Hatsune Miku in Concert
By Andrew Osmond.
I’ll assume everyone clicking on this review knows who (or less gallantly, what) Hatsune Miku is, so let’s skip that. On Saturday night, the green twin-tailed Vocaloid hit London for her very first “live” performance at Kensington Olympia. If we were reviewing her performance as a piece of software, then it’d be fair to describe Miku’s Brit debut as entirely satisfying, with neither disappointments nor surprises. As for the crowd, the audience seemed highly enthused throughout the two-hour gig – not wild all the time, but fully engaged with a performer who, after all, doesn’t actually exist. Continue Reading
Books: Lone Wolf & Cub
By Jasper Sharp.
The Lone Wolf and Cub (also known as the Baby Cart) series, comprised six feature-length films released between 15th January 1972 and 24th April 1974, which are the subject of the ninth and most recent publication from UK film distributor Arrow’s recently established Arrow Books line.
Father, Son, Sword is Arrow’s third title devoted to Japanese material, following on from Andrew Osmond’s monograph on Ghost in the Shell, published little over a year ago, and – if one doesn’t count Cult Cinema: An Arrow Video Companion (2016), an anthology comprised largely of liner note essays reproduced from their home video releases – the book that launched the imprint series proper, Unchained Melody: The Films of Meiko Kaji by Tom Mes. Continue Reading
Books: The Ghibli No-One Talks About
By Motoko Tamamuro.
I think we can see why this one wasn’t translated into English. From the moment you open Dare mo Kataranakatta Ghibli wo Kataro (Let’s Talk About the Ghibli That No One Talks About) by Ghost in the Shell director Mamoru Oshii, you are assaulted by a machine-gun salvo of incendiary language. Hayao Miyazaki “cannot direct” – he is “less than second-rate as a director.” “There is no coherent clear story”. “Mood” and “ideas” dictate his films and “there is no logic”. Meanwhile, Isao Takahata turned into a “shit intellect” who created “propaganda films.” Continue Reading
Anime Ltd. acquires Gakuen Basara: Samurai High School. Simulcasting to UK & Ireland now on Crunchyroll.
We're just a few days away from the buildup to Christmas kicking into high gear - i.e. the start of December - but today we've got a little early Christmas present for you as were happy to announce we have acquired the series Gakuen Basara: Samurai High School.
If you're not familiar with the series, fret not as we'll bring you up to speed below.
ABOUT GAKUEN BASARA: SAMURAI HIGH SCHOOL
©CAPCOM/Basara Gakuen
Synopsis: Based on the popular video game franchise, Segoku Basara, that has also had anime series too, this is a high school spin off that sure to get your blood pumping.
"A heated battle is once again revving up at Basara Academy between baseball star, Masamune Date, and soccer ace, Yukimura Sanada. What’s more, ever since student council chairman, Hideyoshi Toyotomi, received a suspension, leaving the seat up for grabs, a host of class “warlords” have become embroiled in a quest for supreme power. Amid Ieyasu Tokugawa’s appeals to bonds of kinship and Mitsunari Ishida’s fervor to defeat him, who will wrest ultimate control of the domain in “troubled” times?"
Studio: Brain's Base (Durarara!!, Baccano!, Aoharu x Machinegun and Kiss Him, Not Me)
Check out an English subtitled trailer of the series from TBS Animation below
The series is currently airing in Japan, with eight episodes (at time of writing) having been broadcast, and (though we know some of you eagle eyed people may have caught wind of this news already,) we're happy to confirm that UK & Ireland viewers can catchup on the show and watch new episodes each week via a simulcast from our good friends at Crunchyroll.
Watch Simulcast at Crunchyroll here
The first 8 episodes are available to watch right now, with new episodes being available at 2am (UK) every Saturday morning.
And for those you wondering, this is a title that will be receiving a home video release from us in the future too! But given the series is still currently airing it's really far too early to be able to give a proper estimate on when this may be, so we ask to please stay tuned for updates as we can bring them.
Make sure you checkout the simulcast of Gakuen Basara: Samurai High School today at Crunchyroll and let us know what you think of the series.
Signing out~!
Jeremy
“12 Days of Christmas” sales at AllTheAnime.com begin 1st December
It's been an annual traditions of ours at around this time year, and we're happy to confirm that our annual 12 Days of Christmas sales at our AllTheAnime online shop will be returning starting this Saturday (1st December 2018) and running through until Wednesday 12th December 2018.
For more information we encourage you to visit our online shop via the link below, as there's lots of details there give you a primer of what your bank accounts will be in for.
12 days of Christmas - HUB PAGE
TL;DR -
- There will special offers each day, including unique bundle opportunities, starting every day between 1st-12th December at 5pm each day.
- The final offer (12th December) will be the highly anticipated Mystery Box offer~! There will be three boxes available to purchase this year:
- "Team Production" (Andrew, Kat, Keith, Jessica) Ltd Collector's Ed. Blu-ray version.
It will includes 5 titles and will cost £39.99 - "Marketing & Events Team (Andy, Jeremy, Lauren) Ltd Collector's Ed. Blu-ray version.
It will include 5 titles - entirely different to the Team Production box - and will cost £39.99 - DVD Mystery Box
It will include 5 titles and will cost £29.99 (NOTE: This box may include titles that are part of the other boxes noted above, just on DVD.)
- "Team Production" (Andrew, Kat, Keith, Jessica) Ltd Collector's Ed. Blu-ray version.
It's a great chance to add some titles to your collection - be it one on your radar or one your simply taking a chance on - or perhaps buy a present for someone. Be sure to check back at our our online shop in the link above each day between 1st-12th December at 5pm each day to see what is on offer.
Signing out~!
Jeremy