Anime Anime Pricing???

[Guest reyclaw]

Does anybody else think that the price for some anime series is too high? I have been wondering if anybody else feels the same as I do. When you compare any TV series with anime the price per minute differs greatly. Take Stargate SG-1 vs. DNAngel.

Stargate SG-1 Season 8 $40.20 from amazon
DNAngel $80.99 from amazon

Stargate total run time 980 min
DNAngel total run time 650 min

Price per minute
Stargate $.041
DNAngel $.124

The production costs of a show like Stargate far exceed the production costs of an anime, so why is the prices for anime so high?

I am thankfully starting to see some anime come down in price. Bandai looks to be releasing Wolf's Rain for $44.99 the 25th of July. Hopefully this is a new trend. =)

[AnimeHeroX]

I agree i went to sam goody to find the girls bravo series and each DVD was 24.99 each :mad: so i'll probrarly have to wait for the box set to come out.

The neon genesis box set will 109.00 when i saw but you also got this collectors tin that came with it but that really is to high. and here something really interesting i went to my local Fye store and look for more animes i liked and discovered something interesting they sold anime like girls bravo 29.99 and they sold the hentai anime for less then 9 bucks? :mad:

does that make any sense why would they charge you so much for something you want and so little for something most would probraly be to ashamed to buy in public? They really need to lower the price of some anime or at the very least bring the box set out a little faster. :p

[Funny Girl]

[FONT=Lucida Sans Unicode][COLOR=Lime]I totally think that AnimeHeroX has a good idea saying that the best anime is overpriced and that the anime to be ashamed of is not that much. But not all anime is overpriced like the season box set of D.I.C.E. I mean you get 6 DVDs for $24. Now that's a good deal. On the other hand Inuyasha costs a lot. I mean $19 for a DVD that only has 3 episodes on it. So some anime can be priced at a good price yet most can be overpriced.[/FONT][/COLOR]

[Doublehex]

Amazon.com sells a lot of complete boxsets for like 45 dollars. NGE - Platinum in particular, as well as FMP! So, as long as you go the online route, anime is not too expensive.

[kalon]

My monetary range is really low, so buying anime is a fairly rare occurrence for me as it stands with current pricing. Does that mean I think current pricing is too high? Not really, all things considered.

Even though it has gained in popularity and continues to be more mainstream, there still isn't a huge market for anime in America, especially when compared to other series/movies. Of course the Pirates of the Carribean movie and The Simpsons box sets are cheap. They are made in America, which means the companies that own them have a comparatively cheap way of making them into DVDs and getting thme into the hands of consumers. They are also well-known, so they can be priced more cheaply while still making a huge profit.

Let's contrast those with Fullmetal Alchemist. In Japan, it's a huge hit. Which means that FMA's owners expect a good amount of money in exchange for overseas rights to their popular series, because it is business relations, not "sell our show really cheaply so we can make Western otaku happy" relations. And after licensing rights, there's translating, dubbing, advertising, actually making the DVDs, and a whole lot of other stuff. If anime were lower priced, they would not be able to bridge the gap between the money it took to get it here and the amount of profit. If it were more popular, they could, but I think it will be a while before anime is truly a common hobby. It's the same reason Cartoon Network cannot keep an all-anime block on Adult Swim. It just isn't going to reach out to enough of the public at this time. [SIZE=1]I actually feel lucky that they keep any anime at all, considering the difference in ratings between anime and their comedy shows.[/SIZE]

To Guardian Angel, D.I.C.E. was first made by Bandai for the United States, and later had a Japanese version, so that's probably why it's so cheap.

[Aaryanna]

[COLOR=SeaGreen]In general yes, I do think they are too high. However since I do not fully understand all the differences between how things are done for a show like Stargate vs. DNAngel or any other anime, I don?t think they are a good comparison when considering prices.

For starters, how about some actual statistics on how each show makes their money? Show?s like Stargate often get their money from advertising when the show actually airs. I?m assuming it works in a similar manner over in Japan. But unlike Stargate I doubt that DNAngel gets the same amount of air time. Or the consideration that a production like Stargate is going to cost more since there is more episodes in the season and that each episode is 44 minutes where DNAngel is only 22? It?s only natural that it?s going to cost more to make when you take that into consideration.

