AnimEigo New Acquisitions

AnimEigo will release a DVD set of first 4 “Tora-san” movies next month. Shochiku’s beloved film franchise had 48 movies released from 1969-1995, all staring Kiyoshi Atsumi as Torajiro Kuruma (setting the Guiness world record for a single actor playing the same character in the most number of films). The typical “Tora-san” movie revolves around traveling salesman Torajiro visiting a town somewhere in Japan where he meets a beautiful young woman, and tells her that if she ever needs help, she should look him up in Tokyo. After returning home to his disapproving family, the damsel in distress shows up and Tora-san falls in love with her. However, his attempts to help her and win her heart invariably cause her to fall for someone else. The popular franchise has spun off a live action TV series and a 1998 anime TV special

Director Hideo Gosha’s award winning 1982 yakuza film Onimasa, referred to as “The Japanese Godfather,” will hit DVD in November.

Director Tadashi Imai’s award winning 1963 samurai drama Bushido: Cruel Code of the Samurai will follow on DVD in December.