Erased vs Erased
By Andrew Osmond.
The concluding half of the splendid anime time-travel thriller Erased arrives on 30th April as a Collector’s Blu-ray and a DVD. If you’ve not heard of the series before, hop over here for our introduction. If you’re an Erased fan, you’re in luck, as you can binge the story both in animation and live-action. And by live-action, we don’t mean a film, but a six-hour live-action Japanese series, available to Netflix subscribers. Continue Reading
Sword Art Online: Ordinal Scale Home Video Release Details. Coming to Limited Collector's Edition and standard DVD on 28th May 2018.
Hi folks! With our very special Standard Edition bundle offer for Sword Art Online II about to close at the time of writing (if you're reading this before Friday 20th April you can still purchase a copy), we know what you're all thinking: "But what about Sword Art Online the Movie: Ordinal Scale? When can we hear more about that?"
The answer to that question is simple - right here, right now! We know that many of you loved getting to see this breath-taking film on the big screen last year and are just dying to enjoy the film again in the comfort of your living room, and you'll be able to do just that from Monday, 28th May 2018 as we bring Sword Art Online the Movie: Ordinal Scale to the UK on Limited Collector's Edition Blu-ray/DVD, as well as via Standard Edition Blu-ray and DVD editions.
Needless to say it's the Collector's Edition where the magic happens, so our main focus here will be giving you a first look at what to expect from this release when you add it to your growing Sword Art Online collection. First however, let's get some housekeeping out of the way and remind you what the film is all about.
ABOUT SWORD ART ONLINE: ORDINAL SCALE
Synopsis: "The NerveGear, the world’s first dedicated full-dive device developed by the genius programmer, Akihiko Kayaba in 2022…a revolutionary machine that opened up infinite possibilities for the world of VR (Virtual Reality).
4 years later…. A next-generation, wearable multi-device called the Augma has been released to compete with the NerveGear’s successor, the Amusphere. A cutting-edge machine boasting the ability to enhance AR (Augmented Reality) to the maximum, the Augma offers a safe, user-friendly experience, as it can be used while the player is awake, making it an instant hit. Its most popular title is an ARMMORPG developed exclusively for the Augma, “Ordinal Scale (a.k.a. OS).”
Kirito is about to join Asuna and the others as an Ordinal Scale player, but they’re about to find out that it isn’t all fun and games…"
You can watch a trailer for the film below, taken from our theatrical release of the movie last year:
WHAT'S PLANNED FOR OUR COLLECTOR's EDITION?
As noted above, we'll be releasing Ordinal Scale as a Limited Collector's Edition Blu-ray/DVD combo set, so let's take a look at what our package will contain.
Let's start with the gorgeous rigid box for the film, which uses a foil finish effect applied to certain parts of the artwork and design to give an eye-catching style to the release that'll look beautiful in your hand or on a shelf.
Within that box, you'll find a digipak adorned with striking artwork featuring a number of core characters from the film, which is of course used to store the film itself in both DVD and Blu-ray formats. Both discs contain the main feature with both English and Japanese 5.1 audio together with English subtitles. The Blu-ray disc also contains a number of extras including a subtitled commentary track featuring the film's director, Tomohiko Ito, and the Japanese voice actors for the characters of Asuna and Kirito, Haruka Tomatsu and Yoshitsugu Matsuoka respectively, as well as trailers for the movie and an Ordinal Scale edition of the show's regular Sword Art OFFline feature.
Also inside you'll find a set of five art cards, each of which provides you with one of the film's key visuals to make full use of all of the artwork at our disposal.
Last but certainly not least, we've compiled a wealth of information, content and artwork to produce a 60-page book - within these pages you'll find a breakdown of the Sword Art Online story so far, information about the new technology that sits at the heart of Ordinal Scale's story, a wealth of character and setting information and artwork, in-depth character profiles for some of the major players in the film, and a comprehensive gallery of illustrations used to promote the film in Japan and beyond. It's as comprehensive a record of all things Ordinal Scale as you could possibly hope for.
WHERE CAN I ORDER THIS?
We'll be taking orders for all of our editions of Sword Art Online the Movie: Ordinal Scale via our AllTheAnime.com web shop closer to its release date, but for now you can find our product listings to bookmark and return to below.
Sword Art Online at AllTheAnime.com
Of course, you can also order our Collector's Edition from other retailers, using the buttons below:
Order at Amazon UK
Order at Zavvi
Order at Base.com
Order at HMV Online
Order at Anime-on-Line
So there you have it - the wait is almost over, and Sword Art Online the Movie: Ordinal Scale is on the brink of arriving on UK home video! As mentioned, you'll be able to pick up your copy from Monday, 28th May 2018 - order your copy today, or keep your eyes peeled for AllTheAnime.com web shop pre-orders to open over the coming weeks.
