ADV's Sailor Moon License Expires

[Anubis]

From earlier today on Animeondvd:

ADV Films Loses Sailor Moon License? (06:50 AM EST): According to comments to use from several reliable sources in the retail industry, ADV Films license for the Sailor Moon box set releases was apparently a rather short term one and is coming to a close at the end of March, hence the recent spate of serious price drops from $150 to $50 at several retailers. At this time, ADV has not commented on the issue. Naturally, speculation runs rampant due to the promised trade-ins for the audio issues on one of the volumes and concern over whether fulfillment of it will be taken care of.

And now a recent follow up:

More on Sailor Moon (01:08 PM EST): We got a note from one retailer and confirmed with another that in addition to the Sailor Moon subtitle only box sets that are going away, all of the dub-only individual volumes are included in this license status change.

So no more Sailor Moon from ADV. Explains why the sub boxes are going for 49.99 last couple of weeks. I doubt Geneon would bother to pick it up so soon after ADV's discs were released either, but who knows down the line. I wonder if Toei imposed a time limit on the license or if ADV just let it expire.

Edited March 11, 2004 by Anubis

[Anubis]

ADV Officially Confirms Sailor Moon (04:08 PM EST): From their site:

    ADV Films today announced that the first 86 episodes of the original Sailor Moon television series will no longer be available in the U.S. on home video after April 1, 2004. Although the response of the fans and sales of this video series in both the dubbed- and uncut-subtitled format have been tremendously successful, the creators of the program have decided against continuing the availability of the home video in the U.S. at this time. All episodes released under ADV Films will remain available for sale in retail outlets and via the company website.

Yep, it's Toei's doing.

[Ali Sama]

ADV Officially Confirms Sailor Moon (04:08 PM EST): From their site:

    ADV Films today announced that the first 86 episodes of the original Sailor Moon television series will no longer be available in the U.S. on home video after April 1, 2004. Although the response of the fans and sales of this video series in both the dubbed- and uncut-subtitled format have been tremendously successful, the creators of the program have decided against continuing the availability of the home video in the U.S. at this time. All episodes released under ADV Films will remain available for sale in retail outlets and via the company website.

Yep, it's Toei's doing.

evil

[Hikuro]

So wait, they wont be persueing a season 3 and 4 etc of uncut remastered Sailor Moon like they've been doing for almost a year now? So we only get seasons 1 and 2 pure and heavenly? THAT SUCKS!

[Anubis]

Geneon/Pioneer released season 3 (S) and season 4 (SuperS) uncut already. They got the nice bilingual discs trickling out on the signature series for cheap now.

Toei apparently does not want 5 (Sailor Stars) released and have withheld that one though. We went into that a little in the last SM thead.

Edited March 12, 2004 by Anubis

[Effect]

Strange they would do this. I wonder what the real reason would be. I was kinda thinking they might want bring over the live action series(either dubbed,, god no or refilm everything with american actors the way Saban/Disney seem to be doing with the Sentai/Power Ranges series but not change the story(the way Power Rangers have done) at all). Stopping the anime might be a step if they plan on taking the story in a different direction and want kill the confusion or not flood the market to much. Just a thought, doubtfull but you never know.