Re-buying an Anime series on DVD to "upgrade" or save space...

[DiRF]

I hope I'm not the only person that sometimes does this... (ok, well, lately, I've been *often* doing it...)

Let's say you already own a series on DVD, but then you decide to buy different DVDs, or a complete DVD set of that series to either
A) Get bonus features you didn't originally have (like, say, if you already owned an ADV thinpak... why do they strip most of their thinpaks of bonus stuff?!)
B) To save space on your shelves, by buying a thinpak or something.

Me?

Azumanga Daioh - Had the bonus feature-less ADV thinpak. Got the complete set of individual DVDs along with the artbox, couldn't be happier. Animated menus, trivia booklets. Love it. Sold the thinpak.

Cowboy Bebop - Had the original DVD releases, then bought the Remix Anime Legends set... interesting new bonus features, and FINALLY a menu that isn't clunky as hell. Kept the original DVDs.

Full Metal Panic? Fumoffu - Identical situation to Azumanga Daioh.

Mahoromatic - Had the 7 individual DVDs... and saw a great deal on the thinpak of the series, which is only the width of two DVDs, and includes a soundtrack CD...and honestly, the insert booklets were nothing special, so I didn't mind not having those after I sold the 7 individual DVDs as a set on eBay... though, I wish they had sold for more :(

Neon Genesis Evangelion - My very first Anime DVD purchase ever, the 6-disc Platinum thinpak. No bonus features whatsoever. Ugh. Saw an excellent deal on the 7-disc tin thinpack, which was identical in disc content to the original individual Platinum release... so sold the 6-disc thinpak and bought the 7-disc tin thinpak... now, though, I'm hungering for the insert booklets and neat "platinum" slipcases of the individual DVD releases... so I'm slowly piecing together a set of that... and will probably sell the tin thinpack when I'm done piecing together the complete set of individual DVDs. Somehow, I just know I'll end up buying Evangelion for a fourth time somewhere down the road >_<

Super GALS! - Had both the ADV thinpak for the first season, and the RightStuf thinpak of the second season... realizing that, together, both sets of thin DVD cases were the width of 5 DVDs, I could fit them perfectly in the ADV artbox meant to hold 6 DVDs (including the one DVD the artbox comes with)... so I bought it, plus with the volume 1 individual release with bonus features, animated menus, etc... :D And the artbox is gorgeous... better than the two thinpak artboxes, IMO.

Trigun - Had the Pioneer 8-disc boxset... then saw a fantastic deal on all 6-discs of the Geneon "Trigun Remix" set... which include the unique original Japanese openings (such a silly thing to buy a whole new set for, but my inner-otaku was screaming for it) Kept the original Pioneer set, since each of the 8 discs has a unique menu (the 6 Remix DVDs all have the same menu) Again, another silly reason, another screaming fit from my inner-otaku.

I know the ridiculousness of it all... some I rebuy to save space, others I rebuy and sacrifice space... and overall this ain't cheap either :( Back to eating instant ramen for me. ...and I'm even considering buying the two Funimation thinpacks of Initial D and selling my 14-DVD TokyoPop set... that would save a LOT of space...but I really like the TokyoPop DVD case artwork and insert booklets... so I'm really conflicted...

[Mateo_home]

I don't. I usually just buy the DVD in singles if it's a title I really want. I just don't see it in repurchasing a thinpak of what I already got and selling off the singles. Sure it could save shelf space, but I would feel as if I was losing money that way.

[Collectonian]

I don't, just a waste of money. I thinkpacked my existing DVDs (all of them, not just the Anime ones) when I decided it was time to save space. I used singles, doubles, and four disc thinboxes. Worked great and much more economical.

[Talyn]

The only series I have ever upgraded are the ones with a real difference between their initial releases. Pretty much Eva (Platinum singles) and Trigun (LE Tins)...otherwise I grab singles or complete sets of the singles...

[Rolancehack]

The only time I've ever bought an anime twice was simply to upgrade from VHS to DVD, and once to complete a set, when I bought the first single and then I wanited until the Thin pak.

So far that's only included El Hazard: The wanderers (and only bought the first DVD and can't find the rest) and Dragon Half, and then the one DVD to thin pak was Eden's Bowy.

I still need to get Macross Plus...

[Otakufan]

For series, because of the cost, I've only really done this once with the original Evangeleon 8 disc black boxset.

After ADV came out with the Platinum thinpak, I checked the extra's on the original discs, decided they didn't amount to a hill of beans, gave it to my nephew as part of his birthday present and upgraded to the thinpak.

But for individual discs like movies & OVA's, that's a different story.

I've double-dipped numerous times on everything from Macross Plus to the BV Patlabor movies, Akira, etc. etc. Sometimes to get remastered video, but actually most of the time to get better sound. When you have a reallly good 6.1 home theatre system, upgraded audio can really, really improve the viewing experience.

