Books: On Kurosawa
By Jasper Sharp.
The robustly-designed and impressively laid-out new tome On Kurosawa: A Tribute to the Master Director by Peter Tasker inevitably prompts the same questions I raised a year ago in my review of Paul Anderer’s Kurosawa’s Rashomon. Does the world really need another book on this director, and what exactly is it about Kurosawa that keeps authors coming back again and again? Continue Reading
[UNBOXING] Re:ZERO Part 2. Available from 20th May 2019 | Order now!.
The time is nearly here! The long awaited second part of the (literal) death defying series Re:ZERO -Starting Life in Another World- is arriving on Blu-ray and DVD from 20th May! And today we're delighted to be able to bring a full unboxing of what to expect from the Blu-ray Ltd Collector's Edition version of this release.
Before we get to the beautiful details, a quick refresher/introduction to the series for you.
ABOUT RE:ZERO
From the studio that brought you Goblin Slayer, Akame Ga Kill, Steins;Gate, Jormungand and The Devil is a Part-Timer!
Synopsis: “Natsuki Subaru, an ordinary high school student, is on his way home from the convenience store when he finds himself transported to another world. As he’s lost and confused in a new world where he doesn’t even know left from right, the only person to reach out to him was a beautiful girl with silver hair.
Determined to repay her somehow for saving him from his own despair, Subaru agrees to help the girl find something she’s looking for…”
Check out a dubbed preview trailer for Part 1 of the series below –
Before getting onto the details of Part 2, a quick reminder that you can see a full unboxing of Part 1 HERE
WHAT'S IN THE BOX? What's on the discs?
Keeping in the theme set with our release of Part 1, Part 2 has a similar design presentation so it'll look wonderful next Part 1 on your shelf.
Re:ZERO Part 2 Blu-ray Ltd Collector's Edition
It comes in a rigid case and inside that you'll find a digipack to hold the two Blu-ray discs. Additionally inside that you'll find the 52-page hard back companion book that includes information and artwork of characters you encounter during the second half of the series, examples of key frames of animation used in the series and also collection of backgrounds artworks showing locations as seen in the series with some information about them as well.
Over the two Blu-ray discs you'll get the remaining episodes of the series, 13-25 with both English and original Japanese with English subtitles viewing options. There's also some extra content in the form of the "Re:PETIT -Re: Starting Life in Another World From PETIT-" shorts, as well as the Clean Opening an Closing Title sequences.
WHERE CAN I ORDER THIS?
You can order this from our AllTheAnime.com online shop from the link below
or alternatively you can also orders from retailers including
Order at Amazon UK
Order at Zavvi
Order at Anime-on-Line
PHOTOS OF THE FINISHED PRODUCT!
Okay, I know I've been keeping you waiting long enough. Have a gander at the photos below. (You can can click on them to enlarge them too if that helps.)
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- The front of the rigid case. When it arrives there’ll be a layer of cellophane over the top of it.
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- On the reverse of the rigid case when it arrives you’ll find an info sheet attached to the back by a couple of glue dots. Simply remove it gently and you’ll reveal what’s underneath which is…
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- The reverse side of the rigid case, info sheet removed!
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- All four spines of the rigid case
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- That’s the outside, now let’s get inside
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- The digipack. The outer side (top) and inner side (bottom) with discs in place
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- The digipack once again, this time with the outer side (top) and discs removed from the inner side (bottom)
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- A closer look at the first disc in the set (which is the third total in the series, which is why it’s labeled as ‘3’)
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- And the second disc in the set. This being the fourth disc in the series which is why it’s labeled with ‘4’
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- Now onto the hardback book. Here’s the front, back and spine of it. Just to say now, potential SPOLER WARNING for photos we share of the contents in the book.
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- Here’s the contents page of the book.
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- Quick note: “Re: Life in a Different World from Zero” is the name of the show in Japanese ;)
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- Now let’s show you some page from the book.
But wait there's more...
If you were able to order the AllTheAnime.com & Zavvi.com Exclusive version of this release - that came with the bonus limited edition storage box to hold both parts - before it sold out, you'll likely be wanting to see how that's turned out. Well here's a glimpse at that for you. (Again, you can click on the photos to enlarge them.)
