Remastered Macross, Southern Cross and Mospeada DVDs

[Lynx7725]

Ok, I took a quick scan of the Movies side of the forums, and the Reviews side too, and since I lurk in A/SF most of the time, I don't really seem to recall a collected discussion of this.

I've gotten nostagic and wanted to get a set of Mospeada DVDs. This of course lead me to eBay, then inevitably over to Harmony Gold (don't kill me!).

At which point I realised:

• The remastered Macross 9 DVDs is at $39.99
• The remastered Southern Cross ?? DVDs is at $79.99
• The remastered Mospeada 4 or 5 DVDs is at $79.99

Ok, so at this point, a few questions. Hopefully you guys can supply some answers.

First, am I seeing things? I'm actually getting the Macross remasters at cheaper rates than a comparatively smaller set...? Southern Cross never gets any love, so I can understand the pricing, but...?

Second, how's the quality like on these? I'm seriously keen to pick these up, but only if the quality is worthwhile. I'm not talking about the quality of the animation -- c'mon, it's been nearly 30 years already -- but the production and presentation values of the DVDs themselves.

I know the general sentiments on the boards towards HG and all; I'm really not trying to stir things up, I'm really just looking for an objective review of these for purchasing decision. If anyone got alternatives, I'm willing to listen.

[Mr March]

If that's the Animeigo set for SDF Macross, then you can't go wrong. It's an excellent bargain for top quality video and sound, as well as probably the best subtitling work I've ever seen in an anime.

[Roger]

Amazon lists the ADV MOSPEADA and Southern Cross DVD sets at 89.99 each, so the pricing you found sounds about right. Of course, on eBay, you should always be wary of buying bootlegs, and it's possible those Macross ones might be.

The quality on these is very good, perhaps even better than the Japanese releases, I was told by a friend of mine who viewed both. ADV did a lot to expand and clean up the video presentation, and the liner notes in both are definitely worthwhile reads.

[jenius]

I got both Southern Cross and Mospeada off eBay (the exact versions that are $79.99 at RT.com) for $24.99 each (this was years ago and YES, they are the exact set, not a knock-off). At that price I thought they were WONDERFUL purchases and enjoy them thoroughly. Mospeada and SC are not nearly as remastered/restored as the Macross set (which is a STEAL at $39.99, remember that it used to sell for over $200!) but the look is plenty clean enough and the subtitles are easily good enough to make them enjoyable. There are definitely some issues (Tread translated as Tlead... which I don't even think is a word that can be pronounced in English) but most of them will only make you smirk and you'll totally understand everything.

Edited February 21, 2007 by jenius

[azrael]

The Macross set is probably the repackaged Animeigo set. And yes, that is the correct price.

As for the other 2, a quick check on DVDPriceSearch.com show Mospeada and Southern Cross for $56.43/each @ DVDPacific.com.

[Lynx7725]

Thanks folks.. the prices are off the Robotech.com stores, and yes, apparently the Remastered Macross is the Animeigo set.

Think I might as well pick that up.

The Mospeada and Southern Cross looks to be ADV; I can find Mospeada somewhat cheaper on eBay, but as usual, Southern Cross gets no love in the DVD department on eBay.

jenius: Can't really blame ADV for the Tlead/ Tread thing -- romanization can be a pain..

EDIT: Azrael posted while I'm looking. Thanks for the tip, I'll wander over.. probably not this month, maybe next. Budget's a pain.

Edited February 21, 2007 by Lynx7725

[bsu legato]

IIRC, "mis" romanized names like Tlead, or Stig, were more of an HG thing than ADV. I believe "Tlead" even shows up in the show itself, somewhere. It's probably on the old boards somewhere, but we had a lengthy discussion on the matter back in the day.

[Lynx7725]

Ok, next question. Azrael helped by pointing out alternative locations to purchase Mospeada and Southern Cross. How about Animeigo's remastered Macross? DVDPacific doesn't seem to have it or I'd have pounced on it. I could order from HG, but long association here makes me want to scrub my laptop from top to bottom just going there..

EDIT: Before you guys suggest eBay, already checked; no joy. Closest there was a non-International shipper, who's already gotten close enough to HG prices to break even.

Edited February 21, 2007 by Lynx7725

[azrael]

Ok, next question. Azrael helped by pointing out alternative locations to purchase Mospeada and Southern Cross. How about Animeigo's remastered Macross? DVDPacific doesn't seem to have it or I'd have pounced on it. I could order from HG, but long association here makes me want to scrub my laptop from top to bottom just going there..

EDIT: Before you guys suggest eBay, already checked; no joy. Closest there was a non-International shipper, who's already gotten close enough to HG prices to break even.

HG is the only ones selling the repackaged Animeigo set. Other retailers are only selling the ADV version with the new dub.

[Roger]

About Tread/Tlead, in the Imai files I have there is a reference to the mecha that names it "TLEAD - Transport Legioss Escort Armored Dreadnought." I don't know how "canon" you want to consider that since I've never seen that description in any of the MOSPEADA books, advertising, or packaging. YMMV.

