A question about bootlegs...

[Kida]

I hope this isn't illegal or anything; I just have a question as to what exactly bootlegs are. Pretty much all I know about them is that they're illegal, from Hong Kong, and not very accurate.

The One Piece DVDs I received this morning from our local anime store look official. They've got the logo, "Part 1" "5 DVD Set" "DVD Video" Episodes 1-52 with character art and correct character names on the discs and the inside art, and the back art. The problem is, the subtitles really stink. The sentences are stuck together and all uncapitalized, Luffy is Roof, Koby is Kurby, Zoro is Suryon etc, as I've heard about online. So do I have cleverly disguised bootlegs or just really awful official DVDs (hence why we wait for an uncut American release)?

Thanks, and I hope I'm not breaking any rules by asking this.

[True Noir]

Sorry to the mods if me replying was a bad idea.

Most that I know about bootlegs:

They are Region 0 dvd.
They have come from Hong Kong or a country very close. (Not including Japan, that's the real stuff.)
They are Japanese dialouge with Chinese and English subtitles
Bootlegs are meant to have really crappy subtitles.
On websites they are usually under "IMPORTS"

[Ryoutarou]

This thread more then likely will be closed, but : If the subs were that bad, then it most likely is a bootleg, usually you get really bad literal subs, and poorly done ones at that.

[Cyporiean]

Lets put it this way

If it has Subtitles, and it isn't licensed, and you can play it on your unmoded Player = BOOTLEG.

Hell if its unlicensed and it has subbedtitles = 99.9% chance of Bootleg (there are about 30 R2 Dvds with English Subtitles)


Your One Piece DVDs, bootlegs.

R2 DVDs are almost always Better then American DVDs (Aside from not having Subtitles).

[Kida]

Wow, thanks a lot. I can't find where it says what region it is, but at the bottom of the back it says "WARNING: This copyright proprietor has licensed this film (including its soundtrack) comrprised in DVD video disc for home viewing only." etc. So it seems licensed..o.o?

Once again, I apologise if this topic/discussion is against any rules. Please lock if need be.

[Anime Otaku]

They sound like bootlegs to me. I've PMed a link that should help you avoid unawarely(is that even a word? O_o) buying bootlegs in the future :)

[Kida]

Oh, thanks a lot. ^_^

[Cyporiean]

Its a Bootleg.

Don't question, just accept.

These are the ONLY offical One Piece DVDs.
http://www.cdjapan.co.jp/search.html?type=GC&restrict=DVD&word=One+Piece


They do not come in boxes, they cost around $45 Per Disc for 3 episodes Per Disc. No Subtitles.

[True Noir]

Wow, thanks a lot. I can't find where it says what region it is, but at the bottom of the back it says "WARNING: This copyright proprietor has licensed this film (including its soundtrack) comrprised in DVD video disc for home viewing only." etc. So it seems licensed..o.o?

Once again, I apologise if this topic/discussion is against any rules. Please lock if need be.
Well, the region code well be on the website with the details. Region 1 dvd is what is legal in the US.

[Ryoutarou]

Wow....those prices suck:sweat: And if sounds too good to be true...then it usually is, R0/ALL DVDs are usually always gonna be bootleg.

The DVDs you have wouldn't look anything like this would they?
http://imagehost.vendio.com/preview/dt/dtgbys/onepiece11.jpg

[Cyporiean]

Well, the region code well be on the website with the details. Region 1 dvd is what is legal in the US.
It should be on the back of any offical dvd, a little globe with a 0, 1, 2 ,3 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 or ALL on it.

1 is North America, 2 is Europe and Japan, 0/ALL is Regionless and does not mean bootleg (Some old Central Park Media discs were 0).. but all bootlegs are 0/ALL

[Cyporiean]

Wow....those prices suck:sweat:
Different Countries, Difference Levels of Income..

Movies in Japan are around $70~100 each.. OVAs around the same price for ONE EPISODE..

[True Noir]

It should be on the back of any offical dvd
I thought so too. I wasn't positive, though. Anyway, hopefully this helps.

[Ryoutarou]

Different Countries, Difference Levels of Income..

Movies in Japan are around $70~100 each.. OVAs around the same price for ONE EPISODE.. As I said, those prices suck:sweat: It really has been too long since I lived over there, guess I got used to NA prices. I forgot that the income level is higher in Japan.

[True Noir]

There is only one thing to really like about bootlegs and that is the boxart/cover art. Very detailed.

[Cyporiean]

I'm glad the Naruto discs are rather cheap though.. only around $30 per disc after Amazon discounts

[Kida]

Wow....those prices suck:sweat: And if sounds too good to be true...then it usually is, R0/ALL DVDs are usually always gonna be bootleg.

The DVDs you have wouldn't look anything like this would they?
http://imagehost.vendio.com/preview/dt/dtgbys/onepiece11.jpg Hmmm....kind of. The box art is different, and there's no dvd place for the Luffy face one. The dvds there are the same, except I don't have the Luffy face again.

Thre globe/region thing on the back says ALL, plus thanks to you guys and the guide Anime Otaku sent me I've determined I've gotten bootlegs. >_>; What do I do with them now? o.o; Not sell them, of course, but what?

