Industry News: Section23 Films May 2016 Release Slate

Now I'm on schedule, phew. Sentai Filmworks have announced their latest line-up with some neat additions including some popular titles!

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

3rd May 2016

Azumanga Daioh: Complete Collection (Sentai Selects)
Region: 1
Publisher: ???
Format: DVD
Languages: English & Japanese (w/English subs)
Price (SRP): $49.98

Special Features: Production Sketches, Gallery, Reversable Cover, Clean Opening Animation, Clean Closing Animation
Notes: 5 Disc release.

A Little Snow Fairy Sugar: Complete Collection (Sentai Selects)
Region: 1
Publisher: ???
Format: DVD
Languages: English & Japanese (w/English subs)
Price (SRP): $39.98

Special Features: Snow Flower, Japanese Promo, Location Hunting, Snow Flower Version 2, Japanese TV Spots, Interview with the Creators, Reversable Cover, Clean Opening Animation, Clean Closing Animation
Notes: 4 Disc release.

10th May 2016

The Fruit of Grisaia: Complete Collection
Region: US and 1
Publisher: ???
Format: Blu-ray & DVD (separately)
Languages: Japanese (w/English subs)
Price (SRP): $49.98 (DVD) & $59.98 (Blu-ray)

Special Features: Clean Opening Animation, Clean Closing Animation
Notes: Blu-ray is a 2 Disc release, DVD is a 3 Disc release.

Strawberry Marshmallow (TV): Complete Collection
Region: US and 1
Publisher: ???
Format: Blu-ray & DVD (separately)
Languages: English & Japanese (w/English subs)
Price (SRP): $49.98 (DVD) & $59.98 (Blu-ray)

Special Features: Clean Opening Animation, Clean Closing Animation
Notes: Blu-ray is a 2 Disc release, DVD is a 3 Disc release.

17th May 2016

Akame ga Kill!: Collection 2
Region: US and 1
Publisher: ???
Format: Blu-ray & DVD (separately), Blu-ray & DVD Combo (collector's edition)
Languages: English & Japanese (w/English subs)
Price (SRP): $59.98 (DVD), $69.98 (Blu-ray) & $129.98 (Collector's Edition Combo)

Special Features: AkaKill! Theatre, Japanese Promo, Clean Opening Animation, Clean Closing Animation
Special Features (CE): Chipboard Box, Booklet, 3 CD's
Notes: Blu-ray is a 2 Disc release, DVD is a 3 Disc release.

Gunbuster: The Movie
Region: US and 1
Publisher: Bandai Visual
Format: Blu-ray & DVD (separately)
Languages: Japanese (w/English subs)
Price (SRP): $29.98 (DVD) & $39.98 (Blu-ray)

Special Features: Japanese Commentary, Cast & Crew Interviews
Notes: Both formats are 1 Disc releases.

24th May 2016

Shirobako: Collection 2
Region: US and 1
Publisher: ???
Format: Blu-ray & DVD (separately)
Languages: Japanese (w/English subs)
Price (SRP): $49.98 (DVD), $59.98 (Blu-ray)

Special Features: Clean Opening Animation, Clean Closing Animation
Notes: Blu-ray is a 1 Disc release, DVD is a 2 Disc release.

31st May 2016

Log Horizon: Season 2 Collection 1
Region: US and 1
Publisher: ???
Format: Blu-ray & DVD (separately)
Languages: English & Japanese (w/English subs)
Price (SRP): $59.98 (DVD), $69.98 (Blu-ray)

Special Features: Clean Opening Animation, Clean Closing Animation
Notes: Both formats are 2 Disc releases.

When They Cry Kai (Higurashi no Naku Koro Ni Kai): Complete Collection
Region: US and 1
Publisher: NBCUniversal
Format: Blu-ray & DVD (separately)
Languages: Japanese (w/English subs)
Price (SRP): $69.98 (DVD), $89.98 (Blu-ray)

Special Features: Clean Opening Animation, Clean Closing Animation
Notes: Blu-ray is a 3 Disc BD50 release, DVD is a 5 Disc release.

Azumanga Daioh is finally back in print! Sadly it will lack certain extra features like The Short Movie but still it's back and will hopefully have a neat reversible cover. I look forward to picking up that series. Strawberry Marshmallow is also going back in print and this time on Blu-ray though the Blu-ray masters are not very good at all. In addition Maiden Japan is bringing back Gunbuster: The Movie in print which is a surprise though many fans still want the original series (which is in limbo due to music issues).

Despite having a successful kickstarter, the anime version of The Fruit of Grisaia is subtitle only. Honestly I'm not fussed about this decision but I'm sure that a lot of dubbed fans will be disappointed with this especially as it's garnered a lot of attention during its broadcast. Heck what's probably going to disappoint the most with fans is the lack of dub for When They Cry Kai, the second season to Higurashi: When They Cry which sold poorly during its Geneon days. The dub for the first season wasn't particularly great from what I've heard but I think Sentai just wanted to get the show out there as quick as possible.

That's it for the Sentai/Maiden Japan May line-up, tune in next month for the June line-up.