Section 23 Distribution has just let loose with what Sentai Filmworks and Maiden Japan will be releasing in October and all I have to say is wow.
And mainly because my all time favorite movie, Wings of Honneamise, is getting a properly priced release in North America on both DVD and Blu-ray (what will I do with my HD-DVD copy now?).
The month has a slew of releases that have been a long time in coming such as Kokoro Connect and Campione!, which is certainly pleasing, as well as an acquisition of an old ADV Films title with Godannar. And, of course, we knew all about the Gatchman plans which kick off this month on DVD and Blu-ray. But let’s not forget about Hakuoki getting its third season on Blu-ray or the arrival of some Di Gi Charat, which makes the world a brighter place.
And the pricing on the complete Gatchaman set on Blu-ray is simple insane. 2770 minutes for $150, pre-discount? Hoo boy. Scoop that set up folks.
Product details follow, in order of release
Title: GODANNAR COMPLETE
Published by: Sentai Filmworks
Distributed by: Section23 Films
Run Time: 650 min.
Street Date: 10/1/2013
Format: DVD
Language: English & Japanese with English Subtitles
SRP: $74.98
SYNOPSIS: Five years ago, Goh, the pilot of the giant robot Dannar, rescued Anna Aoi as the monstrous Mimetic Beasts attempted to wipe human life from the planet. Now the Beasts are back, but Goh’s not going back into battle alone. Not only does his new bride-to-be Anna have a mech of her own, but their “his and her” giant robots are designed to mate together to form the ultimate in alien-smashing technology, the mighty Godannar! Unfortunately, while they may have the perfect partnership on the battlefield, things aren’t running so smoothly on the home front and when “the other woman” from Goh’s past suddenly returns, the rifts that are opened may be wide enough to put the entire defense of mankind in jeopardy! Can an international supporting cast of the wildest giant robot pilots ever hold the line until Goh and Anna can come together in the cockpit, join interlocking parts and create the perfect marriage of man, woman and machine? It’s time to love, hono r and kick serious monster ass as family ties go nuclear in GODANNAR!
Title: HAKUOKI SEASON 3 COMPLETE
Published by: Sentai Filmworks
Distributed by: Section23 Films
Run Time: 300 min.
Street Date: 10/1/2013
Format: DVD
Language: English & Japanese with English Subtitles
SRP: $59.98
SYNOPSIS: The year is 1863 and as Japan’s long festering wounds of political discord erupt into violent waves of street clashes and murder, the Tokugawa Shogunate sends a new force of masterless samurai called the Roshigumi to the aid of the Aizu forces in Kyoto. However, the new “police” are anything but a cohesive force and assassination has already split them into two opposing factions. The stronger is led by the brutal Serizawa Kamo, and the lesser by the more honorable but less assertive Kondo Isami. It is into this pack of wolves that Ryunosuke Ibuki is dragged by the rabid Serizawa. Forced to be a virtual slave by blood debt, he hates the samurai and everything they stand for. But as he sees how the other half of the samurai live, he begins to believe that there may still be a chance, for both himself and Japan, if only Kondo will step up and take down the mad dog Serizawa! Historical truth provides the bloody groundwork for cloak, sword & dagger on an epic scale in the spectacular prequel to Hakuoki, HAKUOKI ~ DAWN OF THE SHINSENGUMI!
Title: HAKUOKI SEASON 3 COMPLETE BLU-RAY
Published by: Sentai Filmworks
Distributed by: Section23 Films
Run Time: 300 min.
Street Date: 10/1/2013
Format: BD
Language: English & Japanese with English Subtitles
SRP: $69.98
SYNOPSIS: The year is 1863 and as Japan’s long festering wounds of political discord erupt into violent waves of street clashes and murder, the Tokugawa Shogunate sends a new force of masterless samurai called the Roshigumi to the aid of the Aizu forces in Kyoto. However, the new “police” are anything but a cohesive force and assassination has already split them into two opposing factions. The stronger is led by the brutal Serizawa Kamo, and the lesser by the more honorable but less assertive Kondo Isami. It is into this pack of wolves that Ryunosuke Ibuki is dragged by the rabid Serizawa. Forced to be a virtual slave by blood debt, he hates the samurai and everything they stand for. But as he sees how the other half of the samurai live, he begins to believe that there may still be a chance, for both himself and Japan, if only Kondo will step up and take down the mad dog Serizawa! Historical truth provides the bloody groundwork for cloak, sword & dagger on an epic scale in the spectacular prequel to Hakuoki, HAKUOKI ~ DAWN OF THE SHINSENGUMI!
