Obtaining French materials

[tangleweeds]

I'm sure this question has been answered before but I can't find the right search terms, so links to instructions are as welcome as actual answers. Before my illness and extended absence, I used to have a better idea of how to manage such things, but it's been a long time.

How do I obtain French or Japanese language media such as TV series DVDs, audiobook CDs, etc? Can I order them from the US, or will regional copyright protections obfuscate the process? Will I need to ask for help from my old friend in Montreal or brother in Osaka? Will I want/need a VPN?

I'm hoping to utilize Buffy the Vampire slayer, Avatar: The Last Airbender, and of course, Harry Potter to improve my ear for French. I'm not sure what I want to use for Japanese--suggestions are welcome.

[Lianne]

I live in Canada, so admittedly I have a slight advantage of access to French materials. Have you checked the DVDs you own? I'm not sure how often the DVDs sold in Canada differ from the ones sold in the US, but I find that a majority of my DVDs have French audio as an option, including my box sets of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel. I've watched lots of my favourite movies with the audio switched to French. French audio is also a frequent option on Netflix.

For both French and Japanese, have you checked your local public library? Mine has a multilingual collection, where materials aren't catalogued or sorted (except by language) but there are just shelves full of books to browse. Especially if you live in a big-ish city, yours might have something similar.

[zenmonkey]

It's going to be a case by case thing. When you go to purchase, you'll have to look at the region coding.

[Deinonysus]

Audio CDs have no regional restrictions so you should have no problem there. I have an audiobook copy of the first Harry Potter book in French and it works fine with the CD player in my car.

You can get US-region DVDs of a lot of French materials.

ATLA just came out with a hi-def remaster on Blu-Ray and it looks like there's a French dub. Amazon doesn't say whether the DVD version also has a French dub. The Legend of Korra also has French dubs in the DVD and Blu-Ray sets.

Streaming might be a better bet than buying hard copies. In the US, Netflix usually has good dub and sub options. Hulu has a lot of anime series in Japanese with subs or dubbed into English, but I'm not sure if they have any French dubs. Amazon doesn't tend to be good with dubbing options.

You can stream the France24 news channel for free in French in the US.

[reineke]

Welcome back.

Canada, US and Japan:

Blu-Rays share the same region (A). Never ordered a Japanese Blu-ray.
Japanese DVDs are region 2 while US and Canada are region 1. Also check Netflix.

France DVDs are region 2 and Blu-Rays are region B.

The US. DVDs of Avatar: The Last Airbender should have a French track.

HP if you must but also check

http://www.litteratureaudio.com

[Arnaud]

Harry Potter (livre audio) and Avatar (2,49 euro/episode or 14 euro/season) are on YouTube.

[Lawyer&Mom]

I looked at the Avatar boxed sets at Target. The Blueray definitely had French dub, but I don’t think the DVD did.

Here is what I have done: Ordered region 2 boxed sets from Amazon.fr and played the DVDs on my laptop which I have set to region 2. This let me watch a US show that was not available with French dub in the US.

You are only allowed to change your computer’s region settings a few times, but I don’t mind having a dedicated region 2 player. Alternatively, all region DVD players aren’t that hard to find.

[reineke]

Specs: Details:
Format DVD
Studio Paramount
Flags Suitable for Children
Product Title Avatar: The Last Airbender - The Complete Series
Tones Flashy, Humorous, Stylized
Language English, French, Spanish

Buffy

DVD $69.72 .... Language: English ( Dolby Surround), French (Dolby Surround), Spanish ...

"Buffy, Avatar and HP" sounds like a forum thing. That's OK but you sound like someone who doesn't really watch TV. Why not choose something that's available in Japanese and French?

[Sayonaroo]

be sure to check out your local library in case they carry buffy dvds, french movies, etc.

if you decide to get foreign dvds, you do not need to change the region of your computer. you can use VLC player to play foreign dvds.

[Kraut]

Progdvb allows you to receive a handful of regional French TV stations via the Internet

http://www.progdvb.com/download_progdvb.html