Wednesday, March 31, 2010

Kanonon DVD Vol #1 Price Correction

Media Blasters sent us a note today to let us know that the MSRP of $29.98 for the Kanokon: The Girl Who Cried Wolf, Vol #1, Sexy Like a Fox DVD (Eps #1-4) was incorrect - the correct MSRP was actually supposed to be $19.98 - a full ten dollars lower!

We've corrected our every day low pricing on the store site for this volume to $14.98. We will also be sure to automatically adjust any existing pre-orders for this volume to the new lower price.

More Price Reductions from Funimation!

Funimation reduced the MSRP today on several Anime DVD's and Boxed sets:

Baldr Force EXE Resolution OVA DVD - $24.98 to $9.98 MSRP
DragonBall GT Season 1 DVD Boxed Set (Re-Mastered) - $49.98 to $34.98 MSRP
DragonBall GT Season 2 DVD Boxed Set (Re-Mastered)
- $49.98 to $34.98 MSRP
Shin-Chan (Crayon Shinchan) Season 2 Part 1 DVD (Eps #27-39)
- $39.98 to $24.98 MSRP
Shin-Chan (Crayon Shinchan) Season 2 Part 2 DVD (Eps #40-51) - $39.98 to $24.98 MSRP
Venus Versus Virus Complete DVD Boxed Set (Thin-Pak)
- $49.98 to $19.98 MSRP

We've reduced our regular low price accordingly for each item. The Shin-Chan sets are on closeout anyway ahead of the re-issues in May and are limited to stock on hand. All are in stock and shipping at the new price as of today!

Figure Cancelation

We got the final word today from Toranoana that the Bamboo Blade: Tamaki Kawazoe 1/7 Scale PVC Figure AF-BB(151649) that was originally due to ship in January has been formally canceled for North America. Toranoana said they were not able to obtain the necessary license clearances.

We will begin the process of canceling pre-orders for these today, and issuing any refunds if necessary.

Tuesday, March 30, 2010

So Useless, It's Awesome!

Here you go folks, before you run out and waste your money on a BowFlex to watch it collect dust, just buy this contraption instead:



It's like having your cake and eating it too - so incredibly useless, it's awesome! HEH.

Sunday, March 28, 2010

Pirates & Idiots

I like this:




Sometimes a little civil disobedience is a good thing.

Oh, and by the way, fuck you Nickolas Levasseur.



I hope the voters in NH toss this ass hat out in the next election. I'm going to send him a copy of Barefoot Gen tomorrow! If anyone wants to tell him how you appreciate his comments, his e-mail address is nickolas.levasseur@gmail.com , and his legislative history can be found on the New Hampshire House of Representatives page here.

Apology NOT accepted.

Friday, March 26, 2010

Funimation's June Releases - Now Available for Pre-Order!

Funimation has sent out their June 2010 release schedule and we've got it posted to the store site! Here's what's coming:

Afro Samurai Seasons 1 & 2 The Complete Murder Sessions DVD (BLURAY)
Basilisk Complete Collection DVD Boxed Set (S.A.V.E. Edition)
BECK: Mongolian Chop Squad, Complete Collection DVD Boxed Set (Thin-Pak) (S.A.V.E. Edition)
Guyver Complete Collection DVD Boxed Set (BLURAY)
Heroic Age Complete Collection DVD Boxed Set (Eps #1-26)
Initial D Fourth Stage, DVD Collection Part #2 Boxed Set
Slayers Evolution-R (TV Season 5) DVD Boxed Set (Eps #1-13)
Soul Eater Collection, Part 3 DVD Box (Eps #27-39)
Suzuka Complete Collection DVD Boxed Set (S.A.V.E. Edition)
UFO Ultramaiden Valkyrie DVD Seasons 3&4 Collection DVD Boxed Set (S.A.V.E. Edition)
Witchblade Complete CollectionDVD Boxed Set (Eps #1-24 ) (Viridian Collection)
X TV Series Complete Collection DVD Boxed Set (Eps #0-24)

Viz's May & June Releases - Now Available for Pre-Order!

