Best Anime Distributor of 2003

[areaseven]

With the year 2003 coming to a close within the next four months, let's look back at all of the anime titles released this year. Which distributor were you most satisfied with so far?

[Commander McBride]

I'm liking ADV this year. They've released a number of great titles, and have really improved everything about their product, everywhere from subs to the packaging.

[Jolly Rogers]

My vote goes to ADV... they did a pretty good job with all the Sakura Wars titles they've licensed.

Bandai would have gotten my vote if it weren't for their inability to provide stores with a decent stock of their current/new titles.

[Apollo Leader]

For me it's ADV this year... Excel Saga and Mospeada (even if the subs in Mospeada kinda sucked)!

[yellowlightman]

What!? No TokyoPop!? How could this be?

[Tekkaman Blade]

I would usually vote Pioneer, but this year it seems Bandai has really been picking up. They've been doing great with some new titles and I haven't been too dissappointed with them yet.

[UN Spacy]

I'm not sure who handled the release of Cowboy Bebop: Knocking On Heavens Door. But I thought they did a pretty decent job, a lot of extra's really made the DVD worth it's purchase.

[Tekkaman Blade]

I'm not sure who handled the release of Cowboy Bebop: Knocking On Heavens Door. But I thought they did a pretty decent job, a lot of extra's really made the DVD worth it's purchase.

Actually, I don't think any Anime Distributors got it. It was a movie release.

Let's see.... Columbia Tristar Pictures, Destination Films and Samuel Goldwyn

I think that's it.

[Commander McBride]

What!? No TokyoPop!? How could this be? 

I have a feeling that there will be a worst distributor poll in the near future...... and Tokyopop will be the only option!

Hey! 300!

Edited August 26, 2003 by Commander McBride

[Cyclone]

I am sooooo frigging predictable

Cyc -> Mospeada -> ADV.

[Keith]

My vote was "Other." Specifically, it goes to all the HK bootleggers out there!

All 3 Yamato series, Galaxy express 999 up through episode 36 (I NEED THE OTHER 90+ NOW!!!!!!!), Robot Carnival, Please Save My Earth (haven't picked it up yet), , and great stuff from last year such as Orguss, Double Zeta, Victory, Macross 7, etc.

They've been delivering more great nitche titles, with ever improving subtitle translations, and fewer watermark logo's. Definately the most improved this year!

AnimEigo has yet to release Arcadia, which hurt their vote, Bandai pushed back Zeta to next year, which hurt their vote, ADV did decently with things like Mospeada & Mazinkaiser, CPM is pissing me off with the re-release of Dominion Tank Police with the worst subtitle font ever, and Manga has entirely dropped off the map (though thankfully Korea picked up the ball by releasing a great Giant Robo set, now if only they'd do Gunbuster too!).

[Abombz!!]

Bandai is still the best distribuitor. Because of the crap they plastered all over the cover of Dunbine.... ADV will never get my vote. <_

[Drad]

Competition is fierce these days, but Bandai gets the nod from me.. especially if they bring us some Macross goodness.

[bandit29]

Media Blasters gets my vote for best anime distributor for releasing my favorite anime series of all time, Berserk. Even though some of it came out in 2002, the rest fininshed up in 2003.

ADV had really good year too. RahXephon and Devil Lady are some of my favorites. I gave up on Dunbine already, reminded me of Gundam a little too much. Ya I know Tomino was involved, that's the other reason I gave up lol

Pioneer. Most of their titles I don't care for but they have done a good job with X and the first DVD of Heat Guy J.

Manga? Read or Die eh ok. They'll never release Giant Robo so I went and bought the Korean box set. Awesome

Bandai. This company has really fallen of the map for me. Titles like Love Hina and .hack//sign, I have no intereset in at all. Big O season 2 is coming to DVD in December though....and Witch Hunter Robin starts in Sept? so things are looking up.

Viz. The only series I like from them is Inuyasha. But until they release an actual box set/brick of the 1st season, the bootlegs of the R1s from F/X(which are very good btw) will have to do.

Edited August 26, 2003 by dejr8bud

[Hoptimus]

ADV just for Mospeada.

[JELEINEN]

Other: Broccoli, because nobody packs as many goodies into their releases as they do. Their American branch, Synchpoint, is pretty good as well (if a bit slow).

Last place would have to be Manga. I don't think an explanation is really needed for that. I just hope its new owners will do better.

[treatment]

It's been kinda tight for quality-releases this year, tho I'm fairly impressed with ADV so far.

This year's been pretty good for ADV title-releases. Not only that, but the quality of the ADV english-dubbing had dramatically improved on most of the titles! A few of their better dubbed releases this year:

-- CatGirl NukuNuku

-- DaiGuard complete

-- Excel complete

-- Rahxephon

-- Mazinkaiser

-- Sakura Wars (ova and tv)

-- Colorful

-- Full Metal Panic (borderline-dubs, but great new show)

-- Voices of a Distant Star

-- Steel Angel Kurumi 2

If only they'd hurry up and release Azumanga Daioh and Nadesico-movie this year.

I also like Pioneer for Chobits and Mahoromatic dvd's and OST's. The boxsets for El Hazard and re-release of Tenchi OVA single-discs were good, too.

Bandai's best title so far this year (imho) is Please Teacher and Love Hina Again's release is scheduled next week.

props to Funimation for completing Fruits Basket release and TokyoPop for GTO. Tho TokyoPop's pulled a stupid with Initial D.

Much thanks to SynchPoint for finally completing FLCL. Now if only they can speed up on their other good title "I'm Gonna be an Angel".

Much thanks to VIZ for finally releasing Maison Ikkoku on r1 dvd!

--treatment--

[gerwalk25]

My vote? Animeigo. Titles? Crusher Joe Movie/Ova's and SDF. Next acquisition? Urusei Yatsura .

~G25