UK News: Beez update release schedule, Gundam 00 preview stream, New Manga UK website launched!

Beez Entertainment recently updated their blog to reveal some upcoming releases!

First of all, regarding a series that has so much potential (and is highly recommended from Jeremy here at The Anime Chronicle) "Durarara!!", volume 2 is set for release from all good retailers on March 28th.

Direct Beez themselves, here's a synopsis for what lies ahead -
After saving a mysterious girl with a scar on her neck, Mikado finds himself chased by the headless rider. Shortly after this incident, the Dollars first meeting, suddenly organized by their mysterious leader, takes place in Ikebukuro and will become the field of a supernatural phenomenon, revealing the truth behind the entire masquerade.

But six month after the big Dollars meeting, even if Ikebukuro has at firstglance returned to normal, some troubling events are occurring again. Rumors about a strange being called "the Slasher" and an old gang named "the Yellow Scarves" are beginning to spread out. Mikado, Masaomi and Anri are facing new mysteries related to their respective pasts.

Who is the Dollars leader? And this so-called Slasher? And why are the Yellow Scarves reappearing after a long break?

This title is available for pre-order now as is Volume 3 that is set contain episode 25 of the series that has not aired on Japanese TV!


Next up is the next volume in the ever expanding Gundam franchise in the form of "Gundam 00 - Season 2, Volume 2". Available for pre-order now and is also due out March 28th nationwide!

Here's what you can expect in this volume of Gundam 00 -
In order to maintain peace, the Federation annihilates its opponents with the Memento Mori, a mass destruction satellite weapon. Back at its base Celestial Being is testing the 0 Raizer, proving the true strength of the Trans-Am system. But they are attacked by the A-Laws and forced to flee in urgency.

Celestial Being finally learns about the Memento Mori and decide to launch an attack with the assistance of Kataron, they all crash on Earth after the battle. Meanwhile a coup d'état is in progress in the African Tower. The local leader, Colonel Hank Mercury wants to reveal the A-Laws true face to the World, so he decides to take 60,000 civilians hostage.

Is there something the A-Laws can do to prevent a tragedy?


Speaking of Gundam, to digress sightly, on our most recent podcast we spoke to Stepahnie Sheh and Michael Sinternklaas about the Gundam Unicorn project. Well for those who might not be aware, the first 8 minutes of the third instalment are available for streaming right here!

It's the English dubbed version too and should be a good taster of things to come for the full release!







And to conclude, some news from Manga UK. Following from the details of the Evangelion 2:22 and Akira releases yesterday, they have also launched a new website! You visit it over at http://www.mangauk.com/. The site features articles (with more to be added in due course), video previews and more! It appears as though this will be come the primary social portal for Manga UK, so be sure to check it out!

Durarara!! UK released delayed, next Pocket Monsters movie release date confirmed in Japan, Naruto Shippuuden Volume 3 out now!

Durarara!! UK DVD Release Delayed
To begin with some news relating to an upcoming DVD release. Beez revealed on their twitter account that the scheduled October release for 'Durarara!!' Volume 1 on DVD has now been pushed back to November of this year! The reason stated for the delay was an issue regarding one of the subtitle tracks. "...release has been delayed to November now due to German subtitle delays it seems..."

For those unaware, Beez Entertainment while being a distributor for Anime DVDs here in the UK, are also a distributor for Anime across Europe! Because of that, one key aspect of their DVD distribution, is catering to many European territories with each title. This includes both audio and subtitle tracks for the corresponding languages on their DVDs. In the case of 'Durarara!!', as announced at the MCM Expo this past May (see our transcript here for details) this was to be the first subtitle only release for Beez. Meaning there would be no English (or other language) audio track included on the DVD with the original Japanese audio and subtitles.

With the above in mind, Volume 1 is now slated for release on 29th November and Volume 2 will follow on 24th January 2011.

Sources: Beez Twitter / Play.com


Pocket Monsters Movie 14 news
On the official Japanese movie website for Pocket Monsters (or Pokemon for short), they've added a 20 second trailer revealing that the next film (the fourteenth in the series) will be released in cinemas next summer in Japan! The trailer features visuals of the 3 Lengedary Pokemon in the new 'Pokemon Black and White' games (known in Japanese as) Reshiram, Zekrom and Victini.