J.A.

[Suwako Moriya]

Considering that I'm picking and choosing between series when it comes to single dipping, I can't exactly afford to being spending time multi-dipping. Yeah I can see it now. The reason I can't afford to buy this title for the first time is I still need to buy this other title ten more times.

[Yotsuyasan]

I once owned the first set of Eva discs, including the original overlay-filled version of disc one. A while back I picked up 6 of the 7 Eva Platinum discs (including the box) out of the clearance section at Right Stuf. Found the last disc elsewhere for a bit more of a price, but overall I got it all for a decent price.

Very recently I upgraded Cowboy Bebop to the Anime Legends set, again via Right Stuf. (They had a sale! What can I say, they are evil wallet sucking bastards, but I love them.) Selling my original discs to FYE gave me more then enough to finally pick up Knocking On Heavens Door, which I shall watch between discs 5 and 6 of my vewing of my new TV series discs.

Other then that, I don't think I've upgraded very often. I did pick up the second Robotech Shadow Chronicals disc. (Again, via a Right Stuf sale, although I felt a bit burned at that disc's very existance since it was released not long after the original... But that is all I shall say about that!) I considered getting the Robotech set that's on sale at Amazon now (the collection of the "remastered" version of the entire series) but decided that I was more then happy with the original broadcast version that I already have in my Legacy sets.

I've got a few non-anime examples, too... But this isn't the off topic forum so never mind that for now.

[davesimmons]

I could see upgrading from an extra-free thinkpak to extra-filled big box, but for the other direction I use thin, double (both Memorex) and quad cases (TDK).

I need to find a source of those scanvo thin doubles like in the Mahromatic thinpak, since they're half the thickness of the Memorex double case.

Another AoD member pointed out with regular double and quad cases that you can just put both DVD covers together layered so you don't need to cut them or throw them away.

[DiRF]

Hmmm... I think I'll look into getting thinpak cases for my Initial D set... I'm sure that'd save some space. Honestly, I only upgraded to save space *once* and that was Mahoromatic, since *that* thinpack came with something extra (the soundtrack CD) plus it had an artbox to make the whole set look nice :)

[something]

As a rule, I generally don't double dip. If you take out cases where I rebought a series because I knew I could sell at a profit (which I've only done rarely), there aren't many examples.

Lain - first purchase I ever made, also the first VHS I bought. Awhile later I rebought it on DVD, as it was my favorite show at the time.

Slayers, Slayers Next - I owned Try on DVD first, then bought these on VHS for $1 a pop from TRSI awhile later. Since I own neither a TV nor a VCR nowadays, I took advantage of the Funi rereleases to get the first two seasons on DVD at the equivalent of $1 an episode. Cheap enough that even if I never rewatch, it doesn't matter.

Nadesico - This one I've owned in a few forms. Sold the singles awhile ago and was able to get the brick for less than that, so came out ahead. But it's on the list because I just rebought the three EA editions for a grand total of about $18.

Gasaraki - Sold this one awhile ago, but recently rebought it at about $3/disc, for no real reason.

So other than Lain, everything I've rebought has been extremely cheap. I just don't rebuy at normal prices when I own the show already. Two were because I only owned them on a dead format I can't play anymore. One was because it was cheap enough that something minor like overlay removal was worth it. And one... I don't know why, it was cheap but I have no real reason.

[Garasharp K7]

I've done this in the past with some movies, (bought the original Godzilla and King Kong a few times) but I've only double (and triple) dipped four anime series. I don't plan on doing it again. (I say that now, but who knows? :) )

Nadesico - bought what I thought was the old brick set on Ebay, but it turned out to be a bootleg. That was eventually replaced by the R4 box set, (nice artbox too) which has now been replaced by the recent thinpak. I still have the R4 set, and chances are if I ever come across an affordable R2J set, I might get that too. :)

Zone of the Enders - bought the thinpak, but then replaced it with the UK collection, which has all the extras from the singles. To be honest, I'm not too bothered by lack of extras for some thinpaks. But I loved ZOE and wanted everything to do with it. (bought the fancy special editions of the games too)

Excel Saga - replaced the thinpak with the earlier Imperfect collection.

Azumanga Daioh - again, replaced the thinpak with the UK collection. I wouldn't have bothered, but as it was pretty cheap on Amzon I thought "what the hell" and just bought the thing. At leaast I have the short movie now. :)

Usually when I buy something, I get it once and that's it. But there's always an exception or two, and if it's a series or movie I really dig then I'll pick up an upgraded version when it appears.

[The Great Bear]

I have only done this on rare occasions, since I can't afford to do it too much.

I did buy the Cowboy Bebop Remix brick, although I have the original singles, for the added extras and new audio, as well as the space savings, as I can now put the old singles into storage.

