Review - The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya DVD

It's very easy to get despondent. It's happened to us all, even if we're in the middle of something we know we always wanted to be a part of. Sometimes we held our expectations too high, and sometimes we were never really sure what we wanted in the first place, and the despondency is purely a result of our coalescing feelings. Either way, you can be stuck wondering how you got to this point when all you've tried to do is the right thing.

It's kind of an odd statement to start an anime review with; probably something you're more akin to seeing on a personal blog, but for me it was a really important part of the Suzumiya movie, released today in the UK by Manga Entertainment. And, if you're aware of my ambivalence towards the Haruhi series as I reviewed it however many episodes ago on our podcast, you might think I'm about to give a duff review. I'm actually happy to report that this is the sort of experience I was looking for with earlier Haruhi episodes, and I think this is so far the highest point the franchise has offered to its (somewhat) polarised viewers.

A history: Haruhi Suzumiya is a girl who has the weird and not really specified but hugely immense power to alter the universe, and as such she has several clandestine and intergalactic agencies interested in her, the powers and presence of whom are so great they can't accurately be described, but even the largest demonstrations of their abilities we see suggests whole other awesome planes of existence that we're not party to. The only person who is completely unaware of any of this is Haruhi herself, who can never find out that she has this ability, or else the universe would be put into severe jeopardy. As if it wasn't already- when she sinks into 'melancholy' (hence the name of the first anime series) she creates 'closed spaces' which change reality around her and cause strange and sometimes dangerous events. As if that wasn't enough, she's boisterous, can't keep her erratic personality in check by herself and has mood swings so wide that the oldest of pendulums goes green with envy. The key to solving her melancholies is Kyon, a boy who, despite meeting Haruhi for the first time in High school, has a history far more entwined with hers than you can begin to imagine (and very reluctantly so) - it's worth watching the series for that backstory, to be honest.

It's also based on a series of light novels, by the way.

Before you start having fantasies about high-level action and explosions, this isn't that kind of anime. As you can understand from its literary origins, Haruhi works on a much more internal level, and damn, it really NEEDS to be written down before you can understand the circuitous storytelling, sometimes. It's essentially a story of how a girl comes to understand a world while indulging in a fantasy that she wishes is real, and ultimately she could see for herself, were she not who she is. Despite Haruhi's loudness and occasional delves into the obnoxious, you can't help but feel sorry for her sometimes. But that's in the story as a whole. The odd thing is, Kyon is generally the central character, and despite Haruhi being the catalyst for these major events, The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya doesn't centre around her particularly. And it works very well - it's a very clever movie. Cleverer, admittedly, than I expected.

The plot is as follows: it begins in much the same way as any Haruhi story we've seen before, with the titular character pre-emptively volunteering everyone in to help with preparing for a Christmas charity event. For the first twenty minutes or so everything proceeds as we've seen before, until, as you can guess from the title, Haruhi disappears, and the world changes completely. The colours are muted, greyer, everyone seems to be sick, and the only one who even seems to remember Haruhi even existed is Kyon. Desperate to restore the world to it was, Kyon has to find out what happened, find Haruhi again and convince his friends he's not mad.

If you're a Haruhi fan, the first thing you'll notice is that the animation is markedly better than the series'. It's brilliant. It's also in widescreen and makes full use of this subtle but very artistic change. This is also no typical anime spin-off movie- it's two and a half hours long, so you get a lot of story, and boy, does it flow. Kyon's journey from world to world and his conflicted feelings towards the way the world's changed are really fascinating. I have to admit to his same feelings of cynicism sometimes, although ironically for watching the series rather than, for his part, being IN the series. As he battles with himself to discover whether Haruhi and his friends actually deserve the exposure to her powers or are better off without them in a calmer, peaceful world, we come to some really touching revelations about some of the other characters. I won't say who for fear of spoiling it. But even for seeing how Haruhi herself could have been (or, indeed, wasn't) changed by a world she unwittingly tries to change herself adds a new dimension to an already complex series.

The standout moments for me came within the final third of the movie, for me, when Kyon discovers the origin of the movie's events. It gets incredibly exciting, and we discover some incredibly moving facets of the characters, and an inspiring promise for further developments. It's almost like... the series is more closed, and almost claustrophobic sometimes, like you're not really seeing everything, which is very true- some of the characters remain frustratingly enigmatic for the entirety. This feels like it all gets opened up, both informationally and emotionally. I'd love to talk more about it, but I don't want to spoil anything - seriously, if you're a Haruhi fan, or have even just been on the fence about the series, this is what you want to see. I definitely felt like I'd taken this journey with Kyon too, hence the statement at the beginning of the review. And, in the best of worlds, we discover that we wanted what we had in the first place. To twist a well-known cynical idiom: "The pessimists fear this is the best world we're going to get; the optimists know this is true".