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- *Part 1 sold separately
*Bonus storage box was a limited edition item exclusive to AllTheAnime.com & Zavvi.com while stock lasted. This bonus has sold out.
**Part 1 shown in video sold separately
Re:ZERO Part 2 Blu-ray Ltd Collector's Edition set w/ AllTheAnime.com & Zavvi.com Exclusive Ltd Ed Bonus Box
And that concludes this unboxing for our release Re:ZERO Part 2! We hope you're excited to complete your collection.
Signing out~!
Jeremy
Blue Spring
by Jeremy Clarke.
Teenage high school movie Blue Spring (2001) centres on the leader of a violent boys' gang in their final year at school. The nonchalant Kujo (Ryuhei Matsuda) has befriended Aoki (Hirofumi Arai in his debut role) since the latter first joined his class in their infancy: these days Aoki is Kujo’s number two. The gang now comprises eight boys and periodically restages a terrifying ritual. In the opening scene, four of the boys chicken out while the other four including Kujo and Aoki take part.
Their flat school roof has a one storey tower accessible by metal fire escape type stairs. On the roof’s edge is a metal railing overlooking the open ground in front of the school building. The four boys climb over the railing so that their backs are facing the several storey drop below and hold on to the railing with their hands. Then they count from one upwards. On one, they let go the railing and clap their hands once, on two twice and so on. As the numbers go up, the danger of falling increases. On this occasion, they get up to seven. No one falls... this time.
The twenty-minute Making of reveals that the tower was built by the crew on top of the building so it could be moved back from the drop, with mattresses to catch the actors if they fell. Even with that in mind, the scene doesn’t feel at all like screen trickery: these boys really do appear to be playing on the edge of a huge drop. It’s pretty terrifying to watch. Continue Reading
Makoto Ogino (1959-2019)
Makoto Ogino, who died of renal failure on 29th April, spent his whole life preoccupied with the wheel of karma. On the day of his very first sale, his father, an education officer responsible for censuring unsuitable books, pleaded with him not to become the sort of manga creator whose works would get denounced in public, only for Ogino to embark upon several decades drawing graphic nudity, violence and exorcisms.
His best-known creation was Kujaku, a handsome, youthful Buddhist monk, unapologetic about his indulgences in sins of the flesh, whose demon-hunting abilities turn out to be the result of multiple past-life accomplishments. As later chapters of Kujaku-Oh (1984) reveal to readers of Young Jump magazine, our hero is the reincarnation of important figures from world religions, all of which struggle to describe the true nature of the spirit world. Kujaku is both a demon hunter and a demons’ prey, since the right combination of holy artefacts – his blood poured into the skull of Christ, for example – could form the correct ritual to summon a Buddhist death god. Continue Reading
Twin Star Exorcists Parts 2-4 home video details!. Complete your collection of the series! | Part 2 arrives 27th May!.
Back in the tail end of summer last year we began releasing the popular series Twin Star Exorcists on Blu-ray and DVD! Since then, admittedly it's been far longer for the next volumes to arrive than originally anticipated (sorry!) but the time is nearly here for you to add the remaining parts of the series to your collection kicking off with Part 2 at the end of this month!
Before we get to what you can expect from Parts 2, 3 & 4, plus a reminder about what was included with Part 1 (in case you're reading this and are tempted to begin your collection), here's an introduction to the series being released here in the UK in conjunction with our great friends at Crunchyroll!
ABOUT TWIN STAR EXORCISTS
Studio: Studio Pierrot (Tokyo Ghoul, Naruto / Boruto, Black Clover)
Director: Tomohisa Taguchi (Persona3 Movie #2: Midsummer Knight's Dream & Movie #4: Winter of Rebirth, Kino's Journey - the Beautiful World-)
Synopsis: Follow the exciting tale of two star-crossed rivals as the fate of the world is placed in their young hands.
