The DVD trilogy of the film series was released on December 21, 2000, under the title "Special Edition." Although this marked the first commercialization of the series, the Special Edition preserved the original theatrical visuals while undergoing a comprehensive audio overhaul supervised by Tomino himself for Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound. This included re-recording voice acting with the original cast (except for some roles), as well as a complete renewal of sound effects and background music. However, this version faced severe criticism from longtime fans, who argued that it "severely damaged the original work's essence." Subsequently, in December 2007, a DVD featuring the original theatrical audio mix from the film's initial release was made available.