Freedom anime will continue on HD DVD

by Darkanger
Feb 20, 2008 10:34 AM | 20 Comments

Despite the recent news of HD DVD cessation in favour of Blu ray, Bandai Visual released a statement yesterday stating they would continue releasing Freedom in HD DVD/DVD Twin-Disc format. Retailers will cease carrying volumes 1-3 but they will still be available on their website as well as future releases.

Freedom is the only anime with US release in HD that is not also available in Blu-ray or digital download.

source: ANN

20 Comments Recent Comments

You're not even reading anything I've written, are you? I give up - if you don't understand with this much explanation, I suppose it's rather hopeless.

Feb 23, 2008 12:01 PM by Krelian

....hd dvd is one of the markets, it is there only market because they DIDN'T release it in other formats.
no it is an awful business decision to make a product that will be EOL!! in a few months, and they will have to remake it in another format anyway you know.

Feb 23, 2008 6:56 AM by ranax

ranax said:
no it is stupid to sell to such a small market that wont get any bigger and then on top of that not make it in any other hd format! (but it is a nice thing to do to help out the ppl that did buy the first few volumes)
and i dont think that is the market there aiming at, i think they have a contract with the makers of hddvd to fulfill

You missed my point. That is their only market because they've already started their releases on HD-DVD. Obviously it would be better if the entire series were on Blu-Ray given recent events, but it would be an awful business decision to hop formats midway through the series. The only people who'll be buying the future installments are the ones who've already watched the earlier ones, and those people all have HD-DVD players (or they wouldn't have been able to watch them in the first place). Switching to Blu-Ray midway means limiting their market to people who have both players.

They do need to continue the series in HD-DVD since they already started it that way, but it'd be best in terms of lasting appeal to release the entire thing on Blu-Ray as well.

Feb 22, 2008 5:50 AM by Krelian

Krelian said:
I don't think it's that stupid - the people who bought the first volumes obviously have HD-DVD players, and that's exactly the market that they're aiming for (nobody is going to just decide to start watching in the middle of the series). The smartest thing would be to release the entire series on Blu-Ray as well, but there's no point in changing formats midway. It'd be pretty lame to have to own a player for each format just to be able to watch the entire series.

no it is stupid to sell to such a small market that wont get any bigger and then on top of that not make it in any other hd format! (but it is a nice thing to do to help out the ppl that did buy the first few volumes)
and i dont think that is the market there aiming at, i think they have a contract with the makers of hddvd to fulfill

Feb 21, 2008 11:14 PM by ranax

Now, I personally couldn't tell you a damn thing about the technicals of either format. All I do know is that both have been freakin' expensive. There are some good reasons I tend to shy away from early adoption. Hopefully now Blu-Ray prices will go down and I can afford a PS3 now. In any case thank God the format war is over, but Kudos to Bandai for sticking it through for the fans.

Feb 21, 2008 10:57 PM by Kurisu86

any tech savvy individual would know to be warry of new technologies. Sony has a history of producing duds. Expensive duds. having one format in the market will make things easier for movie studios as well as consumers alike.

now all that is left to do is for HD dvd to dominate the market, however HD dvd players are best experienced when you have an HD screen, which even now are still pricey. perhaps now the ease of media will encourage manufactures to come ou with cheaper HD displays.

Feb 21, 2008 4:27 PM by kisami

Toshiba announced that they are giving up, they are stopping the production of HD-DVD products.
I got no international source :( sry, but with some tools you can read it in english too ^^"
Source
The war is over Blu Ray won :] In my opinion they had no chance to begin with, but it was a bit of an optimistic opinion too xP

Feb 21, 2008 2:13 PM by DragooNick

Honestly, I'd say a format war is bad for player prices. Most people I know have stayed away from both formats or (like myself) supported Blu-Ray simply because they already own a PS3. Now that people can confidently buy into the technology without worrying about getting shafted because they picked the losing format, there should be a pretty big surge in the Blu-Ray market, which should translate to lower prices as costs for R&D, advertising, etc. will be split between more people.

but blu-ray is only good if you have a blu-ray player or PS3. I'm short of money so i can't get either. x_x

And HD-DVD was only really good if you had a HD-DVD player or a 360 and an expensive addon - not really any better, and it's just common sense that a video disc would be useless to you without something to watch it on. That goes for any format.

