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Monday 18 July 2016

Industry News: Funimation October 2016 Release Slate

This month includes two major license rescues getting new releases as well as a mix of everything else.

Here's the list of anime that Funimation have scheduled for the month of October 2016.

This month we have no new shows getting English dubs but one movie has been given the treatment. The rest are re-releases for either the Classics line, S.A.V.E. line or just a license rescue getting a new form of release.

In total we have 8 new/rescue titles in the line-up:
 - 2 special Collector's/Premium Edition releases
 - 1 live-action Japanese film
 - 4 license rescues given a release for the first time in ages
 - 1 anime film getting a release (never before)
 - 1 series given the Collection treatment
 - 3 re-release given the S.A.V.E. treatment
 - 1 re-releases given the Classics treatment
 - 2 titles getting released in sub-only format
 - 3 titles never before released (not including part releases)

4th October 2016


Attack on Titan Part 1 (live-action Japanese film)
Region: A and 1
Publisher: Toho
Format: Blu-ray and DVD (as a combo pack and a separate DVD release)
Languages: Japanese (w/English subs)
Price (SRP): $34.98 [Combo], $29.98 [DVD]

Extras (Blu-ray): Japanese Trailer Version 1, Japanese Trailer Version 2, U.S. Theatrical Trailer, Trailers
Extras (DVD): Trailers


Blood-C - Complete Series (S.A.V.E. Edition)
Region: A and 1
Publisher: Production I.G.
Format: Blu-ray and DVD (as a combo pack)
Languages: English & Japanese (w/English subs)
Price (SRP): $29.98

Extras: Episode Commentary (6, 12), Original Commercials, Promotional Videos, Textless Songs, U.S. Trailer, Trailers


Blood-C: The Last Dark (S.A.V.E. Edition)
Region: A and 1
Publisher: Production I.G.
Format: Blu-ray and DVD (as a combo pack)
Languages: English & Japanese (w/English subs)
Price (SRP): $24.98

Extras: U.S. Actor & Staff Commentary, NoNeNoNe Theater Parts 1-6, Promotional Videos, Original Teaser, Original Trailer, U.S. Trailer, Trailers


Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion - Complete Season One
Region: A and 1
Publisher: Sunrise
Format: Blu-ray and DVD (as separate releases)
Languages: English & Japanese (w/English subs)
Price (SRP): $64.98 [Blu-ray], $54.98 [DVD]

Extras: Audio Commentary (1, 4, 5, 8, 11, 14, 19, 21), Picture Drama (1, 3.25, 4.33, 6.75, 8.75, 9.33, 9.75, 22.25, 23.95), U.S. Voice Actor Interviews: Johnny Yong Bosch, Yuri Lowenthal, Kate Higgins, Karen Strassman, Textless Opening Songs (COLORS Ver. 1, COLORS Ver. 2, Kaidokufunou, Hitomi no Tsubasa), Textless Closings Songs (COLORS, Yukyou Seishun Ka, Kaidokufunou, Mosaic Kakera Ver. 1, Mosaic Kakera Ver. 2), Trailers


Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion - Complete Season Two
Region: A and 1
Publisher: Sunrise
Format: Blu-ray and DVD (as separate releases)
Languages: English & Japanese (w/English subs)
Price (SRP): $64.98 [Blu-ray], $54.98 [DVD]

Extras: Audio Commentary (1, 4, 6, 8, 12, 15, 19, 21, Final (Staff & Cast sides)), Picture Drama (0.923, 0.56, 7.19, 9.34, 12.59, 12.31, 19.02, 22.05, 25.01), Extra Flash: Baba Theater Redux Episodes 1-9, Broadcast Version of Next Turn (1-24), Textless Opening Songs (O2, WORLD END Ver. 1, WORLD END Ver. 2), Textless Closings Songs (Shiawase Neiro, Waga Routashi Aku no Hana Ver. 1, Waga Routashi Aku no Hana Ver. 2), U.S. Trailer, Trailers


Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion - Complete Seasons One & Two (Collector's Edition)
Region: A
Publisher: Sunrise
Format: Blu-ray
Languages: English & Japanese (w/English subs)
Price (SRP): $139.98

Extras: Same on-disc content as Seasons One & Two standard editions
Extras (CE): A bunch of art-cards


Jinsei: Life Consulting - Complete Series
Region: A and 1 (regions not final)
Publisher: YTV
Format: Blu-ray and DVD (as a combo pack)
Languages: Japanese (w/English subs)
Price (SRP): $49.98

Extras: Textless Songs, U.S. Trailer, Trailers (Funi page is broken, extras are not final)


Strike Witches the Movie
Region: A and 1 (regions not final)
Publisher: Kadokawa Pictures
Format: Blu-ray and DVD (as a combo pack)
Languages: English & Japanese (w/English subs)
Price (SRP): $34.98

Extras: Original Theatrical Promotional Video, Blu-ray/DVD Promotional Video, U.S. Trailer, Trailers

11th October 2016


Level E - Complete Series (S.A.V.E. Edition)
Region: A and 1
Publisher: TV Tokyo
Format: Blu-ray and DVD (as a combo pack)
Languages: English & Japanese (w/English subs)
Price (SRP): $29.98

Extras: Japanese Live Action Promo Video, Voice Actor Commentary for Select Episodes, Cast Interview.


