Special Edition Anime DVDs Announced

Pioneer has revealed that they will be releasing 2 different versions of Akira to DVD on July 3rd. In addition to a standard movie-only version for $24.95, there will be a $34.95 special edition 2 disc set. The second disc of the special edition set will be entirely supplementary material including the Akira Production Report and a documentary on the creation of the soundtrack.

The next release in the Japanese Studio Ghibli DVD series, Lupin III: Castle Cagliostro (which is not technically a Studio Ghibli film, but is considered part of the Ghibli cannon), has been delayed by a month from its original March 7th release date to an April 26th date in order to allow for the inclusion of a second disc of supplementary material. In keeping with the already released Japanese Studio Ghibli DVDs (Gauche the Cellist, My Neighbors the Yamadas & Graveyard of Fireflies), the Japanese Lupin DVD will contain English subtitles but the secondary disc most likely will not. The bonus disc will include background information and supplementary material about Lupin III and an overview of Hayao Miyazaki’s work, including a trailer for Miyazaki’s latest film, Sen to Chihiro no Kamikakushi, due out in Japan this summer. AnimeNation does have this import, region 2 DVD set on order and will have it available for pre-order on our site shortly.

The landmark all digital horror/action anime movie Blood: The Last Vampire, has been announced for DVD release in Japan in several different versions, the first two of which are due out on April 25th. The theatrical version of the film will initially be released on DVD at a discounted price of 5,040 yen. After the first pressing copies sell out, the film will be re-released with a new product number and the regular price of 5,775 yen. At the same time as the initial regular edition release, a limited edition 3 disc boxed set will be released for 12,390 yen which will include the theatrical version of the movie, the “digital master” version of the movie mastered from the original studio HDCAM24P format print, and a third DVD of supplementary material including storyboards, image galleries & staff interviews. The Digital Master version of the film, initially available only as part of the limited edition boxed set, will be released on stand-alone DVD in Japan later this year. The VHS version, also to be released on April 25, will feature the movie and 20 minutes of staff interview footage for a retail price of 9,240 yen. Although much of the spoken dialogue in the movie is in English, early information suggests that the DVD versions will include both Japanese & English subtitle options. AnimeNation should have both the regular and limited edition DVDs available for special-order on our page within the next day or two. For those of you who balk at the high price of the import version or don’t have the option to play region 2 DVDs, Manga Entertainment will be releasing the movie in America on July 31st.

Source: Anime on DVD