Macross Plus Remaster Box /Macross 7 TV/OVA

[jet660]

Courtesy of Anime News Service

5-7-07 (7:29AM EDT)---- Macross Plus - Macross 7 HD Remaster / PCM Audio Versions Headed For R2 DVD

As part of the Macross 25th anniversary project, both the Macross Plus OVA's / Movie and the Macross 7 TV / OVA's / Movie are going to be released to R2 DVD in Japan toawards the end of summer courtesy Bandai Visual. The Macross Plus Remaster Box will consist of OVA's 1-4 and the movie on 3 1 sided dual layer discs and 1 single sided single layer omake disc (289 minutes / 30 minutes on the omake disc). Audio will be Linear PCM stereo (excluding DISC 3 which will feature Linear PCM surround. Retail is 15,540 Yen. Release is August 24th. Macross 7 will deploy in 2 remaster box set installments. Box 1 will inlcude 8 single sided dual layer discs (eps. 1-30 / 787 minutes) for 39,900 Yen. Release is September 25th. Box 2 also inlcudes 8 single sided dual layer discs (707 minutes) for 39,900 Yen. Release is October 26th. All video is being sourced from high def remastered sources. For Macross Plus, this will represent the highest quality audio and video conversion publicly available on a home video format for at least a several years to come. Full PCM audio useage is extremely rare on DVD. Extras include the FMV sequences from the PSX videogame. A 24 page booklet will also be included as a bonus along with the storage box. This set will be a limited production commodity and will be pulled from the market on August 24, 2008. The Macross 7 set will also be limited edition and will be pulled on September 25, 2008. Discs will be encased in a digipack case with 8 illustrations cortesy original character designer Haruhiko Mikimoto. A 24 page booklet and several new music video clips will be extras.

Did anyone get this information???? I didn't see it on any recent posts. This been out for awhile Am I the first to announce it? It comes with HD video!!!!

I preordered my Macross Plus Box. Did you reserved yours yet?

[isamu]

Courtesy of Anime News Service

Thanks for the update. I got mine on pre-order but if I said it once I'll say it again....for this kinda money they should've just given all the discs, or at least Mac+ the full blown HD-DVD or Blu-Ray treatment.

[kensei]

So, there's no subbing?

[azrael]

Did anyone get this information???? I didn't see it on any recent posts. This been out for awhile Am I the first to announce it? It comes with HD video!!!!

We already knew about it:

http://www.macrossworld.com/mwf/index.php?...st&p=485688

So, there's no subbing?

Should there be? These are R2 releases and Bandai is not doing a simultaneous R1 release so I don't see any reason for them to sub it.

[jet660]

Here is the link from cdjapan

http://www.cdjapan.co.jp/detailview.html?KEY=BCBA-3048

It does state it will be HD remastered. I am just not sure it will be widescreen though. It just say standard ratio.

Kensei - I think it could be legal issues regarding subtitle format. The subtitle version of Mac+ came from Manga Entertainment to meet the demands of subtitle anime. When you look at the Bandai anime video catalog, there are 2 versions which aims at the Japanese and the International (English) audiences. I am not sure if Manga Entertainment still have rights to Macross Plus in the US today. IF it still does, Manga Entertainment may have their version of it. I would not be surprise if they decide to do that.

Ironically, Bandai/Emotion Mac+ International and the ME dvds has the same audio track in English. Which me wonder why they don't include it this box set. It would have more appeal to international buyers.

[Lindem Herz]

I'm SO getting that Macross Plus set

[cool8or]

R2? What's it means?

HD... in DVD?

I think that HD is a technology only available in Blu-Ray or HD-DVD

Edited June 4, 2007 by cool8or

[Zinjo]

Here is the link from cdjapan

http://www.cdjapan.co.jp/detailview.html?KEY=BCBA-3048

It does state it will be HD remastered. I am just not sure it will be widescreen though. It just say standard ratio.

Unfortunately "Standard" format is 4:3 aspect ration = standard square tv sets (although I am not sure if the Mac Plus movie had a theatrical release or if it was only a TV movie which would explain the tv aspect ratio.)