Title: PHI-BRAIN SEASON 2 COLLECTION 2
Published by: Sentai Filmworks
Distributed by: Section23 Films
Run Time: 325 min.
Street Date: 10/8/2013
Format: DVD
Language: English & Japanese with English Subtitles
SRP: $59.98
SYNOPSIS: As the Orpheus Order continues to press their feud with Kaito, embroiling an ever increasing number of innocent bystanders in their deadly puzzles, Kaito struggles to recall just what it was he did to earn Freecell’s undying enmity. But even if he can remember, will he be able to set things right? And if he does manage to reconcile things with Freecell, will that be enough to stop the Orpheus Order? Or will the power of the mysterious Klondike be strong enough to keep the members of the Orpheus Order on task? It’s puzzles within puzzles as alliances are formed and other dissolved in Phi Brain ~ Puzzle of God: The Orpheus Order Collection 2!
Title: PHI-BRAIN SEASON 2 COLLECTION 2 BLU-RAY
Published by: Sentai Filmworks
Distributed by: Section23 Films
Run Time: 325 min.
Street Date: 10/8/2013
Format: BD
Language: English & Japanese with English Subtitles
SRP: $69.98
SYNOPSIS: As the Orpheus Order continues to press their feud with Kaito, embroiling an ever increasing number of innocent bystanders in their deadly puzzles, Kaito struggles to recall just what it was he did to earn Freecell’s undying enmity. But even if he can remember, will he be able to set things right? And if he does manage to reconcile things with Freecell, will that be enough to stop the Orpheus Order? Or will the power of the mysterious Klondike be strong enough to keep the members of the Orpheus Order on task? It’s puzzles within puzzles as alliances are formed and other dissolved in Phi Brain ~ Puzzle of God: The Orpheus Order Collection 2!
Title: CAMPIONE! COMPLETE
Published by: Sentai Filmworks
Distributed by: Section23 Films
Run Time: 325 min.
Street Date: 10/15/2013
Format: DVD
Language: English & Japanese with English Subtitles
SRP: $59.98
SYNOPSIS: Some people suddenly find religion, but for 16 year old Kusanagi Godo, it’s that REALLY old time religion that’s found him! As the result of defeating the God of War in mortal combat, Godo’s stuck with the unwanted position of Campione, or God Slayer, whose duty is to fight Herectical Gods whenever they try to muscle in on the local turf. Not only is this likely to make Godo roadkill on the Highway to Heaven, it’s also a job that comes with a lot of other problems. Like how to deal with the fact that his “enhanced status” is attracting a bevy of overly-worshippy female followers. After all, they’re just there to aid him in his demi-godly duties, right? So why is it that their leader, the demonically manipulative sword-mistress Erica Brandelli, seems to have such a devilish interest in encouraging some VERY unorthodox activities? Get ready for immortal affairs, heavenly harems and lots of dueling deities taking pious in the face as the ultimate smash, bash and thrash of the titans rocks both Heaven and Earth in CAMPIONE!
Title: CAMPIONE! COMPLETE BLU-RAY
Published by: Sentai Filmworks
Distributed by: Section23 Films
Run Time: 325 min.
Street Date: 10/15/2013
Format: BD
Language: English & Japanese with English Subtitles
SRP: $69.98
SYNOPSIS: Some people suddenly find religion, but for 16 year old Kusanagi Godo, it’s that REALLY old time religion that’s found him! As the result of defeating the God of War in mortal combat, Godo’s stuck with the unwanted position of Campione, or God Slayer, whose duty is to fight Herectical Gods whenever they try to muscle in on the local turf. Not only is this likely to make Godo roadkill on the Highway to Heaven, it’s also a job that comes with a lot of other problems. Like how to deal with the fact that his “enhanced status” is attracting a bevy of overly-worshippy female followers. After all, they’re just there to aid him in his demi-godly duties, right? So why is it that their leader, the demonically manipulative sword-mistress Erica Brandelli, seems to have such a devilish interest in encouraging some VERY unorthodox activities? Get ready for immortal affairs, heavenly harems and lots of dueling deities taking pious in the face as the ultimate smash, bash and thrash of the titans rocks both Heaven and Earth in CAMPIONE!
Title: ROYAL SPACE FORCE
Published by: Maiden Japan
Distributed by: Section23 Films
Run Time: 125 min.
