Major anime studios split on HD DVD / Blu-ray decision

by Darren Murph posted Jul 18th 2007 at 3:49AM

For the anime lovers out there, there's no question that even cartoons have a very different feel in HD, so we're sure there's quite a few of you out there clamoring for more HD renditions of your favorite shows. Unfortunately, there seems to be quite a bit of discord when it comes to settling on a format of choice. According to a report at IGN, Bandai looks to be squarely in the HD DVD camp (despite conflicting reports), while FUNimation seemed to prefer Blu-ray and Geneon remained undecided. Generally speaking, none of the firms seemed to think that branching out to other high-definition film formats was out of the realm of possibility, but if the major producers do indeed choose opposing sides, the hardcore anime fans may want to check out a hybrid player to prevent future heartaches.

Filed under: Industry, Blu-ray, HD DVD

Tags: anime, bandai, cartoon, format war, FormatWar, Geneon, studio

Subscribe to these comments

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Neutral

DeadPlasmaCell @ Jul 18th 2007 4:28AM

You can get some of those FUNimation & Geneon flicks in HD on the Xbox Live Market Place.

Neutral

MegaZone @ Jul 18th 2007 5:07AM

I wouldn't put Bandai 'squarely' in the HD DVD camp. All Bandai Visual Japan releases are on *both* formats, and the upcoming Wings of Honneamise release in the US will be on both formats. So Bandai is sitting on the fence.

Neutral

Lucky Lefty @ Jul 18th 2007 5:49AM

As stated above, Bandai is actually dual format so please make that correction. As far as anime goes, Blu Ray wins by default since HD-DVD is all but nonexistent in Japan(I know this on a first hand account). Matter of fact, the only reason Bandai supports HD-DVD is beacuse Microsofet offered them a sweet deal which included them handling the transfers hence why the HD-DVD release of "Freedom" includes many advance interactive features.

Neutral

Lucky Lefty @ Jul 18th 2007 5:55AM

Also, keep in mind Sony holds the rights to many anime properties and also Starz/Anchor Bay is exclusively suporting Blu-Ray. Starz/Anchor Bay controls the releases of all the popular Manga releases such as "Ghost in the Shell" and "Ninja Scroll".

Neutral

Amiable-Akuma @ Jul 18th 2007 10:07AM

I had comments and info to share to provide further evidence - but I think the 3 above posts wrap this story up nicely. It is a much, MUCH, clearer advantage or "win" for blu-ray in terms of anime being released on HD media. HD DVD is actually quite lucky that they've got Freedom and these other handful of titles now, because every other account would summarily point to the future of anime being almost entirely only "blu"...

Neutral

Tommy @ Jul 18th 2007 8:19AM

With Bandai Visual's release of Freedom selling barely 100 units according to Nielsen Videoscan, I doubt they'll stick with it for too long.

Neutral

Cazellnu @ Jul 18th 2007 10:10AM

BANDAI supports it towards Blu-ray in Japan.
"PATLABOR" and "Wings of Honneamise" are released with both formats.
However, "GHOST IN THE SHELL", "JIN-ROH", "STEAM BOY","AVALON" are released only in Blu-ray.

Neutral

Galley @ Jul 18th 2007 11:43AM

I'm not much of an Anime fan, but Appleseed would look amazing on Blu-ray Disc!

Neutral

paloooz @ Jul 18th 2007 11:54AM

I'd prefer it on neither. ;-)

Neutral

LOUiE @ Jul 18th 2007 3:06PM

As others have said Bandai Visual is neutral and is releasing almost everything in both formats.

I'd also like to make it clear that it is Bandai Visual and not just Bandai. There are two completely different companies in the US anime business with Bandai in the name. One is the aforementioned Bandai Visual USA and the other is Bandai Entertainment which is also sitting on the fence like Geneon and not choosing either side. Both are completely separate companies so please update the post to say Bandai Visual USA and not just Bandai.

Neutral

MrSatyre @ Jul 18th 2007 3:48PM

Bandai is actually straddling the fence and supporting both HD formats. You can go to cdjapan.co.jp for yourself and check it out. I've already received several titles in the BD format from the Bandai label.

Neutral

zenprism @ Jul 18th 2007 9:13PM

I just wish anyone would start releasing anime titles on a regular basis. I need to use my PS3 for something.

