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Miyazaki Region 1 DVDs at Last?

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the bring-it-on dept.

PinkStainlessTail writes " Ain't It Cool has a "story" (or baseless rumor, it is AIC after all) claiming that Miyazaki's SPIRITED AWAY, CASTLE IN THE SKY (aka LAPUTA), and KIKI'S DELIVERY SERVICE will be released on 2 disc region 1 DVD sets from Disney in April of this year. The original story comes from comic artist Steve Bissette's message board. " Here's hopin'

17 of 217 comments (clear)

  1. DVD Regions by HealYourChurchWebSit · · Score: 5, Informative


    Man do I feel stupid. I had some idea about DVD Regions when I got my player a year or so ago, but didn't give it much thought. This article forced me to go look-up a few sites that offered information on exactly what the mention of DVD Regions in the /. article means to joe and jane average:
    Sometimes ... I feel so stupid ...

    --
    --- have you healed your church website?
  2. I hope it is better that the Totoro release by robosmurf · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I certainly hope that the DVD release is better that the terrible Fox DVD release of My Neighbor Totoro, which was a pan-and-scan version with no Japanese language track or extras.

    If Disney are releasing it directly, then there is some chance they might do a good job, but I'm certainly not preordering anything until the details are clear...

    1. Re:I hope it is better that the Totoro release by Murdock037 · · Score: 5, Informative

      IIRC, part of Disney's deal with Miyazaki is that they won't alter a single frame of the films for distribution. Pan-and-scanning is obviously changing the film-- so at the very least I'm sure Disney has to offer both options.

      I read this around the time Princess Mononoke came out, but I'm sure the same applies. It's why Disney (through Miramax) was willing to release a 2:20 animated film, instead of their usual 1:25-- it was that or nothing. (And that's why nothing could be done about Mononoke's glacial pacing, but that's opinion, I suppose.)

      As for the language tracks, there was some hubbub when it came to the Mononoke DVD-- Disney was originally going to release it with only the English language dub, but there was considerable fan outcry (spearheaded by the folks at AICN, I believe), and so the disc was delayed so they could get language clearances and have both versions.

      Personally, I enjoyed Spirited Away much, much more than Mononoke, and would look forward to a comparably well-done release, with widescreen, both language options, etc. Hopefully Disney's learned their lesson-- that Miyazaki's fan base can be downright ornery in their devotion, and will demand quality.

  3. well, lookie here... by nochops · · Score: 5, Funny

    Ain't It Cool has a "story" (or baseless rumor, it is AIC after all)

    Now if that isn't the pot calling the kettle black, I don't know what is.

    --
    "A terrorist is someone who has a bomb but doesn't have an air force." -William Blum
  4. Not American? by rde · · Score: 5, Informative

    If, like me, you live in Region 2 (Europe and Japan; handy, that), you don't care. But then, you haven't cared for a long time, cos they're all available at cdjapan.co.jp. Two-disk sets of Totoro, Mononoke, Kiki's Delivery Service, Laputa, Spirited Away, Whispers and probably others are currently residing on the DVD case.

    Note: even though they're region 2, they're also NTSC, so you'll need compatible equipment. That's not a problem for Americans with multi-region players, though.

    The films are in Japanese with optional english sub and dub, and the second disk is all in Japanese.
    In case you're interested, I'm a big fan of cdjapan, especially now that the exchange rates are going my way. They're extremely efficient at getting the stuff out, and my first stop for those hard-to-find films that aren't generally available elsewhere.

  5. Nausicaa.net by bludstone · · Score: 5, Informative

    Is it posted on nausicaa.net yet? No? Probably BS then.

    Miyazaki's stuff is pure genious. He is, without a doubt, one of the greatest directors that ever lived. This is good for everyone, not just anime fans.

    Ive already imported all these movies, and I will probably wind up buying the r1s as well. I sure hope that they have all the extras that were on the japanese dvds. Tons of cool stuff on the dual disk sets.

    --

    no .sig
  6. These already exist by pointym5 · · Score: 5, Informative

    I'm holding in my hand a boxed set called "Archives of Studio Ghibli", published by Anime Cartoon International. It's got 6 DVD's, each with two films. It doesn not include the newest film, or Castle Cagliostro (which is separately available). The DVDs have Japanese menus, and offer English or Chinese subtitles with the Japanese soundtracks.

