Well, not me personally, but more towards online retailers. Apparently when they said that they would be offering Prefectural Earth Defense Force as a web-only special but that “any retailers that chose to carry it” could do so, they really meant that any retailer who chose to carry it could go screw themselves. As such, Anime Nation and Right Stuf International have pulled their listings for the series. Among the shifty back talk offered up by Chris Oarr, an ADV spokesperson, were the following:

“We’re not exactly sure how PEDF ended up on Right Stuf, since we never intended to solicit it to retail accounts. It’s an ADV “web exclusive” title, meaning that it will be offered via the ADV website only. That’s partly why it has such a great price of just $12.98.

Annnnnnd

We’re putting out PEDF because we like it, and we think it should be out there available to the fans. But the only way we could keep the project commercially viable was to release PEDF direct to fans through our website.

Now, “Randall,” I hear you cry, “How can these be lies?” Well! Let’s start with the first shall we. You may remember a few posts in which I talked about the upcoming release of the series. In these posts, you may recall such passed along truths as:

And if you forgot, web-only just means they won’t be shipping them to major retailers, although the retailers can still order them in if they want.

And secondly:

… will only be subbed and will only be $12.98 and will likely not be carried by most retailers.

Now, notice I didn’t say that ADV passed along word that they wouldn’t be carrying the titles at all. I would have, believe me. Anyway, the second bit is a crock because they could probably afford to release the series much cheaper, and getting it out to the fans through major retailers like Anime Nation would only allow more fans to find it more easily. What ADV wants is money, and they want it from fans. Here’s what you will start seeing if this jest works out in their favor: you’ll start seeing lots and lots of ADV only releases that will allow them to bypass other companies and sort of form their own little Wal-Mart of anime. Won’t that be jolly.

The DVD is due out April 18th according to the Amazon.com listing, which may disappear pretty soon too. Thanks ADV!