Title Says All.
^You're the best! ;D
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@Aniplex USA: Bring your prices down to earth.
Not everyone has a mansion on the hill to better reach your products. You are not holding a monopoly over all licensed anime titles, so don't act like it. Piracy can't be fought unless you take the necessary steps to be competitive in the market. Get it together.
That is all.
Seriously, it's cheaper to import a blu ray player and buy multiple Aniplex-owned shows from the UK than it is to buy just one official Aniplex USA release. Absolutely ridiculous.
We should present such facts to them in a nicely wrote email. I'd love to hear back their response.
Quote from: Lord Il on August 11, 2013, 09:24:17 PM
We should present such facts to them in a nicely wrote email. I'd love to hear back their response.
Others have tried such in the past. Sadly, their response is basically "deal with it", because somehow their release strategy
actually works. Since they only need about 1/4-1/10 as many people to buy their DVDs/blu-rays as, say, Funimation, it only takes a few desperate people/fools with money for them to make back their investment and feel vindicated. They even have defenders on sites like ANN somehow.
They need to learn that we're not Japan and that we have the resources to make home video releases cheap and affordable. I blame Japan being an island for this.
Honestly, if Aniplex would just lower their prices I bet they'd make even more money than they do now. It's fucking ridiculous to price Blu-Rays of shows like Durarara at $150.
Even if I had enough money to buy all of Aniplex's stuff, I doubt I'd do it. There are much more worthwhile things I can blow $1275 on than some BD's. I love PMMM and Gurren Lagann to death, but a guy's gotta prioritize.
Has a legitimate reason for these prices ever been given? You know, something other than "just deal with it"?
I mean, when $550 is actually considered a sale price... :whuh:
Quote from: Kiddington on August 12, 2013, 02:06:12 AM
Has a legitimate reason for these prices ever been given? You know, something other than "just deal with it"?
I mean, when $550 is actually considered a sale price... :whuh:
I always figured they were selling the exact same discs as the japanese releases, just with english subtitles. Hence why the BD's have prices as high as your typical japanese release. Even the aftermarket prices are jacked up.
http://ekizo.mandarake.co.jp/shop/en/search.do?searchStrategy=keyword&action=keyword&doujin=all&keyword=blu-ray
Those prices are that high because the majority of home video purchases still come from rental stores that eventually make their money back, plus some hardcore fans on the side.
Except rental stores are a dying breed thanks to Netflix and other forms of streaming. As well as how buying a $100 set of twelve episodes would require at least 20 to 30 people willing to rent in order for a profit to be accumulated. Plus, that doesn't explain why Aniplex does this when you can find FUNi, Sentai, or Viz being much cheaper.
Quote from: Rosalinas Spare Wand on August 12, 2013, 02:37:23 AM
I always figured they were selling the exact same discs as the japanese releases, just with english subtitles. Hence why the BD's have prices as high as your typical japanese release. Even the aftermarket prices are jacked up.
This is true in some instances, like with the original Fate/Zero release. If they were selling imports as soon as they came out and later released localized versions for decent prices, I wouldn't have any problems with them. But the official US versions with dubs are still ungodly expensive. Even the DVDs often cost twice as much as a BD from Funi or Sentai.
Quote from: Dr. Insomniac on August 12, 2013, 03:06:39 AM
Except rental stores are a dying breed thanks to Netflix and other forms of streaming. As well as how buying a $100 set of twelve episodes would require at least 20 to 30 people willing to rent in order for a profit to be accumulated. Plus, that doesn't explain why Aniplex does this when you can find FUNi, Sentai, or Viz being much cheaper.
I worded that weirdly, but the rental stuff is just in regards to the Japanese market. Obviously the model doesn't work outside of that country and its especially apparent in how much cheaper our video games and home video releases are compared to theirs.
Well.. I'm thinking Sentai could still use a kick in the ass after what I saw yesterday. Poked my head in the local HMV and saw Another (DVD) on the shelf for about 67 bucks. We're talking about a series of only 12 episodes here. On Sentai's site it goes for $59.98. Blu-ray puts it up by 10 bucks.
Still not as bad as a comparably sized series from Aniplex. But.. c'mon..
Quote from: Lord Il on August 31, 2013, 12:39:28 PM
Well.. I'm thinking Sentai could still use a kick in the ass after what I saw yesterday. Poked my head in the local HMV and saw Another (DVD) on the shelf for about 67 bucks. We're talking about a series of only 12 episodes here. On Sentai's site it goes for $59.98. Blu-ray puts it up by 10 bucks.
