Toei and Blu-ray - Blu-ray Forum

hendra · 12-22-2008, 10:58 AM

Why does Toei still not embrace Blu-ray? They have very few titles that have been released in Blu-ray. I would like to see their classic titles released in Blu-ray. The DVD version has too much grain. The Laser Disc version is much better but I have sold my Laser Disc Player.

Jeff Kleist · 12-22-2008, 12:46 PM

Because Blu-ray doesn't have the penetration in Japan. You're just starting to see releases from the domestic labels now

You would be shocked how low the sales numbers are in Japan. even on gigantic hollywood titles.

Let me put it this way. A movie (any movie) selling 100,000 copies at sellthrough (not rental) in Japan is a big success, and Japan seems to hold the approx 10-1 DVD/Blu split that we're seeing here right now. You can't pay for the mastering on 10,000 copies

The good news is that some domestic catalog titles have come out, and judging by the empty shelves have done very well, so this will push studios like Toei pretty hard

jd213 · 12-24-2008, 04:56 AM

Toei will actually be releasing 10 (!) of their Kamen Rider movies to Blu-ray next year:

http://av.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/20081211/toei.htm

I personally don't care too much about tokusatsu or live action movies but I hope they start releasing anime soon. Thankfully anime Blu-rays are selling quite well in Japan, so they'll have to start soon if they want a piece of the pie.

Alex Pallas · 01-05-2009, 03:47 AM

toei has the most brilliant line up of samurai flicks. a lot of them have found their way onto very nasty DVD pressings. it would be nice to see some of the old chiba and fukasaku classics from toei properly restored

monkeyjb1988 · 01-05-2009, 03:19 PM

I would kill to see some of Toei's toku on Blu-Ray. I'm angry that they aren't already releasing blu's of their current Sentai series. I will buy them when they come (and have the money to spend).

Mobe1969 · 01-05-2009, 08:40 PM

Two words:

Battle
Royale

Jeff Kleist · 01-05-2009, 08:59 PM

Do not count on Battle Royale from Toei having English subtitles on it, unless things over there have changed (which I hope they have)

Alex Pallas · 01-05-2009, 11:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mobe1969

Two words:

Battle
Royale

YES! Battle Royale and MANY MANY other great films directed by Kinji Fukasaku! Some people say "Battle Royale" without remembering the director that made the legendary flick what it is. Fukasaku's back catalog with Toei is some of the finest examples of filmmaking period.

Volume11 · 01-06-2009, 05:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alex Pallas

YES! Battle Royale and MANY MANY other great films directed by Kinji Fukasaku! Some people say "Battle Royale" without remembering the director that made the legendary flick what it is. Fukasaku's back catalog with Toei is some of the finest examples of filmmaking period.

Agreed. BR is great (the first one at least, directing well apparently doesn't run in the family), but Fukasaku has done numerous other great films.

kndy · 01-07-2009, 02:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeff Kleist

Do not count on Battle Royale from Toei having English subtitles on it, unless things over there have changed (which I hope they have)

I'm kind of curious if we will see multi-Asian Blu-ray releases for these type of films. HK or Korean version...

Mobe1969 · 01-07-2009, 08:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kndy

I'm kind of curious if we will see multi-Asian Blu-ray releases for these type of films. HK or Korean version...

Yeah, it was often like that for DVD. That would be great if it happened for Blu Ray.

OrlandoEastwood · 04-26-2009, 01:09 AM

Battle Royale and the old Sonny Chiba Street Fighter movies and all the other movies Sonny did with Toei.

jd213 · 04-28-2009, 06:43 AM

Toei will be releasing the Galaxy Express 999 movies in September (9/9/2009, to be precise):

http://av.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/n...28_164052.html

I wouldn't expect English subtitles, but I will so be getting these.

Kyo28 · 04-28-2009, 07:11 AM

All in all I think Toei is doing pretty well on Blu-ray. They'll release no less than 10 Kamen Rider movies this year and now also Galaxy Express 999. Considering the penetration rate of Blu-ray in Japan, I think they are doing as well as can be expected.

I'm thinking of picking up a movie or 3 on BD when they come out.

jd213 · 04-28-2009, 07:20 AM

I hope they release Slam Dunk on Blu-ray soon, but it will probably be a while. Even though the series was immensely popular in Japan (and most of the rest of Asia), it never even had a VHS or Laserdisc release in Japan and didn't get officially released to DVD until 2003.

Cordre69 · 04-28-2009, 05:49 PM

Oh man...Battle Royale in HD? Oh man oh man oh man

I would flip! I would fly TO Japan to get my copy!