Lupin the Third: The Woman Called Fujiko Mine - Complete Series (Anime Classics)
Region: A and 1
Publisher: TMS
Format: Blu-ray and DVD (as a combo pack)
Languages: English & Japanese (w/English subs)
Price (SRP): $29.98

Extras: Episode 06 Commentary (Brina Palencia, Josh Grelle), Episode 09 Commentary (Christopher R. Sabat, Sonny Strait), Lupin the Third: The Woman Called Fujiko Mine Cast Reunion (English 2.0), Fujiko Mine at OkraTron 5000 (English 2.0), Textless Opening Song, Textless Closing Song, U.S. Trailer, Trailers

18th October 2016


Escaflowne: The Movie
Region: A and 1 (regions not final)
Publisher: Sunrise
Format: Blu-ray and DVD (as a combo pack)
Languages: English (Bandai & Funimation) & Japanese (w/English subs)
Price (SRP): $34.98

Extras: U.S. Trailer, Trailers (Funi page is broken, extras are not final)


The Vision of Escaflowne - Part 1
Region: A B and 1 4 (regions not final)
Publisher: Sunrise
Format: Blu-ray and DVD (as a combo pack)
Languages: English (Bandai & Funimation) & Japanese (w/English subs)
Price (SRP): $54.98

Extras: Special Thanks to Escaflowne Kickstarter Backers, Inside Look: A Conversation on Escaflowne, Club Escaflowne, Music Videos, Textless Songs, Trailers (Funi page is broken, extras are not final)


The Vision of Escaflowne - Part 2
Region: A B and 1 4 (regions not final)
Publisher: Sunrise
Format: Blu-ray and DVD (as a combo pack)
Languages: English (Bandai & Funimation) & Japanese (w/English subs)
Price (SRP): $54.98

Extras: Inside Look: A Conversation with the Creators, Club Escaflowne, Music Videos, Textless Songs, Trailers (Funi page is broken, extras are not final)


The Vision of Escaflowne - Complete Series & Movie (Collector's Edition)
Region: A B (regions not final)
Publisher: Sunrise
Format: Blu-ray
Languages: English (Bandai & Funimation) & Japanese (w/English subs)
Price (SRP): $179.98

Extras: Same on-disc extras as the Standard Edition sets (Funi page is broken, extras are not final)
Extras (CE): 40 page Hardcover artbook, and a replica of Hitomi’s pendant

25th October 2016


In Search of the Lost Future - Complete Series
Region: A B and 1 (regions not final)
Publisher:
Format: Blu-ray and DVD (as a combo pack)
Languages: Japanese (w/English subs)
Price (SRP): $54.98

Extras: Textless Opening Song ''Le jour'', Textless Closing Song ''Ashita Mata Aeru Yo N''", US Trailer, Trailers (Funi page is broken, extras are not final)

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In a sense this is a small month for Funimation.

For starters we have 4 license rescues getting a home release; Code Geass, Code Geass R2, Escaflowne & Escaflowne the Movie. All of these are part of the Sunrise license deal that Funimation made a few years ago (Cowboy Bebop was the first to get a release). The Code Geass contents is pretty solid as they managed to acquire a majority of the on-disc content from the Bandai era but the collector's edition is an honest disappointment as it's just a box and some art-cards, especially when you compare it to the Bandai special sets that were made. As for Escaflowne, the collector's edition looks nice but they literally screwed over everyone who backed the kickstarter for the Funimation English dub by making the set available to the public at a much lower price range (SRP is the same, but thanks to discounts.. you get the idea). Overall the extras are still not finalised and I'm baffled that they're giving it the two part treatment when it didn't need it whatsoever. To me I'll be getting the standard editions for Code Geass and keeping an eye on what the Anime Limited Ultimate Edition Escaflowne set has to offer.

For new shows we have two titles from many seasons back finally seeing a release; In Search of the Lost Future (from the Autumn 2014 season) and Jinsei: Life Consulting (from the Summer 2014 season). While both titles are coming to Blu-ray, neither of them will be getting an English dub however. I know many get tacked off when a show doesn't get dubbed but to be honest if it weren't for the subtitle only releases Funimation have been putting out recently, both of these shows would probably not see a retail release at all (as an example; C3 was released way back in 2011 and it was only until this year that it managed to get a retail release thanks to the sub-only treatment). I will pick up both shows when I have the time.

The other new addition to this month's release slate is Strike Witches the Movie. This film was released in Japan a couple years back and it was picked up by Funimation from the Kadokawa package deal back in Otakon 2014 which included Haruhi, Lucky Star, this film and also Steins;Gate the Movie, the latter of which has yet to see a release but knowing everyone I'm willing to bet it'll be here before 2017. The Strike Witches film pickup is also quite the surprise considering both seasons are on the S.A.V.E. line, so I'm glad that it's been acquired in addition to an English dub.

In terms of re-releases we have 3 S.A.V.E. editions, all are thankfully still on Blu-ray, and 1 surprising addition to the Anime Classics brand. For the S.A.V.E. line we have Blood-C and it's film, and Level E. Blood-C was no surprise, the show was average and the death scenes were unintentionally hilarious, the movie was okay to say. I'm surprised they didn't put both the TV series and movie together in one set like Fafner, but I guess licensing restrictions were still in effect. The other title Level E, was a pretty fun and enjoyable show with humour being subjective however, as it's been given a mixed reception in the community (some like the jokes, others don't get it or not like it). Level E is also from the same creator as Yu Yu Hakusho and Hunter x Hunter with its original source material made from back in the 90s. I'm just glad that the show is still getting a Blu-ray release unlike some S.A.V.E. sets like Baka & Test, Good Luck Girl! and Princess Jellyfish.

And there's the live-action Attack on Titan Part 1 film. I've been waiting for this day.

That's it for this month's release slate. I do think these next two months may have some surprises like titles from the Summer 2015 season or perhaps The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya and Steins;Gate the movie.

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Member of the Anime UK News forum, and also once part of the Sheffield Hallam Visual Arts society throughout 2013-2017. Been collecting anime since 2012 and supported the anime distributors ever since. Also been hanging around on the Blu-ray forum and Fandom Post forums.

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