Last weekend MCM London Comic Con returned to London and to everyone's surprises the announcements this time were an improvement to last year (well for the most part). There's no Manga UK news as they decided to make their announcements at their own pace so here's a round-up of what Anime Limited and MVM Entertainment have revealed for the United Kingdom & Ireland.
If you want to see the Anime UK News versions of the round-up, here they are:
Anime Limited
Anime Limited split their announcements between the Friday and Sunday panels over the weekend and the turnout was quite interesting for the most part.
Amanchu! Season 1
Audio: Japanese with English subtitles
Release Date: 2018
WHOOP WHOOP WHOOP The slice-of-life series from J.C.Staff and Production I.G is coming to the UK as a limited collector's edition Blu-ray set sometime in 2018. As the series has not been licensed in any other English territory this will be Japanese audio with English subtitles only.
Angelic Layer
Audio: English & Japanese with English subtitles
Release Date: Q3 2018 (July-September)
The classic CLAMP & studio Bones series is making its return to the UK under Anime Ltd's belt after being distributed by ADV Films. While the series was released before, it did get cut by the BBFC under ADV's permission in order to keep the PG ratings (uncut version would be a 12). The Anime Ltd version will be using Sentai Filmworks masters. The series will be released as a limited collector's edition Blu-ray set with rigid box, digipack and 40-page booklet included.
Cardcaptor Sakura the Movie 2: The Sealed Card
Audio: English & Japanese with English subtitles
Release Date: 2018
So Cardcaptor Sakura is coming to the UK through its second film The Sealed Card. The Sealed Card is the conclusion to Cardcaptor Sakura's story and thus makes this release rather confusing. However going by the comments made by AL it seems to be implied that they are already looking into (or have already but got stuck in NDA issues) the original series for UK distribution. In any case the film will be released as a limited collector's edition Blu-ray set sometime in 2018.
Cowboy Bebop 20th Anniversary Edition
Audio: English & Japanese with English subtitles
Release Date: 2018
To no one's surprise Cowboy Bebop is getting a new release. Celebrating the 20th anniversary of the franchise the new release (which is basically an Ultimate Edition) will include the complete series on Blu-ray plus all of the soundtrack CDs (no Vinyl version confirmed) and also the movie. Other details are currently not final so stay tuned for more info on this later into 2018.
FLCL Original Soundtrack Vinyl
Release Date: TBA
While their Vinyl line-up is stuck in limbo for a while now, they have another title joining the catalogue with FLCL! Nothing much to say on this one to be honest.
Mobile Suit Gundam 00 franchise
Audio: English & Japanese with English subtitles (Special Edition OVAs: Japanese with English subtitles)
Release Date: 2018
The series that spawned the 'I AM A GUNDAM' quote is coming back to the UK with the rest of the franchise as well. The anime celebrates its 10th anniversary this year so it's a good time to release it. Anime Limited's license includes both seasons of the TV series which were released prior under Beez, plus the Special Edition OVAs and the movie A Wakening of the Trailblazer. No details as to how they plan to release this but it should be due for 2018 on Blu-ray only.
Mobile Suit Gundam Thunderbolt December Sky
Audio: English & Japanese with English subtitles
Release Date: 2018 (Sooner than you'll expect)
The compilation film for Mobile Suit Gundam Thunderbolt will also be heading to the UK. In fact it's been rated by the BBFC already so it'll be sooner than we'll expect. I'm curious to see how this one will work in terms of the Gundam UK boxes since it's a film. As expected, this will be a Blu-ray only release.
Never-Ending Man: Hayao Miyazaki
Audio: Japanese with English subtitles
Release Date: TBA
The NHK documentary is coming to the UK from Anime Ltd nonetheless. Not much info has been said aside from plans for home video.
Perfect Blue Ultimate Edition
Audio: English & Japanese with English subtitles
Release Date: 2018
The most surprising announcement and oddly enough probably the one I'm most excited about. Satoshi Kon's Perfect Blue was the second anime to be released by the distributor and now it's coming back for its 21st anniversary with an Ultimate Edition release. This release will include a brand new Blu-ray transfer, a fully translated 380-page storyboard book and the film's original soundtrack on CD.
Sound! Euphonium Season 1
Audio: Japanese with English subtitles
Release Date: 2018 (Sooner than you'll expect)
Back in October 2017 the series was cancelled due to licensing issues with Crunchyroll (who are the international licensor for the series outside of Asia, US & Canada) but Anime Limited were able to rescue it! The series will be released as a limited collector's edition Blu-ray set with a rigid box, digipack and booklet. It's also been BBFC rated with a PG so a release should be sooner that we'd expect.
MVM Entertainment
MVM had six titles to share but it's a weird one to explain. While numerous sites have noted them down as new announcements, only one of them was. Heck they even left out another one which was leaked by MVM's shop and nobody noticed (well except myself and a couple others).
The Asterisk War
Audio: English & Japanese with English subtitles
Release Date: Part 1 in July 2018, Part 2 in August 2018, Parts 3-4 TBA
The series that Aniplex of America have been hyping up to be the next Sword Art Online is coming to the UK finally. Interestingly it'll be replicating the Aniplex of America standard edition sets including its Blu-ray master because Australia never released it on Blu-ray. Each part will contain 6 episodes.
Higurashi: When They Cry franchise
Audio: Japanese with English subtitles (Season 1 also includes English audio)
Release Date: Seasons 1-3 collection in September 2018, Season 1 in October 2018, Seasons 2-3 TBA
The cult classic horror series is finally made its way to the UK but I wouldn't celebrate just yet. Due to the show's tone the BBFC may take an issue with it but in the best case scenario it's an 18. The franchise is dead on arrival if it gets a single cut. MVM plans to release all three seasons together as a collector's edition Blu-ray set in September, followed by individual season sets on Blu-ray & DVD starting October. SRPs per season are £49.99, £49.99 and £24.99 for the Blu-rays and £39.99, £39.99 and £19.99 for the DVDs.
Universal Pictures licenses carrying over to MVM
The reason why I feel that most of the titles MVM have revealed are not brand new is because they are basically taking what Universal had announced back in May 2017 under their label instead. The titles included are as follows:
Bakuon!!
Audio: Japanese with English subtitles
Release Date: August 2018
The comedy biking series will be available on Blu-ray and DVD in Japanese audio with English subtitles only.
The Heroic Legend of Arslan: Dust Storm Dance
Audio: English & Japanese with English subtitles
Release Date: TBA
The 8 episode second season of The Heroic Legend of Arslan will be available on Blu-ray and DVD in both English & Japanese audio with English subtitles.
Seven Mortal Sins
Audio: English & Japanese with English subtitles
Release Date: TBA
The ecchi fantasy series is also known as Sin: Nanatsu no Taizai. Assuming the BBFC are fine with it it should be available on Blu-ray and DVD in both English & Japanese audio with English subtitles.
STARMYU franchise
Audio: Japanese with English subtitles
Release Date: Season 1 TBA, Season 2 & OVAs TBA
Both seasons of the male idol series and apparently the OVAs as well. Funimation have currently released the first season at the moment while the second has yet to do so. The seasons will be available on Blu-ray and DVD in Japanese audio with English subtitles only.
That's it for the MCM announcements for May 2018. It's a solid announcement round-up overall so I hope we can continue this trend for this October.
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