Still not as bad as a comparably sized series from Aniplex. But.. c'mon..
Many specialty brick and mortars (B&N, FYE, etc.) tend to sell stuff at exactly MSRP (which is always 10-15 more than some other places would sell it).
That's nice to know. Never once thought to check out Barnes & Noble for anything. I'm seeing good savings. Thanks!
Hoping shipping wouldn't be a biggie.
Quote from: Lord Il on August 31, 2013, 12:39:28 PM
Well.. I'm thinking Sentai could still use a kick in the ass after what I saw yesterday. Poked my head in the local HMV and saw Another (DVD) on the shelf for about 67 bucks. We're talking about a series of only 12 episodes here. On Sentai's site it goes for $59.98. Blu-ray puts it up by 10 bucks.
Still not as bad as a comparably sized series from Aniplex. But.. c'mon..
$35 on Amazon. (http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B00C3JUGZA/ref=sr_1_1_olp?ie=UTF8&qid=1377975054&sr=8-1&keywords=another&condition=new)
^Another nice option! (No pun intended.) :il_hahaha:
Only show I bought from Aniplex was Madoka DVDs, and thankfully I got them via RightStuf, which sell it at a slight discount. Then again, most of their releases I don't care for.
The fact that they are releasing SAO makes little sense to me, for two reasons. First, most people will probably watch it on Toonami for free anyway. Second, when getting a series on DVD/bluray it tends to be something one can rewatch. Of the SAO eps I've seen none of them are worth rewatching. But, if anyone wishes to purchase that show, then yeah its your waste of money, making your anime buying a sunk cost.
My two cents
I just finished watching SAO on Hulu. ($9.00 and you got the whole series)
Then I saw this thread.
So I looked it up.
Amazon.com has sword art online in blueray, broken into two parts, and limited edition versions for $100
The DVD version is half the cost.
Considering a single blu-ray disk is roundly $25 and it's three disks, it's sort of on par. A bit much maybe, but still not overly costly.
Quote from: Lord Dave on September 05, 2013, 01:07:21 PM
Amazon.com has sword art online in blueray, broken into two parts, and limited edition versions for $100
That's not all of SAO - that's all of the first arc. It's actually divided into four parts.
Quote from: Foggle on September 05, 2013, 01:32:45 PM
Quote from: Lord Dave on September 05, 2013, 01:07:21 PM
Amazon.com has sword art online in blueray, broken into two parts, and limited edition versions for $100
That's not all of SAO - that's all of the first arc. It's actually divided into four parts.
Wait what?
I thought the show had only 25 episodes and 2 arcs?
Granted, 175 minutes is only like 8 episodes. But still... 4 parts? Really?
*reads up*
Ok, seems like they padded it with extras. So it's probably less than 8 episodes. Joy...
Well, I have hulu so yay me.
Aniplex acquires
Vividred and
Oreshura. (http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2013-09-14/aniplex-usa-picks-up-vividred-operation-oreshura)
QuoteThe DVD sets will retail for US$59.98 each in stores
...Aren't their prices usually higher than that? ???
Those are sub-only with postcards as extra material
Fifty bucks and dvd only is still too much for fucking Vividred.
In light of the recent Kill la Kill news, here's a handy comparison chart of Aniplex of America blu-ray pricing vs. various United Kingdom distributor blu-ray pricing:
Spoiler
Madoka Magica from AoA: $120
Madoka Magica from Manga: $37
Fate/Zero from AoA: $290
Fate/Zero from MVM: $84
Gurren Lagann from AoA: $550
Gurren Lagann from Anime Limited: $181 (this is the exact same release as the AoA version, a cheaper standard edition is also coming out for $97)
Blue Exorcist from AoA: $280
Blue Exorcist from Manga: $117
Magi from AoA: $135 (DVD-only release)
Magi from Manga: $95 (blu-ray)
Bakemonogatari from AoA: $150
Bakemonogatari from MVM: $80
Nisemonogatari from AoA: $120
Nisemonogatari from MVM: $74
Sword Art Online from AoA: $360
Sword Art Online from Manga: $181
Durarara!! from AoA: $140 (packaged in a lunchbox that won't fit properly on your shelf)
Durarara!! from Anime Limited: $100 (cheaper standard edition coming next year for probably about $60)
As you can see, many of the UK prices are still kind of high compared to the average Funimation release, but at least they're reasonable for the most part.
