A majority of these titles don't have exact release dates but their formats have been confirmed!
Announcement #01: Area 88
The 1985 OVA series is coming back to print on DVD. The collection includes both the OVA versions of episodes 1-3 and the theatrical cut versions of episodes 1 & 2 in English & Japanese audio with English subtitles. Episode 1 will also include a bonus English dub from the Central Park Media release. Mike Toole will also be providing brand new extensive liner notes.
Justin Sevakis also added some extra comments regarding the release. You can see the full quote below:
I don’t author DT’s DVDs, but I help occasionally. In this case, the OVAs were old nasty video transfers, and good masters couldn’t be found. The movie cuts looked great, but there’s about 10 min of footage cut from them. Soooo...
We found a PAL master of the OVAs, converted back to NTSC, and restored them. We replaced the footage with movie footage where possible, and color corrected the remaining PAL footage to match it. Not perfect but looks a lot better.
In the end, Michael Toole and I were never able to find the CPM dub for Area88 Act II. We can’t even prove it was ever released. The series was such a poor seller for CPM that it could be Act II dub VHS was solicited, but then withdrawn. Ah well.
Announcement #02: Space Wolf Juspion (Kyojuu Tokusou Juspion)
Next up we have a live-action Japanese series from 1985 coming to the US on Standard Definition Blu-ray. The collection features all 46 episodes on Blu-ray using Standard Definition footage in Japanese audio with English subtitles.
This is an interesting license as this series is part of the tokusatsu genre and is also the first title to be licensed in the US from the Metal Hero Series in its original form (Saban adapted some of the titles into VR Troopers and Big Bad Beetleborgs).
Announcement #03: Message from Space: Galactic Wars (Uchū kara no Messēji: Ginga Taisen)
In addition to Juspion, Discotek will also be bringing the 1978 live-action Japanese series to the US on Standard Definition Blu-ray. The collection features all 27 episodes on Blu-ray using Standard Definition footage in Japanese audio with English subtitles.
This series is notable for being a spin-off to the 1978 Japanese film Message from Space which didn't fare well in reviews. In addition the series also stars Hiroyuki Sanada, a well-known Japanese actor who has starred in Ringu, The Last Samurai, The Wolverine and the upcoming untitled Marvel's Avengers 4 film.
Announcement #04: God Mars (Rokushin Gattai GodMars)
Also known as Six God Combination Godmars, the 1981 series is coming to Standard Definition Blu-ray. The collection features all 64 episodes plus the 1982 theatrical movie and the OVA God Mars: The Untold Legend on Blu-ray using Standard Definition footage in Japanese audio with English subtitles.
This is notable in Japan for being the first anime title to be released in SD Blu-ray format.
Justin Sevakis also added some extra comments regarding the release. You can see the full quote below:
Subs revised from the Hulu versions. OAV translated for the first time. Nice to have all in one package. Production is quite far along, so street date should be announced soon.
Announcement #04.5: Cyborg 009: The Cyborg Soldier
Discotek offered an update on their upcoming Standard Definition Blu-ray release for Cyborg 009. The series has had a rough production release due to the masters, so Justin Sevakis has put a ton of effort making sure it's the best possible release to date. The final release will include all 52 episodes.
This is what Discotek had to say during their presentation:
We had to file a materials request with Sony in order to get the master tapes. Each tape had a single episode. 51 tapes, NTSC, widescreen, TV edit. 51 tapes, NTSC, 4:3, TV edit. Over 1,000 tapes.
We used US, AU, and JP DVD footage for reference, because a lot of the tapes were damaged! Several episodes had gaps, audio "dropouts" in their 5.1 mixes. In the end, all Japanese 5.1 mixes were saved. Five dubbed episodes had bad 5.1, but they're being restored. Work is almost done!
Justin Sevakis also added some extra comments regarding the release. You can see the full quote below:
Finally, a Cyborg 009 update: the 5 episodes where the dub 5.1 track was unsalvagable has been upconverted from the stereo mix by NYAV Post! Hopefully you won’t be able to tell which ones! Now getting new subtitles made. All restoration is pretty much done.
Announcement #05: VOLTES V (Chou Denji Machine Voltes V)
The 1977 series is coming to Standard Definition Blu-ray. The collection features all 40 episodes on Blu-ray using Standard Definition footage in Japanese audio with English subtitles.
Announcement #06: Galaxy Express 999
That's right. Discotek have managed to rescue the TV series for Galaxy Express 999. All 113 episodes will be coming to Blu-ray across three collection sets in Japanese audio with English subtitles. These episodes will be an upscale, but not the same master used in Japan in order to preserve the film's grain.
The US rights were originally in the hands of S'More Entertainment but due to some poor handling their release sold poorly and was never completed.
Also included with this release are the two TV specials Can You Live Like a Warrior? and Can You Love Like a Mother? as well a couple on-disc features Recap Episode, Commercials, Textless songs, and Episode 1 Preview.
Justin Sevakis also added some extra comments regarding the release. You can see the full quote below:
113 eps is a lot!! But the masters looked really good, and they upscaled very nicely. Now working on the subs. The translation was fine but they really needed a proofreading pass. Schmullus is on it.