Also, since a show like Stargate is popular, releasing the DVD?s is often not how they make their money, so they can afford to sell it for less. There are other shows that cost more for the season since it?s not as popular. Anime shows often have lots of stuff you can buy so perhaps that is part of where they do get their money.

I?ve noticed that many anime series have become cheaper, but they?ve also left out a lot of the extras you use to get. Anyway, I think the reason why there is such a price difference between anime and regular shows is a little more complex than just an attempt to overcharge people. Though overcharging is something they all do if they think they can get away with it. [/COLOR]

[Panache]

[QUOTE=reyclaw]Does anybody else think that the price for some anime series is too high? I have been wondering if anybody else feels the same as I do. When you compare any TV series with anime the price per minute differs greatly. Take Stargate SG-1 vs. DNAngel.

Stargate SG-1 Season 8 $40.20 from amazon
DNAngel $80.99 from amazon

Stargate total run time 980 min
DNAngel total run time 650 min
[/QUOTE]

Buy the thin pack for Dnangel it's like 30 bucks. Usually the most expensive anime is from Genon I don't really know why.

Really anime is never expensive unless you have to have it as soon as it comes out and you have to have the collector?s edition with the commemorative license plate.

Also anime's are usually an import not made here. So they need to be translated and shipped among other things. Also if you are a bargain hunter it should be fairly simple to get a fair priced anime.

Most well known anime?s have pretty low price points. Usually if you wait around for a bit then anime?s become pretty cheap. So no in my opinion anime prices are just fine.

[Dagger]

[QUOTE=Aaryanna][COLOR=SeaGreen]
For starters, how about some actual statistics on how each show makes their money? Show?s like Stargate often get their money from advertising when the show actually airs. I?m assuming it works in a similar manner over in Japan. But unlike Stargate I doubt that DNAngel gets the same amount of air time. [/COLOR][/QUOTE]
My understanding of it is that in Japan, most anime series turn a profit (if they turn a profit at all, that is) through DVD and merchandise sales. However, that doesn't really affect prices over here. In fact, American anime prices are incredibly low compared to Japanese anime prices.

Most anime are released in North America by domestically based licensees who have to pay a licensing fee for the North American home video and/or broadcast rights for the series, movie or OVA in question. Some Japanese companies (most notoriously, Toei) have tried to release their own anime here by themselves, without licensing it out to anyone else, but fans tend to regard these efforts with extreme trepidation.

Perhaps the most successful example of a Japanese company skipping the licensing process is Bandai Visual (not to be confused with Bandai Entertainment). Unfortunately, "successful" in this context only means that they have put out incredibly high-quality products. So far, they've produced North American re-releases of the first two Patlabor movies, each of which was given a regular edition and a fancy-schmancy limited edition (the individual LEs cost about $80, by the way). Patlabor is not exactly a rip-roaring franchise in the North American anime market, so although they did a great job on the two films, the fact that they priced them as they would price similar items in Japan and still expected them to sell is worrisome for people who want to see the company do well over here.

Obviously, licensing costs money. Dubbing and localization in general also cost money. Add to this the fact that anime is at best a niche market, and you can start to see why prices have remained fairly high.

Still, I don't have [i]that[/i] much sympathy for those who complain about anime prices. Use Netflix. Wait for the big online sales run by stores like TRSI, DDD, DVD Pacific and DVD Planet. Try eBay--if you're confident that you're smart enough to avoid getting burned by a bootleg. Wait for the cheap thinpaks or economy sets. With patience and comparison shopping, you can get many full series for under $30--the normal MSRP for a single DVD! For that matter, make sure never to buy at full MSRP. I know people who have a policy of not buying anything anime-related unless it's over 40% off; keep an eye on online sales, and you can make that happen for you as well.

Frankly, it'll be immeasurably harder to find decent deals if you can't or don't wish to make your purchases online. But even if you stick to Best Buy, you don't have to get ripped off. Again, patience is key.

