Domestic vs Import DvD's

[DiablotheChicke]

I really didn't want to post this, was hoping to find a previous article on it, but the search feature isnt working for me right now. Here it goes;

In my lifetime, the only Anime I have gone out and bought are Outlaw Star and Cowboy Bebop. Both of these series came in one box with three dvd's for roughly $30. Now you can buy Cowboy Bebop for somewhere around $30 for just 3 or 4 episodes as domestic anime. Seems like a really bad deal right? But other anime sites, <Sorry!!>, sell the box set for $30 under import anime. This seems like a no brainer, but I'm just wondering what the difference is between domestic and import anime? Is domestic more expensive because it's better or because its just more expensive? I have had no problems with my Cowboy Bebop/Outlaw Star dvd's except one; the box, while looking extremely awesome, cannot hold a dvd to save its life. The dvd's slide all over the place and fall out. So is all import anime shoddy craftsmanship or did I just win the jackpot twice?

[Gibb]

First of all, I believe everything on that site is bootleg. Secondly, posting a link to an online shop is not allowed on this forum. There are numerous ways to spot a bootleg. They're all region free, have Chinese and English subtitles, and contain 8 or 9 episodes per DVD. No legitimate Japanese DVD is region free (they're Region 2) and rarely any have English subtitles. Japanese DVDs also have very low episode counts, I believe 2 episodes per DVD is pretty common.

Basically, if you see a deal that seems too good to be true, it almost always is. Anime is not cheap, but it's not super expensive either.

Cowboy Bebop has never legally be released in 3 dvds. It came out as 6 DVDs originally, in a box set with the soundtrack, and as stand alone singles. Recently it's been re-released. Each DVD is around $20-$25, so that's $120-$150 right there for just that series.

[Levon]

Those "imports" are bootlegs. In many cases thieves will take the R1 release & turn it into a bootleg by compressing many episode onto one DVD so a complete 26 episode series is on only 3 DVDs instead of its 6-7 R1 release. There are also many bootlegs where they ripped it from the R2 release, compressed a lot of episodes onto a DVD & add English & Chinese subs and the subs can be very bad.

Its wrong & its sad to see yet another person fooled by that "import" label.

[VacantEyes]

Legit imports are almost universally more expensive, not less. I spent $45 on my last R2 DVD single.

[Chousho]

I agree with you on just about everything except
No legitimate Japanese DVD is region free (they're Region 2) and rarely any have English subtitles.
Pendant was R0, and several live action movies and karaoke/mtv are as well. They just are so rare that 99.99% of the time R2 is the likely one.

Like I said, other than that (which is so minor), I agree with your post.

[Gibb]

I agree with you on just about everything except

Pendant was R0, and several live action movies and karaoke/mtv are as well. They just are so rare that 99.99% of the time R2 is the likely one.

Like I said, other than that (which is so minor), I agree with your post.

Whoops I should have said "mostly" region free :P

[Leader Desslock]

...I'm just wondering what the difference is between domestic and import anime? Is domestic more expensive because it's better or because its just more expensive? ...
It's more expensive because it's legal. Those are bootleg sets you bought, as folks have pointed out.

Amusingly, you could've found a legitimate Outlaw Star release in an R1 box set for about $32 retail, if you'd looked for it.

[Soluzar]

I'd edit your first post if I were you. Linking to sites which sell bootleg anime DVDs is against the rules, around these here parts. If the mods see that, they will certainly have to edit your post for you, at minimum.

[DiablotheChicke]

sorry, thanks for clearing that up for me though. Apologies go out to mods as well!

Although 1 more question, whats R1 and R2 mean? Looking at the Outlaw Star DvD's available here at Animenation, they are all regional 1 yet i have no idea what that means lol. theres 1 complete series, then a 3 seperate boxes series, and 1 more complete series. They all look exactly the same except for price and boxart. But the description of the third one is "as seen on cartoon network" so does that mean edited?

[Chousho]

sorry, thanks for clearing that up for me though. Apologies go out to mods as well!

Although 1 more question, whats R1 and R2 mean? And when you say finding anime in english is extremely rare do you mean subbed or dubbed? Cause if english subbed anime is rare, im boned.
R1 and R2 are Region 1 and Region 2. DVDs are encoded for different regions of the world and cannot play in a DVD player from a different region, or more aptly, DVD players can usually only play one region.

