Distributors Anime Limited and MVM Entertainment revealed a number of new updates and license announcements during the MCM London Comic Con weekend of May 2019. These announcements apply to the United Kingdom & Ireland in terms of home video releases and a few other areas.
Starting off with Anime Limited during the first and third day of the convention. They ran two panels that went over the latest news and updates. The first panel focused mostly on the Mobile Suit Gundam franchise, which they have been distributing on behalf of Sunrise (much like Rightstuf have done in the United States & Canada).
Mobile Suit Gundam 00
Revealed last year, they provided an update on Mobile Suit Gundam 00 which now has a new estimated release date for the second half of 2019. Anime Limited’s license for Gundam 00 includes both seasons (all 50 episodes), the OVA Special Edition (3 episodes recapping the series), and the movie A Wakening of the Trailblazer. The main TV series was originally released in the UK by Beez Entertainment.
All of these will be released together as a Deluxe Edition Blu-ray set, currently estimated to be £199.99 SRP. There will also be a normal collector’s edition Blu-ray set for the main TV series, split into two parts for £59.99 SRP each (Part 1 will cover the first season, Part 2 will cover the second season). All of the content, outside of the OVA Special Edition, will include an English dub alongside the original Japanese audio with English subtitles (as the Special Edition was never dubbed prior to its rescue).
You can check out the main series over on Crunchyroll.
Mobile Suit Gundam: Char’s Counterattack
The second Gundam announcement was the theatrical film Mobile Suit Gundam: Char’s Counterattack. This installment takes place after the events of Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ and finally concludes the story saga between Amuro Ray and Char Aznable. The film was originally released in the UK by Beez Entertainment.
It will be released as a collector’s edition Blu-ray set for £34.99 SRP, currently estimated for the second half of 2019. The English dub will be included alongside the original Japanese audio with English subtitles.
Mobile Suit Gundam Thunderbolt: Bandit Flower
The third Gundam announcement was another theatrical film Mobile Suit Gundam Thunderbolt: Bandit Flower. This is a theatrical compilation of the original ONA second season to the Thunderbolt anime series, taking place after the events of Thunderbolt: December Sky.
It will be released as a collector’s edition Blu-ray set for £34.99 SRP, currently estimated for the second half of 2019. The English dub will be included alongside the original Japanese audio with English subtitles.
Mobile Suit Gundam Wing
The fourth and final Gundam announcement is Mobile Suit Gundam Wing. Anime Limited’s license for Gundam Wing includes both the main TV series (all 49 episodes) and its continuation Endless Waltz. Both installments were originally released in the UK by Beez Entertainment.
All of these will be released together as a Deluxe Edition Blu-ray set, currently estimated to be £179.99 SRP and scheduled for the second half of 2019. There will also be a normal collector’s edition Blu-ray set for the main TV series, split into two parts for £59.99 SRP each. All of the content will include an English dub alongside the original Japanese audio with English subtitles.
Anime Limited apparently does not know if they have the OVA version, the Movie version or both versions in regards to Endless Waltz, but I expect they will have both given that Rightstuf released it in that form. You can check out Gundam Wing and Endless Waltz over on Crunchyroll.
A Silent Voice Original Soundtrack
Mentioned a few years ago with no updates ever since, Anime Limited had finally revealed more information with regards to the original soundtrack for the film A Silent Voice. They mainly focused on the Vinyl release details, which is now scheduled for November 2019 however they do have the rights to the CD format as well.
The Vinyl release will include gatefold packaging with 2 x black 180 gram 12 inch LPs, and a 14-page large size book. It will be released in all English speaking territories and for Europe, with pre-orders to be prepared soon.
FLCL Original Soundtrack
Also mentioned last year, Anime Limited revealed more information with regards to the original soundtrack for the original FLCL series. The Vinyl release is now scheduled for September 2019.
The Vinyl release will include gatefold packaging with 2 x black 180 gram 12 inch LPs, a square art print, and a large double-sided liner notes. It will be released in all English speaking territories and for Europe, with pre-orders to be prepared soon.
The Vinyl news concluded the first panel from the distributor. They did answer a question with regard to what had happened to the Funimation titles they had sub-licensed over the years. To bring folks up to speed on the situation, basically, as of April 2019 all of the Funimation titles they licensed expired in one go and are now out of print. Their response to that question is basically they can’t explain it due to legal reasons.
Ride Your Wave
Moving on to the second panel, they revealed plans to theatrically release the film Ride Your Wave (Kimi to, Nami ni Noretara), the latest film from director Masaaki Yuasa and studio Science SARU.
The film is out in Japan during June 2019 but for the UK it will have its first appearance over at Scotland Loves Anime 2019 before they start its nationwide theatrical release. There did not specify the exact theatrical date for the UK but expect it to be late 2019 or early 2020.
