldubbed anime series as well.
• Sentai Filmworks licensed the series as part of their 2013 Sunrise package deal but was never released.
• Extras TBD (if approved, will be pretty packed)
• 2024 release window

Announcement #11 | Fist of the North Star: The Legends of the True Savior: The Legend of Kenshiro
Film - Blu-ray (HD)

• 2008 film by TMS Entertainment
• Japanese with English subtitles + Sound Cadence English dub new for this release.
• The final part of The Legends of the True Savior series.
• Extras include Trailer, TV Spots, the rest of the English dub bloopers including ones from previous films
• 2024 release window

Announcement #12 | Puss n' Boots Around the World
Film - Blu-ray (HD)

• 1976 film by Toei Animation.
• Japanese with English subtitles + Classic Turner Television English dub
• This is the 3rd & final film featuring Toei's famous mascot.
• New HD transfer and a new subtitle script.
• Extras TBD
• 2024 release window

Announcement #13 | Futakoi
TV Series - Blu-ray (HD)

• 2004 series by Telecom Animation Film (TMS Ent.) and directed by Nobuo Tomisawa
• 13 episodes + OVA (Tokyo Kids animated OVA)
• Japanese with English subtitles
• The healing HAREM show (feat. a lot of twins)
• From the crew behind Sister Princess (another harem that Discotek did release)
• "Very nice" upscale (mostly done in Japan but Discotek fixed a few things)
• Extras include Clean OP/ED, full OP Music Video
• 2024 release window

Status Update | Crunchyroll Store

• Discotek Media titles will continue to be sold on Crunchyroll Store, including the live-action titles for the time being.
• The pre-order discounts still apply for their upcoming releases.

Announcement #14 | Chie the Brat
TV Series - Blu-ray (HD)

• 1981 series by TMS Entertainment and Studio Ghibli director Isao Takahata (his last TV series)
• Episode count not specified for this 1st TV series release (it's a 64 episode series)
• Never been translated into English (not even fansubbed) before
• "Based on the long-running seinen manga about "the unluckiest little girl in Japan", a dark comedy series about a tough girl being raised by her thug father in 1970s Osaka."
• Extras include Clean ED and Blu-ray promo clip
• 2024 release window

Announcement #15 | RAINBOW
TV Series - Blu-ray (HD)

• 2010 series by studio Madhouse and directed by Hiroshi Kōjina (Hunter x Hunter 2011)
• 26 episodes
• Japanese with English subtitles (Funimation never dubbed it)
• Funimation licensed the series but was never made available for home video.
• COLDRAIN (King's Game the Animation) did the opening theme song
• Extras include Clean OP/ED
• 2024 release window

Announcement #16 | IGPX: Immortal Grand Prix
TV Series - Blu-ray (HD) (previously released on DVD)

• 2005 series by studio Production I.G and directed by Mitsuru Hongo (Ascendance of a Bookworm)
• 26 episodes
• Japanese with English subtitles + Toonami English dub
• Across 5 discs are the Japanese version and the Toonami Broadcast version
• Discotek used AstroRes to upscale the series for Blu-ray, and figure out what was 24fps and 30fps
• Extras TBD but potentially stacked if approved.
• 2024 release window

Announcement #17 | Lovely Complex
TV Series - Blu-ray (HD) (previously released on DVD)

• 2007 series by studio Toei Animation and directed by Kōnosuke Uda (One Piece)
• 24 episodes across 2 Blu-ray discs
• Japanese with English subtitles + Sound Cadence English dub new for this release (Sound Cadence are massive fans of the series which is why this dub was possible).
• In addition to the dub, penguinz0 (also known as Moist Cr1tikal) has a cameo voice! which sounds 'awful' but is intentional like how it was in the Japanese version (context is important so watch the show as you'll know why its like that)
• Discotek used AstroRes to upscale the series for Blu-ray and preserve the delicate linework.
• Extras include Clean OP/ED, English Dub Bloopers, English Commentaries for two episodes.
• 2024 release window

---

Discotek's December 2023 line-up was revealed during the panel. UPDATE 23rd Oct: Now Available on Crunchyroll Store.

