Anime on VHS that never came out on DVD

[Ash Ketchum]

This is a list of 50 Anime VHS tapes in my collection that have had no R1 DVD release (as far as I can determine). Where possible, I’ve listed the company that released the VHS.

If any of you know of a legit R1 DVD release of any of these, I’d be grateful for the info.

Also, if you have Anime VHS tapes in your collection that received a VHS release in the U.S. but have had no R1 DVD release, and that are not on this list, I’d appreciate seeing your lists as well, even if it's only a handful of titles, just so I can know the full range of titles not available on DVD. Thank you.

(On an interesting side note--of the numerous anime VHS titles I have that did get R1 DVD releases, most of those DVDs are now out-of-print.)


ADIEU GALAXY EXPRESS 999 (1981) Viz Video
THE ADVENTURES OF ULTRAMAN (1981) no company i.d. visible
AI CITY (1986) The Right Stuf
ANIMATED CLASSICS OF JAPANESE LITERATURE (1986) 12 of the 37 episodes are on DVD, but 25 are not / those 12 eps. are on 4 DVDs from Central Park Media and all are OOP (out-of-print).
CALL OF THE WILD (1981) Harmony Gold/Vestron Video
CAPTAIN FUTURE (1978) Media Home Entertainment
CAPTAIN HARLOCK – there IS a DVD from East West, but I’m guessing it’s a bootleg of the English dub released by Family Home Entertainment.
DALLOS (1983) Best Film & Video Corp.
DANCOUGAR/ (SUPER BESTIAL MACHINE GOD) DANCOUGAR (1985) Software Sculptors
DANGAIO, Pt. 1 (1987) / DANGAIO, Pt. 2 (1988); DANGAIO, Pt. 3 (1989) U.S. Renditions / (Manga released all three parts edited together in a shortened version called DANGAIOH on DVD, but never the originals)
END OF SUMMER (1994) ADV
END OF SUMMER 2 (1995) Soft Cel Pictures
GALAXY EXPRESS 999 Movie (1979) Viz Video
GENESIS SURVIVER GAIARTH (1992) AnimEigo
GOKU: MIDNIGHT EYE GOKU (1989) (aka MIDNIGHT EYE GOKU) Urban Vision
GREAT CONQUEST: ROMANCE OF THE THREE KINGDOMS (1992) Streamline Pictures/Orion Home Video
A JOURNEY THROUGH FAIRYLAND (1985) Sanrio/Celebrity Home Entertainment
LEDA: THE FANTASTIC ADVENTURES OF YOHKO (1985) (Right Stuf)
LEGEND OF THE FOREST (1987) (Right Stuf)
LENSMAN (1984) Streamline Pictures
LITTLE WOMEN (1980) Harmony Gold / Children’s Video Library
LITTLE WOMEN (1981) Sony
LITTLE WOMEN: ANGEL IN BOOTS (1981) Sony
LITTLE WOMEN: JO’S BOYFRIEND (1981) Sony
LITTLE WOMEN’S CHRISTMAS STORY (1987) Video Treasures
THE LITTLEST WARRIOR (1961) (dubbed 70 min. version of ANJU TO ZUSHIOMARU) Family Home Entertainment
LOCKE THE SUPERPOWER (1984) (dubbed version of LOCKE THE SUPERMAN) Celebrity Home Entertainment
MACRON 1: FLIGHT OF THE BATTLE ROBOTS (1985) Celebrity Home Entertainment
MACRON 1: DARK DISCOVERY IN A NEW WORLD (1985) Celebrity Home Entertainment
NINJA THE WONDER BOY (1979) Paramount Home Video
OGRE SLAYER (1994) Viz Video
OLYMPIC FABLE: RUN FOR LIFE (1981) Children’s Video Library
PHOENIX 2772 (1980) Best Film & Video Corp.
PSYCHO DIVER (1997) Urban Vision
RAIL OF THE STAR (1993) ADV
RAVEN TENGU KABUTO (1992) L.A. Hero
RENEGADE FORCE (aka MAGNE ROBOT GAIKIN) (1976) LD Video Productions
ROBOTECH II: THE SENTINELS (1986) Streamline Pictures
SANCTUARY: THE MOVIE (1996) Viz Video
SHADOW WORLD (aka UFO DAI APOLLON) (1976) Hi-Tops Video
SOHRYUDEN: LEGEND OF THE DRAGON KINGS (1991) U.S. Manga Corps
SPACE ADVENTURE COBRA (movie, 1982) Urban Vision
SPACE WARRIORS BALDIOS (1981) Best Film & Video Corp.
SPACED-OUT JAPANIMATION: Spaceketeers, Starvengers, Grandizer, Gaiking (1975-76/Parade Video) No DVD, but still in print on VHS on Amazon.
SUPER DIMENSION CENTURY ORGUSS (1983) U.S. Renditions
THE TALE OF GENJI (1987) Central Park Media
TECHNO POLICE 21C (1982) Best Film & Video Corp.
TOKYO VICE (1988) AnimeWorks
THE WILD SWANS (1984) RCA/Columbia Pictures Home Video

