[JP] Mouretsu Uchuu Kaizoku (Mouretsu Pirates)

[WTK]

via muhootsaver (http://muhootsaver.tistory.com/1488) | Amazon Japan listings:

LE - Vol.1 (http://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/B006V46M88), Vol.2 (http://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/B006VY9LY0), Vol.3 (http://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/B006VY9TD8), Vol.4 (http://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/B0076AG84E), Vol.5 (http://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/B00771TSJO), Vol.6 (http://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/B00771TQQO), Vol.7 (http://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/B00771TTPW)
Reg - Vol.1 (http://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/B006V46LWA), Vol.2 (http://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/B006VY9M3K), Vol.3 (http://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/B006VY9LPO), Vol.4 (http://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/B0076AGFPG), Vol.5 (http://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/B00771TQ3C), Vol.6 (http://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/B00771TP5Q), Vol.7 (http://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/B00771TMLS)

Moretsu Uchuu Kaizoku or Moretsu Pirates BD vol.1 will be released on 3/7. LE 6300yen. Includes the first two eps.

- Audio Drama (Teach me, Misa Sensei)
- Special track
- Non-credit OP/ED
- Early preview event document clip

Vol.2 Limited edition is 6615yen. Regular edition is 6300yen. LE will include nendoroid. episodes 3 to 6. Total 7 volumes.

(source (http://forest.kinokuniya.co.jp/ItemIntro/694493))

[HitokiriShadow]

Oh boy, Mouretsu is doing the "different cover art for LE/RE" thing.

volume 1 LE (http://ec2.images-amazon.com/images/I/51kzbhEYSPL.jpg)
volume 1 Regular (http://ec2.images-amazon.com/images/I/51ck9%2BGBcxL.jpg)
volume 2 LE (http://ec2.images-amazon.com/images/I/51OQge1Wn1L.jpg)
volume 2 Regular (http://ec2.images-amazon.com/images/I/51ZYQiHNLXL.jpg)

Also, it was brought to my attention elsewhere that the DVDs are getting a 13 disc release. MRSP of buying all the BDs? 45,990. MSRP for buying all of the DVDs? 45,045. The price increase for getting the BD release is a whole 945 yen. And that's assuming you're getting the Nendoroid LE version of the BD. DVDs are RE only.

[something]

Oh boy, Mouretsu is doing the "different cover art for LE/RE" thing.
I like the LE covers better so I guess it's okay this time.. I also bet there's a decent chance of the Re covers being part of the LE packaging somehow.

Also, it was brought to my attention elsewhere that the DVDs are getting a 13 disc release. MRSP of buying all the BDs? 45,990. MSRP for buying all of the DVDs? 45,045. The price increase for getting the BD release is a whole 945 yen. And that's assuming you're getting the Nendoroid LE version of the BD. DVDs are RE only.
Yeah, twice as many discs but released twice as fast at the same price and in the same amount of time and... I don't get it. What's the benefit of having to print and ship twice as many DVDs for the same amount of content and same amount of money made? Especially when only about 500 people are going to buy the DVDs in the first place.

And I doubt Mouretsu has a huge rental audience they can generate more money from by doubling the number of disc rental fees needed to watch it all. But I don't know, maybe that actually does make enough of a difference.

And while I'm posting about Mouretsu, in its last days before going on sale it's seen its biggest, most sustained rankings bump yet. It's currently at #22 and peaked at #19. Pretty damn good for a show that looked like another <2k bomb just 4-5 weeks ago.

Here's hoping Amazon Ranking Stalker's estimates undercount hugely (3,227 BDs and negligible DVDs right now) and its solid performance the last month or so makes it a success.

[Nadeko]

I like the LE covers better so I guess it's okay this time.. I also bet there's a decent chance of the Re covers being part of the LE packaging somehow.

I just received my copy of vol. 1 today, the slipcase have the LE artwork and the actual Blu-ray case have the RE artwork. Your guess was right. :)

[Damius]

Just a question about Vol. 1 LE. In the root post it is not that a extra is: - Special track

On CDJ it says: Comes with a special CD (original soundrack). What is the CD actually?

Arg, the wait until end of June to get the first 4 LE volumes gonna be long... I really miss partial shipments now...

