Something that has irritated me lately has been the increasing trend of DVD volumes coming with the disc inside the case and that’s it. Recent examples in my buying experience have been the regular edition of Haruhi vol. 1, Red Garden vol. 1 and Pumpkin Scissors vol. 1. Seeing the empty space on the inside left side of the case when I open it for the first time triggers a sense of disappointment because I have an expectation that there was some sense of effort put into the packaging including the inserts.
Some studios like Funimation and Media Blasters put in upcoming release pamphlets in their singles in lieu of inserts relating to the particular series. I guess it’s better than nothing but it’s still kind of a cop-out in my book. Funimation’s release date schedule is fun to glance over but that’s about it.
For me, Pioneer/Geneon has been the most consistent in putting at least a simple scene index in their singles. Unfortunately, that minimum insertion seemed to be ALL that was inside the majority of their volume cases even with 2007 releases like Story of Saiunkoku.
There are also select series for which the licensor decides to include a healthy-sized booklet, such as Pani Poni Dash from ADV and Full Metal Alchemist from Funimation. PPD’s guide contains translator notes similar to how RightStuf’s Comic Party singles and the thinpack box set have packed-in notes pointing out and explaining numerous references. Azumanga Daioh, another ADV title from a while ago, had 12-page booklets with notes, production comments, and character art inside. I also remember that Chrono Crusade had one-sheet inserts with episode summaries on the back along with two “Episode Check” blurbs on the backside of the volumes’ reversible covers.
(from Noir DVD volume 3 booklet)
My favorite inserts ever are definitely those inside the Noir and Madlax volumes because each one had production inserts that ranged in subject from the voice actors reflecting on their role, stories behind the series’ creations, poetic interludes from the director and other staff, funny sketches by seiyuu and character designers, and general anecdotes. (The ones with Noir were four pages long while Madlax’s were two pages.) I hope that this tradition is continued whenever ADV releases El Cazador de la Bruja (the third installment of the “Girls with Guns” trilogy) since the inserts in the previous two parts gave me a greater understanding about the motives, stress, and humor behind making of both series.
I was overjoyed to hear this week that the Emma Season 1 Box Set will include a 96-page “Victorian Gazette” compiled from the limited edition R2 booklets but it was yet another reminder that box sets get most of the love these days in terms of substantive extras if they aren’t thinpack re-releases or Bandai’s Anime Legends plastic case sets.
What do you think about in-case inserts - is it even worth it for companies to put something in there anymore? What are your favorite “special inserts” including those from Japanese releases?
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I guess from a marketing perspective it isn’t worth having the inserts anymore but I do feel a bit cheated when I don’t get one (or get just a generic ad pamphlet. The aforementioned Noir, Madlax and Azumanga inserts were nice, and even a single page with some artwork on it will do me.
I loved Noir’s inserts too. I haven’t even had time to read the ones from volumes 2 and 4 yet ’cause they’re so long. ^_^;;
Peacemaker came with some great inserts as well; those had character art and such. RahXephon volume 1 had character art and robot/monster thingie art, and that booklet has a semi-opaque cover thing… Overall, ADV does seem to be the best at the whole isnert thing.
Bleach, though, has some interesting inserts as well. The inserts have little more than a quote from the episodes and a scene listing (if I remember correctly) but it still looks neat. ^_^