Unboxing [UK]: Blood-C: The Last Dark - Film: Limited Edition UK *HMV Exclusive* (BD/DVD)

It's now April and I have picked up the latest Limited Edition set from Manga Entertainment UK and also a HMV exclusive set. The film Blood-C: The Last Dark!

Unboxing [UK]: Blood: The Last Vampire - Film (Blu-ray)

Today I am proud to announce that I have just received one of the rarest Blu-rays from Manga Entertainment!

Unboxing [UK]: Wolf Children - Film: Collector's Edition UK (BD/DVD)

Ending the year on a high note, the high critically acclaimed Wolf Children is finally released on Blu-ray and DVD from Manga Entertainment here in the UK in time for Christmas.

Unboxing [UK]: Welcome To The Space Show - Film (BD/DVD)

For this overview/unboxing, we'll be taking a look at one of UK's current exclusive releases.

Unboxing [UK]: Devil May Cry - Complete Series (Blu-ray)

In this latest post we will be checking out another old release from Manga Entertainment in the UK, Devil May Cry on Blu-ray.

Unboxing [UK]: Shigurui Death Frenzy - Complete Series: Special Packaging Edition UK (Blu-ray)

In this latest post we will be checking out Manga UK's rather old original version of the Shigurui release on Blu-ray.

Unboxing [UK]: Afro Samurai - Complete Murder Sessions (Blu-ray)

In this latest post we will be checking out Manga UK's release of Afro Samurai: Complete Murder Sessions on Blu-ray.

Unboxing [UK]: Redline - Film: Collector's Edition UK (BD/DVD)

Final pick up of the month, It's time to start racing with the Collector's Edition version again.

Redline is a racing anime directed by Takeshi Koike (known for doing work on Lupin the Third: The Woman Called Fujiko Mine and The Animatrix) and is best shown on Blu-ray for its pretty quality. This Blu-ray and DVD combo also contains a 20 page booklet that includes interviews and behind the scenes. Both discs share the same features.

BD Language: English & Japanese

BD Video: 1080p HD Standard 16:9 Anamorphic (HD Native)

BD Audio: English Dolby TrueHD 5.1/Stereo 2.0 & Japanese Dolby TrueHD 5.1/Stereo 2.0

BD Subtitles: English (Japanese Dub) & English Sign and Lyrics (Both Dubs)
BD Region: B (Not displayed on box)
BD Discs: 1

BD Defects: None

DVD Language: English & Japanese

DVD Video: 480p/576i PAL Standard 16:9 Anamorphic

DVD Audio: English 5.1 Dolby Surround Sound & Japanese Stereo 2.0

DVD Subtitles: English (Japanese Dub) & English Sign and Lyrics (Both Dubs)
DVD Region: 2
DVD Discs: 1

DVD Defects: None

Plot:

Redline is about the biggest and most deadly racing tournament in the universe. Only held once every five years, everyone wants to stake their claim to fame, including JP, a reckless dare-devil driver oblivious to speed limits with his ultra-customized car - all the while, organized crime and militaristic governments want to leverage the race to their own ends. Amongst the other elite rival drivers in the tournament, JP falls for the alluring Sonoshee - but will she prove his undoing, or can a high speed romance survive a mass destruction race?

This version is a standard UK release from Manga Entertainment UK and production-wise done by Madman Entertainment for Region B release. I picked this up since this version was also going out of print like Evangelion 2.22.

Extra Content (On-Disc):

Redline 2006 trailer
Perfect Guide to Redline
Simple Guide to Redline

Extra Content (Physically):
20 page booklet about Redline

Unboxing [UK]: Highschool of the Dead - Complete Series: Original Release (Blu-ray)

Action + Zombies + Walking Tits, that's right it's High School of the Dead an anime made by Madhouse and created by the Sato brothers.

Unboxing [UK]: Evangelion: 2.22 You Can (Not) Advance - Collector's Edition (BD/DVD)

Time to pick up this copy before it went out of print, the Collector's Edition that is!

This blog post has been updated to the current format on April 22nd 2017.

Blog News: UN-GO and Future Plans

This post will be much different than my other posts as they directly go towards what will happen over the next few months.