Viz Video has updated their their May & June 2010 release schedule and we've got it posted to the store site! Here's what's coming:

Viz May
Bleach, Vol #28 DVD
Naruto: Shippuden , Vol #9 DVD (Uncut)

Viz June
Bleach, Vol #29 DVD
Bleach DVD Collection #5 Boxed Set (Uncut)
Naruto Season 3 Uncut DVD Boxed Set #1 (Eps #105-130)

Media Blasters July Releases - Now Available for Pre-Order!

Media Blasters has sent out their July 2010 release schedule and we've got it posted to the store site! Here's what's coming:

Queen's Blade: Wandering Warrior, Vol #2, The Beaten Path DVD (Eps #5-8)
World of Magic Knight Rayearth Complete Collection Season 2 DVD Boxed Set (Eps #21-49) (Remastered)


Thursday, March 25, 2010

RACS Clannad Season 1 Upgrade Program

With the new dubbed release of the first season of Clannad coming on June 15th, RACS will be participating in Section 23's CLANNAD upgrade program.

If you have already purchased one or both of the prior subtitled only Season 1 Clannad releases, you can trade them up to the Dubbed release. Here's how:

Just send in both of your old Clannad releases:

SFCL/100 Clannad TV Series DVD Collection #1 (Eps #1-12) (Subtitled Only)
SFCL/200 Clannad TV Series DVD Collection #2 (Eps #13-24) (Subtitled Only)


- plus -

(US & APO/FPO Customers)
$20 to cover the upgrade (no extra shipping charge)

Canadian & International Customers)
$20 to cover the upgrade + $6 shipping

Payment can be made via:

Personal Check
Money Order
Cash (not recommended but we will accept it)
Credit Card (Visa, MC, Discover, AmEx, or JCB) by providing the following information:

Full Name on Card
Card Number
Exp Date
CVV Code (3 digit code located on the back of the card)

Send them along with your payment (or payment information) via regular mail to:

Robert's Anime Corner
Attn: Clannad Trade Up Program
P.O. Box 4277
Winchester, VA 22604-4277
USA


If you only have one of the two disks, just include your DVD plus $35 instead of $20. It's just that easy, and there are no forms to fill out. Just send in your disks + payment and we'll do the rest. And hey, it doesn't even matter if you originally bought the disk(s) from us - everyone is eligible! DVD's sent in must be complete and include all the DVD disks, the DVD case, and the DVD cover art or they will be refused.

In exchange we will send you (once released):

SF-CL500 Clannad TV Series Complete Collection DVD Boxed Set (Eps #1-24) (Bilingual)

This version contains all 24 episodes of the series and will include both the original Japanese language tracks (with English subtitles) plus the new English Dub.

Upgrade disk(s) must be received in our warehouse before July 31st, 2010 to be eligible.
If you have any questions, just drop us an e-mail.

A Few More Date Changes from Media Blasters

Media Blasters updated the release date on a few more releases today, citing production delays with the packaging material.

The following have been delayed:

Ah My Buddha (Amaenaideyo!!) Complete Collection DVD Boxed Set (Eps #1-26) - Apr 6 to May 18
Gao-Gai-Gar Complete Collection DVD Boxed Set #2 (Eps #26-49) (Lite Box) - Apr 27 to Jun 14
Tweeny Witches Core Collection DVD Economy Box Set (Lite Box) - May 18 to Jun 29

If you have any outstanding orders holding for these releases and want to modify your order, just drop us an e-mail.

Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Clannad Trade Up Program at RACS

Just a quick heads up, we WILL be offering Section 23's Clannad Trade up program to anyone who already purchased the Subtitled Editions.

I'll be posting details shortly.

Monday, March 22, 2010

Darker Than Black 'fixed' Sets Rescheduled for May 4th

Funimation has rescheduled the street date for the Darker Than Black Complete Collection DVD Boxed Set (Eps # 1-26) to May 4th ,2010.

