Stars *unofficial* DVD mini-review

J Anderson · Post by **J Anderson** » Thu Oct 23, 2003 2:19 am

I won't be posting any links to purchase a copy since this is a bootleg DVD.

I recently received the Japanese Stars bootleg DVD set in the mail. Knowing that Toei will most likely not license the series in the near future, and seeing fansub purchases as no less legit, I decided to spend $40 on the DVD.

For what I spent and the fact it's a bootleg, I was impressed.

The 4 disc set comes packaged in a fold-out cardboard case, similar to the kind used for the LoTR extended editions, bt lacking the extra fold-out often included for booklets and papers to be stored. The case is kept in a clear plastic sleeve. The front and side artwork is official stars artwork, with the outers on the back.

I will scan the outside of the box and the discs themselves sometime tomorrow, rather than describe everything.

This is a region 1 set. The box says Dolby stereo, but I have no way to test this claim since I don't own a Dolby stereo system.

The discs themselves are very well done. excellent artwork on each. Discs 1-3 each contain 8 episodes, and disc 4 has the final 10. Each disc also has a menu, allowing you to select an episode or turn off subtitles. The menus are incredibly well done as well, and despite lacking sound or animation, are very nice overall.

Oddly, disc 1 starts auto playing, but it does have a menu.
How can I describe the video and sound quality? Better than ADV, I have to admit. I believe the bootleggers ripped these from laserdisc releases, and if they lost any quality, I can't tell. Clear sound and very clear video. Not even disc 4 suffers despite having 10 episodes crammed on. I have yet to watch the entire set, but I've watched samples from each disc and noticed no problems.

As to the subtitles, whoever did them spoke English. They aren't poor "engrish" subtitles. I have noticed minor wording problems so far, but no worse than even Pioneer managed to goof up. First example, during episode 168, "Usa-Ko" is printed as "Usaki". I will have to try and find other uses of the word to see if this was a one time thing, but it may be. Unfortunately, that word is only used once the entire episode.

The second example was during episode 175. In the crown, the subtitles refer to the Three Lights as girls("her" instead of "him"). But this seems to be corrected in a later scene in that same episode. I actually remember Pioneer doing that same goof in an early SuperS episode, Fish Eye being referred to as "she" in one of Tigers Eye's subs.

But the subtitles do suffer minor clipping problems. Some lines are printed long enough that a letter on each side can be cut off. But this may be my television's screen size at work. I've noticed that watching movies over DVD-ROM usually gives me slighly more on each side of the picture. and while my TV is new, it's still a $100 set. I may review some of my Pioneer discs later on, because I believe this happened at least once while watching those. I blame the TV.

For $40, I believe the set was well worth the money. Th eonly way I could be tempted to get an official release is if they were to do at least a set that was on par.

Post by **Tiff** » Thu Oct 23, 2003 12:02 pm

We don'tm ind if you post it, but if you'd rather not, that's cool.
However, if people are interested in buying them, at least let them PM you?

J Anderson · Post by **J Anderson** » Thu Oct 23, 2003 2:59 pm

Well, it's not a retailer link, and since you don't mind, these things are rather common on eBay. Mine was from a multiple item listing with a set price of 38.25, with free shipping. There may be a few left.

I'll scan the package later tonight, possibly try to get a few screencaps as well, and get a more thorough review typed up.

Tempest · Post by **Tempest** » Thu Oct 23, 2003 3:22 pm

If you dunno mind, I'd like to give my opinion. ^^

I bought mine from a retailer on Ebay. He/She had alot of positive feedback, so I used them. Though they were imported from Malaysia I got them in little over 2 weeks. The total was 40.25. The sound is very good, but the video quality was a bit fuzziy in some epsiode. If my Stars VHS weren't ruined, I would compair.

Much like yours, Disc1 played automatically. I thought it was just a glitch but It seems that it's the same with other copies.

J Anderson · Post by **J Anderson** » Thu Oct 23, 2003 4:27 pm

Sounds like you got the exact same set I did, possibly from the same seller. I found the subtitle timing to be okay. Occasionally off, and the occasional line that went by too fast to read. But generally, lines were where they were supposed to be. Unless they're revising the discs as they print new batches.

I'm almost certain the autoplay on disc 1 is on purpose, it being the beginning of the series. At least, they got the other 3 correct. It's also worth pointing out that there are no chapter breaks. Each episode is 1 disc chapter.
Was your seller neko_dvd? That's who I bought mine from. But while the seller was locate din Malaysia, the DVD actually shipped out from San Juan, PR. So I got it in a week.