EDIT: To take a look at the OP's example, DNAngel doesn't have to cost $80. If you got it during one of TRSI's ADV sales (and if you [i]didn't[/i] have a Got Anime membership, which gets you extra savings), it would be around $54. If you got it during DDD's 20% off sale, it would be around $43. Moreover, cheap sets like the Wolf's Rain one you mentioned are not a new trend. They've been around for a while now and increase in number every month.

~Dagger~

[Horendithas]

[COLOR=Sienna]Considering that like Dagger mentioned anime has to be licensed and then translated before being sold in other countries. I don?t think anime prices are unreasonable. Especially when you do like Dagger suggested and keep an eye out for sales.

Another way to get anime at a better price is to see if any stores in your area sell used DVD?s. I buy most of my anime second hand as $7-10 per DVD is much more reasonable than $30 for a brand new one. I also keep an eye out for the slim packs when they are released as often you can get an entire season for $30-35 instead of the same price per disk. [/COLOR]

[MrsKakashi]

I have found buying anime off of ebay to be a lot cheaper than in the store. I just finished of buying the last season of Sailormoon, I paid 20.00-40.00 per a season, Sailor Stars being the most expensive, though I have found it a lot cheaper now through a seller that I had purchased other anime through :animedepr Lot of the anime I have purchased has come from either the united states or Singapore, all of it being good quality.

[Dagger]

[quote name='MrsKakashi']I have found buying anime off of ebay to be a lot cheaper than in the store. I just finished of buying the last season of Sailormoon, I paid 20.00-40.00 per a season, Sailor Stars being the most expensive, though I have found it a lot cheaper now through a seller that I had purchased other anime through :animedepr Lot of the anime I have purchased has come from either the united states or Singapore, all of it being good quality.[/quote]
Then you just bought a bootleg. Sailor Stars has never been licensed for a US release (or for an English-subtitled release in any other region).

~Dagger~

[Kenshin DX]

[COLOR=DarkGreen]Pretty much all anime on Ebay is bootleg. I never buy pirated anime.

I think prices are reaonable it just depends on the store. For instance stores like Fye sell anime at $30 a pop +tax. Which is a huge rip off. I think $25 a pop is reasonable depending on the number of episodes your getting. Getbackers had 5 episodes to a disc so thats $5 an episode. FLCL and Gantz had 2 episodes per volume and charged full retail price which was a rip off. Boxsets can be fair for instance Evangelion and some outrageous like Gungrave. When a set is usually completeld they charge a huge amount of cash for instnace Samurai Champloo. Give it a year and they will sell it in seasons cheaper than buying it at once. The trick is where to look and the content your getting.[/COLOR]

[MrsKakashi]

If they are a bootleg, they are one hell of a bootleg. Coming in a fold out cover with a plastic slip over cover, the discs with manufacture information on the cover. Most of the anime coming from singapore, different sellers, is made the same way.

[Panache]

[quote name='MrsKakashi']If they are a bootleg, they are one hell of a bootleg. Coming in a fold out cover with a plastic slip over cover, the discs with manufacture information on the cover. Most of the anime coming from singapore, different sellers, is made the same way.[/quote]
Well the bootleggers have to make it look like the real thing somewhat. I learned my lesson when I bought Kare Kano and it was a bootleg. You should really take better care not to buy bootlegs as they do significant damage to the economy of anime and can guarantee that certain anime's will never come to the U.S. Try places like Amazon.com and then check the profile of the seller and then the quality of the item. That is your best bet for REAL cheap anime.

[Dagger]

[quote name='MrsKakashi']If they are a bootleg, they are one hell of a bootleg. Coming in a fold out cover with a plastic slip over cover, the discs with manufacture information on the cover. Most of the anime coming from singapore, different sellers, is made the same way.[/quote]
Er... that's how the majority of bootlegs are packaged (which is why many fans dislike it when genuine licensees use tri-fold packaging or any kind of digipak in general). The mere fact that it's coming from [i]Singapore[/i] and is nevertheless playable on an R1 player is proof positive that it's a bootleg.

