Your options for getting various Fushigi Yuugi stuffs are:
- Buy it from Pioneer.
Pioneer
has acquired the rights to Fushigi Yuugi's tv episodes and will release
them in the US beginning in Fall 1998.
Current information (Jul-5-1998) indicates that
it will be released both subbed and dubbed. It will be released over
17 volumes with 4 eps on the first tape and 3 eps on the rest. In
addition to VHS, there will be a DVD release but no LD.
At this time, Pioneer doesn't have the rights to the OAV series, but they
may acquire them in the future.
Pioneer also doesn't have rights to any FY merchandise but may acquire
these also in the future.
- Go to Japan.
Kinda expensive for shipping and handling but at least you'll
get the current exchange rate. Also probably the only way to
get
UFO Catcher dolls.
- Use mail order stores.
- I personally recommend the
UCI
Bookstore (http://www.book.uci.edu/anime.html) when looking for
soundtrack CDs. Their prices are usually the best around for
CDs but be careful when buying LDs.
- Another source to try is
Nikaku Animart
(http://www.nikaku.com).
Both of these stores can special order items if they don't
have it. Good in general for CDs, LDs,
art books, and sometimes posters and pencil boards.
- Sasuga
(http://world.std.com/~sasuga) is an online manga
store. Their prices are on the high side compared to
bookstores (see below).
- Visit a Japanese bookstore like Kinokuniya,
Asahia or OCS.
These are some of the Japanese bookstores in major
metropolitan areas like NYC and LA. No I don't know how to
get to them but I imagine they'd be listed in the phone book.
The prices vary, but are usually reasonable enough for those
that don't like waiting for mail order and need to have it
now. CDs tend to be more expensive, manga tends to be more
reasonably priced. They are bookstores so they are good for finding books
like manga or art books. You can also find anime magazines like
Animage or Newtype here. They
don't usually have a very good selection of CDs and those
tend to be more expensive than what you'd find via mail
order.
- Visit Chinatown.
Chinatowns tend to be the best place to find items like
pencil boards, posters, and wall scrolls. You're most
likely to find Sailor Moon or DBZ but it's possible to find
Fushigi Yuugi and other series. Note that these will almost
always be "bootleg" items made in Taiwan or Hong Kong. While
on the subject of "bootlegs," let it also be noted that SM
CDs can be found in Chinatown.
- Go to an anime convention.
Your best chance of getting "real" pencil boards or posters
would be to visit the dealer room of an anime convention.
Conventions also will usually have a very wide selection of
CDs, art books, LDs, model kits, etc... Prices vary. If you
want to take a chance, there are usually large discounts on
the last day of a convention. You can also try your hand at
haggling over prices.
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