Founded in 2005, Discotek Media first began distributing various Asian live-action films on DVD including some of Takashi Miike's films (Dead or Alive, The Happiness of the Katakuris) and also a couple Hong Kong cult classics (Burning Paradise, Ebola Syndrome, Sex and Zen). They also ventured into a few anime titles, with a couple of licenses from Toei Animation, which included Animal Treasure Island, The Wonderful World of Puss 'n Boots and then later down the line Crying Freeman, Fist of the North Star, and Lovely Complex. They also released Lupin III: The Fuma Conspiracy and licensed Lupin III: The Legend of the Gold of Babylon early on.
Over time, their reputation had grown and anime sold well enough for them to continue distributing more over the coming years. Their catalog have a wide range, from license rescues, out-of-nowhere acquisitions, partnerships with both Crunchyroll and TMS Entertainment, and eventually returning to Asian Cinema and offering a few Western produced shows.
Many may recognise Discotek Media for their efforts in bringing TMS' Lupin the Third franchise back into the modern anime community, but also their trio of people who work for the mysterious boss. The trio involved include Brady Hartel (video production, restoration, product/packaging design, QC), Justin Sevakis (Blu-ray author expert, worked with Anime Limited on products including Millennium Actress 4K, Outlaw Star, Planetes and The Vision of Escaflowne), and Mike Toole (Contributor to Liner Notes, Audio Commentary & Essays).
While Crunchyroll and Sentai focus on just taking whatever was available and shove it on a disc, Discotek took a different approach to ensure that what we receive is the best and most recommended way to watch those films and shows on the big TV. This means they had often taken inventive solutions to ensure the viewing experience can be improved upon.
For instance, before they had found the original 35mm film masters for Project A-Ko, they were introduced to AstroRes technology that would allow a master taken from an old LaserDisc and have them upscaled into high definition that would retain a lot of detail that most upscale projects would lose. Examples of other anime releases that used AstroRes include Digimon Adventure, IGPX: Immortal Grand Prix, Lovely Complex, Lupin the Third vs Detective Conan TV Special and Re: Cutie Honey. This sort of technology was also used on Memories for a specific scene, and for a video game extra in Street Fighter II's 4K Ultra HD release.
Considering the distributor's line-up of intriguing titles I figured it was time that this forum actually had a thread towards them. While the crew commonly hang out on the Blu-ray forum, I figured an AUKN thread can be handy similarly to the Aniplex thread that I also have.
LICENSED AND COMING SOON (as of September 2024):
Also noted in the lists below are whether the titles are compatible with your local Region B players. Here's a quick guide that covers what each key point means:
Over time, their reputation had grown and anime sold well enough for them to continue distributing more over the coming years. Their catalog have a wide range, from license rescues, out-of-nowhere acquisitions, partnerships with both Crunchyroll and TMS Entertainment, and eventually returning to Asian Cinema and offering a few Western produced shows.
Many may recognise Discotek Media for their efforts in bringing TMS' Lupin the Third franchise back into the modern anime community, but also their trio of people who work for the mysterious boss. The trio involved include Brady Hartel (video production, restoration, product/packaging design, QC), Justin Sevakis (Blu-ray author expert, worked with Anime Limited on products including Millennium Actress 4K, Outlaw Star, Planetes and The Vision of Escaflowne), and Mike Toole (Contributor to Liner Notes, Audio Commentary & Essays).
While Crunchyroll and Sentai focus on just taking whatever was available and shove it on a disc, Discotek took a different approach to ensure that what we receive is the best and most recommended way to watch those films and shows on the big TV. This means they had often taken inventive solutions to ensure the viewing experience can be improved upon.