[kijakusai]

What is the CD actually?
　
This blogger said that it was a soundtrack CD which also included an audio drama.
http://blog.goo.ne.jp/malor-xp/e/be62f88adf3a527bab0688c1c9d597b0

Also in reviews in the MōPi Blu-ray Disc Vol. 1 LE page on the Amazon Japan site, people mention the CD, which came with the BD Vol. 1 LE.
　

[Damius]

Well, the same problem occurs with vol. 4 LE. It's now at: Usually ships within 1 to 2 months at Amazon JP: http://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/B0076AG84E

It's a good thing I ordered it in May.

[Asf]

Well, the same problem occurs with vol. 4 LE. It's now at: Usually ships within 1 to 2 months at Amazon JP: http://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/B0076AG84E

It's a good thing I ordered it in May.
Man, it's happening again, huh?
Glad mine shipped ok.

Gruier seems to be stuffing her bra a bit for the cover.
http://ec2.images-amazon.com/images/I/51vVZ8LYNBL.jpg

[something]

Well, the same problem occurs with vol. 4 LE. It's now at: Usually ships within 1 to 2 months at Amazon JP: http://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/B0076AG84E
Ridiculous, King Records. That's actually a worse status than we got for Vol. 3 which was just temporarily out of stock. Well, maybe it'll be back in a few days.

It's a good thing I ordered it in May.
It's a good thing I placed my order last night. :sd:

[Damius]

Well, the same problem occurs with vol. 4 LE. It's now at: Usually ships within 1 to 2 months at Amazon JP: http://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/B0076AG84E
Ridiculous, King Records. That's actually a worse status than we got for Vol. 3 which was just temporarily out of stock. Well, maybe it'll be back in a few days.


Do you remember if vol. 3 (or the previous) had no discount at all, when they were OOS? Because this one is currently at full SRP...

[something]

Do you remember if vol. 3 (or the previous) had no discount at all, when they were OOS? Because this one is currently at full SRP...
Dunno, it was only OOS for a day or two. This might just not have a discount since it's in such a heavily backordered status.

[something]

Do you remember if vol. 3 (or the previous) had no discount at all, when they were OOS? Because this one is currently at full SRP...
Dunno, it was only OOS for a day or two. This might just not have a discount since it's in such a heavily backordered status.

v3 BD is back in stock and discounted again, albeit only 22%. Ok, good it was only out a day or two.

[something]

I was looking desperately for the OST for this show, wondering why I couldn't find it listed anywhere, when I realized it's probably included the BDs, and it is. I'll actually address the three volumes in reverse since I have the most to say about Vol. 1.

Volume 3
This includes a nice all-color 40 page booklet with the usual screencaps and character art and the like.


Volume 2
This has, Marika (pirate version) and Chikai (school uniform version) papercraft! And it's not like, exacto knife and superglue, it just folds together reasonably well. Here's what they look lke finished:
Marika (http://www.koi-nya.net/img/subidos_posts/2012/03/graphig-marika-1.jpg) and Chiaki (http://www.koi-nya.net/img/subidos_posts/2012/03/graphig-chiaki-1.jpg) and I have to say they're so much cuter in person than in those images. It's that Graphig stuff. Marika went together fairly easily once I figured out what I was doing, but Chiaki was pretty tsuntsun about some bits. I don't think she liked being touched by anyone other than Marika... I'm sorry Chiaki, it was for a good cause! As compensation, I have her and Marika holding hands now and ffffffffffff- every time I look over at it I'm overcome with twitchy glee at how utterly adorable they are together.

I am so dying to get a Gruier in a later volume. This must happen! Then I can put her on the other side of Marika and Marika can have a papercraft harem. <3


Volume 1
Track 1 is the audio drama, "Oshiete, Misa-sensei!" Let's see how much of this I can understand in listening through:
- Starts with Misa complaining about the "school nurse" role she has to play. She likes being looked up to by the girls, but it's just a lot of work.
- And there's more footsteps approaching her office now... it's Mami. She introduces herself with a door-opening onomatopoeia,but when Misa points out that the building has automatic doors, Mami backs up, does it again, and chooses a more appropriate onomatopoeia. :sd:
- "Sensei, I'm worried about something!" "Oh is that so? Take care!" Misa, you're not very good at this "caring school nurse" thing, heh.
- Misa doesn't yet know who Mami is at this point (must be very very early on) so Mami introduces herself. Misa then tries to hurry her along when Mami notices booze on Misa's desk and is shocked.
- Mami's worry is about "a friend" who has been acting a bit weird lately. Sometimes this friend even unconsciously shouts out things like "Alright, it's pirating time!". I wonder who that could be. >_>
- Misa's conclusion is that this friend is, if I got this right, testing out joke material on Mami to see how she'll respond. :sd:

- Mami runs off to do Mami things, with weird ideas in her head thanks to Misa, when someone else enters the nurse's office after her - Chiaki! Haha, she does the same door/walking sfx, but with such a sad-sounding mood.
- And her question for Misa is a bit weightier: "What is living?" Misa decides this calls for more booze, but Chiaki freaks out about how many calories Misa is taking in, and then lets slip something about chocolate parfaits... and it turns out her existential crisis is about dieting. :sd: Her "Hauu!" when Misa hits the nail on the head is too cute.
- Chiaki is hilarious. As she's freaking out about things, Misa tells her she's so cute - but Chiaki wants to be cool, not cute!
- Misa reasures her that a cool woman can be cute too, and as she's reassuring her, gives her a big hug and leans in to whisper in her ear...
- ...which is apparently Chiaki's weak point. Marika, take note! The little moan from Chiaki is <3 <3 <3 Love Hanazawa Kana so much.
- Of course her other weak point is that Misa smells of booze, and this finally gets Chiaki to leave. :sd:

- After she leaves, Misa goes on for a while longer about how cute she is, with that long black hair and tsuntsun attitude. Well, we know what Misa's tastes are like now.
- As she's basically fantasizing about Chiaki, Marika comes bursting in (no sfx, Misa notes) asking what the heck Misa did to Mami. :sd:
- I get a bit lost here, but things turn back to Marika and her still unresolved (at this point, I assume) decision about becoming Bentenmaru's captain.
- Misa reflects on th day's work... and has another beer.

A lot easier to follow than I expected, until the end there. Here's hoping there are more of these.

Moving on to track 2 we have Yume no Arika, a "special ending song" for the audio drama: a cute, lively Komatsu Mikako/Marika song.

Track 3 starts the OST proper with Daikoukai Jidai, aka the song that plays with the narration at the start of every episode. I love this track. It gets me in the mood each week in spectacular fashion. Too bad it's only 1:50 long, and in fact that's the longest track in this part of the OST. The rest of it is really good, but mostly on the lighter side of the tracks. Of those, my favorite might be Chiaki Kurihara. Her theme is so damn fun. Hakuou Jogakuin is that nice sorta-Celtic theme played during school scenes, and is another favorite.

The more tense/action-y tracks come back with Ugokidasu Toki, which is basically one of the "Marika is about to implement up an amazing strategy!" pieces. Some others are Shikou kara Ketusron, Hajimete no Tatakai, Yochou, and of course Captain Marika.

Definitely can't wait for the rest of the OST in some later volume. I just wish a lot of these tracks were 2-3x longer.


On disc extras of note

Only Vol. 1 has on-disc extras. In addition to clean OP/ED, there's a 37 minute feature of behind the scenes stuff for an advance screening of the first episode (I think). Komatsu Mikako (Marika), Omigawa Chiaki (Mami) and Satou Tatsuou are there with the Momoiro Clover Z girls (the latter being surprise guests). Too bad no Hanazawa.

- As they're prepping on stage, Omigawa says "Hi, I'm Komatsu Mikako", so Komatsu says "Hi I'm Omigawa Chiaki" in this really silly high pitched voice. I guess it was supposed to be an impression, so Omigawa gets play-mad. :sd:
- Komatsu looks really pretty in her shoulder-bareing red dress. Everyone (except Omigawa for some reason) is in red because this happened near Christmas.
- Satou is in this really crazy red outfit with, like... black tights, a ski cap, and I dunno wtf but he's pretty amusing.
- Jeeze one of the MomoKuro girls has dimples you could fill up with water and drown a pig in.
- I may not like her acting, but Omigawa is pretty fun to watch play around. And Komatsu is just <3


BTW, I wonder why the initial listing for this show said it came with a Nendroid. Maybe it ws mixed up with the Graphig, or whatever.

