Over the years, a select few US-market anime DVDs came in jewel cases like a CD instead of the more common Amaray-style keep case. Here is every one I’m aware of. As always, feel free to leave a comment if you know of any others!
PIONEER’S JEWEL CASES IN DISGUISE [1997-1998]
Pioneer started publishing DVDs in 1997, and for the first two years, a number of their OVA/film releases came in somewhat unique packaging. Consisting of a traditional jewel case with an oversized, full-height slipcover, they serve as something of a missing link between CD and DVD packaging. Later printings would switch to simple DVD cases, which Pioneer had been using since the beginning for their releases of TV anime.
| Name | Licensor | Publisher | Release Date | SKU | UPC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Armitage III: Poly-Matrix (Dub.DVD) | Pioneer | Pioneer | 1997-10-14 | 10000 | 013023100008 |
| Dragon Ball Z – Movie 1: Dead Zone (DVD) | FUNimation | Pioneer | 1997-12-17 | 10007 | 013023000797 |
| Dragon Ball Z – Movie 2: The World’s Strongest (DVD) | FUNimation | Pioneer | 1998-05-27 | 10044 | 013023004498 |
| Dragon Ball Z – Movie 3: The Tree of Might (DVD) | FUNimation | Pioneer | 1998-03-17 | 10010 | 013023001091 |
| Green Legend Ran (DVD) | Pioneer | Pioneer | 1998-04-07 | 10026 | 013023002692 |
| Ranma ½: Big Trouble in Nekonron, China (DVD) | Viz | Pioneer | 1998-06-03 | V-RMD001 | 013023004696 |
| Tenchi the Movie – Tenchi Muyo in Love (DVD) | Pioneer | Pioneer | 1997-10-01 | 10003 | 013023000391 |
| Tenchi the Movie 2: The Daughter of Darkness (DVD) | Pioneer | Pioneer | 1998-03-31 | 10013 | 013023001398 |
BUBBLEGUM CRISIS.EXE [1998]
AnimEigo turned to software distribution company Multimedia 2000 (M2K) for their first DVD release of Bubblegum Crisis, and it shows. Consisting of 3 discs in jewel cases inside of oversized “Big Box” cardboard packaging that made it look more at home in software aisle than the home video one. The release was plagued with technical issues, and went through a number of revisions, and at some point, received a new cover. All future AnimEigo DVDs would come in standard packaging, and they even offered a set of empty DVD cases to allow Big Box owners to “upgrade” their set into something that would easily fit on their shelf.
| Name | Licensor | Publisher | Release Date | SKU | UPC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bubblegum Crisis – Collector’s Edition (DVD-R0 1-3 of 3) | AnimEigo | Multimedia 2000 | 1998-09-22 | BCDV101 | 753182043326 |
FRUITS BASKET (ALMOST) FREEBIE [2002]
In October 2002, Funimation released a short DVD containing the first 2 episodes of their new title Fruits Basket, along with voice actor interviews, and a sneak preview of the highly anticipated Dragon Ball GT. This type of preview disc was not uncommon for the company, with them usually being given away as free promotional items in magazines or at conventions. The Fruits Basket DVD stands alone, as it was actually a proper retail release, with a UPC and $1.99 price tag. And while most of Funimation’s promo releases would come in cardboard sleeves, the Fruits Basket release would further distinguish itself with its packaging: a jewel case with an embossed “DVD” logo on the left edge.
| Name | Licensor/Publisher | Release Date | SKU | UPC |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fruits Basket – Special Value! (Dub.DVD) | FUNimation | 2002-10 | FN-5093 | 704400050930 |
GIANT ROBO IS WATCHING YOU [2004-2005]
In the early 2000s, Media Blasters, and particularly their AnimeWorks label, made a name for themselves for their unique packaging and special editions, and Giant Robo: The Day The Earth Stood Still was no exception. Volume 1 was made available in a “Premium Collector’s Set” styled after the Eye of Volger from the series. This oversized plastic eyeball had 4 CD-sized jewel cases slotted within, with space for all 3 volumes of Giant Robo and the spin-off volume GinRei Special. These later volumes would also include a cover sheet for their respective jewel case, as presumably they hadn’t finalized them all by the time Volume 1 had released. A year later, the Premium Collector’s Set was re-released, this time with all of the discs already included.
