Funimation has decided to return to offering collector editions for anime titles starting in January, which will include a rigid box and a premium item. These premium editions will be available for the FIRST PRESSING ONLY and cost US$5 more than the regular editions that will be a plain cardstock box, slim case DVDs, and no premium item.The first batch of premium first pressings include:
Black Butler Season 1 Part 1 DVD Collection (Eps #1-12)
Premium Item: TBA
Phantom: Requiem for the Phantom DVD Collection #1 (Eps #1-13)
Premium Item: A bullet chain necklace
Sacred Blacksmith Complete Collection DVD Boxed Set (Eps #1-12)
Premium Item: 32-page art booklet with centerfold
The two editions will be created for complete 13-episode series releases and for the "Part 1" of two-part (24 or 26 episode) series releases.
We will be shipping the new premium sets to all customers who pre-order these titles, and then whatever we have leftover until they are sold out, at which time we will switch to the standard editions at the slightly lower price, but we won't be offering the standard editions for sale until the premium edition is sold out.
In addition to the new premium sets, Funi will launch a new line for its anime titles called "Anime Classics." This will become their other 'end of life' label and will take it's place beside their S.A.V.E. edition economy sets as the final and last stage release version of a series. The first title under this label will be the Gantz boxed set being released in January.
3 comments:
I think NIS reminded everyone of what the consumer used to take for granted and now misses.
You know what I miss? Those big, bulky plastic cases that was used for boxed sets of various ADV and Bandai-licensed series back in the earlier part of the decade. You know, cases with fasteners that held on to the discs and didn't break so easily or require stacking discs on top of one another? At what point did we get stuck with paper cases and easily-breakable containers? (I'd guess around 2008.)
*Sigh!* I miss the good old days...
While Funi is trying to accomplish two things with these:
1) Bring some value back into DVD releases for collectors.
2) Increase up front margins and sell through volumes on these releases.
I'm glad they are doing it. The biggest complaint that I hear, well, maybe the second biggest, is about the current lack of quality in DVD packaging.
Post a Comment