[FOR ANIME FANS] LEGAL ANIME SOURCES ALTERNATIVES

If there are anyone who would like to obtain the original R1 (USA), R2 (Japan) or R3 (Taiwanese) parallel imports which are legal here, u can check these links out as an legal alternative to releases by the local company.

Online R2 (Japan) Direct Imports
CDJapan
Amazon Japan (do not click on the English link. Search in Japanese only)
HMV Japan

Online R1 (US) Direct Imports
YesAsia
Amazon USA
Anime Nation
Deep Discounts DVD
Right Stuf International Anime Superstore
DVD Pacific
CD WOW! USA

Online R3 & Taiwanese Retailers
Prowaremedia
JSDVD Mall

Games & Legal R1/R2 retailers
PlayAsia

Price & Online Order Coupon Search
DVD Price Search
Anime Bargain Talk
AnimeOnDVD Retail Forum Section
Forum Link to where to get R1 Anime

Legal Online Streams
Direct 2 Drive
Total Vid: Movie Downloads on Demand
Animate TV (PPV on some anime. Free-to-Air on some programmes. DRM on-site. In Japanese Only)
ADV Films (PPV site)


NOTE: Comparison between CDJapan & Amazon Japan

NOTE:
Amazon had since stopped Economy Shipping on 7 March 2007. Only International Express Shipping is available for international shipments. Shipping fees are shown here:
http://www.amazon.co.jp/gp/help/customer/display.html?ie=UTF8&nodeId=1039606#international

*Do take note that Amazon Japan had made a shift from DHL to FedEx for its international shipment, if you encounter any variations in this, please report in. Thank you.


Shop Fronts for Original Taiwanese Parallel Imports & Others (Except all Odex carriers)
Hyper Media
Address: 133 New Bridge Road, #02-25/26 Chinatown Point, Singapore 059413

MJ Multimedia
Address: MJ Multimedia, #02-27 Ang Mo Kio Hub

Shop Front Addresses for Anime Merchandise
La Tendo
Address: 5 Stadium Road, Leisure Park Kallang. Singapore
(Operating Hours 1130hrs to 2100hrs From Mon to Fri. Sat, Sun & Public Holidays: 1130hrs to 2200hrs)
Contact nos: +65-6440-6171
Location of La Tendo

Kareshi Kanojo no Mise / KKnM
Address: 91 Bencoolen Street, #01-50, Sunshine Plaza, Singapore 189652

URLs for Anime Merchandise & Figurines
Hobby Search Figure Garage Kits and Models Online Store
HobbyLink Japan



Guides on Spotting Unlicensed/Bootlegged/Pirated Anime DVDs & Merchandises
A guide on pirated anime DVD
More about Made in Taiwan Stuff

Note on Direct Imports
Typically subtitles-dub pairings are as follows:
R1 US Releases: English Dub/Original Japanese Dub with English Subtitles
R2 Japan Releases: Raw (No subtitles unless specified)
R3 Taiwan Releases: Chinese Dub/Original Japanese Dub with Chinese Subtitles
R0 Pirated: Original Japanese Dub with bad Chinese/bad English Subtitles

General FAQ
1) Why can't we cite online streaming sources like Youtube?
Ans: Its plain and simple, Youtube allows users to upload videos from their personal dubious sources (like fansubs, which are technically outlawed here). As such, we do not encourage people to view frm such dubious source with relatively low quality of video. In addition, streaming sites whilst they allow people to share personal videos, is a relative legal loophole (I refer to as a 'grey area'). As we want people to have access to perfectly legal videos, only legal ones which we are at least 95% sure of their source that's officially sanctioned by the parent distributor in Japan/US, would be listed here.

2) So, what are u trying to achieve here?
Ans: Its very simple. Many anime fans here are citing poor quality of what Odex (the Singapore Anime Distributor) is pumping out on VCD as their reasons to download fansubs. The purpose of this thread is to let as many people know of a plain and simple fact: "You don't have to resort to downloading illegal videos. There are legal ones around!". In short, if you are saying that VCD is crap, these are the perfectly legal DVDs, officially sanctioned and blessed by official distributors in Japan, USA and Taiwan in full DVD quality with top-notch packaging. You don't have to go illegal and there ARE places to get legal stuff!!!

3) Ok, so now that I know, what next?
Ans: Buy the DVD! Look at it such a way. Japanese animation studios produce merchandise and videos for their home market. Otakus in Japan sweep anime off by the container load, they are giving the animation company their direct and full support. Licensing companies ask for permission from Japan to reproduce the videos for sale in their home countries, permission is given and they reproduce anime for sale to cover their licensing costs and pay a royalty fee to the Japanese counterparts. This is the same with Odex as well. But since 'poor quality releases' is often cited as a reason for not supporting Odex releases and its a free global economic market, put your money where u think it deserves to be - in R1 (US), R2 (Japan), R3 (Taiwanese) releases.

