Monopoly...

Japan’s Artistic Manhole Covers...

Japan is a country full of amazing art - as we all know. Some of it is found in museums and galleries and in their Anime and Manga, while others are right underneath our feet.

I’m talking, of course, about Japan’s peculiar obsession with manhole covers...

Just about anywhere in the country you can find stylized manhole covers, each more beautiful and intricate than the next. According to the Japan Society of Manhole Covers (yes, that’s a real organization) today there are almost 6000 artistic manhole covers throughout Japan. For the past several years photographer S. Morita has traveled around Japan photographing these artistic manhole covers.

Morita has posted hundreds of his manhole cover photo's here to his Flickr account. Please check them out, some of them are absolutely incredible!

Section 23's October 2014 Anime Releases - Now Available for Pre-Order!

Section 23 just sent over their October 2014 Anime release schedule and we now have them up on the store site for pre-order! Here's what's coming:

Bodacious Space Pirates Complete Collection DVD (Eps #1-26) - Oct 7
Bodacious Space Pirates Complete Collection BLURAY (Eps #1-26) - Oct 7
Rozen Maiden : Zuruckspulen DVD (Eps #1-13) - Oct 7
Fate/Stay Night Complete Collection BLURAY Set (Eps #1-24) - Oct 14
Kill Me Baby Complete Collection BLURAY (Eps #1-13) - Oct 14
Meganebu! Complete Collection DVD (Eps #1-12) - Oct 14
Meganebu! Complete Collection BLURAY (Eps #1-12) - Oct 14
Sunday Without God Complete Collection DVD (Eps #1-13) - Oct 21
Sunday Without God Complete Collection BLURAY (Eps #1-13) - Oct 21
Hakkenden: Eight Dogs of the East Season 2 Collection DVD (Eps #14-26) - Oct 28
Hakkenden: Eight Dogs of the East Season 2 Collection BLURAY (Eps #14-26) - Oct 28

Funimation Delays Ben-To Until Further Notice

As announced in last Fridays newsletter, Funimation has delayed the release of Ben-To (originally scheduled for July) until further notice with a new date TBA:

"We have realized that there are inconsistencies associated with the materials used to create the release. We apologize for the inconvenience this may cause fans who are eager to see this series, but we want to ensure that the product we are releasing is to the highest standard that our fans expect. We will provide a new release date once it becomes available."

We're going to continue to leave the title up for pre-order with a TBA date, and we're also going to keep all existing pre-orders open for it for now, but I just wanted to let everyone know that the inside word is that Ben-To is now unlikely to be released this year, so please don't add it to a new order with other stuff as a hold expecting it to be circling back around in a couple of months.

And as always, if you already have an order in for it and want to make a change, just drop us a line and let us know.

Funimation's September 2014 Releases - Now Available for Pre-Order!

Funimation has sent over their September 2014 release schedule and we now have them up on the store site for pre-order! Here's what's coming:

HAL the Movie DVD/BD Combo Set - Sep 2
Baka and Test Season 1 Collection DVD/BLURAY Combo Set (S.A.V.E. Edition) - Sep 2
Baka and Test Season 2 + OVA Collection DVD/BLURAY Combo Set (S.A.V.E. Edition) - Sep 2
Dragon Ball Z Season 7 (BLURAY) - Sep 16
Attack on Titan Collection #2 DVD/BD Combo Set (Limited Edition) - Sep 23
Attack on Titan Collection #2 DVD/BD Combo Set (Standard Edition) - Sep 23
Panty and Stocking with Garterbelt Complete Collection DVD/BD Combo Set (Classic) - Sep 23
One Piece Film Z DVD/BD Combo Set - Sep 30
SteinsGate Complete Collection DVD/BD Combo Set (Eps #1-24) (Classic) - Sep 30

We're offering Titan Part #2 at a VERY special pre-order price for a limited time. Check it out!

Fatherly Advice...

Happy Fathers Day!

Why Dieting is Hard...

For You Sherlock Fans...

Thanks to Sean for sending!

Little Golden Manga...

...by Matt Reedy:

Matt Reedy, an artist in Alton, Illinois, is developing a series that he calls Little Golden Manga. It shows the covers of Japanese comic books as if they were part of the classic Little Golden Books series. I remember my folks teaching me to read with books from the Little Golden Books series when I was 3 or 4 years old.

That was a LONG time ago... -_^

MaxMoeFoe - PlayStation 4 Silver Limited Edition

I didn't know those serial ports could do that...

Enigma - Sitting on the Moon (Piotr Sounder Lewandowicz Remix)

From the album A Posteriori. Hope everyone is having a great weekend. :-)

Section 23's Sept 2014 Anime Releases - Now Available for Pre-Order!

Section 23 just sent over their September 2014 Anime release schedule and we now have them up on the store site for pre-order! Here's what's coming:

Fate/Kaleid liner Prisma Illya Complete Collection DVD - Sep 2
Fate/Kaleid liner Prisma Illya Complete Collection BLURAY - Sep 2
Stella Women's Academy Complete Collection DVD - Sep 2
Listen to me Girls, I am Your Father! Complete Collection BLURAY (Eps #1-13) - Sep 9
Tamako Market Complete Collection DVD - Sep 9
Majestic Prince Collection 2 DVD (Eps #13-24) - Sep 16
Majestic Prince Collection 2 BLURAY (Eps #12-24) - Sep 16
K-On! (Season 1) Complete Collection DVD Boxed Set (Eps #1-14) - Sep 23
Kampfer Complete Collection BLURAY Boxed Set (Eps #1-12) - Sep 23
Golden Time Collection 1 DVD (Eps #1-12) - Sep 30
Golden Time Collection 1 BLURAY (Eps #1-12) - Sep 30
Psychic Detective Yakumo Complete Collection BLURAY (Eps #1-13) - Sep 30

Viz Picks Up Sailor Moon - Will Re-Release on DVD and BluRay this Fall!