Anime	SRP	Audio/Subs	Content	Format
BELA: Humanoid Monster	$19.95	Japanese with English Subs	Film [NIHON NIGHTS]	Blu-ray
Blue Comet SPT Layzner	$69.95	Japanese with English Subs	38 episodes	Blu-ray
Fist of the North Star: The Legends of the True Savior: Legend of Raoh: Chapter of Fierce Fighting	$29.95	English & Japanese with English Subs	Film	Blu-ray
Lady Georgie	$49.95	Japanese with English Subs	45 episodes	SD-BD
Lupin the Third: Seven Days Rhapsody	$24.95	Japanese with English Subs	TV Special	Blu-ray
Mazinger Z Collection 2	$79.95	Japanese with English Subs	eps 47-92	Blu-ray
Overman King Gainer	$49.95	English & Japanese with English Subs	26 episodes	Blu-ray

 

[revofthe6paths]

What happened with UP1's bluray catalogue? I tried searching for some discotek titles yesterday and almost everything is gone. Not only that but most of their blurays in general seem to be gone. What's up with that?

 

[sniper_samurai]

What happened with UP1's bluray catalogue? I tried searching for some discotek titles yesterday and almost everything is gone. Not only that but most of their blurays in general seem to be gone. What's up with that?

Crunchyroll happened. Upon closing Rightstuf at the start of the month they pretty much cancelled all the wholesale accounts.

The only places other than ebay you'll be able to get Discotek releases atm are Amazon and Roberts Anime Corner Store.

 

[revofthe6paths]

Does amazon.com ever have any good sales for discotek titles, during black friday for example?

 

[Dai]

Are Discotek's City Hunter sets going out of print? The part sets for season 2, plus season 3 and '91 aren't available anywhere.

 

[NormanicGrav]

Are Discotek's City Hunter sets going out of print? The part sets for season 2, plus season 3 and '91 aren't available anywhere.

Nah it's just a case of stock issues, especially during the holiday season. As far as I'm aware the only titles currently going OOP from Discotek would be the Enoki Films ones which I believe I made note in the earlier posts.

 

[NormanicGrav]

Discotek's January 2024 line-up is better late than never as we have some fun picks in the mix. No new surprises here and all were announced from previous streams.

Anime	SRP	Audio/Subs	Content	Format
Fatal Frame the Movie 零	$19.95	Japanese with English Subs	Film [NIHON NIGHTS]	Blu-ray
Kurokami the Animation	$49.95	English & Japanese with English Subs	24 episodes	Blu-ray
Lovely Complex	$49.95	English & Japanese with English Subs	24 episodes	Blu-ray
Lupin the Third: Sweet Lost Night	$24.95	Japanese with English Subs	TV Special	Blu-ray
Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha Season 1	$39.95	English & Japanese with English Subs	13 episodes	Blu-ray
Tachigui: The Amazing Lives of the Fast Food Grifters 立喰師列伝	$24.95	Japanese with English Subs	Film [NIHON NIGHTS]	Blu-ray
Urusei Yatsura: Collection 4	$69.95	Japanese with English Subs	episodes 150-195	Blu-ray

Unreleased List so far:

Spoiler

Discotek:

• Belladonna of Sadness (4K HDR)
• Chie the Brat
• Digimon Adventure 02 (Japanese version of Digimon: Digital Monsters Season 2)
• Digimon Movie Collection 1
• Digimon: Digital Monsters Season 2 (English version of Digimon Adventure 02)
• Dual! Parallel Trouble Adventure (SD-BD)
• Fist of the North Star: The Legends of the True Savior: Zero: Legend of Kenshiro
• Futakoi
• Hand Maid May
• IGPX: Immortal Grand Prix
• Medarot Damashii (Japanese version of Medabots Spirits) (SD-BD)
• Puss n' Boots Around the World
• RAINBOW
• Sgt. Frog Season 5 + 6 + 7

Nihon Nights:

• Kamikaze Girls (下妻物語)

Toku TIme:

• Hurricane Polymar (破裏拳ポリマー)

Western titles:

• Extreme Dinosaurs

 

[happyhuman]

Discotek's January 2024 line-up is better late than never as we have some fun picks in the mix. No new surprises here and all were announced from previous streams.