The original pressing of the previous release was recently recalled due to some of the sets having encoding problems on Disk #3 that caused severe playback problems several minutes into Episode #18.

If you had already received one of the original sets from us and have requested a replacement of Disk #3, they will be shipping out once the fixed sets arrive.

Saturday, March 20, 2010

Toradora and Persona -Trinity Soul- Premium Collections Now Available for Pre-Order!

The new R1 Anime publisher NIS America has finalized their plans for two new titles, so we now have Toradora and Persona ~Trinity Soul~ available for Pre-Order!

Persona ~ Trinity Soul ~ Collection #1 Premium Edition DVD Boxed Set (Eps #1-13)
Toradora! Collection 1 Premium Edition DVD Boxed Set (Eps #1-13)

NIS is making these Premium Edition Anime releases available only through North America's premier Anime retailers, and I'm proud that they have chosen RACS and one of the exclusive outlets to bring these to North American Anime fans!

Toradora (Collection #1 Eps #1-13)
Due to his frightening appearance, Ryuji lives a rather unfortunate life. On the first day of his junior year of high school, he meets a strange girl named Taiga - better known as the Palm-top Tiger! Despite looking small and cute, she's extremely short-tempered, and nobody can stop her once she starts throwing punches. However, Ryuji learns a secret about Taiga that nobody else knows... The dragon and the tiger join forces to bring you a monolithic romantic comedy!

This 2-disc edition includes: Premium Box, plus a 30+ page, full-color, hardcover art book (approx. 10" x 7"), including interviews with the original Japanese voice actors/actresses. Video extras: OP/ ED Clean versions

Persona ~Trinity Soul~ (Collection #1 Eps #1-13)
Anayagi City faces the Sea of Japan, and is a futuristic city that survived the outbreak of "Mass Apathy Syndrome" ten years ago. Shin Kanzato (17) and his brother Jun (14) meet their older brother Ryo (28), who is a young Chief Officer at Ayanagi City's police station, for the first time in ten years. Meanwhile, the city is facing a string of mysterious incidents. Ship crew members disappear from their underwater submarine. The Apathy Syndrome resurfaces. The Reverse case, a series of student murders, intensifies. Ryo investigates an organization involved in all of the above incidents. One of these incidents results in the awakening of Shin's Persona. The wheel of fate begins to turn for this family of brothers.

This 2-disc edition includes: Premium Box, plus a 40-page, full -color, hardcover art book (approx. 10" x 7"), including an original short picture book from the main story, "A Whale's Feather".

Section 23's June Releases - Now Available for Pre-Order!

Section 23 has sent out their June 2010 release schedule and we've got it posted to the store site! Here's what's coming:

Section 23 June 2010
Brighter Than the Dawning Blue Complete Collection DVD Boxed Set (Eps #1-12)
Clannad TV Series Complete Collection DVD Boxed Set (Eps #1-24) (Bilingual)
Gintama DVD Collection #2 (Eps #14-26)
La Corda d'Oro ~ Primo Passo DVD Collection #1 (Eps #1-12)
Papillon Rose Complete Collection DVD (Eps #1-6 + OVA)

Section 23 is continuing their relentless pursuit of new shows, plus we are finally getting that Clannad dub that so many of you have been asking for! Sweet!

Brighter Than the Dawning Blue
It's never easy when a stranger moves into your house, but if you have to host a foreign exchange student, Feena Fam Earthlight would be almost the perfect choice. She's smart, kind, generous, and attractive, but she's also the Sphere Kingdom's Princess, and tensions between Earth and our Lunar neighbors have been tense since the big war. So you might forgive Asagiri Tatsuya for having some reservations, but since his father is the first assistant to the president, what better place to board the Princess so she can learn more about Earth culture? And, as mentioned before, Feena is VERY attractive.