Until next time, take care!
~Andy H
Lupin the 3rd: Part IV Home Video Release Details. Ltd Collector's Ed. Blu-ray arriving on 28th May 2018.
Following our recent announcement that we've acquired the new Lupin the 3rd Part 5 series - which you can watch weekly at Crunchyroll - we mentioned there would be details about our upcoming home video release of Lupin the 3rd Part IV (aka Lupin the 3rd: The Italian Adventure) on 28th May 2018. Well, today is the the day we fill you in on the details of what to expect, plus some other important details you should know about this release too.
Read on below for all the details!
ABOUT LUPIN THE 3RD PART IV
A beloved classic franchise, Lupin the 3rd (2015) is the first full-fledged Lupin the 3rd series since 1984.
Synopsis: Master thief Lupin the Third returns to the spotlight when he's poised to marry the danger-loving, Italian superstar Rebecca Rossellini. But once his high-profile wedding is interrupted by his eternal rival Inspector Zenigata, the chase is on! In this clever and colorful series, Lupin gallivants across Italy and beyond, chasing treasure and pleasure. No mission is impossible for Lupin: exploring haunted houses,fighting the mafia, running from zombies, swiping the Mona Lisa, escaping a custom-made prison,or even just lending a hand to strangers in need.
He's aided by the loyal gunslinger Jigen and the ace swordsman Goemon, while his beautiful partner-slash-rival Fujiko Mine keeps him on his toes. But this time, the super-powered MI6 agent Nyx is eager to bring Lupin down. And could that bearded street artist really be the great Leonardo da Vinci, back from the dead? The mysteries of the Dream of Italy will be revealed as Lupin the Third takes on the Italian Adventure!
You can watch a preview for show, that was published prior to its airing in Japan, below
hang on, this is "PART 4"?!
In short, yes. But in our honest opinion you can jump into this series whether you have some prior knowledge of the franchise, a lot, or even no knowledge at all. The entire series of "Part 4" is one self-contained story. You'll become very acclimated with the characters quickly too, so you have nothing to fear on that front.
WHAT'S PLANNED FOR THE Ltd. Collector's Ed. Blu-ray RELEASE?
28th May 2018 will mark the first time a full Lupin the 3rd series is released on home video in the UK, so we wanted to make sure we utilise some of the gorgeous art from the series! Here's what our Ltd Collector's Edition Blu-ray will look like -
Ltd Collector's Ed. Blu-ray
It will come packed in a rigid case with a digipak to hold the four Blu-ray discs. Also included is a 60-page art book that looks at characters from the series, props (i.e. gadgets, vehicles and more), backgrounds and concept art. The rigid case will come with an o-card (aka slipcover) around it too.
When it comes to the episodes themselves, in this Ltd Collector's Ed. Blu-ray release each episode is in Japanese with English subtitles only. You get the entire series, which includes the two episodes "Venice of the Dead" and "Non Rendezvous", which were released separately in Japan as bonus OVA episodes.
WHERE CAN I ORDER THIS?
You can pre-order this from retailers now including the following:
Order at Amazon
Order at Zavvi
Order at Base.com
Order at HMV Online
Order at Anime-On-Line
Pre-orders at our AllTheAnime.com web shop will commence on 11th May 2018. (There may even be a special offer to coincide with that too ;) ) In the interim you can view the listing here:
BUT WAIT, ISN'T THERE AN ENGLISH DUB OF THE SERIES?
Yes there is, so this is where things get tricky and is also partly the reason why it's taken us far longer to release the series than was originally anticipated. So, we want to put all our cards on the table and let you know where things stand, the circumstances that have had to be taken into consideration for this, and what is going to happen down the line:
- When the series originally aired, it premiered first in Italy, not in Japan. It came to light later on that there were particular video materials used for the Italian broadcast that differ to the materials used in the Japanese broadcast, when the series later aired in Japan.
- When the series was dubbed into English, the dub was created utilising the Italian broadcast video assets, not the Japanese broadcast video assets. This meant that there were differences between the two.
"Why is this is a problem?" you ask. To give some context, when you select audio options on other anime Blu-rays, both the English and Japanese audio are timed to match with the video materials. This is why it's easy to switch between the two. But in this case, because there are differences between the two versions in terms of video footage it was simply not possible to include both language options on a single Blu-ray release.
