Funimation Box sets – True bargains or a discount in quality?

My latest anime DVD haul was received in a mix of joy and apprehension. Joy because I could finally chuck my crappy subs but apprehension crept in when I realised SHUFFLE! was packed onto 4 discs while Soukou no Strain - 2 DVDs. Such compressions are typical of bootlegs but unheard of in legit DVDs, or so I thought. Maybe I've been too pampered by my Taiwanese R3, many of it only have 2 eps per DVD. My fears were realised when my recent Tsukihime R3 purchase (produced in 2003) has better visuals than Soukou no Strain (2007) / SHUFFLE (2005). While the comparison is not a bona fide reflection of visual quality, I could not help but attribute the poorer visual to poor ep-to-disc ratio.

This is a concern since I buy anime DVDs in part to support the industry but mainly to keep a more durable and higher quality copy of my favourite shows. Plus lately I've been eyeing Funimation's boxset releases of Kanon/AIR but am concerned about the bootleg-esque ep-to-disc ratio. 6 eps in 1 DVD is simply unacceptable for me even if it's DVD9. I also noted another discrepancy - The single volume releases for SHUFFLE! has a lower packing density since it comes with 6 DVDs instead of the 4 for the boxset. Of course that does not guarantee quality but surely the odds of it being better is increased? Is this Funimation's answer to product differentiation?

I will be getting Kanon DVDs but chances are I'll be getting individual volumes instead of the boxset. Currently going at USD7 a piece, that's not too different from the price of a disc in the boxset and yet I get a shot at possibly better visuals. Although to be honest, if I had the moolah, 2 eps per disc R3s would be the way to go. Pity their Kanon set is going for over USD180.

Hoping Bandai's Anime legends do better since I'll be snagging True Tears set come July.

Tsundere for Tsukihime?

This purchase is no coincidence. Bought 2 days after Zyl put up my ancient review of Tsukihime, I'm certain my good comrade-in-anime revived something more insidious than just a forgotten relic of the past. Flooded by memories of the bishoujos of Tsukihime (especially the meido-twins), I found myself drawn to the R3 boxset in my favourite DVD store this afternoon, despite having seen the item countless times. It is right to say that Kohaku and Hisui compelled me.

Marathoning the series that evening, I was surprised how much I enjoy an second seating. Casting aside issue of untapped potential of the epic Tsukihime legend, I was able to immerse into the bare-bones Arcueid tale so lovingly crafted by J.C.Staff. Viewing the series as a tragic tale about love lost and found expanded my appreciation of the anime. In addition, the art direction, animation quality and music are top notched for a 2003 production. This could have helped by the excellent quality of the R3 DVDs. The 2003 production looked a lot cleaner and more crisp and my recent haul of Funimation DVDs - Soukou no Strain and SHUFFLE! Not sure if it's the ep-to-disc ratio. After all my 12 ep Tsukihime was encoded on 6 discs while Funimation's SHUFFLE!'s 24 eps came packed in 4 discs.

While I still stand by my review, it needs to be said that every word is only true in light of the source material. So, it surprises me greatly to claim now Shingetsutan Tsukihime CAN be enjoyed as a standalone entity, separated from the game source - if we only took time to appreciate the other aspects of the production besides the lean tale. But of course, a Tsukihime anime focusing on the 'Far side of the moon' would still be a dream come true since I have new-found love for Akiha. Oh how blessed is the household of Tohno with worthy bishoujos!

It's only love (for Rei)

One of my earliest posts grumbled about how blatantly the Evangelion cash cow has been milked long after the series first aired. And grumbles more about how I'm such a sucker, falling for it all the time and even after all this time. When Rebuild was announced, I was saying to myself: Never again!

But, lo and behold, after fapping to watching Evangelion 1.01, I also ordered the Limited Edition, following the fine example of fellow bloggers like Kurogane and double. At least he got Misato. I've just gotten some random explosion, after a long wait because Play Asia only shipped in July and I only collected from the delivery address in late September.

The burst of nostalgia even motivated me (with added push of RightStuf sales prices) to buy the DVD Platinum Complete Collection. orz

But, of course, the real reason is seeing, but also just as importantly, hearing Rei again.