Unfortunately, the course of true love doesn't normally have to contend with either interplanetary diplomacy or Feena's bizarre entourage of assistants... and then there's the question of how the kids at Tatsuya's school are going to react.

La Corda d'Oro
Talking to invisible people only you can see can get you into unusual situations, so when Kahoko Hino encounters a tiny fairy named Lili on the way to school, she's shocked to find herself entered in a competition for her school's elite music program! That might be wonderful, except Hino doesn't even play an instrument, let alone own one! But Lili has a solution for that as well, and he attempts to give her a magic violin. Hino refuses at first, but weakens, perhaps noticing how many good-looking boys seem to be in the program.

The problem is that now Hino is competing against a host of other talented students, and she really can't play a note! Now she'll have to work double-time in order to justify her place in the orchestra! Will Hino become the musical prodigy everyone thinks she is, or will she just end up playing second fiddle? One way or another, she'll have to face the music!

Papillon Rose (Lingerie Soldier Papillon)
They're bold, they're beautiful, and they're barely wearing anything as they save the world from sexual conquest! Can high school student and part-time underwear model Tsubomi save Japan from the monstrous villainesses who seek to suck it's men dry of... um... sexual energy? How do her talking cat Rama and the mysterious stranger who calls himself "Dandy Lion" fit into the picture? And just how many magic girls who fight evil in their underwear does Japan have anyway? They're not knock-offs, they're knock outs, and they're fighting wrongs in their thongs!

Thursday, March 18, 2010

Our Dystopian Future

I imagine that, one way or another, they are going to pass this monumentally flawed health care entitlement legislation in the next few days making it against the law not to buy a health insurance policy but providing no not for profit alternative. The insurance companies must have the bottles of 1966 Dom Perignon ready to go while the execs there laugh their asses off. Personally, I think if our president really wanted to do the right thing, he would veto the bill and send it back to congress and let them know that he won't sign anything into law until it makes sense and can be passed in congress with more approval than just skating by on a couple of bought votes or some procedural effort of dubious constitutionality. It just seems too big, too important, too permanent, to do this way - and doesn't seem to address any of the core problems of cost controls outside of some wing and a prayer hope assuming "the Yen does this, the Dollar does that, and the Infrastructure does the other thing" (from OPM and the rubuttal here).

I had such high hopes that we would actually get real reform, and get it now, because we need it bad. All we're actually getting, those of us who already have insurance and pay our own way, is another big tax increase. The folks on the hill no longer seem to care about what they are passing, only in passing something to say they did - no matter what it is. "Don't forget" they will say on the campaign trail this fall "that we were finally able to pass historic legislation mandating cleaner shit pails for very citizen of Uganda..." How the throngs will cheer.

Didn't they say it was supposed to be different this time around? If the republic fails or at best lapses into insignificance during our lifetime, I suppose we have only ourselves to blame. Such a disappointment. ~sigh~

Meanwhile, in an unrelated venue, Tam says:

"So the local news was running a blurb on the travel warnings for spring breakers in Mexico this morning, warning them to stay within one block of the beach, while camera footage showed an Acapulco swarming with grim-eyed, black-uniformed men with slung German assault rifles. Wow... ...We're living in the dystopian future of a Bruce Sterling novel."

Indeed, it certainly seems like it.

Update: (March 22, 11:22PM)

Code Geass R2 Vol #4 and Gundam 00 S2 Vol #1 In Route!

For those of you that have been a little worried that Bandai might end up bumping the date again for the Code Geass Lelouch of the Rebellion R2 DVD Bundle #4 (Eps #20-25), I'm please to announce that our copies of both the regular and limited edition are now in route to us from Bandai's warehouse in sunny California and will be arriving on our dock shortly depending on the trucking company.

Both versions of Gundam 00 Season 2, Vol #1 DVD (Eps #1-7) and the new Kannagi: Crazy Shrine Maidens Complete Collection DVD Box (Eps #1-14) are also coming along with the Code Geass sets.

