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Monday, 16 May 2016

Industry News: Funimation August 2016 Release Slate

After July's massacre of re-releases, this month is probably the strongest line-up this year. Granted limited edition collector's will be disappointed as only 1 show is getting the treatment but there's a ton of English dubbed titles on this list.

And yes, Barakamon is finally getting a release.

Here's the list of anime that Funimation have scheduled for the month of August 2016.


This month we have a bunch of English dubbed shows, the best explanation for this is that a lot of them were already dubbed during its initial broadcast (i.e. Broadcast Dub) which helps. There are a couple re-releases, some actually got normal complete sets rather than straight to whatever brand Funimation uses.

In total we have 17 titles in the line-up;
 - 1 re-release that originally had a special first print treatment to it
 - 2 re-releases that gathered a complete collection
 - 2 very old re-releases given the Anime Classic treatment
 - 2 re-releases given the S.A.V.E. treatment
 - 2 titles that are second halves of the show's season
 - 1 title never before released that earned a limited edition
 - 1 title that suffers the DVD only Subtitle only treatment
 - 6 titles never before released (one of which is the first half of the season)

2nd August 2016


Absolute Duo - Complete Series
Region: A B and 1 2 4
Publisher: 
Format: Blu-ray and DVD (as a combo pack)
Languages: English & Japanese (w/English subs)
Price (SRP): $64.98

Extras: Episode 10 Commentary, Episode 12 Commentary, Textless Songs, Promotional Videos, Commercials, U.S. Trailer, Trailers


Jormungand - Complete Series [Season 1 & 2: Perfect Order]
Region: A B and 1 2 4
Publisher: 
Format: Blu-ray and DVD (as a combo pack)
Languages: English & Japanese (w/English subs)
Price (SRP): $69.98

Extras: Casting Koko's Crew with American Director Christopher Bevins, Episode Commentaries, Textless Songs, Trailers, Team Koko - A Look Inside with the American Director and Cast, Episode Commentaries (15 & 24), Textless Songs, Trailers


The Rolling Girls - Complete Series
Region: A B and 1 4
Publisher: 
Format: Blu-ray and DVD (as a combo pack)
Languages: English & Japanese (w/English subs)
Price (SRP): $64.98

Extras: Episode 8 Commentary (Monica Rial, Colleen Clinkenbeard, Jad Saxton), Episode 12 Commentary (Clifford Chapin, Felicia Angelle, Leah Clark), Textless Songs, Previews for Episodes 2-12, U.S. Trailer, Trailers


Samurai 7 - Complete Series (Anime Classics)
Region: A and 1
Publisher: Gonzo
Format: Blu-ray and DVD (as a combo pack)
Languages: English & Japanese (w/English subs)
Price (SRP): $49.98

Extras: Staff Commentary, Director/Actor Commentary, Promotional Video, Image Galleries, Character Profiles, Textless Songs, Trailers


World Break: Aria of Curse for a Holy Swordsman - Complete Series
Region: A B and 1 2 4
Publisher: 
Format: Blu-ray and DVD (as a combo pack)
Languages: English & Japanese (w/English subs)
Price (SRP): $64.98

Extras: Textless Songs, TV Spot Collection, U.S. Trailer, Trailers

9th August 2016


Barakamon - Complete Series
Region: A B and 1 4
Publisher: 
Format: Blu-ray and DVD (as a combo pack)
Languages: English & Japanese (w/English subs)
Price (SRP): $64.98

Extras: Textless Songs, U.S. Trailer, Trailers


Garo the Animation - Season 1 Part 2
Region: A and 1
Publisher: 
Format: Blu-ray and DVD (as a combo pack)
Languages: English & Japanese (w/English subs)
Price (SRP): $64.98

Extras: Episode Commentaries, Textless Songs, U.S. Trailer, Trailers


Gunslinger Girl - Complete Series [Season 1 & 2: Il Teatrino] (Anime Classics)
Region: A B and 1 2 4
Publisher: 
Format: Blu-ray and DVD (as a combo pack)
Languages: English & Japanese (w/English subs)
Price (SRP): $49.98

Extras: Building Henrietta, Building Rico, Meet the Real Gunslinger Girls, Production Commentary, Voice Director Commentary, Gunslinger Girl Dossiers, Japanese Cast Interview - Voice of Marco, Japanese Cast Interview - Voice of Hilshire, Original TV Commercials, Textless Songs, Trailers

16th August 2016


Assassination Classroom - Season 1 Part 2
Region: A B and 1 2 4
Publisher: 
Format: Blu-ray and DVD (as a combo pack)
Languages: English & Japanese (w/English subs)
Price (SRP): $64.98

Extras: Episode Commentaries, Textless Songs, U.S. Trailer, Trailers


Blood Blockade Battlefront - Complete Series (Standard & Limited Editions)
Region: A and 1
Publisher: 
Format: Blu-ray and DVD (as a combo pack)
Languages: English & Japanese (w/English subs)
Price (SRP): $64.98 (Standard) & $84.98 (Limited)

Extras: Episode 10.5 - Even These Are the Worst and the Best Days Ever, Funimation Short: with Aaron Dismuke and Ian Sinclair, Funimation Short: with Micah Solusod and Mike McFarland, Textless Songs, Promotional Videos & TV Spots, U.S. Trailer, Trailers

Limited Edition Extras: 10 Art Cards, a Speciality Print to the Chipboard Box

23rd August 2016


HAL (Re-release)
Region: A and 1
Publisher: 
Format: Blu-ray and DVD (as a combo pack)
Languages: English & Japanese (w/English subs)
Price (SRP): $19.98