I would probably recommend at least knowing some of the backstory to the series before taking this by the horns. If you know the gist, the rest isn't technically essential, but there are some key moments that might leave you confused if you don't know about some of the story elements established in the series.

As far as the production itself, the animation is excellent - a clear demonstration that traditional art (well, mostly) isn't lost to CGI yet. If only someone could tell Hollywood that. The orchestral score took me completely by surprise, too. It's brilliantly composed, and really evocative. As for the DVD package itself, it comes crammed with making-of extras and footage from the premiere, as well as some trailers, both for this movie and other Manga releases.

This is Haruhi you need to see, definitely. I hope future productions, should there be any, can follow this up with not only a continuation of the story but of its artistry and quality. An intelligent, touching movie well worth your time.

Hugo Jackson

The Disappearance Of Haruhi Suzumiya is available on DVD now and will be released on Blu-Ray in February 2011.
Buy the DVD HERE and pre-order the Blu-Ray HERE.

Welcome To The Space Show release pushed back to July 2012 by Manga UK

Manga Entertainment UK informed the world via twitter this week that the release of Welcome To The Space Show, the feature film directed by Koji Masunari and produced by Tomonori Ochikoshi who were part of the team behind anime adaptations of the popular R.O.D. franchise, has been pushed back from it's intended release date of December this year to July 2nd 2012.

This is due to work for the English dub of the movie that is being created specifically for the UK release by Manga Entertainment. They said the release "has been bumped back to 2nd July so we can spend more time on the dub. It's going to be epic."

The film is set to be released on both DVD and Blu-ray.

Article - Fullmetal Alchemist vs Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood: Which is the Definitive Series?

One of my fondest and strongest anime memories was attending the London Expo back in 2003 (or 2004, I can’t remember) when Fullmetal Alchemist was first being released in the UK. I sat in the ExCeL Centre’s little screening booth and watched the first episode and instantly saw a whole new world of potential opened before me. I’d never seen anything like it before, and nothing’s ever struck me that hard or deeply since. The whole experience was just thrilling. I knew it didn’t follow the manga all the way through, but seeing as I didn’t own any of that, it wasn’t my concern, and I (rather callously, considering I’m a writer myself) dismissed the original author’s work, considering the anime I saw to be all I needed. Admittedly, I slightly preferred the anime’s artwork too, but anyway.

So when I heard they were essentially making the same series again, I was a little puzzled, a little annoyed, and all but dismissed it, thinking I knew the story already and didn’t need to bother watching it all over again for a few minor changes. That is, until I was bought Volumes 1 and 2 for Christmas last year...

Round 1: The Plot

The setting is the same – in a pre World War I-era fantasy world, a power exists that grants its users great and dangerous abilities – Alchemy. Two brothers, Edward and Alphonse Elric, mastered that power and sought to resurrect their dead mother, at a deadly cost. With Edward losing his arm and leg and Alphonse left as nothing but a soul trapped within a suit of armour, a result of a transmutation gone horribly wrong, they strive to find the secrets of the Philosopher’s Stone and undo their transgressions into sin...

So the original anime didn’t mess with the fundamentals laid out in Hiromu Arakawa’s manga- they’re the same universe, same characters, same visual and literal elements. But start walking into the worlds of each and you begin to realise how different they really are, on so many levels.

FMA, then, is definitely the quieter of the two. If we’re putting it into its own terms, this is probably the Alphonse series. There’s a great deal of action and a heck of a lot of soul, but there’s always a sense that you’re watching it like a memory, if that makes sense. There’s a great wistfulness to it all the way through, and it’s a great credit to the production team to carry a theme through, not only in script but in style, as well. All the way through FMA each of the characters is searching for something, and it never lets you forget how painful that longing can be.

FMA:B, however, is the Edward series. It comes in fighting and doesn’t let go. Given that this is the series the manga was always meant to be, there’s a much greater strength in the events and, although the overall structure is largely the same (at least until halfway through, anyway), FMA:B’s cohesion is tighter, and it has a better hold of the characters and where each plays their part. If you compare the stories side-by-side, you notice a wide divergence beginning quite early on, and FMA:B doesn’t do subtlety. What FMA wishes for, FMA:B fights for, and, for me, FMA:B had far more edge-of-your-seat moments than the original anime.

I won’t type out any spoilers, but as you can probably gather the endings are substantially different as a result. I have a favourite, but it would spoil both stories to go into why.

Round 2: The Characters

Both series are nothing without the iconic characters who play out its story, and the portrayals of two same characters in each series couldn’t be more different. Some for the better, others not so much.

The brothers are ostensibly the same, but as with the FMA:B story having more fight in it, so too do the Elric brothers. Alphonse particularly (if you’ll pardon the pun) comes right out of his shell in Brotherhood and feels like a far more proactive character than in FMA, where he seems a lot younger and a lot shyer. The Homunculus as well have a lot more fire in them, and here’s where we see some of the literal character changes between the two. Three of the ‘new’ (or original, depending on your take) Homunculi in Brotherhood are completely different, which will take some getting used to if you’re an FMA obsessee (but then, if you are, you’ve likely seen FMA:B and read the manga anyway, so meh), but they’re not an unwelcome change.

