As review copies are out in the wild (ours will be up tomorrow) for the September 2nd, 2014 release of Gatchaman Crowds on DVD and Blu-ray from Sentai Filmworks, the questions have hit the distributor regarding the last episode of the first season. That episode had a director’s cut produced for it due to issues during the production when it was broadcast that ended up on the Japanese home video release. Sentai Filmworks responded to a question via Right Stuf as to whether it’s on the release.
“That particular episode, what people call the ‘OVA episode,’ belongs to someone else, not the original licensor that we did business with to acquire the 12 episode series. I can’t say with absolute certainty that we won’t get it in the future, but for now it is exclusive to Japan.”
Plot concept: A secret war rages in the shadows of Tachikawa City, where every day its unsuspecting citizens fall prey to the unseen and unfamiliar foes around them. With the citizens powerless to stop their erratic and indefensible attacks, a new kind of hero emerges to push back the encroaching darkness: enter the Gatchaman! Gifted with alien technology the likes of which the world has never seen, and imbued with a much needed jolt of whimsy and adventure from its latest oddball recruit, Hajime Ichinose, the Gatchaman’s mission is to protect in secret, to defend unnoticed. Meanwhile, a new online sensation is exploding within the city: Rui Ninomiya’s massive social networking hub known as GALAX is taking hold of the populace, turning every day “GALAXters” into heroes in the making.
Unfortunately, a new yet familiar foe known only as Berg Katze sees an opportunity to create chaos in the streets, coercing the techno-prodigy Rui with thoughts of social justice while secretly bending the GALAX Network to his will! Unable to understand his motives, the Gatchaman will have to rely on their energetic new member to figure out the puzzle laid bare by the former Gatchaman as his army grows stronger by the minute. An explosion of bright lights and pulse pounding rhythms comes together for an unforgettable, action packed experience as Hajime and the rest of the Gatchaman try to update the world together in GATCHAMAN CROWDS!