Anime	SRP	Audio/Subs	Content	Format
Fatal Frame the Movie 零	$19.95	Japanese with English Subs	Film [NIHON NIGHTS]	Blu-ray
Kurokami the Animation	$49.95	English & Japanese with English Subs	24 episodes	Blu-ray
Lovely Complex	$49.95	English & Japanese with English Subs	24 episodes	Blu-ray
Lupin the Third: Sweet Lost Night	$24.95	Japanese with English Subs	TV Special	Blu-ray
Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha Season 1	$39.95	English & Japanese with English Subs	13 episodes	Blu-ray
Tachigui: The Amazing Lives of the Fast Food Grifters 立喰師列伝	$24.95	Japanese with English Subs	Film [NIHON NIGHTS]	Blu-ray
Urusei Yatsura: Collection 4	$69.95	Japanese with English Subs	episodes 150-195	Blu-ray

Unreleased List so far:

Spoiler

Discotek:

• Belladonna of Sadness (4K HDR)
• Chie the Brat
• Digimon Adventure 02 (Japanese version of Digimon: Digital Monsters Season 2)
• Digimon Movie Collection 1
• Digimon: Digital Monsters Season 2 (English version of Digimon Adventure 02)
• Dual! Parallel Trouble Adventure (SD-BD)
• Fist of the North Star: The Legends of the True Savior: Zero: Legend of Kenshiro
• Futakoi
• Hand Maid May
• IGPX: Immortal Grand Prix
• Medarot Damashii (Japanese version of Medabots Spirits) (SD-BD)
• Puss n' Boots Around the World
• RAINBOW
• Sgt. Frog Season 5 + 6 + 7

Nihon Nights:

• Kamikaze Girls (下妻物語)

Toku TIme:

• Hurricane Polymar (破裏拳ポリマー)

Western titles:

• Extreme Dinosaurs

I'm hoping that the subtitles of Lovely Complex will be better then the ones on the DVD collection, the DVD ones had no suffix and not accurate translation, the 'not offical' sub was way better - as the DVD was also issued by Discotek, it doesn't seems likely but the DVD was issued in 2013 so 10 years is a lot of time to correct the subs

One more thing that is concerning, the 24 episode are released on only 2 Blu Ray discs, so image quality could be effected - its a shame, this is a great series and deserve better care

 

[HWR]

Discotek have released quite a few series’ with 12 episodes per-disc without any notable detriment to image or audio quality, they’re genuinely (for me at least) the best in the business for anime releases.

 

[Dai]

One more thing that is concerning, the 24 episode are released on only 2 Blu Ray discs, so image quality could be effected - its a shame, this is a great series and deserve better care

IIRC the show is 4:3. When half the screen is blank, 12 episodes on a BD50 tends to turn out fine, at least when it's a Discotek release. It's a digipaint show too, so the compression doesn't need to resolve any film grain. As @HWR says, Discotek tend to be the high water mark for picture quality in western anime releases. When they do fall short, it's usually the fault of the licensor supplying poor quality materials.

 

[NormanicGrav]

I have finally taken the time to review my Discotek discs and test them on the Panasonic DP-UB450 4K Ultra HD player.

Here's the results:

Spoiler

Anime	Disc Region / Top-Menu​	Panasonic Method​	Released​
Actually I Am...	A Locked​	Success​	February 2017​
Aho-Girl	Top-Menu​	Success​	August 2022​
All Purpose Cultural Cat Girl Nuku Nuku	A Locked​	Success​	August 2018​
Another (Live-Action)	A Locked​	A Locked​	March 2023​
Ayakashi: Samurai Horror Tales	A Locked​	Success​	October 2019​
Babel II	Top-Menu​	Success​	July 2018​
Battery The Animation	A Locked​	Success​	May 2020​
Battle Athletes	Top-Menu​	Success​	December 2020​
Black Jack the Movie	A Locked​	Success​	December 2016​
Bludgeoning Angel Dokuro-Chan	A Locked​	Success​	January 2020​
Blue Seed	A Locked​	Success​	December 2018​
Captain Harlock: Arcadia of My Youth	A Locked​	Success​	May 2017​
Crusher Joe	A Locked​	Success​	August 2020​
Crusher Joe the Movie	A Locked​	Success​	June 2020​
Darkstalkers OVA Collection	A Locked​	Success​	May 2022​
Dear Brother	A Locked​	Success​	June 2021​
Demon City Shinjuku	A Locked​	Success​	July 2020​
Devilman (OVAs)	A Locked​	Success​	August 2018​
Devilman Lady	A Locked​	Success​	December 2020​
Fatal Fury: The Motion Picture	A Locked​	Success​	July 2017​
Fatal Fury: The OVA Collection	A Locked​	Success​	September 2021​
Fist of the North Star	Top-Menu Disc 1 A Locked Discs 2-3​	Success​	October 2017​
Gakuen Utopia Manabi Straight!	A Locked​	Success​	April 2019​
Genocyber	A Locked​	Success​	January 2021​
Getter Robo Armageddon	A Locked​	Success​	August 2016​
Golgo 13: The Professional	A Locked​	Success​	September 2016​
Goshogun	A Locked​	Success​	October 2018​
Goshogun: The Time Etranger	A Locked​	Success​	June 2017​
The Great Passage	A Locked​	Success​	February 2020​
Hanasakeru Seishonen	Top-Menu​	Success​	November 2020​
Haruka Nogizaka's Secret	A Locked​	Success​	June 2018​
Haruka Nogizaka's Secret Purezza	A Locked​	Success​	June 2018​
Hells	A Locked​	Success​	November 2018​
Hi-SCool! Seha Girls	A Locked​	Success​	May 2017​
Holmes of Kyoto	Top-Menu​	Success​	July 2022​
Inukami!	A Locked​	Success​	February 2019​
Isuca	A Locked​	Success​	October 2020​
Kamen No Maid Guy	A Locked​	Success​	March 2020​
Kimagure Orange Road Collection 1	A Locked​	Success​	March 2019​
Kimagure Orange Road Collection 2	A Locked​	Success​	August 2019​
The King of Braves: GaoGaiGar	A Locked​	Success​	January 2023​
The King of Braves: GaoGaiGar Final	A Locked​	A Locked​	April 2023​
The Legend of Black Heaven	A Locked​	Success​	January 2021​
Library War	A Locked​	Success​	February 2018​
Lupin the Third: Blood Seal of the Eternal Mermaid	A Locked​	Success​	July 2019​
Lupin the Third: Bye Bye Lady Liberty	Top-Menu​	Success​	June 2018​
Lupin the Third: The Columbus Files	A Locked​	Success​	February 2021​
Lupin the Third: Dragon of Doom	A Locked​	Success​	August 2020​
Lupin the Third: The Elusiveness of the Fog	A Locked​	Success​	April 2021​
Lupin the Third: Goodbye Partner	A Locked​	Success​	June 2020​
Lupin the Third: Island of Assassins	A Locked​	Success​	May 2017​
Lupin the Third: The Last Job	A Locked​	Success​	April 2020​
Lupin the Third: The Legend of the Gold Babylon	A Locked​	Success​	November 2018​
