Sunrise partners with RightStuf to release Gundam!

[SteveH]

I have 'milestones' that Right Stuf has to meet for me to get really excited about this.

1. Original Gundam returns its missing episode and gets re-translated.

2. Zeta Gundam returns its missing original OP credits songs and is re-translated, or uses Neil N.'s original translation.

I suspect neither of these goals will be met, it'll take forever for TRSI to acknowledge it and the "the Japanese made us do these things!" excuse will be trotted out.

See, these are issues that matter to the customer base being asked to buy these shows. Shawn would be wise to be proactive and get in front of the issues. THIS WILL AFFECT SALES. I expect the usual games will be played.

I'm excited about Gundam ZZ. It needs Zeta to go with it.

Shawn's talked a little about it on Twitter. I think since most of the people working on the series are fans themselves, they're gonna try their hardest to do that stuff if they can. I know he's already said they want to try to get the Syd Mead interviews Bandai did for the Turn A American release that never happened.

And yet these two significant issues aren't mentioned by you as among the first, most obvious things to get out of the way. I'm sure if they were you would have popped up the link.

So, yeah.

[davemerrill]

from what I understand, Neil is working on V Gundam right now.

The Zeta song problem was Neil Sedaka wanting a whole boat load of cash, wasn't it?

[usamimi]

from what I understand, Neil is working on V Gundam right now.

The Zeta song problem was Neil Sedaka wanting a whole boat load of cash, wasn't it?

I remember hearing that somewhere, but I dunno if that's true. It wouldn't surprise me at all, though. Daisuki didn't use the original song in their streams, so it's a tough call what they'll use. Shows like Speed Grapher and Eden of the East got released with different OPs because of music licensing.

I'm sure more info will be released in an official capacity in time. I know they're well aware just how many people are chomping at the bit for all the details.

[SteveH]

from what I understand, Neil is working on V Gundam right now.

The Zeta song problem was Neil Sedaka wanting a whole boat load of cash, wasn't it?

That is the story, but there's a forgotten factor to consider.

Bandai was expecting Zeta to run on Cartoon Network/Toonami. They were promoting this fact at that year's New York Toy Fair. Given the afternoon kidvid slot had the habit of trimming OP credits and even generating their own, the titles used on the eventual DVD release have the feel of 'safety' alterations.

And yet the instrumental version of the 'Sign of Zeta' OP showed up all over the place. Which was the part that supposedly was the problem as I don't think Sedaka actually wrote the Japanese lyrics.

I know, I know, this makes me the guy the 'pros' roll their eyes at.

So check me. They didn't use the 'Tobe! Gundam' song when Gundam ran, right? Isn't that precedence? I know, Afternoon Toonami didn't use ANY Japanese songs if memory serves. So if Bandai had great anticipation for Zeta Gundam airing, wouldn't they have prepped the show to meet CN's needs, with the expectation of slapping those episodes on DVD right after airing, ala Gundam. Probably dub only as well.

But Bandai blew it somehow. it might have been the ratings for Gundam and the 9/11/01 interruption.

All I know is I never got my Bandai America MSiA Zeta Gundam.

[greg]

Oh yes, I want to see a release of Zeta with the "Sign of Zeta" song. And ZZ needs the "Anime Janai! Hontou no koto saa!" song. My wife and I watched that series 8 years ago, and we still sing that to each other.

And that missing episode ought to be reinstated. I cannot remember the story behind that one.

I'm not sure if they'll be worth repurchasing these series, though.

[SteveH]

Oh yes, I want to see a release of Zeta with the "Sign of Zeta" song. And ZZ needs the "Anime Janai! Hontou no koto saa!" song. My wife and I watched that series 8 years ago, and we still sing that to each other.

And that missing episode ought to be reinstated. I cannot remember the story behind that one.

I'm not sure if they'll be worth repurchasing these series, though.

Tomino reportedly hates that missing-from-the-US episode. I think I recall him saying the animation work was just terrible.

Oddly enough, I'm pretty sure that the Japanese home video releases have every episode.

Now, me being me, I have a hard time accepting Tomino's statement as a valid reason as there are any number of places in Original Gundam where the animation quality slips, things go a tad off-model and so on. I think Tomino, being as nationalistic as he lets slip from time to time (such as his long ago comments how American just cannot understand Gundam) figured that we in America would be confused by that one episode and the duality of an enemy being a hero. Our butterfat bloated brains would just seize up.

So. Intentionally 'damaged' release to discourage reverse importing? Tomino just waving his superior Japanese balls around expressing his control? Just plain ol' fashioned racism? Maybe a bit of all of the above?

[greg]

I just read a synopsis of the missing Epsiode 15 on MAHQ.net. It actually has an interesting story. The animation quality is just spotty, so maybe Tomino is just ashamed of how it turned out? Even if he is nationalistic and racist, it certainly is not to the same degree as the buttholes on the Anime Nation forum can be at times.

[usamimi]

I just read a synopsis of the missing Epsiode 15 on MAHQ.net. It actually has an interesting story. The animation quality is just spotty, so maybe Tomino is just ashamed of how it turned out? Even if he is nationalistic and racist, it certainly is not to the same degree as the buttholes on the Anime Nation forum can be at times.

I've never seeing the missing episode, but I've heard it's not really good. But I can understand people wanting the "complete" release.

UGH Anime Nation's forums & "articles" are just terrible. I don't see why anyone even bothers to go there or read them anymore.

[llj]

Tomino is mostly just a crank. He criticizes everything--even Japan--and manages to offend even his own diehard fans sometimes. That's what makes him so amusing, though.

[Char Aznable]

This Sunrise/Righfstuf partnership is phenomenal. I just received my Gundam: The Origin CE from Righstuf today. Well, actually, it arrived at my PO Box on Saturday--but I picked it up this afternoon. All I can say is, wow--it was worth every penny. The retro laserdisc packaging is fantastic. Can't wait to watch this. I'm glad that it looks like, going forward, we're going to get releases with both the original Japanese language and English dub.

While the CE already came in a well-packed carboard storage box, Rightstuf also did an amazing job packing it beyond that. It looks flawless--plus it arrived three times faster than expected!

I don't typically buy Collector's Editions, especially not at $100 a pop. But the laserdisc packaging sold me on this, and I was really impressed with Gundam Unicorn...even if I still feel iffy about the series' ending...so if Sunrise could capture that sense of excitement again with Origin, I was willing to shell out the money. While I'm looking forward to future Origin releases, I highly doubt I would spend this kind of money on a single episode again, even though I was in no way disappointed with this release.

I was going to do an unboxing video, but ended up just taking some photos instead...

Laserdisc-style box with obi.


Bluray w/ cardboard slipcover. Nice artwork on both!


"Comic Draft" booklet that includes sketch artwork from the original manga.


Inside the "Comic Draft" booklet.


A couple pages of the 200+ page storyboard book included in the set.


Inside the packaging.


There's also an additional booklet inside the Bluray case with some color artwork of Char, a few other characters, and a bunch of mobile suits/ships. It's certainly a "collector's edition" worthy of the name.