Weekly Shiny Disc Preview: February 25th, 2008

February 25, 2008 in Weekly Shiny Disc Preview by Tom Langston (calaggie) | No comments

I have been thinking of doing a weekly feature like this for a month or so and decided to kick it off this week when three series are slated to debut in Region 1 – Black Blood Brothers, Gurren Lagann, and Shuffle!. Future installments will likely go up Sunday night/early Monday and may eventually replace This Week in Akiba since I’m too lazy to wade through tens of posts on Akibablog or its recently debuted English version, despite its moments of Engrish.

Scheduled Releases for Week of February 24th:

Black Blood Brothers Vol. 1: Bad Tidings (Funi) – 100 min [affiliate link]
One interesting thing about this anime is that the entire 12 episodes can actually be bought completely in digital form right now at $1.99 an episode (total cost: $23.88). According to AnimeOnDVD, the episodes are subbed only at a resolution of 640×360 and apparently look and sound pretty good. The first two episodes are also currently being streamed on the show’s website so you can see if you’re interested in the series at all. So what would drive someone to buy the physical media version of BBB? Perhaps the Japanese commentaries as extras…or lack of a Windows PC to play the DRM’ed download-to-own files.

Death Note Vol. 3 (Viz) – 100 min [affiliate link]
This volume contains episodes 9 through 12 wherein L reveals himself to Light, plays tennis with him, and invites him onto the investigation team when a second Kira appears on the scene. There is also a limited edition version of this volume that includes a collectors’ figurine of L; RACS has the standard edition for $19 and the LE for $30.

Freedom Vol. 4 HD DVD (Bandai Visual) – 30 min [affiliate link]
I believe that this is the first HD DVD anime release since the format was officially declared “dead” last week. Like the previous Freedom releases, you get ONE episode on a single-sided, double-layer disc that has a DVD compatible side for about 40 bucks.

Galaxy Railways Complete Box Set [Viridian Collection] (Funi) – 650 min [affiliate link]
This spinoff of Leiji Matsumoto’s Galaxy Express 999 space drama is now in a slightly cheaper six-disc box set packaged in a non-Amaray cardboard case made of at least 30% recycled material. RACS has it for $38.

Gurren Lagann Vol. 1: Breakout! (ADV Films) – 100 min [affiliate link]
AD Vision’s recent releases have been delayed and so Gainax’s latest hit title likely will not hit store shelves this week. (TRSI and AnimeNation are both still listing the 26th as the release date but I’m more inclined to believe RACS and its owner.) When it eventually does, though, I will try to check out the dub as well as how crisp the visuals hopefully look on digital versatile disc.

Hell Girl Vol. 4: Marble (Funi) – 100 min [affiliate link]
Episodes 15-18 involve an aunt being sent to hell after assaulting her niece Mina and Mina’s boyfriend as well as killing Mina’s mother to keep her from moving away, one circus performing twin seeks vengence on her twin (also a circus performer) for receiving abuse while the other is pampered, the ghost of a vengeful girl who is not who she seems, and a case of a crazy lady killing another woman’s dogs.

Michel Complete Collection (ADV Films) – 650 min [vol. 1 affliate link]
ADV has re-released as a collection this Korean children’s series about the “Little Prince”, Michel, and his friend Kim rescuing fairies from the torment of the Black Hammer Gang in order to save the Tree of Life. Rightstuf has the first five singles on clearance for $5 a pop while RACS is selling this collection for $37.

Mushishi Vol. 6 (Funi) – 100 min [affiliate link]
The final four episodes of this beautiful and deep series continues Ginko’s helping people deal with mushi problems including a girl ostracized from a village because she supposedly causes rust and a woman who regained her eyesight but then began to see more than she wished to see.

Pumpkin Scissors Vol. 3: Wounds of War (ADV Films) – 100 min [affiliate link]
The military capers of Section III continue in episodes 9 through 12 as Orland helps a beautiful lady come to terms with her past, Stecchin tells Randel about the section’s creation and reasoning behind its name, and Alice is abducted by a group that wants to use her in exposing the military’s dark secrets. Buy.com has this for $17.42 although when it will actually ship is another thing since this title is technically delayed.

Shuffle Vol. 1 (Funi) – 100 min [affiliate link]
This harem romance anime involving daughters of deities isn’t really up my alley – I saw the first episode a couple years ago and frankly, it bored me – but some of you might enjoy that kind of thing. Along with the first four episodes on the disc, there is also a pin-up poster inside the package.

Simoun Vol. 2: Orchestra of Betrayal (Media Blasters) – 125 min [affiliate link]
Media Blasters’ budget sub-only release of this shoujo-ai/yuri series continues with episodes 7 through 11. Best Buy has this volume as well as Volume 1 for 15 bucks each, which is their regular price for many of Media Blasters’ titles including Kashimashi and Ramen Fighter Miki.

Wallflower Vol. 2: The Shrewing of the Timid (ADV Films) – 100 min [affiliate link]
I previously wrote about my impressions of “The Wallflower” and thought it showed some potential in its first episode. Now that I think about it, the art style and pacing seemed like Ouran at times, which may have been the two having the same key animator (Ai Ishimori). Unfortunately this series seems to have also been caught up in the ADV delays so this might not come out for a few more weeks.

P.S. About the affiliate links: I put in TRSI as my main product links this week but it turns out that many of the releases are cheaper through RACS or other sites so next week, I’ll try to research any deals more thoroughly and link accordingly. Also, I applied for RACS’ and Buy.com’s programs and hopefully those will go through soon.