Section 23's & Funimation's June 2012 Releases - Now Available for Pre-Order!

Both Section 23 and Funimation have sent over their June 2012 release schedules, and we now have it all up on the store site for pre-order. Here's what's coming:

Section 23 - June 2012

Kurenai Complete Collection DVD Boxed Set (Eps #1-12) - Jun 5
Fate / Stay Night: Unlimited Blade Works the Motion Picture DVD - Jun 12
Fate / Stay Night: Unlimited Blade Works the Motion Picture BLURAY - Jun 12
Golgo 13 TV Series Collection #4 DVD Box (Eps #37-48) - Jun 19
K-On!! (Season 2) Collection #1 DVD Boxed Set (Eps #1-13) - Jun 19
K-On!! (Season 2) Collection #1 Boxed Set BLURAY (Eps #1-13) - Jun 19
Maria-Holic Alive! (Season 2) Complete Collection DVD Boxed Set (Eps #13-24) - Jun 26
Towa no quon Complete Collection DVD Boxed Set (Eps #1-12) - Jun 26
Towa no quon Complete Collection Boxed Set BLURAY (Eps #1-12) - Jun 26

Funimation - June 2012

Dragonball Z Kai Season 1 Part 8 DVD Boxed Set (Eps #90-100) - Jun 5
Dragonball Z Kai Season 1 Part 8 Boxed Set (Eps #90-100) (BLURAY) - Jun 5
Hero Tales (Jyushin Enbu) Complete Collection DVD Boxed Set (Eps #1-26) - Jun 5
One Piece Collection #6 DVD Boxed Set (Eps #131-155) (Uncut) - Jun 12
BECK: Mongolian Chop Squad Complete Collection DVD (Eps #1-26) (S.A.V.E. Edition) - Jun 12
Dragonaut: The Resonance TV Series Complete DVD Boxed (Eps #1-26) (S.A.V.E. Edition) - Jun 19
Ouran High School Host Club Complete Collection DVD Boxed Set (Eps #1-26) (Anime Classics) - Jun 26
Ouran High School Host Club Complete Collection Boxed Set BLURAY (Eps #1-26) (Anime Classics) - Jun 26
Tales of Vesperia the Motion Picture DVD/BD Combo Set - Jun 26

NIS Announces Zakuro Premium Edition DVD Boxed Set

NIS sent over the paperwork for their new Zakuro premium edition boxed set this morning, and we now have it up on the store site for pre-order:

Zakuro Complete Collection DVD Box Set (Eps #1-13) (Premium Edition)

This set will be a Subtitled / DVD only release, and will contain episodes 1-13 plus a 36-page art book with episode guides, character profiles, cast interviews, an interview with Zakuro creator Lily Hoshino, and exclusive artwork. Release date is set for June 12th.

Synopsis: Westernization, a time when humans and spirits coexist...The Modernization of Japan has begun. The Ministry of Spirit Affairs is established to resolve mysterious incidents involving the nation's spirits. This ministry consists of representatives from both the human and spirit worlds. Zakuro, Susukihotaru, Bonbori, and Hozuki are all half-spirits - hybrids between human and spirit - who have been partnered with second lieutenants Kei, Riken, and Ganryu. They are all assigned to Spirit Affairs in an effort to join forces and carry out any tasks given to them!

Section 23's & Funimation's May 2012 Releases - Now Available for Pre-Order!

