Details at https://x.com/discotekmedia/status/1814027462944473317?ref_src=twsrc^google|twcamp^serp|twgr^tweet . Cross your fingers that the '77 Lupin gets a BD release and a dub for the second half.
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Discotek making new announcements at Otakon.
- Thread starter GATSU
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That dub only happened because TMS really wanted a dub for Part 1 and the japanese government funded it (through the company called J-LOD, they've been funding the Lupin english dubs for Part 6/Movies in the last few years). Also dubbing 23 episodes is WAY cheaper than 74 episodes, there's no comparison.
Crowdfund isn't an option either because TMS/Japanese companies in general don't like that sort of stuff, as explained by Brady Hartel, a producer at Discotek. Even that "50 Animated Years of Lupin III" book by Magnetic Press was originally announced as crowdfund, but TMS didn't let them, so the book was just released normally.
And honestly, even if TMS weren't against crowdfunding, Lupin is a relatively niche franchise in the west, i kinda doubt there would be enough financial support for a EXTREMELY expensive project as dubbing 70+ episodes for a almost 50 year old anime.
Crowdfund isn't an option either because TMS/Japanese companies in general don't like that sort of stuff, as explained by Brady Hartel, a producer at Discotek. Even that "50 Animated Years of Lupin III" book by Magnetic Press was originally announced as crowdfund, but TMS didn't let them, so the book was just released normally.
And honestly, even if TMS weren't against crowdfunding, Lupin is a relatively niche franchise in the west, i kinda doubt there would be enough financial support for a EXTREMELY expensive project as dubbing 70+ episodes for a almost 50 year old anime.
They did mention that not everything will be live at Otakon due to time constraints so unless it is something major like Part 2, Fuma Conspiracy or Green vs Red, it might end up being on the pre-recorded online stream instead.
While it is a case of expect the unexpected and even a chance of no Lupin news at all, there isn't much more left for them to release. It does seem to go hand in hand that Discotek have cutback on licensing with many of their releases have become unsustainable (there were plenty of flops) and approvals from companies have become harder plus MediaOCD who handle most of Discotek's releases now do AnimEigo (they bought them) and Media Blasters.
Green vs Red - Very likely. Already has a HD master and is the last major Lupin film/OVA outside of Fuma not to have a Blu-ray from Discotek. This might be the dub that Richard Epcar was on about. Years ago this was one of the poll options that Discotek did do and Episode 0 did get a dub.
Mystery of Hemingway Papers - Likely. Already has a HD master. Most likely undubbed.
Steal Napoleon's Dictionary - Likely. Already has a HD master. Very unlikely to be dubbed.
From Russia/Siberia with Love - Likely. Already has a HD master. Very unlikely to be dubbed.
Alcatraz Connection - Likely. May or may not get a dub but will have to be upscaled.
Operation: Return the Treasure! - Likely. May or may not get a dub but will have to be upscaled.
Italian Game - Likely. Already has a HD master and TMS has already done official subtitles. May or may not get a dub even if technically it is partially dubbed anyway.
Lupin vs Cat's Eye - Depends on Amazon. Sentai may also release this too...
Part 2 - Likely but have lower expectations unless it is the BIG reveal. Discotek wasn't sure what to do for years. They claimed that it was an upscale but turns out that it was how they were remastered (with an animation fix on Episode 5). Rescanning 155 episodes and dubbing the remaining episodes is VERY expensive, probably. Since the dubbing of Detective Conan apparently flopped for TMS, they might even be a bit put off... If there IS a release, not much different than the DVD releases (79 Geneon, 2 Streamline, 155 Japanese original with subs) but may have different extra features (maybe also the alt audio tracks that were on the Geneon DVDs, this is usually standard on HK movies with different audio options to choose from) and subtitle polish as there are a few typos here and there. Whether it is HD or SD on Blu-ray, we don't know.
The Fuma Conspiracy - Unlikely due to Toho and someone close to Discotek claimed that there is no HD master. Yet there is (was?) the Italian dub on Amazon Prime. Again this will be a big reveal if it has a new English dub and is native HD.
Lupin Shanshei - Unlikely. I don't think this even has official subtitles anywhere. I think this would have been more possible in the past but doubtful now.
Mankatsu - Unlikely.
Master File - Extremely unlikely as it was mentioned that the pilot film changed rights since its release (WOWOW, the network released it on JP Amazon Prime) and I can't see Discotek releasing the pilot or Lupin Family Line-up as it is. There might still be some potential rights issues with Lupin VIII.
