Manga UK reveal new acquisitions and forthcoming release dates for Q4 2012

Over the last week a fair amount of news has come to light for forthcoming anime releases. At the MCM Manchester Expo last weekend, Manga Entertainment’s Jerome Mazandarani hosted a panel where he confirmed the new licences and release dates.

First of all the new licenses are:

• Production IG’s Guilty Crown, set for release on both DVD & Blu-Ray
• Fractale will be released on DVD on December 10th
• Jormungand
• Aria The Scarlet Ammo

Forthcoming release dates now confirmed are:

• The World God Only Knows on October 1st
• Blue Exorcist Part 2 on October 22nd
• Tales of Vesperia: The First Strike on December 3rd
• Gintama: The Movie on DVD on December 24th
• The first box set of Persona 4 The Animation on DVD & Blu-Ray on December 24th
• The first of the new Berserk movies will also see a December 24th release date.

A few days later via their twitter account, it was also confirmed that season 4 of Hetalia: World Series will be released on DVD in December.

“Lagrange – The Flower Of Rin-ne” Season 2 now showing on Anime On Demand

Season 2 now streaming on Anime-On-Demand.com

Anime On Demand have been very quiet the past few seasons when it comes to new simulcasts but you will be delighted to hear they now have new content available on their site in the form of second season of Lagrange – The Flower Of Rin-ne.

The first two episodes are available for streaming now with a new episode being made available every week thereafter. You can find the hub page for season two on the Anime On Demand site HERE.

(If you’ve not seen first season don’t fret as all twelve episodes are still available to view HERE.)

We’ll be sure to keep you updated on any further developments with Anime On Demand streaming service when the information becomes available.

MCM Manchester Expo is this Saturday – all the info an anime goer needs

The MCM Manchester Expo is this weekend and it promises to be another busy Saturday packed with bargains and interesting content for those attending. MCM Expo have published the entire show guide that can be viewed HERE.

From an anime goers perspective there a few notes to make mention of. There will be a few panels, the chance to meet Vic Mignogna and the Manga UK stand will also have special DVD and Blu-Ray deals. With that in mind here’s the info you need to know –

Ninja Scroll Blu-Ray release date pushed back to November.

Release date pushed back to November

Following the original announcement back in May (SEE HERE), we’ve just got word from Manga Entertainment’s publicist that the forthcoming release of the Steel Tin DVD/Blu-Ray of Ninja Scroll has been delayed until November 26th from its orignal October 15th release date.

“Due to unforeseen circumstances Manga UK has been forced to push back the release date of Ninja Scroll to the 26th November 2012. Manga are delighted to be releasing this anime classic on Blu-ray for the first time and would like to thank fans for their patience and support.”

Remember you can still pre-order this title at Amazon UK HERE.

Crunchyroll adds ‘Moyashimon Returns’ to streaming lineup.

Following it’s original series, Moyashimon Returns has been unveiled as the latest addition to Crunchyroll’s Summer Season lineup. Here’s the info on the show direct from Crunchyroll:

“MOYASHIMON RETURNS picks up where the last season left off as our protagonist Tadayasu Sawaki, a first-year college student at an agricultural university, continues to have the unique ability to see and communicate with micro-organisms and bacteria. Still alongside good friend Kei Yuuki, whose family runs a sake brewery, he develops an even deeper understanding of bacteria world with his special ability!”

Subscribers will be able to watch this show every Thursday at 6pm GMT (non-subscribers a week later.)

You can add to the other titles available to UK as part of this Summer season. CLICK HERE to find out about the show series on offer at Crunchyroll this season.

Mayo Chiki DVD pushed back to 2013 by MVM Entertainment

Mayo Chiki’s UK release by MVM Entertainment pushed back to 2013

MVM Entertainment have confirmed via their official Facebook page that they have pushed their intended DVD release of Mayo Chiki back to 2013 due to there now being no English dub available from Sentai Filmworks in USA as originally expected.

“So it turns out Mayo Chiki is NOT being dubbed. We’ve pushed this back to 2013 now. We’re planning on releasing Rozen Maiden: Overture for November to replace Mayo Chiki – will be up for pre order later today.”

As confirmed form the quote above, Rozen Maiden: Overture will now see a November release in place of Mayo Chiki.
You will be able to pre-order Rozen Maiden: Overture at the MVM shop HERE later today.

Late night “Akira” screenings at Gate Picturehouse in London this weekend.

The Gate Picturehouse in Notting Hill Gate, London will be holding two opportunities for you to see Akira on the big screen this weekend. Best of all both screenings will be also be raising money for the Plan UK charity.