Here ya go folks, the announcement we've all been waiting for:

VIZ Media announced at Anime Central that it has acquired the Sailor Moon anime franchise.  VIZ will release all 200 episodes of the series uncut and uncensored, include the fifth and final "Sailor Stars" season, which has never been licensed in North America, beginning with a subtitled streaming option this month, and a DTO and home media release to follow.  VIZ confirmed that the three feature films (Sailor Moon R, Sailor Moon S, and Sailor Moon SuperS) and the specials are also part of the acquisition.

The VIZ Sailor Moon release will be newly created from the Japanese remaster, with new translations for the subtitles.  The presentation will be in the original uncropped 4:3 aspect ratio, and will include use of all the original Japanese names, story elements, and relationships.

VIZ will also create a new dubbed version of the complete series later this year, with a voice cast to be announced. 

Viz intends to release a DVD only AND a limited BluRay/DVD combo pack version, in half season sets, beginning later this fall. Both versions will be both subbed and dubbed, so not only are we getting SM back, we're getttng in on BLURAY!!!. Am I excited about this? Heck yeah! But we've been waiting and hoping for this to happen for so long it's more of a relief that we FINALLY have confirmation. I think I'll take the rest of the day off... -_^

Say My Name....

Duke Leto takes a short respite from his lab work...

Weekend Plans...

Funimation's August 2014 Releases - Now Available for Pre-Order!

Funimation has sent over their August 2014 release schedule and we now have them up on the store site for pre-order! Here's what's coming:

Dragon Ball Z Season 6 (BLURAY) - Aug 5
Freezing Complete Collection DVD/BD Combo Set (Classic) - Aug 5
Heaven's Lost Property Forte (Season 2) DVD/BD Combo Set (Classic) - Aug 12
Certain Scientific Railgun Season 2 Part 2 DVD - Aug 19
Toriko Collection #1 DVD (Eps #1-26) - Aug 26

A Black Kitten Cometh?

HEH. Thanks to Sean for sending over!

NIS Announces Love Live! School Idol Project 1st Season Premium Edition!

NISA has announced that they will release the first season of Love Live! School Idol Project in a Premium Edition BLURAY boxed set for September.

Love Live! School Idol Project Season 1 BLURAY Collection (Premium Edition) - Sept 2nd

This premium edition includes all 13 episodes of season 1 (Japanese Language w/ English Subtitles) a hardcover art book (full color, approx. 28 pages) with episode guide, character info, and gorgeous full color illustrations. Extra content includes Clean OP and ED, Clean Episode 1 Ending, Clean Episode 13 Ending, Japanese Trailers (4), Japanese TV Spots (2)

The set will street on Sept 2nd and you can pre-order it from RACS today!

Synopsis: "The traditional school Otonokizaka High is situated between the three towns of Akihabara, Kanda, and Jimbocho. This school is also in imminent danger of closing. Because of this crisis, the second year student Honoka Kosaka takes center stage with eight others to do something about it! "To protect the school we love so much, we have to do all we can... We have to become school idols! By becoming idols and advertising how great our school is to the world, more students will want to apply!"

Quite the Conundrum...

HEH. Thanks to Sean for sending! :-)

Funimation adds Devil is a Part Timer and Senran Kagura to their July Schedule!

Funimation has added two more titles: Devil is a Part Timer and Senran Kagura, to their July 2014 release schedule and we now have them up on the store site for pre-order:

Devil is a Part Timer Collection DVD/BD Combo Set (Eps #1-13) (Limited) - Jul 22
Devil is a Part Timer Collection DVD/BD Combo Set (Eps #1-13) (Standard) - Jul 22
Senran Kagura: Ninja Flash! Collection DVD/BD Combo Set (Eps #1-12) (Limited) - Jul 29
Senran Kagura: Ninja Flash! Collection DVD/BD Combo Set (Eps #1-12) (Standard) - Jul 29

The Devil is a Part Timer

When Satan is run out of his infernal kingdom, he finds himself virtually powerless in modern-day Tokyo. Stuck in a feeble mortal body and desperate for cash, there’s only one way for the dark lord to survive: by getting a job manning the deep fryer at “MgRonald”! As Satan flips burgers and tries to regain his evil magic, he’s pestered by a righteous hero who tracked him to Earth, a video-game-loving fallen angel looking for a way back into heaven, and the most unholy of enemies: a rival fast food franchise. Will he figure out a way to reclaim his homeland and throne? And if not, will this demonic burger king at least sell enough featured menu items to be promoted to shift supervisor? The devil can’t survive on minimum wage in the series Anime News Network calls “pure, unadulterated, gloriously fun entertainment.”

Senran Kagura: Ninja Flash!

From the Dynamic Duo that brought you Ikki Tousen comes a revealing tale of naughty ninjas sucking down sushi rolls and busting up the competition! Asuka and her friends may look like any other girls at Hanzo Academy, but they’re secretly studying the ancient art of Ninjutsu! While other students do their homework, Asuka and the gang push their beautiful bodies to the breaking point in pursuit of their perfect form. Life is one sexy sparring session after another until a Deviously Demented rival clan of evil ninjas ambushes the Hanzo hotties – and steals their sacred ninja scroll. Faced with their toughest – and most well-rounded – enemies ever, Asuka and her fellow Deadly Divas will have to go further than they’ve ever bgone before to prove they’ve mastered the art of full frontal combat!Whether you like blondes or brunettes; good or evil; big or EXTRA BIG; this series based on the action packed video game proves once and for all that a ninja beat down is the most exhilarating beat down of all