Both Section 23 and Funimation have sent over their May 2012 release schedules, and we now have it all up on the store site for pre-order. Here's what's coming:

Section 23

Psychic Squad Complete Collection DVD (Eps #1-13) - May 1
Guin Saga Complete Collection DVD Boxed Set (Eps #1-26) - May 8
Guin Saga Complete Collection BLURAY Boxed Set (Eps #1-26) - May 8
Get Backers Complete Collection (Season 1 & 2) DVD Boxed Set (Eps #1-49) - May 8
The Book of Bantorra Collection 1 DVD (Eps #1-13) - May 15
Planzet DVD - May 22
Planzet BLURAY - May 22
Gintama the Movie DVD - May 29
Gintama the Movie BLURAY - May 29

Funimation

Cat Planet Cuties Complete Collection DVD/BD Combo Set (Eps #1-12 + OVA) - May 15
Black Cat Complete Collection DVD Boxed Set (S.A.V.E. Edition) - May 15
D.Gray-man Season #2 DVD Boxed Set (Eps #27-52) (S.A.V.E. Edition) - May 15
Dragonball Z Kai Season 1 DVD Boxed Set (Eps #1-26) - May 22
Dragonball Z Kai Season 1 Boxed Set (Eps #1-26) (BLURAY) - May 22
Dragonball Z Kai Season 2 DVD Boxed Set (Eps #27-52) - May 22
Dragonball Z Kai Season 2 Boxed Set (Eps #27-52) (BLURAY) - May 22
Fullmetal Alchemist OVA Collection DVD/BD Combo Set (4 OVA's + Comic Theater) - May 22
Dragon Age DVD - May 29
Dragon Age BLURAY - May 29
Kenichi: The Mightiest Disciple Season #2 Complete Collection DVD Boxed Set (Eps #27-52) (Classic Edition) - May 29
Shiki Collection Part 1 DVD/BD Combo Set (Eps #1-12) (Limited Edition) - May 29
Shiki Collection Part 2 DVD/BD Combo Set (Eps #13-24) - May 29

Strike Witches Movie Trailer

Aokigahara

A short and sad documentary about the forest at the base of Mt. Fuji in Japan were between 50-100 people go every year to commit suicide.

Warning: Graphic Content. Viewer discression is advised. Seriously.



Mr. Hayano is a man of great wisdom.

NIS Announces Occult Academy Premium BLURAY Boxed Set

NIS sent over the paperwork for their new Occult Academy BD boxed set last week, and we now have it up on the store site for pre-order:

Occult Academy Complete Collection BLURAY Set (Premium Edition)

This set will be a BLURAY only release, and will contain episodes 1-13 plus a 36-page artbook with exclusive artwork, draft designs, and the occult encyclopedia. Release date is set for May 8th.

Synopsis: In the year 2012, the world is a wasteland invaded by aliens. Time travelers like Fumiaki are sent back to the year 1999 in order to destroy the "Nostradamus Key" to prevent the apocalypse. In 1999, Maya, the daughter of the former principal of Waldstein Academy (a.k.a. Occult Academy), returns to the academy to replace her father. Despising her father's obsession with the occult, Maya is hell-bent on running the school into the ground out of spite. Her plan is interrupted when she meets Fumiaki and learns of the forthcoming destruction of the world. They form a pact to look for the key.

Funimation / Media Blasters Date Changes & Cancelations

A few date changes and cancelations to share with everyone:

Funimation Date Changes:

Fairy Tail Collection #4 DVD/BD Combo Set (Eps #37-48) - 2-28 to 3-20
Heaven's Lost Property Season 2 Complete Collection DVD Box (Limited) - 3-20 to 4-17

Funimation Cancelations:

Dragon Ball Z Level 2.1 (Eps #35-51) (BLURAY) - Canceled
Dragon Ball Z Level 2.2 (Eps #52-68) (BLURAY) - Canceled

Funimation Discontinued (Now Out of Print):

