Two Classic Anime Movies Receive Ultra HD Blu-ray Releases in Japan
While it’s not UK related, it’s an interesting topic to discover for fans of these classic titles.
So far it has been very rare to hear anything about bringing anime towards the 4K market. A couple titles have been released on Ultra HD Blu-ray in Japan (Your Name as an example, which does offer English subtitle support) and some others have HDR support on Netflix (like BLAME! and Knights of Sidonia), but for the most part anime stays solely on 2K Blu-ray and Standard Definition DVD.
Today it has been announced that Japanese distributor TMS Entertainment will be bringing two of director Osamu Dezaki’s works on the Ultra HD Blu-ray format, remastered in 4K and restored from the 35MM original negative. The two titles in particular are Ashita no Joe 2 (Champion Joe / Tomorrow’s Joe) the Movie and Space Adventure Cobra the Movie.
Both titles will also be presented with a slipcover and a 28-page booklet.
Ashita no Joe 2 the Movie is the second compilation movie in the franchise, based on the Ashita no Joe 2 anime series. There is currently no UK release of this film nor the other parts of the franchise. Discotek Media in North America have acquired the rights to the franchise’s first compilation movie with a Blu-ray release planned.
The Ultra HD Blu-ray release is currently set for April 27th 2018 and you can order it on Amazon Japan.
It has been six months since the tragic accident in Joe and Rikiishi’s fight. Joe believes he has overcomed Rikiishi’s death and decides to make a comeback. Joe does make a successful comeback by scoring 5 KO’s by body blows. Joe is then given a shot at the national title as a means by the boxing commission to put him down. The champion, Tiger Ozaki makes use of Joe’s habits and ends up making Joe’s corner throw in the towel. Joe is afraid to throw punches at the face because of what happened to Rikiishi. Youko, Joe’s love interest and the owner of the gym where Rikiishi trained at recruits a world ranked boxer from Venezuela, Carlos Rivera, to get Joe back on his feet and pursue his boxing career to the regional and world ranks.
Space Adventure Cobra the Movie was released in 1982 and is the first anime adaptation of the Cobra manga, which then later received two different anime series and a couple OVAs. Manga Entertainment released the film on DVD in both English & Japanese audio with English subtitles many years back. Discotek Media in North America also acquired the rights to the film and have released it on both Blu-ray & DVD.
The Ultra HD Blu-ray release is currently set for December 20th 2017 and you can order it on Amazon Japan.
Cobra, a notorious space pirate, is enlisted by bounty hunter Jane to rescue her sister from the strange being known as Crystal Boy, but then finds himself drawn into a complex struggle over the fate of a mysterious wandering planet.
As stated these titles will not have English support but it’s always good to cover topics that are interesting here on AUKN. Ultra HD Blu-ray titles have no region codes so feel free to order them if you have knowledge of Japanese or are simply interested in owning them regardless.
Other titles released on Ultra HD Blu-ray in Japan include Accel World: Infinite Burst, Mobile Suit Gundam Thunderbolt December Sky (inc. English dub & sub support), Mobile Suit Gundam Thunderbolt 2: Bandit Flower (inc. English dub & sub support) and Your Name (inc. English sub support).
(Credit to Japanese site Natalie for the images and the information and Blu-ray.com forum for translating the details)
