This Week in Anime

Disc World

Coop
Given the amount of Discotek-and-MediaOCD-flavored disclaimers I've shot out over the course of my TWIA tenure, it's plain to see that I have a vested interest in this part of the business, Lucas. However, it goes far beyond the professional aspect for me. Long before I wrote a single line of copy, I was an FYE rat—digging through the anime section in hopes of finding my next favorite series. That's how I discovered Project A-Ko and Black Lagoon, to name a few titles. Then, after college, I worked at a Family Video as the company teetered on the edge of completely falling apart. Not a glamorous job, but it taught me a ton about how people interact with film and television in a communal sense.

Last year, Chris and I talked a fair bit about our own collecting stories, quirky releases, and the classics held in Aniplex Jail. However, our chat was more from the perspective of dyed-in-the-wool collectors, rather than the greater anime-watching audience... And perhaps a touch disconnected from streaming in its then-current form. As for the state of North American home video, it's shifted a wee bit since then. Additionally, I've further realized that the business tends to be way more cut and dry than most fan passion might imply.

Frankly, I wasn't particularly hopeful for them to begin with. Between numerous damaged orders from customers, shoddy packaging, a disc mailed in a napkin, and the final delivery of the Dirty Pair Kickstarter, it's painfully clear that everything Right Stuf had been sold on is now gone. This includes the company's home video wing, Nozomi Entertainment.

Despite my own feelings and those of many others, there is a degree of business sense to "we don't need two production houses." However, that also twists the knife-shaped thought of "we bought this to kill it" in my brain. Crunchyroll (or more accurately, Funimation) was already producing its own sets, and it seems to be at a decent clip over the past year or so. It's primarily the huge titles and the occasional set most people would laugh at buying for full MSRP, but the company's still doing it. Though it's also telling to me that when I see Crunchy's titles in a Walmart or the like, it's usually a good US$20 below that MSRP. Doesn't help either that the "grab a movie as a treat while grocery shopping" idea is dying out, thanks to the exploding cost of living and shrinking media sections. Like, that Frieren Season 1 Part 2 Set is great, but US$220 is a huge ask these days. Mind you, that edition of the set is only available at online retailers.

There's definitely that part of the equation to consider (games have been forced to face more abruptly due to the industry's nauseating amount of moving parts), but TV and film might be a different story. There's less of a buy-in on the consumer's part with a streaming service in comparison to a single game. You paid that US$50 for Romeo is a Dead Man, so there's a good chance you're going to get through it at some point. A physical copy would be great for preservation's sake, but you've got it on your system. When it comes to streaming (where Crunchy wants its viewers), you're dumped into a huge catalog that's easy to get lost in, and you don't even have a license to. Digital licenses don't mean a whole lot in my eyes, but it's a bare minimum given where we're at now. Heck, a digital license (through buying it on Prime Video) is how I've been able to watch the first season of Nirvanna The Band The Show. I'm more likely to get through that than another show on my streaming queue.

That's really where physical media shines—it's the closest thing to an iron-clad guarantee you can get. There are a handful of exceptions when it comes to games, but home video's got your back as long as you take care of your collection. Expired licenses? Titles gone from streaming? Aniplex Jail striking again? A home video release itself isn't always guaranteed, but it's better than a work fading into obscurity. You can actually hold on to it, regardless of any rights issues. I think that's part of why younger audiences in larger cities are flocking toward the few video stores left. Less flash-in-the-pan noise, more tangible discovery.

For instance, I wish more people could see Birdy the Mighty: Decode or Baccano!, but at least it's still physically available somewhere. Though I wouldn't bother with those scalper prices. Hopefully they're available for rent at least one mom and pop video store... Or a library!

Speaking to the frugality aspect of home video, I've often opted to grab DVD releases of recent-ish shows because it's a cost-effective way of toe-dipping. It also means I have that buy-in, even if it was only ten or twelve bucks. Yowamushi Pedal, Wizard Barristers, and most recently, Gatchaman Crowds, are examples of DVDs I've picked up on a cheap whim. Not expensive or hard to find, at least at that moment. Yes, I know I need to get on Chihayafuru, but that's the beauty of physical, baby! I'll get to it eventually, and I don't need to worry about burning money on a sub I'm not using in the meantime.

DVDs aren't as common in the anime space these days, but there are some exceptions here and there. The upcoming releases of Captain Tsubasa and Voltron: Legendary Defender come to mind.

Now that's some anime magic right there.

You really have to give it up for the people keeping this niche market alive. Physical media sales aren't blowing doors off, but it's remaining stable enough thanks to boutique publishers who know their audience. In our neck of the woods, the conversation will very obviously swing toward companies like AnimEigo, Discotek, and Media Blasters, but they're just a few of many. There's also Vinegar Syndrome, Cult Epics, and of course, Criterion. The last company on that list might be dropping KPop Demon Hunters in the near future, but there's a good chance that the folks who buy it will be exposed to further titles from the collection...and other boutique publishers.

There's always hunting down a cheap Blu-ray player, at least for the moment. We can't forget that there's been a push to remove disc drives from game systems, and who's to say if standalone Blu-ray players won't go along with them? Which also brings me to another point: if you want a certain show, movie, or device, it's probably better to grab it sooner rather than later. Kind of like your dilemma with the Switch 2, Lucas.

That brings me to the piracy part of this conversation. I know some folks are going to say, "No skin off my back, I'll just torrent it." While a hardcore enthusiast might do that if there's no official release to support, the vast majority of people DO NOT want to jump through additional hoops just to watch or play something. They want the least amount of financial and mental friction possible. Speaking for myself, I just want to press the button on my TV or put in a disc, then press the button—that's it. This isn't the case in other parts of the world for sure, but I definitely see it being that way for the North American market. Look to that old Gabe Newell adage.

If you want to see more titles from a specific series or company, voting with those precious dollars lets the people in charge know that there's an appetite for more—be it a huge studio or small boutique. A vocal groundswell is great, but cash is king.

As our anime forefathers once said, "Keep circulating the tapes, kids."

Whenever I get a Blu-ray in the mail.

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— Coop (@riderstrike.bsky.social) March 16, 2026 at 1:20 PM