It's also noted on the website that the thirteenth movie 'Ruler Of Illusions: Zoroark' (released in Japanese cinemas this past summer) is being released on DVD in Japan on December 17th. The most recent Pokemon movie to be released in English, was in 2009 with the 12th movie entitled 'Arceus And The Jewel Of Life'. It's currently unknown when the 13th movie will be released in English.

Source: ANN / Pokemon Japanese Movie Site


Naruto Shippuuden Volume 3 released!
And finally, Manga UK have released volume 3 of the very popular Naruto Shippuuden series on DVD this week!

This 2 disc set features episodes 27-39, and includes the English language audio along with the original Japanese soundtrack. Plus, for those who can't speak Japanese, those handy optional English subtitles are also included!

This DVD packed with nearly 5 hours of great Anime, is available to purchase now!

MCM Expo Floor Plan, Dir En Grey in session on Radio 1, Durarara episode 12.5!

MCM Expo Update
The MCM Expo is fast approaching, and they've now revealed the preliminary floor plan for the weekend of October 29th-31st!



The first key thing to note (as also noted on the expo website) is that there are a total of 5 stages, with the Anime/Comic village being located in the top right corner of the map.

A fully detailed plan will be available by the time expo begins, but it's abundantly clear that the there's a lot of things happening at the expo this time around. Be it in the form of stalls, or the stages, given the record breaking attendance that the May MCM Expo saw, it looks like they've attempted to help ease the crowds by having (what appears to be) more space in general, and the extra half day on Friday!

A higher quality PDF version of the map can be downloaded from www.LondonExpo.com the official website of the MCM Expo.


Durarara Episode 12.5
On the Anime front, if you're a fan of the series 'Durarara!!' (which Beez Entertainment will be releasing here in the UK beginning in November) you might want to read this!

Included on a recent Japanese DVD release of the series, was an episode known as 'episode 12.5'. This OVA has now been made available by the great folks over at Crunchyroll for free! You can also watch episodes 1-12 of the series there as well! You can visit the dedicated page of the series at Crunchyroll's website here. But, we should also note, you can head over to our friends at www.UK-Anime.net to watch Episode 12.5 there as well!

'Durarara!!' will be released in a subtitle only form here in the UK. Something that Beez Entertainment themselves said is a risk. If you're unsure about purchasing the DVDs, this is the perfect time to check out one of Japan's most popular anime series! The DVD sales alone for the recently released Volume 8 prove it's worth! Coming in at #4 in the weekly sales rankings off the back of 11,582 copies being sold! It should also be noted that DVDs in Japan aren't cheap, and they only contain a few episodes as well!
(Source for DVD rankings/sales figures: ANN)



Dir En Grey Radio 1 session
And the final note of the day is from the world of Japanese music, in that this weeks edition of the BBC Radio 1 Rock Show (that airs every Monday on BBC Radio 1 here in the UK,) featured 3 tracks performed by Dir En Grey that were recorded at the famous Maida Vale studios in London during their recent excursion to the UK!


The three tracks from the session were 'Dozing Green' (taken from the groups most recent 'Uroboros' album), 'The Final' (from their 'Withering To Death' album), and 'Shokubeni' (a b-side included in their recent CD single of 'Hageshisa to, Kono Mune no Naka de Karamituita Shakunetsu no Yami' in Japan). The first two songs aired during the first of hour of the program, with the third track airing closer to the end of the second hour.

The program is available for streaming directly from the BBC Radio 1 website until the the next edition of the Radio 1 Rock Show has been broadcast on Monday 4th October. So be sure to listen to it before it's too late!

If you're not familiar with the band, it's a great opportunity to check them out at their best! Their performances at the Sonisphere Festival and Camden Koko in August were both stunning (I can vouch for this having attended both concerts), and this session doesn't disappoint either!

For more information on Dir En Grey, you can visit their official website at www.DirEnGrey.co.jp (There is an English version built into the site.)