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.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
DeadPlasmaCell @ Jul 18th 2007 4:28AM
You can get some of those FUNimation & Geneon flicks in HD on the Xbox Live Market Place.
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.
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.
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".
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"...
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.
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.
Galley @ Jul 18th 2007 11:43AM
I'm not much of an Anime fan, but Appleseed would look amazing on Blu-ray Disc!
paloooz @ Jul 18th 2007 11:54AM
I'd prefer it on neither. ;-)
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.
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.
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.
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.
The Aggie CEO™ @ Jul 19th 2007 4:33PM
DBZ on Blu-Ray............
Good stuff
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.
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.