4) Ok! I'm more convinced! Now, tell me more, is it legal to buy stuff online esp videos?
Ans: As long as you are not purchasing Adult Videos (or "AV") or Hentai Anime (or "H-Anime") or videos that are banned in Singapore (Battle Royale for excessive gore & violence for example), 90% of the videos should go through without any problems.

5) How about Singapore Customs and Censorship Board?
Ans: Packages are randomly checked by Singapore Customs for illegal contrabrand, drugs as well as on request. Any videos/music CDs/books that are found in the packages will be sent to the censorship board for checking. When it happens, a letter (instead of ur stuff) will be accompanied in ur package informing you when and where to collect your videos/music CDs/books.

6) But, that defeats the point! I might as well get the local releases instead! Less trouble!
Ans: Odex has consistently placed a heavy emphasis on delivering content-only with low prices. If you merely want the content, get the Odex releases instead. However, if you are willing to be paitent, twiddle your thumbs and wait as your Video (that's legal of course and doesn't carry excessive sex, violence, gore) goes through the censorship board for checking. After all, your conscience is clear, why fear?

7) I don't care! I want that video uncensored without that fugly censorship sticker!!
Ans: This sticky, neither can anyone of us here in EDMW, can help. Nor are we even qualified to help even if there are EDMWers working in the censorship board or Customs.

8) I had read that R1, R2 and R3 (taiwanese) releases fall into a grey area as well. Why do u sanction it in this thread?
Ans: Imported LEGAL videos here are counted as "Parallel Imports" and there is currently no Singapore law whatsoever banning the imports of Parallel Import DVDs. Which simply means in short - as long as no Hentai, no AV and it falls in line with current censorship law, it is legal to buy online and view it at home.

9) I wanna buy that R2 release now!!!! But I heard it doesn't come with subtitles. How?
Ans: 90% of R2 (Japanese) anime releases do not contain subtitles. It can be your favourite Naruto, D Gray Man, whatever, as long as the website says, "NO ENGLISH SUBTITLES" u can bet your 2 balls that it won't and will never come with English Subtitles.

If you are dying for English subtitles, check out the R1 releases when they are out in Amazon!
If you are dying for Chinese subtitles, check out the R3 (Taiwanese) releases when they are out in your favourite shop!

Alternatively, you can pick up a 3rd language (like Japanese) to appreciate what the animators are putting out, in full glory. So far hasn't heard of anyone learning an additional language killing themselves or dying over it.

Disclaimer
I had put this sticky up for pure altruistic purposes to inform the mass public that, "If you find local version sucks, get the overseas legal ones without resorting to fansubs or using fansubs as an excuse for legal alternative sources." I am not earning a single cent by doing this, neither is this thread 'blessed' by 'unseen forces'.

Everyone makes mistakes probably due to 1 reason or another, but to deny them the very information that would invalidate all and any illegal ways of doing things is absolutely 'below the belt' to say the least.

"With Proper Education Comes Proper Knowledge, With Knowledge Wipes Out Illegal Alternatives and Backdoor Knowledges" is what this sticky advocates for. If you come across any legal source for online/offline purchase of official DVDs sanctioned by licensed distributors in US, Japan or Taiwan, please do not hesitate to post here, the name of the shop/website along with the address/web URL.

NO BANAL DISCUSSIONS ON GREY SOURCES HERE. IF YOU FEEL U MUST, START A NEW THREAD AND REFRENCE URL BACK TO THIS STICKY.

~ RESERVED ~

kivine said:

Any real shops that sell R1 dvds? I see only figurines/merchandize from the above links

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Ani-Play @ Sunshine probably will help to import both R1 and R2, just ask them, but I suspect it's going to cost quite a bit, because you'll be paying for the DVDs plus their services.

I wouldn't recommend Amazon JP for any purchases now not after their shipping fiasco. Maybe 6 months ago I would still recommend them but not now. Now more often then not you will pay up to half your merchandise cost just for shipping and if you ordered a DVD it will definitely end up at BFC for "screening" plus you have to pay "screening" tax.

I have lots of sources for getting R2 DVDs cheap since I import lots of them. Here are some of the more accessible ones:
-HMV Japan : In English and relatively cheap shipping. Most prices are lower than CDJapan.
-Play-asia : Fully English with free shipping to Spore on most non-bulky items. Most DVDs here aren't cheaper than HMV or CDJapan but if you're buying games or JPN CDs this is the place to go to.

