The following started out as simply a tame retelling of a conversation I had had with a co-worker two days ago that I was going to post to the Anime-Source blog, but then, just as I wound up doing in the past, I took it a step further to make it into the editorial that it is now. This will be posted on the A-S website eventually, but anyone who reads my blog gets it early. Don’t you feel special, hm?
22:08 EDIT: Editorial has gone live at Anime-Source: Next-Gen Multimedia: Thoughts on Anime on Blu-ray
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Anime DVDs vs. Anime Blu-ray disks?
Editorial written by: Alexiel (storymode)
A week ago sometime, I had said to myself that I really just needed a job that could keep me plugged into the anime industry. Today, while at my job, that was reiterated in a way that tipped the scales for me in terms of my own knowledge and stance on how anime is and should be distributed…
My co-worker has a tendency to strike up conversations in the midst of silence, even when we are both supposed to be hard at work. Though I wasn’t so apt to talk today, he randomly brought up his opinion on Blu-Ray disks being a proper consideration to replace multiple anime DVD releases. I don’t remember all that he said, but the gist of his case was that anime licensing companies should turn to the high-quality Blu-Ray disks that can “hold up to 25GB on a single-layer disc and 50GB on a dual-layer disc” and charge a flat price for all the episodes, instead of releasing multiple DVDs to the public for separate payments. I should mention that he is also against the purchasing of DVDs in his own right and is a supporter of PS3. Though companies like Sony have justified the switch to Blu-ray and made it “totally worth it“, I had a few reasons for why this would not be a wise route, justifying my thoughts of why they haven’t gone that route.
1) Set marketing scheme: Why would anime licensing companies change something that has been working and earning them capital for years? For example, how does someone usually feel when they have lived in a town for many years, made close friends, and then forced to adapt to a completely different place because their parents made them? Feelings of anger, reluctance, and betrayal are common. This can apply to how the schema of the market for anime DVDs has been tested, shaped, and formalized. The schema is still being tested today with companies like Media Blasters and Bandai Visual, but with very slight tweaks that Xenocrisis0153 breaks down. The chances of fandom reacting positively to such a turnaround is slim to none. To put this simply in business terms: Why reinvent the wheel?
2) Consumer mindset: This rides piggyback with #1. Which would you rather do? Pay $80-$125 upfront for an entire 26-episode series on one double-sided Blu-ray disk, OR pay $29.99 or [much] less for one DVD with 4-5 episodes for 3-4 individual DVDs as they are periodically released? The latter is MUCH more appealing, since no one likes to part with money, regardless of how big of a fan they are. Also, it is more consumer-friendly, in that the consumer will not feel pressured or instantly turned off by the pricing; their inhibitions are unconsciously lowered, and their willingness to part with money has a chance to exceed the expectations of the DVD in question. Combine that with being a fan or just otaku-like curiosity, and the licensing company has gained another consumer, hook-line-and-sinker.
3) Fandom support: Fans who buy DVDs want to not only support their favorite series, but also support the medium and show off their dedication towards it. They go out of their way to purchase DVDs and box sets because every time they see it on their shelf, it is a testament to their place in fandom. Not to mention, owning an entire collection looks prettier and much more impressive in a group than just one DVD. In the eyes of those truly within anime fandom, single DVDs are for OVAs, not for 12/13/24/26/100+ episode series. The pictures of Xeno’s anime shrine should speak for themselves.
4) Blu-ray disks vs. DVDs: According to the official Blu-ray site, though the replacing of DVDs with Blu-ray disks is the “expectation…the two formats will most likely co-exist for some time until HDTVs become more widespread.” Case in point: Blu-ray disks are a “new technology” that is still growing and have yet to be mass produced. Regardless of whether “production volumes increase…and eventually be comparable to DVDs”, the chances of the marketing standards of anime DVDs changing to simply single Blu-ray disks is not likely. If anything, production values will gradually align themselves with the advantages of Blu-ray, allowing for even more extras (e.g. digital artbooks) to be included in multiple Blu-ray disks to further the advantages (e.g. HD quality rips for AMVs) of the digital market for licensed anime.
The only possibilities I can see arising from turning to Blu-ray disk releases of anime is for those who highly want high-quality convenience and, again, for the anime otaku. My co-worker brought up the point of disliking having to change DVDs after watching a few episodes. If one had the preference of being able to watch an entire series without having to shift from their seat, then his case would be acceptable. Also, if someone does not care about representing their level of fandom and wanted something compact to travel with, then that would also be an suitable option. If anime were recorded using HD technology to begin with, then visual clarity of the picture could also be a reason for taking the Blu-ray route, as was touched upon in #4 in regards to AMVs.
For the anime otaku or enthusiast, I have a proposition:
If licensing companies properly planned out a “limited edition disk” of some sort that had all the episodes, is complete with delicious special features that could not be obtained anywhere else, and matches beautifully with the a consumer’s collection and/or box set at around half the price it took to obtain the entire collection, then perhaps fandom might bite. Of course, this is a marketing scheme similar to how the Japanese hype up their products for visual culture otaku there. As a consumer in the U.S., as far as I can tell, that strategy does not fly very well, but maybe licensing companies are afraid to test that out on anime fandom. In any case, “anime DVDs” sound way better than “anime Blu-ray”…even if the latter does rhyme.
Xeno Addenum
At the ADV Q&A session at Anime Boston 2007, David Williams did a quick poll of the room of about 300 people and asked who owned a DVD player. Approximately 250 rose their hands. When he asked who owned an HD or Blu-Ray player, about 18 rose their hands (and 12 of those people only had them because they had a next-gen console).
Reader’s Response
Do you think that putting entire anime series on one disk would win or fail in the face of fandom?