[Damius]

Something, you sure are the best to make the wait even harder! ^__^

[something]

I've been lazy about following coverart the last season or two but I had to post this one:

Jenny is just too badass (http://ec2.images-amazon.com/images/I/61LTQTCcjyL.jpg).

[Damius]

I've been lazy about following coverart the last season or two but I had to post this one:

Jenny is just too badass (http://ec2.images-amazon.com/images/I/61LTQTCcjyL.jpg).

Indeed she is, the month wait sure will be long.

[something]

No on-disc extras, really. Just a TV-size OP with some random footage on it. Doesn't seem to serve any purpose.

The main extra is another special CD, with part 2 of the OST, and another audio commentary.

The OST is more good BGM. Mouretsu Uchuu Kaizoku, Kamishimeru Genjitsu, Mikkou Oujo (Gruier~), Senzen Sentou Taisei, Shizuka Naru Ketsui, Kamishimeru Genjitsu etc... But also, the Hakuou Yacht Club song! Sung by the yacht club members of course.

The audio drama is Watashitachi no Shin'oku, featuring Marika, Mami and Chiaki.
- They're introducing the city of Shin'oku, but man they're going too fast for me to follow.
- Ahaha, a ship is arriving so Chiaki does the sound effects. Mami criticizes her efforts. Mami takes sfx seriously.
- ...Hanazawa Kana is tooooo fucking cute.
- Now they're talking modes of transportation. Misa's car is mentioned, and Marika says that she doesn't have her license, but she really likes bikes anyway. In fact she built her own bike.
- Chiaki starts talking about umeboshi (I think) for I don't know what reason, but Marika says "You'll make a good wife", which of course gets Chiaki all flustered. =D
- After that, just talking about more of Shin'oku's features, including Lamp cafe and how Umi no Akeboshi in general is good for growing food and all that.

- Talking about Lamp House again. Chiaki plays the role of a super refined and serious customer... who downs a chocolate parfait (said in a very silly accent) in three bites. :sd:
- And then complains bitterly to the manager that there's not enough banana. The parfait just isn't as good as when that lively pink-haired waitress (who could that be!) makes it, she says with a dreamy voice... XD
- So then Marika asks if she'd like a message (written on the parfait or something, I don't know), and suggests "Chiaki-chan, I love you!" =D
- Chiaki is, to say the least, flustered again.

- Next on the tour is Hakuou Jogakuin. I think Marika is complaining about there being too many steps, and Misa yelling at her for being late.
- Marika mentions that the middle school and high school are together, and brings up Gruier and Hilde. Mami says she knows Gruier due to Gruier getting a lot of parfaits from Lamp House, then comments on how cute Hilde is.
- Talk turns to the yacht club. Chiaki references the Nebula Cup controversy but at this point Marika doesn't know about it, so she doesn't explain. She then also hints at other ways the club is strange, such as having one of the Orginal Seven as a pleasure ship to play around with...
- Mami, in Mami fashion, takes this and just runs straight into insanity with it. She imagines a secret beneath the school, where a secret weapon can combine with the Odette and form a giant robot! Mami takes the chance to plug Atelier Mami to do the costume design should such a thing gets filmed. :sd:

Goddamn did Chiaki steal that or what? Hanazawa Kana doing those sound effects was goddamned hilarious. I would kill to see her in the recording booth when she's going crazy like this, because her image as a person is so refined and mature (almost Noto Mamiko-style), which makes this all the more hilarious.

[HitokiriShadow]

Yay, my first four volumes finally arrived. And I've just noticed that volumes 4 and 7 are 1050 yen more expensive than most of the rest, I guess because of the CDs.

I really like the booklet that came with volume 3. Definitely one of the nicer ones. It's roughly equivalent to the Haganai booklets. The only ones that are distinctly "better" are the huge Hanasaku Iroha booklets.

This is a really odd release. Most shows are pretty uniform other than maybe on odd volume that has an LE with a CD or something and one or two discs having a different episode count. But his has v1 with 2 eps and a CD, v2 with 4 eps and the paper doll things, v3 with 4 eps and a booklet, and then v4 with 4 eps and another CD. And then of course there's the nice price. ("Only" ~$500 MSRP for the whole 26 episode series! It's a steal!)

Also, Amazon seems to be permanently out of volume 2 since at least a few days ago. Its now only available from third party sellers as far as I can tell.