I also bought the Chobits thinpak so that I could put the 7 boxless singles away in storage.

That's about it in terms of double dipping though.

[Damius]

I did not do it at this time but, I start buying anime since 2 years only. So I will probably do it in the future.

[mike.motaku]

Rarely do I double-dip but FUNimation's re-packaging of GTO got me, both for the space-saving capability and I really liked the cover art. Plus I was able to find a new home for my old set of singles. If, say, Geneon hadn't freaked the hell out and they'd done a Master Keaton thinpak... well, I'd be all over that.

Extras, unless they're really outstanding (see Princess Tutu or Le Chevalier D'Eon, for example) I don't really need 'em. So their presence or lack thereof has no effect on my purchasing anything. I'm just here for the cartoons.

[TalonG4]

I really don't have a problem with shelf space anymore. (Three big bookcases now!) I just thinpak some of what I do have that doesn't have an artbox. The only upgrading I did was upgrade some of my VHS copies to DVD.

[Vicserr]

Well, Titles I've updated...


Armored Trooper Votoms (better video and no hardsubs)
Hades Project Zeorymer (better video)
Trigun
Martian Successor Nadesico (to get rid of the overlayed orig version)
Robotech: Shadow Chronicles (it did piss me off that the Special Edition wasn't sold at the samer time as the original release :( )
Robotech (although I kept the Originals so I could have a broadcast version of the episodes with the original SFX)
And in the Hentai front

Leatherman (from the original 2 episode Nutech box to the JapanAnime 4 episode dvd)

[Njr Scrawl]

Only do it to "upgrade" (including buying other regions). DVD>DVD only detailed.

Evangelion; Original release> "re-mastered vol.1 > Platinum singles > Platinum thinpack (love the boxes & Sadamoto case art) > R3(TW) DTS

End of Evangelion (R2E Manga) > R2J DTS anamorphic

Rurouni Kenshin; Premium box discs scratched > singles replacing damaged discs.

Trigun; Signature > LE tins (proper openings etc)

Sailor Moon R1> R2J (better audio, no missing previews etc)

Appleseed:Ex Machina R1 > R2J (better English subs, but I have kept both US HD DVD & BR)

Royal Space Force (Wings of Honneamise) R2E> R2J > Blu Ray

Oh! My Goddess OVAs orig R1 > new re-mastered release in R1

Bubblegum Crisis OVAs orig > ditto

Agent Aika CPM > R1 Bandai Anime Legends

Bubblegum Crisis 2040 ADV orig > Essential Anime ADV

Martian Successor Nadesico orig > Thinpack/EA version

Gunbuster R0 UK (Kiseki edited & hardsubbed) > R1 Bandai Visual slightly edited set :anger200:

You're Under Arrest movie orig ADV 2.1 letterbox > ADV 5.1 anamorphic > R2J DTS

Urusei Yatsura:Beautiful Dreamer (movie 2) orig CPM > CPM re-master=R2J release.

Ah! My Goddess movie 5.1 > DTS

Ghost in the Shell movie 1 R2E > R2J (for original music)

MS Gundam movies > R2J re-master set

Cleopatra DC R1 hardsubbed MB > R2J

Patlabor movie 1 R2E Manga > Beez LE movie 1 R2E & Bandai Visual R1 LE > either HD DVD or Blu Ray RA soon.

Patlabor movie 2 R2E Manga > Bandai Visual R1 movie 2 LE set

Black Lagoon vol.1 R1 > Black Lagoon vol.1 R2J for set box (holds 6) & better Japanese audio.

[Yotsuyasan]

Nadesico's on my list to upgrade one of these days... Probably if the new box is ever on a TRSI sale. (The new box is basically a thinpacked version of the Essential Anime version, yes?) I wouldn't mind getting rid of the overlays.

[Yotsuyasan]

Blimey, I just remembered another one. Saber Marionette J. I had J, J Again, and the first two discs of J to X, when TRSI put the box set of all of it on sale for less then the MSRP of the remaining four discs of J to X. Seemed a no brainer to me.

Incidentally, I hope the esteemed founder of this thread doesn't mind, but I'm going to start a similar thread for non-anime DVD's over in off topic, since this thread got me thinking of all of my DVD repurchases, not just the anime ones. Look for it soon! Edit: Or look for it now! Wee! (http://www.animeondvd.com/aodvb/showthread.php?t=81189)

[mighty_vespa]

Very little double-dipping here.

I'm picky enough with what I put on my shelf already. Once I buy it, that's it. By the time I get around to collecting a series, I either have my pick of a boxset or cheap singles (bargain or used). The only time I've ever double-dipped was on FLCL and Patlabor. FLCL was a move from R2 to R1. Patlabor was from Manga's releases to the very-shiny BVUSA ones.

