Ask John: Will The Rest of Super Gals Get Released in America?

Question:
I have a question about the anime “Super Gals.” I’m a huge fan and recently bought the box set (which has 26 episodes on 6 DVDs). But I’ve seen in several places online that the show actually has 52 episodes! And the final show on DVD 6 seemed a little odd – it said “Next” (implying another show) and looked like it had a slight trace of a preview that got cut off. Are there more episodes that haven’t been released here yet? And if so, are they planning to bring them here?

Answer:
The situation regarding the American release of the Super GALS! Kotobuki Ran anime TV series is a bit perplexing. The show does indeed have 52 episodes, but only half of them have been released in America. Anyone that’s been to one of AD Vision’s convention panels knows that the American release status of the second half of the series is now something of a running joke for company representatives who refuse to “confirm or deny” whether the remainder of the series will ever be released domestically.

The first 26 episodes were released in Japan on DVD between August 2001 and February 2002, but oddly the second half of the series isn’t even available on DVD in Japan. I’ve heard speculation that the Japanese home video release was cut short because the series wasn’t very successful. But I find that hard to believe considering that the series lasted through 52 broadcast episodes and spun off three video games: Super GALS! Kotobuki Ran and Super GALS! Kotobuki Ran 2: Miracle Getting both for the Gameboy Color, and Super GALS! Kotobuki Ran Special Ikemengechu Gals Party, for the Playstation.

I’m guessing that there’s some sort of hold-up on the Japanese DVD release of the second half of the series, which is summarily delaying the American release of the remainder of the series. It’s unlikely that the Japanese licensor and home video distributor will allow an American DVD release before a Japanese DVD release. (There are instances of this occurring, but such instances are rare.) So unfortunately, at this point there’s no way of knowing whether or not the remaining Super GALS! episodes will ever see American release.