[something]

Yay, my first four volumes finally arrived. And I've just noticed that volumes 4 and 7 are 1050 yen more expensive than most of the rest, I guess because of the CDs.
Definitely listen to the CDs. Fantastic OST music aside (oh how I wish the tracks were longer though), the audio dramas are a lot of fun, primarily thanks to Hanazawa Kana's Chiaki hamming it up like crazy. I've got the summaries posted if needed but your Japanese comprehension is probably at least as good as mine and for the most part the vocabulary doesn't get too complicated.

[HitokiriShadow]

Definitely listen to the CDs. Fantastic OST music aside (oh how I wish the tracks were longer though), the audio dramas are a lot of fun, primarily thanks to Hanazawa Kana's Chiaki hamming it up like crazy. I've got the summaries posted if needed but your Japanese comprehension is probably at least as good as mine and for the most part the vocabulary doesn't get too complicated.

It's certainly high on the list of Japanese CDs I own and need to actually try to listen to at some point. I might know more kanji than you just because I've actually been studying them recently (I'm at a little over 450 that I know to varying degrees), but I'm pretty sure your listening comprehension is far better than mine. I haven't touched grammar since I finished taking university classes over two years ago, and have forgotten most of it beyond the basics. I'm hoping to get around to finally studying that again soon. From trying to listen to lines in anime, I seem to get lost pretty easily since there's so much vocab and grammar I don't know. I guess I could surprise myself and understand a lot more than I think if I actually listened to some CDs though.

But really, understanding only half of it shouldn't matter much when the main draw is Hanazawa Chiaki-ing it up. Hell, that might make it even funnier.

[something]

I might know more kanji than you just because I've actually been studying them recently (I'm at a little over 450 that I know to varying degrees), but I'm pretty sure your listening comprehension is far better than mine.
Ah, maybe. And yeah I've never seriously studied kanji so the number I really "know" might be a few dozen at best, and even then mostly if I see them in a context where I already kinda know the word.

I guess I could surprise myself and understand a lot more than I think if I actually listened to some CDs though.
That's how it was for me. I think it was the Strike Witches 2 bonus CDs where I first made a serious attempt and it was easier than I expected. Knowing the voices, characters, and context from seeing the anime helps hugely. It's normal real-world dialogue (like a non-in-character commentary track or radio show) where I have to just throw my hands up and say fuck it, since Japanese people always feel like they're speaking a thousand miles an hour to my ears.

As for grammar, when just listening for a general gist, it's not as important as you'd think (and I don't know much either) because context fills the gap. Pretty much if you know what the verb means and whether it's negative (stuff like -masen, -nai, -nakatta) or not you're unlikely to completely misunderstand the sentence, at least when listening to one of these audio dramas. It's not so simple in real life, no doubt... but it works here.

But really, understanding only half of it shouldn't matter much when the main draw is Hanazawa Chiaki-ing it up. Hell, that might make it even funnier.
The second one especially, though her part in the first is really funny too.

[WTK]

LINK (http://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/B00771TQQO) (I'm not sure what happened here with the selection... :sweat:)

[Damius]

LINK (http://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/B00771TQQO) (I'm not sure what happened here with the selection... :sweat:)

They could have pass on him. There is a lot of possibilities better than that.

[WTK]

Reg (group cover) (http://ec2.images-amazon.com/images/I/61A2x3YTvsL.jpg) / LE (Marika) (http://ec2.images-amazon.com/images/I/51J3bP2hnlL.jpg)

[Damius]

It's great that they reserved that image of Marika for the final volume cover art. And also a nice group cover.

[WTK]

via ultimatemegax (https://twitter.com/ultimatemegax/status/244488595229003776)
Here's a bodacious Gamers BD collection box: http://i.imgur.com/DgydZ.jpg

[something]

via ultimatemegax (https://twitter.com/ultimatemegax/status/244488595229003776)
Here's a bodacious Gamers BD collection box: http://i.imgur.com/DgydZ.jpg

Ah that's the image that was on their (presumably) store exclusive bonus. Nice image but I'll survive without the box.

[Damius]

via ultimatemegax (https://twitter.com/ultimatemegax/status/244488595229003776)
Here's a bodacious Gamers BD collection box: http://i.imgur.com/DgydZ.jpg

The artbox is nice. I wonder how looks the other side.