Lupin the Third: Missed By a Dollar	Top-Menu​	Success​	March 2021​
Lupin the Third: The Pursuit of Harimao's Treasure	A Locked​	Success​	October 2020​
Lupin the Third: The Secret of Twilight Gemini	A Locked​	Success​	November 2020​
Lupin the Third: Tokyo Crisis	A Locked​	Success​	December 2020​
Lupin the Third: Voyage to Danger	A Locked​	Success​	July 2016​
Machine Robo: Battle Hackers	A Locked​	A Locked​	December 2022​
Machine Robo: Revenge of Cronos	A Locked​	Success​	February 2022​
Mazinger Edition Z: The Impact!	Top-Menu Disc 2 A Locked Disc 1​	Success​	July 2018​
Memories	A Locked​	Success​	June 2021​
Miss Machiko	A Locked​	Success​	February 2021​
Ms. Koizumi Loves Ramen Noodles	Top-Menu​	Success​	March 2022​
Ms. Vampire Who Lives In My Neighborhood	Top-Menu​	Success​	February 2022​
Nagasarete Airanto	A Locked​	Success​	May 2019​
New Cutey Honey	A Locked​	Success​	July 2019​
New Getter Robo	A Locked​	Success​	October 2020​
NG Knight Lamune & 40	A Locked​	Success​	April 2020​
Ninja Robots Tobikage	A Locked​	Success​	January 2022​
Nutcracker Fantasy	A Locked​	Success​	November 2019​
Planet With	Top-Menu​	Success​	August 2022​
The Princess and the Pilot	A Locked​	Success​	October 2022​
s-CRY-ed	A Locked​	Success​	April 2021​
Saint Seiya Movies Collection	A Locked​	Success​	April 2021​
School Days	Region AB​	Success​	February 2017​
Sister Princess	A Locked​	Success​	June 2018​
Sister Princess Re Pure	Top-Menu​	Success​	June 2018​
Skull-face Bookseller Honda-san	Top-Menu​	Success​	March 2022​
Sorcerer Hunters	A Locked​	Success​	August 2019​
Space Warrior Baldios	A Locked​	Success​	October 2018​
Space Warrior Baldios the Movie	A Locked​	Success​	May 2018​
Star Ocean EX	A Locked​	Success​	May 2018​
Stellvia	Region AB​	Success​	September 2018​
Street Fighter II: The Animated Movie	A Locked​	Success​	October 2016​
Submarine Super 99	A Locked​	Success​	March 2021​
Suicide Club (Live-Action)	A Locked​	A Locked​	April 2023​
Super Dimension Century Orguss	A Locked​	Success​	September 2021​
Tales of Phantasia the Animation	Top-Menu​	Success​	September 2022​
Tales of Symphonia the Animation	A Locked​	A Locked​	November 2022​
Tekkaman Blade II	A Locked​	Success​	September 2016​
Tenjho Tenge	Top-Menu Disc 2 A Locked Disc 1​	Success​	March 2018​
To Be Hero & To Be Heroine	A Locked​	A Locked​	October 2022​
True Tears	A Locked​	Success​	October 2017​
The Twelve Kingdoms	Top-Menu Discs 1 & 5 A Locked Discs 2, 3 & 4​	Success​	May 2019​
Urusei Yatsura: Beautiful Dreamer	A Locked​	Success​	February 2018​
Urusei Yatsura: Only You	A Locked​	Success​	December 2021​
Uzumaki (Live-Action)	Top-Menu​	Success​	June 2022​
Violence Jack	A Locked​	Success​	July 2022​
VS Knight Lamune & 40 Fire	A Locked​	Success​	August 2020​
Wicked City	A Locked​	Success​	September 2020​
Yowamushi Pedal	Top-Menu Discs 2 & 3 A Locked Disc 1​	Success​	June 2019​
Yowamushi Pedal Grande Road	A Locked​	Success​	July 2019​
Yowamushi Pedal the Movie	A Locked​	Success​	December 2019​
Yowamushi Pedal New Generation	Top-Menu​	Success​	June 2022​
Yowamushi Pedal Re:RIDE & Re:ROAD	A Locked​	Success​	December 2017​