There are some completely new characters in Brotherhood, and for the sake of foregoing spoilers (particularly on Jeremy’s behalf) I won’t mention them, but they’re a great addition to the cast and provide a great deal of fun, action and one of the many sub-stories that help drive the overall plot forward. Conversely, there are some emissions from the first series too; but with the exception of one major antagonist in FMA who only appears in the series and not the manga, they’re mostly secondary characters.

Ironically, and probably appropriately enough, a few of the Homunculi lose a touch of their humanity in Brotherhood that they had greater inklings of in the first series, and I felt a little saddened by this at times, as I enjoyed the depth FMA brought to them, particularly Lust. There is one more big character issue, but it’s probably better suited to the Production section below.

By the way, if you loved Mustang in the original series, you’ll LOVE him in this. Seriously, he kicks ass, and I rarely, if ever, say that.

Round 3: The Music

Here’s one place where I think FMA had a big advantage – Michiru Oshima created such iconic and beautiful pieces of the alchemist world that it would be really hard to provide the same sense of grandeur and atmosphere without basically reusing the same tracks. I think Oshima had some amazing melodies, and somehow I find many of the tracks stay in my mind for longer then Brotherhood’s. That’s not to say Akira Senju’s Brotherhood music can’t hold its own, mind you- there’s some excellent stuff here. Particular favourites are ‘Clash of the Alchemists’ and ‘Fanfare for the Brave’, but a lot of it is more ambient grandness, as opposed to Oshima’s soaring epics that carve a more vivid mental image, both in and out of the animation.

I can’t actually tell you how many soundtracks I own, there are that many. Generally I’ll buy either from artists I already know or animes that I’ve already seen, but sometimes I’ll take a chance. I bought FMA’s soundtrack after seeing the first few episodes and loved it instantly. Brotherhood’s CD I bought in advance of seeing the series, and it was much harder for me to warm to it, despite being so open to soundtrack material. It took watching the series to make me appreciate it more. And while I definitely love it, it’s always struck me how different the experiences were.

Round 4: The Production

Despite being the original story, following in FMA’s shadow obviously affected Brotherhood’s ability to develop characters and events in its first few episodes. I had a hard time settling into the first ten or so episodes because I was acutely aware of FMA’s story already, and while I was itching to get to the different bits, I couldn’t help but shake the feeling that the first few episodes were trying to do the same. The problem is, some of the defining moments of the Elrics’ journey happen in the first quarter of the story, and these shouldn’t just be brushed over. I almost got the sense that the episodes were trying to apologise to me, saying ‘Yes, I know you know this already, but just bear with me’.

Two particular things really suffered as a result. The first of these is the character Hughes. He had a really vital role in FMA and had the chance to be shown in a much stronger light, which made various events far more gripping when they happened. I don’t want to say it was intentional, but because there’s little to no change between the first series and Brotherhood, I felt his time and the depth of his story was really sacrificed to quicken the rest of the episodes along.

The second was to do with a young girl whom the Elrics meet when they reach Central City – Nina. That was one part of the original series that I was truly in awe at, and it just wasn’t the same. Call me picky, but I don’t think it was just for knowing what was going to happen already. It just didn’t feel as dramatic.

Being newer, though, Brotherhood definitely has budget and experience on its side. Once past the rather bustling first arc, it builds like a rocket launch, and has gripped you before you even knew it was coming.

Each series has a movie too, but while FMA’s Conqueror of Shamballa actually continues after where the final episode left off, Brotherhood’s Sacred Star of Milos is kind of standard fare for anime movies, in that it takes place in a vacuous period somewhere within the main arc but you don’t know where and doesn’t really have any bearing on anything else so is almost inconsequential, were it not for starring your favourite characters. Having said that, I’ve not seen Sacred Star, so I’ll reserve judgement.

VERDICT

I guess it’s unfair to call this a ‘fight’ as such, because that would define one as being a victor over the other. They’re two adaptations of the same story, going in different directions with rather different ultimate goals. And it’s not often you get two different adaptations both being of such high quality. Definitely if you enjoyed the first anime, you’ll love Brotherhood to bits. I wasn’t convince that I would, but boy, was I wrong.

I guess I really like having both to draw from – they both have some amazing, definitive moments, but you’d have to experience both to truly know the series inside and out. Whether it’s canon or not, having the differences to explore can only make its world a richer place, whether Hiromu Arakawa intended it that way or not.

Writer: Hugo Jackson

The complete series of Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood is available now on DVD in the UK thanks to Manga Entertainment UK.

Vig Migongna, the voice of Edward Elric will be a guest at the London MCM Expo at the end of October. Head over to LondonExpo.com for all of the information.

