Overseas The Discotek Media Thread (plus AnimEigo)

[sniper_samurai]

Any 4K UHD that is region locked (and there are a few) violates the standards set forth by the UHD Alliance. Some explanation here from Scenarist, one of the companies that makes the authoring tools for UHD:

Technical Alert - Region Codes in Ultra HD Blu-ray Titles - SCENARIST®

Scenarist authoring systems are the world standard for creating commercial release DVDs, Blu-ray Disc and Ultra HD Blu-ray titles. >90% of releases worldwide are created using Scenarist authoring systems because they are 100% reliable and backed by our impeccable technical support.

www.scenarist.com

The only 4K disc I know of that's locked is the GKIDS Weathering With You disc.

According to the Blu-ray forums there are 30 region locked 4K discs in various markets, mainly German releases.

Region locked UHDs - Blu-ray Forum

Region locked UHDs 4K Blu-ray and 4K Movies

forum.blu-ray.com

 

[NormanicGrav]

JANUARY 2026 SLATE​

Surprise, Discotek have revealed their next sate already with more titles from their backlog. All of the titles below are scheduled for 27th January 2026.

Also as a reminder, their next Discotek Day event is this January.

ANIME	Audio/Subs	Content	SRP	Format
Project A-Ko Perfect Collection	English & Japanese audio - English subtitles	4 films	$39.95	4K Ultra HD A-ko 1: 4K HDR A-ko 2-4: HD SDR
Shin Aim for the Ace	Japanese audio - English subtitles	25 episodes	$39.95	Blu-ray
Space Adventure Cobra The Movie Yello Edition	English (UK) audio - English HOH subtitles	film	$24.95	Blu-ray

NIHON NIGHTS	Audio/Subs	Content	SRP	Format
Shark Skin Man and Peach Hip Girl (鮫肌男と桃尻女)	Japanese audio - English subtitles	film	$24.95	Blu-ray
Tomorrow's Joe the Movie (铁拳浪子)	Japanese audio - English subtitles	film	$19.95	Blu-ray

TOKU TIME	Audio/Subs	Content	SRP	Format
Kikaider Ultimate Human Machine (キカイダー REBOOT)	Japanese audio - English subtitles	film	$19.95	Blu-ray

What's currently left in the Discotek library for home video release:

Spoiler: Anime

ANIME	Audio/Subs	Content	Format
Higurashi: When They Cry Kai	Japanese audio - English subtitles	24 episodes	Blu-ray
Higurashi: When They Cry Rei	Japanese audio - English subtitles	5 OVA episodes	Blu-ray
Monster	English & Japanese audio - English subtitles	74 episodes	Blu-ray
Sgt. Frog the Movies Collection	Japanese audio - English subtitles	5 films	Blu-ray
Zegapain Collection	TV: English & Japanese audio - English subtitles Films: Japanese audio - English subtitles	26 episodes & 2 films	Blu-ray
Zone of the Enders Perfect Collection	English & Japanese audio - English subtitles	26 episodes & OVA	Blu-ray

Spoiler: Nihon Nights

NIHON NIGHTS	Audio/Subs	Content	Format
Bangkok Dangerous (บางกอกแดนเจอรัส เพชฌฆาตเงียบ อันตราย)	Thai audio - English subtitles	Film	Blu-ray
Hana Yori Dango Final (花より男子 ファイナル)	Japanese audio - English subtitles	Film	Blu-ray
Nana (ナナ)	Japanese audio - English subtitles	Film	Blu-ray
Nana 2 (ナナ2)	Japanese audio - English subtitles	Film	Blu-ray
Sars Wars: Bangkok Zombie Crisis (ขุนกระบี่ผีระบาด)	Thai audio - English subtitles	Film	Blu-ray

Spoiler: Toku Time

TOKU TIME	Audio/Subs	Content	Format
Kamen Rider Stronger (仮面ライダーストロンガー)	Japanese audio - English subtitles	39 episodes	Blu-ray

MEDIAOCD STORE UPDATE​

https://bsky.app/profile/animeigo.com%2Fpost%2F3m5zhslalsc2t

You can now order select titles from anime distributor Media Blasters!

 

[Girls with Guns]

The only thing that kinda peeves me with Discotek releasing the Monster series is that it most likely won't get any kind of Collector's Edition, it will just be ugly blue standard BD cases with their even uglier rounded corner slipcovers. Only thing I could possibly hope for would be steelbook releases, but they've only done a very few of those, so I certainly won't get my hopes up. That series deserves getting some kind of deluxe release...