I also scanned the front and back of the box. These are quick scans, I need to take better ones. I also left them fairly large so print would be legible. And yeah, my scanner tends to pick up prined materials a little TOO well for its own good. You can see the individual dots which are typically too small to see.

front of the box
back

Tempest · Post by **Tempest** » Thu Oct 23, 2003 7:27 pm

Neko_DvD was the exact seller I got mine from. My feedback is under the screenname "widdershin818".

Sakuya · Post by **Sakuya** » Thu Oct 23, 2003 9:08 pm

I was thinking of buying this very set too! Thanks for the screenshots and the reviews. So the dots on the pictures aren't really as noticeable? Also, I noticed on the back that they put an extra dash before the katakana "se". Hehe...

Tempest · Post by **Tempest** » Thu Oct 23, 2003 10:00 pm

The dots aren't noticable at all. It's just the high resolution that it was scanned in.

J Anderson · Post by **J Anderson** » Thu Oct 23, 2003 10:37 pm

I didn't even notice the dots until it was scanned in. I should point out, too, that the box is printed on very nice paper.

J Anderson · Post by **J Anderson** » Fri Oct 24, 2003 1:15 am

Here are some better scans-

Front
Back
left inner panel
right inner panel
disc 1
disc 2
disc 3
disc 4

The art behind the discs is the same image as used on the disc itself.

Jumbled Thoughts · Post by **MarioKnight** » Fri Oct 24, 2003 1:21 am

Wow, very nice work done on the set. And $40 is a good price too, definetly on my "to buy" list when I get a chance.

Post by **Tiff** » Fri Oct 24, 2003 9:10 am

damn, that IS a nice set...especially the CD designs. very nice.
If I didn't already pay 40 bucks for the fansubs, i'd probably get it. but right now, my energy is focused on getting SMR ^^;

J Anderson · Post by **J Anderson** » Fri Oct 24, 2003 2:55 pm

I'm actually hoping I can find a bootleg R set that's of a similar quality.
Either it already exists, or we'll see it soon enough.

Sakuya · Post by **Sakuya** » Fri Oct 24, 2003 3:18 pm

Actually, my bootleg Slayers Next DVD collection has the same layout. I'm starting to see that almost all DVD collections with the whole series has the fold-out case.

Also, on Ebay you can see Sailormoon R DVD collections that are bootlegs. Don't buy because they are rips from ADV's dub DVDs!

TuxedoLuke · Post by **TuxedoLuke** » Fri Oct 24, 2003 3:31 pm

I have this set as well, it is pretty good considering it is a bootleg. I think the cropping of the subtitles is on all televisions, as I have a big tv and it still cuts them off sometimes with the big sentences. I think it must be the DVDs not the TVs. I think it is perfect for somoeone if they want to see the Stars series cheaply and they can keep it forever on DVD.

TuxedoLuke

J Anderson · Post by **J Anderson** » Fri Oct 24, 2003 7:10 pm

Sakuya wrote:Actually, my bootleg Slayers Next DVD collection has the same layout. I'm starting to see that almost all DVD collections with the whole series has the fold-out case.

Also, on Ebay you can see Sailormoon R DVD collections that are bootlegs. Don't buy because they are rips from ADV's dub DVDs!

I've also seen a few S and SS DVD collections which are dub only.

I also noticed a line of text at the bottom edge of the disc 1 case after I scanned it in. This is what it says-

"Published by Manga Animation Cartoon(? - It's printed over a black line in the artwork, I can't tell what it is) DVD Inc.,

E-mail:[email protected] [email protected]
Manufactured by Fansnear Animation Inc. Japan

Made In Japan"

Both email addys are also printed on each disc, and despite the box claiming a region 1 set, each disc is stamped for all region play.

Usagi04 · Post by **Usagi04** » Fri Oct 24, 2003 7:39 pm

I have the excact same Sailor Stars boxset. I paid $60.00 for mine off eBay. I think I'm going to pull out my set and go have a marathon.

The only difference in mine is that I bought mine back in March and there "ALL" region DVD's. The subtitles on mine are white, what color are they on yours?

Sakuya · Post by **Sakuya** » Fri Oct 24, 2003 9:49 pm

Manga Animation Cartoon is a anime bootleg DVD company. And maybe they were trying to fool people by putting region 1? But sometimes, they take the DVD information table directly off another OFFICIAL DVD set.

Lucied · Post by **Lucied** » Fri Oct 24, 2003 10:59 pm

Awesome. I was thinking about getting this set but I wasn't sure on the quality of it. Looks like I'll be getting it now

ilovethesailorsenshi · Post by **ilovethesailorsenshi** » Tue Dec 21, 2004 2:18 am

i have two questions:

1) can i get the dvds for any cheaper prices?

and

2) do the dvds work on all players? (i have an xbox, ps2, and regular dvd player)

Sailor Moon Uncensored

Stars unofficial DVD mini-review

Stars unofficial DVD mini-review

great find