Anime Box Sets: My rant about how bullshit expensive box sets can be.

For several years now, we have been enjoying anime on Toonami, VHS tapes, laser discs, DVDs, Blu-Rays, downloadables, subs, dubs, shitty Chinese subs, etc. But when a American company gets the rights to the anime, and finishes it (or a big chunk of it) they tend to release a large box set of the episodes or the whole series. Let’s see how the prices have gone over the years.

We shall only be going through DVD box sets, since VHS and everything below are now garbage. We’ll be going by the big companies that distribute and sell anime to the American market these days:

1. Funimation

2. Viz Media

3. Bandai Entertainment

Funimation

Funimation has been around for quite a while now, Funimation is best known for its Dragonball Z property in the states since its supposely “teh best anime evar”, which it obviously isn’t (though its still great). Funimation is honestly a very good company, besides DBZ, there dubs tend to be very well done and decently priced. We shall be going by some of their latest box sets within the past few months/years.

1. Dragonball Z Season Box sets

Contains:

• (About) 26 episodes per set

• Digitally Remastered (with cropped wide screen o.O)

• Cheap and affordable

• Uncut, dual languages, English subtitles

• Different audio tracks allowing you to watch dub w/ redone music, dub w/ original music, or sub/ with original music

• Great price

Average retail price: $49.99

Average cheapass price: About $30.

2. Yu Yu Hakusho Season Box Sets

Contains:

• (About) 26-28 episodes per set

• Cheap and affordable

• Uncut, dual language, English subtitles

• Great price

Average retail price: $34.99

Average cheapass price: $20.99

Funimation knows how to do a cheap box set right. Containing entire seasons within a small box (without full size DVD cases, and pointless “extras”) show that Funimation are aiming more for the fans than they are for cash. Although, its bullshit how they are releasing the popular anime One Piece in 13 episode box sets, they still remain cheap and still the best on my list.

Viz Media

Viz has been around on the manga scene for a long time now, but since dubbing Naruto, they have been making the big bucks. Along with other popular Shonen properties such as Bleach and Death Note, Viz isn’t leaving any time soon.

1. Naruto Box Set 1

Contains:

• 13 uncut episodes

• Uncut, dual languages, English subtitles

• Decently priced

Average retail price: $49.99

Average cheapass price: $24.99

2. Bleach Box Set 1

Contains:

• 20 uncut episodes

• Uncut, dual languages, English subtitles

• Decently priced

Average retail price: $49.99

Average cheapass price: $29.99

There’s a few reasons why I hate Viz and there box sets. 1. They overprice everything, and also release a super expensive edition that includes something like a figure. 2. The box sets contain half or less than the average 26 episode box set, and its priced like one, its terrible. 3. Why Viz makes a special edition (to a already overpriced box set) thats only special because of a figure and not actual extras is beyond me. Hopefully in the near future, Viz will take after Funimation, until then, I’m sure most Naruto/Bleach/Death Note fans will likely download the series more than buy it.

Bandai Entertainment

Bandai has been selling box sets for quite a while now, I remember when they sold wildly expensive box sets for $200 for Cowboy Bebop. Nowadays, Bandai has gone down the same road as Funimation and now sells there anime for much cheaper until the “Anime Legends” label.

1. Cowboy Bebop (Anime Legends)

Contains:

• 26 uncut episodes, the complete series

• Dual language, english subtitles

• Great price

Average retail price: $49.99

Average cheapass price: $29.99

2. The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya

Contains:

• 13 uncut episodes, the complete series

• Dual language, English subtitles

• Great price

Average retail price: $59.99

Average cheapass price: $34.99

Over the years, Bandai has learned how to make a good box set. Creating cheap box sets, and creating the Anime Legends line of older titles makes buying anime better than it used to be.

Overall, it seems that anime these days isn’t to shabby to buy. Cheapskates like myself, can finally purchase anime unlike a few years ago when the debut of anime on the DVD format was super expensive. Even though the new Blu-ray format is way more high tech than DVD, it will be a while before DVDs leave the market due to the high prices of Blu-ray movies, and that very few animes have made the move over to Blu-ray.

Why can I buy cheaper anime, like you?

Well, if you’re smart enough, i’d say, do a google search.  Though, theres a few sites that typically sell anime cheaper than most retail websites.

1. Amazon.com

Amazon seems to be always a mixed bag with anime, sometimes they may have a steal, and sometimes the prices are out of the roof.  Usually, when a anime is up for pre order they tend to drop the price lower than usual, but usually there animes sell $10-30 cheaper than most sites online.

2. Wal-mart stores and Wal-mart.com

Wal-mart always sells anime for super cheap.  The problem is finding what you want in stock.  Wal-mart takes a huge gamble by selling there box sets nearly $40 off the retail price.  Bleach, Naruto, and One Piece go for very cheap here, so its usually when you see it, buy it.

3. Random sales, deals, discounts, and a simple Google search.

Remember, when all else seems overpriced, always check if a certain site is having a sale.  Sales can typically knock off a good chunk of a price.  Sometimes there maybe a site that may of also underpriced a anime by accident (thinking its a regular DVD, and not a set) and you could get a steal from them.  Also, always google for the best price before purchasing a anime DVD.  You may never know if a random store online has a cheaper price than the site that looks like it has the best deal.

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