The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya Blu-Ray released delayed until February 2012

After the announcement of the inclusion of a bonus DVD packed with extra content to both the UK DVD and Blu-Ray release back in August Manga Entertainment UK have had to reveal the unfortunate news that the Blu-Ray release of The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya has been delayed due to production issues.

In a statement on their official Facebook page, Manga UK stated "The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzimiya will be released on DVD on 7th November. However, our sincerest apologies as the Blu-ray will now be released on the 20th February 2012 due to major problems with the production".

You can pre-order the DVD version of this release from Amazon UK HERE and Blu-Ray version HERE.
[It should be noted that at the time of posting this news, the Amazon UK Blu-Ray listing has not been updated with the pushed back release date.]

Review - Birdy The Mighty Decode - Part 2

'Birdy The Mighty Decode' Part 2 picks up from where the first left off. Following the phenomenon that occurred at the end of the previous season, a month on it has been established that the general public has been unable to determine what exactly happened that night, (of course we the viewer of the series are fully aware) but we can certainty see the devastation this disaster has left.

It is also made clear within the first episode what the overlaying plot of this season is. We begin with travelling prisoner ship being overrun by prisoners. This opening scene in many ways harping back to the opening scene from season one when Birdy was chasing a criminal through space except this time the narrative makes you aware that certain plot devices hinted at previously will likely be explored in the coming episodes. Knowing what the general story was going revolve around so early on together with being introduced to the main antagonists gave me an indication this second season was going to be quite the departure from the first. An example of this is the darker overtone that was brought to the forefront with a cold heartless killing within the opening few minutes of first the episode.

Another example is comedic elements being less prevalent. Now this is by no means a detriment (and this also not to say it is prevalent at all), but when they occur can be described as moments of relief for the characters and remind you of the human side of them.

The viewer also gets to delve into the psyche of the main protagonist Birdy during one of many points of exploration into the past in perhaps some of the best storytelling in this collection. We find out about the upbringing of Birdy and how it has effected her as a person. This combined with other scenarios that genuinely shocked me because of how dark and (to put it bluntly) violent they were made for great viewing and overall a fantastic series to really get connected to.

I should note regarding the shocking and violent scenes that while there were dark elements present in the first season, most of those pale in comparison to what you see within the first two episodes of this release alone! It takes a lot to get me to be as shocked as I was at times, but it needs to be known that this does not alienate you because it all fits so well within the context of the story. (I'm not complaining about them in the slightest but thought for the purposes of this review it should be mentioned.)

The fact this season has such a serious overtone throughout it made it all the more enjoyable. Perhaps me not being aware of this before I watched helped a lot. But given my memories of the first season are so strong and I was almost craving for darker themes to be introduced back then, by the time I had finished watching episode 2 of this collection in some ways I felt as though I was watching an entirely different series let alone season. This is by far one of my favourite series of anime to watch this year. The story telling combined with the explanations of copius amounts of details teased in season one made it for such an enjoyable viewing experience that I'd happily watch it again anytime.

For those wanting a bit extra too there is a fun OVA set after the events of season two exploring yet more elements of the plot stemming from season one that also leaves a possibility for there to be yet more of this franchise in the future.

I whole heartedly reccommend that if you enjoyed season one you must check out season two. If you're someone reading this who has yet to indulge in the franchise it is well worth investing your time in.

'Birdy The Mighty Decode' - Part 2 is available now in retailers thanks to Manga Entertainment UK.
Amazon UK / Play.com / HMV

Trailer -

Manga Entertainment UK have a "massive release day" in December and 'Darker Than Black: Gemini Of The Black Meteor' is part of it!

Manga Entertainment have made it known via their facbook page that this December is going to be a big month for them and that London Expo will be the place they make an announcement!

"December 26th is going to be a massive new release day for us. I can't say anymore or THEY will shoot me! Big news on the way at London Expo!!"

The London Expo takes place from October 28th - 30th at the Excel Centre in London. For more information on the convention head over to LondonExpo.com

On a related note, a new release has also been confirmed by Manga for the same day as the teased title above as 'Darker Than Black: Gemini Of The Meteor' will be available to buy on DVD and Blu-Ray from December 26th. This is the highly anticipated second season of original series 'Darker Than Black' that was previously released on DVD in the UK by Manga Entertainment.

Review - K-ON! Volume 1 DVD

K-ON! follows a group of new high school students adapting to their surroundings by participating in after school clubs.
Whereas it's not essential or necessarily encouraged as much in UK schooling, in many institutions abroad they're quite serious about them as has been documented and demonstrated in many TV and film projects.

I began watching this DVD knowing very, very little about the franchise other than the fact that music was somehow integral to the overall plot. When the opening scene shows one of the main protagonists Yui waking up late for her first day at high school only to discover when she arrives there she is in fact early because she read the time incorrectly on her clock, you instantly know her character might the irregular one of the bunch or a clutz to be quite blunt. The other main protagonists are very well established within the episodes included on this release in part due to the common goal they share namely the further development and stability of the club they are in.