@Avenged666fold: Yeah, some boots can be very convincing. Nowadays, many of them are R1 DVD rips, so that the bootlegger can advertise them as containing English as well as Japanese audio. Other bootleggers steal and sell fansubs (or simply the fansub translations) so that the quality of their illegal merchandise won't be so obviously awful and they can sucker in more people. Amazon's marketplace is just as rife with boots as eBay, so caution should be exercised there as well.

~Dagger~

[MrsKakashi]

The ones i have are in tri fold packaging and have UPCs on them. I do have one series that is bootleg or dubbed as a fansub. Really I dont mind buying bootlegs sometimes, since it takes forever for the US networks to get liscensing rights. For example, they are only going up to episode 57 in naruto so far, there are close to 200 episodes out there along with many specials. I cant wait for them to get rights for more episodes which could take forever. I dont think they will ever release Sailor Stars in the US. Due to the fact that many young girls like Sailormoon, and they wouldnt be able to explain the Starlights.

[Dagger]

I've said this in other threads, but at the risk of repeating myself...

[SIZE=1]If it's an issue of licensing, I just don't get why bootlegs would [i]ever[/i] be preferable to fansubs, which don't result in giving money to thieves. There are free alternatives even if you don't have a good Internet connection. I understand that many people purchase bootlegs by mistake and with perfectly good intentions when they're first getting into anime. That's unfortunate, but I can't totally blame them for it. But the reason why they would continue to do so once they've been told about it eludes me, particularly since one can just get the stuff without paying.

I mean, if one is buying R1 rips or whatever else because one has no interest in giving back to the original creators, it seems to me a bit illogical to not just download the show in question. If one is doing it because the anime isn't licensed yet, then fansubs are the obvious solution. But spending money when you don't have to for DVDs whose proceeds will never touch the people who poured their time and money into creating that particular anime is at best counterproductive.[/SIZE]

Moving on a little, does anyone here watch Anime on Demand--or anime on networks other than CN or YTV (Showtime, G4, Razer, IFC, etc.)? Online, there's now [url=http://www.toonamijetstream.com/][u]Toonami Jetstream[/u][/url]. Plus, you can legally watch the first episodes of Descendants of Darkness, Record of Lodoss War: Chronicles of the Heroic Knight and Shamanic Princess for free at [url=http://www.centralparkmedia.com/ipod/][u]CPM's trailer site[/u][/url].

Some online stores distribute free sampler DVDs when you buy anime from them. In the past, I've gotten a FUNimation sampler with full episodes of several series, plus a similar Manga Entertainment sampler with (if I remember correctly) the first episode of Ghost in the Shell: 2nd Gig.

But Netflix is really the ultimate way to make sure that you'll be getting your money's worth if or when you buy a certain anime. Plus, the Netflix trial is free.

~Dagger~

[Sojiro47]

Personally, I doon't care how much anime costs! If I want Anime, I get it from Japan!But cost doesn't bother me! Not too much, anyway!

[quote name='Dagger']Moving on a little, does anyone here watch Anime on Demand--or anime on networks other than CN or YTV (Showtime, G4, Razer, IFC, etc.)?[/quote]
Actually, I watch Anime in the original Japanese an the web, but as for the site, I haven't translated it yet!

[angelbyday]

[COLOR=Navy][SIZE=2][FONT=Tahoma]Dagger's right about netflix, say you're intrested in a seven disk series, you can watch the first three or four disk and determine if you like it enough to spend the money to actually buy it. I've ended up buy serveral series because I watch the first several disks from nexflix. Example: Someone recommened Fruits Basket, ok didn't really sound like my thing, but never one to refuse helpful advice rented the first disk, fell in love with it, and when and bought it. So just to stress the ever astounding advise of the much wiser (than most anyone) Dagger, NETFLIX
= A MUST![/FONT][/SIZE][/COLOR]

[eleanor]

[color=dimgray] I'll hop in this thread for a bit. If you have Comcast Digital Cable, you have the Anime Network for free On Demand, as well as this other Anime section (I forgot its name, but it has more obscure anime and clips from anime conventions or whatnot). A bunch of people here have already mentioned Netflix, which is always a good way to go.