Discotek have also clarified that the Galaxy Express 999 movies are still coming to Blu-ray but at a later point.
Announcement #07: Bobobo-bo Bo-bobo
Another series rescued from the hands of S'More Entertainment (which was infamous for false-advertising English subtitles on their English & Japanese audio DVD release). All 76 episodes will be coming to Blu-ray using Standard Definition footage in English & Japanese audio with English subtitles.
Discotek have confirmed that their version of Bobobo will be better than the Japanese SD Blu-ray release in terms of video quality.
Justin Sevakis also added some extra comments regarding the release. You can see the full quote below:
This is the albatross currently threatening to kill Ashura and myself. The masters mostly look good but had some damage. The subtitles and on-screen text are insane. Work is proceeding well, tho. Hopefully mid-2019?
Announcement #08: Psycho Armor Govarian
The 1983 series is coming to Standard Definition Blu-ray. The collection features all 26 episodes on Blu-ray using Standard Definition footage in Japanese audio with English subtitles.
This series is notable for being animated by Knack Productions (known for the infamous Chargeman Ken) and is one of two mecha series Go Nagai worked on before leaving Toei Animation.
Announcement #09: Lupin the Third
We have a couple Lupin the Third updates revealed from the Discotek panel.
Lupin the Third Part II
Collections 3 and 4 have a new update. They will not be dubbed in English due to costs but will include the two dubbed Miyazaki episodes. Both collection sets are coming to DVD in Japanese audio with English subtitles. The subtitles have been improved and re-edited with better timing. Collection 3 is currently listed for December 2018.
Lupin the Third Part IV
The Japanese Version of the series is still being worked on. For those who don't know Discotek received poor translations of the episodes so they had to redo the whole thing (Anime Limited did their own translation for those curious with the UK release). All 26 episodes will be on Blu-ray in Japanese audio with English subtitles sometime in Winter 2019.
Lupin the Third: Blood Seal of the Eternal Mermaid
New addition to the ever-growing Lupin Discotek catalogue. This is the 23rd special and will be dubbed in English featuring the same cast as Lupin Part IV. Dub cast features Tony Oliver, Richard Epcar, Lex Lang, Michelle Ruff, and Doug Erholtz.
Lupin the Third: The Legend of the Gold of Babylon
A mini-update that took a couple more months than expected. The film is also being dubbed by the Lupin Part IV cast. Blu-ray release includes detailed liner notes by Lupin the 3rd expert Reed Nelson and an art gallery.
Announcement #09.5: Hells
It's been around a year since the anime film received an update but now Discotek have some news to share.
For starters the English dub is being produced by Sound Cadence Studios with the script done from the folks at Team Four Star. The dub is faithful and not a parody like TFS' usual works. Discotek only received the last of the materials finished during the week of Otakon. On-disc features include English Outtakes, Behind-the-Scenes Footage of the dub as well as an Audio Commentary by the Dub Cast & Crew.
The English subtitles have also been improved from the original Japanese release.
Announcement #10: Space Warrior Baldios (Uchuu Senshi Baldios)
The 1980 series is coming to Blu-ray. The collection features all 34 episodes in Japanese audio with English subtitles.
The series is notable for being cancelled before it could finish its original run, and was eventually given a theatrical film to conclude the story (the film itself has been licensed & released by Discotek).
Announcement #11: Kimagure Orange Road
Almost the entire franchise is coming to Blu-ray from Discotek! That's all 48 episodes, the OVAs and the first movie I Want to Return to That Day (Ano Hi ni Kaeritai) across two collection sets in Japanese audio with English subtitles. The franchise was initially licensed by AnimEigo.
Despite there isn't a Japanese Blu-ray release, the franchise received a HD master through Netflix so Discotek is able to make use of it for their release. The series will be released in 4:3 format. On-disc extra features include textless songs, commercials and trailers.
The only title not included in this collection is the second film which was released by ADV Films.
Justin Sevakis also added some extra comments regarding the release. You can see the full quote below:
The new HD transfer is gorgeous!! Subs are the AnimEigo subs, which we’ve revised slightly. We have some really neato extras too. However, we’ve got zilch for the movie. No trailers, nothin’. If anyone has anything, please get in touch.
Announcement #12: Giant Robo
The 1992 OVA series is coming back to the US on Blu-ray. The collection features all 7 episodes with both English dubs (Manga Ent. & NYAV Media Blasters) as well as the original Japanese audio with English subtitles in 1080p format. The Ginrei OVA specials will also be included in standard definition.
Justin Sevakis also added some extra comments regarding the release. You can see the full quote below:
We’re still in materials gathering mode on this one, so it’ll be a while yet. Worth it, I promise. Anyone who’s seen the JP BD can tell you, it so pretty.
Yes, we plan on including both. There was a 5.1 mix that was made of the NYAV dub that was never released that we were looking for, but it may no longer exist.
And that is it from Discotek Media from their Otakon panel. There are more surprises to follow with their monthly release slates so stay tuned for those.
Sources: Discotek Media Otakon 2018 Industry Panel, Discotek Media Twitter Feed, Justin Sevakis Twitter Feed
Sources: Discotek Media Otakon 2018 Industry Panel, Discotek Media Twitter Feed, Justin Sevakis Twitter Feed
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