Posts Tagged ‘april’

When starting a new year, it’s important for a company to finish the first month with strong momentum. Funimation started theirs with the roll out riot, Crunchyroll got into the mix with five new simulcasts… hell, even Media Blasters managed to shake things up a little by licensing Kanokon. Finally, Sentai and Bandai are ready to crank things up to 11 by announcing their April lineups.

In press releases sent out over the last couple of days, Sentai has announced the license of the long running comedy from Sunrise Gintama along with Asatte no Houkou (Living for the Day After Tomorrow), Hidamari Sketchx365 and the rescue of Le Portrait de Petit Cossette from Geneon. Meanwhile Bandai has announced… more delays. Hm, guess which company didn’t the January momentum memo?

Hidamari Sketchx365 (4/6)
Asatte no Houkou (Living for the Day After Tomorrow) (4/13)
Le Portrait de Petit Cossette (4/20)
Gintama Set 1 (4/27)

All of the listed series will be released in one complete set except for Gintama which will thankfully be broken up since it has over 200 episodes. For the most part, this looks like a strong lineup for Sentai. Hidamari Sketchx365 will be a welcome addition for fans of the series and Asatte no Houkou has my attention. Sure it’s a 2006 series from J.C. Staff that sounds sort of like the anime version of Freaky Friday but it looks cute if nothing else.

If anything in that list creates a tangible uncertainty it would be Gintama. Fans have been enjoying the series for free on Crunchyroll for the last year. Is that going to translate into enough fans who want to buy that many box sets that won’t even have an English track? Then again, it’s not like I’m an expert who has any hard data behind me so here’s hoping this is one that pans out and finds its audience.

Enough Sentai talk though, Bandai has also made some new announcements so let’s give them the spotlight. Never one to be outdone, Bandai has also announced their April lineup which will look something like this:

Lucky Star (Anime Legends Collection) (4/6)
Kannagi Complete Collection (4/6)

Delays:

Kukokami the Animation Part 1 (DVD/Blu ray) moved from 2/9 to 3/2
Hayate the Combat Butler Part 4 moved from 2/9 to 3/2
Eureka Seven – good night, sleep tight, young lovers (DVD/Blu ray) moved from 2/9 to 3/10

So to recap, Sentai has picked up four licenses (three new, one used) that contain enough variety to spark the interest of most fans while Bandai is continuing to trying to get out of a ditch by digging downwards. Seriously Bandai, just tell the fans what’s going on. Internet fans can be really forgiving if you’re just upfront and hon… *snerk* sorry, I knew I wasn’t going to be able to say that with a straight face.

Press release below cut

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VIZ MEDIA ANNOUNCES ANIMATED DVD RELEASES FOR APRIL 2009  
 

San Francisco, CA, January 28, 2009 – VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), one of the entertainment industry’s most innovative and comprehensive publishing, animation and licensing companies, has announced their DVD lineup for April 2009, which include animated favorites such as HUNTER X HUNTER, DEATH NOTE, NARUTO, INUYASHA and POKÉMON.  VIZ Media’s April releases include many hefty box set editions as well as some featuring special premium collectibles. VIZ Media DVD titles are distributed (in English) in U.S and Mexico by Warner Home Video and in Canada by Allegro. 

HUNTER X HUNTER DVD Box Set Volume 2 · Rated “T+” for Older Teens · MSRP: $49.95 US / $64.99 CAN · Available April 7

Gon and his friends have passed the first two stages of the Hunter Exam, but they still have three more grueling phases to complete. The applicants must escape the maze-like Trick Tower and survive a free-for-all on an isolated island before they can battle it out in the final tournament. Will Gon and his friends prove their worth and earn the right to call themselves Hunters? Find out in this exciting new Box Set inspired by the popular HUNTER X HUNTER manga series created by Yoshihiro Togashi. 

NARUTO UNCUT DVD Box Set Volume 13 Special Edition · Rated “T+” for Older Teens · MSRP: $69.97 US / $89.99 CAN · Available April 7

Naruto summons a couple of old amphibious pals – Gamakichi and Gamatatsu – to help him solve a mystery surrounding a mysterious Cursed Warrior. But back at home, there’s nothing more motivating for Choji and Naruto than a bowl of steaming hot Ichiraku ramen, and they’re really going to have to sing for their supper when the owner’s daughter is kidnapped! Can they get her back and save the restaurant’s secret recipes in time for dinner? Then, Anko must face the darkness in her past when she’s called to lead a mission to a place she once visited with her former sensei, Orochimaru! Will facing the truth save the mission – or break her forever? Special Edition Box Set includes Naruto playing cards plus a collectible Kakashi ninja figure. 