Neutral

mt_rock @ Jul 19th 2007 11:49AM

I'm sorry to all of you for having given misunderstanding.

It is BANDAI VISUAL to release Blu-ray and HD DVD of the anime in Japan.

BANDAI VISUAL announces to release many animes in Blu-ray than HD DVD.
As for the release of new HD DVD, nothing is planned.

Because BANDAI VISUAL has too little diffusion rate of the HD DVD in Japan,
and there is a rumor getting angry at.

Neutral

The Aggie CEO™ @ Jul 19th 2007 4:33PM

DBZ on Blu-Ray............

Good stuff

Neutral

Leroy Vargas @ Jul 22nd 2007 11:22PM

I would like to see [in BD] the three complete ASTRO BOY sagas (1963-66, 1980, 2003), including the episodes never aired in USA (that is, 1960's seasons 3 & 4 [1965 & 1966], original 1980 episode #2 [Astro vs Atlas], and original 2003 episode #27 [Eternal Child, I think]). But this time, for the 2003 saga, I want SONY [hence why I said BD above] to follow the correct Japanese episode order instead of the shitbag episode order it followed for the US DVD release (where in several circumstances you could obviously see Uran/Zoran appear even before her formal introduction as a birthday present for Astro).

Also, I'd like Sony Music USA or Columbia Records to bring here [at least via iTunes Music Store, the only Apple-branded thingy I love only because it uses Gracenote CDDB] the complete Astro Boy music anthology encompassing all three sagas (essentially, the Song Collection [KICA 8002, covers the first two sagas, 1963-66 & 1980] released by King Records in Japan in 2000, the two Original Soundtracks [SICL 51 & SICL 74, all covering third saga] composed by Takashi Yoshimatsu and released by Sony Music Japan in 2003, and other now-out-of-print soundtracks released by Columbia Japan and For Life Music between 1990 & 2003, plus possibly as an extra the memorable English-language songs which were never released on CD format).

And finally as a plus, I would like to see US Manga Corps or Manga Entertainment (don't know yet their posture regarding HDDVD vs BD) release in the US the new Black Jack anime series (later renamed Black Jack 21) released in Japan in 2005.

Neutral

Leroy Vargas @ Jul 23rd 2007 12:40AM

BTW, first ASTRO BOY saga (1963-66) was distributed on DVD by RightStuf (well, they only released 1963-64 as they were the only ones dubbed to English), while second saga (1980; 1983 in USA) was on DVD by Manga Entertainment. I don't know their postures regarding the format wars, so at least I'd like them to release ASTRO BOY on BD if not exclusively (I won't object if they go the dual-format way like Bandai Visual, releasing also a HDDVD version as well to complement the BD). At least I'm certain SONY would only release 2003 ASTRO BOY on BD as SONY is BD-exclusive.

PS3 Beatles: Rock Band DLC crashing game's servers overseas Ignition and Marvelous have a Deadly Premonition EEDAR predicts Nintendo dominance, weak GTA and Brutal Legend performance in October sales	How do you download torrentless torrents? Use Magnetiser for Firefox Phytrix: a Tetris-Meets-Match-3 Time Waster Tutorial9 offering free icon sets, Wordpress and Tumblr themes
Found Footage: The iPhone and the WiiMote Dangerously driving a car with an iPhone MobileMe mail offline for 'some users'... again	Electronic Arts not popular with investors after Q2 report IEA: Global energy use to resume an upward trend Chasing Value: 2009 blazing picks -- Q3 review
Reminder: Left 4 Dead demo now available 4 all Games on Demand has a high-price Monopoly Xbox 360 Fancast 142 -- ODSB	Total Croc: Porsche suing popular shoe company over naming rights? BMW defies logic with six-cylinder Concept 6 motorcycle Renault-Nissan vows to build world's cheapest car? Nano-nah-nah-nah-nah!
GoG.com adds Sanitarium to game line up ESA founder gets Lifetime Achievement Award from AIAS Child's Play 2009 charity fund drive begins	NFL Power Rankings, Week 10: The Ugly Side of Parity Bernard Pollard Accuses Chiefs of Trying To Have Him Blackballed Brian Westbrook's Ankle Injury Flares Up