Disclaimer: Yes we get it, All crap a YYY is bootleg, The whole reason behind this thread is to FURTHER educate you in the fine arts of legit anime connoisseuring


NOTE: Due to failic intarweb unable to upload images at the moment

What is Bootleg Anime DVD
Simply put, it's anime that has been obtained illegally without purchasing the rights of the Anime from the right channels.

How do I know which is Bootleg and Which is legit?
Quite simple, Just because it has those Sijil Penapisan Filem doesn't make it legit.

Point 1: First looks (The Package)

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This is a picture of a legit copy of Boys Be Volume 3, Produced by Odex Private Limited (Singaporean Company)

First thing you notice is the fact that it only has 3 Episodes. Which is how Anime is distrobuted in forms of DVD.

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This however is a picture of a bootleg copy of Outlaw Star, Produced by DVDshop2001 (Taiwanese based)

Here you have the ENTIRE series of 26 episodes in 3 DVD's. This is typical of bootleg releases since all they care about is providing relatively cheap merchandise to attract those who are not well aquainted/those who can't be bothered to buy legit stuff.

Point 2: The DVD itself

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This is the DVD for Volume 3 of Boys Be, although it's not noticable in the picture, the dvd itself is of a much more superior make than the bootleg that is going to be showed later.

Also on the reverse side you can see the fine print "Boys Be"

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This however is the DVD for Outlaw Star. Looks okay at first glances, but upon close inspection I've discovered that it uses a more inferior dye.

In comaprison the reverse side has no fine print on the inner rim of the DVD, save for it's batch

Point 3: Playing the DVD

Although it's not really noticable to the untrained eye, the quality of the video is quite different when you compare both. Also you might want to take into account the translations. Most of the Taiwan/hongkong bootlegs have rubbish English

Translations, you're better off not buying them at all if you dont understand Japanese at all (and i'm not talking about being able to understand desu, or dam-me or chigau, I'm talking whole proper sentences). Actually some of the translations are remeniscent of old Anime-Junkie Fansubs.

What should I stay away from?

There are 2 known bootlegs that are in circulation here in Malaysia they are



Note:
there is also a local distrobuter of anime that goes by the name of MTV (yes like that music channel). This company is also quite dubious seeing as they rip their translations from fansubs. Most notably their Hellsing VCD release which blatantly ripped off the translations off a fansub group *which group i forget*

What should I get?

Seeing as most people aren't aware that there are Singaporean legit releases, try looking for Odex dvd's, they're legit, high quality, and with proper translations to boot.

If you're absolutely loaded, get the american stuff, but those are only for Region 1 DVD's so make sure you have a DVD player that is region free or have a Region 1 DVD player.

If you're loaded, patient, and are proficient in Japanese, import them straight from Japan, however a due note of warning, the DVD's themselves cost a bomb, and not to forget the insane shipping prices from Japan. (Cost me 40 USD just to ship a couple of light FMP novels which only cost 20 USD)


And voila' you're educated in the most basic of basics on what bootlegs are. Go forth, and support the production studios! If you don't we might not have any superior animu in the future!

This post has been edited by SetaNoriyasu: Oct 13 2006, 11:18 PM

Actually, and easier way to identify bootlegged DVD/VCD is that they are the cheap ones that the shop has many stocks.
For quality, go for fansubs

"For quality, go for fansubs?"

Erm, this is misleading.

The legit anime DVDs are of the best quality in terms of sound and graphics because they did not use extra compression to save space on the DVDs.

Also, if there is a local language translations on the DVDs, it will be a bonus.

You will not see "VCD boxes", jaggies, or scanlines caused by poor compression in these legit DVDs, compared to the "13 episodes in 1 DVD" release.
Most of these bootleg DVDs are recompressed/reconverted from fansubs releases and TV broadcast RAWs; and they are of poorer quality compared to the original RAW/fansubs release.

However, it is fair to say that sometimes legit DVDs released for other regions outside Japan have slight issues such as the different colour, contrast, and brightness compared to the original Japanese DVDs.

This post has been edited by Hattori: Oct 10 2006, 11:26 PM

Nah, i mean for sub quality against these bootlegs.
There are some issues with some Ori DVDs. the first issue of Inital D by Tokyocrappop did not have the original Japanese Audio. Also the original release of Robotech by Harmony Gold. Thank goodness that Macross was rereleased by ADV, but even then, there are some issues with subs not accurate.

Robotech was never intended to be a direct port of Macross, the whole story is different, with a few exceptions.

In Robotech Protoculture = power source

In Macross Protoculture = the source of life which is why the humans and the other race are so similar

I got a much easier way to identify bootleg.