Kensei - I think it could be legal issues regarding subtitle format. The subtitle version of Mac+ came from Manga Entertainment to meet the demands of subtitle anime. When you look at the Bandai anime video catalog, there are 2 versions which aims at the Japanese and the International (English) audiences. I am not sure if Manga Entertainment still have rights to Macross Plus in the US today. IF it still does, Manga Entertainment may have their version of it. I would not be surprise if they decide to do that.

Ironically, Bandai/Emotion Mac+ International and the ME dvds has the same audio track in English. Which me wonder why they don't include it this box set. It would have more appeal to international buyers.

If Managa Ent. supplied their dub and subs for the release to Bandai, I'm sure they'd include it in the transfer so Manga could just take the master, redo the menus, recode the region coding and then release it here.

Unfortunately too many American companies don't think outside the box....

However, it doesn't mean that Manga isn't currently in negotiations to bring over the remastered set for distribution here. A HD video and audio remaster is a strong selling point to any video collector, particulary to fans of the Macross Plus movie which had poor video compared to the OVAs.

Essentially if we want them to bring it over we as a community need to flood as many requests into Manga Ent. as possible for an American release of the new transfer to show them there is a market for it here still.

http://www.manga.com/

Click on the "Contact" link at the top of the frame and type away...

[bigkid24]

I'm interested in both sets but don't want to pay an arm and a leg.

[Area88]

Defintly interested in both but then this is a Bandai Visual property and i can't help but feel both of these could get a US release some time in the future.

I hope Manga Entertainment have lost the rights to Macross Plus already, the video quality on their dvd releases were terrible in comparison to the original R2 Japanese dvds. I hate to think how bad they will look with this new remastered version on the horizon.

[kensei]

Should there be? These are R2 releases and Bandai is not doing a simultaneous R1 release so I don't see any reason for them to sub it.

I was just looking for a good sub that's all. I can't understand japanese much at all.

[JB0]

Unfortunately "Standard" format is 4:3 aspect ration = standard square tv sets (although I am not sure if the Mac Plus movie had a theatrical release or if it was only a TV movie which would explain the tv aspect ratio.)

It had a theatrical release.

But fun thing... they still use 4:3 film for movie releases. They actually matte it down for the movies.

In the case of animation, the entire 4:3 frame is almost invariably drawn. So you actually GAIN image area.

As far as the "HD master"...

Either Bandai's planning an HD-DVD/BluRay release, and this is made using a cleaned-up remaster made for that, or Bandai is full of poo.

DVD-Video disks CANNOT carry HD video, as the resolution is explicitly 720*480.

And if you're distributing it on DVD-ROM (which... isn't really that useful. People tend to not watch movies on their computers.), you're limited to something like a half-hour per dual-layer disk(which clearly isn't enough for this).

[jet660]

cool8or - R2 is Region 2, Japanese Imported disk are Region 2. US is Region 1

Zinjo -

Since when American companies started thinking outside the box?

I agree with you about it. However, it may take months to years to get a definitive domestic box set to come out in the states. This year is Macross 25th Anniv. Sadly, there is no news Manga Ent as of right now. Maybe they are planning something or maybe not. I think in Japan, Bandai Visual/Ent does it for its fans. Granted there is money involved and profits to be made, but it is out there as a service to all Macross fans.

Area88

Sadly, I stop buying domestic JP anime a long time ago. Either it was issues with the video quality, editing, dubbing, or just the lame packing appeal. I must admit the cost is WAY WAY cheaper and having the subtitles brings piece of mind to the viewers.

JB0 - In your opinion then, is it possible to have 2 OVA in each disk with HD capabilities on it?

bigkid24 - The other half of it is paying for our yamato toys

Edited June 5, 2007 by jet660

[JB0]

JB0 - In your opinion then, is it possible to have 2 OVA in each disk with HD capabilities on it?

No.

The disks don't have enough space, and the end result won't adhere to any reasonable standard.

[Area88]

Bandai Visual are using HD masters to source from. The dvd will still play in standard definition but it will look cleaner and more vibrant due to the remastering.

I'm sure a proper HD release on either HD-DVD or Blu-Ray will follow in a few years to come.

[isamu]

HD-DVD or Blu-Ray will follow in a few years to come.

