EyeOnAnime Forum

Just Passing Through · Posted: Sat Mar 03, 2007 1:13 pm Post subject: A marketing idea?

The prevalence of three episode discs at the end of series has got me thinking. It's almost a fact of life that series episode numbers usually end up around 13 or 26, which isn't too pleasant when you see only three episodes on a disc.

But as is usually the case, when one series is winding up, another is about to start.

How about the final volume of a series containing a taster episode 1 of the next series in line for release? It's more satisfying than just trailers, fans get a much more hefty taster of what's coming up, and the bonus episode makes the disc value for money again.
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gradian · Hardcore Poster Joined: 07 Aug 2006 Posts: 302

I would agree with that Idea in principal but I bet you there are a lot of problems with that.

Hugh K. David · Posted: Thu Mar 15, 2007 5:12 pm Post subject:

Just Passing Through: actually, it's a very good idea, and I suggested it every year for three years here at ADV, until last year when we put together the Bento Box and discovered how hard it really is to get separate licensors to agree to being on the same DVD... although in the end we pulled it off, to everyone's great surprise.

I did originally want to put MADLAX episode 1 in with a Noir Box, or Fumoffu in with an FMP box, but we haven't created either set yet.... The next best thing has been to tailor the trailers on the discs to the shows as much as possible, although we haven't always succeeded at that.

Still, I'll keep trying - marketing ideas I had in 2003 when I started have only come to fruition in 2005 and 6, so maybe 2008 is the year Cool

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Just Passing Through · Posted: Thu Mar 15, 2007 5:33 pm Post subject:

Wow! Thank you for posting on this. I'm grateful for the business perspective, although realising that my thoughts are hardly original is a bit of a letdown Laughing

I guessed that the biggest barrier to this would be licencing or something like that.

Perhaps the trick would be to get it all started at the birth of the disc, and convince our American cousins that it would be a good idea. Once they have something like this as a fait accompli, it would be easier to bring over here. I guess ADV would be in a better position to benefit from this, given the US and UK presence, but for other companies unique to the UK I can see the licencing problem wouldn't go away.
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"I thought what I'd do was, I'd pretend I was one of those deaf-mutes."

Anime@MyReviewer

Toraman · Shinigami Joined: 08 Aug 2006 Posts: 2122 Location: London

It is a good idea, especially for trying to get more casual fans into anime more regularly.

The Bento box is a similar idea and now it's been out for a while there might be more basis the idea further than what could have been done in previous years. Manga got in on the act as well with their recent Showcase DVD so there must be some mileage in the idea if more than one company's willing to do it.

(Didn't Funimation put an episode of Spiral on one of the Full Metal Alchemist discs in America at one point?)

Hope something comes of it eventually. If not then your monthly compilation adverts like the one that's on amazon.co.uk are a good step for getting lots of titles advertised in one shot. (I'm a sucker for the more intense drum and bass adverts so I might be alone on that one, lol!)

IanC · Posted: Thu Mar 15, 2007 7:45 pm Post subject:

Hugh K. David · Posted: Mon Mar 19, 2007 6:12 pm Post subject:

Absolutely, far fewer licensing issues when working with titles from the same licensor. The Bento Box was one of those miracles where everyone worked very hard in Japan, the US and the UK to make everything work out, and it did. However, that was helped very much by being from the London office - sometimes that has its advantages when it comes to international diplomacy!
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Hugh K. David
Marketing Consultant
LDMS & ADV Films