LUCKY STAR: The Complete Series on BD/DVD

Back in 2008-09, Bandai Entertainment released LUCKY STAR to DVD in the USA. I bought up all the limited edition releases, deluxe boxes containing DVDs with alternate covers, bonus CDs, and T-shirts I could never wear. Bandai went under, and now, some years later, Funimation has rescued the license (alongside HARUHI SUZUMIYA, coming soon), and re-released the series to both DVD and also Blu-ray. My little review here will more or less critique the release, not the show, which is every bit as good as I remember.

Slipcover (left) and insert (right). The imagery is the same on both.

I should start by saying, this is a BD/DVD combo, a concept personally I am not a fan of. I have no particular need for the DVDs (especially considering the fact I have all the original Bandai releases). I wish they'd have just given two separate options. I HAVE known some people to sell off the DVD or BD discs, but that may be a problem here, you'll find out why under the Extras.

Video/Audio: The show looks and sounds great. Very colorful. No complaints.

Subtitles: The subtitles are locked on the BD edition when on the Japanese version. Boo.

Reverse-side cover art.

Extras: There's a pretty decent collection of extras here, a few items not on the original Bandai releases, and a few exclusive to the American DVDs. The main issue is, some of the extras are ONLY on the DVDs, and some are only on the BDs. Meaning, if you're one of those people that sell off the discs you don't want... you're gonna have to keep them if you want those bonuses. Unless I'm incorrect, I believe all of the extras from the Bandai releases are replicated here, including English voice actor interviews which are quite interesting.

Extras come in the form of:
-Both BD/DVD: The OVA (no dub, same as the Bandai release), On-Screen Text Reference Guide*, US Trailer (Funimation)
-BD only: Lucky Racer "Checker Flag in Akihabara & Lucky Racer Highlight", Radio Kansai's Public Recording of "New Lucky Channel"
-DVD only: Promo Clip, The Adventures Of Minoru Shiraishi Parts 1-11, English Voice Cast Interview Parts 1-3

Packaging: Instead of a chipboard artbox, Funimation opted for a double-thick standard BD case with a slipcover, and reversible insert. Nothing terribly exciting. The discs are decorated with the same hand-drawn stars shown on the cover, no character art. No characters on the cover spine, which is a disappointment for me. The reversible cover has a different front image culled from the Bandai "Anime Legends" complete series release, and the back replaces the show description with an Extras listing.

 

If you're new to LUCKY STAR, or just want to upgrade to BD, I highly recommend this release. Here's looking forward to Funimation's grandiose box set of HARUHI SUZIUMIYA in September!

For more info on LUCKY STAR as well as viewable episodes, check out the official site.

STRAWBERRY MARSHMALLOW Available on BD/DVD from Sentai Filmworks

For my first post, I'd like to recommend one of my favorite anime, STRAWBERRY MARSHMALLOW, which has rad a recent resurgence in the USA with two great DVD and Blu-ray releases by Sentai Filmworks (a label of Section23).

The TV series was released back in the 2000s by Geneon, as three DVDs, with optional artbox, and each came with a shitajiki (pencil board). It was given a very nice English dub as well. Since Geneon went under, the series has been out of print. The two followup OVA series went unlicensed in the USA. Earlier this year, Sentai Filmworks announced they had licensed the TV series, and later the two OVA series, for DVD and BD release.

The TV series was released on 05/10, while the OVAs will be out on 07/12, this Tuesday.This review generally covers just the Blu-ray edition, though the DVD should be identical, except for the subtitle details.

Video and Audio: Video quality is very good, not perfect HD, but appears to be upscaled enough to be superior to previous releases. I suspect if they hadn't released the recent BD in Japan it wouldn't have been released on that format in the US. No complaints with the audio, which is presented in both Japanese and English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 for the TV series, and Japanese DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 for the OVAs. The opening and ending text are the original Japanese, likely to retain the HD source; The Geneon DVDs had English credits.

Subtitles: Like some modern anime BD releases, the subtitles are locked on the Japanese language versions, meaning they can't be disabled (except for the the music videos, which may have something to do with them being Standard Def and apparently DVD-sourced). Otherwise, as usual, a nice effort with the subs on Sentai's part.

Extras:  All of the extras on the TV series appear to be retained from the Geneon releases, most importantly the Episode "0" (English dub included), Episode 1 & 2 Digest, Music Videos, Promo Video, TV Spots, Clean Opening and Closing Animations, and of course, trailers for other Sentai releases. The OVAs include Clean Opening and Closing Animations and Sentai trailers. If I recall, the OVAs Japanese releases had Audio Commentaries; those are absent here.

Packaging: The TV series cover uses stock character images, while the OVA uses adorable art by series creator Barasui. Miu and Nobue are used on the cover spines, respectively, and look good on the shelf.

The original English dub is included for the TV series. Unfortunately, no dub was created for the OVAs, but personally I'd rather there be no dub rather than risk re-casting everyone.

I greatly enjoyed re-watching the original series in HD, and finally seeing the OVAs after all these years of holding out. Miu Matsuoka remains my favorite character. While all the girls are cute, she stands out for me, I love her mischievousness. That's not to say Chika, Ana, Matsuri, and Nobue aren't enjoyable as well, although Chika can often seem to be a stick-in-the-mud. The first three OVAs shift character design a little bit, while the final two ENCORE episodes go for a different look. One that looks really good, but is somewhat of a departure from the previous ones, and seems a bit out of place.

I'm glad STRAWBERRY MARSHMALLOW has finally been released in it's completion in America, and by my current favorite anime licensor, no less. If only the manga could be finished as well; only the first five volumes were released in English by Tokyopop. If you enjoy the cute, the moe, I highly recommend this series.

You can purchase it at two of my most preferred retailers, The Right Stuf and BlowItOutaHere.

TV series Blu-ray at The Right Stuf
TV series Blu-ray at BlowItOutaHere

OVA Blu-ray at The Right Stuf
OVA Blu-ray at BlowItOutaHere

BONUS! Episode Listings (with air/release dates):

TV series
01. Birthday (7/14/2005)
02. Ana (7/21/2005)
03. House Call (7/28/2005)
04. Part-time Job (8/18/2005)
05. Sleeping Together (8/25/2005)
06. Midsummer Day (9/1/2005)
07. Sea Bathing (9/1/2005)
08. Festival (9/15/2005)
09. Growing (9/22/2005)
10. Flower (9/29/2005)
11. First Snow (10/6/2005)
12. Present (10/13/2005)

OVA series
01. Scenery (02/23/2007)
02. Always (03/28/2007)
03. Everyday (04/25/2007)

Encore
01. Good Afternoon (01/23/2009)
02. See You Tomorrow (03/25/2009)