Let us truly hope it doesn't take a few years to arrive. I'm hoping we hear something within months....

[Zinjo]

I agree with you about it. However, it may take months to years to get a definitive domestic box set to come out in the states. This year is Macross 25th Anniv. Sadly, there is no news Manga Ent as of right now. Maybe they are planning something or maybe not. I think in Japan, Bandai Visual/Ent does it for its fans. Granted there is money involved and profits to be made, but it is out there as a service to all Macross fans.

Keep in mind that the latest new on their site is from 2006! So it appears that whoever updates the news on their site is pretty weak... So who knows what's in the pipe.

Though, I wouldn't mind a Bandai America release of the shows either

[Zinjo]

Bandai Visual are using HD masters to source from. The dvd will still play in standard definition but it will look cleaner and more vibrant due to the remastering.

I'm sure a proper HD release on either HD-DVD or Blu-Ray will follow in a few years to come.

Well since Bluray has the same region code for both Japan and North America, all Bigwest has to do is add an English subs track and away they go. Since the disc would be considered and import, no American copyright laws are applicable...

[The Shade]

Keep in mind that the latest new on their site is from 2006! So it appears that whoever updates the news on their site is pretty weak... So who knows what's in the pipe.

Though, I wouldn't mind a Bandai America release of the shows either

Are Manga still alive. Seriously, aside from GITS SAC (where the work was mostly done by Bandai), what have we heard from them lately?

[jet660]

Probably they are still alive....barely. They had stiff competition the last few years with other anime companies. There has been a saturation of anime over the years resulting in mediorce storylines, designs, and quality. Once in a while, you will get a good series among the group. In the past, the anime market used to be a niche market with selected domestic companies, now it is inflated quite a bit.

Zinjo - I would love to have Bluray box version of it. Sadly the cost of those disks and dvd players are not cheap now. That would burn a bigger hole in my paycheck.

[Zinjo]

Probably they are still alive....barely. They had stiff competition the last few years with other anime companies.

Manga is a subsidiary of Anchor Bay, so who knows how many titles they are actively recruiting. They may well be sitting back on their existing licenses and partnerships instead of investing in new shows.

There has been a saturation of anime over the years resulting in mediorce storylines, designs, and quality. Once in a while, you will get a good series among the group. In the past, the anime market used to be a niche market with selected domestic companies, now it is inflated quite a bit.

Actually the Japanese market isn't much different from any other, given that so many companies are bringing over shows, it is no surprise that the crap is beginning to surface here. They make crappy shows there just as much as we do here.

The only difference it seems is they don't seem to go to the trouble of releasing the crap on DVD like we do here....

[e_jacob77]

Hi all,

This is good news indeed!! I am glad I hadn't bought mac + dvd's yet!! Though me thinx i'll wait for subs........

[jet660]

Just saw this a couple of days ago.

Courtesy of CDjapan

Macross Maximum Box!

Description

CD box set commemorating the 25th anniversary of the "Macross" series includes TV series intro theme "Macross ," theatrical feature theme "Ai Oboete Imasuka," TV series "Macross 7" intro theme "Seventh Moon," Macross 7 outro theme "My Friends," theatrical feature Macross 7 add-in track "Heart & Soul," special series 15th anniversary single "Friends - Jiku wo Koete," OVA Macross Dynamite 6 add-in track "Dynamite Explosion," PlayStation game Macross VF-XS main theme "Get Free," and bonus disc with Macross addi-in track "Watashi no Kare wa Pilot" both original version by Mari Ishima plus covers frmo ALI Project and Tomo Sakurai. Includes nine CDs total.

Release Date: 2007/08/08

Price: 5695yen (US$ 45.87/ 5980yen Tax incl.)

Total of 9 discs I guess those new to Macross won't need to get all those individual series cds

Kinda strange there is no mention of Macross Plus or Zero. It should be in it though

e_jacob77 - It is good news, I just hope (really really hope) they add the subs/dubs into it. Making my preorder even worthwhile.

Zinjo - Sadly there fewer and fewer quality shows around. Companies are focusing on making that quick buck now. In the past, animation focused on young adults. Now, the audience have shifted to younger kids. Maybe it suits for them. But we had better animation and toys. hahaha!

