Ever since TV stations across the developed world begin broadcasting in high definition, high def content could be had via off-the-air antennas and select cable, satellite, or telephone providers. But even before then, we have high def content on the internet; it was just a matter of having broadband, a powerful computer, and a monitor that handled over 720 or 1080 horizontal lines of resolution. And it is on these sorts of computers that anime was made.

Regardless of how you feel about fansubbing, it brought high def TV anime across the pond better than anyone until probably the release of Shigurui in 2009. Or if you're more open-minded about distribution methods, Xam'd: Lost Memories in summer of 2008. Since the high definition format war between Blu-Ray and HDDVD ended only in early 2008, that is not too shabby as far as the wait is concerned.

Fast-forward to 2010, however, is this really acceptable?

It isn't a concern until we realize dozens of TV anime from Japan were originally broadcast in high definition, and has been for several years. Many anime titles now are produced for that format from the get go. In other words, the DVDs that make their way overseas are often a downsized version of their original glory. One of my favorite nitpick is Shoji Kawamori's Aquarion. Satelight's high definition production of Aquarion became the building block that paved the way for later mecha anime like Macross Frontier and Basquash. And imagine we could have witnessed that sort of visuals since 2005! Unfortunately, there is no word as to Funimation's direction with that DVD-only-thus-far title in the States. Even if some fans wanted to support the industry in this way, there is no real outlet for their money short of importing.

I am bucking a trend here. It's well-assumed that anime fans overseas are generally well-researched buyers, generally indifferent about video quality, and generally put plot and character over all else. Furthermore we know the US anime licensees are playing really conservative ball when it comes to their business strategies, or in other words, "Funimation passes over a lot of titles," understandably so. And worse of all Japan is still divided and entrenched with fears of reverse importation. It's hard to blame Funimation and other US licensees for taking a dip in the hi-def pool only until recently. Indeed, with Funimation's latest releases of their more evergreen titles on BD, we're seeing a positive sign. Regardless of the process and production ills some of their releases had, and even if most of these titles are not remastered into high definition, it is better than nothing. Hopefully in due time, Funimation's in-house BD production process will improve, and Japan may loosen its licensing restrictions and provide us with the real deal.

At the same time, despite the sky-high Blu-Ray sales numbers we've seen in the past year in Japan, Japanese publishers are also playing it safe. Back to True Tears; it seems that the way how the story in True Tears resolved irked a lot of people, and as a result the Japanese DVD sales was not so hot. Bandai Visual (the Japanese one, not the one that folded into Bandai Entertainment USA) wasn't having a hot year in 2008-09 either, so they effectively put True Tears on hold for Blu.

As far as I know, the long road to Blu-Ray for True Tears came down to fans rallying behind its critical acclaim, and Bandai Visual kicked off a made-to-order program. In short, BV decided to take pre-orders for the thing, and if there were at least 2000 paid pre-orders, they would make a release and fulfill for every pre-order (and that is it). It is a living example that confirms that the voices of fans, as translated into yen.

As fans, we still can't forget that anime is an industry. In response to the fan demand even after the pre-order period, Bandai Visual opened up another window for pre-ordering your own custom, Japanese Blu-ray True Tears box set for those fans who missed the boat the first time. Or to fans who want to speculate on a title that finally got its deserving home video treatment. (And by speculate I mean make 100% profit!)

The above is a screen cap of some poor fool who paid more than twice the cost of the box set, as he or she could have just joined in on the second pre-order period!

If the option of buying an expensive, Japanese-only Blu-Ray box is not an option to you, don't despair. The R1 DVD transfer of True Tears is great too, as one trustworthy technical review claimed, even if it is just a value box set. If that doesn't help enough, well, you can always use your voice--not so much by withholding your money (that's cheap talk), but by telling those industry folks what vices will open the gateway to your desires (and wallet/purse).

And that goes for any other title you want to see.

[top image (pixiv)]