 

[BrokenPhoenix]

The only thing that kinda peeves me with Discotek releasing the Monster series is that it most likely won't get any kind of Collector's Edition, it will just be ugly blue standard BD cases with their even uglier rounded corner slipcovers. Only thing I could possibly hope for would be steelbook releases, but they've only done a very few of those, so I won't get my hopes up. That series deserves getting some kind of deluxe release...

On the other hand, it's a good thing that Discotek did get Monster, as we can be very hopeful that they'll do a good job upscaling it.

As much as I like a nice, shiny collector's edition, I can't help but feel that most of the tat they stuff in them nowadays just isn't worth it (doesn't stop me buying them though when it's a series I like ).

I do like the fact that Discotek seem to treat the video quality as king, rather than focus on all the peripherals and "nice-to-haves".

 

[Girls with Guns]

Yes, I do very much appreciate the care and quality of Discotek releases, some of the best authoring out there - that's why I said "The only thing that peeves me about Discotek" as I was just pointing out the one major detraction from them - having almost no special packaging.

When I say Collector's Edition I mean basically what AL puts out - just a chipboard box with maybe a booklet or some art cards. I hate a bloated specialty release loaded with cheap, useless swag, I won't buy those. All I want is simply a chipboard slipbox or a steelbook - anything to avoid having to look at more of those ugly blue cases, ugly blue banners on slipcovers, and those cursed rounded-edge slipcovers Discotek now uses which expose the ugly blue corners of said ugly Blu-ray cases when sitting on the shelf. Blue used to be one of my favorite colors until Blu-rays came out, and now I'm sick of seeing all that blue, so I specifically look for packaging that either eliminates it or covers it up.

Yeah, I know, I'm weird - just let the old man yell at clouds if he wants...

 

[cfx]

When I say Collector's Edition I mean basically what AL puts out - just a chipboard box with maybe a booklet or some art cards. I hate a bloated specialty release loaded with cheap, useless swag, I won't buy those. All I want is simply a chipboard slipbox or a steelbook - anything to avoid having to look at more of those ugly blue cases, ugly blue banners on slipcovers, and those cursed rounded-edge slipcovers Discotek now uses which expose the ugly blue corners of said ugly Blu-ray cases when sitting on the shelf. Blue used to be one of my favorite colors until Blu-rays came out, and now I'm sick of seeing all that blue, so I specifically look for packaging that either eliminates it or covers it up.

Yeah, I know, I'm weird - just let the old man yell at clouds if he wants...

I don't care for all the tat either. I also don't generally buy slipbox releases because for me the extra cost isn't justified, and in the case of Crunchyroll I don't generally feel the quality of the boxes is worth it but they can be nice, I have a few from AL and they're nicer in my opinion.

But what I wanted to comment on is the bolded--those rounded-corner slips are total garbage! I'm not even a big fan of slips and am just as happy with things without them, but if they're going to have one, make it not be hot garbage. Those things look like trash on a shelf because of those cut off corners. Discotek's slips are kind of dumb anyway since probably 95% of them are just a repeat of the cover art. Crunchyroll has gotten a lot better about using different art on slips and the cases. The only reason I've kept those rounded corner slips, for now, is just some protection for the cases; I full intend to throw them in the garbage eventually because I hate them.

It's been a long time since Discotek released anything I wanted to buy though. I don't comment on that much because I know others are getting things they want and I don't like to be endlessly bitching. Aside from a few classic shows they've had that I like such as Orange Road and City Hunter, my favorite releases of theirs were those odd limited licenses they got from Crunchyroll like Holmes of Kyoto and Aho Girl, and the days of any of that are over after Sony bought CR I'm sure.

 

[Girls with Guns]

It's been a long time since Discotek released anything I wanted to buy though. I don't comment on that much because I know others are getting things they want and I don't like to be endlessly bitching. Aside from a few classic shows they've had that I like such as Orange Road and City Hunter, my favorite releases of theirs were those odd limited licenses they got from Crunchyroll like Holmes of Kyoto and Aho Girl, and the days of any of that are over after Sony bought CR I'm sure.

Yeah, I usually only ever buy one or two titles from any of the Discotek announcements. I'm like you, the majority of their titles I'm not even remotely interested in. They hardly release any anime titles anymore - they're focusing too much on Live Action, Tokusatsu, and Western animation - and the anime they do release are all those cartoony Giant Robot series, mostly. The only titles I get from Discotek are mainly their random vintage shoujo titles, and stuff like their recent re-release of Sentai's Higurashi When They Cry, and the Cobra Yello movie.