That being said, I am giving hi-def sets and movies some consideration. But my move to hi-def is a long, LONG ways off. And I'm in no real rush to get there either.

[Panko]

Blimey, I just remembered another one. Saber Marionette J. I had J, J Again, and the first two discs of J to X, when TRSI put the box set of all of it on sale for less then the MSRP of the remaining four discs of J to X. Seemed a no brainer to me.

hey i did the exact same thing, even the first 2 discs of J-X!

i've only double dipped on a few things, mainly for the bonuses and extra content. although space is always a problem, it's not a crucial factor

Armitage III: Poly-Matrix movie -> complete ova version
reason: improved content

Armored Trooper VOTOMS: original 16 discs -> re-release
reason: non-flippers, cool extras, and to show support to CPM and old school shows

Boogiepop Phantom: brick collection -> ultra edition
reason: cool extras, and it was cheap

Irresponsible Captain Tylor: bricks -> ultra edition
reason: cool extras

Mars Daybreak: vol. 1 regular -> special edition
reason: it was cheap

Rurouni Kenshin: OVAs -> director's cut
reason: thought it would be the "definitive version"

Saber Marionette J: singles -> boxset
reason: cheaper than completing the singles for J-X

i really don't care about remastered audio or video, which why i'm not doubling up with stuff like Bebop Remix or Slayers re-release.

[Yotsuyasan]

Irresponsible Captain Tylor: bricks -> ultra edition
reason: cool extras


I've been a bit temoted by this one as well... Do the discs in the Ultra Edition still have the "special thanks," though? That's one extra I want to keep. First time I ever had my name on a DVD! (And only time so far, at least until Emma comes out.)

[meganly_chan]

I rarely do it, unless the DVDs are good as dead or something. I can't afford it.

[Shsway]

Irresponsible Captain Tylor: bricks -> ultra edition
reason: cool extras


I've been a bit temoted by this one as well... Do the discs in the Ultra Edition still have the "special thanks," though? That's one extra I want to keep.

They're the same discs repackaged. The bonus items come in the form of the short (rather unmemorable) novella, the CD soundtracks previously released by AnimeTrax, the guide booklets to both the TV series and OVA, plus the bonus discs that have the Just 15 Minutes promotional Tylor programs.

In response to the original post, I don't upgrade on anything in the attempt to save space. I do so when shows I like well enough get remastered, or when the discs have mysteriously stopped working (or came with some minor, longstanding glitch in the first place). And if I have the money to spare. :sweat1:

I think I've only ever had to replace three individual anime volumes (though I may soon do a fourth), and I upgraded my Trigun discs for the LE Remix tins. This summer, I'm buying the remastered Utena R2 set, and I need to get around to buying the new Japanese releases of the KOR TV series and OVA...

[DiRF]

I rarely do it, unless the DVDs are good as dead or something. I can't afford it.
Well, I've never "killed" a DVD... when I upgrade, I usually sell the old set to recoup some of the costs of teh new set, and on a few occassions I've wound up actually ahead after "upgrading"... only twice, with Trigun and Cowboy Bebop, have I kept the older, still-working set for some reason or another.

[Drgnfuel]

I did this with Ai Yori. i got the brick and liked the series enough to make it a permanent feature of my collection and managed to track down both of the Vol 1's + artboxes.

Also did the same thing with Captain Harlock. Had the singles then found the box.

Also on Elfen lied I did the reverse. And had the thinpak originally and found the orig artbox and individual dvds to replace it.

[bearcounty]

I'll probably end up re-buying the first season of Tsubasa RESERVoir CHRoNiCLE
because if anybody has it too knows that box is way too big for any shelf.

[Randall Miyashiro]

I rarely buy singles after thinpaks (for extras) since I usually preorder the singles as they come out. I will rarely buy the thinpaks once I have all the singles since I throw away most of the packaging due to space. I have however bought the remastered editions of a number of series.

I agree that the Evangelion Platinums might be the most extreme case of an upgrade, although the Patlabor movies have some of the most gorgeous packaging and were worth buying again. I really hate non-anamorphic and bought the remastered Cagliostro's and wish more of these letterboxed DVDs like Kenshin OVAs and Saikano would get a proper 16:9 release.

5.1 remasters are a tougher call and depend on how much I like the series. I thought the Bebop remix was fantastic and have often considered buying Trigun again, but I probably wouldn't double dip on a good portion of my collection for a 5.1 mix.

I don't mind paying around $40 for a Blu-ray edition of most of the titles I already own, but I hesitated before buying Honnamise and Jin-roh again at $80.

[GundamWingMan]

Lord knows I've already spent a king's ransom on my anime collection (don't want to dwell on exactly how much, that way lies madness), so the notion of replacing my singles with thinpaks doesn't appeal to me, even though that would certainly free up shelf space. Just can't see spending all that money on stuff I already own.