But uh... normal movie DVDs released in the US are usually about $20-25 when newly released. A newly released anime DVD with about 3-4 episodes is also usually about $20-25. It's good to periodically buy single DVDs rather than buy a whole series at once, unless you have the patience to really wait it out and watch for big price cuts on anime series.

In addition, I'm not going to try and act like most of you don't have a bunch of fansubs on your computer. Adding to that, it's no secret that even when a popular anime is licensed, there will always be several good sources available. [/color]

[chou kuro]

[quote name='MrsKakashi']If they are a bootleg, they are one hell of a bootleg. Coming in a fold out cover with a plastic slip over cover, the discs with manufacture information on the cover. Most of the anime coming from singapore, different sellers, is made the same way.[/quote]
Believe me, bootleg looks good, and it is too good to be true. I bought the entire studio Ghibli films (Miyazaki movies such as Spirited Away and Princess Mononoke) boxed set on Ebay for way cheap, and when it came it was all professional, but the menus are all in Chinese. So you do get what you pay for, a lot of the time. I've since learned to spot bootleg, and I don't buy it.

I do have a suggestion though. I get my anime for free online. I just download the episodes, and then watch them on my computer. Not as awesome as having it on a DVD and watching it on your tv, but it's free! (sometimes membership fees for sites though).

[Dagger]

[QUOTE=chou kuro]
I do have a suggestion though. I get my anime for free online. I just download the episodes, and then watch them on my computer. Not as awesome as having it on a DVD and watching it on your tv, but it's free! (sometimes membership fees for sites though).[/QUOTE]
It's also illegal. Fansubs are not meant to be regarded as substitutes for the legit DVD release, but if you want to treat them as such, it's your prerogative. However, I would suggest that a site which makes users pay membership fees to get fansubs or whatever else is in some ways an even worse rip-off than bootlegs (and the proprietors are certainly just as sleazy as bootleggers!). I dunno... to me, the basic concept of it is simply absurd.

~Dagger~

[Sangome]

*shneaks in*

...Aw crap. D: Everyone else beat me to what I was going to say...

But anyway, I don't find anime pricing THAT unreasonable. As others have said, there's the deal with getting the series, dubbing it, advertising, of COURSE it's going to be expensive.

Then again, I got like...two anime DVD's, new, for five bucks each. =D And no, I know they're not bootlegs. >< I got them at GameStop.

[SunfallE]

[COLOR=RoyalBlue][quote name='Dagger]Moving on a little, does anyone here watch Anime on Demand--or anime on networks other than CN or YTV (Showtime, G4, Razer, IFC, etc.)? Online, there's now [url=http://www.toonamijetstream.com/][u]Toonami Jetstream[/u][/url]. Plus, you can legally watch the first episodes of Descendants of Darkness, Record of Lodoss War: Chronicles of the Heroic Knight and Shamanic Princess for free at [url=http://www.centralparkmedia.com/ipod/][u]CPM's trailer site[/u][/url']. [/quote]I'm not sure if it's what you are referring to, but I use Comcast's on Demand all the time as they usually have episodes from 10 to 30 different series showing. And after taking a quick look they have episodes from over 32 series currently available. Though that changes every week. They don't always start at the beginning, but unless it's too far in I usually give a show a chance. And since we get cable anyway, it's free. It's often how I find a new show as I'll see an episode or so and want to see more. For example I just watched the first two episodes to MoonPhase. Which by the way was actually pretty interesting and I intend to see more of it. Anyway, they usually have a movie or two in there as well.

So if you have something like that, or use a service like netflix you can find out in advance if you really want to spend the money on a show. And though other's have already mentioned it, due to the nature of anime show's such as dubbing, licensing, etc. the price really isn't that unreasonable, in fact many show's are being re-released and slimpacks are becoming more popular, so in reality anime is actually becoming more affordable instead of being too expensive.[/COLOR]