It's also worth noting that the UK SAO and limited edition Gurren Lagann releases were around $60 cheaper than they currently are until a random price jump one or two months ago. Limited edition Durarara was also about $30 cheaper. It's likely that Aniplex was directly involved with bringing about that increase.
I have no idea why I put so much effort into making this. I guess my point is, don't support Aniplex of America and their inevitable $240+ Kill la Kill release. They are a terrible company and do not deserve your money.
They most certainly do not. How the fuck they can seriously charge over half a grand for the mere 27 episodes of Gurren Lagann is beyond me. I bought my GL set from Bandai back in the day for, like, 40 bucks or something, and thank god I did because these prices are ridiculous.
Seriously, who the hell would buy that GL set? Who would do that when you could literally buy about 20 complete 26-episode series from FUNimation for the same amount of money? Goddamit. :srs:
Shit. Maybe I should invest in a region free Blu Ray player. I use my PS3 which, if believe, is not region free from BDs.
Quote from: Cartoon X on May 29, 2014, 11:29:10 PM
Seriously, who the hell would buy that GL set?
I don't know, but it sold out.
Enough people bought it that it went out of print.
Yeah...
Quote from: Eddy on May 29, 2014, 11:34:10 PM
Shit. Maybe I should invest in a region free Blu Ray player. I use my PS3 which, if believe, is not region free from BDs.
Unfortunately, it isn't. :( The system itself is actually region-locked, it's just that no PS3 game discs are (outside of Persona 4 Arena).
Quote from: Foggle on May 29, 2014, 11:36:39 PM
I don't know, but it sold out.
Enough people bought it that it went out of print.
Yeah...
That...that's honestly kind of depressing. :wth:
On one hand, I get how FUNi is able to charge less because they have super profitable licenses like DBZ and now Attack on Titan. Super popular stuff that is bound to do well.
On the other hand, Aniplex still seems to think it's 1998. I don't want to get single expensive discs of Kill la Kill or Madoka Magica with 3 or 4 episodes on each one. I was hoping I was done with this shit from the days of the FLCL DVDs costing $30 each and only have two episodes.
Quote from: Foggle on May 29, 2014, 11:36:39 PM
I don't know, but it sold out.
Enough people bought it that it went out of print.
Yeah...
The one percent... like... Gurren Lagann? :??:
Perhaps I'll do my shopping for Aniplex licenses on eBay. I found the complete set of Madoka Magica on BD being sold for about $60, less than one Madoka Bluray from Aniplex.
More reason to bitch about Aniplex: They're giving up-and-coming new dubbing studios bad advice. (http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/feature/2015-03-03/interview-kazuyoshi-fukuba-executive-director-of-pony-canyon/.85524)
A new studio called Pony Canyon is releasing their first dub, Yuki Yuna is a Hero, for 90 frickin' dollars. (http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2015-01-12/yuki-yuna-is-a-hero-will-get-english-dub/.83167) Today, they admitted in an interview (http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/feature/2015-03-03/interview-kazuyoshi-fukuba-executive-director-of-pony-canyon/.85524) that they received pointers from guess-who.
Why is FUNimation's Blu-Ray/DVD packaging and pricing not the standard by now when it comes to dustributing licensed anime series? They release either an entire series or a large chunk of episodes at once, and their costs are usually under $50 for standard 26-episode shows.
The market is shrinking. FUNimation seems to be the only company holding guard on doing it right.
Just be thankful these studios don't get more classic series to ruin this way.
Quote from: Spark Of Spirit on March 03, 2015, 04:06:17 PMThe market is shrinking. FUNimation seems to be the only company holding guard on doing it right.
Actually, Viz and Sentai's prices are pretty reasonable.
People must learn to boycott in order to protest ridiculously inflated pricing. I should stress that I don't want Aniplex USA to necessarily go belly up. It would just be great if they could be more realistic of their prices.
It's also a damn shame that PonyCanyon is following suit with the high pricing as well. I had better hopes for them when I first heard they were expanding their distribution last month.
At least FUNimation seems to continue to respect their customers by keeping prices as low as they can.
If I were to suggest anything to FUNi, it might be to consider eliminating the Blu-ray/DVD combo-packs in the future to lower prices a bit. If anyone is like me, buying these feels somewhat redundant in that one disc format never gets used.
I think Funi only sells combo packs at this point. It does feel like a waste, but it's probably cheaper to just sell BDs and DVDs to everyone than have separate collections with only one or the other.
