Just a short update about what's been planned in the next few months.
First of, I now have a debit card and I will be importing anime that has been released in Japan and America. The decision to do this is mainly due to the lack of acceptance to anime here in the UK. Despite we have Manga Entertainment UK, MVM UK, Studio Canal and KAZE FR supporting anime fans with the releases, the titles that have been released are not up to the standard in contrast to the products that FUNimation and Aniplex have done for USA and various companies in general over in Japan. This means that we only get just the basic DVD of each of the titles and no special extras [only Textless Openings/Endings], limited edition [only steel-books being the closest to limited] releases and Blu-Ray versions (with the exception to shows with only 13 episodes or have very high demand such as Code Geass and Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood).
There have been problems with few titles that have planned to get a Blu-Ray version but were never able to get them distributed officially in the end. Examples have included:
- 5 Centimeters Per Second
- Reason: Technical licencing problem & No agreement to allow Blu-Ray version.
- Best Version to find: Japan's Global Edition, Region Free and is also Dual Audio.
- Casshern Sins
- Reason: Lack of profitable sales from Part 1
- Best Version to find: Part 1, Part 2 and a Complete Series version is available in USA, Region Locked however.
- K-On!
- Reason: Technical licencing problem regarding packaging and cost
- Best Version to find: At the moment, the USA version is not recommended at this point as they have split the series into parts with a big price for each one. Suggest wait unless there are no plans to make a complete season collection for both Season 1 and Season 2. USA version is Region Locked. However, Madman has released the complete Season 1 blu-ray boxset for Australia, and Part 1-2 of Season 2, all of which are in the same region as the UK.
- Sengoku Basara
- Reason: Unknown, possibly lack of profitable sales from Season 1.
- Best Version to find: Season 2 is available in USA Region Free. Australia also has Season 1, Season 2 and the Last Party movie available on blu-ray.
- The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya
- Reason: Technical Fault with Region B conversion, EU PS3's won't accept version
- Best Version to find: Australia has the film on BD though it's not 100% confirmed it will work on UK PS3 consoles. USA has a Double Play but Region Locked.
- X-AM'D: Lost Memories
- Reason: Lack of profitable sales from Part 1
- Best Version to find: Collection 1 and Collection 2 are available on Blu-ray by Madman in Australia. Collection 1, Collection 2 and the Complete Collection is also available in USA though it's Region Locked.
- Various other titles that didn't get a BD release because of the audience or cost:
- Examples include
- Aria the Scarlet Ammo
- Baccano!
- Baka and Test
- Black Butler
- Chaos;Head
- Clannad & Clannad After Story
- Darker Than Black
- Fairy Tail
- Freezing
- Okami-san and Her Seven Companion
- Sekirei
- Spice and Wolf
- Squid Girl
- The World God Only Knows
Luckily, the UK Otakus are allowed to import anime from overseas (with the cost of paying a bit higher and getting screwed with import tax) so various titles can still be bought to keep everyone happy. Manga-wise, they are still being distributed in various book stores so there is no worry about those.
Just to sum up my point, I will be importing anime soon though it won't be very expensive like the Haruhi Suzumiya Blu Ray collection which is almost £200 if converted from 30,000 Yen. Shows that I have considered to import as a starter include:
- 5 Centimeters Per Second
- Baccano!
- Baka and Test
UPDATE: I have the US copy of Baka & Test Season 1, very good quality and works for UK DVD and Blu-ray players. I have also updated the information above.
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