While it is very doubtful especially on the stream, there is a possibility in the future that there are more 4K Lupin releases as companies are pushing more 4K content. Can only think of Nostradamus and Dead or Alive (Babylon is possible but another Toho one). Maybe the TV Specials up to and including Missed by a Dollar but that depends whether they are 35mm. There isn't much that can be released, even the recent series and films aren't done in 4K or even 1080p... (A lot of HD era anime is done at around 900p so they are slightly upscaled but TMS did do a strange thing for both Megalobox and Lupin Zero where they were something like 720x405, yep less than SD then resampled them)
Since Discotek also deals with live action using other labels (Nihon Nights), thought to mention these but if they get revealed, then not at the event itself but on the stream.
Strange Psychokinetic Strategy - Unlikely due to Toho. There is a chance that another company may get the rights as there are multiple companies deal with live action films (88 Films, Eureka, Arrow, Third Window, Radiance, possibly even Vinegar Syndrome or Shout all dealt with JP live action, if it had more importance Criterion would have done it) if Discotek don't do it themselves.
2014 Live Action film - Unlikely but possible. There is a chance that another company may get the rights, see above.
Inspector Zenigata - Extremely Unlikely. You probably could count how many live action Japanese series got a Blu-ray release in the US because there are so few.
Jigen Daisuke - Depends on Amazon.
Part 1 was down to being an anniversary. There was multiple interest (Discotek for Blu-rays, Sentai/HIDIVE for streaming/theatre showings, even TMS themselves were interested because they wanted to stream the first episode) and being an early Miyazaki work makes a bit easier to market even if he only partially worked on the series. Plus 23 episodes isn't too bad, it's almost 2 full modern seasons. The next anniversary for Part 2 is 2027. There are 74-76 episodes left to dub, Dan Lorge has retired and there are differences between the 2000s and now in terms of anime dubbing so there is that jarring effect. The licensing costs were also very high (Geneon lost money on the dubs, less than half). TMS might want all 155 episodes getting a redub... Plus we didn't get a dub of Part 3 and this year was the 40th anniversary so...
As for crowdfunding, you need a LOT of money easily into the millions and TMS is not interested in that idea because crowdfunding is risky. Most kickstarters are more reasonable, usually an OVA with some treats and usually in its original Japanese. The costs of Part 2 is way higher than even a redub of Escaflowne, probably one of the few times when Funimation did kickstarters and the Dirty Pair dub kickstarter STILL has issues whether it is getting a release or not (the last thing Nozomi did before Crunchyroll bought them). In the past and still a bit today, TMS relied on getting TV networks interest and that took nearly two decades for Part 2 (Italy, France [only 52 episodes due to syndication limit], Spain and I think South Korea all got it before the US), even then Adult Swim only picked up 26 episodes.
Besides if I could crowdfund, would rather go towards one of the undubbed TV Specials just because the risk is smaller and this is from a Part 2 fan.
While it is a case of expect the unexpected and even a chance of no Lupin news at all, there isn't much more left for them to release. It does seem to go hand in hand that Discotek have cutback on licensing with many of their releases have become unsustainable (there were plenty of flops) and approvals from companies have become harder plus MediaOCD who handle most of Discotek's releases now do AnimEigo (they bought them) and Media Blasters.
Green vs Red - Very likely. Already has a HD master and is the last major Lupin film/OVA outside of Fuma not to have a Blu-ray from Discotek. This might be the dub that Richard Epcar was on about. Years ago this was one of the poll options that Discotek did do and Episode 0 did get a dub.
Mystery of Hemingway Papers - Likely. Already has a HD master. Most likely undubbed.
Steal Napoleon's Dictionary - Likely. Already has a HD master. Very unlikely to be dubbed.
From Russia/Siberia with Love - Likely. Already has a HD master. Very unlikely to be dubbed.
Alcatraz Connection - Likely. May or may not get a dub but will have to be upscaled.
Operation: Return the Treasure! - Likely. May or may not get a dub but will have to be upscaled.
Italian Game - Likely. Already has a HD master and TMS has already done official subtitles. May or may not get a dub even if technically it is partially dubbed anyway.
Lupin vs Cat's Eye - Depends on Amazon. Sentai may also release this too...
Part 2 - Likely but have lower expectations unless it is the BIG reveal. Discotek wasn't sure what to do for years. They claimed that it was an upscale but turns out that it was how they were remastered (with an animation fix on Episode 5). Rescanning 155 episodes and dubbing the remaining episodes is VERY expensive, probably. Since the dubbing of Detective Conan apparently flopped for TMS, they might even be a bit put off... If there IS a release, not much different than the DVD releases (79 Geneon, 2 Streamline, 155 Japanese original with subs) but may have different extra features (maybe also the alt audio tracks that were on the Geneon DVDs, this is usually standard on HK movies with different audio options to choose from) and subtitle polish as there are a few typos here and there. Whether it is HD or SD on Blu-ray, we don't know.