Again I have lots more sources but they require a decent level of Japanese as well as a mail forwarding service in order to get hold of some of the best deals on the web.

kitsura said:

I wouldn't recommend Amazon JP for any purchases now not after their shipping fiasco. Maybe 6 months ago I would still recommend them but not now. Now more often then not you will pay up to half your merchandise cost just for shipping and if you ordered a DVD it will definitely end up at BFC for "screening" plus you have to pay "screening" tax.

I have lots of sources for getting R2 DVDs cheap since I import lots of them. Here are some of the more accessible ones:
-HMV Japan : In English and relatively cheap shipping. Most prices are lower than CDJapan.
-Play-asia : Fully English with free shipping to Spore on most non-bulky items. Most DVDs here aren't cheaper than HMV or CDJapan but if you're buying games or JPN CDs this is the place to go to.

Again I have lots more sources but they require a decent level of Japanese as well as a mail forwarding service in order to get hold of some of the best deals on the web.

Click to expand...

Thanks for ur links.

Actually I don't mind setting up a column especially for the Japanese links (with vPostJapan *urgh* around, we could use them as a middle man temporarily until a better one is being found). After all, there ARE people here who understands Japanese to an elementary level at the very least.

Its about giving people the knowledge and choices that they can and they HAVE choices other than 'THAT' local distributor. Its all about doing a simple mass order to ride on another person's benefit of a credit card or persuading Papa/Mama to borrow their credit card (with returns of cos) for that online transaction for our underaged friends around.

Looking forward to ur Japan list for my compilation.

BTW, had checked HMV. What the devil?! Its significantly cheaper than what CDJapan has to offer!

Free gift? Ahhh.... Now we're talking.

But I'm looking at some really nice old Japanese movies & dramas (Odoru Daisousasen, if it qualifies to be 'old'), CDJapan seems to be selling them at a bomb. So far, HMV Japan and Amazon looks reasonably cheap.

From my one and only experience with Amazon, I paid a 25% off my purchase (pre-order item) and the shipping was reasonable because I had 4 items (1400+4*300=2600). Techincally, they were all the same item so the thing shipped on before the release date.. Also, the order came less than 24 hour after leaving Amazon.jp and didn't go through customs.

So yeah, I'm a pretty satisfied customer.

The Customs thing is pretty much mixed as mentioned in the FAQ - "Luck of Draw". U heng ur package bo dio, u sway ur package will kena rape 1000 times.

Or you could list label as a gift under comments. Or so I've been told.

I can tell you that by DHL express shipping more than 9 out of 10 time your package will end up at BFC. I have a close friend who works in DHL and he tells me that DHL personally sends all packages labelled DVD to BFC for clearance. So unless you can get Amazon JP to label your package as software (not possible already tried) then most likely your package will end up at BFC and be detained there for a week or too. So not only do you not get the convenience of speedy shipping you have to bear extra "screening" tax and get your DVD disc manhandled and a stupid green sticker on all your DVD casings.

And the only free gift I know of is that Play-asia will send you a US$5 off coupon to use on your next purchase.

Phelan said:

From my one and only experience with Amazon, I paid a 25% off my purchase (pre-order item) and the shipping was reasonable because I had 4 items (1400+4*300=2600). Techincally, they were all the same item so the thing shipped on before the release date.. Also, the order came less than 24 hour after leaving Amazon.jp and didn't go through customs.

So yeah, I'm a pretty satisfied customer.

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Did they send by DHL or Fedex? I read the blog link jsbn provided and seems that the problem lies with DHL whenever there're customs issues.

Also just wondering, I noticed that there's this Amazon Prime thingy that promises free standard shipping for most purchases. It appears as an orange button at the top of the page of the item you want to buy and the annual membership is 3900 Yen. Wow.. imagine how much we can save on shipping if it works the way it does.

Is it applicable for international orders? I keep reading the terms and conditions (English one) but I'm still not sure Either something wrong with my understanding of "england" or I'm too paranoid it becomes a mind-block.

I believe Amazon Prime is only applicable to domestic shipping and not International shipping. Anyone with better knowledge of Japanese language, plz correct me if I'm wrong.

LiveNow said:

Did they send by DHL or Fedex? I read the blog link jsbn provided and seems that the problem lies with DHL whenever there're customs issues.

Also just wondering, I noticed that there's this Amazon Prime thingy that promises free standard shipping for most purchases. It appears as an orange button at the top of the page of the item you want to buy and the annual membership is 3900 Yen. Wow.. imagine how much we can save on shipping if it works the way it does.

Is it applicable for international orders? I keep reading the terms and conditions (English one) but I'm still not sure Either something wrong with my understanding of "england" or I'm too paranoid it becomes a mind-block.

Click to expand...

Was sent via DHL.

As for Amazon Prime
http://www.amazon.co.jp/gp/help/customer/display.html?nodeId=200149870#faq9

Phelan said:

Was sent via DHL.

As for Amazon Prime
http://www.amazon.co.jp/gp/help/customer/display.html?nodeId=200149870#faq9

Click to expand...