Would the Japanese-like proposition that I made for the otaku or enthusiast make you take the bait?
Are you a big spender in the anime market and have a collection that you don’t regret spending months collecting (like Xeno)? Then you should tell us about it!
For more information on Blu-ray disks, visit the Blu-ray FAQ page.
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– Header image designed by me. See more of my work here and here. – – Special thanks to Xenocrisis0153 for offering his personal anime shrine images to add visuals to this editorial, as well as additional insight. –
16 comments
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2007-08-2 at 21:31:16
Lifeslilreviewer
I think that while Blu-Ray is a great way to have a whole series on just one disc it brings up two major conflicts, one of which you mentioned, being that with us otaku we’d rather have a shrine of DVD’s and special box sets and such then have a few Blu-Ray Discs on our shelf. The other being that not only are the Blu-Ray discs costly you also have to remember that Blu-Ray discs only work with a Blu-Ray player. (Which cost quite a bit unless you have a next-gen console, more specifically, a PS3)
Although I think that DVD’s are much better for Otaku who would rather have a nice shrine of DVD’s it’s also better for the general consumer who would, otherwise, have to purchase a Blu-Ray and go through all the stages of that. Over buying all the DVD’s at your own pace.
-Kiba (Lifeslilreviewer)
2007-08-3 at 11:37:35
Chessi
*giggles*
You get so passionate. It’s so cute. What’s even cuter is that you put that same passion into your life and relationships ^.~
Oh and forgive me but…
I love chu birthday boy~!
^_________________________________^
2007-08-4 at 14:51:59
Shaian Kurai
::pokes::
Happy birthday a day late XP Sorry I was taking care of something pretty important yesterday o_o But I was thinking of you, and I do have a gift for you! ^_^ So I guess the next time I see you, you’ll get it XP
Anyway, hope it was a good one!
Later d00d.
:B
2007-08-4 at 16:37:05
storymode
Chessi: I sure do, baby. Glad you notice that and still love me for it. Thanks for making my b-day something of a big deal, hun! <3
Shaian: It was alright. Just a generally ordinary day with Chessi injected into it that made it much better than it would have been. Aww, but you got me something? That’s so sweet! Thank you so much for the comment and the thought ^_^
2007-08-26 at 10:51:58
Foxyshadis
Everything you brought up applies equally to the VHS-to-DVD transition, except that this time it doesn’t have the major advantage over linear tape. VHS box sets had awesome art. There are already bargain budget releases where a single wide case holds 3 or even 4 DVDs, and I suspect that bluray/HD-DVD releases of the format you mention will be the same, especially for shows that don’t generate enough interest to get the HD treatment. (DVD per-disc license fees are pretty damn high, don’t forget that.)
At the same time, discs in actual HD will be limited to x episodes per disc anyway, to maximize profit and quality, and to get early episodes out while later ones are still being dubbed. Bargain releases and full-boxset deals always come after the whole series has come out staggered.
2007-09-1 at 18:20:23
Arcueid
Blu-ray anime wont be 1disk = 1-2 seasons… Just look at the Air box that was released in japan (orderd mine today :D). its on 4 blu-ray disks. the same as it is on DVD exept the quaility of the picrure is alot higher then the DVD version (i know there has been discussions on how much better the blu-ray version of it actualy is some even claimong its worse (lol), but from what ive seen @ my mates its a lot more crisper)
Well anyways, i doubt we will have less cds per series, well maby going back down to 5cds = 25 eps again instead of making it up to eight… *cough* stellvia, fafner and the rest *cough*
Anyways, i watch my anime on a 60″ full HD screen so a higher resolution release is always welcome. Also, remember, just because you have a collection of dvds, there not going to go to waste (least i hope not…. passed over 500 dvds now…) since a blu-ray/hddvd will be backwards compatible. Remastering old dvds will be far in the future, the reason why it went so quick with DVD’s where beacause VHS was so bulky, and they wernt compatible with dvd’s in any way.
2007-10-15 at 21:27:25
Manabu
Remember also that bluray = strictier copy protection
The crackers are still broking every new protection that they try to enforce, but BD+ seems that will be thougher. So no more backups of your discs (small kids are monsters), and no more AMVs, if they manage to realy enforce it.
And of course, paying royalities to all those protecting schemes also makes the price of each disk go up.
“Well come” brave new world.
2007-10-16 at 09:35:30
storymode
Manabu: And with this “brave new world” will come greater technology to be developed by those who aren’t satisfied with the copy protections placed on Bluray disks. I hadn’t read anything about stricter copy protection to begin with, but if that is the case, as with all types of media, it will be cracked if it this format did eventually become the standard. However, standards are, as I just mentioned, are meant to be circumvented.
2008-03-24 at 00:41:00
Rightallthetime!
well blu ray is in the lead and alot has been done since this post so whats your aspect now?
2008-03-24 at 09:32:26
storymode
Thank you for asking.
My stance now is that as with any advance in technology, the DVD format will gradually, but most certainly, be replaced by Blu-Ray in a similar fashion that VHS was replaced by DVD. Prices for Blu-Ray players probably are going to mellow out over the next one or two years or so, but this will mainly be in response towards how rapidly the normalization of HD technology in households spreads.
In relation to anime, big-name companies like Bandai Visual are already delaying releases to in response to the lead Blu-Ray is taking. DVD production of anime will be reduced significantly as production companies adjust their business model, but not completely fazed out until an estimated half-decade. I surmise that by that time, HDTV would have made a major footprint in how viewers access their media, while there will still be some reluctant to change until technology and media has been spurred on so far ahead that they MUST adapt (e.g. think about our transition from Dial-Up to Broadband).