 

[Puringa]

I'm curious... What's the Panasonic method?

 

[NormanicGrav]

I'm curious... What's the Panasonic method?

Forgot to mention it!

Basically when you play a Blu-ray on a Panasonic player, when you reach the Region Lock screen if you press Stop followed by Top-Menu it will bypass and go straight to the disc's main menu. The ones that won't work will display a pop-up stating you can't stop the disc whilst you're on the Region Lock screen.

i.e. play Wicked City on Panasonic player, receives Region Lock notice, press Stop, press Top-Up Menu, now you're on Wicked City disc menu.

 

[RaeDra]

I have finally taken the time to review my Discotek discs and test them on the Panasonic DP-UB450 4K Ultra HD player.

Here's the results:

Spoiler

Anime	Disc Region / Top-Menu​	Panasonic Method​	Released​
Actually I Am...	A Locked​	Success​	February 2017​
Aho-Girl	Top-Menu​	Success​	August 2022​
All Purpose Cultural Cat Girl Nuku Nuku	A Locked​	Success​	August 2018​
Another (Live-Action)	A Locked​	A Locked​	March 2023​
Ayakashi: Samurai Horror Tales	A Locked​	Success​	October 2019​
Babel II	Top-Menu​	Success​	July 2018​
Battery The Animation	A Locked​	Success​	May 2020​
Battle Athletes	Top-Menu​	Success​	December 2020​
Black Jack the Movie	A Locked​	Success​	December 2016​
Bludgeoning Angel Dokuro-Chan	A Locked​	Success​	January 2020​
Blue Seed	A Locked​	Success​	December 2018​
Captain Harlock: Arcadia of My Youth	A Locked​	Success​	May 2017​
Crusher Joe	A Locked​	Success​	August 2020​
Crusher Joe the Movie	A Locked​	Success​	June 2020​
Darkstalkers OVA Collection	A Locked​	Success​	May 2022​
Dear Brother	A Locked​	Success​	June 2021​
Demon City Shinjuku	A Locked​	Success​	July 2020​
Devilman (OVAs)	A Locked​	Success​	August 2018​
Devilman Lady	A Locked​	Success​	December 2020​
Fatal Fury: The Motion Picture	A Locked​	Success​	July 2017​
Fatal Fury: The OVA Collection	A Locked​	Success​	September 2021​
Fist of the North Star	Top-Menu Disc 1 A Locked Discs 2-3​	Success​	October 2017​
Gakuen Utopia Manabi Straight!	A Locked​	Success​	April 2019​
Genocyber	A Locked​	Success​	January 2021​
Getter Robo Armageddon	A Locked​	Success​	August 2016​
Golgo 13: The Professional	A Locked​	Success​	September 2016​
Goshogun	A Locked​	Success​	October 2018​
Goshogun: The Time Etranger	A Locked​	Success​	June 2017​
The Great Passage	A Locked​	Success​	February 2020​
Hanasakeru Seishonen	Top-Menu​	Success​	November 2020​
Haruka Nogizaka's Secret	A Locked​	Success​	June 2018​
Haruka Nogizaka's Secret Purezza	A Locked​	Success​	June 2018​
Hells	A Locked​	Success​	November 2018​
Hi-SCool! Seha Girls	A Locked​	Success​	May 2017​
Holmes of Kyoto	Top-Menu​	Success​	July 2022​
Inukami!	A Locked​	Success​	February 2019​
Isuca	A Locked​	Success​	October 2020​
Kamen No Maid Guy	A Locked​	Success​	March 2020​
Kimagure Orange Road Collection 1	A Locked​	Success​	March 2019​
Kimagure Orange Road Collection 2	A Locked​	Success​	August 2019​
The King of Braves: GaoGaiGar	A Locked​	Success​	January 2023​
The King of Braves: GaoGaiGar Final	A Locked​	A Locked​	April 2023​
The Legend of Black Heaven	A Locked​	Success​	January 2021​
Library War	A Locked​	Success​	February 2018​
Lupin the Third: Blood Seal of the Eternal Mermaid	A Locked​	Success​	July 2019​
Lupin the Third: Bye Bye Lady Liberty	Top-Menu​	Success​	June 2018​
Lupin the Third: The Columbus Files	A Locked​	Success​	February 2021​
Lupin the Third: Dragon of Doom	A Locked​	Success​	August 2020​