[Ryoutarou]

Hmmm....kind of. The box art is different, and there's no dvd place for the Luffy face one. The dvds there are the same, except I don't have the Luffy face again.

Thre globe/region thing on the back says ALL, plus thanks to you guys and the giude Animeotaku sent me I've determined I've gotten bootlegs. >_>; What do I do with them now? o.o; Not sell them, of course, but what?Cheaply made doorstops?

[Kida]

Cheaply made doorstops?
^^; Thanks.

[Lord Dalek]

Heres how I see it: just about any anime that comes in a digipak and isn't made by Pioneer is bl'd.

[IanC]

Heres how I see it: just about any anime that comes in a digipak and isn't made by Pioneer is bl'd.
So what about the InuYasha Season 1 box set by Viz :P

[Wanted]

Heres how I see it: just about any anime that comes in a digipak and isn't made by Pioneer is bl'd.Thank goodness you said 'anime.'

[Lord Dalek]

Thank goodness you said 'anime.'Yeah, Close Encounters of the Third Kind's packaging might be rubbish but it's legit.

Also: The current Inu Yasha season set is a limited edition so Viz may still put it out in a regular box.

[Cyporiean]

So what about the InuYasha Season 1 box set by Viz :P
So Aside from The Takahashi series and Geneon's releases, I can't think of any other Anime in Digipaks offically.

[Lord Dalek]

So Aside from The Takahashi series and Geneon's releases, I can't think of any other Anime in Digipaks offically.Actually the only Takahashi series on dvd in a digipak is this particular season of Inu Yasha. Urusei Yatsura, Ranma, and Maison Ikkoku are all boxes.

[Invader_Spooch]

Um, isn't the Escaflowne Perfect Collection rerelease a "digipack"?

[IanC]

Um, isn't the Escaflowne Perfect Collection rerelease a "digipack"?
So is Love Hina.

[Cyporiean]

Actually the only Takahashi series on dvd in a digipak is this particular season of Inu Yasha. Urusei Yatsura, Ranma, and Maison Ikkoku are all boxes.
Ranma 1/2 OVA Collection

[Deadly Messiah]

I believe those Perfect Collections are from FX, a bootleg company, right?As for what to do with the One Piece DVDs, well, you have them, might as well watch them, keep them, and if you like it, hope it will be released in America Uncut and SUBTITLED (not dubtitled) so you can buy the official DVDs.

[Invader_Spooch]

The Love Hina and Escaflowne Perfect Collections are definitely Digipacks, and definitely official sets (they have the Bandai logo on 'em, and are sold at places like Fry's).


FX does bootlegs in a similar fashion, though (which is most likely case in these One Piece DVDs).

[Beefy]

Most that I know about bootlegs:

They are Region 0 dvd.
They have come from Hong Kong or a country very close. (Not including Japan, that's the real stuff.)
They are Japanese dialouge with Chinese and English subtitles
Bootlegs are meant to have really crappy subtitles.
On websites they are usually under "IMPORTS" Another thing to look at to determine if a DVD is a bootleg is the episode count per disc. The maximum number of episodes I have ever seen on an official R1 DVD was 7. That was a dual-layer disc. Most official R1 DVDs are 3-4 episodes on a single-layer disc. If you see 7-9 or more episodes on a single-layer disc, then it's a bootleg.

[Dark Fact]

PIRATE ANIME FAQ (http://www.digital.anime.org.uk/piratefaq.html)

There is a very thorough article about bootlegged anime and goods at this link. Read it. Read all of it. It is very useful and will help you understand the difference between legits and phonies! :cool:

[Arxane]

I'm glad the Naruto discs are rather cheap though.. only around $30 per disc after Amazon discounts
Did you buy these discs in Amazon's auction site or Z-stores? If so, those are more than likely bootlegs. Cd Japan carries the official Japanese Naruto DVDs, the first one being here (http://www.cdjapan.co.jp/detailview.html?KEY=SVWB-1601).

And yes, there is one episode on the first Naruto DVD.

[Lord Dalek]

The Love Hina and Escaflowne Perfect Collections are definitely Digipacks, and definitely official sets (they have the Bandai logo on 'em, and are sold at places like Fry's).Aren't they bricks?

[Cyporiean]

Did you buy these discs in Amazon's auction site or Z-stores? If so, those are more than likely bootlegs. Cd Japan carries the official Japanese Naruto DVDs, the first one being here (http://www.cdjapan.co.jp/detailview.html?KEY=SVWB-1601).

And yes, there is one episode on the first Naruto DVD.
Now, You would think that since I've been preaching about R2s through this entire thread, you would realize that i am buying R2s on a regular basis. And I have a serve dislikg of CD Japan for ordering, so I will continue buying from Amazon (http://www.amazon.co.jp/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00068D9FE/).

[Swordfish_II]

Aren't they bricks?
I believe they are 9 digi-pak like trays stacked one on top of another.

[Duke]

I have no idea if the Bandai Perfect Collections (Love Hina, Escaflowne, Witch Hunter Robin, .hack//SIGN, and some others, I think) are digipak or bricks, but they ARE legal.

Though I believe Bandai will stop making them in 2005. Not sure if it's all the sets or just Zeta.