+ this film from Studio Ghibli that was shown on TCM as part of their Ghibli tribute in 2006, but never released in any format in the U.S., even though Disney has the right to do so:
ONLY YESTERDAY / OMOIDE PORO PORO (1991) Studio Ghibli / Disney (director: Isao Takahata of GRAVE OF THE FIREFLIES fame)

[GHackmann]

ROBOTECH II: THE SENTINELS (1986) Streamline Pictures
This was included as an extra in some of ADV's numerous Robotech sets.

SUPER DIMENSION CENTURY ORGUSS (1983) U.S. Renditions
ImaginAsian released Orguss through a burn-on-demand deal until their manufacturer stopped production. Copies are now notoriously hard to find.

[dugan]

The Secret of the Seal.
http://www.amazon.com/Secret-Seal-VHS/dp/6302934923

It had character designs by Haruhiko Mikimoto (Robotech/Macross).

[Ash Ketchum]

The Secret of the Seal.
http://www.amazon.com/Secret-Seal-VHS/dp/6302934923

It had character designs by Haruhiko Mikimoto (Robotech/Macross).

Wow, that's a real find, Dugan. I never even heard of SECRET OF THE SEAL. I just looked it up in The Anime Encyclopedia and it was directed by Noboru Ishiguro, who directed MACROSS (Robotech). The reviews on Amazon praise it highly. Sounds like a good one to get hold of. Thank you.

[WTK]

LEGEND OF THE FOREST (1987) (Right Stuf)
This was included in a somewhat stealth DVD release by Kino Video. It was released last year on 7/28/09. It was released under the title The Astonishing Work of Tezuka Osamu (http://www.rightstuf.com/i/698452206936).

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51eFkhUqjBL._SL500_AA300_.jpg
SOHRYUDEN: LEGEND OF THE DRAGON KINGS (1991) U.S. Manga Corps
It was released on DVD as singles and a boxset (http://www.rightstuf.com/i/usmd2412) by the same [now defunct] studio. The releases are obviously OOP now.

[dugan]

Wow, that's a real find, Dugan. Thank you.

:)

Thunderbirds 2086 is another one.
http://www.amazon.com/Thunderbirds-2086-NTSC-Joan-Audiberti/dp/B002P9R25A/ref=sr_1_5

I saw one episode, and then it never appeared in my TV guide again.

[big e]

Guyver: Out of Control is another one. I'm surprised ADV didn't stick this on one of the DVD volumes of the new series. It would've made a nice extra.

[Geddlo]

I would love if they released Dancougar on dvd. I have the series on VHS but I am sans VCR at the moment.

[fujishig]

Since you seem to be including dub-only cuts, I don't think anyone's reissued
Time Fighters (Time Bokan)
Time Fighters in the Land of Fantasy
Tranzor Z (Mazinger Z... they never collected all of the episodes on tape, but I know they did have a few)

Did Viz ever release the other Takahashi stuff on DVD, like Rumic World and One Pound Gospel?

I guess both Unico films were actually out on DVD, through Sanrio, but they seem OOP and I never saw them at retail.

[John Sinnott]

Great thread! I worked in a store that sold anime on VHS way back in the day (about 15 years ago or so) and the cool thing was the owner would let me take the tapes home and watch them (so I could talk intelligently about them) as long as I re-shrink wrapped them afterwards. A little bit of a slimy practice, I'll admit. After I quit I had to go cold turkey since I didn't have the cash and hated to choose between sub (which I prefer) and dubbed (which I could watch with my then young son.)

Anime on DVD wasn't much cheaper when it first came out, but it often had dual language tracks which I found very cool. Of course that led to collecting anime and watching way too much. .

[WTK]

Source (http://www.mania.com/aodvb/showpost.php?p=1005458&postcount=94)
[...]

"Studio Name":

"Subsidiary Label":

:::::

ADV Films: (http://www.mania.com/aodvb/../animeondvdcom-adv-films-checklist_article_86283.html) (original version (http://web.archive.org/web/20070920002416/http://www.animeondvd.com/discdata/advtitles.php))

N Abashiri Family
N Adventures of Kotetsu, The
N Bite Me! Chameleon
N Capricorn
N Compiler (announced but never released on DVD)
N Compiler 2
N Dark Warrior
N Delinquent in Drag (announced but never released on DVD)
N Dragoon
N Fire Emblem
N Girl From Phantasia, The
N Gude Crest: The Emblem of Gude
N Hanappe Bazooka
N Iczelion
N Luna Varga
N Megami Paradise
N Megami Paradise 2
N Mighty Space Miners
N Panzer Dragoon
N Rail of the Star: A True Story of Children & War
N Sol Bianca
N Sol Bianca 2
N Suikoden: Demon Century (announced but never released on DVD)