Street Date: 10/15/2013
Format: DVD
Language: English & Japanese with English Subtitles
SRP: $29.98
SYNOPSIS: In a world eerily similar to our own, war between the Kingdom of Honneamise and its archrival, The Republic, seems inevitable. But even as the two nations’ rapidly evolving technology creates new ways to wage greater and more deadly forms of warfare, a small group seeks to use those same advances to propel mankind forward into the future and into space in their world’s first manned spaceflight program. For astronaut candidate Shirotsugh Lhadatt, it’s not just a journey beyond the reach of the atmosphere, but a personal odyssey as he grows from an aimless young man into a leader willing to put everything on the line in order to move the human race forward and away from the brink of Armageddon. Prepare to witness the legendary film that revolutionized the anime industry, launched the careers of dozens of today’s animation superstars and put Studio Gainax forever on the map as one of Japan’s premiere production houses. Staggering animation, brilliant storytelling and a scope that goes beyond epic combine to produce an emotional powerhouse that will send your spirit flying towards the stars with THE ROYAL SPACE FORCE: THE WINGS OF HONNEAMISE!
Title: ROYAL SPACE FORCE BLU-RAY
Published by: Maiden Japan
Distributed by: Section23 Films
Run Time: 125 min.
Street Date: 10/15/2013
Format: BD
Language: English & Japanese with English Subtitles
SRP: $39.98
SYNOPSIS: In a world eerily similar to our own, war between the Kingdom of Honneamise and its archrival, The Republic, seems inevitable. But even as the two nations’ rapidly evolving technology creates new ways to wage greater and more deadly forms of warfare, a small group seeks to use those same advances to propel mankind forward into the future and into space in their world’s first manned spaceflight program. For astronaut candidate Shirotsugh Lhadatt, it’s not just a journey beyond the reach of the atmosphere, but a personal odyssey as he grows from an aimless young man into a leader willing to put everything on the line in order to move the human race forward and away from the brink of Armageddon. Prepare to witness the legendary film that revolutionized the anime industry, launched the careers of dozens of today’s animation superstars and put Studio Gainax forever on the map as one of Japan’s premiere production houses. Staggering animation, brilliant storytelling and a scope that goes beyond epic combine to produce an emotional powerhouse that will send your spirit flying towards the stars with THE ROYAL SPACE FORCE: THE WINGS OF HONNEAMISE!
Title: DI GI CHARAT
Published by: Sentai Filmworks
Distributed by: Section23 Films
Run Time: 65 min.
Street Date: 10/22/2013
Format: DVD
Language: English & Japanese with English Subtitles
SRP: $19.98
SYNOPSIS: Dejiko is a perfectly normal princess from the planet Di Gi Charat, who arrives in Tokyo with dreams of becoming an idol. Unfortunately, girls with cat ears and a tail, and who can shoot ray beams out of their cat eyes, aren’t exactly what most prospective employers are looking for. But there’s one place where Dejiko does fit in perfectly: Akihabara, where a kindly game store owner offers a job to Dejiko, her sidekick Puchiko and their balloon-like protector Gema. But things still aren’t going to be simple, as Dejiko’s bunnysuit clad rival Rabi-en-Rose wants to become an idol too. And when the notorious Black Gema-Gema Gang, led by Princess Piyoko of the planet Analogue, lands in Tokyo, it will be all Dejiko can do to keep up with Piyoko’s nefarious plot of opening a rival game store across the street! (She’s kind of on a budget, since her parents spent all their money unsuccessfully trying to take over Di Gi Charat.) Can an interstellar cat princess really find happiness on Earth in the music industry? Find out in the DI GI CHARAT ORIGINAL TV COLLECTION!
Title: KOKORO CONNECT
Published by: Sentai Filmworks
Distributed by: Section23 Films
Run Time: 325 min.
Street Date: 10/22/2013
Format: DVD
Language: English & Japanese with English Subtitles
SRP: $59.98
SYNOPSIS: The five members of the Cultural Study group that meets in class 401 have spent a lot of time wondering what it would be like to be in someone else’s shoes. But they’re about to learn that there’s a huge difference between thinking about it and literally BEING in someone else’s shoes! Because that’s exactly what happens when, suddenly and inexplicably, they each find themselves inside the body of the girl (or boy) next door! What happens next? Well, besides bringing a whole new meaning to the term “Exchange Student” and the to be expected freaked out runs to the bathroom, it’s not hard to do the math: Take one wrestling geek, the resident cool girl, the class clown, the popular chick and one sultry maid of mystery, scramble thoroughly and divide, and you can bet that pretty soon they’ll be answering ALL of the questions they never wanted to know about the opposite sex in ways they never anticipated! Get ready for the wildest game of musical bodies ever as Taichi, Himeko, Yoshifumi, Yui and Iori have to survive seeing the world through each others’ eyes in: KOKORO CONNECT!
Title: KOKORO CONNECT BLU-RAY
Published by: Sentai Filmworks
Distributed by: Section23 Films
Run Time: 325 min.
