Viz replies to the video quality complaints in the SM set!

[Clow]

Dubbing is actually very expensive in general too.

Not completely true. Let's look at "Psycho-Pass," again, as an example. The reason I am using "Psycho-Pass" as an example is that it was released this year. In addition to costing only U$31.49 (DVD-Blu-Ray combo, an entire season, 275 min), it is dubbed in English.

For some reason, dubbing "Sailor Moon" into any language costs MORE than dubbing any other anime, which is why some countries decided not to re-dub the series.

Now, I simply don't understand why "Sailor Moon" costs more than other series. It is not TOEI, either, because Funimation managed to dub "Dragon Ball" into English, and the "Battle of the Gods" movie, which Funimation released this year, can be purchased for as little as U$17.99 on Amazon.

My opinion on the VIZ sets: overpriced (possibly due to the new dub). If it's selling well is because fans have been thirsty for a proper DVD-BD release for more than a decade. It shouldn't cost that much money, IMO. And it's exactly because it costs so much money that fans deserve a flawless release with excellent picture quality.

Just my two cents.

 

[The Blizzard Prince]

Not completely true. Let's look at "Psycho-Pass," again, as an example. The reason I am using "Psycho-Pass" as an example is that it was released this year. In addition to costing only U$31.49 (DVD-Blu-Ray combo, an entire season, 275 min), it is dubbed in English.

Since 2008 at least, the average dub costs $10,000 per episode: http://www.animenation.net/blog/2012/02 ... t-so-much/

Of course it's sometimes a bit more/less expensive depending on certain factors, but dubbing is hardly ever cheap. Release prices aren't that high just because they have to offer the best deal possible to make back as much money as they can.

My opinion on the VIZ sets: overpriced (possibly due to the new dub). If it's selling well is because fans have been thirsty for a proper DVD-BD release for more than a decade. It shouldn't cost that much money, IMO. And it's exactly because it costs so much money that fans deserve a flawless release with excellent picture quality.

I actually don't mind to pay a bit more due to all we're getting out of it (plus I kinda figured we'd have to), but I do agree it shouldn't be as high as it is now with the video quality issues. But it is possible to get it for a more reasonable price, you just have to look in the right places like Amazon or Walmart. (I've seen it go down as low as $20-40 on those places)

 

[PurpleWarrior13]

Is the first set really performing that well though? I think it peaked somewhere around 400 in the amazon sales ranking charts. Which for a major release isn't very high.

For an anime release, that is pretty high. The #1 anime release right now (DBZ: Battle of Gods) is currently #314, though it peaked at #60 I believe, it's a much cheaper release for the #1 best-selling anime series of all time. The #2 release is Attack on Titan Pt. 2, which is sitting at #800. Sailor Moon Pt 2 is currently the #7 best selling anime Blu-ray on Amazon (after DBZ, Bebop, and Attack on Titan releases) and Sailor Moon Pt 1 LE is #13 (after DBZ, AoT, Bebop, Hellsing, SM p2, and Akira).

 

[Ami Mizuno]

So what should we due if the fault lays with Toei and not Viz? That's has even done before by Toei

 

[Sabrblade]

So what should we due if the fault lays with Toei and not Viz? That's has even done before by Toei

If Toei's to blame, we can only shake our fists in frustration at their typical show of screwing over yet another licensee of their anime.

 

[Mosaic]

It's very common for Toei to do stuff like this, but at the same time VIZ isn't completely innocent. It's all too easy to point the finger at someone else.

 

[Ami Mizuno]

Good point both parties are to blame but we also have Toei who as not changed giving companies their masters and Viz not trying a better way to fit the problems if some can be fixed

 

[Iantuition]

So what should we due if the fault lays with Toei and not Viz? That's has even done before by Toei

They can get that ass read too LOL. But it's pretty plain that at the very least, they share fault. Even if Toei gave them a master that had the ghosting in it (which is extremely unlikely), Viz still threw doctored images of their supposed "master" to make theirs look better. In addition to that boldfaced lie about "it looks better than any DVD that's come out".

 

[Ami Mizuno]

You guys think because of the backlash we can get something better. I mean to be honest I never saw the problems majority is only if u pay attention closely for me at least for the DVD

 

[Iantuition]

Possibly. If it's Viz's folly then they'll probably want to do something to keep their sets from getting bad reviews. That certainly does matter; currently, three our of the four most helpful reviews on Amazon are one-star. That's not a good look (and it does NOT encourage people to buy it), and if Viz has anybody with half a brain working in marketing, they're aware.