However, that doesn't mean we aren't going to be releasing the English dub version of the series...
- We are happy to confirm that the English language audio version of the series will be getting its own Blu-ray release. However it will be made available as a separate standard edition Blu-ray release that will be exclusive to our AllTheAnime.com web shop in the future. (No release date has been announced for this edition at this time)
- The reason it will be exclusive to our AllTheAnime.com web shop is that we aware there is some demand for the series dubbed, but far more interest has been shown in the subtitled version compared to the English dub. So we wanted to make sure we honoured our commitment to fans and still found a way to be able to bring the English dub version out in some form for those who want it, without impacting those who have been patiently waiting for the subtitled version and just want to own the series.
- We know that for some people this may be hard to accept, but the very unique circumstances regarding the video and audio materials for the series has meant this is the only way we can release the English dub while trying to keep the cost down as much as possible for you, the fans. (A similar solution has been implemented in other territories as well, so it's not just us doing this)
But I WANT TO BUY BOTH THE SUBTITLED VERSION AND DUBBED VERSION.
how much will that cost me?
We want to make it known now that while the English dub release will be exclusive to our AllTheAnime.com web shop, if you are someone who is planning to order the Ltd Collector's Ed. (subtitle-only) Blu-ray version from our AllTheAnime.com web shop or buy it from the AllTheAnime stand at any event we exhibit at, you will be eligible for a discount on purchasing the standard ed. English dub version Blu-ray when it's available.
If you do so, you will be entitled to purchase a single copy the standard edition dubbed version Blu-ray for only £10 when it is available. (Again, no release date announced at this time)
TERMS & CONDITIONS OF THIS OFFER:
- This offer will only be available to anyone who purchases the Ltd Collector's Ed. (subtitle-only) Blu-ray from our AllTheAnime.com web shop or from the AllTheAnime stand at any event we exhibit at. This DOES NOT AND WILL NOT apply to purchases made at any other retailer (be it online or at an event).
- Purchasing one copy of the Ltd Collector's. Ed (subtitle-only) Blu-ray will entitle you to purchase one copy of the standard edition dubbed version Blu-ray at the £10 discounted price.
- Once the standard edition dubbed version Blu-ray is ready, everyone who purchased the Ltd Collector's Ed. (subtitled-only) Blu-ray from our AllTheAnime.com web shop will be contacted via email with details on how to redeem the offer.
- If you purchase the Ltd Collector's Ed. (subtitled-only) Blu-ray from the AllTheAnime stall at an event, you will need to send an email to shop.uk@alltheanime.com that includes a photo showing both your receipt and the purchased product in the same photo. We will then contact you via email once the standard edition dubbed version Blu-ray is ready with further instructions on how to redeem the offer.
Again, to clarify there's no definitive time frame on when the standard edition and this offer will be available for redemption, but this is something we will honour at any time provided you follow the conditions and instructions above. :)
F.A.Q. About Lupin the 3rd Part IV
There's a lot of info we've thrown at you in this post. This F.A.Q. section is mostly here to summarise the above.
--- When is the Ltd Collector's Ed. (subtitled-only) Blu-ray being released?
29th May 2018.
--- What language are the episodes on the Ltd Collector's Ed. (subtitled-only) Blu-ray?
Japanese with English subtitles only.
--- What's the SRP of the Ltd Collector's Ed. Blu-ray?
The SRP is £69.99. (Obviously, this is before respective retailers apply their own discounts - £69.99 ultimately shouldn't be the price you pay for it.)
--- Will there be a release of the English dub of the series.
Yes. It will be released as a standard edition Blu-ray exclusive to AllTheAnime.com in the future. (No release date announced at time of writing.)
--- Why aren't both language options available in the Ltd Collector's Ed Blu-ray?
Please read the section above titled "But wait, isn't there an English dub of the series?", as we go into detail there.
--- I watch all of my anime with an English dub, what do I do?
Fear not, we will also be releasing the series in full as a standard edition Blu-ray featuring the show's English dub, at a time yet to be confirmed.
--- But I want to own both language versions!
We will be offering the dubbed version (when available) at a greatly reduced cost to anyone who purchases the Ltd Collector's Ed. (subtitle-only) version from our AllTheAnime.com web shop or from the AllTheAnime stall at an event we exhibit at. Please see the section above for details on our dub "upgrade" scheme!
--- Will the series be getting released on DVD at all?
No. It will only be released on Blu-ray only due to lack of demand for a DVD edition of the series.
