The Anime Chronicle Podcast

Imagine if you will, a man standing on a small bridge in a dojo in what can best described as alternative reality of Japan known as Great Japan. A time where the Tokugawa Shogunate, the era of feudal Japan that prohibited contact with the rest of the world among many other things, is still in power when suddenly a bright ball of light appears in the sky. The light descending towards this perplexed man, who we later find out is the main male protagonist of the series, is made even more confused moments later when he discovers a naked unconscious lady inside this ball of light who addresses him as 'big brother' (as in biological brother, not a term of affection), & then kisses him. This is the opening scene of Samurai Girls, the latest release by Kaze in the UK. Keep reading →

Manga Entertainment have confirmed via twitter that the UK will be seeing Blu-Ray releases of the Naruto Shippuuden "Bonds" movie, the Bleach "Fade To Black" movie, the original Fullmetal Alchemist movie (previously released by Revelation Films on DVD) "The Conqueror of Shamballa" and the upcoming Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood movie "The Sacred Star of Milos" this year.

Manga also confirmed that the previously alluded Blu-Ray release of the first and second Bleach movies, via Kaze UK, will still happen. "[Kaze UK] will be re-releasing Bleach Movie 1 and 2 as well as Fade To Black on Blu-ray on the same day! We [are] distributing them."

In DVD news, when quizzed about the possibility of releasing the second season of Sengoku Basara in the UK they responded with "Season 2 on DVD. Yes, I believe we will." You can add that to the list of title we can expect to hit these shores in the future.

We are delighted to bring our first podcast of the new year featuring a plethora of topics on the world of anime.

Join Jeremy Graves, Hugo Jackson & Jimi Hart for discussion on topics such as Beez Entertainment closing its doors, anime being released on Blu-Ray in the UK, the presence of the anime market in US retailers, the relaunch of Anime On Demand, various streaming title from last season including Hunter x Hunter & UnGo, reviews of Samurai Girls (which creates lots of boob jokes, hence the title of this episode) and Welcome To NHK and more!

It ia 90 minutes of anime talk to kick off the new year with and it's available for your listening pleasure now!

[NOTE - This podcast was recorded on Sunday 15th January 2012]

Listen Now:

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Crunchyroll have announced they are now offering full HD quality streaming on a number of their anime and J-Drama simulcasts from today.

Previously the highest quality streaming was 720p and this is no doubt very welcoming news to many users. Naruto Shippuuden, Bleach, Nisemonogatari, Hunter x Hunter & The Prince Of Tennis II are among the twenty programs you'll be able to watch in 1080p from today.

You can see a comparison of the two picture qualities below. (Click on the pictures to enlarge them.) Keep reading →

This past Wednesday, 4th January, the biggest professional wrestling event in Japan at the 55,000 seater Tokyo Dome entitled 'Wrestle Kingdom VI' took place. Featuring some of best wrestlers from all over the globe this was truly one of grandest stages in wrestling and biggest event on the Japanese wrestling calendar. What has this got to do with anime you ask? A very well known anime character made an appearance to accompany four wrestlers to ringside during that very show.

Mighty Astro, who we know better as Astro Boy, was present at the Tokyo Dome with classic footage of him flying was displayed on two giant screens (see below) before making his way down to the ring while accompanying his team that included legendary Japanese wrestler Tiger Mask, a persona that was based on the popular manga serialisation of the same name during the late 60's and a 105 episode anime series in the early 70's. Keep reading →

Yes everyone you read that right. Jerome Mazandarani of Manga Entertainment UK has issued a statement apologising and explaining why they have had to cancel it's intended Blu-Ray releases of K-On! and (the previously delayed) Disappearance Of Haruhi Suzumiya. This statement comes after it was brought to light earlier today (Friday 6th January) that the K-On! collection would now only be receiving a DVD release and the The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya would no longer be receiving UK Blu-Ray release at all.

The latter was originally meant to be a simultaneous release with the DVD version back in November but due to "major problems with production" it was pushed back to February.

You can read the the full statement posted on twitter by Jerome Mazandarani below - Keep reading →

So winter has come which means that the winter streaming anime season is fast approaching and Crunchyroll have begun revealing their lineup kick off the new year. Below are the titles that will be available to the UK.

-Mourestu Pirates The first title in the lineup is Mouretsu Pirates that follows Marika Katou. "A freshman in high school who lives on the planet ‘Umi no Akehoshi’ somewhere in space. One day, she is told that her father, who she thought was dead, was actually alive until just a while ago, and was the captain of the space pirate ship Bentenmaru. And she also finds out that they need her, his heir, to be captain so that they can keep flying! Marika begins a new life as a high school girl, and as captain of the pirate ship Bentenmaru!"

You can watch a promotional trailer for this series below

This series begins airing this coming Saturday (7th January) at 5pm UK time.

-Natsume Yujin-cho Shi Series four of Natsume Yujin-cho Shi comes to Crunchyroll. "Takashi Natsume has been able to see youkai, Japanese spirits, his whole life. He inherited a book of youkai names from his grandmother, Reiko. These names give their owner power over the youkai, so he and his self-proclaimed bodyguard "Nyanko-sensei" spend their days returning them to their original owners. As Natsume finally finds a place where he feels welcome, he meets and says goodbye to new Youkai...."

This series has begun streaming and new episodes will be added to the site every Monday at 6pm UK time. You can also watch all the previous episodes at Crunchyroll too.

-The Prince Of Tennis II Middle school students fought fiercely against one another in a national tournament. Now, 50 chosen representatives return to fight against high schoolers! The stage is the U-17 (Under Seventeen) Japanese Representative Training Camp. Middle school students have been invited for the first time to a camp known to produce the best Japanese tennis players.

