UlasanAnime.com – Further details have emerged regarding the Kara no Kyoukai Blu-ray box set, sparking a level of excitement reminiscent of last year’s True Tears situation. This time, however, it’s confirmed that this release is not in 720i format.
RightStuf is currently listing the item as exclusive to the US and Canada, with limited quantities available. This designation typically implies several key points:
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- The product will not be sold directly to Japan.
- Shipments will still be made to the UK and other regions west of the Pacific. For English-speaking fans in other locales, acquiring the set might prove challenging.
- This is not a unique localized production but rather a portion of the Japanese print run being distributed elsewhere. Consequently, once stock is depleted, it will not be replenished.
The specific mention of “US and Canada” remains unclear, but it’s likely a cautious approach to avoid explicitly listing all eligible countries, thereby potentially preventing dissatisfaction among customers in other regions. This strategy might also be employed to mitigate the risk of reverse imports, although at a price point of $400, the cost difference may not be substantial enough to deter such actions significantly. Information regarding these distribution details has been gathered through informal channels and online discussions.
Another plausible explanation for the “US and Canada” restriction is to simplify the process of enumerating authorized sales territories, thus avoiding the need to list every single country or, conversely, to prevent alienating domestic customers. A pragmatic approach from RightStuf’s perspective would be to maintain a degree of ambiguity in their marketing.
Although direct linking is not feasible, it has been confirmed that the Kara no Kyoukai box set has, at one point, reached the top 10 of RightStuf’s weekly preorders, shortly after its listing. As of the current writing, it holds the #2 position on RightStuf’s top Blu-ray list. This indicates a considerable number of purchases made over the Christmas period. Whether this translates to a modest sales figure of 40 units and a subsequent dramatic reaction from Aniplex of America remains to be seen. It’s worth noting that RightStuf serves a dedicated base of hardcore collectors, and the US anime Blu-ray market currently lacks an extensive selection of readily available titles. For instance, FLCL, another anticipated release, is still not out but is performing well at #4 on RightStuf’s top 10. This suggests that the overall sales figures for Blu-ray releases in this category might be initially modest. Comparisons can be drawn to the sales performance of Eva 2.22 (at #7), FMA Brotherhood (at #6 and #1), and even adult-oriented content like Queen’s Blade BD (at #5), which demonstrates the market’s varied preferences.
The fact that the Kara no Kyoukai box set ranks so highly on this list likely signifies something noteworthy, perhaps reflecting the purchasing power of affluent consumers.
In related news, for those seeking a comprehensive review, Chris B. has published his assessments of the Kara no Kyoukai Blu-ray box set on Mania.com. While he refrains from including Blu-ray screenshots, citing the disc as a “check disk,” his review offers valuable technical details, such as the inclusion of 5.1 PCM audio. His evaluation of the anime content itself is generally positive, describing the Kara no Kyoukai package as wholly compelling. It is important to note that Chris B. is among the very few anime reviewers who approach content with a full appreciation for the visual experience, rather than a more conventional, perhaps manga-centric, perspective on story and themes. For enthusiasts of audio-visual quality, his review provides the essential technical specifications that complement an already established appreciation for the series’ content.
