09/06/2001 Edition

I'd like to welcome you all to what will hopefully become a weekly feature on the site. Each week, we'll be posting a summary of all the major activities on the forum. Being the overly cynical forum administrator I am, I'll be adding my own bit of opinion and dry humor to each topic. Normally I'd have an entire week of forum activity to cover, but for this test run, gonna stick to 4 days or so. Your comments and feedback on this installment is appreciated. In any case, let's get this started!

Semi-Recycled News

Lately, a good portion of our news is coming from the forums. Just to review what we've learned from our users and company representatives interacting....

Remastered Crest of the Stars There is a way to tell if you've got the remastered copy or the ComChoice version from the outside. The remastered version uses a case with two holes along the edge opposite of the spine. If you have Escaflowne 5 or 6, this is the same type of case. http://www.animeondvd.com/cgi-bin/dcforum/dcboard.cgi?az=show_thread&om=2562&forum=DCForumID1&omm=8

Kenneth Lee, Tokyopop DVD producer goes the extra mile In his current quest to make the Saint Tail DVD's everything a fan could want and more, we have news of ANOTHER change being made. The dub on the Saint Tail discs has removed references to god, which were present in the original dialogue. After speaking with the dub director, Kenneth has had this changed to be a dub more accurate to the original dialogue. Dub fans, rejoice! http://www.animeondvd.com/cgi-bin/dcforum/dcboard.cgi?az=show_thread&om=2401&forum=DCForumID1&omm=46

Ugh, I've heard this question enough times... Cowboy Bebop box... STOP ASKING THIS QUESTION! I'm tired of reading it. The Cowboy Bebop box is 6 discs (the same ones you could be buying now!), The first Cowboy Bebop Soundtrack, and a limited edition box (numbered!). The box will have the extra space for the Cowboy Bebop movie, should it ever come to the US.

Shorter, but sweeter episodes ADV has given out some information regarding the discs for Steel Angel Kurumi. There will be 4 discs total, 6 episodes (episodes are 15 minutes a piece). They won't be spliced together into longer episodes or a movie, or anything like that. Nothing on Neo Ranga right now.

Whoops, pretend you didn't hear that... While still on the subject of ADV, a rough release date has been spilled for Sorcerer on the Rocks. Look for it in December, assuming things go as planned.

Spring and Chaos remaster finished Tokyopop has finished remastering the Spring and Chaos DVD. Video quality issues have been dealt with, subtitle issues fixed as well. It's still been done by ComChoice, so I'm curious to see how it will turn out. If you happen to find one of the Special Edition DVD's on the shelf, it's still eligible for the recall. So if you still want that version of the disc, hit the stores.

Forum buzz

Is there an Utena TV in the house? Another question we're starting to see on a weekly basis is when more Utena TV is going to be out. There's no solid answer right now, nothing new to report on it from the conventions. On a humorous note, Justin Sevakis is convinced the entire Utena franchise is cursed, after the events involving acquiring the TV series, and mastering the Utena movie DVD.

As if waiting wasn't hard enough Charles McCarter has written up an excellent review/preview of the Cowboy Bebop movie, after seeing it in the theatres in Japan (the lucky dog!). http://www.ex.org

Evangelion boxset! No, I'm just kidding. There were some frantic people on the forum though, after Right Stuf listed one of their package deals on an entire set of DVD's.

DVDcaptor Sakura Cardcaptor Sakura DVD #5 will be out next Tuesday, several people have it in their hands already.

Hot Titles The most discussion on newly released titles this week has been regarding Pioneer's new release NieA_7, and Manga's Blood: The Last Vampire. NieA_7 and Blood seem to have been received pretty well. Saint Tail DVD 1 has had a very long running thread, and has actually spawned several changes to the DVD's for the future. I'm pleased to announce that Sapphire's Saint Tail thread: http://www.animeondvd.com/cgi-bin/dcforum/dcboard.cgi?az=show_thread&om=2401&forum=DCForumID1&omm=0 will be this week's recipient of the much-coveted "Thread that refuses to die" Award. And yes, I did make that up as I went.

It's all in how you package it From the expensive anime department, the Akira Collectors Edition set has been seen going for $100 at some Suncoast stores. From the cheap anime department, www.express.com is having another sale on some overstocked discs. Several titles are available for as much as 65% off. Can YOU pass up Hyperdolls for $10? http://www.animeondvd.com/expressanime.htm

mmmm, updates Sarcasm abound as Pioneer and Media Blasters update their websites. You guys really don't have to be so rude you know. There's hardly any incentive to update your website when we do such a good job of reporting everything.

Quick Forum Facts

• Excel Saga was mentioned at least 7 times.
• General Forum had 8 threads locked.
• Region 2 Forum had 3 threads locked.
• Retail Forum had 2 threads locked.
• Off-topic Forum, somehow... didn't have any threads locked.
• Quote of the week: "Every single company, without exception, does this for the sole purpose of annoying Ken Arromdee." -Mike Toole

That about wraps up everything I have for this week. As was mentioned above, I'd appreciate some feedback on this article. It's the users that make the forum so great, so this should be something I try to tailor to your tastes. If you aren't a member of the forums, you're encouraged to take part in the community! Until next week,