At the conclusion of the first episode there were so many possibilities for how the story could develop in my mind it actually got me very excited and encouraged me to watch more. Given I generally prefer action based stories I was surprised I felt this way but that shows how good the story telling is in a setting like this.

As I progressed through the DVD the creators did a great job of bringing characters backgrounds to light and how certain aspects would affect the overall demeanour of others.
Yui, who as I mentioned earlier is one of those people who despite being a very warm hearted and outgoing person can't seem to get anywhere on time, is very easily distracted and could annoy people by her actions which are by no means intentional.

Tsumugi, who seems to be from a wealthy background given the many hints, is a very kind hearted person who doesn't appear to have a bad bone on her body.

Ritsu, the more outgoing of the bunch has a lot of energy and determination but just needs the right motivation to lead her on the correct path.

Mio is the one who is very down to earth and seems to have the most vested interest in the progression of the club. In the later episodes of this DVD she is the one leading the charge for the group to take the next step and work towards a goal that will no doubt play a pivotal role at a later point in the narrative.

The very light hearted feel of the series as a whole combined with the excellent production and soundtrack that compliment it so well is a real pleasure to witness. There is always a fun vibe about the series despite some of the minor trials and tribulations that the group encounter within these first four episodes.

I mentioned the soundtrack. With the series being very musically driven in the plot the soundtrack always features melodies and rhythms that you could envisage a band playing. An excellent example being a bass guitar riff that generated the exact feeling any soundtrack trying to encapsulate the same moment should be able to do. But because it had the vibe of a bass guitarist playing it and the focus was on the bass guitarist of the group, Mio, it added to the moment tenfold.

While I have tried to be as spoiler free as possible in this review, and that's not say that's going to change before I conclude, I do want to point out how the series doesn't seem to take place within a set time frame of a few days, but is driven more by particular situations. It is a refreshing change to watch a series like this and not feeling tied a particular plot line that could drive the overall tempo of a story arc. These first four episodes take you completely on different scenarios that all fit into a clearly defined timeline but don't lock you in one short time period. These episodes alone take you across a whole school year by the look of things but because it's more about the situations with the characters it doesn't have any negative affect on your viewing. If anything it enhanced mine knowing it could take me on different twists and turns each episode.

K-ON! Volume 1 has blown me away with what it has offered. My few expectations and pre-conceived notions were instantly removed and replaced with a very enjoyable 90 minutes or so light hearted fun that has left me wanting more.
The DVD comes with both the English and the original Japanese audio track for all the episodes. The standalone extra is worth watching as it is an interview with Stephanie Sheh, the English voice of Yui, where she answers questions about playing the role and being involved in the project.

This DVD is available to purchase now thanks to the good folks at Manga Entertainment UK from all good retailers.

Jeremy Graves

Manga Entertainment confirms UK release date of Fairy Tail Part 1

Manga Entertainment UK confirmed earlier today (Tuesday 6th September) on their facebook page that the first release of 'Fairy Tail will be on the 5th March 2012.
Manga announced earlier this year they had acquired the UK distribution rights to the series and had previously confirmed that the first release would be during the first quarter of 2012.

This series was released in the US by Funimation and through their YouTube channel you are able to sample some of the series! You can watch the first episode, in Japanese with English subtitles HERE.
(There appears to be no region locking on the episodes available on the Funimation channel.)

NOTE - The image in this post was taken from website of Funimation. The date listed represents the US release of this title.

'The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya' UK release to be "upgraded to 2-Disc set" by Manga UK

Manga Entertainment UK have made it known via their twitter account that the upcoming release of 'The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya' will now include a bonus DVD packed of extras to compliment the release!

According to Manga UK, "News Flash! Disappearance Of Haruhi Suzimiya DVD and [Blu-Ray] release to include bonus extras disc. Over 169 min of features. All pre-orders for [Disappearance Of Haruhi] will be upgraded to 2-Disc set. Bonus disc is a DVD disc. Special features incl. tons of Behind The Scenes, Tokyo, Theme Song, Trailer, Teasers, Commercials etc"

The film itself has a duration of 163 minutes. This means you are getting more than the runtime the film you're purchasing in extras! Well worth the money if you ask us!

It should also be noted that according to the message above, the bonus disc will be a DVD packed in both the DVD and Blu-Ray versions.

Manga also note that the listings on various websites including Amazon UK will be updated with this news as soon as possible.

Manga UK present unique Voice Acting video project!

Manga Entertainment UK have released a little video project that saw renowned cosplayer Linda Le (who is often known as 'Vampy Bit Me',) travel to Bang Zoom! Entertainment in Los Angeles to embark on some voice acting training and ultimately record a voice over to be used in one of the video blogs that Manga have been releasing via their website and youtube channels in recent months.