Lupin the Third: The Elusiveness of the Fog	A Locked​	Success​	April 2021​
Lupin the Third: Goodbye Partner	A Locked​	Success​	June 2020​
Lupin the Third: Island of Assassins	A Locked​	Success​	May 2017​
Lupin the Third: The Last Job	A Locked​	Success​	April 2020​
Lupin the Third: The Legend of the Gold Babylon	A Locked​	Success​	November 2018​
Lupin the Third: Missed By a Dollar	Top-Menu​	Success​	March 2021​
Lupin the Third: The Pursuit of Harimao's Treasure	A Locked​	Success​	October 2020​
Lupin the Third: The Secret of Twilight Gemini	A Locked​	Success​	November 2020​
Lupin the Third: Tokyo Crisis	A Locked​	Success​	December 2020​
Lupin the Third: Voyage to Danger	A Locked​	Success​	July 2016​
Machine Robo: Battle Hackers	A Locked​	A Locked​	December 2022​
Machine Robo: Revenge of Cronos	A Locked​	Success​	February 2022​
Mazinger Edition Z: The Impact!	Top-Menu Disc 2 A Locked Disc 1​	Success​	July 2018​
Memories	A Locked​	Success​	June 2021​
Miss Machiko	A Locked​	Success​	February 2021​
Ms. Koizumi Loves Ramen Noodles	Top-Menu​	Success​	March 2022​
Ms. Vampire Who Lives In My Neighborhood	Top-Menu​	Success​	February 2022​
Nagasarete Airanto	A Locked​	Success​	May 2019​
New Cutey Honey	A Locked​	Success​	July 2019​
New Getter Robo	A Locked​	Success​	October 2020​
NG Knight Lamune & 40	A Locked​	Success​	April 2020​
Ninja Robots Tobikage	A Locked​	Success​	January 2022​
Nutcracker Fantasy	A Locked​	Success​	November 2019​
Planet With	Top-Menu​	Success​	August 2022​
The Princess and the Pilot	A Locked​	Success​	October 2022​
s-CRY-ed	A Locked​	Success​	April 2021​
Saint Seiya Movies Collection	A Locked​	Success​	April 2021​
School Days	Region AB​	Success​	February 2017​
Sister Princess	A Locked​	Success​	June 2018​
Sister Princess Re Pure	Top-Menu​	Success​	June 2018​
Skull-face Bookseller Honda-san	Top-Menu​	Success​	March 2022​
Sorcerer Hunters	A Locked​	Success​	August 2019​
Space Warrior Baldios	A Locked​	Success​	October 2018​
Space Warrior Baldios the Movie	A Locked​	Success​	May 2018​
Star Ocean EX	A Locked​	Success​	May 2018​
Stellvia	Region AB​	Success​	September 2018​
Street Fighter II: The Animated Movie	A Locked​	Success​	October 2016​
Submarine Super 99	A Locked​	Success​	March 2021​
Suicide Club (Live-Action)	A Locked​	A Locked​	April 2023​
Super Dimension Century Orguss	A Locked​	Success​	September 2021​
Tales of Phantasia the Animation	Top-Menu​	Success​	September 2022​
Tales of Symphonia the Animation	A Locked​	A Locked​	November 2022​
Tekkaman Blade II	A Locked​	Success​	September 2016​
Tenjho Tenge	Top-Menu Disc 2 A Locked Disc 1​	Success​	March 2018​
To Be Hero & To Be Heroine	A Locked​	A Locked​	October 2022​
True Tears	A Locked​	Success​	October 2017​
The Twelve Kingdoms	Top-Menu Discs 1 & 5 A Locked Discs 2, 3 & 4​	Success​	May 2019​
Urusei Yatsura: Beautiful Dreamer	A Locked​	Success​	February 2018​
Urusei Yatsura: Only You	A Locked​	Success​	December 2021​
Uzumaki (Live-Action)	Top-Menu​	Success​	June 2022​
Violence Jack	A Locked​	Success​	July 2022​
VS Knight Lamune & 40 Fire	A Locked​	Success​	August 2020​
Wicked City	A Locked​	Success​	September 2020​
Yowamushi Pedal	Top-Menu Discs 2 & 3 A Locked Disc 1​	Success​	June 2019​
Yowamushi Pedal Grande Road	A Locked​	Success​	July 2019​
Yowamushi Pedal the Movie	A Locked​	Success​	December 2019​
Yowamushi Pedal New Generation	Top-Menu​	Success​	June 2022​
Yowamushi Pedal Re:RIDE & Re:ROAD	A Locked​	Success​	December 2017​

