Anime Limited Provides Details on Upcoming Q2 Slate

UK distributor Anime Limited have revealed their latest update on what they are planning to bring to the UK & Ireland over the course of the Q2 season (April to June 2019). They have emphasized that their line-up is not final and may change over the course of the year, as they want to play it safe given some contents are still in approvals for many of their licensed titles.

These titles do not have final release dates other than an estimated window for the Q2 2019 season.

B: The Beginning Season 1

English & Japanese audio with English subtitles

One of the first proper Netflix Original anime shows and animated by Production I.G with Kazuto Nakazawa and Yoshiki Yamakawa, B: The Beginning’s first season will be released on Blu-ray first in the UK & Ireland. There will be a collector’s edition release for the first season which consists of twelve episodes.

Castlevania Season 1

English audio

The anime-inspired series from director Adi Shankar and writer Warren Ellis that made its appearance on Netflix is heading to the UK & Ireland on Blu-ray. There will be a collector’s edition release for the first season which consists of four episodes. The Blu-ray author will be different to the Viz Media release in North America.

Code Geass Movies 2 & 3

Japanese audio with English subtitles

With the Code Geass: Lelouch of the Re;surrection now hitting Japanese theaters, Anime Limited will continue to release the remainder of the compilation/retelling of the TV series from Sunrise on Blu-ray with Movie 2: Transgression and Movie 3: Glorification. Movie 1: Initiation is already available to order if you have yet to pick it up. As there is no English dub produced by Funimation, Anime Limited have gone for the subtitled only route (which Funimation eventually did the same with not long after). Like the first film, both the second and third films will be given a collector’s edition release and the distributor is hoping to release them both in the UK at least a month apart.

Jin-Roh: The Wolf Brigade

English & Japanese audio with English subtitles

The classic 1999 Production I.G film from director Hiroyuki Okiura and writer Mamoru Oshii is coming back to the UK & Ireland. There will be a collector’s edition release for the film on both Blu-ray and DVD, though the details of the contents are currently under approvals. Like Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust, the film was first released in the UK on DVD by Optimum Asia, also known as Studio Canal.

Maquia: When the Promised Flower Booms

English & Japanese audio with English subtitles

Mari Okada’s first directorial debut for a theatrical film has been pushed back to the second quarter window. The animated film by P.A.Works will still be released in both standard and collector’s edition Blu-ray and DVD formats. In fact the distributor was able to go into detail for what their collector’s release will provide:

• Rigid case with a digipack inside to store the Blu-ray & DVD discs.
• 88 page Booklet containing character information, comments from the Japanese cast, interviews from the studio members including Mari Okada.
• A3 Poster
• Art Cards

It is currently unknown if the Anime Limited release (which has its own author in collaboration with the French label @anime) will be under the same restrictions that were in place with the North American Shout Factory release. For those who are unaware, their release contains an English dub only DVD and a rather curious Blu-ray transfer that uses two different video tracks; one for the dub and another for the hardcoded subtitles, these were due to licensing restrictions.

Mirai

English & Japanese audio with English subtitles

Mamoru Hosoda’s latest anime film received its UK nationwide theatrical release in November 2018 and will finally be heading to home video sometime this second quarter. There will be a standard and collector’s edition release for the film on both Blu-ray and DVD. The contents of the collector’s edition are currently under approvals.

Perfect Blue (2019 remaster)

English & Japanese audio with English subtitles

Celebrating its 20th anniversary, the 1998 psychological horror thriller from the late director Satoshi Kon will be coming back to the UK & Ireland with a special Ultimate Edition release which the distributor revealed back in May 2018 at MCM London Comic Con. The release will contain a brand new Blu-ray transfer in addition to the film’s original soundtrack and a 380-page fully translated storyboard book (never been seen before in English).

The release was initially scheduled for 2018 but has been pushed back for the second quarter. The distributor is hoping to reveal details on the final release date when the time is right. The Blu-ray transfer has been confirmed to be authored by Justin Sevakis of MediaOCD. The film was first released in the UK by Manga Entertainment on VHS in 1999, DVD in 2000, and then followed by Anime Limited on Blu-ray in 2013 – the film was also the distributor’s second released title after Cowboy Bebop.