Birthday Wonderland
Another film that they plan to theatrically release is Birthday Wonderland, the latest film from director Keiichi Hara and based on a children’s book called Chikashitsu kara no Fushigi na Tabi by Sachiko Kashiwaba.
The film was released in Japan back in April 2019 but for the UK it will have its first appearance over at Scotland Loves Anime 2019 before they start its nationwide theatrical release. There did not specify the exact theatrical date for the UK but expect it to be late 2019 or early 2020.
Tamako Market & Tamako Love Story
Their next announcement is back to home video with another Kyoto Animation title directed by Naoko Yamada. Both Tamako Market and its sequel film Tamako Love Story are finally coming to the UK.
The two titles will be released as a collector’s edition Blu-ray set bundled together (like Escaflowne and Martian Successor Nadesico) with an estimated release date for late 2019. Both titles will also include the English dub alongside the original Japanese audio with English subtitles for the Blu-ray release.
We Rent Tsukumogami
The fourth and final announcement from the second panel is the acquisition of We Rent Tsukumogami (Tsukumogami Kashimasu). The series aired in July 2018 and was animated by Telecom Animation Film and directed by Masahiko Murata.
Not much was revealed for this title, but it will be released on Blu-ray at an unspecified release date. Audio options are also unknown, but in the meantime, you can check out the series over on Crunchyroll.
That concludes the Anime Limited news and announcements, next we have MVM Entertainment who revealed 8 more additions to their ever-growing line-up of anime for the United Kingdom & Ireland. They generally don’t reveal many details with regards to contents or release dates, but as they need the masters from other English speaking territories a lot of what we can expect will be the same for the US versions.
Anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day
Starting off with the titles acquired from Aniplex of America, we have a catalog title in the form of Anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day (Ano Hi Mita Hana no Namae wo Bokutachi wa Mada Shiranai.) from studio A-1 Pictures. It will be available on Blu-ray in English & Japanese audio with English subtitles.
Rascal Does Not Dream of Bunny Girl Senpai
Coming from the Autumn 2018 anime season is Rascal Does Not Dream of Bunny Girl Senpai (Seishun Buta Yarou wa Bunny Girl Senpai no Yume wo Minai) from studio CloverWorks. Audio options are currently not final but it will be available on Blu-ray.
The series is available to stream on Crunchyroll and Funimation.
Yuuna and the Haunted Hot Springs
Coming from the Summer 2018 anime season is Yuuna and the Haunted Hot Springs (Yuragi-sou no Yuuna-san) from studio Xebec. Audio options are currently not final but it will be available on Blu-ray uncensored and uncut.
Yuuna did receive a couple OVA episodes, however, it is currently unknown if those respective episodes will be bundled with this release.
The series is available to stream on Crunchyroll.
Asura Cryin’
Next, we have a catalog title from Maiden Japan with Asura Cryin’. The series was animated by Seven Arc Pictures with the license including both seasons. It will be available on Blu-ray in Japanese audio with English subtitles.
The series is available to stream on Crunchyroll.
Domestic Girlfriend
From Sentai Filmworks comes the recent Winter 2019 title Domestic Girlfriend (Domestic na Kanojo) from studio Diomedea. It will be available on Blu-ray in English & Japanese audio with English subtitles.
Domestic Girlfriend received a unique release in Japan where its respective episodes were distributed through the Japanese manga volumes (22 to 25 respectively) and were also given extended scenes featuring more NSFW content. It is currently unknown if this version will be used in the home video release at the time of this post.
The series is available to stream on Crunchyroll and HIDIVE.
The Girl in Twilight
Coming from the Autumn 2018 season is The Girl in Twilight (Akanesasu Shoujo) from studios Dandelion Animation Studio and Juumonji. Audio options are currently not final but it will be available on Blu-ray.
The series is available to stream on HIDIVE.
Mysteria Friends
Also coming from the recent Winter 2019 season is Mysteria Friends, originally known as Rage of Bahamut: Manaria Friends, from studio Cygames Pictures. It will be available on Blu-ray in English & Japanese audio with English subtitles.
The series is available to stream on Crunchyroll and HIDIVE.
Revue Starlight
Last but not the least is a series that had aired during the Summer 2018 season which is Revue Starlight (Shoujo☆Kageki Revue Starlight) from studio Kinema Citrus. It will be available on Blu-ray in English & Japanese audio with English subtitles.
The series is available to stream on HIDIVE.
That concludes the news and announcements revealed between distributors Anime Limited and MVM Entertainment during MCM London Comic Con for May 2019. Both will reveal another batch in October 2019 as per usual.
Sources: Anime Limited MCM Panels 1 & 2, MVM Entertainment Twitter Feed
Disclaimer: I wrote the MCM May 2019 news across four articles over on Anime UK News in case you had noticed the similarities with the information and images presented in this post.
The Normanic Vault 