It has been ten years since Manga Entertainment UK released Attack on Titan – Season 1 Part 1, and eight years since Attack on Titan – Season 1 was released, on Blu-Ray in the UK, and this month Crunchyroll will be re-releasing the first season (as well as the second and third seasons) as Steelbook Editions in the UK. So, with that being said will the Steelbook Edition of Season 1 use the same discs as those previously? or something new? Let’s take a quick look (or watch our unboxing) to find out!
A brief history of Attack on Titan – Season 1 on Blu-Ray in the UK:
When Manga Entertainment UK released Attack on Titan – Season 1 Part 1 on Blu-Ray in 2014 it was released as a Deluxe Collector’s Edition. On the surface this looked like a special release for the UK, with it having a carded sleeve to hold Part 2 (to give the impression of a complete series set), a bonus DVD disc and a Notes From Beyond The Walls booklet, but upon further inspection it was discovered to have numerous flaws.
These flaws saw bonus features removed from the Blu-Ray discs and included on the bonus DVD disc, the English subtitles for the episodes being English dubtitles (subtitles for the English dub) rather than subtitles for the Japanese audio, and incorrect chapter markings for each episode. The set was also slightly brighter in contrast when compared with other Attack on Titan releases at the time while the subtitles (dubtitles) were darker (and of a different font) to other Blu-Ray releases.
Naturally it wasn’t a great start for Attack on Titan in the UK, and in 2016 Manga Entertainment UK tried to address these flaws by releasing the Season 1 collection of Attack on Titan. Except things didn’t get much better for this release either.
For this Season 1 release Manga Entertainment UK re-authored the Blu-Ray discs so that all of the bonus features were returned to the Blu-Ray discs, but the remaining issues (English dubtitles and incorrect chapter markings) remained the same. Additionally the Notes From Beyond The Walls booklets that were included with Part 1 and Part 2 sets were not included with this Season 1 collection.
It’s the Season 1 release we have been waiting for!:
Fast forward to 2024, and Crunchyroll will be re-releasing Attack on Titan – Season 1 as a Steelbook Edition, along with Season 2 and Season 3, and I am happy to report that all of the issues experienced in past Season 1 sets have been resolved in this Steelbook Edition. This is because Crunchyroll in the UK are using the same disc materials that Crunchyroll are using in the US, so as a result we get the correct English subtitles, correct chapter placement and consistency across all sets.
It’s a similar scenario to what has happened recently with the Dragon Ball Super Complete Series set. Instead of Crunchyroll (UK) using existing disc materials, of which would have Manga Entertainment and FUNimation branding on them, they are using newer disc materials. Not only does this mean consistency across the different Crunchyroll regions, but it also means we receive the same disc content as those in the US. For us in the UK, that means we finally get the release we’ve been waiting for.
So, what’s inside this Steelbook Edition of Season 1?
Celebrations aside, this Steelbook Edition of Attack on Titan – Season 1 contains 25 episodes across four Blu-Ray discs in English (DolbyTrueHD 5.1) and Japanese (DolbyTrueHD 2.0) with English subtitles. Bonus features include Episode Commentaries (which are split across the four discs), The Making of Attack on Titan, Chibi Theater “Fly, Cadets, Fly!”, Attack on Titan at Anime Expo, Eyecatch Gallery, as well as Textless Opening & Ending Songs. Majority of the bonus features are contained on the second and fourth discs, but episode commentaries are on the discs that contain those episodes.
From a presentation standpoint then the discs are consistent and each have a different colour, with the artwork being that of the wall and the same across all discs. The steelbook case meanwhile features a visual for Wall Maria (the first wall), along with the Attack on Titan logo, on the front and then on the back cover we have a visual of the titan in the wall. It’s very simplistic, and minimalist, but it fits the Attack on Titan vibe. Information detailing the product is presented on a card that folds around (and sticks to) the steelbook case, but can easily be removed without damage to the case.
Final thoughts and watch the unboxing!
The first season of Attack on Titan has been well overdue for a fixed release in the UK, and finally after ten years we manage to receive one. It’s the release we should have had a decade ago (minus the steelbook case) and now we get to relive the series again in it’s best form. If you’ve been waiting to own Attack on Titan on Blu-Ray, then it starts here with this Steelbook Season 1 release.
Attack on Titan – Season 1 Steelbook Edition will be available on Blu-Ray on 16th December 2024 within the UK. In addition Steelbook Editions of Season 2 and Season 3 will also be released on 16th December 2024 alongside Attack on Titan: The Final Season – The Final Chapters.
Disclaimer: We receive a sample of this product from Crunchyroll for the purpose of this unboxing and coverage.
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Attack on Titan – Season 1 (Steelbook Blu-Ray)
Attack on Titan – Season 2 (Steelbook Blu-Ray)
Attack on Titan – Season 3 (Steelbook Blu-Ray)
Attack on Titan: The Final Season – The Final Chapters (Blu-Ray, DVD, Limited Edition Blu-Ray & DVD)
