Aniplex Books R.O.D -The Complete- Blu-ray Box for Distribution This Winter Through Bandai and Right Stuf
Oct 8th 2010

© 2001, 2002 Studio Orphee / Aniplex © Studio Orphee / Aniplex

SANTA MONICA, CA (October 7, 2010) – Aniplex of America Inc. announced today that R.O.D READ OR DIE -THE COMPLETE- Blu-ray BOX—recently licensed for distribution in North America—will be released January 18th, 2011 through Bandai Entertainment, Inc.'s ―The Store‖ online retail shop and Right Stuf.com. In addition, both companies have signed on to distribute Aniplex's Durarara!! DVDs.

Previously released on standard DVD format in North America, both R.O.D -READ OR DIE- OVA series and R.O.D -THE TV- have garnered critical acclaim and a groundswell of support from many anime enthusiasts over the years. Now, with the gradual consumer shift over to high definition Blu-ray players and matching video software, R.O.D -THE COMPLETE- Blu-ray BOX becomes Aniplex's first official BD release in North America.

[...]

R.O.D -THE COMPLETE- Blu-ray Box includes:
• ALL 29 episodes on 5 discs: 3 episodes of R.O.D –Read or Die- OVA series and 26
episodes of R.O.D -THE TV- series
• Both Japanese and English audio and English subtitles
• OVA and TV trailers
• Deluxe and elaborate packaging and cover artwork identical to Japan's Blu-ray box set
release
• A 48-page booklet (English translated) that was originally part of the Japanese Blu-ray
Box
• SRP will be $199.98

R.O.D –THE COMPLETE- Blu-ray Box can be pre-ordered at:
The Store:
Store.Bandai-Ent.com/ROD
Right Stuf:
www.RightStuf.com/i/aoa0301

Product number and UPC bar code
Street Date
SKU #
UPC
January 18, 2011
AOA-0301
850527-003035

Aniplex, Bandai and Right Stuf Team Up for Durarara!! DVD Distribution
Oct 8th 2010

© Ryohgo Narita / ASCII MEDIA WORKS / Ikebukuro Dollars / MBS

SANTA MONICA, CA (October 7, 2010) – Following Aniplex of America Inc.'s summer announcement that it had licensed Durarara!!, the company confirmed today that it will team up with anime distribution powerhouses “The Store,” Bandai Entertainment Inc.'s online retail shop and Right Stuf.com for Aniplex's upcoming release of Durarara!! DVD Part 1 due out on Tuesday, January 25, 2011. Pre-order will start on Friday, October 8.

“This is a great opportunity for us to partner with Bandai Entertainment and Right Stuf to bring Durarara!!, one of our strongest titles, to the fans in North America,” said Henry Goto, President of Animation Business of Aniplex of America. “I hope many fans take advantage of this chance and enjoy the world of Durarara!!”

Ken Iyadomi, President of Bandai Entertainment, Inc., echoed Goto's enthusiasm for the distribution agreement, noting that “Bandai Entertainment has a proven, successful track record of bringing fans what they want and our direct partnership with Aniplex is indicative of our firm commitment to distributing fantastic titles like Durarara!!”

“Ensuring an anime title's availability through established distributors and trusted venues is crucial to the launch of any new release,” said Shawne Kleckner, President and CEO of Right Stuf, Inc. “We look forward to working closely with Aniplex, one of Japan's premier anime production companies, to bring the Durarara!! DVDs to a very enthusiastic and receptive fan base.”

As part of an online promotion* for the official January 2011 release, each customer who pre-orders Durarara!! DVD Part 1 (a 2-disc set) through either “The Store” or Right Stuf.com. by December 7th, 2010 will receive a set of Durarara!! limited edition PVC Key chain in their order shipment.

* (Please note: Promotion is available only for U.S. and Canadian residents and offered only while supplies last.)