| Name | Licensor/Publisher | Release Date | SKU | UPC |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Giant Robo – Premium Collector’s Set [Eyeball] (DVD 1 of 4) | Media Blasters | 2004-12-14 | AWDVD-0452 | 631595045277 |
| Giant Robo – Premium Collector’s Set [Eyeball] (DVD 1-4 of 4) | Media Blasters | 2005-12-13 | AWDVD-0576 | 631595057676 |
NEW SUPER MORIBITO BOXES [2008-2010]
Media Blasters was back at it again in 2008 with Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit. Released in a dizzying number of retail configurations, the majority of which came in a DVD-height jewel case known as a “DVD super jewel box”. Somewhat common in Japan, Moribito is the only instance of a US-market anime release to come in one, and it’s unclear exactly why it came this way. Jewel box-wise, the series was available as either 8 individual volumes, 4 “Two Packs” consisting of a slipcover over a pair of volumes, or in 3 different box sets.
| Name | Licensor/Publisher | Release Date | SKU | UPC | Packaging |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit (DVD 1 of 8) | Media Blasters | 2008-11-04 | AWDVD-0825 | 63159082579 | DVD super jewel box |
| Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit (DVD 2 of 8) | Media Blasters | 2008-11-04 | AWDVD-0869 | 631595086973 | DVD super jewel box |
| Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit (DVD 3 of 8) | Media Blasters | 2009-02-10 | AWDVD-0874 | 631595087475 | DVD super jewel box |
| Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit (DVD 4 of 8) | Media Blasters | 2009-07-07 | AWDVD-0875 | 631595087574 | DVD super jewel box |
| Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit (DVD 5 of 8) | Media Blasters | 2009-08-04 | AWDVD-0940 | 631595094077 | DVD super jewel box |
| Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit (DVD 6 of 8) | Media Blasters | 2009-10-13 | AWDVD-0959 | 631595095975 | DVD super jewel box |
| Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit (DVD 7 of 8) | Media Blasters | 2009-11-03 | AWDVD-0964 | 631595096477 | DVD super jewel box |
| Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit (DVD 8 of 8) | Media Blasters | 2009-12-08 | AWDVD-0980 | 631595098075 | DVD super jewel box |
| Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit [Two Pack] (DVD 1-2 of 8) | Media Blasters | 2008-11-04 | AWDVD-0870 | 631595087079 | 2 DVD super jewel boxes with slipcover |
| Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit [Two Pack] + Artbox (DVD 1-2 of 8) | Media Blasters | 2008-11-04 | AWDVD-0871 | 631595087178 | 2 DVD super jewel boxes in chipboard box |
| Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit [Two Pack] (DVD 3-4 of 8) | Media Blasters | 2009-07-07 | AWDVD-0876 | 631595087673 | 2 DVD super jewel boxes with slipcover |
| Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit [Two Pack] (DVD 5-6 of 8) | Media Blasters | 2009-10-13 | AWDVD-0960 | 631595096071 | 2 DVD super jewel boxes with slipcover |
| Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit [Two Pack] (DVD 7-8 of 8) | Media Blasters | 2009-12-08 | AWDVD-0975 | 631595097573 | 2 DVD super jewel boxes with slipcover |
| Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit [Two Pack] + Artbox [Best Buy Exclusive] (DVD 7-8 of 8) | Media Blasters | 2009-12-08 | AWDVD-0982 | 631595098273 | 2 DVD super jewel boxes in chipboard box |
| Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit – Premium Box Set (DVD 1-8 of 8) | Media Blasters | 2010-06-01 | AWDVD-1034 | 631595103472 | 8 DVD super jewel boxes in chipboard box |
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