The folks at UK Anime have been live-tweeting a lot of things out of the MCM London Expo this weekend and UK anime fans are definitely seeing some fun things coming out of there that will be hitting their shelves later this year and next year. We’ve gone through the stream as it stands and pulled some of the best news we can find in it. A number of shows are doing well over there and the representatives have talked about how Bleach and Naruto continue to sell well and that the Professor Layton movie was Manga’s best seller for the past six months.
One interesting thing that came up and shows a very different part of how the AnimeOnDemand operation is working in the UK came when they said that they’re working with UK distributors to get DVD releases and the like of the works out. Since Crunchyroll’s legitimization, they’ve had a very quiet relationship publicly at the least with the studios, and shows do get picked up that are simulcast there by other companies for home video, but it hasn’t seemed like there’s any sort of working relationship. The UK market is different though with its size and the way the companies there have worked together over the years and they all see this as a way to raise the boat for them all while still being competitive.
On the Manga Entertainment UK front:
Manga also announce King of Thorn and Requiem for a Phantom. #anime #mcmexpo
Manga announces Freedom, previously released by Beez. #anime #mcmexpo
This will be a single disc Blu-Ray and two disc DVD release on Oct 10th. #anime #mcmexpo
Manga announces Strike Witches this October – season two expected next year. #anime #mcmexpo
FUNimation doesn’t have UK right to Panty & Stocking. Manga would love to have it, hasn’t been discussed yet. #anime #mcmexpo
Tiger & Bunny will be released by Manga Entertainment. No release date or format yet. #anime #mcmexpo
On the Kaze front:
Kaze have physical release license for Jellyfish Princess (aka Kuragehime). #anime #mcmexpo
Kaze: We have a good relationship with Fuji TV and their noitaminA slot. #anime #mcmexpo
On the MVM front:
MVM announces Ikki Tousen: Dragon Destiny. To be released as a box set in Q4. #anime #mcmexpo
Samurai Champloo has now been relicensed by MVM for the next 5 to 7 years. #anime #mcmexpo
Tower of Druaga sold exceptionally for MVM. Samurai Champloo remains their biggest seller. #anime #mcmexpo
looks like strike witches season 2 could come out late next if funimation snags it up :))