MovieChat Forums > Unico (1981) Discussion > Unico DVD release

Unico DVD release

posted 17 years ago by Beezil
12 replies | jump to latest

(Since some of us are asking, I thought I should make a post about this.)

The Unico DVD is slated for release in 2007. There are dozens of bootlegs out there (on eBay and via shady websites) that are all made from the VHS releases (regardless of any claims of having a "master"--animation companies are VERY protective of masters and only licensees can obtain true Master tapes). Needless to say, the homemade/bootlegged DVDs that are available right now are a guaranteed rip-off, and you should be patient and look for the official release once its out.

Osamu Tezuka's studios, creator of the Unico films, has remastered both movies and the Pilot ("Black Feather, White Cloud") for the DVD release. The DVD will be out in the US by Christmas this year (but from what I heard, it will be more likely by summer).

The way to be sure you are buying the official release for this and any other DVD, is by following these tips:

1) The DVD will be Region 1 (99% of Region 0, Region Free, and All Region DVDs are bootlegs)

2) The DVD will be remastered by industry standards (not some guy's cheap image enhancing or noise reduction software that he used on his VHS...does that reduce tracking lines, too? :p)

3) The DVD will contain Copyright info.

4) The DVD will be available in stores, as opposed to only being offered on one or two shady websites or eBay (and having a different appearance on each).

Watch for news of the official release on AnimeNewsNetwork.com or AnimeOnDVD.com so you can see what the official release will look like when it comes out. The safest way to buy DVDs is from trustworthy dealers and distributors, and use the weariest eye with eBay dealers because bootleggers have more or less free reign of the place. Good luck, and remember to be patient because the official release will be well worth the wait! And unlike bootlegs, official releases support the amazing studios who created these great films!!

[–] joker988 17 years ago

Is there any way you can actually confirm this? I think mad house picked up the rights to the Unico film now. Even Wikipedia listed mad house as the right holder for unico.

[–] laurastar4 17 years ago

Really?!?!?!?!?!? OMG this makes me very happy! This is, along with the animated version of Robin hood, and Sword in the stone was one of my favorite movies of all time - still is (and I'm 24 now)!! I still have the video version from when I was 2!! Yay for Unico!!! :)

[–] invisigothx11 17 years ago

When I read this, I went "YAY!!!".... but how can I know this is for real? How did you find out about this?

[–] JimLoneWolf 17 years ago

Hey invisigothx11,
I just wanted to let you know Unico is on YOU TUBE...all of it!

So if you want a sneak preview of the (hopefully) soon-to-be-released dvd, just type in the name!

http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=29663098

[–] 17 years ago

[deleted]

[–] crystalorphen 17 years ago

I can't find anything about offical DVDs for Region 1 either. And Tezuka Productions still has the rights, and they still have no North American Distributer, so this is most likly a rumor.

As for mad house, they helped produce the movies back in the 80s.

[–] Missykender 17 years ago

I can't find any release date for it either, and I checked the comprehensive 2007 release schedule on www.animeondvd.com.

I'm assuming, based on the Wikipedia article, that Tezuka Productions still has the rights: I went to the home site and couldn't find anything about a prospective release date.

I wish the original poster would quote his/her source: I have a mentally handicapped sister-in-law who is begging me to buy a copy, and I showed her this link, promising we could perhaps pick it up in December: Because I have a real problem buying bootleg anythings. If there isn't a legit copy out by then, though, I may have to. She's 51 going on 6, and doesn't understand why I can't get her a bootleg copy...

[–] the_settler2010 16 years ago

I Just read this on Anime News Network:

"New Anime Licensee Announced with Unico as 1st Title (Updated)
New Galaxy Anime, a new company based in Humboldt, California that intends to distribute anime in North America, has officially announced its formation. It currently lists The Fantastic Adventures of Unico, a 1981 film directed by anime pioneer Osamu Tezuka, as a future bilingual release without a scheduled date. The film about a young unicorn's journey was released in English in the 1980s with the early voice work of Karen Prell and Wendee Lee. Update: New Galaxy Anime's listed credits of Karen Prell and Wendee Lee is disputed."

http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/

[–] joker988 16 years ago

Yeah the_settler2010 got it right. Here's more info directly from the New Galaxy Anime's website regarding Unico however the release date for the DVD is TBA right now...

http://www.newgalaxyanime.com/titles.html

Enjoy!

[–] manicjas 16 years ago

I actually own a bootleg copy of this flick.(Though I am pretty sure I misplaced it in hopes that the sock theives in the dryer would come and take it away) It's a horrible reproduction. I bought it several years ago on ebay. The sound is too loud and it looks to be like it was hand filmed then hand edited. Then burned to disc. Bad, bad, bad. So I hope that the real release will coming up soon. I work in a bookstore and I am always checking to see what is out, coming out and so forth on our computers so this news gives me hope! It was my very first anime and like they say...you never forget your first!

It's always apt to ask, 'Are you okay?' to someone who's bleeding profusely or is missing a leg.

[–] itsthexypat 12 years ago

Well it's December 15, 2011 and I can't find a DVD of any of the Unico stuff and the newgalaxyanime link is nonoperative so I guess they went under.

[–] CombatWombatt 12 years ago

Amazon is selling official Region 1 DVDs right now from the amazon official store! http://www.amazon.com/Fantastic-Adventures-Unico-June-Foray/dp/B0077PBQ6I/ref=sr_1_1?s=movies-tv&ie=UTF8&qid=1348448404&sr=1-1&keywords=fantastic+adventures+of+unico

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