Those Cheapo Dvd you can find in ur Anime shop aka Animetech are bootlegs.

Those Anime VCDs are Fansubs rip.

Ori are only those you order from Amazon. yup those Rm120 per disc.. can afford it. to bad.

and follow linkinstreet suggestion Fansub FTW. Although R1 have better Subs but cost alot more.

case close.

case close

=\ verily the spirit of this thread is not fully comprehended, with such statements and all that I shall close this thread.

one wonders why i even bother writing up this stuff

This post has been edited by SetaNoriyasu: Oct 11 2006, 02:03 AM

Thread reopened, comment freely but please do not go

"ALL CRAP YOU BUY HERE IS BOOTLEG, NUFF' SAID"

I like ur Avatar. I know she from Tsukime, but forgot her name. She looks really cute here. can Pm me the source of the full pic

Anyway 1 tip when buying Anime Dvd is Always insist for the shop to allow you to view the Content in the DVD.

Usually very officalish option like it comes with preview, english dub and alot of company logo (Bandai,ADV,Madhouse and etc) you are close to gettin a Offical and not a bootleg.

Tip 2: Check for Anime that have offical release. Usually those titles that have no US release is always Bootleg.

here a link u can check http://www.animeondvd.com/

new bootleg DVDs in circulation, distributed by Aniplex?

If it sells for dirt cheap prices (RM6.90 for an animu VCD KEKEKE), then it's a bootleg.

Thread over.

1 point, the boxes and printing on region 1 dvd's used to be quite bad(when compared to the japanese R2 disk) *hint FMP fumoffu hint* was quite a let down

im not sure about now.
however, the most recent disk i got is the FMP:TSR vol 1+artbox was absolutely awsome. the printing on the artbox and the disk it welf was top notch. even the empty square'ish box used to fill the artbox(or i know it as a box filler ) is printed so nicely i intend to keep it when i have all the disk for the whole season. and its a lil holographic as well. which makes me feel on top everytime i look at it.

im not too sure about the disk in asia(except the 'official' once SetaNoriyasu mentioned) but only stick to reputable sites if you are buying anime stuff online, u might regret it later as there are sites that sells bootlegs [even they are based in the US] (pm me if u want some links to sites that sells genuine *mostly US AND UK BASED)

ill share an experience im currently having, i ordered 3 figurine which has been out of print for about 1 year from a site(US)[which was a lil too good to be tru that they had it in stock] and then only to find out that they had previously been taken to court for selling bootlegs and now my order is stuck coz they are not replying to my mails and there is already a payment pending on my credit card+they didnt send me a order confirmation mail that i suppose to get. now im stuck as i cant really cancel the payment(stupid CC company say i cant stop payment that i have actually authorised only can file non-delivery dispute if they wont dont send the goods).

BTW, ALWAYS research before rushing to a shop buying it. eg. whic publisher, by which company and how many volumes, how the dvd and boxes look like.

as a rough guide, it will almost always have 7 vol for a 24-26 ep anime. so it should be about 3-4 ep a volume.

This post has been edited by mr lappy: Dec 12 2006, 12:30 AM

zzz..I saw few DVDs/CDs[VCDs] in some local video shops... got "Tulen" thingy...but ..the heck..the anime isn't finish yet ..done by some local companies...I guess it's just rip off from fansub...I don't bother to look at those DVDs...

Gamesky, what they did is practically legal in Malaysia. The cheapo Hong Kong and Taiwan companies took licences from the Japanese, while the things sold in Malaysia took it licences from Hong Kong/Taiwan (Japan->Hong Kong/Taiwan->Malaysia->Cheaper->PROFIT!!). Because we don't have Free Trade Agreements (or something advanced trade agreements) with Japan, they can't sue those people that selling bootlegs stuffs in Malaysia. For other example, although we don't really have FTA with US, the Microsoft gained the licences for its products in Malaysia at somewhat high price. That's why they can sue you for having pirated Windows XP.

On another note, there's no ORIGINAL DVD for anime products. Japanese are going for Blu-Ray now.

, yeah...from what you stated out...can't say it..but have to agree ..

some even don't have quality.. but charged within rm18~rm24 per dvd/vcd with only 3~6 episodes in in...

animeshop - 5th floor - times square

princess princess - *aarinfantasy fansub group presents*

lol....

went there once, *wont mention which shop* almost everything i see in there are bootlegs >_< figures are no exception... so ive mostly given up on buying at thoes places....

Wow someone open a thread that pratically one year old...

well, its more of a almost no ppl cared until some1 got a little intrigued and posted hence the mega old bump

this thread should be stickie