They will be screening the movie this coming Friday (20th) and Saturday (21st) at 11pm as part of the ‘Late Cinema At The Gate’ series of screenings. You can find all the info below:

For many years, the Gate Cinema was the number one choice for late screenings in London – and we’ve decided to bring them back! Late Cinema at Gate Cinema is a regular event in which we showcase some of our favourite films, and have a little fun too. We have reduced ticket prices for the events, but do ask that everyone attending makes a voluntary donation to our collection for Plan UK. 

Akira at the Gate Picturehouse, Notting Hill Gate, London

Akira
Based on his own apocalyptic sci-fi comic strip of epic length and success, Katsuhiro Otomo’s AKIRA is set in a devastated Tokyo that is slowly being rebuilt 30 years after nuclear destruction.

The inner city remains chaotic and dangerous, the scene of perpetual war between pill-popping motorbike gangs, of riots by the hungry and dispossessed. Ruled by a repressive military government, the masses are swayed by religious fanatics who predict the second coming of the legendary Akira.

But the cult is challenged by Tetsuo, a young biker who is losing control of his recently discovered telekinetic powers – powers which threaten the end of the world.

Tickets are £8.50 (excluding booking fees) on both days. You can book tickets HERE.

DVD Review – Bleach: Series 9 Part 1 (Episodes 168-178)

Available on DVD now

As we dive back into the world of Bleach, you will recall we last left our heroes in the world of Hueco Mundo as they strive to put a stop to Aizen and his fiendish… wait, that tale isn’t continuing for a while? Instead we’re going to be treated to a new standalone story set in the world of the living (that has nothing to do with the ongoing story from the last volume) surrounding a mysterious trio taking refuge on Earth?

This is what you will be met with as you pop in this DVD set. As mentioned in my review of Series 8 Part 2 (read it HERE) due to production issues when the series first aired – namely that the anime was far too close to the Manga of Bleach being published at the same time in Japan – series 9 began a new original story to break the flow of what we had been watching. But I’m happy to report that from my perspective this is actually a welcomed change and isn’t as bad of an occurrence as some might perceive. Yes it is an original story, which I appreciate can be a major turn off for some people, but the good thing about this collection of episodes is that it does takes us back to some older ground of the Bleach universe. We get to see our heroes in the world of living attending school and joking around with each other, reminding us that at the end of the day they are only high school students. (Something that in all honestly I had forgotten about given the serious overtone of the Hueco Mundo story.) So, although it has created a bump in the road of a story we have already invested a lot of time in, it is nice to have a break once in a while before plowing on with whatever awaits us next (in this instance) in Hueco Mundo.

Blu-Ray Review – Angel Beats Complete Collection

Available on DVD & Blu-Ray now

Imagine that you wake up outdoors and crouched down in front of you is a school girl pointing a sniper rifle at a fellow student, who apparently is the enemy, standing across the courtyard. This same girl who’s wielding said sniper rifle then tries to recruit you for a group she fronts during which time you have been informed that you’re now in the afterlife. This is exactly what you can expect in the opening scene of Angel Beats as you follow the (very unique) journey of Otonashi who has no clue what’s going on coupled with the fact he has amnesia & doesn’t remember anything about himself. (Not exactly the greatest condition to be in given the circumstances.)

As you may have guessed Angel Beats surrounds a group of students trying maintain a strong opposing force against Angel, the girl I mentioned who was having a sniper rifle (unbeknownst to her) waiting to deliver a shot to her cranium, in a world that could be best described as unique version of the afterlife that is confined to the grounds a high school. The goal of the students is simple: remain in that world. If they cause an imbalance on how the things should run or perhaps how they conduct themselves in certain situations, they will likely be met with consequences (usually Angel, who coincidentally is the student council leader, coming along to dish out some punishment) or perhaps even being ‘obliterated’.

DVD Review – Welcome To The Space Show

Available on DVD and as Blu-Ray/DVD Combo pack now

Space has always been on the list of challenges for man, a seemingly infinite plateau of cosmic science that even the most advanced scientists are still struggling to find answers too. With the first rocket launches all the way through to the international space station, we are still light-years away from conquering this dark and secretive place.

The joy of this unknown is the wonderful curiosity we find in our imaginations to speculate the ‘what ifs’ of space that lend itself so well to fictional story telling.

Welcome To The Space Show opens with a furious yet beautiful chase between alien life forms, already wetting the palette with some amazing effects and colours, in combat over a substance know as ‘zughan’. After all the commotion disperses, we meet our little group, whom are all on their way to summer camp. Whilst searching for Amane’s pet rabbit, Pyon-kichi, which her elder cousin Natsuki has let escape, our group, lead by the eldestKiyoshi, including Noriko, a quiet but morally strong character and Koji, an enthusiastic young boy, come a cross a crop circle, uncovering a hurt little dog and decide to bring him back and nurse him to health.