SoftCel Pictures: (http://www.mania.com/aodvb/../animeondvdcom-softcel-checklist_article_86290.html) (original version (http://web.archive.org/web/20070920002416/http://www.animeondvd.com/discdata/softcel.php); list includes A.D. Vision titles retroactively placed under the SoftCel label)

N Dragon Knight: Another Knight on the Town
N End of Summer
N First Loves
N Twin Dolls

AnimEigo: (http://www.mania.com/aodvb/../animeondvdcom-animeigo-checklist_article_86284.html) (original version (http://web.archive.org/web/20070920002416/http://www.animeondvd.com/discdata/animeigotitles.php))

N Genesis Survivor Gaiarth (no longer licensed)
N Rupan III: Legend of the Gold of Babylon (announced as a license by Discotek, but no release is scheduled)
N Shonan Bakusozoku
N Super-Deformed Double Feature

Bandai Entertainment: (http://www.mania.com/aodvb/../animeondvdcom-bandai-checklist_article_86285.html) (original version (http://web.archive.org/web/20070920002416/http://www.animeondvd.com/discdata/bandaititles.php))

N AWOL
N Eatman
N Ehrgeiz (announced but never released on DVD)
N Vision of Escaflowne: Best Collection, The

Central Park Media: (http://www.mania.com/aodvb/../animeondvdcom-cpm-checklist_article_86286.html) (original version (http://web.archive.org/web/20070920002416/http://www.animeondvd.com/discdata/cpmtitles.php))

N Akai Hayate
N Blue Sonnet
N Crystal Triangle
N Dog Soldier: Shadows of the Past
N Explorer Woman Ray
N Roots Search
N Rumik World: Fire Tripper
N Rumik World: Maris the Chojo
N Rumik World: Mermaid Forest
N Rumik World: The Laughing Target
N Space Warriors
N Tale of Genji, The
N Ultimate Teacher
N Wanna-Be's


Software Sculptors: (see the main CPM title for links)

N Dancougar


Manga Entertainment: (http://www.mania.com/aodvb/../animeondvdcom-manga-checklist_article_86287.html) (original version (http://web.archive.org/web/20070920002416/http://www.animeondvd.com/discdata/mangatitles.php))

N Armageddon
N Junkboy
N Mad Bull
N Violence Jack (edited)


Pioneer(/Geneon): (http://www.mania.com/aodvb/../animeondvdcom-pioneergeneon-checklist_article_86289.html) (original version (http://web.archive.org/web/20070920002416/http://www.animeondvd.com/discdata/pioneertitles.php))


N Chisa Live in LA (live action)
N Crimson Blade: The Hakkenden Music Video
N Dog of Flanders, The (sub/uncut)


Star Anime Enterprises:

N Dragon League
N Homeroom Affairs


Streamline Pictures:

N Lensman
N Lily-C.A.T.
N Lupin III: Tales of the Wolf (Miyazaki TV episodes)
N Robot Carnival
N Twilight of the Cockroaches
N Zillion
N Zillion: Burning Nights


The Right Stuf International:

N 8th Man
N Ai City
N Godmars
N Leda: The Fantastic Adventure of Yohko OAVs


Critical Mass Video:

N Violence Jack (uncut)


U.S. Renditions:

N Ambassador Magma
N Dragon Century
N Macross II OAVs


Dark Image Entertainment/L.A. Hero:

N Guyver: Out Of Control
N Raven Tengu Kabuto OAV

Urban Vision: (http://www.mania.com/aodvb/../animeondvdcom-urban-vision-checklist_article_86291.html) (original version (http://web.archive.org/web/20070920002416/http://www.animeondvd.com/discdata/uvtitles.php))

N Cockpit, The
N Dragon Slayer
N Final Fantasy: The Legend of the Crystals
N Goku: Midnight Eye
N Hurricane Polymar
N Psycho Diver
N Space Adventure Cobra movie


Viz: (http://www.mania.com/aodvb/../animeondvdcom-viz-checklist_article_86292.html) (original version (http://web.archive.org/web/20070920002416/http://www.animeondvd.com/discdata/viztitles.php))

N Adieu Galaxy Express 999
N Galaxy Express 999 movie
N Grey: Digital Target
N Mermaid's Scar
N Ogre Slayer
N One Pound Gospel
N Ranma 1/2 Video Jukebox
N Sanctuary

[Ash Ketchum]

Source (http://www.mania.com/aodvb/showpost.php?p=1005458&postcount=94)

Thank you for that list, WTK. I see on it a number of titles I have that I overlooked when going over my collection (probably because so many of them are in boxes in my closet). And thanks for linking to your source, a valuable list in itself.