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Sakura Diaries rerelease--what are they thinking?




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Zalis116
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PostPosted: Mon Oct 17, 2005 12:44 am Reply with quote
So, unless I'm misinformed, the history of US releases of Sakura Diaries is as follows:

20001 or 2002: ADV releases SD on 4 discs using the edited Japanese TV version. Fans are outraged at the editing/censorship (though it wasn't wholly ADV's fault), and the dub is reportedly bad as well.

2004: SD rereleased sub-only in "Collectors' Edition", uncensored, on 2 discs.

2005: New dub made, SD released for the third time, dual-language DVDs uncensored.

What I'm wondering is, why have the folks at ADV decided to invest their energy/funds into a second dub and third release of this show? Don't get me wrong--I like the show and have the Collectors' Edition, but I have to wonder if there's really a decent market for a show like this among people who don't already own it. I would think that the hardcore fans and purists would have been satisfied with the Collectors' Edition, and I for one don't feel the need to buy the show again just to have a dub; it's an okay anime, but it's no Evangelion or Bebop. I guess this is just strange that ADV would rerelease a show that seems "played out" already when they have financial troubles and other things that people are clamoring for a first release of, like parts of Super Gals, Saint Seiya, Kaleido Star, or Princess Tutu. (Yes, I know they are moving forward on some of these.)

Yeah, it's cool that they like SD enough to give it another shot, but it just seems like an unusual business decision--does this strike anyone else as strange?
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one3rd



Joined: 28 Jul 2003
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PostPosted: Mon Oct 17, 2005 2:00 am Reply with quote
Zalis116 wrote:
What I'm wondering is, why have the folks at ADV decided to invest their energy/funds into a second dub and third release of this show?


Simply put, to make money. Is this not the goal of a business?


Zalis116 wrote:
I guess this is just strange that ADV would rerelease a show that seems "played out" already when they have financial troubles and other things that people are clamoring for a first release of, like parts of Super Gals, Saint Seiya, Kaleido Star, or Princess Tutu.


Show me some real numbers about these troubles. Certainly, it seems as if they've scaled back their efforts this year, but can you prove that this is because of immediate financial troubles?
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Key
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PostPosted: Mon Oct 17, 2005 4:57 pm Reply with quote
This is an uncensored version with an English dub, which ADV hasn't released before, so it isn't like they are entirely retreading old ground.

Also, remember that ADV already has the license for Sakura Diaries and completed subtitles, so redubbing and rereleasing it can be done relatively cheaply. Because of that, they wouldn't need a high sales volume to recoup their costs. That's why we're getting six episodes per volume this time around.

For those of us who like dubs and never picked it up the first time around, this is a great boon.
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Joe Arizona



Joined: 06 Jul 2004
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Location: Phoenix
PostPosted: Mon Oct 17, 2005 8:47 pm Reply with quote
I looked at it at Best Buy, but didn't get it because I couldn't determine if it was uncensored. (I already have the older English dubbed DVD's). I don't know how I missed it. With 6 episodes, it was a value, and I was curious what a better English dub would for the show (I found the older one a bit spotty at times), but I always wondered what I missed. Well, that settles it...
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Zalis116
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PostPosted: Mon Oct 17, 2005 10:45 pm Reply with quote
[quote="one3rd]Simply put, to make money. Is this not the goal of a business?[/quote]

True, I guess maybe their marketing department sees a customer base that my completely and undoubtably omnipotent knowledge doesn't see Wink And key makes a good point too--I know this is uncensored and does offer something new to dub fans, maybe I'll sell off the CE and pick this up, since it can't be worse.


And in response to the "financial troubles" bit, I admit I can't offer anything specific--only the various reports around ANN and elsewhere that ADV's been doing layoffs and that the industry in general is in a sales slump. I also should note that ADV doesn't have the license to Super Gals season 2, so we can't hold them at fault.
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joel_s95387



Joined: 29 Jun 2005
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Location: California... The Village Hidden In The Porn
PostPosted: Wed Oct 19, 2005 2:51 am Reply with quote
So is this series any good? The review in ANN says it contains "high quality fan service", WTF does that mean? I don't like hentai but fan service i can bare and recently I've been getting into love stories so is this shelf worthy? I know there is a review but I also like to hear from the fans.
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Key
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PostPosted: Wed Oct 19, 2005 5:07 pm Reply with quote
"High quality fan service" means it's well-drawn, well-detailed, and sexy as hell in usage without involving any actual sex. There actually isn't a tremendous amount of nudity involved, but Sakura Diaries uses what it has far more effectively than the typical fan service-laden title.

Once you've seen the first two episodes, I'm sure you'll understand what I meant.
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darkhunter



Joined: 13 May 2004
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PostPosted: Wed Oct 19, 2005 5:18 pm Reply with quote
joel_s95387 wrote:
So is this series any good? The review in ANN says it contains "high quality fan service", WTF does that mean? I don't like hentai but fan service i can bare and recently I've been getting into love stories so is this shelf worthy? I know there is a review but I also like to hear from the fans.


High quality fanservice are series that are damn good with fanservice in mind such as Golden Boy as oppose to low quality fanservice show such as any new harem series being release: Girl Bravo, Negima etc.
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DKL



Joined: 08 May 2005
Posts: 1995
Location: California, USA
PostPosted: Wed Oct 19, 2005 7:08 pm Reply with quote
AH! So that's why they had trailers in the newer DVDs!
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Tyrenol



Joined: 13 Sep 2005
Posts: 398
Location: Northern California
PostPosted: Tue Nov 29, 2005 12:39 am Reply with quote
Key wrote:
"High quality fan service" means it's well-drawn, well-detailed, and sexy as hell in usage without involving any actual sex. There actually isn't a tremendous amount of nudity involved, but Sakura Diaries uses what it has far more effectively than the typical fan service-laden title.


Any I continue to argue that if any company puts that much energy into something with "high quality fan service," then they should put that much energy in adult anime.

What's up with SoftCel Pictures, ADV? "Bet I can't buy just one..." Evil or Very Mad
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daxomni



Joined: 08 Nov 2005
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PostPosted: Tue Nov 29, 2005 6:10 am Reply with quote
Zalis116 wrote:
does this strike anyone else as strange?


Not me. I was wondering if this was ever going to happen and it seemed like a reasonable move to make a moderate return on a relatively small re-investment. Anime media has a short enough shelf life that older releases don't last forever. Places like Best Buy and Borders don't restock old anime SKU's on a regular basis. Once the product is gone, that's often the last of it. Re-releases are one way to keep the shelves stocked at the brick & mortar retailers that only buy in one or two large purchases at the very beginning of a media product's life-cycle. You can see the same thing happen with conventional Hollywood DVD's as well.
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