For instance, before they had found the original 35mm film masters for Project A-Ko, they were introduced to AstroRes technology that would allow a master taken from an old LaserDisc and have them upscaled into high definition that would retain a lot of detail that most upscale projects would lose. Examples of other anime releases that used AstroRes include Digimon Adventure, IGPX: Immortal Grand Prix, Lovely Complex, Lupin the Third vs Detective Conan TV Special and Re: Cutie Honey. This sort of technology was also used on Memories for a specific scene, and for a video game extra in Street Fighter II's 4K Ultra HD release.
Considering the distributor's line-up of intriguing titles I figured it was time that this forum actually had a thread towards them. While the crew commonly hang out on the Blu-ray forum, I figured an AUKN thread can be handy similarly to the Aniplex thread that I also have.
LICENSED AND COMING SOON (as of September 2024):
| Anime: | Year: | Audio: | Format: |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chie the Brat Season 2 - TV Series: Episodes 1-39 Studio: TMS Entertainment | 1991 | Japanese | SD Blu-ray |
| Digimon Adventure 02 - TV Series: Episodes 1-50 Studio: Toei Animation | 2000 | Japanese | Blu-ray |
| Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha StrikerS - TV Series: Episodes 1-26 Studio: Seven Arc Pictures | 2007 | Japanese | Blu-ray |
| Professor Layton and the Eternal Diva - Film Studio: P.A. Works & OLM | 2009 | English Japanese | Blu-ray |
| Space Musketeer Bismark ~ TV Series: Episodes 1-51 Studio: Studio Pierrot | 1984 | Japanese | SD Blu-ray |
| Asian Cinema: | Label: | Year: | Audio: | Format: |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Android Kikaider 人造人間キカイダー - TV Series: Episodes 1-52 Directed by Hidetoshi Kitamura | TOKU TIME | 1972 | Japanese | Blu-ray |
| Kekko Kamen: The Trilogy けっこう仮面 けっこう仮面2 けっこう仮面3 ~ Film: Kekko Kamen ~ & Film: Kekko Kamen 2 ~ & Film: Kekko Kamen 3 Directed by Hikari Hayakawa & Yutaka Akiyama | NIHON NIGHTS | 1991-93 | Japanese | SD Blu-ray |
| MXC (Most Extreme Elimination Challenge) Volume 2 - TV Series: Episodes 52-79 Adapted by Paul Abeyta, Peter Kaikko & Larry Strawther Based on 1986's Takeshi's Castle | NIHON NIGHTS | 2005-06 | English | SD Blu-ray |
| Ouran High School Host Club 映画 桜蘭高校ホスト部 - Film Directed by Choru Han | NIHON NIGHTS | 2012 | Japanese | Blu-ray |
| PARTY 7 - Film Directed by Katsuhito Ishii | NIHON NIGHTS | 2000 | Japanese | Blu-ray |
| RoboGeisha ロボゲイシャ - Film Directed by Noboru Iguchi | NIHON NIGHTS | 2009 | Japanese | Blu-ray |
| Special Rescue Police Winspector 特警ウインスペクター - TV Series: Episodes 1-49 Directed by Shōhei Tōjō | TOKU TIME | 1990 | Japanese | SD Blu-ray |
Also noted in the lists below are whether the titles are compatible with your local Region B players. Here's a quick guide that covers what each key point means:
- [A Locked] - This is Region A only and will not play on UK/EU/AU Region B players.
- [A & B] - This is Region A & B compatible and will play on UK/EU/AU Region B players.
- [Top-Menu] - This is Region A only, but if you press the Top-Menu/Pop-up Menu on your remote/controller, it will bypass the region lock screen and play the disc as per normal.
- [Top-Menu: Disc #] - Same as the above, but will only work on some of the discs in the box set i.e. 1 of 2 discs etc.
- [Panasonic Top-Menu] - For Panasonic players, when you play a disc and reach the Region Lock screen, by pressing Stop followed by Top-Menu on your remote, you'll be able to access the entire disc without issue.
- [All-Region] - This is Region A, B & C compatible, i.e. all region essentially, like 4K Ultra HD discs.
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