I also miss the Crunchyroll titles they were doing for them, I got almost all of those. SO glad they did Holmes of Kyoto! Maybe I could coerce them into picking up AL's expired license for We Rent Tsukumogami since AL totally blew off their license for that. I really wanted that one so badly...

 

[Otomo]

Yes, I do very much appreciate the care and quality of Discotek releases, some of the best authoring out there - that's why I said "The only thing that peeves me about Discotek" as I was just pointing out the one major detraction from them - having almost no special packaging.

When I say Collector's Edition I mean basically what AL puts out - just a chipboard box with maybe a booklet or some art cards. I hate a bloated specialty release loaded with cheap, useless swag, I won't buy those. All I want is simply a chipboard slipbox or a steelbook - anything to avoid having to look at more of those ugly blue cases, ugly blue banners on slipcovers, and those cursed rounded-edge slipcovers Discotek now uses which expose the ugly blue corners of said ugly Blu-ray cases when sitting on the shelf. Blue used to be one of my favorite colors until Blu-rays came out, and now I'm sick of seeing all that blue, so I specifically look for packaging that either eliminates it or covers it up.

Yeah, I know, I'm weird - just let the old man yell at clouds if he wants...

 

[Girls with Guns]

How did I just know someone would post up the Simpson's meme...

 

[Herano]

I actually kinda like the rounded slipcovers. I feel like they are a lot less easy to damage. It would be nice if the slipcovers did have different pictures on them though.

 

[Invisible Crane]

JANUARY 2026 SLATE​

Surprise, Discotek have revealed their next sate already with more titles from their backlog. All of the titles below are scheduled for 27th January 2026.

Also as a reminder, their next Discotek Day event is this January.

ANIME	Audio/Subs	Content	SRP	Format
Project A-Ko Perfect Collection	English & Japanese audio - English subtitles	4 films	$39.95	4K Ultra HD A-ko 1: 4K HDR A-ko 2-4: HD SDR
Shin Aim for the Ace	Japanese audio - English subtitles	25 episodes	$39.95	Blu-ray
Space Adventure Cobra The Movie Yello Edition	English (UK) audio - English HOH subtitles	film	$24.95	Blu-ray

NIHON NIGHTS	Audio/Subs	Content	SRP	Format
Shark Skin Man and Peach Hip Girl (鮫肌男と桃尻女)	Japanese audio - English subtitles	film	$24.95	Blu-ray
Tomorrow's Joe the Movie (铁拳浪子)	Japanese audio - English subtitles	film	$19.95	Blu-ray

TOKU TIME	Audio/Subs	Content	SRP	Format
Kikaider Ultimate Human Machine (キカイダー REBOOT)	Japanese audio - English subtitles	film	$19.95	Blu-ray

What's currently left in the Discotek library for home video release:

Spoiler: Anime

ANIME	Audio/Subs	Content	Format
Higurashi: When They Cry Kai	Japanese audio - English subtitles	24 episodes	Blu-ray
Higurashi: When They Cry Rei	Japanese audio - English subtitles	5 OVA episodes	Blu-ray
Monster	English & Japanese audio - English subtitles	74 episodes	Blu-ray
Sgt. Frog the Movies Collection	Japanese audio - English subtitles	5 films	Blu-ray
Zegapain Collection	TV: English & Japanese audio - English subtitles Films: Japanese audio - English subtitles	26 episodes & 2 films	Blu-ray
Zone of the Enders Perfect Collection	English & Japanese audio - English subtitles	26 episodes & OVA	Blu-ray

Spoiler: Nihon Nights

NIHON NIGHTS	Audio/Subs	Content	Format
Bangkok Dangerous (บางกอกแดนเจอรัส เพชฌฆาตเงียบ อันตราย)	Thai audio - English subtitles	Film	Blu-ray
Hana Yori Dango Final (花より男子 ファイナル)	Japanese audio - English subtitles	Film	Blu-ray
Nana (ナナ)	Japanese audio - English subtitles	Film	Blu-ray
Nana 2 (ナナ2)	Japanese audio - English subtitles	Film	Blu-ray
Sars Wars: Bangkok Zombie Crisis (ขุนกระบี่ผีระบาด)	Thai audio - English subtitles	Film	Blu-ray

Spoiler: Toku Time

TOKU TIME	Audio/Subs	Content	Format
Kamen Rider Stronger (仮面ライダーストロンガー)	Japanese audio - English subtitles	39 episodes	Blu-ray

MEDIAOCD STORE UPDATE​

https://bsky.app/profile/animeigo.com%2Fpost%2F3m5zhslalsc2t

You can now order select titles from anime distributor Media Blasters!