--- Do I need to have seen any other incarnation of Lupin the 3rd to be able to enjoy Part IV?
In short, no. Each incarnation of the franchise, while in the same universe, is very much a self-contained story. So you can jump into this if you've never watched any Lupin the 3rd series before, no problem.
--- Are the two episodes that were OVAs in Japan included?
Yes, "Venice of the Dead" and "Non Rendezvous" are included on our release.
That about wraps up this post! We hope you're excited about adding this series to your collection! It'll be the first time that an entire Lupin the 3rd series has been released in the United Kingdom on home video, and we're very excited to give fans the opportunity to own a piece of this franchise.
Obviously once we can update you and share more details on the English dub standard ed. Blu-ray, we'll be sure to do so - as always, watch this space.
Signing out~!
Jeremy
Mamoru Hosoda’s Mirai to receive world premiere at Cannes Festival. First Japanese animation to receive a world premiere at the prestigious event.
Back in February, we revealed the exciting news that we'll be bringing the latest film from the renowned director Mamoru Hosoda to the UK, with his new film Mirai set to screen in cinemas right across the UK during the final quarter of 2018.
Yesterday saw even more exciting news emerge around the film, as the iconic Cannes Film Festival revealed that it will be hosting Mirai's world premiere during their prestigious Director’s Fortnight (aka Quinzaine) during the month of May. This is the first time any Japanese animated work has received a world premiere at the event, which is a fantastic achievement and a testament to the quality of the film.
For more details, you can read the full press release below from Fetch Publicity.
Mirai - the first Japanese animation to receive a world premiere at Cannes Film Festival
Wednesday 18th April 2018, London - Following the official Festival du Cannes announcement, Anime Ltd. is pleased to confirm that Mirai will receive its World Premiere at the 2018 Cannes Film Festival and screen as part of the prestigious Director’s Fortnight (Quinzaine) sidebar in May. Mirai will be the first Japanese animation ever to receive a world premiere on the Croisette.
Mirai is created, written and directed by Mamoru Hosoda (The Boy and the Beast, The Girl Who Leapt Through Time and Summer Wars) and comes from Hosoda’s own production company Studio Chizu and will be released by Toho in Japan. The UK release is set for later in 2018 from Anime Ltd. and National Amusements.
Synopsis
The birth of a sibling is a joyous time for many, but not for Kun. Four years old and spoiled rotten, he sees baby sister Mirai as competition for his parents’ love. Amidst the luscious leaves of a mysterious garden, a magical encounter with his little sister from the future will send the siblings on an intimate journey through time and space, to confront the boy’s uncertain feelings and prepare him to be the big brother he needs to be.
Following the announcement, Anime Ltd. president Andrew Partridge commented:
“Working on Mamoru Hosoda's Mirai is a dream come true for the whole team here at Anime Limited in the UK and France. To see it come to Cannes and be the first ever world premiere of an anime there, as well as only the second ever anime in Director’s Fortnight, is a huge honour and a great starting point for people to see the film. We can’t wait to see what people think of it!”
You can find the original announcement of our acquisition elsewhere on our blog. You can also check out an initial teaser trailer (with English subtitles) for the film below.
We'll have plenty more to say about Mirai over the coming months as we move towards its release in UK cinemas, so keep a close eye on all of our usual channels as we hope to have no shortage of exciting news to share!
Until next time, take care folks.
~Andy H
Books: Ghost in the Shell
By Andrew Osmond.
Like or hate it, last year’s live-action Ghost in the Shell performed a service in reminding many people of the Japanese original. But many people probably thought of one Ghost only. At least in Britain and America, it does seem that the 1995 cinema anime film, directed by Mamoru Oshii and co-produced by Britain’s Manga Entertainment, overshadows all other Ghosts – a bit like Wizard of Oz being eternally defined by the MGM musical. (Sorry, Wicked fans.)
This did the Hollywood Ghost no favours. On the one hand, the film lifted umpteen images and set-pieces from the Oshii film, highlighted in the trailer (discussed here). But it altered the characters and story so completely that many fans were more offended than gratified. It’s easy to forget how many Ghosts there had already been, taking the characters, world and themes in numerous different ways, reflecting the outlooks of umpteen artists.
The new book Ghost in the Shell ReadMe: 1995-2017, available in English from Kodansha, attempts to redress the balance. It’s a guide to all the anime versions of Ghost, starting with the Oshii film and moving through his Innocence sequel, Stand Alone Complex and Arise, and ending with the misleadingly named Ghost in the Shell: The New Movie (which is a cinema continuation of Arise). Continue Reading