Clash of the Bionoids from DYRL

I emailed Animeigo about this very thing (they distribute the "Macross" TV series propper on DVD). According to the email I received the rights to the motion picture are "horribly tangled" -such that- "nobody can get them."

This may be reading too much into the response, but from what I understand several companies own the rights to foreign distribution (foreign to Japan that is), but under different titles. Animeigo is one of them. I think the other is either Bandai or Harmony Gold (one may be owned by the other, but I forget at this time), who marketd the series under the "Robotech" title some twenty years ago when it hit the States and elsewhere.

However, if you want, you can try these links;
http://www.amazon.co.jp/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00005EDM2/ref%3Dsr%5Faps%5Fd%5F9/249-1385978-7690760
http://www.cdjapan.co.jp/
http://www.jigsco.com/

I know Amazon allows customers to purchase from their overseas stores, but I don't know about Japan.

yes they should but they won't

normally I don't approve of this but I actually picked up a copy from http://www.valkyrie-exchange.com/video-books/DVD-DYRL_PerfectEdition.html that is fantastic quality. Worth the try

Well it's over a year later but what the hell.

They cut up DYRL into Clash of the Bionoids so they could market it to the kids audience who are familiar with Robotech. I haven't seen the CotB version is years but yes, Hikaru is alive and in the regular version he even confirms he's returning. Not sure why they'd cut that out. I don't think they even show you what became of Max in the Bionoids version either.

There was a version released on VHS by BEST Video just called Macross. It's almost completely uncut. The main difference being they removed all the vocals from the credits sequence and removed the Minmei concert that plays during said credits sequence(No Idea why since they left the DYRL song alone). The dub is horrid though, and only semi-accurate as well. It's much better than Bionoids but ultimately it's best to track down a HK bootleg dvd or R2 release(Neither of which are hard to find).

I've never seen Clash of the Bionoids or DYRL. I have the Hong Kong version by Best West, and the dialogue is quite laughable. But at least it's not censored.

Also, I think that since this is considered a "fictional account" of the original Macross events, the voice acting (in this version) seems to drive that home.

Just pick up a bootleg, that seems to be the only option.

Years back I used to work for the wife of the guy who produced the American version of the Macross feature film. I don't know why he did what he did, but he was a real snobbish jerk, and perpetually kept anime titles (notably the ones depicting young girls with adult bodies) around his desk. I'll let you figure that one out by yourselves.

Truth is this man didn't give a rat's backside about the product. He had money, wanted to make himself something in the "entertainment" industry, and so delved into importing and butchering Japanese animation feature films and TV series. He and his wife opened, ran and drove a studio into bankruptcy with their poor management, and when I saw the "Clash of the Bionoids" release I wasn't a bit surprised at the quality.

He owns the rights to the importation of the film for the United States, while two other companies own seperate contracts to distribute two distinct seperate takes on the TV series upon which this film is based.

I'll also add that said couple has since vanished because, last I heard, the woman I used to work for owed her publicist a lot of money, and tracking down said couple has become problematic for that reason. Thus making a new contract deal for a rerelease of this film in the U.S. a dicey proposition.

Had I the sense and courage back then as a young man I would've told this jerk off, but I feared for my job.

Ah well. Maybe someday.

I wouldn't mind seeing the CLASH version, even if it is shortened. I'd like to see a dubbed version, plus I'm a little curious about it. Saw some clips on YouTube, but the whole dubbed version is not on there.