Region 1 is what USA (and North America I think) use for DVDs. Region 2 is what Japan (and Europe?) use. The DVDs are practically the same except just region locked. Basically, if you buy a DVD from out of North America, don't expect most DVD players in the US to play it.

Finding English subtitles in an R2 anime is rare. Finding an English dub in an R2 (domestic for Japan, anyway) anime is nigh impossible.

[Leader Desslock]

Although 1 more question, whats R1 and R2 mean?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DVD_region_code

theres 1 complete series, then a 3 seperate boxes series, and 1 more complete series. They all look exactly the same except for price and boxart.
Yep. The series was released as singles, a box set, then a re-released box set. All of them are Region 1, which means they're coded to work on DVD players sold within Region 1 (see linked article).

But the description of the third one is "as seen on cartoon network" so does that mean edited?
Nope, it's just a re-release of the standard box set. I believe it's identical in content, but you could check the Bandai Entertainment website to be sure.

Or you could do an AN search, because I remember this conversation coming up before. Several times.

[Soluzar]

sorry, thanks for clearing that up for me though. Apologies go out to mods as well!I'm sure that because you didn't realize, it's not a big deal. It's still better to not have the link there, though.

But the description of the third one is "as seen on cartoon network" so does that mean edited?
Not always. It's just so that customers will realise that it's the same show they've seen on the TV. The only company who normally makes DVDs that are badly edited is 4kids. Most of the other manufacturers will eventually release the full uncut edition.

[Ironfrost]

Legit imports are almost universally more expensive, not less. I spent $45 on my last R2 DVD single.

That's true if you're American, but less so if you're English. Most of my legit collection consists of imports from the US because they were so much cheaper.

[VacantEyes]

That's true if you're American, but less so if you're English. Most of my legit collection consists of imports from the US because they were so much cheaper.

Very true. We really have it good here in Region 1 when it comes to anime prices and selection. I'm not sure why most things cost so much in the UK. I've only spent a few days in London on holiday, so the prices didn't affect me much, but it also didn't take long to realize that living there must be really expensive. In the US we pay less for our high street liquor than you guys pay in the duty free shop. On the plus side, it looks like you guys have managed to secure Only Yesterday prior to Region 1.

[Soluzar]

Very true. We really have it good here in Region 1 when it comes to anime prices and selection. I'm not sure why most things cost so much in the UK.
One word for ya. Tax.

We have a lot more public services than the US does, and it has to be paid for somehow. Arguably, we have too much in the way of public services, and it's only getting worse. With a bit of luck, one of these days we'll elect a government with the balls to strip it down to just what's important.

[HSaabedra]

One word for ya. Tax.

We have a lot more public services than the US does, and it has to be paid for somehow. Arguably, we have too much in the way of public services, and it's only getting worse. With a bit of luck, one of these days we'll elect a government with the balls to strip it down to just what's important.

Quoted for truth.

I lived in London for a year. I'm surprised riots don't break out over the percentage of income that gets taxed over there. If we in the US had the same rate of taxation, we'd be calling for the heads of our leaders on silver platters.

[Soluzar]

I lived in London for a year. I'm surprised riots don't break out over the percentage of income that gets taxed over there. If we in the US had the same rate of taxation, we'd be calling for the heads of our leaders on silver platters.
It's not just direct taxation, such as income tax either. There is also indirect taxation, such as tax added to certain products. You may remember that it costs 3 or 4 times as much to purchase gas, cigarettes, and other things in the UK than it does in the US. Where do you think the difference goes? Mostly in the government's purse.

[Suiko Eiji]

^Even still, I noticed some products like DVDs and clothing to be comparitively priced between the UK and US. With the Pound-Sollar rates that have been persistant over the past year or two (or four or five, maybe), direct personal imporation works out well so long as you have the technology to convert from R1-R2 and NTSC to PAL, etc. It seems that the same consumption taxes we have in the US are present in the UK, only at a higher rate. I'm glad I didn't have to buy smokes while I was there. I don't mind the $3.50 - $4.25 a pack here at home, but I abhore having to pay close to $7.50 in Las Vegas. I think English prices would have given me an aneurism.

Speaking of income taxes, Biscuit, doesn't the UK have some of the lowest personal income taxes in Europe? Especially when compared with France, Germany, and the Viking Welfare States?

Arguably, we have too much in the way of public services, and it's only getting worse. With a bit of luck, one of these days we'll elect a government with the balls to strip it down to just what's important.

I say the same thing about the US, though.