The Captain's Archive

From the archives of Captain Saint Asher.
Founding member of the Siphonophore Guild of Archivists.

[The Captain's Archive @CaptainsArchive]

@Netscape_Knight Don't worry about it.

[The Captain's Archive @CaptainsArchive]

You should tune in. There might be something!

[Uncommon Ephemera @uncommnephemera]

LIVE NOW: Searching for endangered and #lostmedia on #VHS we can upload to the @internetarchive. IS THIS ANYTHING? is live now on Twitch.

[bal-anime @balanime]

Yes, these were called Starter Boxes. It was a very common method for anime DVD releases in the 00's, back when single volumes were standard & Vol.1 included the box.

Seeing someone talk about this like they uncovered some ancient secret makes me feel like a fossil. 😭

[The Captain's Archive @CaptainsArchive]

@balanime Thank you for putting a name to the phenomenon! I saw it quite often but was not aware of the proper term for it.

[The Captain's Archive @CaptainsArchive]

Anime News Network still documents historical releases, and the highlighted one appears to be the one in our advertisement.

[The Captain's Archive @CaptainsArchive]

This ad for Full Metal Panic! (from the May 2003 issue of Newtype USA) highlights something interesting. From what I can understand, a now extinct sale method used to be selling a box set with only the first DVD, alongside some merch, and fans could fill the box set over time.

[The Captain's Archive @CaptainsArchive]

I suppose this was done to allow publishers to push out DVDs while the series was still being translated (or, I assume, in some cases still airing in Japan), without losing out of the prestige and experience offered by a complete box set. This appears to be the one in the ad.

[The Captain's Archive @CaptainsArchive]

@Gazungamer It sure has! The conclusion they reach here is the simplest explanation:
As more anime is produced each year there is less staff to go around. Animators have less time on their hands, and animating glasses is takes time. As such glasses are left out if not relevant to the plot.

[The Captain's Archive @CaptainsArchive]

@Gazungamer Continued.

[The Captain's Archive @CaptainsArchive]

@Gazungamer This is a big issue! Although, it is not a new one. Girls in glasses have been marked as an endangered species in anime as far back as August of 2003, in an issue of Newtype USA. It seems that this trend has continued and they may now be entirely extinct.

[The Captain's Archive @CaptainsArchive]

@Gazungamer Continued.

[The Captain's Archive @CaptainsArchive]

@Gazungamer This is a big issue! Although, it is not a new one. Girls in glasses have been marked as an endangered species in anime as far back as August of 2003, in an issue of Newtype USA. It seems that this trend has continued and they may now be entirely extinct.

[The Captain's Archive @CaptainsArchive]

Billions must watch Omishi Mahou Gekijou: Risky Safety! This ad in Newtype USA (May 2003) actually encouraged me to seek out the DVDs online, and it's been very enjoyable. A shame I haven't heard about it until I saw this!