Below is a brief preview clip of the entire video of Linda Le at Bang Zoom! Entertainment -


(This preview video was also showcased at the recent Anime Expo convention in the USA by Bang Zoom! Entertainment.)
The very insightful complete ten minute video of Linda Le at Bang Zoom! Entertainment studios can be viewed at MangaUK.com through their inbuilt video player on the front page.

Below you can view the video blog for the release of Evangelion 2.22 that she recorded the voice over for:



Be you someone who is looking to head into voice acting as a career or just an Anime fan in general, these are definitely worth checking out to give a very unique opportunity to see how the process all comes together!

Review - Yu Gi Oh 3D 'Bonds Beyond Time'

Today (Saturday 7th May) I had the pleasure of attending the UK premiere of the new ‘Yu Gi Oh – Bonds Beyond Time’ movie. The event was held by Manga Entertainment in preparation for their release of the movie on both DVD and Blu-Ray in July. This is a very unique title especially come the release of the Blu-Ray version, because it is the first Anime to be created for viewing in 3D. The concept of 3D viewing as a whole is still very early into its life cycle and with Anime now venturing into this field it could well be a make a break film with a view to future developments in this field.

For those who are perhaps less familiar with the franchise as a whole, ‘Yu Gi Oh’ is a Manga and Anime series that has a primary focus of a card game named Dual Monsters. (The game has similarities to the Pokemon Trading Card Game and Top Trumps.) During the three incarnations of the anime series (‘Yu Gu Oh’, ‘Yu Gi Oh – GX’ and ‘Yu Gi Oh – 5D’s’) the core premise of the card game remains while being unique at the same time, so as to not literally give a retelling of the same story but just in a different setting.

The opening of the film itself was actually very helpful to establish this fact. One of the big selling points of the movie is that it features the three main protagonists Yugi (from ‘Yu Gi Oh), Jaden (from ‘Yu Gi Oh – GX’) and Yusei (from ‘Yu Gi Oh – 5D’s) at some point coming together to battle side by side (and I can assure, this does indeed happen). The start of the film was actually a ten to fifteen minute short film highlighting each universe of the franchise and what some of the key character elements were, which (according to a representative of Manga UK) was created specifically for the western version of the film as there was nothing of the sort included in the original Japanese version.

Admittedly I’ve only ever seen the original series featuring Yugi as the protagonist, but I was aware the franchise had expanded following the conclusion of ‘Yu Gi Oh’. The ten minute feature did a great job of providing a novice to the latter incarnations (like me) enough insight to comfortably watch the main feature without having feeling lost or out of my depth. I’d assume that for all parents in attendance, that a small film like that was also a great aid for them to gain basic knowledge of what they could expect.

The film itself has a strong focus on Yusei from “5D’s” which I found to be an interesting approach given this film was to celebrate the tenth anniversary of the franchise as a whole. So I was expecting that Yugi would come back into prominence and be the lead, but given the way the plot develops (without trying to give too much away,) it does makes sense that Yusei be the protagonist that drives the story because of his beliefs that are established both during the ten minute introduction and at the start of the main feature. Ultimately the film made for very enjoyable viewing. With it being so long since I last properly indulged in the original series, it was great to see characters I gained a certain attachment to once again and see them still be at the same status or higher than I last remembered. Speaking of characters it’s interesting to note that while we are introduced to the main cast of “5D’s” and “GX”, there was a considerable lack of cameos from many of the original cast members. Although any appearance by them would have been short lived given how the story progresses by the time Yugi becomes involved, it would have been nice to have seen the original cast back together but this time on the big screen.

Now onto the information that I’m sure many are interested to know the most, how does the 3D look?

From my perspective, overall it looked very good. The use of 3D didn’t feel forced, in the sense that something came across as being or looking 3D for the sake of it and it blended very well throughout the main feature. There were odd moments where some very fast moving action sequences made it hard for my eyes to track exactly what was happening (and in one instance which monster was on screen) but that could well have been my eyes alone that had this issue. Watching Anime on the big screen in 3D is something that I’ve wanted to experience since the 3D boom began in this country. The fact the first franchise to have been given the 3D treatment was one based on a card game was perhaps one of the best decisions that could have been made. Yes the film was commissioned to celebrate the tenth anniversary of the ‘Yu Gi Oh’ brand as oppose to being made for 3D viewing, but the fact that the main core element of the franchise is a card game that features monsters battling each other already provides more than enough logical reasons to render this world in a 3D environment. The character designs were very good and blended into 3D well. The voice acting was well directed and included moments of dialogue that appealed to both younger and older fans. Overall this film gave a very good representation of what the franchise is about and in my opinion could act as a perfect starting place for any person not already familiar with it. Yes there will be quite a few references that will pass them by, but as a standalone story it works very as a way to sample to all three incarnations. As previously mentioned, I’d never seen any of “GX” and “5D’s” prior to today, and intend to find out more about each franchise and how they both developed.

