Earlier this month, the developer’s blog for Square Enix’s MMO RPG Final FantasyXIV featured a post about the Moonlight Faire event. The event started on August 11, 2015 at 1:00am (PDT) and will continue until September 7, 2015 at 7:59am (PDT). Accompanying the post, which can be read here, were screenshots that revealed something that observant players may have noticed.
The development team is working on new sit poses for the game. These will be included with patch 3.1. The poses are still in development and are subject to change, but all of the examples posted on the developer’s blog are featured below. It is not yet clear what the full scope of the patch will be.
Fans of Dragon Ball Z, Mega64 and sweded videos all had something entertaining to watch earlier this month. Mega64 produced an official sweded version of the Frieza Saga from Dragon Ball Z to accompany the North American theatrical run of the film Dragon Ball Z: Resurrection ‘F’. They often release behind-the-scenes videos featuring some entertaining and interesting parts not seen in the original videos. Fans can now watch a four-minute video showing how Mega64 produced their sweded version of the Frieza Saga, explaining how they added the special effects. This video is featured below.
To watch more of Mega64’s videos, visit their official YouTube channel. It can be found here.
Sekai Project has just announced on their official Kickstarter page for the English release of Key’s visual novel Clannad that they have been able to get permission to release physical copies of the visual novel without any DRM (digital rights management). Previously, there was going to be a CD-check mechanism on the discs. This came about thanks to the opposition of the fans to DRM. Most of VisualArts’ releases contain DRM.
The Kickstarter campaign ended on January 10, 2015 with 5,819 backers pledging an overall total of $541,161 to bring the Clannad visual novel to the English-speaking world. For more information about the Kickstarter project, visit the official page here.
Uq Holder is set in the same world as one of Ken Akamatsu’s other works, Negima!. Both Negima! and another of his works, Love Hina, have been hugely successful in Japan and in North America. The Batman manga series was first published in Japan in 1966-67, and is available once again with newly restored English translations from DC Comics.
Except for the Batman manga release, which has a recommended retail price of $24.99 AUD, all of the releases listed above have a recommended retail price of $19.99 AUD. Product availability will vary from store to store.
Madman Entertainment announced four license acquisitions at their panel at SMASH! Sydney 2015 last weekend.
First up is Amagi Brilliant Park. It is based on Shuji Gatou’s on-going light novel series of the same name. The 13-episode series was adapted by Kyoto Animation. An OVA was produced, but Madman has not revealed if their release will include this. Madman describes the series as follows: “A mysterious but pretty transfer student, Sento Isuzu, asks Kanie Seiya out on a date to an amusement park. That park was Amagi Brilliant Park, featuring worn-down attractions and lackluster service — the worst in Japan.”
Next up is Yowamushi Pedal. It is based on Wataru Watanabe’s on-going manga series. TMS Entertainment has adapted the series into an OVA, two television anime seasons and three films. It is not clear how much of the anime Madman’s license covers. Madman provided a synopsis of the series:
Onoda Sakamichi is a rather timid, anime-loving first-year student at Sohoku High School. Upon entering high school, he tried to join the anime research club, but after meeting Imaizumi Shunsuke, a renowned cyclist since middle school, and Naruko Shoukichi, who swept the Kansai cycling championship, he ended up joining the competitive cycling club.
The third title is Kuroko’s Basketball. It is based on Tadatoshi Fujimaki’s 30-volume manga series. Production I.G. has adapted the series into three television seasons so far. The series is described as follows:
An up-and-coming power player, Taiga Kagami, is just back from America. When he comes to Seirin High School, he meets the super-ordinary boy, Tetsuya Kuroko. Kagami is shocked to find that Kuroko isn’t good at basketball, in fact, he’s bad! And he’s so plain that he’s impossible to see. But Kuroko’s plainness lets him pass the ball around without the other team noticing him, and he’s none other than the sixth member of the Miracle Generation.
Finally, Madman now has the Australian distribution rights to To-Love-Ru. It is based on Saki Hasemi’s 18-volume manga series. Xebec has adapted the series into four television anime seasons and two OVAs. Madman stated in their announcement that they have acquired all seasons of the series. They provided a synopsis of it:
The story is about Yuuki Rito, a high-school boy who cannot confess to the girl of his dreams, Sairenji Haruna. One day when coming home and sulking in the bath-tub a mysterious, nude girl, appears out of nowhere. Her name is Lala and she comes from the planet Deviluke, where she is the heir to the throne. Her father wants her to return to her home planet so she can marry one of the husband candidates, but she decides that she wants to marry Rito in order to stay on Earth.