Street Date: 10/22/2013
Format: BD
Language: English & Japanese with English Subtitles
SRP: $69.98
SYNOPSIS: The five members of the Cultural Study group that meets in class 401 have spent a lot of time wondering what it would be like to be in someone else’s shoes. But they’re about to learn that there’s a huge difference between thinking about it and literally BEING in someone else’s shoes! Because that’s exactly what happens when, suddenly and inexplicably, they each find themselves inside the body of the girl (or boy) next door! What happens next? Well, besides bringing a whole new meaning to the term “Exchange Student” and the to be expected freaked out runs to the bathroom, it’s not hard to do the math: Take one wrestling geek, the resident cool girl, the class clown, the popular chick and one sultry maid of mystery, scramble thoroughly and divide, and you can bet that pretty soon they’ll be answering ALL of the questions they never wanted to know about the opposite sex in ways they never anticipated! Get ready for the wildest game of musical bodies ever as Taichi, Himeko, Yoshifumi, Yui and Iori have to survive seeing the world through each others’ eyes in: KOKORO CONNECT!
Title: GATCHAMAN OVA COLLECTION
Published by: Sentai Filmworks
Distributed by: Section23 Films
Run Time: 145 min.
Street Date: 10/29/2013
Format: DVD
Language: English & Japanese with English Subtitles
SRP: $29.98
SYNOPSIS: With Earth’s resources dwindling, the new Mantel Plan, which unifies all of the planets power sources into a single network, is vital to the continued survival of mankind. But the terrorist entity Galactor wants those resources for itself, unleashing giant engines of mass destruction while, one by one, key members of the International Science Organization begin disappearing. To combat this threat, the ISO’s secret squad of science ninjas and their ship the God Phoenix are brought into play. But between Galactor’s new technology and superior numbers, it may be that not even the Gatchaman team is up to the task. But a mysterious new force is about to enter the fight, one whose forces could turn the tide of battle. But who is behind the mysterious Red Impulse? And why have they remained hidden for so long? The war for Earth’s future hits an all new level as the classic anime series gets a radically new look in GATCHAMAN – THE OVAs!
Title: GATCHAMAN COMPLETE
Published by: Sentai Filmworks
Distributed by: Section23 Films
Run Time: 2770 min.
Street Date: 10/29/2013
Format: DVD
Language: English & Japanese with English Subtitles
SRP: $129.98
SYNOPSIS: Using amazing weapons powered by super-science, the international terrorist organization known as GALACTOR is out to steal all of Earth’s resources for itself and its inhuman masters. Mankind’s only hope? The International Science Organization and their elite strike force, the Science Ninja Team! But these five young heroes will have their work cut out for them as they take on the seemingly impossible task of defeating GALACTOR’s horrific arsenal of mechanized weapons of mass destruction and endless armies of henchmen. Can costumed commandos Ken the Eagle, Joe the Condor, Jun the Swallow, Jinpei the Sparrow and Ryu the Owl really overcome such overwhelming odds? Utilizing the incredible technology and fighting techniques created by Dr. Nambu, and with the mighty ship the God Phoenix at their command, they just might! It’s time for the bad guys to get old-schooled science-ninja style as Japan’s original super team defeat evil, one flying kick at a
time, in the legendary, one and only GATCHAMAN! “Includes the previously unreleased Gatchaman OVAs!”
Title: GATCHAMAN COMPLETE BLU-RAY
Published by: Sentai Filmworks
Distributed by: Section23 Films
Run Time: 2770 min.
Street Date: 10/29/2013
Format: BD
Language: English & Japanese with English Subtitles
SRP: $149.98
SYNOPSIS: Using amazing weapons powered by super-science, the international terrorist organization known as GALACTOR is out to steal all of Earth’s resources for itself and its inhuman masters. Mankind’s only hope? The International Science Organization and their elite strike force, the Science Ninja Team! But these five young heroes will have their work cut out for them as they take on the seemingly impossible task of defeating GALACTOR’s horrific arsenal of mechanized weapons of mass destruction and endless armies of henchmen. Can costumed commandos Ken the Eagle, Joe the Condor, Jun the Swallow, Jinpei the Sparrow and Ryu the Owl really overcome such overwhelming odds? Utilizing the incredible technology and fighting techniques created by Dr. Nambu, and with the mighty ship the God Phoenix at their command, they just might! It’s time for the bad guys to get old-schooled science-ninja style as Japan’s original super team defeat evil, one flying kick at a time, in the legendary, one and only GATCHAMAN! “Includes the previously unreleased Gatchaman OVAs!”