So rest your heads comfortably tonight everyone, no more delays for these! :-)

Nozomi To Release Dirty Pair TV Series This Fall

Press release:

"Nozomi Entertainment announced that it has acquired the rights to the Dirty Pair TV series. The company will release the 24 episodes and two specials in two DVD box sets. Each will feature re-mastered video with Japanese audio and subtitles."

Coming on DVD this fall. Sub only.

Is there anyone that still doesn't already have a copy of Dirty Pair? Based on all the foreplay Brand X did in the press releases and little countdown timer thingy to work us all into a frenzy, I thought the intercourse would have been better...

"Yawn"

UPDATE: Yeah, I know it's a picture of the OVA box there. Sue me.

CORRECTION: This is NOT a re-release after all folks, the original DP TV series was the one made in 1985 that was canceled after 24 eps (it was originally supposed to be 26 eps). It has not been released prior, only the OVA, Flash, and the movies. I was thinking of Flash all day. My bad, I stand corrected.

"Yawn"

Darker Than Black DVD Box Recalled

In conjunction with several customer complaints that we recently received and reported, Funimation has just announced a retailer recall for the recently shipped Darker Than Black DVD Boxed Set. All of the boxes in the first pressing have a defective disk #3. Funimation is going to fix the problems and re-release the box set at a later date to be determined.

We are no longer shipping this product as of today.

The recall is strictly for retailer stock since we are still ahead of the official street date of the 23rd. We had already shipped quite a few out, mostly to you folks that had pre-ordered one. We'll be e-mailing all of our customers who already got a copy with a remedy shortly.

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

Aria The Origination (Season 3) + Arietta Box Arriving a Little Late

The Aria The Origination (Season 3) + Arietta OVA DVD Collection, which was delayed by 'Brand X' from Mar 2 to Mar 16th, will be in stock a couple of days later than that. The folks over at 'Brand X' told me this morning that a 'rock slide' (???) had delayed their delivery truck, but the copies have arrived and are on the way to us now. A rock slide? I thought they were in the mid west were everything is flat as a pancake? This is what happens when the replicator with the lowest bid is located in outer Mongolia and has to bring the stuff through the Mohan pass on the backs of donkey's and pack horses... Oddly enough, if true, this would NOT be one of the stranger mishaps to occur in our supply chain over the years. Anime is a VERY interesting business to be sure.

Anyway, our copies should be in stock and shipping by Mar 18th or 19th at the latest. We'll get them turned around to you guys the minute they arrive. :-)

Thursday, March 11, 2010

What It's Like to Be In The Anime Business...

Ever wonder what a day in the life of an Anime retailer is like?

Well, sometimes things go really smooth.

And sometimes, things seem more like this:



HEH.

Medicom Evangelion Unit 01 Meter Tall Figure - Now In Stock!

If you are crazy for really expensive but super cool Anime items, we have managed to lay our hands on several of the Evangelion Movie 1.01: You Are Not Alone EVA Unit 01 1/80 Scale Vinyl Statue from Medicom.

This 1+ Meter Tall Eva Unit 01 statue comes in packaging the size of a small refrigerator, and is of very high quality. Once our shipment of these cleared customs and got loaded on the truck carrier to come to us, they were so big they could only fit 4 on each pallet!

They are now in our warehouse and ready to ship to you.

An Italian fan has one and posted lots of great pictures of the figure on his blog here.

And don't worry, if you guys don't buy them all I'm going to unpack a couple and put them in our lobby! :-)

Lots more new figures in stock this week here.

Wednesday, March 10, 2010

Media Blasters June 2010 Releases - Now Available for Pre-Order!

Media Blasters has sent out their June 2010 release schedule, and while it had a lot of titles coming out in their live action lines, there were only two releases in the Anime category:

Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit Premium Collection DVD Boxed Set
Samurai Deeper Kyo Complete Collection DVD Boxed Set (Lite Box) + XL T-Shirt

Since the Moribito boxed set is now officially on the schedule, we've put all the older singles and double packs on closeout. Get em while they last!