Precise release plans for these four titles have not yet been revealed.
Ponycan USA recently announced the details of their final collectors’ edition release of Cute High Earth Defense Club LOVE!. It will be released on November 10, 2015 and will have a suggested retail price of $89.98 USD, although it can be pre-ordered here for $71.98 USD.
The set will feature episodes 9-12 on DVD and Blu-ray with Japanese audio and English and Spanish subtitles. On-disc extras will include six short animations (#13-#18) and the PONIMAGA and PONICUN television commercial collections. It will also feature special CD 3. Physical bonuses will include a photo-card and a booklet that will feature illustrations and song lyrics. Anyone who pre-orders this release by September 30 will receive a random super-deformed Battle Lovers character card, illustrated by Yumiko Hara, the chief animation director of the series.
Additionally, it has been confirmed that a second season of this series will be produced.
Earlier this month, Siren Visual announced their plans to release the first part of Nagi no Asukara / A Lull in the Sea on DVD in Australia on September 22, 2015. It will feature episodes 1-14 across two discs with Japanese audio, English audio and English subtitles. The on-disc extras will include textless opening and ending animations and the original Japanese trailers. It is available for pre-order here for $44.95 AUD.
Siren Visual has just announced that a three-disc limited edition Blu-ray box-set of the series is now available for pre-order here ahead of its release on September 21, 2015. It will cost $220 AUD and must be pre-ordered within the next two weeks. On-disc extras will include the textless opening and ending animations and the original Japanese trailers. It will include a full-colour 76-page hardcover art book. This will feature detailed character information, episode guides, text commentary, prop designs and full-colour background art and art settings. This, the two soundtrack CDs and the three Blu-ray discs will be housed in a premium hardcover slipcase.
FUNimation Entertainment has just announced the North American theatrical dates for the two live-action Attack on Titanfilms. Part 1 will begin its theatrical run on September 30, 2015 with part 2 following shortly after on October 20, 2015. They will be shown in cinemas across North America and Canada.
The world premiere of part 1 happened just last month in Los Angeles. There was an “extremely positive” reaction by fans to the first film at its premiere, and the series in general has taken off around the world. The films are based on the original manga series and were produced in consultation with the series’ creator, Hajime Isayama. Four spin-offs of the series have been created, as has a 25-episode anime series.
The theatrical trailer can be viewed on the official website here. A limited number of tickets will be available for advance purchase later this month.
Right Stuf revealed earlier this week the Gundam titles they have planned for release in November 2015. As with Nozomi Entertainment’s November 2015 releases, these Gundam releases will be released on November 3, 2015.
First up is the Turn A Gundam movie collection on DVD. It will contain both films, Earth Light and Moon Butterfly, with Japanese audio and English subtitles. It can be pre-ordered here.
Next up is Mobile Suit Gundam Part 1 on DVD and Blu-ray. It will feature episodes 1-21 of the original Mobile Suit Gundam television anime series with Japanese audio, English audio and English subtitles. The DVD set can be pre-ordered here. The Blu-ray set can be pre-ordered here.
Additionally, the special imported collector’s edition of Mobile Suit Gundam: The Origin volume 2 is available for pre-order until September 15. It can be pre-ordered here ahead of its November 7, 2015 release. It will feature multiple language options, including but not limited to Japanese audio, English audio and English subtitles.
Nozomi Entertainment revealed their release plans for November 2015 this week. Both of the following releases are scheduled for release on November 3, 2015.
Following on from Nozomi’s announcement at Anime Expo 2015 early last month, Umi Monogatari will be released on DVD with Japanese audio and English subtitles. All 13 episodes will be included. On-disc extras will include: Marin’s “What Is This?” episodes 1-4, the textless opening and ending animation, web promos, a promotional video and commercials.
Blessing of the Campanella will be re-released on DVD under the ‘Anime Elements’ label. The collection will come with episodes 1-12 and the 30-minute OVA in Japanese with English subtitles. On-disc extras will include: the Bathtime Specials, the textless opening and ending animations, the US trailer, promotional videos, commercials and trailers.
Both of these titles and the previously announced release of Tamayura: Hitotose are available for pre-order here.