I would also like to make note of the attendees of this screening. It was great to see so many families who came along to the premiere and have a great time with their children who at the same time were not doubt enjoying popcorn while watching some of their favourite characters battling on the big screen. Hopefully this could be a sign of things to come in the future. I'm sure more events like this would become very popular and kicking things off with 'Yu Gi Oh' was a great idea!

This film is being screened in Picture House cinemas across the country over the next few weeks. If you get an opportunity to see the film, I strongly suggest you do. The running time total was about an hour (including the ten minute introduction). The DVD and Blu-Ray (the latter of which will include the 3D version of the film) are then set for release on July 25th.


Below you can view the US trailer for the film.


Jeremy Graves

Evangelion 2.22 UK release delayed

Manga UK have just announced that due to the late delivery of their master copies, the release date of Evangelion 2.22 has had to be pushed back to June 20th.

The second chapter of the new rebuild of Evangelion series is set to be released on both DVD and Blu-Ray. It will also be available as a combi pack so you can purchase both versions at the same time for an affordable price.

This could well be part of the reasoning why Fairy Tail has been given a tentative release of February next year. Following the problems in Japan last month, it's unsurprising that delays have happened. But on a positive note, hopefully this means that other forthcoming title will be unaffected.

'Fairy Tail' UK retail release confirmed

The good folks over at Manga UK have been busy over the last week or so when it comes to release dates. And they've added to that release date via their ever so handy Twitter account.

'Fairy Tail', the series that focuses on a young girl by the name of Lucy who aims to become a full-fledged mage, but on the way bumps into a man by the name of Natsu who is already a member of the one of the most well known mage guilds, Fairy Tale.

Manga have confirmed that volume one of the series will contain episodes one through twelve. They also commented saying it's not one hundred percent confirmed an English dub will be included.
The following comment came in response to being questioned on if there will be a dub included in their release: "we are not the right people to ask as it would originate in the US, with the US distributor. I'm assuming there will be a dub."
As Manga said, one would assume there would be a dub, but it is down to the US distributor to commission a dub to be recorded. I personally hope there will be one included.

In addition to this the release has been revealed as... February 2012. Yes it's a long way away, but at least it's confirmed that the series will indeed makes its way over to these shores.

We'll be sure to keep you posted on any developments regarding this release.

Additional Yu Gi Oh movie screenings announced [Updated]

In an update to our previous story about the UK screenings of the Yu Gi Oh 'Bonds Beyond Time' movie, Manga Entertainment UK have just made it know that additional screenings of the film will held in London on May 21st.

The screenings will be at the Electric Cinema in Notting Hill and at The Lexi Cinema in Kensal Rise.

If there are any more additions of amendments to be made regarding screenings of the film, we'll be sure to keep you posted.

[Update]
In addition to this news, Manga UK just informed us that they will "be getting more of the FREE ULTRA Rare [Yu Gi Oh Trading Cards] for these screenings! DVD and [Blu-Ray] come with their own SUPER rare [Trading Card]."

Manga UK will also be releasing the movie on DVD and Blu-Ray from Monday 25th July.

Below you can view the US trailer for the film.

Yu Gi Oh Movie theatrical UK screenings

Manga UK confirmed a few days ago there would nationwide screenings of the new Yu Gi Oh movie at various locations in the UK. Here's the info you need to know -

The screenings are in conjunction with Picturehouse Cinemas. As according to the Manga UK twitter, the following cinemas will see the film screened on May 14th:

Clapham, Ritzy Brixton, Greenwich, Stratford, Regal in Henley, Stratford on Avon, Exeter, Arts Picturehouse in Cambridge, FACT in Liverpool, Notting Hill, Phoenix in East Finchley, Phoenix in Oxford, Duke of York's in Brighton, Bath, Abbeygate Picturehouse in Bury St Edmunds, Cinema City in Norwich and at City Screen in York.

There will also be screenings on May 21st at Hyde Park in Leeds, Tyneside in Newcastle, Forum in Hexham and at the Lighthouse in Poole.

It should also be noted that in conjunction with Everyman Cinemas, there will also be screenings at Walton, Reigate, Oxted and Winchester.


If you can't attend a screening don't forget that as we reported, the DVD and Blu-Ray of the film is released on July 25th.

Manga UK to release upcoming 'Yu Gi Oh' movie as 3D Blu-Ray!

Manga UK confirmed that following the nationwide cinema release of Yu Gi Oh 3D Movie, they will be releasing the film on DVD and in Blu-Ray. But not just the traditional Blu-Ray format as they'll be making it available to purchase as a 3D Blu-Ray also!

Here is what they had to say on their twitter account:
"We are happy to confirm that MangaUK will be releasing [YuGiOh The Movie] in glorious 3D on digital cinema screens across the UK starting on Saturday May 14th. Even cooler news. We are giving away a free ULTRA RARE [Yu Gi Oh] collectable [Trading Card Game card] with every ticket sold.
The movie will also be released on Blu-ray (with 3D ready and standard 2D HD presentation) and DVD on Monday 25th July. Site to launch with screen deets ASAP."