Funimation May Make Vampire Bund Available on DVD Unedited

In a follow up to my previous post regarding Funimation editing Dance in the Vampire Bund, Jackie Smith told ANN today that:

"based on the episodes we've seen," Funimation expects to be able to release the unedited version on DVD and Blu-ray, but Funimation has not yet seen the unaired episodes and will reserve final judgement until after it has considered those episodes. Explaining that Funimation has paid close attention to consumer feedback, Smith said that the company decided to take a closer look at the edited scenes and determined that the edited scenes, so far, will be acceptable for a DVD release in their unedited format.

Funi's official updated statement:


In the days since we announced the acquisition of the anime "Dance in the Vampire Bund," we have been following the varied responses from within the anime community to our decision to edit specific scenes from its streaming and later home entertainment release.

First, out of concern for our distribution partners and advertisers, we will continue to make minor edits to the episodes which are available via free streaming and television broadcast due to the readily accessible nature of these platforms. We will be careful to keep such edits to a minimum.

However, FUNimation is — as always — committed to bringing the best anime content to the United States in its unedited form on home video. Therefore, we are evaluating the release of the series in unedited and uncensored form for home video. Since only 7 episodes have broadcast in Japan, final determination must be reserved until all episodes can be reviewed to ensure compliance with current U.S. law.

We would like to thank everyone in the anime community for the feedback provided to us on this matter — your opinions count.


So they will continue to make minor edits in the episodes they are making available online (wise), but will release it later on DVD uncut if at all possible.

This does point out a weakness with trying to drop online streaming Anime releases into a 'paid for by advertising' model, which is really just the same model that applied to US TV broadcasts but in a different venue. When Anime is made available to the public for free and paid for by advertisements, the type and scope of the content will be dictated by the advertising partners that support the broadcasts or streams. With a home video release, it's the purchasers (you and me) who have more say in what is considered 'acceptable' content. Not to mention that your viewing is not interrupted by any stupid advertisements for car insurance, cel phone carriers, or other things you are not interested in. I've always been dubious of that whole model.

For a home video release of Vampire Bund, I had pointed to the current catalog of 'H' titles published by other Anime companies that we carry (and thus some of the 'lolicon-ish' content there of), and made the argument that whatever 'lolicon' concerns Funimation might have with Vampire Bund, I really don't think the material is troublesome for an uncut home video release as long as it's rated appropriately - i.e. for adults only. In fact, I felt a 17+ rating was appropriate for the title unedited and said we would be perfectly comfortable displaying an unedited version in our regular Anime catalog (as opposed to the adult section) with a 17+ age rating and perhaps a warning note about 'mature themes'.

Good news indeed. :-)

More Price Reductions from Funimation!

Funimation reduced the MSRP today on three Anime DVD's boxed sets:

Blade of the Phantom Master DVD - $19.98 to 9.98 MSRP
Murder Princess DVD Collection Boxed Set - $29.98 to $19.98 MSRP
Strain: Strategic Armored Infantry DVD Boxed Set - $49.98 to $29.98 MSRP

We've reduced our regular low price accordingly for each item. The sets are all in stock and shipping at the new price as of today!

Media Blasters DVD Delays and Schedule Changes

Media Blasters sent over a pretty big list of schedule changes yesterday, about a page and a half's worth. Sorry I didn't post on it yesterday, but it was a lot to go through. Dates have been changes for their releases across all four of their labels (Anime Works, Kitty, Tokyo Shock, and Exploitation Digital), however, these are the delays that effected us directly:

Otogi Zoshi DVD Collection of Ages Complete DVD Boxed Set (Eps #1-26) - Mar 30 to Apr 20
Gao-Gai-Gar Complete Collection DVD Boxed Set #2 (Eps #26-49) (Lite Box) - Mar 9 to Apr 27
Tekkaman Blade Complete Collection DVD Boxed Set (Eps #1-49) - Apr 6 to May 4
Bludgeoning Angel Dokuro-Chan DVD (Special Edition) - Apr 20 to May 18 (now Dubbed)
Queen's Blade: Wandering Warrior, Vol #1, A Single Step DVD (Eps #1-4) - Mar 30 to May 18 (Ouch!)
Queen's Blade: Wandering Warrior, Vol #2, The Beaten Path DVD (Eps #5-8) - May 25 to TBA
Kanokon: The Girl Who Cried Wolf, Vol #1, Sexy Like a Fox DVD - Apr 27 to May 25
Ikki Tousen Dragon Destiny, Vol #3, Sousou's Ambition (Eps #9-12) - Apr 20 to Jun 29 (Double Ouch!)
Ikki Tousen Dragon Destiny Complete Collection DVD Boxed Set (Eps #1-12) - May 25 to TBA
Sayonara Zetsubou-Sensei , Vol #1 DVD (Eps #1-6) - May 25 to TBA

And one release was actually advanced a bit on the schedule:

Rurouni Kenshin TV Series Complete 3 Season Collection DVD Boxed Set (Eps #1-95) - May 25 to Apr 27

Of note is that in exchange for the delay, the special edition release of Bludgeoning Angel Dokuro-Chan will now get a dub, which is very cool. Also, a few titles like Queens Blade vol #2, the Dragon Destiny boxed set, and Sayonara Zetsubou-Sensei are now showing TBA - this does not mean that they have been canceled, only that they got pushed right out of the current scheduling window and the new dates will be forthcoming (probably late summer / early fall).

While we do not have them available for pre-order currently (but will be carrying them all), several Kitty titles were also rescheduled and I thought I might as well list them here too:

Wordsworth Outer Story DVD (Adult) - Feb 16 to Apr 13
World of Wordsworth Collection (Adult) - Feb 16 to Apr 13
Inma Seiden DVD (Adult) - Feb 16 to Jun 1
Learning the Hard Way DVD (Adult) - Apr 20 to TBA
Urotsukidoji: Legend of the Overfiend (Re-Release) (Adult) - May 18 to TBA
Fleshdance DVD (Adult) - Mar 23 to TBA
Oh my Sex Goddess (Adult) - Mar 30 to TBA


Also, the dates for the Manga publications Drawn to Him TP (Yaoi), Fujoshi Rumi 4 TP, Because of Love (Yaoi), and Wintertime Love (Yaoi) have also been put on TBA status. The Gay's Anatomy TP (Yaoi) has been bumped from Apr 28 to May 26.

A final word. These changes come on the heals of Media Blasters announcement that they have had to lay off 13 people (about 25% of their total staff). Lots of people are emailing in wondering if they should be worried about buying any MB title that is not yet completely released? The answer is no. I work with the folks at Media Blasters everyday, and just want to assure everyone that (this time) these changes and layoffs are not indicative of Media Blasters being in poor health as a company. Quite the contrary, they are still shipping us product right on time and keeping good inventories of their back catalog, and I have seen no evidence what so ever that they are in any sort financial distress. In fact, I would gauge MB as one of the stronger US Anime studios. The problem is that the economy, regardless of what the pundits are telling us, still sucks. Period. So everyone is having to make 'adjustments' in their businesses to accommodate the current environment, and for every US Anime company like Media Blasters who's adjustments get publicized, there are plenty of others going on that you haven't heard about. John Sirabella runs a good ship and there is no need to worry about MB's future at this point. As long as you guys keep buying their stuff, they will be around to deliver lots of Anime titles that the other studios won't publish.

Monday, March 08, 2010

No Newsletter Last Week

Sorry folks, there was no regular Friday e-newsletter for March 5th. Jamie and I were out of town for several days and due to the circumstances of the trip (family funeral for Jamie's cousin) I just didn't have time to put it together.