12-22-2008, 10:58 AM	#1
hendra Active Member Member since:Dec 2007	Toei and Blu-ray Why does Toei still not embrace Blu-ray? They have very few titles that have been released in Blu-ray. I would like to see their classic titles released in Blu-ray. The DVD version has too much grain. The Laser Disc version is much better but I have sold my Laser Disc Player.

12-22-2008, 12:46 PM	#2
Jeff Kleist The Digital Bits Member since:Jul 2008 Trading Score:1	Because Blu-ray doesn't have the penetration in Japan. You're just starting to see releases from the domestic labels now You would be shocked how low the sales numbers are in Japan. even on gigantic hollywood titles. Let me put it this way. A movie (any movie) selling 100,000 copies at sellthrough (not rental) in Japan is a big success, and Japan seems to hold the approx 10-1 DVD/Blu split that we're seeing here right now. You can't pay for the mastering on 10,000 copies The good news is that some domestic catalog titles have come out, and judging by the empty shelves have done very well, so this will push studios like Toei pretty hard Last edited by Jeff Kleist; 12-22-2008 at 12:49 PM.

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12-24-2008, 04:56 AM	#3
jd213 Special Member Member since:Sep 2007 Location:less than 10 minutes from Akihabara	Toei will actually be releasing 10 (!) of their Kamen Rider movies to Blu-ray next year: http://av.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/20081211/toei.htm I personally don't care too much about tokusatsu or live action movies but I hope they start releasing anime soon. Thankfully anime Blu-rays are selling quite well in Japan, so they'll have to start soon if they want a piece of the pie.

01-05-2009, 03:47 AM	#4
Alex Pallas Active Member Member since:Sep 2005 Location:The Belly Of The Beast (USA)	toei has the most brilliant line up of samurai flicks. a lot of them have found their way onto very nasty DVD pressings. it would be nice to see some of the old chiba and fukasaku classics from toei properly restored

01-05-2009, 03:19 PM	#5
monkeyjb1988 Expert Member Member since:Aug 2008 Blu-ray collection:188 Digital collection:11 Blu-ray reviews: 16	I would kill to see some of Toei's toku on Blu-Ray. I'm angry that they aren't already releasing blu's of their current Sentai series. I will buy them when they come (and have the money to spend).

01-05-2009, 08:40 PM	#6
Mobe1969 Blu-ray Knight Top contributor Member since:Jan 2008 Location:Brisbane, Australia 4K collection:980 Blu-ray collection:1610	Two words: Battle Royale

01-05-2009, 08:59 PM	#7
Jeff Kleist The Digital Bits Member since:Jul 2008 Trading Score:1	Do not count on Battle Royale from Toei having English subtitles on it, unless things over there have changed (which I hope they have)

04-26-2009, 01:09 AM	#12
OrlandoEastwood Blu-ray Champion Top contributor Member since:Jun 2008 Location:R-Point Blu-ray reviews:86 Trading Score:24	Battle Royale and the old Sonny Chiba Street Fighter movies and all the other movies Sonny did with Toei.

04-28-2009, 06:43 AM	#13
jd213 Special Member Member since:Sep 2007 Location:less than 10 minutes from Akihabara	Toei will be releasing the Galaxy Express 999 movies in September (9/9/2009, to be precise): http://av.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/n...28_164052.html I wouldn't expect English subtitles, but I will so be getting these.

04-28-2009, 07:11 AM	#14
Kyo28 Power Member Member since:Jun 2008 Blu-ray collection:446 Blu-ray reviews:12	All in all I think Toei is doing pretty well on Blu-ray. They'll release no less than 10 Kamen Rider movies this year and now also Galaxy Express 999. Considering the penetration rate of Blu-ray in Japan, I think they are doing as well as can be expected. I'm thinking of picking up a movie or 3 on BD when they come out.

04-28-2009, 07:20 AM	#15
jd213 Special Member Member since:Sep 2007 Location:less than 10 minutes from Akihabara	I hope they release Slam Dunk on Blu-ray soon, but it will probably be a while. Even though the series was immensely popular in Japan (and most of the rest of Asia), it never even had a VHS or Laserdisc release in Japan and didn't get officially released to DVD until 2003.

04-28-2009, 05:49 PM	#16
Cordre69 Power Member Member since:Aug 2007 Location:Livermore, CA 4K collection:218 Blu-ray collection:1094 Trading Score:1	Oh man...Battle Royale in HD? Oh man oh man oh man I would flip! I would fly TO Japan to get my copy!

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