The first thing that I should mention now is that the unboxing for UN-GO will be put on hiatus because the version published by KAZE has been condensed and does not contain all the special content and quality that previous versions of UN-GO have; for instance the Sentai Filmworks release which came out months prior. As much as I want the show itself, it is unacceptable to shove all 11 episodes and the OVA film on a single Blu-ray disc and not to mention KAZE's usual locking problem and bad quality control affecting the product as a whole. UN-GO has already been a defective by not allowing Panasonic Blu-ray owners to play the series on their players due to incompatibility issues. The DVDs I cannot yet confirm however other than they are two discs due to the usual DVD standards.

As a UK anime fan, I would recommend you skip this release if you want a decent Blu-ray version and purchase the Sentai Filmworks version which is compatible with Region B players using the same method carried out to other releases such as Angel Beats!, Clannad and The World God Only Knows. Not only will you still be supporting the industry but you will also contribute to getting KAZE out of the UK market for their own faults with other precious products gone defective due to their stupid quality assurance. It is not Manga UK's fault that their collaborations have provided us with this situation so don't go and blame them for this.

The second thing to mention is that because I got UN-GO as a birthday gift, I don't want to spend my own money for it due to money shortage so in exchange for this I will be getting the Aniplex release of Baccano! on Blu-ray whom have confirmed it will be going out of print soon, so it was best to pick this up before it goes away. I apologise that I haven't got a good unboxing for UN-GO but I will get this release before the end of the year passes by.

The third notice is the money shortage, I have spent about £200 of anime over the past few weeks due to being late to the otaku phrase and as an adult now I have to earn money. With university in the next few months, I will still be able to get future anime releases under the condition that I can't simply get an import every now and then. Imports released by Sentai Filmworks, Section 23 and Maiden Japan will always be available for the next few years whereas Funimation and Aniplex will limited in terms of stock. I have planned to purchase the All the Anime release of Cowboy Bebop on Blu-ray plus some of their releases in October, MVM's Another and possibly Monogatari Season 1 depending on the quality of the product. For imports, Funimation's High School DxD is planned in case the BBFC censors the release like they did with Ikki Tousen Dragon Destiny, and finally Section 23's Elfen Lied release is on the cards though I will wait in case of Sentai's new locking system takes effect.

The fourth notice is for the blog posts in general, I will be inactive from 25th July to 8th August for Holiday reasons I cannot avoid. I will continue to post the remaining unboxings for the rest of my titles including Code Geass so stay tuned and support the industry.

Unboxing [UK]: Ghost in the Shell 2.0 (Blu-ray)

Name: Ghost in the Shell (2.0 Version)

Format: Blu-ray

BD Region: A & B

No. of Discs: 1

Distributor: Manga Entertainment UK

Version: Film

BD Language: English, Japanese

BD Video: 1080p HD Standard 16:9 Anamorphic

BD Audio: 6.1 DTS MA for English & 2.0 PCM for Japanese

BD Subtitles: English (for Japanese Dub)

BD Defects: None

Plot:

In the year 2029, the barriers of our world have been broken down by the net and by cybernetics, but this brings new vulnerability to humans in the form of brain-hacking. When a highly-wanted hacker known as 'The Puppetmaster' begins involving them in politics, Section 9, a group of cybernetically enhanced cops, are called in to investigate and stop the Puppetmaster. The pursuit will call into question what makes a human and what is the Puppetmaster in a world where the distinction between human and machine is increasingly blurry.

Extra Content:

Original Ghost in the Shell movie

Making of Ghost in the Shell: Production Report

Theatrical Trailer

Character Profiles

Creator Biographies

One of the best sci-fi movies of the 90s and then remastered with CGI animation and better sound quality makes it the ultimate experience to watch. The original movie is included if the 2.0 version doesn't grab your eye as much as the original. Recommended if you like cyberpunk and other sci-fi films such as Akira.

Unboxing Pictures:

Unboxing [UK]: Origin: Spirits of the Past (Blu-ray)

Name: Origin: Spirits of the Past

Format: Blu-ray

BD Region: A & B

No. of Discs: 1

Distributor: Manga Entertainment UK

Version: Film

BD Language: English, Japanese

BD Video: 1080p HD Standard 16:9 Anamorphic

BD Audio: 5.1 TrueHD for English & Japanese

BD Subtitles: English (for Japanese Dub)

BD Defects: No-Signs subtitles & slightly off-sync for English

Plot:

