As DVDs stormed the anime market, options for all sorts of DVD extras arose-but not only in the programming of the DVD itself. In roughly the last year, reversible DVD covers have leaked into the marketplace, with mammoth distribution companies such as ADV Films, Pioneer and Bandai partaking in this fan friendly frills feature.

Elation swept over fans when ADV promised a reversible cover to the "Samurai X" OAV series that would include the original Japanese title logo "Rurouni Kenshin" on the opposite side of the North American version. The move helped to quell the controversy over the marketing tactic of calling Kenshin, erroneously or not, a samurai. (Read Akadot's "The Samurai Kenshin" to learn about this controversy.) But unfortunately a manufacturing error occurred and many "Samurai X" DVDs hit stores without the promised double-sided cover. ADV quickly solved the problem and fans merely had to trade in their single sided covers for the coveted double-sided version. Adding insult to injury, the same crisis befell the DVD release of the motion picture, and again, ADV acted quickly to right the mistake.

The public outcry over this packaging snafu confirmed that fans responded well to having reversible DVD covers, prompting Daizenshuu EX to write:

"The covers for the 'Samurai X' side are bland and forgettable. However, the covers for the 'Rurouni Kenshin' side are absolutely stunning. They retain the 'Rurouni Kenshin' in both kanji and in romanji."

Unfortunately, the experience may have proved a little to trying for ADV. "I don't think that we have any real plans to make any others in the future, but who knows," says Ken Wiatrek of ADV Films when asked about ADV's future plans for reversible DVD covers.

Pioneer's efforts are more aesthetic in nature. The company's cover for "Sailor Moon S: Heart Collection 1" offers fans a choice of a cover image that features Sailor Moon with her moon scepter outstretched and a back cover image that lists a synopsis, DVD features and an episode list; or the flip side cover image that features Sailors Jupiter and Mercury and a near textless back cover of a Sailor Moon close-up above a panoramic images of Sailor Moon and Prince Darian together in a field of roses. The flip side front cover image, void of the eponymous Sailor Moon (and therefore probably less marketable if actually used on store shelves), reflects the show's care in developing all of its characters, and perhaps more accurately represents the series. The flip side image back cover depicts Sailor Moon in a far more romantic light, a far cry from the tough girl fighter that emblazons the commercial front cover.

Jerry Chu from Bandai Entertainment discusses additional benefits to having a reversible DVD cover.

"We just felt a reversible cover would be a nice bonus for 'Gundam 08th MS Team,'" says Chu. "This way you can cover every facet of the show -- in this case the human drama portion and the mecha action."

Though Bandai has only issued reversible covers with the "Gundam 08th MS Team" DVD, Bandai's Jason Alnas announced this past May at A-Kon 2001 that Bandai's upcoming Pilot Candidate release would include a reversible cover. It is also rumored that their much-anticipated release of "Love Hina" will also feature a reversible cover with original art. But there is no official word for Bandai yet.

With ADV employing reversible covers specifically designed to appeal to both the die-hard fans, and Bandai and Pioneer issuing DVDs with reversible covers to give consumers more aesthetic options, the function and future of reversible covers remains murky, and may require more fan feedback before entirely clear.