Looking for good version of Astroboy 2003 to buy on DVD

[TasZero]

Yeah, I decided I want to buy the dvd's. Maybe because I can now buy things online.

I saw all the nice copies people had in one of the threads but I wouldn't know where to get them from.

What I am looking for is a reliable place to buy them online, with either English audio, or Japanese audio.... or even better both.

I don't mind if they are bootleg or not, as long as the price is fair and the audio and picture is dvd quality, so no clocks... and preferably no messed up intros/ends... and they come in proper looking cases (with English writing) And have decent subtitles for Japanese

Currently all I have seen is whats on Amazon, but I'll make that a last resort.

(Shipping to Australia, which is where I live, so no point finding something that is only American shipping)

Thanks

Edit: Can be any region, my computer can handle any.

[DrFrag]

The bootlegs have clocks and terrible subtitles, if you can even find them for sale anymore. Cropped image, converted from AVIs ripped from Japanese TV.
The Japanese version has no English audio or subtitles at all, and it's really expensive.
The Korean version is one of the best, with dual audio and subtitles iirc, but they only released half the series.

So that leaves the Australian version and the US version. The Australian version is stupidly expensive, but has a great widescreen picture and nice packaging. It comes on 12 individual discs, but you can also get the last 6 discs ("season 2") in a single 6-disc casing. Nice artwork. The US version is cheap, but you get a cropped 4:3 image and it comes in 5 slimline cases in a cardboard slipcase. No special artwork. Both versions have the same DVD extras (ie. not much).
I'd say go for the Australian version if you're really into it, but get the US version if you're just a casual fan or don't want to spend much.

Places to get the Australian version:
Your local ABC shop might have a few leftover copies. I got mine for $10 per disc.
Big W might have some too. I picked up the 6-disc casing from there for about $50.
EBay is another good place to get them, although there aren't any listed at the moment.
Online, I could only find two places that list them:
https://www.play4me.com.au/product/astro_boy_volume_1_566956_191261.html
http://www.bigwentertainment.com.au/product/astro_boy_volume_3_572920_191261.html
And they're both unlisted/out-of-stock. But they're $20 a disc anyway, which is a total ripoff. No one wants to pay AU$240 plus shipping for the 2003 series.

Places to get the US boxset version:
EBay (typically US$15-$30 plus shipping for the entire series)
Amazon (US$20 plus shipping)
http://www.rightstuf.com/1-800-338-6827/catalogmgr/HTMc531kG1=lgzlFGw/browse/item/65426/4/0/0
http://www.yesasia.com/us/astro-boy-the-complete-series-5-disc-set-us-version/1004426223-0-0-0-en/info.html
http://www.videocollection.com/product.html?product_id=38011
I've shopped at The Right Stuf and YesAsia before, they're both good.

[TasZero]

Wow thanks for the information. Perhaps I will go for the Australian version then. I could be an interesting project to get all of the dvds from many different sources.

I have seen the entire collection in one place... the video rental store. Its a real pity they wouldn't sell them to me.

Maybe I should go ahead and order whatever volumes I can find. The US version sounds simple, but bland, and I like to display things nicely.

ABC shops are also a great idea. Thanks for going to all the effort to find so many different options.

[DrFrag]

No problem. I have some widescreen comparison pictures lying around on my hard drive too. The sizes are a bit screwy, but it shows where the US version gets cropped. They even cropped the top and bottom, so I have no idea what they were thinking.

Australian version:

US version:



Australian version:

US version:



Australian version:

US version:

[TasZero]

Wow, I see. Looks like they did a pretty bad job of the US version then. I'll have to keep my eyes open for the Australian one somewhere... maybe I'll get lucky.

Thanks for all the help

[Uran-chan]

hey do you know where to buy japanese version??

[jeffbert]

I know that Amazon.co.jp has used & new items that were sold out on other sources: http://www.amazon.co.jp/s/ref=nb_ss_d?__mk_ja_JP=%83J%83%5E%83J%83i&url=search-alias%3Ddvd&field-keywords=astro+boy&x=0&y=0
I have never dealt with Amazon.co.jp, so I have no idea about any difficulty in using its English pages. I have ordered from both CD Japan & Yes Asia, & had no difficulty with either, but the 2003 Astroboy DVDs are mostly sold out on those sites.