Industry News: Section23 Films March 2016 Release Slate

Much like Funimation's schedule, Sentai's got theirs up earlier than usual. 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 March 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.

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

March 1st 2016

Wizard Barristers: Complete Collection
Region: US/1
Publisher: Showgate

Format: Blu-ray & DVD (separately)

Languages: English & Japanese (w/English subs)

Price (SRP): $59.98 [DVD], $69.98 [BD]

Special Features: Web Previews, Clean Opening Animation, Clean Closing Animation
Notes: None.

March 8th 2016

Wolf Girl & Black Prince: Complete Collection
Region: US/1
Publisher: Yomiuri Telecasting Corporation (YTV)

Format: Blu-ray & DVD (separately)

Languages: Japanese (w/English subs)

Price (SRP): $49.98 [DVD], $59.98 [BD]

Special Features: Clean Opening Animation, Clean Closing Animation
Notes: The series is given the 1 Disc release treatment for Blu-ray.

March 15th 2016

Those Who Hunt Elves: Complete Collection (Sentai Selects)
Region: 1
Publisher: Showgate
Format: DVD
Languages: English & Japanese (w/English subs)
Price (SRP): $39.98

Special Features: Production Sketches, Clean Opening Animation, Clean Closing Animation
Notes: Sentai Selects re-release label, includes reversible cover.

Waiting In The Summer: Complete Collection
Region: US
Publisher: TBS
Format: Blu-ray
Languages: Japanese (w/English subs)
Price (SRP): $59.98

Special Features: Clean Opening Animation, Clean Closing Animation
Notes: Includes OVA (wasn't included in the original DVD release).

When They Cry (Higurashi no Naku Koro Ni): Season 1 Collection
Region: US/1
Publisher: NBC Universal
Format: Blu-ray & DVD
Languages: English & Japanese (w/English subs)
Price (SRP): $49.98 [DVD], $69.98 [BD]

Special Features: Clean Opening Animation, Clean Closing Animation
Notes: 4 Disc release for Blu-ray (1-8, 9-15, 16-21, 22-26).

March 22nd 2016

Celestrial Method: Complete Collection
Region: US/1
Publisher: Showgate
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: None.

Monthly Girls' Nozaki-Kun: Complete Collection
Region: US/1
Publisher: Media Factory
Format: Blu-ray & DVD
Languages: English & Japanese (w/English subs)
Price (SRP): $59.98 [DVD], $69.98 [BD], $129.98 [BD & DVD CE]

Special Features: Nozaki-kun Shorts, Promos, Commercials, Clean Opening Animation, Clean Closing Animation
Collector's Edition Extras: Chipboard Box, Sticker, Tattoos, Poster, Hard Cover Booklet, 2 CD's
Notes: All versions have the same on-disc extras.

March 29th 2016

Utawarerumono: OVA Collection
Region: US/1
Publisher: TBA
Format: Blu-ray & DVD
Languages: English & Japanese (w/English subs)
Price (SRP): $29.98 [DVD], $39.98 [BD]

Special Features: Picture Dramas, Clean Opening Animation, Clean Closing Animation
Notes: None. Short collection so disc space won't be a major issue.

Vampire Princess Miyu: Complete Collection
Region: 1
Publisher: TBA
Format: DVD
Languages: English & Japanese (w/English subs)
Price (SRP): $49.98

Special Features: Clean Opening Animation, Clean Closing Animation
Notes: Re-release. Possibly done to replace stack box.

This month certainly is an interesting one for Sentai & Maiden Japan.

Starting off with Monthly Girls' Nozaki-kun, thanks to fan demand we managed to avoid a subtitle only 1 disc release (series is 12 episodes so they could easily shove everything on a disc) and instead get a bilingual collector's edition with the soundtrack. I've heard a lot about the show and I look forward to the set.

When They Cry returns starting with Season 1. There's a bit of a debate on the English dub, it's unknown if Sentai have made a new dub or retained the original Geneon dub, because apparently the Geneon dub isn't that great. Familiar of Zero kept the Geneon dub but the rest of the franchise remained subtitle only presumably due to the previous title's sales. Sentai have Season 2 and the OVAs so if the dub is new then the chances of the others getting dubbed are high, otherwise it's subtitle only from there.

Utawarerumono OVAs appearing on Sentai's catalogue is an interesting one. The first season was first brought out by ADV and then rescued by Funimation. The license on Funimation's hand is slowly expiring and given almost all of ADV's titles went to S.A.V.E. it's clear that Funimation doesn't have any interest in the franchise. At the same time Sentai picked up The False Faces (Season 2 which adapts the recently released Utawarerumono: False Mask game) so there was hope for the fans. In fact this OVA release is not only getting a Blu-ray but also an English dub. Interesting.

And last but not least, it's nice to finally see the Blu-ray version of Waiting in the Summer scheduled for release. I've been waiting for this moment to own the series and it even comes with the OVA! Sweet.

That's it for the month of March. I wonder what else Sentai will bring out in the next month or so.