Plastic Memories

Japanese audio with English subtitles

The 2015 anime series by Doga Kobo and director Yoshiyuki Fujiwara was licensed by Anime Limited a few years ago with no updates since. The distributor has now re-confirmed that the title is on its way with an estimated release window for the second quarter. There are no updates on how it will be released, whether it will be a complete series box set or split between two volumes with six episodes each like the Aniplex of America release which is currently going out of print.

Re:ZERO -Starting Life in Another World- (Episodes 13-25)

English & Japanese audio with English subtitles

The popular White Fox series that had aired in 2017 has received a rough release for the west due to the result of the first part’s release. The distributor has now confirmed that the second half of the series is now on its way for the second quarter with some details that are currently being finalised before they can provide a release date. It is expected to receive a collector’s edition Blu-ray and standard DVD, consisting of episodes thirteen through to twenty five, covering the remainder of the show.

The first part’s release was authored by Funimation on behalf of Crunchyroll who own the rights, which was followed by controversy due to the video quality not up to standards. According to the US  distributor this was due to the materials received by the Japanese licensor and as such a replacement scheme was provided for the users over at North America. It is currently unknown if the UK release will have the same treatment.

Silver Spoon Season 1

Japanese audio with English subtitles

Hiromu Arakawa’s farm series animated by A-1 Pictures will be coming to the UK & Ireland for the first time, in addition to being released on Blu-ray for the first time in any English-speaking territory. There will be a collector’s edition release consisting of episodes one through to twelve. Aniplex of America did not produce an English dub for the series so it will be released subtitled only. Details of the collector’s contents are not known, however we now know that the second half is scheduled for later in 2019 and there are no plans for a DVD release.

Sword Art Online Alternative: Gun Gale Online (Episodes 1-6)

English & Japanese audio with English subtitles

The Spring 2018 anime series from studio 3Hz is now heading to home video after its UK announcement back in October 2018 from MCM London Comic Con. It will follow the same model as the main series’ second season and the North American release by Aniplex of America which consists of two volumes. The first volume is scheduled first, consisting of episodes one through to six as a collector’s edition Blu-ray and DVD combo. The details of the collector’s edition release are currently under approvals but the distributor hopes to include a booklet.

The anime is a spin-off of the Sword Art Online franchise based on the light novels written by Reki Kawahara, with Keiichi Sigsawa writing the spin-off series. For comparison, the Aniplex of America release features a deluxe booklet, three postcards and a Bushiroad’s Weiß Schwarz card.

Tokyo Ghoul:re (Episodes 1-12)

English & Japanese audio with English subtitles

The third series adapting the second part of the manga written by Sui Ishida is scheduled to be released as a collector’s edition Blu-ray much like the previous titles in the franchise. The release will consist of episodes one through to twelve, however the contents of the collector’s edition are also under approvals at the time of this post. The anime was adapted by Pierrot which aired during the Spring 2018 season followed by the second cour in the Autumn 2018 season.

Twin Star Exorcists (Episodes 14-50)

English & Japanese audio with English subtitles

After releasing the first part of the series last year, the distributor now has plans to bring the remainder throughout the second quarter. Parts 2 to 4 will be standard edition Blu-ray and DVD releases, though the distributor is hoping to add a little bonus pending on approvals. The anime was adapted by Pierrot in 2016 and is based on the manga series written by Yoshiaki Sukeno.

Welcome to the Ballroom (Episodes 1-12)

Japanese audio with English subtitles

Last but not least we have another series that will be released for the first time across any English-speaking territory. The first half of the series will be coming to collector’s edition Blu-ray only and will consist of episodes one through to twelve. Contents of the collector’s edition release are currently under approvals so there is no new information on that just yet.

And that concludes the currently revealed titles scheduled for the second quarter of the year. Anime Limited will likely have more surprises in store so stay tuned for that. We would also like to take note that select Funimation titles have been delisted on their main store as well as Amazon and MVM Anime-on-line store; those being Dagashi Kashi Season 1, Divine Gate, and Haruchika: Haruta & Chika. While there has been no official news it is speculated that these titles have been silently cancelled. Shomin Sample, which was pushed back due to a ‘printing error’ is now available and Chaos Dragon is still scheduled for April 2019.