The Fuma Conspiracy - Unlikely due to Toho and someone close to Discotek claimed that there is no HD master. Yet there is (was?) the Italian dub on Amazon Prime. Again this will be a big reveal if it has a new English dub and is native HD.
Lupin Shanshei - Unlikely. I don't think this even has official subtitles anywhere. I think this would have been more possible in the past but doubtful now.
Mankatsu - Unlikely.
Master File - Extremely unlikely as it was mentioned that the pilot film changed rights since its release (WOWOW, the network released it on JP Amazon Prime) and I can't see Discotek releasing the pilot or Lupin Family Line-up as it is. There might still be some potential rights issues with Lupin VIII.
While it is very doubtful especially on the stream, there is a possibility in the future that there are more 4K Lupin releases as companies are pushing more 4K content. Can only think of Nostradamus and Dead or Alive (Babylon is possible but another Toho one). Maybe the TV Specials up to and including Missed by a Dollar but that depends whether they are 35mm. There isn't much that can be released, even the recent series and films aren't done in 4K or even 1080p... (A lot of HD era anime is done at around 900p so they are slightly upscaled but TMS did do a strange thing for both Megalobox and Lupin Zero where they were something like 720x405, yep less than SD then resampled them)
Since Discotek also deals with live action using other labels (Nihon Nights), thought to mention these but if they get revealed, then not at the event itself but on the stream.
Strange Psychokinetic Strategy - Unlikely due to Toho. There is a chance that another company may get the rights as there are multiple companies deal with live action films (88 Films, Eureka, Arrow, Third Window, Radiance, possibly even Vinegar Syndrome or Shout all dealt with JP live action, if it had more importance Criterion would have done it) if Discotek don't do it themselves.
2014 Live Action film - Unlikely but possible. There is a chance that another company may get the rights, see above.
Inspector Zenigata - Extremely Unlikely. You probably could count how many live action Japanese series got a Blu-ray release in the US because there are so few.
Jigen Daisuke - Depends on Amazon.
Part 1 was down to being an anniversary. There was multiple interest (Discotek for Blu-rays, Sentai/HIDIVE for streaming/theatre showings, even TMS themselves were interested because they wanted to stream the first episode) and being an early Miyazaki work makes a bit easier to market even if he only partially worked on the series. Plus 23 episodes isn't too bad, it's almost 2 full modern seasons. The next anniversary for Part 2 is 2027. There are 74-76 episodes left to dub, Dan Lorge has retired and there are differences between the 2000s and now in terms of anime dubbing so there is that jarring effect. The licensing costs were also very high (Geneon lost money on the dubs, less than half). TMS might want all 155 episodes getting a redub... Plus we didn't get a dub of Part 3 and this year was the 40th anniversary so...
As for crowdfunding, you need a LOT of money easily into the millions and TMS is not interested in that idea because crowdfunding is risky. Most kickstarters are more reasonable, usually an OVA with some treats and usually in its original Japanese. The costs of Part 2 is way higher than even a redub of Escaflowne, probably one of the few times when Funimation did kickstarters and the Dirty Pair dub kickstarter STILL has issues whether it is getting a release or not (the last thing Nozomi did before Crunchyroll bought them). In the past and still a bit today, TMS relied on getting TV networks interest and that took nearly two decades for Part 2 (Italy, France [only 52 episodes due to syndication limit], Spain and I think South Korea all got it before the US), even then Adult Swim only picked up 26 episodes.
Besides if I could crowdfund, would rather go towards one of the undubbed TV Specials just because the risk is smaller and this is from a Part 2 fan.
IMO i think Discotek is more likely to release this eventually than Sentai, since Sentai up until now has only been licensing the series (Parts 1-6 and Zero) and still hasn't touched any of the movies/tv specials.
You were right!
They also have some big Lupin news planned for their next event, wonder which one it could be...
- Pronouns
- She/they
Nice to complete the collection, but this is a pretty irrelevant special for me, apart from the intro.
Very curious what they mean by "a big news item" coming up. The only thing I can think of is putting a previously DVD-only title on BD with a new dub. Maybe Fuma, Green vs. Red, or even people's holy grail, Part 2. I don't care about dubs, but I'd love to get Fuma in better video quality.
Very curious what they mean by "a big news item" coming up. The only thing I can think of is putting a previously DVD-only title on BD with a new dub. Maybe Fuma, Green vs. Red, or even people's holy grail, Part 2. I don't care about dubs, but I'd love to get Fuma in better video quality.
Mankatsu doesn't really need an upscale because there's already a native 1080p version, it's from japanese amazon prime i believe (There's also torrents of this version on The Cat Site™ with the already existing english fansubs). Here's some pics of it, looks really great.