    1. Re:These already exist by Chibi · · Score: 5, Informative

      What you are holding in your hands are bootleg copies, sir.

      Here is a link to the pirate anime FAQ:

      http://www.digital.anime.org.uk/piratefaq.html

      --
      If all you have are silver bullets, everything looks like a werewolf.
  7. Re:Region 1? by W+Parasyte · · Score: 5, Informative

    Actually Japanese TVs use a lower black level (0 IRE as opposed to North America's 7.5 IRE, which isn't nearly so much of a problem), and the only color shifted Japanese R2 dvd was Spirited Away, which has a noticeably red tint on every set in Japan. There's actually a lawsuit regarding that very issue brought about by a few Japanese people (see this article at animenewsnetwork).

    --
    -- Your IP is showing
  8. Re:You can by rde · · Score: 3, Informative

    This was probably mentioned in the original story, but I'll repeat it here...

    When I ordered Spirited Away, I got an email from cdjapan telling me that some people reported a red tint. However, they assured me that the transfer was approved by Studio Ghibli, and it looked as intended.

    I forgot about it until I watched the movie, and reread the mail. Then I checked the movie again, and saw no sign of any red tint. Maybe it was there, but to me the movie looked as I supposed was intended.

  9. THIS JUST IN: Possible Release Dates! by May+Kasahara · · Score: 5, Informative

    Here's the article from Anime News Network, just posted about half an hour ago, with more concrete news on the Kiki and Castle in the Sky DVDs. As you can see, there's nothing said about a Spirited Away DVD release, though :/

  10. Amazon.com has them on preorder by Stavr0 · · Score: 3, Informative
    AnimeNewsNetwork: Neither DVD release is listed on the any of the major retailers websites yet (Amazon.com does have a page for the DVDs (and has for a long time), that lists them as "The studio is currently not producing this title on DVD."

    Actually...
    Spirited Away
    Kiki's Delivery Service
    Castle in the Sky

  11. Sorry, sir, it's Tuesday. by Wakko+Warner · · Score: 3, Funny

    We're not boycotting DVDs today.

    - A.P.

    --
    "Remember when the U.S. had a drug problem, and then we declared a War On Drugs, and now you can't buy drugs anymore?"
  12. Re:Sweet by dead+sun · · Score: 4, Informative
    Actually, that's only if the publisher decides that they want to let you. This typically is a non-issue, as most Anime DVDs are bilingual, and a ton of DVDs have a second language track. However, I was perusing Best Buy the other day and found a My Neighbor Totoro DVD. The bad news was that it was English language only. I don't know why they couldn't have included the original Japanese, but it wasn't on there. Had it been, I probably would have replaced my region free import as the English subs aren't the greatest (not that they're that bad, but there's the occasional slip).

    In short, there may yet be cause to worry if Disney doesn't feel that we need Japanese audio on these DVDs...

    --
    If not now, when?
  13. Region Code Bypass for Software DVD Players by Wolfier · · Score: 3, Informative

    Here:

    http://www.inmatrix.com/genie/

  14. regions by sckeener · · Score: 5, Insightful

    DVD regions just make me wish the MPAA was required to release Region 0 DVDs 2 years after the release of a movie anywhere.

    I hate their arguement that regions are needed to allow movies to be released in theaters before you can buy them. What I hate about the arguement is what about old movies?

    Why is Gone With The Wind: DVD Deluxe Collector Box Set (1939) a region 1 dvd? They've had 64 years to play it in every country.

    Of course their other arguement is regions protect prices. Region 1 dvds cost more. Well, if they are only going to release the DVD in one region anyway, why not put it in Region 0? If there's not enough of a market in other regions, then release it in region 0 and pool everyone together.

    sorry, I'm just annoyed by all the region stuff....

    --
    "Only one thing, is impossible for god: to find any sense in any copyright law on the planet." Mark Twain
  15. Re:Teehee by FurryFeet · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Thank you for being a hindrance.

    Be careful not to hurt yourself on the way down from your high horse.
    It would be a hindrance to buy bootlegs if someone was offering a legit product. Since Disney/Ghibli are not giving me a legal way to get them, I don't think I'm hurting them in getting bootlegs. If anything, I'm proveng them there's demand fot the movies and prompting them to release them.
    I bet you are also against abandonware and MAME.