[jenius]

Wow, that Imai definition is a mouthful. I thought it was "TRans EArth Deployment" or something to that effect. Been a long time since I went lookin' for that though. Still, if it was "Tlead" I gotta think anyone in English would call it the "T-lead" or something to that effect so "Tread" just makes much better sense to the English tongue. This is a total derail though so just take it to be the punch-drunk musings of a rambling fan.

[Roger]

It's incredibly clumsy with the l. I still pronounce it "tread" in conversation.

[Lynx7725]

HG is the only ones selling the repackaged Animeigo set. Other retailers are only selling the ADV version with the new dub.

Ow, I feel dirty at the thought already. Sigh, when you got no other game in town...

Thanks all, the help is really appreciated.

[JB0]

Ow, I feel dirty at the thought already. Sigh, when you got no other game in town...

Thanks all, the help is really appreciated.

Does it help at all if I point out that HG gets paid no matter WHO you buy it from?

You'll be seeing HG splash screens, complete with "copyright" notices, every time you start a disk up.

[Lynx7725]

Does it help at all if I point out that HG gets paid no matter WHO you buy it from?

You'll be seeing HG splash screens, complete with "copyright" notices, every time you start a disk up.

I know, but I still feel better not shopping there.

Yes, I know, very irrational. Been in MW too long, you guys corrupted me.

[makurosu]

The Macross set is probably the repackaged Animeigo set. And yes, that is the correct price.

As for the other 2, a quick check on DVDPriceSearch.com show Mospeada and Southern Cross for $56.43/each @ DVDPacific.com.

I just recently bought both series from rightstuf.com for $25 each.

Mospeada

Southern Cross

[Lynx7725]

I just recently bought both series from rightstuf.com for $25 each.

Mospeada

Southern Cross

Ooo, nice. Are they reliable?

[makurosu]

I'm not completely sure, to be honest. That was the only time I've ever done business with them, but I didn't have any problems. They got my order right shipped out fast, too.

[Lynx7725]

Worth a risk. FedEx's hideous for my area though, but could be my guesstimates into their calculators are off.

Good to relive the childhood again.

[Keith]

rightstuf is awesome. Speaking of which, they seem to have gotten some stock of Gasaraki too.

[Lynx7725]

rightstuf is awesome. Speaking of which, they seem to have gotten some stock of Gasaraki too.

Which reminds me -- would you believe that even though I bought Gasaraki VCDs soon after its run in Japan, I've never actually finish watching it?

Sheesh.

[jenius]

Have Rightstuf ship to your home! All over their website it tells you to ship to your business. I took their advice and they contacted me 2 weeks later to tell me they needed to confirm my identity before shipping. Yeah, thanks, that was quick. So I figure they probably have something secure on their website to confirm my SSN or something but no... they needed a little bit of blood and semen to do a DNA sequencing or something (exagerrating, they wanted photocopies and some other stuff). So I was like, "Okay, screw that, just ship it to my home." Two weeks after that I get a notice, the item I purchased is currently sold out. ROCK ON!!! So last week I sent them an email telling them that they're probably never going to get the item in the stock and if that's the case it's cool, I'll just cancel my order. They send me an apologetic (very nice folks) email telling me they're going to get the supply in next week. Today I got an email "Sorry, your items are currently sold out." Awesome.

[danth]

Have Rightstuf ship to your home! All over their website it tells you to ship to your business. I took their advice and they contacted me 2 weeks later to tell me they needed to confirm my identity before shipping. Yeah, thanks, that was quick. So I figure they probably have something secure on their website to confirm my SSN or something but no... they needed a little bit of blood and semen to do a DNA sequencing or something (exagerrating, they wanted photocopies and some other stuff). So I was like, "Okay, screw that, just ship it to my home." Two weeks after that I get a notice, the item I purchased is currently sold out. ROCK ON!!! So last week I sent them an email telling them that they're probably never going to get the item in the stock and if that's the case it's cool, I'll just cancel my order. They send me an apologetic (very nice folks) email telling me they're going to get the supply in next week. Today I got an email "Sorry, your items are currently sold out." Awesome.

Yeah, sometimes Rightstuf is slow, and they seem to have no problem taking your money when they don't actually have the item in stock. If you don't mind waiting, they're pretty good.

[ChrisG]

I can verify that RightStuf is reliable. I've picked up many deals from them, including the Gasaraki box set $30 and Patlabor box sets for around $20 in past specials. I just picked up the first 3 volumes of Overman King Gainer from them at $5 each. That's a good deal too, aside from Mospeada.

[Mercurial Morpheus]

I can also attest to Rightstuf's relieablity. I used to love their eBay VHS auctions. They even license shows themselves from time to time (they're one of the oldest in the business in that respect). They can be slow on sale items (my friends still waiting on his Giant Robo boxset), but they are good.

I remember when ADV sold them for 14 bucks a piece on their sale. I jumped on them then. Then the price shot back up.

My only real complaint is the the subs on Mospeada appear to have a half second lag. It's kind of annoying. That, and some of the restorationseems a tad overboard in trying to make the show look new. Still, an excellent set.

[Lynx7725]

Thanks guys, got a reply from Rightstuf. Looks like it's a go! I'll need to rework my budget this month again, I guess.