Some observations of my own with titles missing from this list.

Spoiler

Title​	Disc Region/Top Menu​	Panasonic Access or Method​	Released​
Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog	Top-Menu​	Success​	February 2022​
Appleseed 1988 OVA Series	A Locked​	Success​	January 2022​
Black Rock Shooter	A Locked​	Success​	July 2021​
Bobobo-bo Bo-bobo	A Locked​	Success​	January 2020​
Cardcaptor Sakura: The Movie	A Locked​	Success​	October 2014​
Cat's Eye Season 1	Top-Menu​	Success​	April 2022​
City Hunter Season 1	Region AB​	Success​	October 2021​
City Hunter Season 3	Region AB​	Success​	March 2022​
City Hunter: Shinjuku Private Eyes	Region AB​	Success​	May 2020​
City Hunter: Movies and Specials Collection	Region AB​	Success​	January 2023​
Devilman Original TV Series	Top-Menu​	Success​	October 2022​
Digimon Adventure Season 1 (English Dubbed Ver)	A Locked​	A Locked​	December 2022​
Female Yakuza Tale (Live Action)	A Locked​	A Locked​	December 2022​
Fist of the North Star: Legend of the True Savior - Legend of Raoh	A Locked​	Success​	February 2023​
Galaxy Express 999 TV Collection 1	A Locked​	Success​	December 2019​
Galaxy Express 999 TV Collection 2	A Locked​	Success​	July 2020​
Galaxy Express 999 TV Collection 3	A Locked​	Success​	September 2020​
GinRei OVAs	A Locked​	Success​	December 2020​
Honey and Clover Season 1	A Locked​	Success​	March 2020​
Honey and Clover Season 2	A Locked​	Success​	April 2020​
Kamen Rider Black (Live-Action/Tokusatsu)	A Locked​	Success​	February 2023​
Kamen Rider Black RX (Live-Action/Tokusatsu)	A Locked​	A Locked​	August 2023​
Kekkaishi	Top-Menu​	Success​	June 2022​
Kodocha First Series	A Locked​	Success​	November 2021​
Lady Oscar: The Rose of Versailles Collection 1	A Locked​	Success​	April 2021​
Lady Oscar: The Rose of Versailles Collection 2	Top-Menu Disc 1 A Locked Disc 2​	Success​	June 2021​
Lupin the 3rd Part 1	Top-Menu​	Success​	May 2022​
Lupin the 3rd Part 3	A Locked​	Success​	August 2021​
Lupin the 3rd Vs Detective Conan (Movie)	A Locked​	Success​	November 2021​
Lupin the 3rd: Blood Seal of the Eternal Mermaid	A Locked​	Success​	July 2019​
Lupin the 3rd: Episode 0 - The First Contact	Top-Menu​	Success​	April 2022​
Lupin the 3rd: Prison of the Past	Top-Menu​	Success​	July 2022​
Lupin the 3rd: Return of Pycal	A Locked​	Success​	July 2021​
Lupin the 3rd: The Mystery of Mamo	A Locked​	Success​	March 2022​
Mon Colle Knights (English Dubbed Ver)	Top-Menu​	Success​	May 2022​
Project A-Ko	A Locked​	Success​	December 2021​
Re: Cutie Honey	A Locked​	A Locked​	August 2023​
Saber Rider and the Star Sherriffs	A Locked​	A Locked​	August 2023​
Samurai Troopers	A Locked​	Success​	December 2021​
Shaman King (English Dubbed Ver)	A Locked​	Success​	October 2021​
Sherlock Hound	A Locked​	A Locked​	November 2022​
Symphogear Season 1	A Locked​	Success​	October 2020​
Symphogear Season 2 (G)	A Locked​	Success​	January 2021​
Symphogear Season 5 (XV)	A Locked​	A Locked​	February 2023​
Urusei Yatsura: Lum the Invader	Top-Menu​	Success​	June 2022​
Urusei Yatsura: Remember My Love	Top-Menu​	Success​	January 2022​

A noticeable trend of it being more locked down in recent times broadly, having a Panasonic player does seem to get you access to a lot though, going all the way back. A few things here and there otherwise.