Dragonball Z Kai Season 1 Part 1 DVD Boxed Set - Discontinued
Dragonball Z Kai Season 1 Part 2 DVD Boxed Set - Discontinued
Dragonball Z Kai Season 1 Part 3 DVD Boxed Set - Discontinued
Dragonball Z Kai Season 1 Part 4 DVD Boxed Set - Discontinued
Dragonball Z Kai Season 1 Part 1 BLURAY Boxed Set - Discontinued
Dragonball Z Kai Season 1 Part 2 BLURAY Boxed Set - Discontinued
Dragonball Z Kai Season 1 Part 3 BLURAY Boxed Set - Discontinued
Dragonball Z Kai Season 1 Part 4 BLURAY Boxed Set - Discontinued
Nerima Daikon Brothers Complete Collection DVD Boxed Set (S.A.V.E. Edition) - Discontinued
Kodocha DVD Collectors Boxed Set #1 (Eps #1-24) (S.A.V.E. Edition) - Discontinued
Kodocha DVD Collectors Boxed Set #2 (Eps #25-51) (S.A.V.E. Edition) - Discontinued
Robotech: The Shadow Chronicles Movie DVD - Discontinued
Robotech: The Shadow Chronicles Movie Special Edition DVD - Discontinued
Robotech: The Shadow Chronicles Movie Special Edition DVD (BluRay) - Discontinued

Media Blasters Cancelations:

Bakuman (Second Draft) DVD Collection #2 (Eps #8-13) - Canceled, New Date TBA
Ikki Tousen Great Guardians Complete Collection DVD Boxed Set(Eps #1-12) - Canceled, New Date TBA

Funimation's April 2012 Releases - Now Available for Pre-Order!

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

Black Butler Season 1 Complete Collection DVD/BD Combo Set (Eps #1-24) - Apr 3
Black Butler Season 2 Complete Collection DVD/BD Combo Set (Eps #25-42) - Apr 3
Okami-san and Her Seven Companions DVD/BD Combo Set (Eps #1-12) (Limited) - Apr 3
Oh! Edo Rocket Complete Collection DVD (Eps #1-26) - Apr 10
Sekirei Complete Collection DVD/BD Combo Set (Eps #1-12) - Apr 10
Legend of the Legendary Heroes Part #1 DVD/BD Combo Set (Eps #1-13) (Limited) - Apr 17
Legend of the Legendary Heroes Part #2 DVD/BD Combo Set (Eps #14-25) - Apr 17
Tsubasa RESERVoir CHRoNiCLE OVA Collection DVD (S.A.V.E. Edition) - Apr 17
Tsubasa RESERVoir CHRoNiCLE OVA Collection BLURAY (S.A.V.E. Edition) - Apr 17
Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood Collection #1 DVD Boxed Set (Eps #1-33) - Apr 24
Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood Collection #1 BLURAY Boxed Set (Eps #1-33) - Apr 24
Fullmetal Alchemist: the Sacred Star of Milos DVD - Apr 24
Fullmetal Alchemist: the Sacred Star of Milos BLURAY - Apr 24
Jyu-Oh-Sei (Planet of the Beast King) Complete Collection DVD Boxed Set (S.A.V.E. Edition) - Apr 24

Just Hanging Out

A little something fun to help you start your day today:

HEH. :-) Hat tip to Sean for sending.

Section 23 April 2012 Releases - Now Available for Pre-Order!

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

Motto To Love Ru (Season 2) Complete Collection DVD Boxed Set (Eps #1-12) - Apr 3
Polyphonica Crimson S (Season 2) Complete Collection DVD Boxed Set (Eps #1-12) - Apr 3
Infinite Stratos Complete Collection DVD (Eps #-1-13) - Apr 10
Infinite Stratos Complete Collection BLURAY (Eps #-1-13) - Apr 10
Someday's Dreamers Complete Collection DVD (Eps #1-12) - Apr 17
Golgo 13 TV Series Collection #3 DVD Box (Eps #25-36) - Apr 24

NIS Announces Kimi Ni Todoke Premium Edition #2 + 6 Standard Editions

NIS announced the 2nd season Kimi Ni Todoke premium edition today for April 10th:

Kimi ni Todoke Premium Edition DVD/BD Combo Collection #2 (Eps #13-24)

They also announced six new standard edition releases, all scheduled to street in less than three weeks on Jan 24th:

Persona ~ Trinity Soul ~ Collection #1 Standard Edition DVD (Eps #1-13)
Persona ~ Trinity Soul ~ Collection #2 Standard Edition DVD (Eps #14-26)
Pandora Hearts Standard Edition DVD Set #1 (Eps #1-12)
Pandora Hearts Standard Edition DVD Set #2 (Eps #13-24)
Our Home's Fox Deity (Wagaya no Oinarisama) Standard Edition DVD Set #1 (Eps #1-12)
Our Home's Fox Deity (Wagaya no Oinarisama) Standard Edition DVD Set #2 (Eps #13-24)

Bandai Adds Last Minute K-On (S1) Boxed Set

In a surprise announcement tonight, Bandai added a K-On Season 1 Anime Legends set to their final February release schedule:

K-On! (Season 1) Complete Collection DVD Boxed Set (Eps #1-14)

Clearly they are looking around trying to figure out what to do with all the unsold singles the majors have recently returned to them, and February will be their last opportunity to release any series repackaged as sets. It's just too bad it's going to be DVD only. And what better than a last minute $40 legends pack to make all the folks that paid 3x as much for the singles last year feel better about themselves. ~Oy~

The End of an Era - Bandai Finally Calls it Quits

The folks at Bandai apparently have made their 2012 new years resolution never to publish anymore Anime. I think they waited to make this announcement until today thinking we'd all probably be too hung over to notice.

Hot off the wire:

Bandai Entertainment, the subsidiary of Namco Bandai Holdings (USA) that handles anime and manga in North America, will stop offering new DVD, Blu-ray Disc, and manga releases next month. It will continue to distribute in its existing catalog lineup, but it will no longer produce and distribute new releases as of this February.

Instead, Bandai Entertainment will focus on licensing rights to other companies, particularly in digital distribution, broadcast, and merchandising. The company will be restructured as a result, and most of its contractors and three of its five fulltime staff members will be laid off.

The following releases have been cancelled:

Anime DVD/Blu-ray Disc

Gosick
Nichijō
Turn A Gundam

Manga

Code Geass: Renya (Code Geass: Shikkoku no Renya)
Gurren Lagann volume 7
Kannagi volumes 4-6
Lucky Star Boo Boo Kagaboo (spinoff by Eretto)
Mobile Suit Gundam 00I
Tales of the Abyss: Jade's Secret Memories volumes 1 and 2

Releases in Bandai Entertainment's current catalog will still be available after February, and Bandai Entertainment plans to produce new stock on these existing releases, if needed, until their respective licenses expire.

Bandai Entertainment closed its own online store in December, but other retailers can still order and carry Bandai Entertainment's current releases as before.

Star Driver, Tales of the Abyss, The Girl Who Leapt Through Space and Mobile Suit Gundam (the new release of 0079 with Japanese audio) will all be completed thanks to the timing of the closures. I was just saying in the last newsletter that the best we could probably hope for in 2012 was for Bandai to continue to hang on long enough to get the second season of K-On out. Oh well, so much for that. Hopefully Sentai or Funi will end up with it eventually. Gundam Unicorn won't be completed either. This also means that Turn A Gundam, My Ordinary Life (Nichijo) and Gosick, will not be released.

All I can say is that it's no surprise, and it's been a long time coming. ~sigh~

UPDATE: Ken Iyadomi's sobering explaination here.

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

Funimation has sent us over their March 2012 sales book (actually about 2 weeks ago), and we now have it up on the store site for pre-order.

Here's what they are bringing out in March:

Hetalia Axis Powers Complete Series (Season 1 & 2) DVD Boxed Set - Mar 6
Sands of Destruction Complete Collection DVD Boxed Set (Eps #1-13) (S.A.V.E.) - Mar 6
One Piece Collection #5 DVD Boxed Set (Eps #105-130) (Uncut) - Mar 13
Dragonball Z Kai Season 1 Part 7 DVD Boxed Set (Eps #78-89) - Mar 20
Dragonball Z Kai Season 1 Part 7 Boxed Set (BLURAY) (Eps #78-89) - Mar 20
Dragon Ball Z Level 2.1 (Eps #35-51) (BLURAY) - Mar 27
Dragon Ball Z Level 2.2 (Eps #52-68) (BLURAY) - Mar 27

Bandai February 2012 Releases - Now Available for Pre-Order!