So mark that date in the diary everyone, Monday 25th July will be the date when you can own this 3D anime Blu-Ray release here in the UK!

The plot is as follows. In the future, the world has taken a turn for the worse. Civilization is on the brink of extinction. All hope of a brighter tomorrow has been cloaked with dark uncertainty. One man, however, thinks he can do something about it. With his world crumbling into chaos, a maniacal masked menace known as Paradox figures out a way to travel through time so that he can eliminate the scourge that he believes is responsible for causing his world to decay – the Duel Monsters card game! Paradox, determined to eradicate this perilous threat from the annals of time, begins rewriting the future by erasing the game -- one card at a time.

Standing in his way are three legendary duelists who will do whatever it takes to save what's on the line - their friends, their family and the game they love. For the first time ever, Yugi, Jaden and Yusei will team together and battle with all their hearts in a duel that will decide the past, present and future!
[Synopsis taken from the American based YuGiOhMovie3D.com website]

Below you can view the US trailer for the film.

COMPETITION - Win 5 Centimeters Per Second on DVD

As announced on Episode 19 of our podcast, we have a DVD of '5 Centimeters Per Second' to give away!

Be sure to listen to our latest podcast to hear our spoiler free review on this work by Makoto Shinkai.

If you fancy entering this competition to win this DVD, all you have to is send your answering to the following question to AnimeChronicleUK@Gmail.com :

Included on the UK DVD release of 'Voices Of A Distant Star' was a short film. What was the name of that short film?

NOTE - Please include you name, address and telephone number in you entry.

Closing Date to enter is Thursday 25th March at 9am GMT, with the winners being announced on our podcast to be recorded on March 25th.

Terms And Conditions -
*This competition is for the chance to one DVD of '5 Centimeters Per Second'.
*Entry is open to anyone in the world, but the DVD is in Region 2 coding. Please make sure if you reside outside the UK that can play region 2 DVDs.
*Prize cannot be exchanged for other prizes or cash alternative.

Good luck to everyone who enters!

Manga UK launch brand new video blog!

Manga have launched a brand new video blog to compliment their new site lunched earlier this month!

The first video focuses on the upcoming release of Summer Wars and acts as an introduction to the premise of the film while at the same time showcasing many examples of the animation included in the film. It also utilises part of the soundtrack of the movie that adds a unique tone as a whole to the video!

We will note that this video has been created to not spoil the story (aside from establishing the basic plot). If you're worried about potential major spoilers, don't be. They've been very careful to make sure that doesn't happen.

So if you haven't seen the 'Summer Wars' and are thinking of purchasing it upon release on March 28th, it's well worth heading over to MangaUK.com to view it and wet your appetite for the DVD and Blu-Ray!

'Global Shinkai Day 2011' this weekend at Crunchyroll

Anime streaming website Crunchyroll have announced this weekend (Saturday 12th and Sunday 13th March) they will present 'Global Shinkai Day 2011'. A celebration of some of the work of Makoto Shinkai.

The concept being they will be streaming three of Makoto Shinkai's works worldwide (excluding Japan) for free! That's right, absolutely free!

The titles are "Voices of a Distant Star", "Place Promised in our Early Days" and, "5 Centimerters Per Second". The latter being released by Manga UK nationwide this coming week! So if you enjoy watching this weekend, be sure to pick it up from next week!
(Pictured left: "5 Centimeters Per Second")

We should note, that the screenings on Crunchyroll will more than likely be in Japanese with English Subtitles. The reason we say more than likely, is because all other content on the website is subtitled.

It's a great chance to catch some of his work if you haven't experienced them already! All the details regarding this global event can be found at Crunchyroll's website.

COMPETITION - Win Summer Wars on Blu-Ray!

As announced on Episode 17 of The Anime Chronicle, we're delighted to announced that in conjunction with Manga Entertainment UK we have two copies of the eagerly anticipated movie 'Summer Wars' on Blu-Ray to give away!

To enter this competition all you have to do is send an email to AnimeChronicleUK@gmail.com with the subject heading 'Summer Wars Competition' and answer the following question -

Mamoru Hosoda (director of Summer Wars) directed which film that has also been relased by Manga Entertainment UK?

NOTE - Please include you name, address and telephone number in you entry.

Closing Date to enter is Thursday 17th March, with the winners being announced on our podcast to be recorded on March 18th.

Terms And Conditions -
*This competition is for the chance to a Blu-Ray of 'Summer Wars'. (There are no DVDs available as part of this competition)
*Entry is open to anyone in the world, but the Blu-Ray is in Region B coding. Please make sure if you reside outside the UK that can play region B Blu-Ray discs.
*Prize cannot be exchanged for other prizes or cash alternative.
*Winners will receive their prize by the day or release (March 28th).

Good luck to everyone who enters!