K Season 1 (Collector’s Edition Blu-ray) Unboxing

K (also known as K Project) is a 2012 television anime series based on the 2008 manga series of the same name from GoRA. The series was adapted by studio GoHands, who also worked with GoRA on the manga, with director and character designer Shingo Suzuki as well as series directors Hiromichi Kanazawa and Susumu Kudō, writer Tatsuki Miyazawa and publisher Star Child. The series first broadcast in Japan on October 2012 as part of the Autumn season.

Background:

“Shiro is an easygoing teenager content with just being a student – until his seemingly perfect life is halted when a bloodthirsty clan, glowing red with fire, attempts to kill him in the streets. Unbeknownst to Shiro, he is suspected of murdering a member of their clan and will need a miracle to escape their vengeance.

Miraculously, a young man named Kuroh Yatogami swings in and aids Shiro in his getaway, only to reveal he’s also after Shiro’s life. Now a hunted man, Shiro will have to evade the clans of seven powerful kings and desperately try to prove his innocence – before it’s too late!”

Plot Synopsis via Anime Limited, February 2021.

GoHands may have produced some questionable anime shows over the years, but I do think their K Project anime franchise is the peak in quality. Visually they look pretty good and the story does enough to keep you invested in its characters and direction.

So far, the K Project has had two anime seasons, a theatrical film and a seven-part series also released theatrically but split into episode format for the west. I watched K‘s first season half a decade ago when I imported the Viz Media limited edition Blu-ray because at the time the UK & Ireland rights belonged to KAZE UK who did a bad job as per usual. Eventually Anime Limited acquired the sequels which I did manage to acquire over the years.

Then in 2020, Anime Limited announced they had rescued the UK & Ireland rights for the first season of K, and provided a collector’s edition to keep consistency with the other instalments. With K: Seven Stories also acquired and released in a similar format, the entire franchise is now under Anime Limited’s distribution for the UK & Ireland which is neat for the fans.

Collector’s Edition Contents:

Anime Limited packaging treatment continues with their release of K, keeping consistency with the sequels K: Missing Kings, K: Return of Kings and K: Seven Stories.

This package offers a rigid box that houses the complete first season in a digipack. Alongside the digipack is a 32-page booklet with artwork and background info on the series. It’s not as big as the Viz Media release but it has enough to keep fans happy and waited this long for a better UK set.

The artwork is free of any information or BBFC content and the info sheet covers the information and specification like previous Anime Limited releases. The collector’s edition Blu-ray is limited to 1000 units for an SRP of £59.99. A standard Blu-ray (and maybe DVD) is expected to follow suit in the coming months.

I acquired the series as part of Anime Limited’s 12 Days of Christmas 2021 sale via their Red Mystery Box.

Physical Contents:

• Rigid Box with digipack packaging and clean artwork
• Info sheet for specification and BBFC description
• 32-page Booklet

On-Disc Contents:

Distributor: Anime Limited
Released: 8th February 2021

The collector’s edition release for K contains the entire first season (all 13 episodes) across two Blu-ray discs, using the Viz Media encode/author. The audio options include Japanese with English subtitles and the STUDIOPOLIS, Inc. English dub with optional English subtitles (not the same script as the English dub). The white subtitles are locked during playback, and the regions are locked to Blu-ray players set to B.

Blu-ray Specs:

Languages	English, Japanese
Audio	English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Japanese DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0
Video	1080p High Definition Native format 16:9 aspect ratio
Region	B
Subtitles	English
Locked Subtitles	Yes
Discs	2 BD-50s

Blu-ray On-Disc Extra Features:

Disc 2:

• Clean Opening “KINGS”
• Clean Closing “Tsumetai Heya, Hitori”
• English Cast Interview
• Viz Presents an Interview with Kaname
• Kaname as Fushimi Photo Gallery
• K Events – US Convention Highlights
• K-Day Event Panel with Staff and Cast
• Next Episode Previews
• K Trailers
• More from Viz:
  • Neon Alley Trailer
  • Lagrange Set 1 Trailer
  • Zetman Trailer
  • Accel World Set 1 Trailer
  • Coppelion Preview

Unboxing Photos:

Final Notes:

The collector’s edition release of K is available to order across multiple retailers across the United Kingdom, including Amazon.

(Disclaimer: Amazon links are also included when available. They are affiliated so if you decide to order them, I’ll earn a small percentage if they ship which will help me with any hauls or small bills.)