[MilSpex]

Just saw this a couple of days ago.

Courtesy of CDjapan

Macross Maximum Box!

Description

CD box set commemorating the 25th anniversary of the "Macross" series includes TV series intro theme "Macross ," theatrical feature theme "Ai Oboete Imasuka," TV series "Macross 7" intro theme "Seventh Moon," Macross 7 outro theme "My Friends," theatrical feature Macross 7 add-in track "Heart & Soul," special series 15th anniversary single "Friends - Jiku wo Koete," OVA Macross Dynamite 6 add-in track "Dynamite Explosion," PlayStation game Macross VF-XS main theme "Get Free," and bonus disc with Macross addi-in track "Watashi no Kare wa Pilot" both original version by Mari Ishima plus covers frmo ALI Project and Tomo Sakurai. Includes nine CDs total.

Release Date: 2007/08/08

Price: 5695yen (US$ 45.87/ 5980yen Tax incl.)

Total of 9 discs I guess those new to Macross won't need to get all those individual series cds

Its a CD single boxset btw, not full length CDs.

e_jacob77 - It is good news, I just hope (really really hope) they add the subs/dubs into it. Making my preorder even worthwhile.

I dont think I`ve ever heard of ANY Japanese market anime release DVD with English subs or dubs on it. Correct me if I`m wrong but I dont think there is any significant demand in Japan or in specialist export market (hardcore fans like yourself who go for the Japanese releases) to warrant the time and money needed to include them.

My solution: Learn Japanese.

[isamu]

Just saw this a couple of days ago.

Courtesy of CDjapan

Macross Maximum Box!

Description

CD box set commemorating the 25th anniversary of the "Macross" series includes TV series intro theme "Macross ," theatrical feature theme "Ai Oboete Imasuka," TV series "Macross 7" intro theme "Seventh Moon," Macross 7 outro theme "My Friends," theatrical feature Macross 7 add-in track "Heart & Soul," special series 15th anniversary single "Friends - Jiku wo Koete," OVA Macross Dynamite 6 add-in track "Dynamite Explosion," PlayStation game Macross VF-XS main theme "Get Free," and bonus disc with Macross addi-in track "Watashi no Kare wa Pilot" both original version by Mari Ishima plus covers frmo ALI Project and Tomo Sakurai. Includes nine CDs total.

Release Date: 2007/08/08

Price: 5695yen (US$ 45.87/ 5980yen Tax incl.)

Total of 9 discs I guess those new to Macross won't need to get all those individual series cds

Kinda strange there is no mention of Macross Plus or Zero. It should be in it though

e_jacob77 - It is good news, I just hope (really really hope) they add the subs/dubs into it. Making my preorder even worthwhile.

Zinjo - Sadly there fewer and fewer quality shows around. Companies are focusing on making that quick buck now. In the past, animation focused on young adults. Now, the audience have shifted to younger kids. Maybe it suits for them. But we had better animation and toys. hahaha!

Very very interesting! I wonder if the music will be remastered???

[The Shade]

Edit: Please don't quote the spambots, thanks. JsARCLIGHT

Do we have a spam bot on the loose here?

Edit by Shade: Sorry, didn't know.

Edited June 20, 2007 by The Shade

[Sorata]

Yeah appears so look at the date and time he posted and joined they match.

Edit he posted the same here too http://www.macrossworld.com/mwf/index.php?...6412&st=160

Edited June 20, 2007 by Sorata

[The Shade]

The weird thing about that bot is that I saw 3 posts. Where's the 3rd one?

Oh, and to get this back on track, are some people here planning on buying the remastered Japanese DVD's?

[Zinjo]

Its a CD single boxset btw, not full length CDs.

I dont think I`ve ever heard of ANY Japanese market anime release DVD with English subs or dubs on it. Correct me if I`m wrong but I dont think there is any significant demand in Japan or in specialist export market (hardcore fans like yourself who go for the Japanese releases) to warrant the time and money needed to include them.

My solution: Learn Japanese.

In the case of the Macross franchise that is caught in a legal dispute over international rights, it makes more sense for BigWest to invest in the subtitles on the Blu-ray format in order to bypass US copyright laws on imports.