A failed DNA experiment with plants has changed the world forever. Having demolished the moon, the intelligent and aggressive plant-life has spread to the earth and destroyed the human civilization. The few humans that remain struggle to survive, while maintaining an uneasy truce with the restless forest. One day, a villager named Agito stumbles across a stasis unit hidden deep in the forest and awakens a very cute girl from the past. Having slept for the past 300 years, Tula steps into a very different and strange world. The neighboring high-tech village of Ragna is still locked in a bitter war with the forest and when they become aware of Tula, they realize that she is the key to activating her father’s final and ultimate weapon of humanity - a weapon designed to totally destroy the forest. When Tula is taken by the warriors of Ragna, Agito makes a pact with the forest to gain the strength and incredible powers to not only save her, but to stop the weapon from destroying both the forest and his village.

No extra content is included with this release.

Personally I found this film to be slightly enjoyable, though the CGI used in some scenes look slightly off compared to the rest of the animation but nonetheless a decent plot and soundtrack. If you like Studio Ghibli films, this film is recommended.

Unboxing Pictures:

Unboxing [UK]: Summer Wars - Film (Blu-ray)

Next unboxing title for this post is all about saving the world by playing around with social networks - Summer Wars.

Note that this post has been updated (4th June 2015) to reflect the new blog format and add additional notes to the release.

Unboxing [UK]: Angel Beats! - Complete Series (Blu-ray)

Next unboxing title for this post features fun, excitement and sadness - Angel Beats!.

Note that this post has been updated (3rd June 2015) to reflect the new blog format and add additional notes to the release.

Unboxing [UK]: Highschool Of The Dead: Drifters of the Dead - OVA: Standalone (DVD)

Fan Service, Fan Service Everywhere.

Note that this post has been updated (4th June 2015) to reflect the new blog format and add additional notes to the release.

Unboxing [UK]: Ninja Scroll - Film: 20th Anniversary Collector's Edition UK (BD/DVD)

My first Blu-ray title from the christmas season, the next unboxing that I will be going through is the classic Ninja Scroll. Ninja Scroll was one of many films that entertained people back in the nineties and now it's celebrating it's 20th anniversary with a release on Blu-ray and DVD uncut and uncensored (the original releases were cut by the British Board of Film Classification back when they were rather strict in terms of content).

This version is one of Manga Entertainment's products here in the UK and also the second title in the Blu-ray range to get a Steelbook Collector's Edition (the first being Akira). This edition contains both the Blu-ray and DVD of the film and an exclusive 20 page booklet explaining the film from the creators themselves. Note that this release has kept the original 4:3 ratio and includes black borders rather than cropping the film itself.

BD Language: English, Japanese

BD Video: 1080p HD Remaster 4:3 ratio (Pillarboxed)

BD Audio: English DTS Master Audio 5.1, Japanese LPCM 2.0

BD Subtitles: English (Japanese Dub with S.T.)

BD Region: B

BD Discs: 1

BD Defects: No Signs Translation for English Dub

DVD Language: English, Japanese

DVD Video: SD PAL Colour 4:3 ratio (Pillarboxed)

DVD Audio: English Dolby Digital 5.1, Japanese Dolby Digital Stereo 2.0

DVD Subtitles: English (Japanese Dub with S.T. & L.)

DVD Region: 2

DVD Discs: 1

DVD Defects: No Signs Translation for English Dub

Plot:

Jubei Kibagami has always been the master dealer of death, but in rescuing a ninja woman from a monster he sets loose a chain of events that puts death in his own veins and sends them on a nightmarish odyssey through a surreal and devil infested ancient Japan. How do demonic possessions, an annihilated village and a man Jubei thought safely buried in his past all connect? If Jubei can't piece the blood-soaked clues together, his only consolation will be that he won't live to regret it for very long! Prepare your mind and steel your gut for the insanely gore-packed orgy of violence that still stands alone and unchallenged as the ultimate anime action feature.

Extra Content:

Exclusive Commentary with Director Yoshiaki Kawajiri
Trailers
TV Spot

Ninja Scroll is available on DVD and Blu-ray from Manga Entertainment UK (United Kingdom), Madman Entertainment (Australia) and Sentai Filmworks (North America).

Unboxing [UK]: Freedom - Complete Series: Collector's Edition (BD/DVD)

Next unboxing title for this post is the seven episode original video animation, Freedom.

Note that this post has been updated (3rd June 2015) to reflect the new blog format and add additional notes to the release.