Friday, August 26, 2011

3rd Evangelion Film Announced for Fall of 2012!

At last! We finally have a date on the 3rd Evangelion film!

Khara has confirmed that Evangelion Shin Gekijō-ban Q Quickening, the third film in Hideaki Anno and Khara's four-part remake of the Neon Genesis Evangelion anime series, will open in Japan in Fall of 2012. The announcement was made during a new preview of the film that aired after the television premiere of the second film.

That would put it's release here in North America somewhere around late 2013, or about 2 years from now. It's a long time to wait, but now at least we know. :-)

Bandai Announces October 2011 Releases - Now Available for Pre-Order!

Bandai has sent us over their October 2011 release schedule. The Sept release of Girl Who Leapt Through Space Part #3 has now been pushed into October. So with that said, here's what's coming:

Tales of the Abyss , Part #1 DVD (Eps #1-6) - Oct 11
Tales of the Abyss , Part #1 Limited Edition DVD (Eps #1-6) - Oct 11
Girl Who Leapt Through Space Part #3 DVD - Sep 13 to Oct 18

And yes, I am aware that their entire October release slate is made up of previously announced titles that they re-scheduled into October. Times are tough, what can I say...

Thursday, August 25, 2011

Irene is Coming

I've been holding off posting about Irene until we got close enough to get a better view of where it's headed. Even though those of us here at RACS HQ live and work a couple hours inland on the East Coast, it still looks like we're going have some sort of major effect from Irene as it passes up the east coast, so now we are making plans to batten down the warehouse Friday afternoon and head home to ride out whatever effects we get from the storm.

Our building here is designed for 85mph sustained winds, and we are far enoguh inland that I don't think we will be seeing anything like that here. Still, we're going to take a few precautions just in case - like bringing the picnic table inside and chalking the wheels on our travel trailer. And we already have cut plywood panels here in house if we feel like we need to cover the windows, as crazy as that might sound considering where we are. When Isabel came through in 2003, we had 65-70 mph winds here and some flooding. That was before our current building was built.

While the main track looks like it's going to skirt us and head straight up for New York, there is one westerly track (it's the blue line in the graphic above) that brings the storm in right on top of us, so we're taking this very seriously. If it moves significantly westerly overnight, we will probably cut out early tomorrow so everyone has time to go home and get their houses ready for the storm.

While we were talking about it today, it made me think of this:



'Fuckin Irene'. Yeah.

Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Chaos Head Coming November 29th - Now Available for Pre-Order!

We'll, someone at Funimation was listening to me when I criticized their lack of new material for November. They announced today that they have added the DVD/BD combo release of Chaos Head and have set a street date of November 29th. We have it up for pre-order now:

Chaos Head Complete Collection DVD/BD Combo Set (Eps #1-12) (Limited Edition)

We're offering the Limited Edition set in pre-order for a regular price of 36% off MSRP, so be sure to get your order in today!

Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Earthquake

Yes, we just had an small earthquake here about 10 minutes ago. Apparently, it's a pretty decent sized one but 80 or 90 miles to our south. Apparently they are evacuating some buildings in D.C. I'm moving my folks here at our facility outside for a few minutes.

More later.

UPDATE: Looks like everything is OK, just the one tremor. Shook the office and warehouse here pretty good though. Very unusual for this area. We're back at it as we have quite a few orders to finish processing.

UPDATE 2: Devastation:

Monday, August 22, 2011

Titancon - Belfast Ireland - Sept 24th - Be There

Loving this...



Even if the fifth book didn't go anywhere... HEH.

(Note: I don't know how many of you out there might be Game of Thrones fans, but if you are you know that everyone bitched like hell that it took like 10 years to get a decidedly mediocre fifth installment. But really? That ain't nothin people. Anime fans can do ten years standing on our heads!)

Thursday, August 18, 2011

Media Blasters December 2011 Releases - Now Available for Pre-Order!

Media Blasters has sent over their December 2011 release schedule, and we now have them up on the store site for pre-order. Here's what's coming:

MazinKaiser SKL (BLURAY) - Dec 6
Twelve Kingdoms Part 3 : A Great Distance in the Wind, the Sky at Dawn BLURAY (Eps #34-45) - Dec 13

Just a heads up, MB has not been too reliable on their release dates as of late, especially their BD release dates. While I hope they do, don't expect any of these to ship on time - especially if you are thinking of giving one as a holiday gift.

Wednesday, August 17, 2011

Funimation Confirms Retirement of More Geneon Licenses

I know this is probably old news, but here we go anyway. Sophie McNutt, an online community lead for Funimation, confirmed yesterday that Funimation has, or will soon, let their license on the following Geneon titles expire:

Familiar of Zero
Kamichu
Kyo Kara Maoh
Paradise Kiss
The Story of Saiunkoku
The Law of Ueki
When They Cry

All of these have been out of print basically since last fall anyway, but now at least it's official. They are already commanding ridiculously high prices in the secondary market, but I suspect that's because these editions will be the last DVD pressings that we'll ever see of these titles released in R1. I don't suppose anyone has tried to pickup one of those Cardcaptor Sakura DVD bricks lately? Ouch! Sophie also said:

"As far as I know, there are no plans to re-acquire these titles."  Well, no kidding.

