Studio Announces classic Ultras and Spectreman on DVD and Blu-ray (AT)
Posted July 19
Last week we received information that the recently created Masterpiece HD is going to release on the Brazilian market 4 great tokusatsus classics on DVD and (gasp!) Blu-ray: Ultraman , UltraSeven , The Return of Ultraman and Spectreman.
The news was greeted with some suspicion, since it is known that "generic" versions of these series are sold in stores and even at newsstands as official products. Another point is that domestic companies in the home video market have tried to acquire these, but ran into several difficulties, including copyright disputes.
We talked with Sergio Arns from Masterpiece trying to learn more information about these releases:
"The series that for years was the center of legal discussions among its creators and distributors is finally being released on DVD and Blu-ray worldwide. Masterpiece will be in charge of the launch of the series in Brasil and Argentina.
Totally remastered, the series will be available for sale in all major stores in the country, including American Stores (Lojas Americanas, brasilian store chain) for the suggested price of 19.90 $Reales per DVD.
Also, in October, the complete collection will arrive on Blu-ray at Brasil stores, a deluxe edition, containing 50 collectible "cards", an official T-shirt of the series and a full size replica of the character's head.
Masterpiece also acquired the distribution rights of the other series in the Ultra family produced by Tsuburaya. Among them, the cult series "The Return of Ultraman" and "UltraSeven", plus the very rare "Spectreman", very popular on brasilian TV, but not part of the franchise created by Tsuburaya."
Will all the classic series also come out on Blu-ray or only Ultraman?
"All will come out on Blu-ray."
What about subtitles, will they be translated from the Japanese, or will they be dubtitles?
"They are being translated using the English scripts, being that we don't have the rights to include English audio or subtitles. We can only make available original Japanese, dubs and subtitles in Spanish."
Blu-ray is a medium whose biggest factor is the image quality. In an old series like Ultraman, what were the steps taken to achieve the best possible quality?
"In truth we are very satisfied with the quality of the material we received. I think the fans will be very satisfied."
Update (July 20th 8:30 am): We received a message from Tsuburaya where the company claims that the rights were acquired through UMC/Tiga Hong Kong, which has no business relationship with the studio. Such a company would have purchased the series from the Thailandese Chayo, who in 2008 lost the fight in court against Tsuburaya. Thus, the Japanese studio/distributor claims to be the sole holder of the series and doesn't recognize as legal any licensing made by UMC/Tiga or another company, all of which would not have rights to market such programs.
Update (July 20th 5:00 pm): Following is Marterpiece HD's reply to the message from Tsuburaya: "I'm sending the ruling of the case decided by the supreme Court of Japan, where no more appeals are possible by Tsuburaya. We already knew this would happen... UMC already has licensed for more than 17 countries, what's more in the United States it's already being distributed since April of this year and we have samples bought from Amazon. Even today we are already negotiating in partnership with TIGA the licensing for Spain and Portugal for TV and Home Video.
Also it was our American partners that were there through the whole development of this process. Tsuburaya with whom we also have good relations treats this matter in an evasive way.
Says it's not able to negotiate the rights, but also does not accept the defeat in the courts. I also confess that I rooted for Tsuburaya, but they did not win in Japan.
Another detail also is that Chayio was who licensed this material from the beggining, since the late 60's. Tsuburaya never took care of that. Only production. Now UMC, is much more practical and sent us hundreds of documents that prove, without a shadow of a doubt, the ownership of great part of the series to be theirs."
Thank you so much for the excellent translation, what a great news !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I don't understand this:
Blu-ray is a medium whose biggest factor is the image quality. In an old series like Ultraman, what were the steps taken to achieve the best possible quality?
"In truth we are very satisfied with the quality of the material we received. I think the fans will be very satisfied."
So who did the video transfer if not Masterpiece HD?
I dropped a mail to the company.
Last edited by UniSol GR77; 11-19-2011 at 09:37 AM.
Well UniSol the Ultraman saga doesn't end there.. then, there's this
I know, buddy, I know...
... but I never liked Ultraman... I just love Spectreman and his "Rocketeer-like" aspect. PLUS, the series was a big hit here in Italy, not bigger than 'Megaloman' but almost.
Bad news guys, I found out all of these releases are NOT from Tsuburaya, they are bootlegs.
No bootlegs. Tsuburaya lost the rights about foreign markets long time ago.
Update (July 20th 8:30 am): We received a message from Tsuburaya where the company claims that the rights were acquired through UMC/Tiga Hong Kong, which has no business relationship with the studio. Such a company would have purchased the series from the Thailandese Chayo, who in 2008 lost the fight in court against Tsuburaya. Thus, the Japanese studio/distributor claims to be the sole holder of the series and doesn't recognize as legal any licensing made by UMC/Tiga or another company, all of which would not have rights to market such programs.
Update (July 20th 5:00 pm): Following is Marterpiece HD's reply to the message from Tsuburaya: "I'm sending the ruling of the case decided by the supreme Court of Japan, where no more appeals are possible by Tsuburaya. We already knew this would happen... UMC already has licensed for more than 17 countries, what's more in the United States it's already being distributed since April of this year and we have samples bought from Amazon. Even today we are already negotiating in partnership with TIGA the licensing for Spain and Portugal for TV and Home Video.
Also it was our American partners that were there through the whole development of this process. Tsuburaya with whom we also have good relations treats this matter in an evasive way.
Says it's not able to negotiate the rights, but also does not accept the defeat in the courts. I also confess that I rooted for Tsuburaya, but they did not win in Japan.
Another detail also is that Chayio was who licensed this material from the beggining, since the late 60's. Tsuburaya never took care of that. Only production. Now UMC, is much more practical and sent us hundreds of documents that prove, without a shadow of a doubt, the ownership of great part of the series to be theirs."
"Thank you so much for you mega-fast answer...
Why these missing parts? Is that inherent to the way P-Productions stored the original film elements? Are those parts "lost" forever?
So did you "upscale" the DVD counterparts of these scenes?"
THE COMPANY:
"I do not understand much of these technical problems. But I know that some parts had to be taken advantage of a digital beta tape "not HD". But they are almost imperceptible.
In Italy these series were not released (Ultraman, Spectreman, Ultraseven)?
Kind regards,"
------------------------------------>
FOREVER KNIGHT:
Spectreman was a precursor, and he was very popular here in Italy along with MEGALOMAN. MEGALOMAN is still regarded as a huge cult icon here in Italy (and it makes me laugh because in Japan nobody knows about him, indeed the series flopped). I love both! The Ultra family never appeared on our nationwide TVs anyway. I don't like their helmets.
Last edited by UniSol GR77; 11-20-2011 at 11:16 AM.
UniSol, if you decided to pick these up then make sure you nab Ultraseven. Not doubt in my mind you'll love it.
The series was dark and took Ultraman to a new level even if it was just the 2nd incarnation in the Ultra franchise.
Trust me.
As for me, It's Chaiyo, I don't give a shit, if the pq is worthy I will buy it. I come from an era where I had to stab people to get Tokusatsu on VHS nevermind High Def Blu-rays lol.
As for me, It's Chaiyo, I don't give a shit, if the pq is worthy I will buy it. I come from an era where I had to stab people to get Tokusatsu on VHS nevermind High Def Blu-rays lol.
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Spectreman and Ultraman coming on BD?
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