Welcome to the Otaku Collection haul for the month of May 2020. This update features 8 anime titles, and 8 live-action Asian cinema titles.
There were a couple of delays with this haul but a last minute anime package appeared which turned the tide a fair bit. More Asian cinema films were acquired, with a few actually no longer in print so that’s handy.
#01 | Tsukamoto Collection
The first title to arrive for the month of May is one of the latest releases from distributor Third Window Films with the Tsukamoto Collection that consists of three films; Killing (斬、), Haze, and The Adventures of Denchu-kozo (電柱小僧の冒険) from Japanese director Shinya Tsukamoto. I really enjoyed these films, especially Killing for being a pretty great samurai film and Haze gets a shout-out for its claustrophobic horror vibes.
#02 | Tokyo Tribe
Next we have an out of print release from distributor Eureka Entertainment with Sion Sono’s Tokyo Tribe (トウキョウ トライブ), which is based on the manga Tokyo Tribe-2 and it’s pretty good with its interesting presentation and direction by having rap music tell the story. The villains were great as well. I had to get the film through CeX so there’s some sticker residue left but the booklet is intact.
#03 | Top Knot Detective
Here we have a hybrid film of sorts, distributor Third Window Films released an Australian film that utilises Japanese actors and language for its scenes. Top Knot Detective is a satire/parody and it’s pretty good. The release still retains its first print run of a nice slipcover artwork.
#04a | For Love’s Sake
One of the rarest Japanese UK Blu-ray releases out there, and I’m surprised that I even managed to get this. From distributor Third Window Films is the Takashi Miike Bollywood musical style film For Love’s Sake (愛と誠). This film has a lot of interesting concepts to it, but it doesn’t quite hit the mark compared to Tokyo Tribe. I still liked it as a whole though.
#04b | Mobile Suit Gundam 0083
Arriving on the same day as For Love’s Sake is the first anime in this haul with one of Anime Limited’s latest releases with Mobile Suit Gundam 0083: Stardust Memory and its compilation film Afterglow of Zeon. I have yet to watch the recent Gundam purchases outside of the Universal Century titles but I’m still happy to grab more Gundam whenever they appear in the UK on Blu-ray.
#05 | RADIANT Part 1 and That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime Part 1
Next we have the Manga Entertainment UK Blu-ray releases for both RADIANT and That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime with their first halves of the first seasons. I’ve watched Slime already and enjoyed it but RADIANT has had my interest for a while and since United Publications were selling the set for a low price I figured I would go ahead and pick it up. Not watched it yet as I am waiting for Part 2.
#06a | Akira Kurosawa Samurai Collection
HMV held a sale for dozens of BFI titles and one of them was for the Akira Kurosawa Samurai Collection which features five classic films from the Japanese director. These were Seven Samurai (七人の侍), Throne of Blood (蜘蛛巣城), The Hidden Fortress (隠し砦の三悪人), Yojimbo (用心棒) and Sanjuro (椿三十郎). I have yet to watch these films but it caught me by surprise that Seven Samurai is over 3 hours long so that’s going to be an interesting experience.
#06b | Wise Man’s Grandchild
Also arriving alongside the HMV package was another Funimation limited edition replica making its way to the UK through Manga Entertainment with the Isekai series Wise Man’s Grandchild. Very happy to own this set though Manga did make the weird choice of swapping the physical contents around but thankfully the book does fit inside the box as it should.
#07 | Flavour of Green Tea Over Rice and Funeral Parade of Roses
Distributor BFI released some more Japanese titles for the UK. Yasujiro Ozu’s The Flavour of Green Tea Over Rice (お茶漬けの味) and Toshio Matsumoto’s Funeral Parade of Roses (薔薇の葬列) were released at the same time and they have these Criterion-style Blu-ray cases which is interesting. It works out pretty well to be honest.
#08 | Pink Films Vol. 3 & 4 Collection
Also from distributor Third Window Films is the second collection of Japanese Pink Films – Pink Films Vol. 3 & 4 – with Masayuki Suo’s Abnormal Family (変態家族兄貴の嫁さん) and Ken Mukai’s Blue Film Woman (ブルーフィルムの女).
#09 | Owarimonogatari Volumes 1-2, The Quintessential Quintuplets and That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime Part 2
The last batch of titles for this haul is a last minute surprise as I was not expecting them to arrive until early June at best. So I ordered four anime sets from the United States, two from Aniplex of America and two from Funimation.
The Aniplex titles were Owarimonogatari Volume 1 and Owarimonogatari Volume 2 which is part of my Aniplex Monogatari collection. I was going to get these earlier in the year but I ran out of funds to get it at that time. I might be able to get one more Monogatari arc set later this Summer but no promises.
The Funimation titles (which are technically Crunchyroll titles) are The Quintessential Quintuplets Season 1 and That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime Season 1 Part 2. I wanted to play it safe and get these two shows with their limited edition sets before it was too late. I liked them both when I watched it during simulcast so I am happy with owning them.
Unboxing Links
You can view more photos & specs for the titles below:
- Akira Kurosawa Samurai Collection (Blu-ray)
- Mobile Suit Gundam 0083: Stardust Memory & Afterglow of Zeon (CE Blu-ray)
- Owarimonogatari Volume 1 (LE Blu-ray)
- Owarimonogatari Volume 2 (LE Blu-ray)
- The Quintessential Quintuplets Season 1 (LE Blu-ray & DVD)
- RADIANT Season 1 Part 1 (Blu-ray)
- That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime Season 1 Part 1 (Blu-ray)
- That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime Season 1 Part 2 (LE Blu-ray & DVD)
- Tsukamoto: Killing / Haze / Denchu-kozo (Blu-ray)
- Wise Man’s Grandchild (LE Blu-ray & DVD)
Additional Notes
And that concludes the month of May 2020. Some good titles picked up throughout. There are a number of anime coming soon due to more delays but it’s worth the wait.
I have acquired the Screen Anime membership so future Anime Limited pre-orders will be a bit cheaper to acquire. Starting with MEGALOBOX when I order that later this week if I can.
Coming later this month is my Birthday and like last year I intend on acquiring a variety of titles! So far I can confirm Jackie Chan’s Armour of God II: Operation Condor and Rascal Does Not Dream of Bunny Girl Senpai are included, but the rest I have yet to announce so stay tuned for 21st June when that happens.
Pre-orders from Anime Limited so far include Love Live! Sunshine!! Season 2, Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans Season 1 (Season 2 has been ordered, but not scheduled until August), and PROMARE, but do note that these could get pushed back at any moment given the global situation. Also pre-ordered but coming from Manga Entertainment is Black Clover Season 1, RADIANT Season 1 Part 2, The Rising of the Shield Hero Season 1 Parts 1 & 2, and Star Blazers: Space Battleship Yamato 2199. Exciting stuff, but like AL, these titles could also get pushed back into July so stay tuned!
This July I can confirm that the entirety of Revolutionary Girl Utena will be coming with the Nozomi Ultra Edition Artbook and Rings. I plan to have an unboxing that covers all three parts together so save myself some time and have everything in one place.
The Normanic Vault 