The problem with collecting media in physical form these days is how easy it is to lose the opportunity to get it. This is true of anything with a limited shelf life or a short print run or a specific edition that may no longer be available. This is especially true of foreign media which has a shelf life even shorter than most. So here's a list of mostly forum and some domestic media I'd like to grab that will cost me various parts of my soul to access.
1. MAISON IKKOKU. This Japanese produced animated and print property from Viz Media has been around since manga switched over from the comic book format to these digest versions that populate our shelves. In it's animated form it's been around since the VHS days. It's 96 episodes long and 15 volumes of manga. Both are very hard to find. This story of an apartment manager and one of her tenants falling in love is sweet without being cloying and real without pandering. There has been movement lately on Artist Rumiko Takahashi's other work for reissue. My hope is this series gets another chance to run and I will have the funds to get it at the time.
2. BATTLE ANGEL. This is known as Gunm over in Japan and is currently split between two publishers. An earlier 9 volume run that is difficult to find and an 18 plus retelling and expansion currently in print from Kodansha. The OAV made back in the 90s is still kind of in print. I hope that the earlier run gets a reprint. If James Cameron is to be believed he wants to make this as an adaptation after the next Avatar trilogy is finished. I will believe that when I see it.
3. CHUNGKING EXPRESS. The OOP dvd is fairly easy to find. The OOP Criterion Blu Ray or DVD is not. The latter has the best special features and the best visual quality. My brain hurts watching the price rise.
4. JOHN WOO'S THE KILLER. This thing has been out multiple times but I would like the long out of print Criterion version as visual quality of the video doesn't change much between the blu-ray and various dvd versions.
5. NODAME CANTABILE. This is an animated, live action and print franchise that I wish someone could pull together. 16 of the 25 manga volumes are here in English but were not finqished when Kodansha continued Del Rey's catalog. The live action version never had a stateside physical release. The anime is available streaming through Sony's Crackle service but only the first season. This romantic comedy doesn't have a chance because it features students at a prestigious music college and features classical music.
6. YOU'RE UNDER ARREST. This is a Manga and Animated Franchise ( and one live action feature) that needs to be collated. The animated film is way oop and the second release with better quality is quite expensive. While the later second and third seasons are readily available the first season is oop but has the distinction of two of its volumes being impossible to find for no earthly reason. 37-44 of Season 1 must be more hilarious than the others. The manga only has 2 of 22 volumes here in English and that depresses me. No stateside release of the live action film.
7. ROBOT CARNIVAL. This anthology film never received the DVD treatment here and the vhs copies are dinosaurs. I wish Japan would remaster a blu ray. I'd gladly import it as we share the same region code.
8. THE LEGEND OF BILLIE JEAN. For a long time this wasn't available but a print on demand DVD exists and the visual quality is murky at best. This is dying for a remastered blu ray or hell even just a remastered DVD.
9. SANCTUARY. This 9 or so volume manga is way out of print and was released flipped originally. I'd like to see a re-release unflipped. Marketing this would be tough as it is very much of its time and aimed at adults.
10. READ OR DIE. The best way to get all of this is through a long oop blu ray set that mimics the Japanese pricing structure. I've priced out what would happen if I tried to get the original domestic DVDs and depending on the secondary vendors you're not really saving that much money. I am saving my pennies now.
Looking over this list I am surprised to see that most of the print side on this list is from one company Viz media. Battle Angel's case is unique as the artist jumped publishers and Viz only prints things from its Japanese counterpart. Dark Horse holds You're Under Arrest and they tend to do a good job keeping their stuff in print but You're Under Arrest must have had especially cringe worthy numbers for sales to kill it after two volumes.
The overall problem with seeing any of this come back is no one outside of the publisher knows exact sales numbers and how that squares with the licensing and production costs. Maison Ikkoku has a chance to come back only because they are bringing back Ranma 1/2. The latter had a lot more popularity due to the broad comedy. MI has a devoted fan base hence the crazy prices for the manga and anime but that may not translate for another dip in the well.
A lot of these things only get one shot before going away forever. The only lesson learned is if you love it, support it and vote with your wallet.