The e-newsletter will resume at the regular time this coming Friday - same Bat time, same Bat station. :-)

If you are not currently subscribed to my 'almost' weekly free e-newsletter, then you should be asking yourself why? :-) In addition to the beautiful Anime and cosplay girls, there is actually some real news in there as well the occasional 'newsletter only' store coupon or sale! Have you been missing all this? You can sign up right here.

Funimation to Edit Dance in the Vampire Bund

Funi announced on Friday that they will be slightly editing both the streaming and home video releases of Dance in the Vampire Bund due to some "controversial elements which, when taken out of context, could be objectionable to some audiences". Here's the entire statement:

FUNimation Entertainment is known for releasing the titles we license in their original, uncut form, as their creators intended. However, after viewing the unedited as well as the Japanese broadcast edit of the series Dance in the Vampire Bund, we have determined the series contains controversial elements which, when taken out of context, could be objectionable to some audiences.

With this in mind and with approval of the licensor, we will edit select scenes from the series in streaming and home entertainment release. These are scenes which are inappropriate for U.S. viewing and are not essential to the storyline.

Dance in the Vampire Bund is a complex and dark drama cited by press and fans as one of the best anime series out of Japan this season. Its strong story is what brought the series to our attention and why we are bringing it to the U.S.
Now, anyone who has seen it knows what we're talking about here (i.e lots of half-naked Lolicon Vampires), though the question that begs an answer is why Funi decided to edit Vampire Bund, but will still be releasing Strike Witches uncut? Granted, Strike Witches is a 'pantsu' fetish show, and Vampire Bund is all 'lolicon', but from the point of view of an outsider I don't think there is much in Vampire Bund that could be taken 'out of context' that Strike Witches is not also guilty of. Perhaps we are finally seeing some indirect fallout from the Handley case, which is still fresh in everyone's mind (especially those of us in the industry), and the producers at Funi want to play it safe for now. I know that a lot of you are going to complain (I'm not happy about it either), but given the current environment Funi really probably has to do this, and frankly should have probably edited Strike Witches too as I wrote last year (not that I want them to, I'm just being pragmatic). For the past couple of years the industry in Japan, for better or worse, has pretty much kept itself afloat by making more and more lolicon and hard fetish type Anime series, and as those shows finally start to filter their way over here the studios will have to tread carefully in order to ensure the material doesn't get anyone sued (or worse yet, indicted). Don't forget, other countries (like Canada) have actually proposed or passed laws calling out 'lolicon' themes specifically as child pornography, and Canada in particular falls within the boundary of Funi's R1 license and release target.

There is a VERY LONG discussion thread regarding this over here at ANN.

Friday, March 05, 2010

Funimation Picks Up Two New Licenses!

FUNimation has picked up the rights to two anime series from Media Factory: Baka to Test to Shokanju (Baka and Test Summon the Beasts), and Dance in the Vampire Bund.

These are series currently being released in Japan, and Funi will be streaming these episodes each week (subtitled only) shortly after each one is released in Japan, and it will be several months before these titles are available on DVD or BD in English.

Baka and Test Summon the Beasts (Baka to Test to Shōkanjū)
Advanced placement into a school of higher grade proof-reading is determined by the results of the Promotion Test strictly for class type. Ranging from A class with the best facilities anyone can offer all the way down to F Class which is composed of low dining tables, rotten tatami mats and other worn out facilities. Students can change classes by competing using the Examination Summons Battle system or ESB. Students summon characters with their equivalent test mark scores and use them to compete with other classes.

Dance in the Vampire Bund
Mina Tepes, the Princess of the ancient covenant & ruler of all vampires, wants her race to stop hiding from the humans. Using her vast wealth, she has paid off Japan's entire national debt &, by doing so, gained the right to create an own district off Japan's coast that is to become the future heaven to vampires worldwide. But when she finally attempts to make public the existence of vampires to the world some politicians, terrorists & rival factions are plotting to assassinate Mina before she has a chance to get Japan's & International recognition for the Vampire Bund. Now she must rely on her strengh, cruelty and those closest to her, while trying to make a normal life.