He vows to never use his incredible powers after surviving a tragedy. She wants revenge for the loss of her family. But when a prophecy states that 14-year-olds Rokuro and Benio will be the parents of the child destined to save the world, things don’t go quite as planned. While the unlikely duo refuse to be paired, more and more monsters known as Kegare are spilling from the mirroring world of Magano, and a familiar face from the past is behind it all. Soon, Rokuro and Benio discover that their powers are stronger combined, and before these two can have a baby, they’ll have to raise a little hell!
You can watch a subtitled preview for the series below
If you want to see more previews of the show, you can find some dubbed and subtitled clips of the series further down in this post too!
Remind me, WHAT WAS IN PART 1?
Twin Star Exorcist: Part 1 Blu-ray - Limited Edition Art Box
Part 1 of the series included the first 13 episodes of the series with both English and original Japanese with English subtitles viewing options.
When to comes to the Blu-ray version specifically, there are some bonuses! First of all included on the discs are the the following extra material: "Hanae Natsuki & Han Megumi’s Twin Star Room" Vol. 1-3, "Opening Title Sequence" Making Of... and Clean Opening & Closing Title Sequences.
Additionally, and strictly while stock lasts, there's also a BONUS storage box that will fit all four Blu-rays of the series (*Parts 2-4 sold separately). The Bonus storage box is not exclusive to any one retailer, but has a one-time print run. Which means once it's sold out, that's it! There won't be any more.
The box has a got cool reflective finish that really makes it pop out in the light! Check out the video below for a glimpse at that.
WHAT'S ON THE DOCKET FOR PARTS 2-4?
When it comes to the remaining volumes, the episode breakdown for each volume on Blu-ray and DVD will be as follows
- Part 2: episodes 14-26 | Release date: 27th May
- Part 3: episodes 27-40 | Release date: 24th June
- Part 4: episodes 41-50 | Release date: 29th July
All the episodes once again being viewable in both English and original Japanese with English subtitles.
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- Part 2 Blu-ray w/ Bonus booklet
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- Part 3 Blu-ray w/ Bonus booklet
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- Part 4 Blu-ray w/ Bonus booklet
When it comes to the Blu-ray version of each volume specifically, there will also be some additional on-disc extras - Part 2 will include vol. 3-6 of Hanae Natsuki & Han Megumi’s Twin Star Room, along with Textless Opening and Closing title sequences. Exact contents on parts 3 & 4 are to be confirmed at this time) - plus (while stock lasts) there will also be UK Exclusive 20-page "Character Profiles" booklets!
There are three 20-page Character Profiles booklets total; one being included in Parts 2, 3 & 4 respectively. This is a little extra we've created especially for our UK release of the series. These booklets are a limited edition item though, so once they are out of stock that's it!
Some of you may be wondering about how these will fit in the box that came with Part 1. Have no fear as the booklets themselves will be housed inside the Blu-ray case of each volume, which means they'll fit inside your entire collection of the series, no problem.)
WHERE/WHEN CAN I ORDER THESE?
Part 1 is available right now, with Part 2 being released on 27th May! (Just a few weeks away!) Part 3 will be released one month later on 24th June, with the fourth and final volume set for release the month after than on 29th July.
~ AllTheAnime.com Special Offer ~
Until Thursday 16th May 2019 save on pre-ordering Part 2 of Twin Star Exorcists (with the Bonus booklet) on Blu-ray!
And if that wasn't enough, if you've been meaning to start your Blu-ray collection of the series, we've got the Blu-ray of Part 1 (with the Bonus art box) is also on special offer until 16th May!
At this time we're not taking orders for Parts 3 & 4 - that'll happen closer to their respective release dates. But it's probably a fair assumption that there may be some kind of special offer for those as well ;)
You can also order these from retailers including:
Order Parts 1-3 at Amazon UK
Order Parts 2 & 3 at Zavvi
Order Parts 1 & 2 at Base.com
Order Parts 1-4 at Anime-on-Line
So it's the perfect time to either start your collection of the series, or (finally) pick up where you left and get your order in for the next volume!
VIDEO PREVIEWS
We mentioned earlier that you can also watch a few preview clips of the series. Well here you! Check out the clips below (originally published around the time we released Part 1):
And that concludes this post! We know it's been a longer wait that anticipated, but we hope you're excited about owning the remainder of the series!
Signing out~!
Jeremy