Durarara!! DVD Parts 1-3 can be pre-ordered at:
The Store:
Store.Bandai-ent.com/Durarara!!
Right Stuf:
www.RightStuf.com/i/aoa0701


Durarara!! DVD Info
• Exclusive new artwork images on deluxe digipak packaging
• Includes the original Japanese and English dub audio
• Exclusive post cards (4-5 cards per release)
• English subtitles
• 16:9 Anamorphic widescreen
• 3 parts total. Each part is a 2-disc set that contains 8 to 9 episodes
• SRP: $49.98

Product number and UPC bar code
Street Date
Contains
SKU #
UPC

Part 1
Jan 25, 2011
Ep.1-9
AOA-0701
850527-003004

Part 2
March 29, 2011
Ep.10-17 & Special Bonus Episode 12.5
AOA-0702
850527-003011

Part 3
May 2011
Ep.18-24 & Special Bonus Episode 25
AOA-0703
850527-003028

This 2-disc premium edition includes a 32-page full-color, hardcover artbook featuring detailed character and background introductions, comments from staff members, illustrations, and exclusive comic "Gilbert in Wonderland Part 2" by original author Jun Mochizuki and a premium box.

Special Features: 9th Time's the Charm?!, Holy Knight (Picture Story), Cheshire's Room, Relaxation Dimension Abyss, Clean Ending.

Spoken Languages: Japanese, English subtitles.

Part I – Bringing Back Starter Set Packaging and Premium Item

In question 1, we had two choices, a Part 1 collector version or stick with current packaging. The collector version option received 69% of the vote.

Part 1 (Episodes 1-13) comprises of a collectible rigid hard box containing 2 slim DVD cases with reversible covers and a premium item. The collector box will have room to include the 2 slim DVD cases in Part 2. (all 4 slims will fit in to the collector box) The concept is very much similar to the Volume 1 Starter Boxes released several years ago. The SRP for this would be $5 more or $64.98 – retailers will likely price this at $43 to $52 – (cause who pays full retail?)

This will be a First Printing Limited Edition. After we have sold through all the allocated units of the first printing with the rigid box and premium– that’s it. We will then start to offer Part 1 for $59.98 SPR with a cardstock box and 2 slim DVDs- our current packaging. (retailers will likely price this at $40 to $48.)

The release packaging and pricing of the Part 2 of a series will remain the same. $59.98 SRP in a cardstock box with 2 slim DVDs (again – who pays full retail?)

So for less than a $5 increase, you get a rigid collectible box and a premium item. You spend that much on a fancy coffee alone. In fact, the increase in price does not cover our costs for the premium and the rigid box, but we felt we did not want to pass that entire cost to you.

This will be the case for all of our new properties – 26/24 and 12/13 episode series starting in 2011. If a show was only 13 episodes, the series will have a rigid box and a premium item.

In question 7 of the survey, we asked your preference of premium items. Based on that feedback, we are providing what you would like as premium items.

We are still in the process of finalizing the box art and the premium items so I can’t show you all the exact items yet. We will display all items in the coming weeks. All of these titles will have a collectible rigid box plus the following:

Phantom – Requiem for the Phantom – The premium item will be a bullet chain necklace.
Black Butler – We are still working on the packaging – we’ll get back to you on this one.
Sacred Blacksmith – The premium item will be an 32 page art booklet with a centerfold.


Part II – Anime Classics – The Greatest Hits Collection

We are creating a new line look called Anime Classics.

There are so many great older titles that people need to have in their collection – many are the best example of a certain anime genre. Anime Classics is our new line for these shows. It’s a greatest hits collection of anime titles – each under $50 dollars. The SRP will be $49.98 but who pays full retail? It will be less than that at your favorite store.

This line is not a catch-all for all box sets. Not every title will be selected for Anime Classics. A lot of this is based on past sales performance of the title and fandom reaction throughout the years. Basically, the last box set release for every show will either be an Anime Classic or S.A.V.E.

We are still looking at packing options that take into consideration that the classics are to 1. Be watched again and again and 2. They need to look good in a bookcase without taking up too much space. We’ll post news about the packaging when it’s finalized.

Special Bonus Footage Disc Volume 2 of Our Home’s Fox Deity comes with events and interview footage of the Japanese voice actors/actresses! The bonus footage disc is approx. 280 minutes, starring Yukana(Kugen/female), Yuichi Nakamura (Kugen/male), SaoriHayami(Ko), Daisuke Ono (Ebisu), and more!