HELP! There are 2 different DVD sets for this same anime?

KT · Post by KT » Sun Mar 23, 2008 1:13 pm

Hi everyone.

I was looking up DVD sets for Slayers NEXT and there were 2 different sets, but the same episodes. How do I know which one is better/which one I should get?

http://www.animecornerstore.com/slnese2boxb.html

http://www.discountanimedvd.com/Product-64-Anime-.asp

Grico · Post by **Grico** » Sun Mar 23, 2008 1:27 pm

the discount anime one looks like a bootleg. Funimation just re-released it, so the anime corner one is the one to get

Moop · Post by **Moop** » Sun Mar 23, 2008 1:49 pm

I agree. Any time you see a region free DVD that has Japanese as the only spoken language and both English and Chinese as the subtitled languages, odds are good that it's a bootleg. (Plus, there is also a better than average chance that the subtitles are completely incomprehensible, although I have no idea if that's the case with this one.)

KT · Post by KT » Sun Mar 23, 2008 2:13 pm

I was just about to buy the Funimation version on Amazon, but it said it was only in English. And it is the same set pictured in Anime Corner :/

So is the other set the only one to get if I want it in Japanese with subtitles?

Grico · Post by **Grico** » Sun Mar 23, 2008 2:30 pm

Hi The funimation set has english and japanese language. The rightstuf.com listing says as such:

http://www.rightstuf.com/cgi-bin/catalo ... 5707/4/0/0

You definitely want the Funimation version, as it has dual language and I believe it might have somewhat re-mastered video/audio.

Mara · Post by **Mara** » Sun Mar 23, 2008 2:33 pm

Hmm, you're right, it does say only English voice track on the Amazon page. But I think this may just be a typo. On the Funimation website, they send you to the Right Stuf website to purchase the set: http://www.rightstuf.com/1-800-338-6827 ... 7/4/3198/0

It says Japanese and English here, and I think that must right for all the Slayers sets sold by Funimation.

Moop · Post by **Moop** » Sun Mar 23, 2008 2:39 pm

^ And the one at Anime Corner says: Bilingual - Japanese w/ English Subtitles and English Dubbed.

I'd really stay away from the bootlegs. And while I've never bought Slayers, all of my Funimation DVDs have been dual language with optional subs. Of course if you're in doubt, you can always email Anime Corner and ask.

miz ducky · Post by **miz ducky** » Sun Mar 23, 2008 2:48 pm

I have the new sets from Funimation, they are nice and compact.

Discount Anime DVD sells bootlegs, and from what one member here said, they don't have very good service.

Amazon doesn't always get all the details right, but it looks like the right set.

KT · Post by KT » Sun Mar 23, 2008 2:49 pm

Ok, and I have one more question...

These DVD sets are apparently the newer versions (re-released versions?) of the series. Are they supposed to be better than the old DVD sets?

miz ducky · Post by **miz ducky** » Sun Mar 23, 2008 2:54 pm

It says "Digitally Remastered" on the box.

I don't own the previous box sets, so I can't compare the quality. For me it was a cheaper way to get the series.

KT · Post by KT » Sun Mar 23, 2008 3:04 pm

But since you do have the newer ones, it's safe to say the animation looks really good right?

EDIT: And the new ones say "uncut"....so have they added in something new??

klet · Post by **klet** » Mon Mar 24, 2008 1:28 am

I can't say anything for picture quality, but one thing that was wrong with the 2nd and 3rd season was the tracks. One entire episode was on a single track, so you couldn't skip the opening or to the middle of the episode. Pain in the butt.

I know that the company that originally owned the rights (ADV? I just know it wasn't Funimation) released a second version of the first season that fixed that problem (that's the version I own).

So, anyway, the main reason for the rerelease is that the old company's license ran out and Funi picked it up, since Slayers is a classic in the US that they are sure to have a decent amount of sales with.

As far as I know, the old ones didn't have anything cut.

EDIT: Ah. It was CPM. Pretty sure they're now defunct, which is why Funi was able to pick up the series rather than CPM renewing the license.

wuchild1 · Post by **wuchild1** » Mon Mar 24, 2008 7:16 am

As far as the "uncut" goes, funimation was notorious for releasing an uncut, and a cut version of anime dvds so they could jack up the price for the stuff that was originally in the japanese airing of the show. I know they principally did this with db/dbz/dbgt so they could charge you an extra $4-5 per dvd for the "uncut" version. Its not like a directors cut, that has some previously unreleased scenes, it just means its not edited for "explicit content or language," i.e. nudity, violence, swearing etc... I think they still do this because walmart doesn't like selling graphic content, but they'll sell you a gun!

jcaliff · Post by **jcaliff** » Mon Mar 24, 2008 9:53 am

Funimation sold cut versions of the children's shows that aired on national television, as do most of the domestic licensors (Dragonball, InuYasha, Naruto, Card Captors, Pokemon, Beyblade, One Piece, Yugioh, etc.). Last I checked, most of the shows that are not kids series have nothing but uncut releases - and yes, those listed above are kids shows aimed at elementary to junior high age kids, regardless of what the fanboys seem to think.

Right or wrong, we have different network standards in North America than they do for kids shows in Japan. The version of the kids shows released on DVD had to be identical to that shown on TV, so that parents knew what they were buying - the last thing you want is for parents to flip out when there's suddenly nudity on the DVD of the show their child watched on TV. Most of those versions didn't have the Japanse language track either. They weren't meant for hardcore anime fans.

Luckily for the fans, series like Dragonball and Naruto did/do well enough that they were able to release the uncut versions. These are very long series. It costs money to release DVDs, especially if they add an English dub, and they are selling the uncut versions to a much smaller potential audience, so yes, they cost more in general. I think it has less to do with greed than with the financial reality of running a domestic anime company.

KT · Post by KT » Mon Mar 24, 2008 10:58 am

Thank you everyone for your opinions. I talked to so many people about this, and I ended up just getting the old version of the DVDs (because it was a good deal for all 3 seasons

)

You all helped inform me and made me think this through....So THANK YOU!