One title that I’ve been waiting to make its way back into the market proper is Kannagi: Crazy Shrine Maidens. The series was one of the early test projects that Aniplex worked on with Bandai Entertainment, where Bandai served more as a distributor, pricing and structure wasn’t the norm, and no dub was produced for it. It’s been out of print for quite a few years and didn’t get any streaming runs. That’s now changing a bit as Aniplex USA has brought out the first episode for streaming on their YouTube channel with English subtitles. Availability is worldwide outside of Japan.
Let’s hope for a Blu-ray release, since one was produced in Japan back in 2012.
Originally airing in 2008, the series was directed by Yutaka Yamamoto based on the series composition by Hideyuki Kurata. Kakeru Mima worked on the character designs with Satoshi Kadokwaki as the chief animation director. A-1 Pictures handled the animation production.
The Japanese cast includes Haruka Tomatsu as Nagi, Hiro Shimono as Jin Mikuriya, Kana Hanazawa as Hakua Suzushiro, Mai Nakahara as Shino Ookouchi, Miyuki Sawashiro as Tsugumi Aoba, Risa Hayamizu as Takako Kimura, Takanori Hoshino as Daitetsu Hibiki and Tetsuya Kakihara as Meguru Akiba.
Plot concept: An art student named Jin Mikuriya carves a statue from the wood of the Kannagi tree only to have the statue come to life in the form of a goddess, who has now taken over the statue. He and “Nagi” work together to destroy the impurities that are gathering in the town.