Animosity: 2000 - Year of the DVD

By: Mike O'Connell
Date: Wednesday, December 27, 2000
Source: Chibi Planet

Earlier this month, Chibi Planet ran a report on AKA Kon, the recent anime convention in Vancouver, British Columbia. Aside from the usual convention news, the report included a little tidbit that long-time anime fans should recognize as being very significant.

Covering the video company panels, writer Danielle Fletcher reported the following: 'A hot topic currently is the gradual move from VHS to DVD format. Bandai in particular made it clear that they are eliminating subtitled VHS format anime titles, streaming them into DVD instead in order to provide both choices to anime fans in one purchase. The company will reserve VHS for mass-market releases like television programs that will appeal to a general audience as opposed to the specialized anime fan base.'

In other words, video companies have finally realized that DVD has become the format of choice for a growing number of anime fans--not to mention video buyers in general. The reasons are obvious. The DVD format not only boasts high quality digital sound and picture, it opens the door to such extras as trailers, behind-the-scenes featurettes, and DVD-ROM capabilities. Best of all, it invalidates the long-running debate of whether to watch subtitled or dubbed videos. With DVD, you can have both in one package.

At the end of 1999, video companies were still unsure whether DVD would prove to be a viable alternative to VHS; now, it seems poised to supplant VHS altogetherat least in the anime world. Over the last year, we saw many new series debut and old series reissued on DVD. Here are some of the best anime DVDs to hit stores during 2000:

Princess Mononoke: Yeah, I know, I reviewed director Hayao Miyazaki's masterpiece just last week, but it's unquestionably the biggest anime release of the year and well worth mentioning again and again. If you didn't find a copy of Princess Mononoke under your Christmas tree, go out and buy the Buena-Vista DVD ASAP. You'll thank me.

Perfect Blue-If Alfred Hitchcock had directed an animated feature film, it probably would've looked a lot like director Satoshi Kon's Perfect Blue. This contemporary thriller concerns a former Japanese idol singer who tries to start a new career as a soap opera actress. When she stumbles upon a website that documents her life in disturbing detail and people around her begin to turn up dead, the actress has trouble distinguishing between what is real and what is imagined. As part of its strategy to promote anime to larger audiences, Manga Video gave Perfect Blue a limited theatrical run before releasing it to video. If you didn't catch it on the big screen, don't worry; Perfect Blue still packs a potent punch of creepy unreality on the small screen.

Castle of Cagliostro-Since we're talking about Miyazaki, be sure to check out his first feature film, Castle of Cagliostro. Released through Manga Video, Cagliostro follows the world's greatest thief, Lupin III, as he to avoid the long-arm of the law while rescuing a kidnapped princess. Although nowhere near as serious as Miyazaki's other works, this lightweight comedy still shows off the director's skill at blending thrilling action with unique characterizations.

Sailor Moon R, Sailor Moon S: In 2000, Pioneer released not one, not two, but three movies based on the popular Sailor Moon TV series. In Sailor Moon R: The Movie, the sailor scouts use love (what else?) to battle the evil alien Kisenian. In the two Sailor Moon S movies (Hearts on Ice and Black Dream Hole), the scouts must first defrost the city after an icy attack from space and then rescue a group of children from a nightmare world. Although each movie is only hour in length each, they're packed with all the elements that make Sailor Moon the wonderful series that it is: adventure, slapstick comedy, and a healthy dose of romance.

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