SUMMER SALE! - SAVE 10% ON ANY IN STOCK PURCHASE!

Shop our summer clearance sale and save an additional 10% off any IN STOCK items throughout the store!! This includes sale and out of print items - pretty much EVERYTHING on the store (except for pre-orders).

No Minimum

To save an additional 10% off any in stock order, just use the following coupon code during checkout:
SUMMER2012

The more you purchase the more you save, so be sure to take advantage of this great opportunity to load up on some of the Anime stuff you've had your eye on! US customers can combine this offer with our super saver shipping option to save even more on your favorite in stock Anime series, Manga, Figure, or Character Items!

Valid for new orders of IN STOCK items only (no pre-orders please).
Offer expires at midnight EST on July 4th, so don't wait!!

Funimation September 2012 Releases - Now Available for Pre-Order!

Funimation has sent over their September 2012 release schedule, and we now have it up on the store site for pre-order. Here's what's coming:

Haibane Renmei Complete Collection DVD Boxed Set (Classic Collection) - Sep 4
Dragonball Z Kai Season 3 DVD Boxed Set (Eps #53-78) - Sep 11
Dragonball Z Kai Season 3 BLURAY Boxed Set (Eps #53-78) - Sep 11
Spice and Wolf Season 1 & 2 Complete Collection DVD/BD Combo Set - Sep 11
Fafner Complete Collection DVD/BD Boxed Set (Eps #1-26) - Sep 18
King of Thorn DVD/BD Combo Set - Sep 18
Tower of Druaga Complete Collection DVD Boxed Set (Eps #1-24) (S.A.V.E. Edition) - Sep 18
One Piece Collection #8 DVD Boxed Set (Uncut) - Sep 25
Shana Season 2 Part 1 Complete Collection DVD/BD Combo Boxed Set (Limited) - Sep 25
Shana Season 2 Part 2 Complete Collection DVD/BD Combo Boxed Set - Sep 25

Section 23's September 2012 Releases - Now Available for Pre-Order!

Section 23 has sent over their September 2012 release schedule, and we now have it up on the store site for pre-order. Here's what's coming:

Intrigue in the Bakumatsu ~ Irohanihoheto Complete Collection 1 DVD (Eps #1-13) - Sep 4
Intrigue in the Bakumatsu ~ Irohanihoheto Complete Collection 1 BLURAY (Eps #1-13) - Sep 4
Psychic Squad Collection 3 DVD (Eps #27-39) - Sep 4
Cluster Edge Complete Collection 1 DVD (Eps #1-12) - Sep 11
UFO Ultramaiden Valkyrie Seasons 1&2 Collection DVD Boxed Set - Sep 11
Allison and Lillia Generation the Ultimate Collection DVD (Eps #1-26) - Sep 18
Persona 4 - The Animation Collection 1 DVD (Eps #1-12) - Sep 18
Persona 4 - The Animation Collection 1 BLURAY (Eps #1-12) - Sep 18
Croisee in a Foreign Labyrinth The Animation: Complete Collection DVD (Eps #1-12) - Sep 25
Hakuoki: Dream of the Fleeting Blossom Season 1 Collection DVD (Eps #1-12) - Sep 25

A Man Listens, and A Man Likes...

Not sure how many other Song of Ice and Fire geeks are out there, but I just had to post this for all you RR Martin fans:



And he's right, if you've been watching the TV series on HBO but haven't read the books and think you know what's going on, you REALLY need to read the books...

Neurowear Necomimi Cat Ears - On The Way!

After pursuing the folks at Neurowear for almost a year to get their new Necomimi Cat Ears imported to the states, I'm happy to announce that our first shipment of the official North American version is on the way and will be in stock in a few days!

You can order your pair right here and we'll ship them as soon as they arrive next week!

Features:
• Move the ears with your emotions.
• Choose ears that fit your style.
• Based on safe brainwave tech.
• Easy to wear and simple to use.
• Totally safe! Only two light-touch sensors on your forehead and ear.

Details:
• 4 AAA batteries (not included)
• Ages 14+
• 10 oz.
• Conceived in Tokyo
• Designed in Silicon Valley
 
I have had a sample pair of these ears for a couple of months and I have to tell you that they really do work, though there is a 'break' in period while you get used to getting them to do what you want.

 
 
Many thanks to YouTube user 'twunks' for her most excellent review of the ears that she picked up at Fanime!

RACS is going to be a stocking dealer for Neurowear, and while the current white/pink model are the first ones they are going to make available, a black version will begin shipping later this summer as well as more styles to follow later this year. They are great fun! :-)
 
 

21st Century Relationships

Ahhhhh, love in the 21st century...

HEH.

Current Anime BD Releases w/ Locked Subtitles

Each Japanese anime producer it seems has a different strategy regarding how to reduce BD re-imports and protect their market in Japan. Kadokawa's answer to the problem is apparently to prevent international BD releases all together. Other companies, most notably AniPlex (our personal favorite), are forcing their international license partners to lock the subtitles on BD releases as a way to make those releases less desirable to Japanese fans.

'Locked' subtitles, by the way, is when the subtitles display automatically on the Japanese dialog track and there is no option to disable them. Most people, I think, probably never notice this, but when someone does it's almost always an issue.

But since a few people have asked me recently, I thought I would post a list of current BLURAY releases that I am aware of that have 'locked' subtitles on the Japanese language track:

Arakawa Under the Bridge and Bridge x Bridge
Black Butler S1 and S2
Blood: The Last Vampire
Darker than BLACK S2
Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood Series and OVA
FMA: Conqueror of Shambala Movie
FMA: Sacred Star of Milos Movie
Katanagatari Part 1 and Part 2
Princess Jellyfish
Sekirei and Sekirei 2: Pure Engagement
Shiki Part 1 and Part 2

Again, remember this only applies to the BD version of these titles.

Also, the upcoming NIS release of Ghastly Prince Enma Burning Up should be included in this list once it streets in September. I would like to note that NIS has always been upfront with fans about this issue, while Funimation, well, not so much. For Funi's stuff, even I usually don't know for sure until the title actually comes out.

If you know of any that I missed, please post them here and I'll add them to the list.

He's a Weapon

Posted without comment...

...mostly because I'm not sure I disagree, and that is disturbing to me on several levels...

NIS Announces Ghasty Prince Enma DVD/BD Premium Edition for September!

NIS has sent over the paperwork for their Ghastly Prince Enma Burning Up DVD/BD premium edition boxed set and we now have it up on the store site for pre-order:

Ghastly Prince Enma Burning Up Complete Collection DVD/BD Combo Set (Premium Edition)

This premium edition contains episodes 1-12 plus a full-color, 36-page hardcover artbook that explores the show's outrageous world and characters with detailed bios, illustrations, concept art, roundtable discussions with the cast and crew, and an all-new interview with the original author, Go Nagai himself all in premium showcase packaging.

Release date is set for (the rather unfortunate date choice of) September 11th.

Synopsis: Meet the Demon Patrol: a hotheaded demon prince; a sultry, half-naked ice princess; a lusty frog-demon spy; a talking wizard hat... and one little girl. This rag-tag group has been charged with the protection of Earth from a multitude of demons who would love nothing more than to bring their world crashing down around them. They'll face off against a vengeful squid, a somnambulant kitty cat, a pot full of snakes, a night-stalking deciduous, a hater of crotches, and even a literal butthead! Descend into an unreality filled with pratfalls, lewd behavior, and enough obscure cultural jetsam to drown us all!