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

Akira DVD (Re-Release) - Feb 7
Mobile Suit Gundam Complete Collection 2 DVD Boxed Set (Anime Legends) - Feb 7
Gundam Unicorn , Part #2 DVD (Eps #3-4) - Feb 7
Tales of the Abyss , Part #3 DVD (Eps #13-18) - Feb 7
Tales of the Abyss , Part #4 DVD (Eps #19-24) - Feb 7
Gundam 00 Season 1 Complete Collection DVD Boxed Set (Eps #1-26) (Anime Legends) - Feb 7
Gundam 00 Season 2 Complete Collection DVD Boxed Set (Eps #1-25) (Anime Legends) - Feb 7
Code Geass Lelouch of the Rebellion R2 Complete Collection DVD Boxed Set (Eps #1-25) (Anime Legends) - Feb 7

So we are finally getting the R2 box that everyone has been waiting for - like forever - and also the 2nd half of Mobile Suit, plus boxed sets for 00. The next two installments of Unicorn will be coming on DVD only. Tales vol #3 and #4 are coming too, but Bandai seems to have bailed on the LE versions. And the Akira re-release? Really, has ANYONE not seen/bought that by now? Some Anime just never dies in print... :-)

mrry chrstms & hppy nw yr!

'Hobbit' Trailer #1 Released

Just in case you haven't already seen it:

Section 23 March 2012 Releases - Now Available for Pre-Order!

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

Grave of the Fireflies DVD (Remastered) - Mar 6
Kimikiss Pure Rouge DVD Complete Collection (Eps #1-26) - Mar 6
Mardock Scramble: The First Compression DVD (Directors Cut) - Mar 13
Mardock Scramble: The First Compression BLURAY (Directors Cut) - Mar 13
ef ~ A Tale of Melodies Complete Collection DVD Set (Eps #1-12) - Mar 20
ef ~ A Tale of Melodies Complete Collection BLURAY Set (Eps #1-12) - Mar 20
Dream Eater Merry Complete Collection DVD (Eps #1-13) - Mar 27
Dream Eater Merry Complete Collection BLURAY (Eps #1-13) - Mar 27

Bandai Announces January 2012 Releases - Now Available for Pre-Order!

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

Girl Who Leapt Through Space Part #4 DVD (Eps #22-26) - Jan 17
Star Driver Collection #2 DVD (Eps #14-25) - Jan 17
Star Driver Collection #2 BLURAY (Eps #14-25) - Jan 17

They also bumped Tales of the Abyss Part #2 from December 6th to January 3rd:

Tales of the Abyss , Part #2 DVD (Eps #7-12)
Tales of the Abyss , Part #2 Limited Edition DVD (Eps #7-12)

NIS Announces the House of Five Leaves Premium Edition DVD Boxed Set

NIS has announced the upcoming House of Five Leaves complete premium boxed set, and we now have it up for pre-order on the store:

House of Five Leaves Premium Complete Collection DVD Boxed Set (Eps #1-12)

The set will be released on March 6th, 2012.

The Premium Edition includes a full-color, 30-page hardcover artbook featuring character information, episode guides, artwork, behind-the-scenes storyboards, draft designs, concept art, and a glossary of terms for insight into the culture of feudal Japan.

Synopsis: Ronin Akitsu Masanosuke is a skilled swordsman, but his personality often causes him to be let go from his job. With desperation closing in, Akitsu accepts an offer to work as a bodyguard for Yaichi, the charismatic leader of a mysterious gang: the Five Leaves. Though the meek swordsman finds the gang's actions disturbing, Akitsu grows more fascinated by the outlaws every day.