Feb 20, 2008 8:58 PM by Krelian

Kanashimi said:

8GaugeBrett said:
Also as it stands only 2 major motion picture studios are still sticking with the HD-DVD format (Universal and Paramount) while most others are adopting blu-ray (Columbia, MGM, Fox, Disney, and Warner (after May this year)).

From what I knew Paramount and Universal weren't renewing their exclusivity to HD-DVD. --- Source & Source

Well thats good news, format war's are nice in driving down player prices but they are annoying as hell for early adopters.

Feb 20, 2008 7:32 PM by 8GaugeBrett

From what I knew Paramount and Universal weren't renewing their exclusivity to HD-DVD. --- Source & Source

Feb 20, 2008 7:31 PM by Kanashimi

but blu-ray is only good if you have a blu-ray player or PS3. I'm short of money so i can't get either. x_x

Feb 20, 2008 7:22 PM by cr4sian_phil

cr4sian_phil said:
HD DVD pwns bluray anyday. =_=

Actually no... it doesn't

They are equals in terms of current video and audio quality, but blu-ray has more potential for growth in both areas because it is effectively double the storage space of HD-DVDs.

Also as it stands only 2 major motion picture studios are still sticking with the HD-DVD format (Universal and Paramount) while most others are adopting blu-ray (Columbia, MGM, Fox, Disney, and Warner (after May this year)).

Feb 20, 2008 7:19 PM by 8GaugeBrett

HD DVD pwns bluray anyday. =_=

Feb 20, 2008 6:33 PM by cr4sian_phil

Personally I don't use Blu-ray or HD DVD so the whole, "BLU VS HD" war isnt my problem :P

Although I'd rather have Blu-rays because I dont like those "Acronym" things were a letter really means a word that starts with that letter...what the hells DVD even mean >.>|?

PS: That wasn't a serious question, that was that british thing were you ask a question but its not spose to be answered :P

Feb 20, 2008 6:24 PM by Icy-nee-san

I'm not a big fan of Bandai Visual USA but even I see this as a positive move for at least the people who've stuck around to purchase the prior Freedom volumes. Bandai could have very well just dropped the show right then and there leaving disgruntled fans but they're giving them the option to continue and finish what they started.

Feb 20, 2008 5:59 PM by tainteddonut

competition is good for the consumer but man the HD war was just a bad way to go. now people who bought HDdvd are fraced with a dying format that they probably fell for and spent a fortune on. not to mention toshiba is really bleeding here.

oh well, its for retribution for sony, who failed with MD and other failed investments. hurray for blu

Feb 20, 2008 5:52 PM by kisami

Krelian- I think you are right.

This is a positive and one of the few cases where the company seems to see the side of the consumer. I know I don't want to have to buy the blu ray version of Freedom now that there is a collective turn of media. I don't think everyone is going to trash their HD players just because Sony won on the media format war. And there is nothing I hate more than not having the complete set of something, especially anime so I want the rest of my collection in HD. If the company does want to get the market then re-release the first 3 volumes in blu ray too.

Feb 20, 2008 1:45 PM by Darkanger

I don't think it's that stupid - the people who bought the first volumes obviously have HD-DVD players, and that's exactly the market that they're aiming for (nobody is going to just decide to start watching in the middle of the series). The smartest thing would be to release the entire series on Blu-Ray as well, but there's no point in changing formats midway. It'd be pretty lame to have to own a player for each format just to be able to watch the entire series.

Feb 20, 2008 12:07 PM by Krelian

siriously...although the future of blu-ray is still not guaranteed, its kinda stupid to continue with a dropped format. oh well, about another six months and ill invest in an HD format along with an HD screen.

Feb 20, 2008 11:47 AM by kisami

A big mistake

Feb 20, 2008 11:19 AM by Shino-rin