My question? What the heck does an 'online community lead' do? Is that an actual job? If so, I'm guessing that is one of those 'gateway gigs' for that fresh outta college, newly framed business degree guy or gal (you know, the one with the minor in advertising) that you hire by pitching them that the position is some sort of fantastic entry level marketing opportunity but just ends up vampiring their professional (and probably personal) life away working your facebook, twitter, blog, and forum accounts?

Yeeesh, I wouldn't want that job...

...oh yeah, I forgot.

Media Blasters Delays Ikki Tousen Great Guardians into 2012

Yes my fellow programs, the rumors are true, Media Blasters has announced that the release of Ikki Tousen Great Guardians is going to be delayed until March 2012.

The previously solicited 2 part Great Guardians DVD release that was originally scheduled to street August 31st (part 1) and Oct 25th (part 2) has been canceled. Media Blasters now plans to release all 12 episodes as a complete collection on March 31st, 2012 with an MSRP of $59.98.

So, I already know your next question? If the two DVD's were just about ready to street anyway, and the new collected version contains the same disks at the same MSRP as the old two DVD's together, why not just repackage them and get it out on street this fall? Is there some other reason behind the really long delay? Could it be the current economy? Why yes, in fact, that's an entirely plausible explanation... -_^

We will automatically be canceling all existing pre-orders for the previous 2 part version, and any of you that would like to replace a pre-order for the complete collection can do so here on our updated Great Guardians page.

Sorry folks, again, I'm just the messenger. Please stop pelting me with rotten vegetables.

Section 23 November 2011 Releases - Now Available for Pre-Order!

Section 23 has sent over their November 2011 release schedule and we've got it all posted to the store site for pre-order. Here's what coming:

Amagami SS Collection #2 DVD (Eps #13-24) - Nov 1
Clannad TV Series Complete Collection Boxed Set (Eps #1-24) (BLURAY) - Nov 8
ICE Complete Collection (OVA) DVD - Nov 15
Coicent (Koisento) / Five Numbers (Norageki!) DVD - Nov 22
Coicent (Koisento) / Five Numbers (Norageki!) (BLURAY) - Nov 22
Loups = Garous DVD - Nov 29
Loups = Garous (BLURAY) - Nov 29

My thoughts? Another great release line up from Section 23. Seriously, I'm not sure what we would do without them and Sentai. They are giving us more than a different company 5x times their size. They are giving us dubs, they are giving us BD's, and they are giving us lineups that still give us something to look forward to every week...

Thursday, August 11, 2011

Sentai Picks Up Coicent & Five Numbers

Sentai Filmworks (Section 23) announced today that it has licensed the two science fiction anime "mini features" Coicent (Koisento) and Five Numbers (Norageki). The two titles will be available together on DVD and BD 'later this year', and Sentai does currently plan to dub both features.

Propoganda from Sentai's Press Release: Get ready for a double dose of amazing science fiction as two astounding tales come together in one incredible collection of state of the art animation! First, it’s a quick time jump to the 26th century where a school trip to a rebuilt 21st century city turns into a wild adventure for teenage Shinichi. While chasing a talking deer that steals his bag, he runs into a strange girl trying to elude even stranger pursuers, and then things get wild. It’s a mad dash through a city of the past as two young people discover a chance at a new future in COICENT. Then, four people awake to find themselves in the ultimate prison: an ex-soldier, a beautiful woman, an average Joe and a young computer hacker. Why are they there? What connection links them together? And how can they escape? The answer seems to lie with the fifth prisoner, an old man who knows far more than he is telling. And then there’s the cat. It’s the ultimate locked room mystery and all their lives hinge on solving it in FIVE NUMBERS.

Wednesday, August 10, 2011

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

Funimation has sent us over their November sales book a little early this month, and we now have it up on the store site for pre-order.

Here's what's coming:

Dragonball Z Movie Pack #1 (Movies #1-5) DVD - Nov 8
Dragon Ball Z Level 1.1 (BLURAY) - Nov 8
Initial D Second & Third Stage Season 2 + Movie DVD Boxed Set (Eps #27-39 + OVA + Movie) (S.A.V.E. Edition) - Nov 8
Mushishi Complete Collection DVD Boxed Set (S.A.V.E. Edition) - Nov 8
Romeo X Juliet Complete Collection DVD Boxed Set (Eps #1-24) (S.A.V.E. Edition) - Nov 8
Blassreiter Complete Collection DVD Boxed Set (Eps #1-24) (S.A.V.E. Edition) - Nov 15
Love Hina Complete Collection DVD Boxed Set (Eps #1-25) (Classic Collection) - Nov 15
Shuffle Complete Collection DVD Boxed Set (Eps #1-24) (S.A.V.E. Edition) - Nov 15
Fairy Tail Collection #1 DVD/BD Combo Set (Limited Edition) - Nov 22
Hetalia (Axis Powers) Paint It, White the Movie DVD (Limited Edition) - Nov 22
Bubblegum Crisis Tokyo 2040 Complete Collection DVD Boxed Set (Classic Collection) - Nov 29
One Piece Collection #3 DVD Boxed Set (Eps #53-78) (Uncut) - Nov 29
Yu Yu Hakusho Season 4 DVD Boxed Set (Eps #85-112) (BLURAY) (Classic Collection) - Nov 29
Yu Yu Hakusho OVA (Eizou Hakusho) DVD Set - Nov 29

