First North American SteelBook™ with Briareos figure (8000 produced)

As collectible SteelBooks™ become more mainstream and gain popularity in both the movie and video game distribution industry, this is a good time to learn more about what exactly you are collecting.

SteelBook™ metal media packaging was conceptualized by two industrial designers, Mazyar Abolfazlian and Niels Toft Jørgensen, at Glud & Marstrand A/S, Denmark in 2002. The goal was to innovate media packaging to the next level creating a premium alternative to complement high quality movies and video games. The outside is 100% recyclable metal (98% iron, containing trace elements of less than 1% each of manganese, silicon, chrome and nickel) that can be decorated on both sides and opens 240 degrees. The inside is 100% recyclable plastic (polypropylene) that holds the discs and booklet in place similar to a standard DVD or Blu-ray case.

Left: Mazyar Abolfazlian;
Right: Niels Toft Jørgensen
Credit: Scanavo

The DVD SteelBook™ (G1) is similar to a standard DVD case. It can hold up to three discs with clips for a booklet and six discs without any inserts. The Blu-ray SteelBook™ (G2) is similar to a standard Blu-ray case. It can hold up to three discs with clips for a thin insert; however the hubs may leave imprints on the insert. In 2009, a variant was introduced called the SteelBook™ Jumbo. It has the same DVD and Blu-ray dimensions and was designed to fit more discs. The DVD version holds up to eight discs and Blu-ray version holds up to six discs. It is twice as thick as the DVD and Blu-ray SteelBooks™. The inner plastic is visible outside, unlike the DVD and Blu-ray SteelBooks™. The SteelBook™ packaging brings exclusivity and collectibility making a consumer feel he or she is purchasing a high end product worthy of displaying. In a partnership, Scanavo has the global rights to sales and marketing of SteelBook™ products.

The first SteelBook™ that was introduced in North America was back in 2005. It was for Appleseed (Appurushîdo), a Japanese anime film. There was a limited production of 8000 that included the Briareos figure and SteelBook™ in a numbered clamshell packaging. The Appleseed SteelBook™ was also sold separately without the figure.

Appleseed DVD SteelBook™ (G1)
Credit: Tutter
 

Recent movie SteelBooks™ include thirteen Disney Blu-ray releases (A Bug's Life, Cars, Monster's Inc., The Nightmare Before Christmas, Pinocchio, Pirates of the Caribbean: The Black Pearl, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest, Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End, Ratatouille, Sleeping Beauty, Snow White, Wall-E and Up), Michael Jackson's This Is It, Halo Legends, The Hurt Locker and the upcoming The Twilight Saga: New Moon. Recent video game SteelBooks™ include Aion (PC), Alien vs. Predator (PC, PS3, Xbox 360), Mass Effect 2 (Xbox 360, PC), Modern Warfare 2 (PS3, Xbox 360), Resident Evil 5 (PS3, Xbox 360) and Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Conviction (Xbox 360).

Many of these are still available for purchase. Best places to look for them would be Amazon.com, Best Buy (New York and other locations) and Gamestop (New York and other locations). Other locations where SteelBooks™ have been spotted include J&R, NYC, Target and Walmart. In fact Walmart will have the exclusive Boondock Saints II: All Saints Day SteelBook™ coming out on March 9, 2010!

Check out the slideshow to see a small sampling of the many SteelBooks™ that have been released.

Go to SteelBooks™ 102: Where to go for SteelBook™ news and how to win a FREE SteelBooks™.

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