Why Region Codes on Japanese DVD Anime (Informed Answer Please)

[finalevangelion]

So what is the reason that Anime studios actually region code Anime titles they know will not sell in any other country? Why do they not want people import discs at the most expensive price point in the world (40-60 dollars / disc)? Is it really because they don't want people to see things from other cultures, or does it have to do with some licensing?

I just want to know, as I'll probably get more into the import scene as I'm learning the Japanese language better.

[slerch666]

Who knows why businesses make the decisions they do?

As far as why region codes exist in the first place, it is to prevent people from purchasing discs from a different region cheaper and/or to make it look like the sales of a particular movie came from the region the person belongs in.

What I mean is, if you purchase say, Pirates of the Caribbean on R2 DVD and live in R1, it LOOKS like the movie is doing better in R2 than it really is.

Why do region codes on all their discs, even if they won't sell outside Japan? Well, I think that answers the question nicely. If it's not going to sell to people outside Japan, why care? Setting the region is just a matter of checking one box before authoring. It takes 0 effort.


In the end, it doesn't matter if they region code or not. Region free players are so easily obtained that the region codes are pretty much worthless. Heck, the player you have may even have a remote hack to make it region free already.

[quenelf]

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slerch666 said:
As far as why region codes exist in the first place, it is to prevent people from purchasing discs from a different region cheaper


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This is the real reason, but the initially claimed reason was that region codes would allow them to ensure you don't get a DVD in one area before the film is out in the same area. Obviously this would only apply to films and TV series that were going to be released but had not already been released in the target region by the time the DVD came out, so it's transparent that this isn't the real reason.

I don't think they care much about the accuracy of sales statistics.

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nicely. If it's not going to sell to people outside Japan, why care? Setting the region is just a matter of checking one box before authoring. It takes 0 effort.


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Yes, it does, but it's 0 effort that prevents a few sales of your product. I suspect there are two real answers:

1. The region code is probably placed on discs by default so you'd actually have to tick a different box if you didn't want it.

2. Possibly the show might seem more attractive to potential overseas buyers if the DVD was region-coded. (Or they might think it would.)

Note that this is not an informed answer. I don't think you are going to get one on this forum either. In order to find out you would need to ask somebody who was actually involved in DVD production for a Japanese anime studio or their publisher.

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In the end, it doesn't matter if they region code or not. Region free players are so easily obtained that the region codes are pretty much worthless.


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This is largely true, but it does still matter. Not all players can be made region-free and though it's easy to get a region-free player, this may not be convenient. For example, I personally have the ability to play DVDs on two devices: my Mac and my PC. The PC drive is region-cracked so it can play DVDs from everywhere no trouble. But I don't like playing DVDs on the PC because it's too noisy and takes ages to start up, and the Mac drive doesn't have a region-crack.

As a consequence I now purchase only region 1 discs (despite living in region 2) because that's what my Mac drive is locked to. Before I switched to the Mac, I'd consider R2 discs (for movies etc) if I saw a good deal in the store or something, but now I won't buy them.

--quen

[Skywise]

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quen said:
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slerch666 said:
As far as why region codes exist in the first place, it is to prevent people from purchasing discs from a different region cheaper


[/ QUOTE ]

This is the real reason, but the initially claimed reason was that region codes would allow them to ensure you don't get a DVD in one area before the film is out in the same area.

[/ QUOTE ]

Actually no. The real reason for region codes is to protect the distribution chain. It's the distributors losing money, not the studios.