My thoughts? Well, I thought their Nov schedule would be a little better (it will be the holiday season after all), but it's mostly another slate of S.A.V.E. and Classic Collection re-releases. I'm sorry to say but it's pretty clear that, ex Navarre, we are dealing with a company diminished. Anime is a tough business folks. Still, we are going to get the first half of Fairy Tail and the Hetalia Movie (though Paint it White is not being offered on BD at this time). We are also finally going to start getting original DBZ episodes on BluRay, though frankly after Kai I have to wonder how many fans will be ready to spend money on yet another release of DBZ - especially one that's only 17 eps at a time. Around here we think the next logical step would have been to publish the mythical 'Deluxe Limited Edition FULL DBZ Boxed Set' that everyone has been waiting more than 10 years for - you know, the entire 291 eps all in one Super Deluxe package. Then Funi could FINALLY, and I mean FINALLY, put DBZ in the rear view mirror. I guess we'll never see that in my lifetime though. ~sigh~ The re-release of BGC 2040 was a bit of a surprise, and a welcome one as those episodes have been off the market since ADV went under in 2009. One final note: we'll only be offering the limited edition version of the Hetalia movie up front, but we're going to price it at what the reg edition would sell for anyway. I think the LE is the one most of you will want, so that's the one we are going to offer in pre-order.

Kanokon TV Series DVD - Back In Stock at Last!

Just an FYI to everyone today - both the Kanokon TV Series DVD and the Kanokon OVA DVD are now back in stock. The OVA was only out of stock for a couple of weeks, but the TV series DVD (in typical Media Blasters fashion) has been on hiatus and out of stock since May.

Just a hat tip to everyone who has been waiting several weeks for being so patient. Thanks! All backorders are in the process of shipping now and will be completed tomorrow, so if you have been waiting your copy should be in your mailbox in a few days.

Friday, August 05, 2011

Sentai Picks Up No. 6 Anime

Sentai Filmworks has announced in a press release that they have licensed the ongoing No. 6 anime series (not to be confused with Blue Submarine No. 6).

According to the press release, Sentai plans to release the anime on home video here in North America next year.

The story is set in "No. 6," a future model city in 2013. Raised as a top-ranking elite since the age of 2, a boy named Shion lives in an exclusive area in No. 6. On the night of his 12th birthday, he rescues a boy who calls himself "Nezumi" ("Rat"). Nezumi ran away from the city's Special Security Area. From that moment on, Shion's life is changed forever...

Synopsis: Sion is a bright teenager living a comfortable and promising life inside No. 6, one of this six remaining city-states created by The Babylon Treaty after the last great war devastated the world. On the rainy evening of his twelfth birthday, he meets a savvy adolescent who calls himself "Nezumi" (Rat) and is desperately trying to runaway from the authorities. For helping a fugitive of the state, Sion is stripped of all his privileges. Four years later, they meet once again. For better or for worse, Sion is about to unravel the secrets guarded deep inside No. 6.


Monday, August 01, 2011

Bandai Picks Up Nichijou (My Ordinary Life) and Gosick

Bandai announced at Otakon over the weekend that they have licensed both the Nichijou (My Ordinary Life) anime (26 eps) and the Gosick anime (24 eps) - which is awesome by the way!

While they were at it they also announced that they have picked up the Nichijou and Code Geass: Shikkoku no Renya (Code Geass: Renya of the Darkness) manga.

They did not give us any release details or any street time frame for either Nichijou and Gosick, but as we know all too well by now, it wouldn't have mattered if they did anyway. When it comes to Bandai, all plans are soft until 30 minutes prior... -_^

Nichijou (My Ordinary Life): While the title suggests a story of simple, everyday school life, the contents are more the opposite. The setting is a strange school where you may see the principal wrestle a deer or a robot's arm hide a rollcake. However there are still normal stories, like making a card castle or taking a test you didn't study for.

Gosick: GOSICK takes place in 1924 in a small, made-up European country of Sauville. The story centers on Kazuya Kujo, the third son of a Japanese Imperial soldier, who is a transfer student to St. Marguerite Academy, where urban legends and horror stories are all the rage. There he meets Victorique, a mysterious yet beautiful and brilliant girl who never comes to class and spends her days reading the entire content of the library or solving mysteries that even detectives can't solve.



Funimation Picks Up the Heaven’s Lost Property: The Angeloid of Clockwork

The Funimation folks announced at their Otakon panel over the weekend that they have licensed the Sora no Otoshimono: Tokei-jikake no Angeloid (Heaven’s Lost Property the Movie: The Angeloid of Clockwork) film.

The movie is a continuation of the two Sora no Otoshimono (Heaven's Lost Property) anime series, which Funi has already licensed. They plan to release the movie somewhere around mid-2012.