If it's Toei, since they're in Japan and we're not, it might not make much of a difference unless the dissent reaches that much volume. Apparently the displeasure with the animation of Crystal was far worse in Japan than it was here; that probably had a hand in the animation corrections being made on the home video releases.

 

[Ami Mizuno]

I hope by R things are better

 

[SoldierOfTheSun]

if Viz has anybody with half a brain working in marketing, they're aware.

I promise you the entire team at Viz could not be more aware of the backlash and complaints in regards to this set. What they plan to do going forward if anything is anyone's guess since the powers-that-be seem to be overall quite pleased with the results.

That being said, I know for a fact that everyone involved in this release cares about it DEEPLY. They are eating, sleeping, and breathing Sailor Moon 7 days a week. Reputations are on the line. No one is phoning it in.

To be fair they are in a tough position. Toei gave them flawed masters and that's what they have to work with. Which, to be honest is absolutely ridiculous considering how much the license probably cost.

 

[Iantuition]

if Viz has anybody with half a brain working in marketing, they're aware.

I promise you the entire team at Viz could not be more aware of the backlash and complaints in regards to this set. What they plan to do going forward if anything is anyone's guess since the powers-that-be seem to be overall quite pleased with the results.

That being said, I know for a fact that everyone involved in this release cares about it DEEPLY. They are eating, sleeping, and breathing Sailor Moon 7 days a week. Reputations are on the line. No one is phoning it in.

To be fair they are in a tough position. Toei gave them flawed masters and that's what they have to work with. Which, to be honest is absolutely ridiculous considering how much the license probably cost.

I'm sure, LOL. The post I put on their page got people coming out of the woodword to cosign with me and go at Viz harder than I was, and it kept happening for over 48 hours.

I just don't know if I believe the flawed master excuse since there's some evidence showing that can't really be the case. And it doesn't matter to me how much they care and how hard they're working if they don't know what they're doing.
Either way, it'll all come out in the wash.

 

[Ami Mizuno]

Here is a interesting why of how Toei migh be looking at this


I've heard it is because in general Toei (and sometimes other companies) don't want a foreign product competing with their own Japanese release. In other words, if the USA has a perfect-quality box set, people in Japan might import that instead of the more expensive Japanese releases (especially now that blu-ray Region A is shared by the USA and Japan). So, by ensuring that the USA and other countries get lower quality releases, they can make money in the foreign markets while still making sure that they can control their main customer base and sell them higher-priced products. These products will still be bought because they are sure to be the highest quality available, anywhere. It's pretty sneaky, but it's an effective business tactic. It's also part of the reason Japanese DVDs never have English subtitles. Aside from the fact that most Japanese speakers wouldn't want them, by making sure they are excluded, the company can guard against most English speakers importing releases from Japan. Really, the whole world's DVD market is broken down by region, and market control is the very reason that DVD regions exist. All very interesting!

 

[Mosaic]

I don't see that being the case. Discotek has a number of Toei series, and the video/audio is identical.

 

[Ami Mizuno]

However we have to take onto account what r the series and that sailormoon has not been release in many years. Also it's the most expensive series so we take all that into account

 

[The Blizzard Prince]

That used to be the case actually (it's why Pioneer and especially ADV got such awful masters), but not so much anymore. Nowadays Japan will usually just hold off international releases until the Japanese release is done, but that isn't an issue in the case of the original Sailor Moon with how long it's been out.

 

[Mosaic]

I don't think Pioneer's masters were that bad. They were laserdisc masters, which at the time were probably the best. The main problem with Pioneer's release was the lack of previews, name translations (which are understandable, since the Witches 5's names are ridiculous), and incorrect openings.

As far as ADV's release goes, it's my understanding they could only use DIC's masters, which were the original TV masters.

I actually prefer Pioneer's release over Viz's right now. At least Pioneer's translation felt a little bit more natural, they translated the credits, and had the pre-episode preview in the proper place.

It's sad that it's so hard to get a perfect Sailor Moon release over here.

 

[Ami Mizuno]

We don't know if it's because of a context they have to leave it the way they are many animes are now just leaving creator not in English. Does it matter if the credits and titles are in English

 

[Mosaic]

I mean, it'd be nice to know who exactly put together the show. Not everyone can read kanji.