Throwback Ad Tuesday! Robotech: The Macross Saga

ADV Films released no shortage of Robotech DVDs. First there were the single DVD volumes, then the Legacy Collection, followed by the Remastered editions, and later on the complete Protoculture Collection. The version advertised here is the complete thirty-six episode Macross Saga in one six-disc package, released in 2002. ADV gets bonus points for using the 1985 Ben Cooper Halloween costume in the ad. Talk about real vintage cosplay!

Throwback Ad Thursday: Najica Blitz Tactics

ADV Films may have released one of the most unique DVD "collector's edition" bundles with Najica Blitz Tactics. While this ad promotes the second DVD release, it makes mention of Volume 1, which included an art box and limited edition panties! Najica was a series notorious for its constant panty-view camera shots and gratuitous fan service (made by the same studio responsible for the very similar Agent Aika), so the inclusion of panties is, seemingly, a fitting bonus.

Throwback Ad Tuesday: Gigantor DVD Box Set

In 2002 Rhino Home Video gave Gigantor his due with the release of the series' first 26 episodes on DVD. Rhino boasted that the show was given a new digital transfer and the set featured several worthy extras, including commentaries and interviews. A second box set, with episodes 27-52, arrived on DVD a year later. Both sets eventually went out-of-print, until E1 Entertainment released the show on DVD again, in 2009.

Magazine Monday: Anime Insider #6 (April 2003)

This Monday I unearthed Anime Insider #6, buried deep in the collection, from April 2003. This issue bears the distinction of being the first with the Anime Insider moniker, which had previously been Anime Invasion. This also marked their change from quarterly publication to bi-monthly.

Friday Review: Rosario + Vampire

When Tsukune fails the high school entrance exam his academic future looks bleak; fortunately, despite his lacking grades, he’s accepted into Yokai Academy – a strange out-of-the-way school he’s never heard of. And there’s a reason for it…Yokai Academy is a school for monsters! 

Throwback Ad Thursday: InuYasha Movie 2

This advertisement promised customers that with the $24.98 purchase price of InuYasha: The Castle Beyond the Looking Glass DVD, they'd get an exclusive trading card. But, on the bottom of the ad, in 'squint-real-hard-and-you'll see it text,' it reads: "While supplies last. Limited to first 50,000 copies." So, if you were one of those lucky 50,000, you likely received an InuYasha trading card. I did when I picked my copy up at Best Buy back in the day, but the card certainly wasn't anything special. However, for the third InuYasha movie Best Buy had a great exclusive going on, where early copies came with a free CD soundtrack from the film. I picked a copy up the Tuesday it hit shelves and still have the CD, which was included inside the DVD case, packaged in its own cardboard sleeve.

The Bizarre World of Bootlegs: Gundam 0083 Stardust Memory

 

Here are some images of the Gundam 0083 bootleg from quite a few years ago. This one was released by FX.

Throwback Ad Tuesday: Girls Bravo

Geneon Entertainment started releasing the Girls Bravo series onto DVD in 2004. The final DVD, volume 6, came out in 2006. By 2010 Funimation took over the license and have since released a box set, containing all 24 episodes, under their affordable "S.A.V.E." label.

Throwback Ad Thursday: Wolf's Rain

Wolf's Rain was a show I had a hard time getting into when it first aired on Cartoon Network. One day I'll have to get around to watching it again with a fresh start and see if I feel differently. True to the advertisement's promise, the first volume of the series did indeed come out in 2004. Boasting five episodes (later volumes only included four), it was offered in both standard DVD format and a limited version with artbox, CD soundtrack, and a Kiba plushie.

Throwback Ad Tuesday: Trigun Maximum

In 2004 Dark Horse Comics licensed and translated Yasuhiro Nightow's Trigun Maximum manga. The series lasted 14 volumes, with the final one released in 2009. Dark Horse was noticeably less flashy when promoting their manga than TokyoPop or Viz, evident from this advertisement. Whereas TokyoPop or even ADV would incorporate witty or catchy taglines on their print ads, Dark Horse opted for the awkward tag (likely transliterated directly from Japanese): "Deep space planet future gun action!!"

Manga Monday: Ghost in the Shell (Dark Horse Comics)

It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that Masamune Shirow's Ghost in the Shell manga has reached an iconic status. Though, considering Shirow's masterwork was released in the US during the mid-'90s, it should come as no surprise that it had a bit of a troubled publication history in the West.

Friday Review: InuYasha The Final Act

 THE FINAL AC T IN A FEUDAL FAIRY TALE

It’s undeniable that both the InuYasha manga and anime have a rabid following in Japan. With Adult Swim’s English dubbed broadcast of the anime between 2002 and 2006, which proved to be a hit in North America, InuYasha had continued to enthrall audiences the world over. Sadly, when the original 167 episode anime series came to an end, there was little closure to the show, leaving many to only guess at the main cast of characters’ fate (unless they read the manga).

Throwback Ad Thursday: Xenosaga Episode 1

A print ad for Namco's Xenosaga Episode 1, under PlayStation 2's "Greatest Hits" banner (and at a low retail price of only $19.95!). The original game was released in Japan in 2002, while American gamers would have to wait until 2003 to get their hands on it. The "Greatest Hits" edition hit shelves a year later, in '04.

Wasteland Wednesday: Kimagure Orange Road OVA Series VHS

This week I'm posting pics of my Kimagure Orange Road VHS collection. These were of the KOR OVA series, released in North America by AnimEgo in 1992. The tapes were available subtitled-only, and each came in oversized black plastic cases. I'm a big fan of the artwork in KOR, and I really like that AnimEgo featured some fantastic art on both the front and back of each VHS cover.
 

Throwback Ad Tuesday: Ninja Scroll 10th Anniversary DVD

Available in 2003, Manga Video's 10th Anniversary DVD release of Ninja Scroll was loaded with extras. Aside from the remastered picture and 6.1 DTS surround sound, it featured an interview with the director, a photo galley, the history of Jubei, and more. The DVD also came in a fold-out digi-pack and included an anniversary poster. Sentai Filmworks re-released the film on Blu-ray and DVD in 2015 with a brand-new HD remaster and enhanced sound, but lacked the special features from Manga Video's DVD.

Gameday Sunday: Battle Stadium D.O.N. (GameCube/PS2)

Released for the GameCube and PlayStation 2 in 2006, Battle Stadium D.O.N. is best described as Super Smash Bros. with characters from Dragon Ball Z, One Piece, and Naruto. The gameplay is nearly identical, the maps have similar 'out-of-bound' areas, and each character has a special move. With that said, Battle Stadium D.O.N. is a heck of a fun game, especially for fans of these franchises.