How were Discotek able to get the Manga UK dub of Space Adventure Cobra!?!. I would have thought the Yello songs alone would have made it impossible to license

 

[cfx]

I actually kinda like the rounded slipcovers. I feel like they are a lot less easy to damage. It would be nice if the slipcovers did have different pictures on them though.

When they started doing them, that was the official reason for them is that the corners don't get bent. For the ones I have, the shrinkwrap tends to have bent those rounded corners over the curved edges of the blu-ray cases anyway, which I don't think is any less of an issue because it tends to separate the layers of the cardboard making the corners flimsier. Discotek's slips, rounded corners or not, are poor quality in my opinion.

 

[zappi]

new announcements

Lupin the 3rd vs. Cat's Eye The 2023 special will have Japanese 5.1 & 2.0 audio w/ subs, plus the English dub in 5.1 & 2.0, along w/ a selection of extras to be announced!

Quote:

Cutie Honey Tears (live action) The 2016 cyberpunk reimagining has 5.1 & 2.0 audio, plus an extended making-of!

Quote:

Voltes V The classic & beloved mecha series has a great HD remaster, touched up subtitles, & some nice extras!

Quote:

Lupin the 3rd: TV Specials Collection 1 The 1st 5 Lupin TV specials from 1989-1993 are collected in HD. All 5 are subbed, 1 & 5 are dubbed. Plus 3 commentaries, liner notes, galleries, commercials, & more!

 

[NormanicGrav]

new announcements

Lupin the 3rd vs. Cat's Eye The 2023 special will have Japanese 5.1 & 2.0 audio w/ subs, plus the English dub in 5.1 & 2.0, along w/ a selection of extras to be announced!

Quote:

Cutie Honey Tears (live action) The 2016 cyberpunk reimagining has 5.1 & 2.0 audio, plus an extended making-of!

Quote:

Voltes V The classic & beloved mecha series has a great HD remaster, touched up subtitles, & some nice extras!

Quote:

Lupin the 3rd: TV Specials Collection 1 The 1st 5 Lupin TV specials from 1989-1993 are collected in HD. All 5 are subbed, 1 & 5 are dubbed. Plus 3 commentaries, liner notes, galleries, commercials, & more!

Not particularly happy to see the TV Special collections this soon, considering 5 of them have yet to receive Blu-ray releases on their own (#2: The Hemingway Papers, #3: Napoleon's Dictionary, #4: From Siberia With Love, #13: Alcatraz Connection, #14: Operation Return the Treasure) for those who picked up the Blu-ray sets. My guess is Discotek figured they would go for the DVD ones instead.

I would rather they re-release the five on Blu-ray individually first before focusing on the specials collections.

 

[cfx]

Not particularly happy to see the TV Special collections this soon, considering 5 of them have yet to receive Blu-ray releases on their own (#2: The Hemingway Papers, #3: Napoleon's Dictionary, #4: From Siberia With Love, #13: Alcatraz Connection, #14: Operation Return the Treasure) for those who picked up the Blu-ray sets. My guess is Discotek figured they would go for the DVD ones instead.

I would rather they re-release the five on Blu-ray individually first before focusing on the specials collections.

Yeah this is irritating and a slap in the face to those of us who bought the blu-rays already.

Assuming I am understanding this correctly? Without a specific listing of what's in it but what I found in a list of the specials in order, it would appear to contain three specials not previously released on blu-ray, along with two that have been and that I already have.

I most likely will just skip these to not support such business practices.

 

[NormanicGrav]

Yeah this is irritating and a slap in the face to those of us who bought the blu-rays already.

Assuming I am understanding this correctly? Without a specific listing of what's in it but what I found in a list of the specials in order, it would appear to contain three specials not previously released on blu-ray, along with two that have been and that I already have.

I most likely will just skip these to not support such business practices.

Yeah the set contains the first five specials which are Bye Bye Lady Liberty, The Hemingway Papers, Napoleon's Dictionary, From Siberia With Love, and Voyage to Danger. Specials 1 & 5 have been out of print for a year or two, and the other three were DVD only.

 

[Lucky_Deity]

I'm really happy to see more Lupin (as always) but like others have mentioned, it's annoying some of the TV specials not yet released on blu-ray don't have an individual release and are locked behind this new collection.

I would like to assume they will get their own individual releases down-the-line so I'll wait out and see. Discotek must know us Lupin collector's would like to keep their collection consistent, going as far as keeping their old slipcover design for all the Lupin releases (minus the Conan crossovers and live-action movie).

I do think the collections are a good idea though for those who have yet to start collecting Lupin or want to save on space but I just hope we get individual releases for those that need it.