If Manga Ent. were to partner with BigWest in this endeavour, they would have marketable Macross anime with little effort on their part.

[jet660]

Milspex - I have seen handful of Japanese imported dvds sub in English. A few examples are the original Gundam Movies, Gundam 0083 5.1 ch box set, and Studio Ghilibi movies. It is a really short list. You can say it is still a small number compared to how many anime are produced every month. You be surprise there were a few dubbed anime in the past. Regarding to Macross, DYRL? movie there was actually a dub version of it in the past, which was okay ( I seen worst though ). In more recent years, Macross Plus did come out with there international version LD series before Manga Ent. came out with there version (which was dub). If one decides to do it, I believe it is a fan service for the audience. I don't think it takes alot of money and time to do it. Companies producing them (should) know what kind of audience they are marketing for.

My solution: Study Macross (anime) history, young grasshopper

Zinjo - how would having Mac+ on Blu Ray be able to bypass US copyright laws?

The Shade- I don't think there is a spambot here. If there is one, I call the spambusters

I am sure there is a few of us planning to buy the remasters dvd.

Isamu- I hope those cds get remastered. Sadly don't have any recent info yet.

[Batou]

Zinjo - how would having Mac+ on Blu Ray be able to bypass US copyright laws?

Because Japan and the US use the same regional encoding on Blu-ray.

[Penguin]

I dont think I`ve ever heard of ANY Japanese market anime release DVD with English subs or dubs on it. Correct me if I`m wrong but I dont think there is any significant demand in Japan or in specialist export market (hardcore fans like yourself who go for the Japanese releases) to warrant the time and money needed to include them.

I've got a Japanese release of the individual Macross Plus episode DVDs, and they have the Manga Video "international dub" as well as the Japanese audio track. Don't know whether they are the original release or a later re-release, but they aren't bootlegs. I wouldn't count on these being included in the remastered version, though.

Edited June 27, 2007 by Penguin

[jet660]

Penguin - I checked Macross Compendium. Here's the link:

http://macross.anime.net/production/animat...plus/index.html

The release date for both int and manga version are pretty close. Even though the jp was release was much earlier. I think you could say "original release" for the English version. BTW where did you get the individual dvds for Mac +? It is unlikely the remaster series will have the English dub part, but you can always hope for one

[sketchley]

Having subtitles or even an entire soundtrack on English doesn't get around any countries copyright laws. However, it allows the manufacturer and original property holders to create a master, or control release of their proprty in English, in addition to allowing non-Japanese speaking, non-Japan residing purchasers to aquire a legal copy of the property, without having to resort to fan-subbers, or worse, pirates, and allow some of that money to head into the pockets of the original property holders.

I have one additional movie to add to the list of domestically released DVDs with an English track or subtitles: Ghost in the Shell (movie, 1st one.) Sadly, the 2nd one doesn't have English subtitles...

Re: Macross Plus - it's entirely probable that Manga video paid for the translation, voice actors and studio time, and due to a clause in the licensing agreement, Big West acquired the recording(s), and then proceeded to release the Macross Plus: International Version before Manga Video did. Why the difference? Manga Video had to embark on an advertising compaign to raise awareness. The Japanese market was already well aware of Macross Plus, in addition to Macross in general, as Macross 7 was airing on TV on a weekly basis. There may also be something to do with lead times with the manufacturers and distributors in the English (UK, USA, etc.) market. The lead time for comics and other magazines is about 3 months. No telling if bottlenecks at the manufacturer increased the delay or not.

[Renato]

I dont think I`ve ever heard of ANY Japanese market anime release DVD with English subs or dubs on it. Correct me if I`m wrong but I dont think there is any significant demand in Japan or in specialist export market (hardcore fans like yourself who go for the Japanese releases) to warrant the time and money needed to include them.

My solution: Learn Japanese.

Akira has an English dub and subtitle track on it. Tokyo Godfathers has subtitles. Macross Plus 1-4 has of course the "International Version" US dub on it (but a different cast for volume 4 -- I think there were problems with the master, gotta check out what happened with that). Erm, that's all I can think of so far, but then I don't watch so much anime these days.