Industry News: Section23 Films February 2016 Release Slate

Just before the big MCM Comic Con weekend happens, Sentai over in the states have announced their new line-up of titles. Unfortunately Nozaki-kun is still not scheduled but I get the feeling that got delayed for a Collector's Edition release. This line-up includes one title re-released for the Sentai Selects line, one title coming to Blu-ray after a hold-back and dozens of new additions coming to Blu-ray and DVD. Interesting.

Here's the list of anime that Section23 Films have scheduled for the month of February 2016.

Like the previous Sentai update I won't be putting my thoughts on each title until the bottom of the post. Sentai put out so many shows that chances of myself watching them are close to zero, though I did watch Akame ga Kill!

Note that on the Region specs - US means the set is Geolocked to United States.

February 2nd 2016

Blade Dance of the Elementalers - Complete Collection
Region: US/1
Publisher: ???
Format: Blu-ray & DVD
Languages: Japanese (w/English subs)
Price (SRP): $49.98 [DVD], $59.98 [BD]

Special Features: Japanese Promos, Blade Dance Special Mini OVA's, Clean Opening & Closing Animations.
Notes: Despite only having 12 episodes, extras have allowed the Blu-ray set to be 2 Discs.

From the New World - Complete Collection
Region: US/1
Publisher: ???
Format: Blu-ray & DVD
Languages: English & Japanese (w/English subs)
Price (SRP): $79.98 [DVD], $99.98 [BD]

Special Features: Japanese Promos; Clean Opening Animation; Clean Closing Animation
Notes: Discs re-authored to reduce disc count (DVD 5 discs, Blu-ray 3 discs).

February 9th 2016

Akame ga Kill! - Collection 1
Region: US/1
Publisher: ???
Format: Blu-ray (Standard Edition), DVD (Standard Edition) & Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack (Collector's Edition)
Languages: English/Japanese
Price (SRP): $59.98 [DVD], $69.98 [BD], $129.98 [COMBO]

Special Features: AkaKill! Theater; Japanese Promos; Clean Opening Animation; Clean Closing Animation
Special Features (CE): Standard Edition Extras + Hard Cover Booklet; Poster; Tattoos; Sticker
Notes: Akame ga Kill! is the first collection set to receive a collector's edition.

Shiro Bako - Collection 1
Region: US/1
Publisher: ???
Format: Blu-ray & DVD
Languages: Japanese (w/English subs)
Price (SRP): $49.98 [DVD], $59.98 [BD]

Special Features: Clean Opening Animation; Clean Closing Animation
Notes: Collection 1 has 12 episodes, therefore the Blu-ray set is a 1 Disc release.

February 16th 2016

Fate/kaleid liner Prisma☆Illya 2wei! - Complete Collection
Region: US/1
Publisher: ???
Format: Blu-ray & DVD
Languages: English & Japanese (w/English subs)
Price (SRP): $59.98 [DVD], $69.98 [BD]

Special Features: 2wei! Shorts; TV Spots; Clean Opening Animation; Clean Closing Animation
Notes: This is the second season to Fate/kaleid liner Prisma☆Illya.

Space Brothers - Collection 7
Region: US/1
Publisher: ???
Format: Blu-ray & DVD
Languages: Japanese (w/English subs)
Price (SRP): $49.98 [DVD], $59.98 [BD]

Special Features: Clean Opening Animation; Clean Closing Animation
Notes: Collection 7 has 12 episodes, therefore the Blu-ray set is a 1 Disc release.

February 23rd 2016

Indian Summer - Complete Collection (Sentai Selects)
Region: 1
Publisher: ???
Format: DVD
Languages: Japanese
Price (SRP): $19.98 [DVD]

Special Features: Clean Opening Animation; Clean Closing Animation
Notes: Sentai Selects label. 3 Episode release so it's 1 Disc.

Photo Kano - Complete Collection
Region: US
Publisher: ???
Format: Blu-ray
Languages: Japanese
Price (SRP): $59.98 [BD]

Special Features: Clean Opening Animation; Clean Closing Animation
Notes: Series is 13 episodes long, allowing the Blu-ray set to be 2 Discs.

So Akame ga Kill! gets the special collector's edition treatment. Not really surprised considering it did manage to air on Toonami (Parasyte as well which I expect to appear on the release schedule at some point). The idea of having a collector's edition for the first half of the series doesn't get my interest since there's going to be twice the space taken up on the shelf, unless of course the first set has a slot for the second half. Unlike the previous sets I've picked up I'll only be going after these collector's sets if there's something big included like an OVA or soundtracks from now on.

Photo Kano escapes the Blu-ray holdback and finally gets released! I've been interested in this series for some reason - probably the fanservice. Heh. Nice to see that it's getting 2 discs instead of one. Speaking of disc count, thanks to the bonus extras the Blade Dance series is also released in 2 discs, otherwise it would've been a 1 disc set.

Fate/kaleid 2wei gets scheduled, meanwhile over here in the UK we nearly have the first season released. Though I would argue it's a materials issue making the holdback (Anime Ltd got the license from Kadokawa not Sentai Filmworks) so I wouldn't blame them.

And finally one of the most popular shows is getting released - Shiro Bako! Unfortunately it's subtitle only (which will upset many) and it's getting a 1 disc release (which will upset even more people). I hear it's a show that works better in subtitle form so I'll accept that but it's a shame that it's going to suffer from the 1 disc problem (for those wondering 1 disc Blu-ray sets means the quality will be weaker due to cramming everything together, however Kaze handle it worse.).

That's it for the February line-up, this weekend will have UK announcements going all over the place. I found out one potential license thanks to an accidental leak though I will shut up about it until it's officially confirmed.