In the meantime I'll definitely be picking up Lupin vs. Cat's Eye, I really enjoyed that special and glad to see it out of Amazon jail.

 

[Dai]

new announcements

Lupin the 3rd vs. Cat's Eye The 2023 special will have Japanese 5.1 & 2.0 audio w/ subs, plus the English dub in 5.1 & 2.0, along w/ a selection of extras to be announced!

Quote:

Cutie Honey Tears (live action) The 2016 cyberpunk reimagining has 5.1 & 2.0 audio, plus an extended making-of!

Quote:

Voltes V The classic & beloved mecha series has a great HD remaster, touched up subtitles, & some nice extras!

Quote:

Lupin the 3rd: TV Specials Collection 1 The 1st 5 Lupin TV specials from 1989-1993 are collected in HD. All 5 are subbed, 1 & 5 are dubbed. Plus 3 commentaries, liner notes, galleries, commercials, & more!

At least it's mostly anime this time, but there's probably nothing for me there. It's weird that Discotek keep coming back to Cutie Honey without ever licensing F.

 

[NormanicGrav]

MARCH 2026 SLATE​

Our next batch of releases have been released, including most if not all from the recent announcements done on social media as well as a couple catalogue titles from previous livestreams. All of the titles below are scheduled for 31st March 2026.

Also as a reminder, their next Discotek Day event is this February (originally January but was held up).

ANIME	Audio/Subs	Content	SRP	Format
Lupin the 3rd vs Cat's Eye	English & Japanese audio - English subtitles	ONA	$29.95	Blu-ray
Lupin the 3rd - TV Specials Collection 1	TV Specials 1, 5: English & Japanese audio - English subtitles TV Specials 2, 3, 4: Japanese audio - English subtitles	5 TV Specials	$59.95	Blu-ray
Voltes V (HD Remaster)	Japanese audio - English subtitles	40 episodes	$69.95	Blu-ray
Zone of the Enders Perfect Collection	English & Japanese audio - English subtitles	26 episodes & OVA	$59.95	Blu-ray

NIHON NIGHTS	Audio/Subs	Content	SRP	Format
Bangkok Dangerous (บางกอกแดนเจอรัส เพชฌฆาตเงียบ อันตราย)	Thai audio - English subtitles	Film	$24.95	Blu-ray
Cutie Honey Tears	Japanese audio - English subtitles	Film	$24.95	Blu-ray
Sars Wars: Bangkok Zombie Crisis (ขุนกระบี่ผีระบาด)	Thai audio - English subtitles	Film	$24.95	Blu-ray

What's currently left in the Discotek library for home video release:

Spoiler: Anime

ANIME	Audio/Subs	Content	Format
Higurashi: When They Cry Kai	Japanese audio - English subtitles	24 episodes	Blu-ray
Higurashi: When They Cry Rei	Japanese audio - English subtitles	5 OVA episodes	Blu-ray
Monster	English & Japanese audio - English subtitles	74 episodes	Blu-ray
Sgt. Frog the Movies Collection	Japanese audio - English subtitles	5 films	Blu-ray
Zegapain Collection	TV: English & Japanese audio - English subtitles Films: Japanese audio - English subtitles	26 episodes & 2 films	Blu-ray

Spoiler: Nihon Nights

NIHON NIGHTS	Audio/Subs	Content	Format
Hana Yori Dango Final (花より男子 ファイナル)	Japanese audio - English subtitles	Film	Blu-ray
Nana (ナナ)	Japanese audio - English subtitles	Film	Blu-ray
Nana 2 (ナナ2)	Japanese audio - English subtitles	Film	Blu-ray

Spoiler: Toku Time

TOKU TIME	Audio/Subs	Content	Format
Kamen Rider Stronger (仮面ライダーストロンガー)	Japanese audio - English subtitles	39 episodes	Blu-ray

MEDIAOCD STORE UPDATE​

A couple release schedule updates.

The Dagger of Kamui is now available to pre-order outside of its kickstarter campaign, scheduled for 7th April 2026 with a slipcase for those who order directly through MediaOCD store.

The distributor attended a recent convention and revealed their late Q2 2026 line-up.

Alien Nine is scheduled for May 2026. All 4 OVA episodes in HD with the classic English dub.

Hotori: Simply Wishing for Hope is scheduled for June 2026. The TV Special will also be dubbed into English by SkySet Entertainment, the same folks who also dubbed the Osamu Tezuka TV Special Prime Rose.

 

[HWR]

A solid line-up though I’m still annoyed about the Lupin situation.