FUNimation is losing the rights to FMA. (http://www.funimation.com/blog/2016/02/01/fullmetal-alchemist-brotherhood-and-fullmetal-alchemist-the-movie-conqueror-of-shamballa-streaminghome-video-rights-to-expire-binge-and-buy-before-this-classic-is-gone-for-good) Guess who gets to pick it up.
I'm glad I buy very few anime.
Though at the very least they're pulling the licence to re-release the stuff. Kodansha took back stuff like Get Backers from Tokyopop and never even re-released it digitally. It just felt like spite at that point.
The only Aniplex product I've bought so far has been Magi and only because it was on sale through Right Stuf. Sadly the Nanatsu no Taizai anime has been snatched up by them so I gotta wait for another sale. :el_cry:
I want to get Etotama but Pony Canyon's price is pretty crazy. Does Right Stuf ever do sales on their products?
Quote from: Markness on February 29, 2016, 09:31:57 AMDoes Right Stuf ever do sales on their products?
You could argue that Right Stuf is
always a sale. :lol:
Heck, look at their front page right now. Check out those crazy Leap Day prices!
Now they're trying to take credit for all the hard work that FUNi put into FMA. (http://www.animeherald.com/interview/meeting-aniplex-america-president-henry-goto)
QuotePresident Goto made it clear that Aniplex has had a shift in philosophy, and wants to bring their properties back home under their roof. He considers Fullmetal Alchemist to be one of Aniplex of America's greatest successes. The fact that people thought of it as a Funimation product concerned him. Aniplex of America's brand is very important to him, and Fullmetal Alchemist is one of the most important shows in Aniplex's library.
It's concerning because Funi made FMA into a hit and charged a decent price for the show in the process.
Aniplex hasn't done that yet, and they can't. Their prices are too insane. By taking back FMA, they might have just cut off its legs.
I'm just thankful there aren't any Aniplex shows I like enough to own. My list of purchases is low when it comes to anime, and because of these stunts, (not to mention their general bland efforts) not one of them is an Aniplex title.
I may not be a huge FMA fan, but even I recognize that its massive popularity in North America was because of FUNimation. Yes, Aniplex technically held the licensing rights to both shows, but the fact is that they contracted FUNimation to both dub and distribute the show (and basically market it as well), and it's FUNimation who did all of those things. They essentially put in the hard work and effort to make the show a success in the West, which can easily be taken for granted, but the fact that Aniplex actually has the gall to deny them that, and even worse take all of the credit for themselves, is beyond despicable. Fuck Aniplex of America. I'm happy to say that I have never once supported any of their overpriced products.
I think the group at bigger fault here is Aniplex Inc rather than AoA, since they're forcing them to maintain ridiculous import prices. I remember one of their marketing specialists mentioned on the ANNCast (http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/anncast/2015-04-24/.87485) that if AoA were to lower prices, their parent company believes it would be damaging to sales in Japan and they would threaten to shut AoA down. The Aniplex "license purge" is just one big ploy by Aniplex Inc. to make more money by preventing Japanese customers from importing US blu-rays at a lower price.
It's a good thing I bought Funi's releases of Baccano, FMA, and FMA: Brotherhood because it's going to cost an arm and a leg to buy them in the near future.
Well, that just reinforces that the Japanese companies gouging otaku for crazy prices instead of catering to the mainstream and worldwide audience (and making shows for them) is an idea doomed to failure. Just like comics removing themselves from the newsstands has been damaging them, the anime industry is doing the same. They have to change their practices instead of sucking their customers dry.
If your industry can't survive your customers' spending habits, well, you're in trouble.
Picture this scenario: You distribute an anime film to Canadian theaters. It completely sells out in ticket sales there and a sequel is in development. What do you do in this situation?
Answer: Pick a different distributor so the sequel won't play in Canada at all. Nice move, Aniplex! :thumbup:
https://twitter.com/jbetteridge/status/1083774315110162432
RIP....maybe? (https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2019-09-24/sony-pictures-tv-aniplex-consolidate-funimation-france-wakanim-australia-madman-anime-into-joint-venture/.151470)
Both Aniplex AND FUNimation are handling the Blu-Ray release of Demon Slayer. (https://www.funimation.com/blog/2020/05/05/funimation-teaming-with-aniplex-for-demon-slayer-kimetsu-no-yaiba-standard-blu-ray-release) Aniplex will release the limited edition; FUNi will release the standard version.
I wonder if this will expand to other Aniplex titles. If so, this means we can finally afford Aniplex titles at a reasonable price.