Extras: Actor Commentary, Making Of: Production Process, Making Of: Animatics & Scratch Tracks, Original Trailer, Textless Closing Song, U.S. Trailer, Trailers


The Heroic Legend of Arslan - Season 1 Part 1
Region: A B and 1 2 4
Publisher: 
Format: Blu-ray and DVD (as a combo pack)
Languages: English & Japanese (w/English subs)
Price (SRP): $64.98

Extras: Episode Commentaries, Promotional Video, Commercial Collection #1, Commercial Collection #2, Textless Songs, U.S. Trailer, Trailers


Ikki Tousen: Great Guardians - Complete Series (S.A.V.E. Edition)
Region: 1 2 4
Publisher: 
Format: DVD
Languages: English & Japanese (w/English subs)
Price (SRP): $29.98

Extras: Battle Tour Club Sexy Cosplays, Dangerous Jobs Episodes 1-6, Great Guardians Radio Event at Tokyo Anime Fair 2008, Commercial Collection, Promotional Video, Textless Songs, U.S. Trailer, Trailers


Ikki Tousen: Xtreme Xecutor - Complete Series (S.A.V.E. Edition)
Region: 1 2 4
Publisher: 
Format: DVD
Languages: English & Japanese (w/English subs)
Price (SRP): $29.98

Extras: Actor Commentaries, Six Dreamy Views, Episodes 1-6, Promotional Videos, OVA Commentary, Japanese Commercial, Textless Songs, U.S. Trailer, Trailers


Laughing Under the Clouds - Complete Series
Region: A B and 1 4
Publisher: 
Format: Blu-ray and DVD (as a combo pack)
Languages: English & Japanese (w/English subs)
Price (SRP): $64.98

Extras: Textless Songs, U.S. Trailer, Trailers

30th August 2016


Doamayger-D - Complete Series
Region: 1
Publisher: 
Format: DVD
Languages: Japanese (w/English subs)
Price (SRP): $14.98

Extras: None


Eureka Seven - Complete Series
Region: A and 1
Publisher: 
Format: Blu-ray and DVD (sold separately)
Languages: English & Japanese (w/English subs)
Price (SRP): $64.98 (DVD) & $69.98 (Blu-ray)

Extras: Actor Commentaries, Voice Actor Interviews, Episode 50 (Special Textless Version), Textless Songs, U.S. Trailer, Trailers

---

So, in comparison to July this month provides us with a ton of new titles in addition to a couple re-releases.

Let's start with the downside, we have barely any limited edition sets with the exception to Blood Blockade Battlefront. Once again the only special inclusion are the pointless artcards and a $85 pricetag. Funimation, you should know better that no one likes artcards these days. To add more salt to this, Anime Limited (UK distributor who have the rights to this show) are releasing the series with a booklet that contains content from the Japanese singles for around the same price if not less.

We also have another subtitle only release in the form of Doamayger-D, which was randomly picked up seasons after it broadcast in Japan (it's a Winter 2015 title but Funimation simulcast the short during the Autumn 2015 season). It's a short and was only given a DVD in Japan so it makes sense to release it just on that format. It's also really cheap to pickup.

The Heroic Legend of Arslan gets a release but for some reason Funimation dedicated to not bother with a limited edition box, such a missed opportunity right here. To add even more salt, Universal Pictures UK are giving the series a collector's edition with a board game and artbook a month earlier than Funimation's.

Both Eureka Seven and Jormungand get a complete collection release which I'm pleased to see since it's clear that it's doing well enough to avoid either the Classics or S.A.V.E. line. The discs will be exactly the same so don't worry about that. The reason Eureka Seven is released on Blu-ray and DVD separately is because it's a 51 episode show and it would be too big to put them both together.

The S.A.V.E. edition gets the third and fourth season of Ikki Tousen. No surprise there since Season 1 got the same treatment. Season 2 (Dragon's Destiny) is still missing so I wonder if Funimation will ever manage to rescue that title. Meanwhile in the Anime Classics brand we have two very old Funimation titles getting re-releases; Gunslinger Girl and Samurai 7. Gunslinger Girl already received the Anime Classics brand on DVD altogether so it's nice to see that the Blu-ray will get one as well (in fact it's a combo pack which is nice). Samurai 7 has been around for quite some time so it's a surprise welcome to see the show has done enough to earn the Classics brand.

For those confused about HAL, it's just a normal standard edition re-release with the show and a slipcover. Funimation originally put out the show with a special box and a ton of reversible covers. I expect 009 Re:Cyborg and Ghost in the Shell ARISE to get the same re-release treatment at a later point.

And finally we have the new additions; Absolute Duo, Barakamon, Blood Blockade Battlefront, Doamayger-D, The Heroic Legend of Arslan (Part 1), Laughing Under the Clouds, The Rolling Girls and World Break. Most of them aired during the Winter 2015 season while Barakamon and Laughing Under the Clouds were 2014 titles, and Blood Blockade Battlefront and The Heroic Legend of Arslan aired in the Spring of 2015. All that's left from the Winter 2015 line-up is Death Parade and Maria the Virgin Witch, both of which are already dubbed (via broadcast dub) so I expect a normal standard combo pack release at some point.

That's it for the August line-up. Funimation done goofed on their website so I had to go into the source code to find the rest of the information shown above, even Rightstuf doesn't have a clue as to what's included. Thanks to the Amazon UK leak, we should expect five titles to appear in September; High School DxD BorN, Mikagura School Suite, Ninja Slayer From Animation, Rainy Cocoa (Seasons 1 & 2, DVD sub-only) and Show By Rock.

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