Today on Anime Update: we’ve got some awesome new releases from Funimation, news about the next film from The Girl Who Lept Through Time director Mamoru Hosoda, and more fun videos to share from our Japanese youtube searches!
First up on this week’s update: Funimation has some great new releases out today on DVD and Blu-ray – the biggest of which includes the release of the highly anticipated Dragon Ball Z – Level 1.2.
“Fear the sinister Saiyan onslaught! Celebrate the heroic return of Goku! And prepare for an epic showdown with Vegeta! For the first time ever, Dragon Ball Z is available in HD on Blu-ray! This amazing collection presents episodes eighteen through thirty-four of DBZ in unparalleled picture quality. A team of experts worked around the clock to put the greatest anime in history on the cutting edge of modern technology. This spectacular Blu-ray version of Dragon Ball Z is restored from film – frame by frame – with steps taken to ensure a pristine picture free from any imperfections. The classic 4:3 format is captured in true 1080p HD featuring the original color and epic special features! You may think you’ve seen all there is to see in the Dragon Ball Z universe, but you’re wrong. Take home this seventeen episode collection today, and fire your next Kamehameha Wave in the brilliance of Blu-ray!”
After the huge success of Level 1.1 (you can read my review of 1.1 here), I’m personally looking forward to picking up 1.2 so that I can continue watching through the (original) episodes in all their high-definition, ultra-restored glory! Seriously, the episodes look and sound amazing, and I highly recommend this release to any Dragon Ball Z fans out there (especially if you didn’t purchase the DVDs and are looking to upgrade from VHS like I was!).
Also out today from Funimation is the Yu Yu Hakusho: Eizou Hakusho OVA on DVD.
“The pulse-pounding action of Yu Yu Hakusho continues with a must-see OVA collection that’s never been released in the United States. Catch up with your favorite characters, feast your eyes on brand new animation sequences, and get the lowdown on this Shonen classic from the actors themselves. No hardcore fan would be caught dead without a copy of this one-of-a-kind collection featuring a highlight reel of the greatest fights scenes in the history of the series – and a horrifying journey into the nightmares that keep these brawlers up at night. You’ve been calling yourself a fan of Yu Yu Hakusho for years, and now it’s time to prove it. Pick up your copy of the OVA collection today! If you’ve got the guts for it.”
Next up on this week’s update:
Summer Wars and The Girl Who Lept Through Time director Mamoru Hosoda will be bringing us the film Ōkami Kodomo no Ame to Yuki (The Wolf Children Ame and Yuki) next summer in Japan – July 2012. Both The Girl Who lept Through Time and Summer Wars received critical acclaim in Japan and were extremely well received overseas – so it will just be a matter of time before a North American distribution company scoops this release up for distribution sometime later in 2012 (or early 2013). The story itself is told over a period of 13 years – a tale of love, loss, and life for a family of “half-wolves.” The Japanese website and teaser image can be found here.
Finally on this week’s update:
I’m happy to bring you another video from the depths of my Youtube history. – A Happy Holidays / Japanese Christmas commercial from Segata Sanshiro! (Author’s Note – Segata Sanshiro’s name is somewhat of a word pun and in the commercial when he says “Sega Saturn – SHIRO!” it means “You MUST play Sega Saturn!”)
Don’t know who Segata Sanshiro is? He’s a video game legend! You absolutely need to watch this next video and learn more!