Magic Knight Rayearth & Rayearth OVA Series Coming to the UK this July from Anime Limited
Distributor Anime Limited has revealed more information for their upcoming home video release of the television anime series Magic Knight Rayearth by TMS Entertainment, based on CLAMP’s 1993 manga series.
Release Date
Much like Revolutionary Girl Utena, the series is currently scheduled to make its UK home video debut across two collector’s edition Blu-ray sets. The first part is scheduled for Monday 27th July 2020 and the second part is scheduled for Monday 24th August 2020.
Collector’s Edition Parts 1-2
Included in Magic Knight Rayearth Part 1 collector’s edition are as follows:
- Rigid box to house the digipack packaging
- 3 Blu-ray discs, covering episodes 1-27
- 20-page Booklet
Included in Magic Knight Rayearth Part 2 collector’s edition are as follows:
- Rigid box to house the digipack packaging
- 3 Blu-ray discs, covering episodes 28-49
- 1 DVD disc, covering the Rayearth OVA series
- 5 Artcards
The Blu-ray discs will be the same as the 2017 Discotek Media release, which includes Japanese audio with English subtitles and the Media Blasters English dub, and will offer on-disc bonus features such as Next Episode Previews, Bumpers, Recaps and Omake Endings.
Included with the main 1994 television anime series is the 1997 OVA series Rayearth which was once released in the United Kingdom by Manga Entertainment on VHS and DVD. All three episodes will include the Manga Entertainment English dub as well as the Japanese audio with English subtitles.
While the OVA was included with the Magic Knight Rayearth Japanese Blu-ray Disc Box, it was on a bonus DVD disc and therefore the same applies with this UK release (basically there’s no HD master for the OVAs yet).
The SRP for the collector’s edition Blu-ray is £59.99 for each part.
Pre-order Offer
Starting Friday 5th June 2020 at 5:00pm British Standard Time, Magic Knight Rayearth Part 1 will be available to pre-order on Anime Limited’s store for £34.99 (or £31.50 if you have subscribed to the Screen Anime Film Festival) until Thursday 11th June. The set will be available across multiple retailers over the coming days to weeks.
Info About the Series
Magic Knight Rayearth is a 1994 television anime series directed by Toshiki Hirano (Devil Lady) and animated by studio TMS Entertainment (Lupin the Third). The anime adaptation is based on the 1993 manga by CLAMP (Cardcaptor Sakura). The 1997 OVA series Rayearth is also directed by Toshiki Hirano and animated by TMS.
Anime Synopsis via Anime Limited:
“Hikaru Shidou, Umi Ryuuzaki, and Fuu Hououji are three regular high school girls. While on a field trip to the Tokyo Tower, the three girls’ minds are on anything but different worlds filled with magic and wonder. That is, until Princess Emeraude, the Pillar of Cephiro, cries out for the Magic Knights to save her world – and that just happens to be those three!
The girls must learn to control the magic they suddenly possess, drive back the monsters that plague the land, revive the Rune Gods that have been sealed away, and then fight against the High Priest Zagato, who has kidnapped Princess Emeraude. It’s the only way they can return home, for willpower influences Cephiro, and it is the Princess’s will that the three girls become the Magic Knights of legend, and save her world.”
At the time of this post, there is no legal way to stream the series so this upcoming UK Blu-ray release will be an opportunity for anime fans in the UK & Ireland to be able to check it out. Anime Limited announced the acquisition for Magic Knight Rayearth back in October 2018 during MCM London Comic Con.
Source: Anime Limited
