The first DVD volume of Simoun showed up in my mailbox earlier this week. I only just got around to watching it last night, and I have to say: as striking a show as Simoun was the first time around, it looks ever more spectacular on DVD. Oh, how I love Kobayashi Shichiro’s backgrounds.
In the year or so since Simoun first aired, I’ve encountered more and more people who, like me, feel it was one of the better, if not best, shows of 2006. The show might not have gotten much attention at first, but its fans have done a good job selling it. And I really have to thank John Sirabella and MediaBlasters for licensing and releasing it in North America. He has a good eye for quality anime. The number of MediaBlasters releases in my DVD collection is proof of that.
Anyway, I won’t beat around the bush here. If you enjoyed the show back when it aired and haven’t yet bought the first DVD, get thee to a store or online retailer and pick it up pronto.
I didn’t actually see Simoun back when it aired - I think it’s more one of those shows I simply didn’t find time to watch, rather than had no interest in (although I did buy the OP single) - but I do seem the have the first DVD on order. The raving about it’s quality both here and on other parts of the interweb convinced me that would at least be worth a peek.
Simoun was awesome. watching it again would be twice as awesome. and I’m planning to buy the DVDs when I do my usual big half yearly order :) .
BTW, I heard that the whole series will be released in only 5 DVDs. is that right?
The first disc had six episodes, so I assume it’ll be a five disc release. It’s priced pretty low, too… probably because it lacks an English dub. I got the first volume for $14.
The second volume has been solicited for a 26 February release. Mine is already on order (not bad for a show that I originally stopped and deleted thirty seconds into the OP of the first episode).
The first volume has six episodes on it (150 minutes), the second is listed as 125 minutes. That is consistent with a 5-disk release (6-5-5-5-5).
If anything, the series is even better on second viewing.
Simoun is a fantastic series. It’s a bit slow to get going, perhaps - it was really episodes seven and eight that got me hooked, although the earlier episodes are retrospectively more important than they at first seem.
I’m seriously looking forward to seeing this on DVD, the first one is in the post as I write. Kudos to Media Blasters, as in the last year they’ve released a number of things I really liked, and in some cases never expected to get an official English Language version.
The fact it’s subs only doesn’t bother me as I seldom listen to the dubs anyway.
Watching them for a second time, the initial episodes still feel a little clunky, but they’re nowhere near as confusing as before now that I know the characters and understand the setting. I also noticed that the show finds its legs around Episode 5, when Dominura first appears. The first time I watched it, the light bulb didn’t go off in my head until about Episode 8. That gave me pause.
Also, I notice a lot more early character development this time around. I must have overlooked it the first time, being so focused on figuring out what was going on and all. I don’t know if the show will be better with a second viewing (after all, the surprises and cliffhangers to come won’t be so shocking anymore), but I do feel like I’m getting something new out of it.
Yes, being able to see the characters and settings as wholes, instead of puzzle pieces is what I meant about the series being better on second viewing.
I’m looking forward to seeing Mamiina and Yun come on the scene, knowing what I do about the way their characters develop. And, it’s true that episode 12 through 20 of Simoun constantly kept you off balance with revelations and surprises, but I suspect being able to see those in context will bring something new to one’s experience.
I would definitely pick it up if it weren’t for the money I splurged on games…
However, I noticed that it didn’t have any English dubs. Is this a new thing that companies are doing? Because personally, I never really liked listening to dubs, finding them to be almost intolerable.
Definitely something for the cue, right after 5 Centimeters per Second (Special Edition when they have it…)
MediaBlasters has done sub-only releases in the past.
Since dubs are pretty expensive to produce, spending the money is bad business if you don’t expect a show to sell like hotcakes. I recognize how important dubs are when it comes to sales of popular shows (and keeping distributors in the black), but as a sub viewer, it wouldn’t bother me at all to see more studios licensing and releasing niche shows in sub-only format. It’s better than not getting them at all.
One of the first yuri-laced shows (yes, I’m a virgin, get back to the Internets!) I watched, I never expected so much character development and plot tensions in one show. Kinda like watching a gem indie film everyone miffed out because of yuri overtones.
I won’t debate on the sub vs dub issue, since MediaBlasters did what’s best for their financial upkeep, but translating US$14 into 20 Temasek dollars seemed pretty reasonable (what, that cheap?! — also I’m liking this downward USD slump, good buys for me).
I’m going to ask my good pal to import this for me.
It’s the season to preach to the choir… get it?
When I have the money and time, this is definitely going to be one of the first buys. Still annoyed that I didn’t initially watch this when others were. :P
That’s a really good show. As for myself, I’ll consider buying the DVDs when I get money :)