We're pleased to announce the His and Her Circumstances (Kare Kano) DVD Collection will be available on August 25, 2009.

This new, value-priced collection will feature the entire 26-episode series – with English and Japanese audio, English subtitles and on-screen translations, and Spanish subtitles and on-screen translations – in a single keepcase.

For more information about the series, visit the series site.

(Also, if you're a fan of the premium packaging, we still have a limited number of the series in its thinpak art box version.)

I assume "single keepcase" means a LiteBox case (14mm case, that can hold up to 6 discs)?

Hi, there! It's a STACKpak. (It's one of the reasons for the lower price.)

Having said that, if someone really wants the packaging, the thinpak is still readily available via RightStuf.com (and other retailers).

Ugh! I'm officially not going to buy that release. STACKpaks are the plague in my eyes. Just curious, have you read this post yet on the AOD boards?

A Litebox case looks like this and they are pretty durable. Both Bandai and Media Blasters are using these cases for most of their collections.

BTW, for those that don't know. This is what a STACKpak looks like. I've been hearing nothing but complaints with these cases. From scratched discs to broken hubs.

I'm a long time shopper, first time poster, and I'll tell you guys right now, I refuse to touch "anything" with a stackpack release, you guys know better than that, as many returns as I'm sure have been fielded due to awful packaging, you know better than that, and better is expected of you. Cost cutting is fine, but this is the worst idea since Funimation's initial batch of "viridian" releases with paper packaging sleeves.

Good morning, gang!

We all have our preferences with regard to packaging.

Just a couple notes:

1. Our "brand-new" releases are not in this style packaging, and there are currently no plans to put them in this style of packaging. (We know you like those thinpak box sets!)

2. It's only being used in this case because it is the second (or third, if you count the full-sized DVD box set) re-release of this particular title, and we wanted to hit a certain price point.

3. The His and Her Circumstances DVD Thinpak Collection -- which includes the same discs in the thinpak, chipboard box collectors prefer -- is very readily available at retail, including RightStuf.com. It's always 25% off on our site, and I'm sure others have deals on it, as well.

Here's the bottom line: There are going to be trade-offs, and nicer packing will make the release cost more. Our August 2009 release of this title was always intended to be the "bargain" release.

One of the reasons we felt OK doing this is that the DVD Thinpak Collection is still in circulation and is an option if you want it.

I think there's a difference between a nicer packaging trade-off, and a useless packaging choice that damages something being paid for, regardless of that money being what's considered a "discount" price. the older brick style packaging ADV & Bandai used to use for instance, the packaging option linked above by another poster that Bandai currently uses, etc.

But it's never a good idea to sell a disc's just stacked on each other, ship it through the mail, and expect it to survive any decent amount of wear through travel, or regular use by the customer. I think what we're all trying to say, is please consider using a more 'durable" bargain packaging solution.

Mind you I'm someone who already purchased the thinpak years ago, didn't plan on purchaisng this bargin release for myself, but wouldn't even remotely consider purchasing it as a gift for someone else either under these circumstances.

They are already popular with ADV. Everyone of there re-releases, that contain 4-6 discs are STACKpaks.

Exactly my point! Also, I should mention that LITEbox cases are STACKpak's competition, since the price is about the same (if not a penny or two more).

I'm not picky when it comes to packaging. Heck, I can even live with Scanavo bricks and even digipacks. However, when a el'cheapo case like this comes out and the return rate is high, because of damaged goods. I don't see the benefit at all and I usually will avoid purchasing them. At the worse case scenario, I will purchase the title and buy pack of Litebox cases from another store and just replace the case.

However, I'm more concerned for your average/casual customer, that doesn't know the difference on packaging. If they have a terrible experience on these like the others have. They are going to avoid buying your future products. Period! That will include your better packaged titles.

BTW, I'm sorry if it feels like I'm grilling you on this. I'm personally not angered at all by this. However, I'm concerned that my favorite company has made a big mistake with this upcoming release.

Yeah! It started more recently. The latest Chrono Crusade collection, FMP Heavy Metal collection, the Kiba collections and the more recent titles that have 4-6 discs are in STACKpaks. Just take a gander over at AOD's cover art forum and look at the recent ADV listings.


NTHT was only on 3 discs on CPM's release and ADV will keep that format. In other words, it'll be in a Litebox (14mm 3 disc case).

So is this more or less an experiment to see if this will catch on for new and future releases? Kind of like how Funi tried the new packaging style(s) for their Viridian Collections?

Hi, all!

There's been a change to the packaging specs of August's His and Her Circumstances (Kare Kano) DVD Collection...

It will still be released in a single keepcase. However, that keepcase will now be a Litebox case.

Ah, just caught this. Please forgive my ignorance of case terms but should I presume "litebox" equates to a keepcase-style box with individual nubs for each disk? If so, that's great news.

It's really neat of you guys to be so considerate of fan opinions since I know we can be a fussy bunch sometimes (we really do mean well) but there was no getting around an unfriendly case design. I love His and Her Circumstances and this is definitely an upgrade that is properly respectful of such a great show.

Thank you.

Correct! A litebox is a 14mm case that can hold up to six discs (individual hubs). Note: There is some overlapping involved, but much better than a stackpak.

Heh, I was mostly thinking about myself when I wrote that. I've chimed in on this topic a couple of times (in fact I was surprised to see that I hadn't posted on this particular thread yet) and, in general, I've been rather....verbose lately. It only seems right to take the time to applaud the good things that come along as well.



Ahh. I had seen your original description above but the "individual hubs" was what I was hunting for. I've opened something recently in one of those cases but I can't remember what now. Unstacking disks can be a bit of an annoyance (probably because the set I was watching didn't have them in the ideal order, e.g. disk 3 under disk 4) but any shortcomings are trivial to those of the stackpacks and it's fittingly minimal for a bare-bones economy release.

I've used "stack packs" on a lot of my home made dvd compilations and haven't had any major problems with them-about the only bone I have to pick about them is when (for example) I want to get out disc 12 of my home made Kimagure Orange Road tv set I have to take out the 11 discs on top of it.