NARUTO UNCUT DVD Box Set Volume 13 Standard Edition· Rated “T+” for Older Teens · MSRP: $49.95 US / $64.99 CAN · Available April 7

DVD-only collection featuring episodes from the hit series; no cards or collectible are figure is included.

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DEATH NOTE DVD Box Set Volume 2 · Rated “T+” for Older Teens · MSRP: $69.97 US / $89.99 CAN · Available April 14

Through the power of the Death Note, Light Yagami is close to creating a world in which he holds ultimate authority over right and wrong. But many obstacles remain, including a second Death Note user who has his own nefarious goals, and the two brilliant protégés of L., the genius detective who once vowed to expose the identity of the Death Note’s owner. Light is confident that he can prevail, but as the surviving players in the game converge for a final showdown, whose name will be the last one written in the Death Note? This new Box Set features the exciting conclusion to the supernatural mystery crime thriller based on the popular DEATH NOTE manga series. 

POKÉMON: ALL STARS Volume 19: Torchic ·

MSRP: $9.98 US / $12.99 CAN Each · Available April 21

POKÉMON: ALL STARS Volume 20: ONIX ·

MSRP: $9.98 US / $12.99 CAN Each · Available April 21

Following up with POKÉMON’s 10^th Anniversary celebration set, the POKÉMON ALL STARS will have a total of twenty DVD releases each commemorating some of the most popular Pokémon characters. Each disc showcases a single character with three classic TV episodes featuring their adventures. Gotta Catch ‘em All! 

INUYASHA SEASON 7 DVD Box Set Deluxe Edition · Rated “T” for Teens · MSRP: 119.89 US / $149.99 CAN · Available April 28

The story of the priestess Kikyo and half-demon Inuyasha ended in tragedy. Will Inuyasha and Kagome’s story have a happier ending? Each battle draws the group closer to their ultimate goal – the border of the afterlife and the final shard of the Shikon Jewel. But the last stage of their journey is the most difficult of all. In their final battle with Naraku, will the bond between Kagome and Inuyasha prove strong enough to vanquish him at last? Special Deluxe Box Set Edition comes with a Limited Edition collectible Inuyasha figure. 

INUYASHA SEASON 7 DVD Box Set Standard Edition · Rated “T” for Teens · MSRP: $99.94 US / $129.99 CAN · Available April 28

DVD-only collection featuring episodes from the hit series; no collectible figure is included. 

About VIZ Media, LLC

Headquartered in San Francisco, CA, VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), is one of the most comprehensive and innovative companies in the field of manga (graphic novel) publishing, animation and entertainment licensing of Japanese content. Owned by three of Japan’s largest creators and licensors of manga and animation, Shueisha Inc., Shogakukan Inc., and Shogakukan-Shueisha Productions, Co., Ltd., VIZ Media is a leader in the publishing and distribution of Japanese manga for English speaking audiences in North America, the United Kingdom, Ireland, and South Africa and is a global ex-Asia licensor of Japanese manga and animation. The company offers an integrated product line including magazines such as SHONEN JUMP and SHOJO BEAT, graphic novels, and DVDs, and develops, markets, licenses, and distributes animated entertainment for audiences and consumers of all ages. Contact VIZ Media at 295 Bay Street, San Francisco, CA 94133; Phone (415) 546-7073; Fax (415) 546-7086; and web site at www.VIZ.com. 

Some initial details have gone up regarding the ‘Eureka Seven’ movie that will be released in Japan next year. The report on ANN states tha the film will be titled ‘Kōkyō Shihen Eureka Seven: Pocket ga Niji de Ippai (Symphonic Poem Eureka Seven: Pocket Full of Rainbows) and will see its release during Golden Week next spring. An official website has been launched for fans to check out as well.

IGN is reporting that Fox has changed the release date of the upcoming live action Dragonball film to two days sooner. The film will now open on the Wednesday before Easter weekend, April 8th. The move appears to be designed to give die hard fans a chance to see the film with minimal headaches as that weekend the ‘Hannah Montana’ film will also be released to theaters while also giving the film an extra two days of minimal competition to find its audience.