RE: DHL
woah then you must be very lucky it didn't get custom-ed

RE: Amazon Prime not applicable for international orders

In Amazon Prime, you can ship your order to almost anywhere in Japan. We cannot send your order using Amazon Prime to any international addresses.

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Thanks! x_X I somehow didn't see that page.

junkpile said:

For R1 DVDs, what you guys think of ADV films?

As far I know they do not ship internationally expect within US & Canada but with vPOSTUSA it would work right?

Another question is that does the DVDs have to go to the BFC if they go through vPOST?

I have a very strong feeling it does, but can anyone confirm?

Click to expand...

Well, u can ship it direct from Amazon US but it would take a really long time. Try not to get them to ship thru USPS. Had all my parcels lost thru USPS.

I had ordered thru vPost and none of my stuff went thru BFC. Like what ppl had said and I had consistently stressed in the FAQ especially on Customs screening - "LUCK OF DRAW"

jsbn said:

Well, u can ship it direct from Amazon US but it would take a really long time. Try not to get them to ship thru USPS. Had all my parcels lost thru USPS.

I had ordered thru vPost and none of my stuff went thru BFC. Like what ppl had said and I had consistently stressed in the FAQ especially on Customs screening - "LUCK OF DRAW"

Click to expand...

It's not really luck of draw. Most of the DVDs shipped via express or courier shipping will end up at BFC because I think the shipping companies plan it that way. On the other hand most DVDs shipped via normal airmail or EMS will usually bypass BFC. Almost all packages will go through customs check this is normal. However BFC screening and customs check are 2 different things, do take note. Customs are screening for drugs, explosives and other banned items. BFC is just trying to make life difficult for people importing DVDs.

kitsura said:

Most of my friend who bought from Amazon got it detained at BFC. Even those who bought the first batch of Blu-ray movies. I wonder where MDA got their Blu-ray players from to "screen" through those movies. But although most will end up there there are still lapses since the number of packages are just too many. When my initial batch of DVDs ended up scratched by BFC due to shipping policy change I just kept returning them and asking Amazon to resend until BFC missed them.

But now I've stopped ordering from Amazon JP since I don't see the point of paying more for my DVDs to ended up at BFC.

Click to expand...

how to you send back, what are the procedures involve/needed?

well, if urs got rape, u will not be able to receive the package at first; there will be a letter telling u to go down to mda to collect ur stuff and to pay them money for the ugly sticker.

For R1 DVDs or english manga, which I often purchase because I don't like reading chinese and can't read japanese. There's The Right Stuf International TRSI and DeepDiscount. I bought quite some stuffs from US and the dvds always passes through fine without any checks. But mind that I usually buy older series as they're the ones that you can find cheaper and not pay full prices.

TRSI http://www.rightstuf.com/ often have deals around as well as weekly closeouts. Right now they have a geneon sale. Unfortunately they only ship to the country you're in if you're an international customer using a credit card from your country. Their standard shipping is FedEx and it's not exactly cheap. It's like 15usd shipping per item so for deals often you'd end up paying double to get it shipped.

For example right now I'm quite tempted on
Rurouni Kenshin OVA Director's Cut.
You can also get LE sets often for cheaper prices, like these
http://www.rightstuf.com/1-800-338-6827/catalogmgr/HhwmAQziSjbOrO2vO2/browse/item/69501/4/0/0
http://www.rightstuf.com/1-800-338-6827/catalogmgr/t9w4nxILxhkamP4Xr1/browse/item/65513/4/0/0
http://www.rightstuf.com/1-800-338-6827/catalogmgr/5z1ugFjYBDT9Fe8gD-/browse/item/68768/4/0/0
There's also other stuffs like boxsets
http://www.rightstuf.com/1-800-338-6827/catalogmgr/BsUhSPbvYSAQQjIFOc/browse/item/68638/4/0/0

Then there's deepdiscount http://www.deepdiscount.com which is already listed in the op. They're based in Canada. Their prices are slightly cheaper than retail prices, they also have 20% off sales that occur twice a year. One of the things that I bought last sale was the planetes thinpak collection http://www.deepdiscount.com/viewproduct.htm?productId=5738641, quite barebones but you get a good price in exchange. They're also good for manga, I bought two volumes of yotsubato from them when I couldn't find them at Kinokuniya, and they end up slightly cheaper compared to Kino's 20% off prices.

What makes them cheap is their shipping prices. They ship by international priority mail and they only charge 6usd for the first 25usd and then 9usd for 25-50usd. They aren't the most reliable company on shipping times, but I've gotten items within a week before and the longest is two weeks so far. I'd definitely recommend buying from them if you want cheap prices. They also put these ads/spam in your packages, but it's a minor thing for me.