×
  • remind me tomorrow
  • remind me next week
  • never remind me
Subscribe to the ANN Newsletter • Wake up every Sunday to a curated list of ANN's most interesting posts of the week. read more

Forum - View topic
Ranma 1/2 TV Series on DVD




Anime News Network Forum Index -> General -> Anime
View previous topic :: View next topic  
Author Message
Wolverine-X



Joined: 07 Sep 2006
Posts: 5
PostPosted: Thu Sep 07, 2006 12:50 pm Reply with quote
I'm looking to get my hands on the DVDs of the Ranma 1/2 TV series. So far in my searches I've come across two versions of the series -- the one released by Viz and an import version that claims to have Japanese, Japanese with Sub-titles and English dub.

My problem is that the Viz releases are hard to find...most places list them as being out of stock, and they are fairly expensive. Costing about $80 to $120 per box set, so with seven volumes in the entire series that's about $560 to $840. The import version on the other hand is very affordable...I've seen the enitre series going for about $60 to $70 and the movies and OVA's going for about $20-$30 total. However, I don't know anything about the company that releases the import...which means I don't know anything about the packaging quality, the audio/video quality, and the quality of the dubbing.

Is anyone on this forum familiar with the import version of the Ranma 1/2 series? How is the quality? Would you recommend that I try to track down the Viz version of the series or go with the import?

Thanks in advance!
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
PantsGoblin
Subscriber
Encyclopedia Editor


Joined: 27 Jun 2005
Posts: 2969
Location: L.A.
PostPosted: Thu Sep 07, 2006 12:55 pm Reply with quote
The "import" version you're talking about is a bootleg. Probably a rip of the American DVDs. I don't encourage buying them so I recommend getting the official releases by Viz.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message My Anime
Tenchi



Joined: 03 Jan 2002
Posts: 4537
Location: Ottawa... now I'm an ex-Anglo Montrealer.
PostPosted: Thu Sep 07, 2006 12:57 pm Reply with quote
The "imports" that come that cheap are almost certainly bootlegs.

I've had issues with Viz's "old school" pricing of the first couple of seasons (the only ones I'm interested in purchasing) as well, but I just chose to stick with my legitimate subtitled VHS tapes rather than crossing over to the "dark side" to give Taiwanese or Hong Kong criminals my money.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website My Anime My Manga
undeadben



Joined: 06 May 2006
Posts: 1212
Location: West Texas
PostPosted: Thu Sep 07, 2006 1:33 pm Reply with quote
Firstly, hello fellow Ranma fan.

On to business, as both PantsGoblin and Tenchi stated, the "import" series you mentioned is a bootleg and I would stay away and not just because you would get poor quality.

These box sets were much easier to find when they were first being released about 3 or 4 years ago. I think I bought the 7th season when it was just released sometime in November or December of 2003, I think. However, because it is an older series and yet pricy, you might have a tough time finding the licensed versions, and not very cheap, unless you happen across a place that somehow has them overstocked and is closing them out.(Not likely)

I'd say try searching rightstuf international, they might at least have them instock, and if not it might not take too long for them to get them if you do order, although the last time I checked they had them all priced at about $107.

And you can try your luck on ebay, but try to find the viz releases. If you do an ebay search try using this topic for reference while shopping there just in case someone claims they do have an "official release" but it looks shady: Spotting Bootlegs.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message AIM Address My Anime My Manga
PantsGoblin
Subscriber
Encyclopedia Editor


Joined: 27 Jun 2005
Posts: 2969
Location: L.A.
PostPosted: Thu Sep 07, 2006 1:41 pm Reply with quote
Hmm, I don't know anything about the releases, but remember seeing box sets for Ranma 1/2 at my Best Buy just a few months ago. I think they may have re-released them or something, or maybe just got more in stock. So if you have a Best Buy near you, you can try there, if they still have any. I don't remember how much they were but I'm pretty sure they were under $100 each.

Edit: Oh, it was this I guess. Like I said, I don't know anything about the releases.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message My Anime
Zalis116
Moderator


Joined: 31 Mar 2005
Posts: 6900
Location: Kazune City
PostPosted: Thu Sep 07, 2006 2:03 pm Reply with quote
DVDPacific.com seems to have most of them, for about $60-$80 per season. Viz did re-release the movies and OVAs recently, but not the actual TV series, to my knowledge. You might find them a bit cheaper used on Amazon, but it's better to stick to MarketPlace sellers that you can trust, or that say specifically "Region 1, no bootlegs."
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message My Anime My Manga
Wolverine-X



Joined: 07 Sep 2006
Posts: 5
PostPosted: Thu Sep 07, 2006 3:49 pm Reply with quote
Thanks All!

I try to avoid pirated material as well, since it is generally of inferior quality...and I am an extremely picky guy when it comes to my hobbies. The references I made earlier were to an on-line anime store that just listed the box set as imported DVD...so it didn't have any qualifying information. It definitely seemed like to good of a deal...an entire series for under $100!

I decided to place an order with Right Stuff International! And the timing couldn't have been better, as they are running a 40% sale on Viz DVDs and VHS. Very Happy
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
suna_suna



Joined: 06 Sep 2005
Posts: 550
Location: Ohio
PostPosted: Fri Sep 08, 2006 9:49 am Reply with quote
You can also try ordering from Viz's website. i know its cheaper thatnmn at a store
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail My Anime My Manga
Display posts from previous:   
Reply to topic    Anime News Network Forum Index -> General -> Anime All times are GMT - 5 Hours
Page 1 of 1

 


Powered by phpBB © 2001, 2005 phpBB Group