Naoki Urasawa's M⊙NS†ER

[Jajuka89]

I'm surprised after all these years nobody has picked this series up and given it another US release. Discotek or AnimEigo

[MOONPHASE]

Originally Posted by Jajuka89

I'm surprised after all these years nobody has picked this series up and given it another US release. Discotek or AnimEigo

At least it’s Streaming on Netflix.

[tigeress02]

Originally Posted by Jajuka89

I'm surprised after all these years nobody has picked this series up and given it another US release. Discotek or AnimEigo

It's definitely not because the show isn't fantastic. I've always heard over the years that there were licensing issues with Monster. Add in that it failed when VIZ tried and I can understand why no one has taken the risk. IIRC, Master Keaton and Yawara! didn't do well either. I thought both were great too, but I don't know that either would get another chance. Unfortunately, I think anime based off Urasawa's work are just cursed to not do well here.

There were also two live-action projects at one point (a series for HBO and a movie). The movie fell apart, but del Toro potentially still has rights to make the series, since as of 2022 he was still shopping it around (HBO passed on the series). Makes me wonder if the situation is similar to James Cameron and Battle Angel (no re-release of the Battle Angel OVA). Of course, Monster being up on Netflix probably isn't helping matters either. For all we know, the home video rights could have been bundled with the streaming rights and Netflix is just going to sit on them till those rights expire.

[Jajuka89]

Originally Posted by tigeress02

It's definitely not because the show isn't fantastic. I've always heard over the years that there were licensing issues with Monster. Add in that it failed when VIZ tried and I can understand why no one has taken the risk. IIRC, Master Keaton and Yawara! didn't do well either. I thought both were great too, but I don't know that either would get another chance. Unfortunately, I think anime based off Urasawa's work are just cursed to not do well here.

Oh wow I haven't heard the name Master Keaton in years ! I remember I was interested in owning that one as well. I managed to get Yawara! on DVD years ago, but it was only the first 40 episodes. I appreciate all the info thanks. Hopefully one day we'll get Monster on bluray

[BigOnAnime]

Originally Posted by Jajuka89

I'm surprised after all these years nobody has picked this series up and given it another US release. Discotek or AnimEigo

This post from the first page may help.

Originally Posted by BigOnAnime

I'll leave this here for no reason at all...

https://fandompost.vbulletin.net/for...ge4#post490412

Hopefully things changed (gotta love when some in Japan have very unrealistic expectations of the market here, it's happened too many times), but don't get your hopes up too high for something happening with it on disc here.

If this still remains an issue for any potential license rescue after all this time, it probably will remain SOL.