National champions from Seigaku, Hyotei, Rikkai, Shitenhoji...With all the rivals from the national tournament attending, everyone eagerly awaits their reunion. At first, the middle schoolers do not expect much from their high school opponents. However, the training camp is not so easy!

Athletes with skills incomparable to those they previously faced and their mysterious coach appear before them. Faced with numerous demanding challenges, can the middle schoolers survive in this meritocratic training camp? The new chapter of "Prince of Tennis" begins here! The curtain rises on a new stage--

You can watch a promotional video for Prince Of Tennis II HERE.

Prince Of Tennis II begins today (Wednesday 4th January) at 6.30pm UK time and a new episode will air every Wednesday at the same time.

-Nisemonogatari In Bakemonogatari, the story centers on Koyomi Araragi, a third year high school student who has recently survived a vampire attack, and finds himself mixed up with all kinds of apparitions: gods, ghosts, myths, and spirits. However, in Nisemonogatari, we pick up right where we left off and follow Koyomi as the psychological twists delve deeper and deeper…

This series airs every Saturday (starting 7th January) at 5.30pm UK time.

-Recorded & Randsell On the surface it seems as if Atsushi is an adult, but really he's just an elementary student! However, he is paired with a second-year high school student Atsumi, whose height is just the opposite of his. These two together create an unusual relationship and will undoubtedly instigate some comedic antics in this slice of life comedy!

This series begin this Thursday (5th January) and airs every Thursday at 5.30pm UK time.

Expect more title to be added very soon!

Although at the time of posting this news is still unconfirmed, our friends over at UK-Anime have made it known a French website has revealed Beez Entertainment is closing its doors. This news comes following (though not linked given the apparent timeline of events) Bandai Visual, a US anime distributor, ceasing all operations resulting in the discontinuation of it's manga, DVD & Blu-Ray licenses a few days ago. Licenses of which had an effect to the UK market. Keep reading →

Happy new year to everyone from all of the Anime Chronicle team.

We will return soon with podcasts, reviews and more! Watch this space.

It's been said quite a lot by the most of the western anime community that Japan get so many unique items of merchandise that will likely never see a release in the western world. Well for those of you who are fans of the series One Piece and are into gaming on the Playstation 3 prepare to feel that way again with the announcement of themed special edition PS3 console in conjunction with the One Piece Kaizoku Musou (which translate as Pirate Warriors) video game in March. Keep reading →

Welcome To NHK makes it's way to UK shores next month on DVD thanks to MVM Entertainment and a trailer has been released ahead of the January 9th street date. If you've got a few minutes spare you can watch the trailer below (which is sure to get you thinking about paranoia and possibly conspiracies.)

CLICK HERE to pre-order Welcome To NHK.

A group we introduced you to a few months ago 'Animetal USA' who perform power metal style covers of anime themes have announced they are preparing to record their follow up to their debut self titled album but with a twist. They are taking suggestions from fans worldwide for song they should include on the album. You can submit as many suggestions as you want but the only criteria being it must be an anime opening or ending theme song.

The deadline to submit suggestions is December 21st. There are also signed posters up for grabs and the possibility of having your name credited on the next album if your suggestion is included in the final product.

Do take into account that their debut CD featured the following songs:

1. Space Battleship Yamato (Space Battleship Yamato)
2. Gatachaman no Uta (Science Ninja Team Gatchaman)
3. Mazinger Medley (Mazinger)
4. Makafushigi Advanture (Dragon Ball)
5. Zankokuna Tenshi no Thesis (Neon Genesis Evangelion)
6. Ai o Tormidose (Fist Of The North Star)
7. Ganbare Dokaben (Dokaben | "Mr. Baseball" in English)
8. Pegasus Fatasy (Saint Seiya)
9. Ike! Tiger Mask (Tiger Mask)
10. Kinnikuman GO FIGHT! (Kinnikuman | "Ultimate Muscle" in English)
11. Yuke Yuke Hyuuma (Kyojin no Hoshi | "Star of Giants" in English)

You can purchase their debut album from CD-Japan HERE.

If you want to make suggestions of themes that you feel could work really well with a power metal makeover CLICK HERE and you'll be taken to the submission page where all terms and conditions are listed too.

Here are a few video clips demonstrating what they are like when performing live and a brief interview from Japanese television (that maintains the orignal English audio of the band members) hosted by ex-Megadeth guitarist Marty Friedman.

The Anime Chronicle Podcast returns with Jeremy Graves welcoming good friend of the show Andy Hanley from UK-Anime.net to talk a variety of topics surrounding the world of anime in a very impromptu edition of the program. Topics discussed but not limited to include Redline on Blu-Ray, Version 2.0 of Anime On Aemand that's due to launch any day now, the craziness of Mirrai Nikki (Future Diary), how Persona 4 The Animation has developed, concerts, K-ON! and more!

It's just over an hour of light hearted anime chatter and it's available for you listening pleasure right now! Oh a random note, apologies for the (potential) howling cat in the background at random intervals.

Listen Now:

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The good people over at Manga Entertainment UK have just released a video interview conducted at the recent MCM London Expo with Vic Mignoga, the voice of Edward Elric from Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood. "Filmed during his recent trip to London, it covers his career from Streetfighter II, to Gasaraki, to Nadesico and beyond. What's it like to be a voice actor? How can you connect with an audience using nothing but your voice? And how did he get back into character for the second series, Brotherhood...?"

This coming weekend (3rd & 4th of December) and we'll be attending so we wanted to make sure we let you all know about the event.

The two day event takes place at the Rocket Complex on Holloway Road in London. It's an over 18's event and has the entry cost of just £10 and with that fee you get A LOT of gaming goodness! There lots of tournaments (some free, some require paid registration), a wide variety of guests from the world of gaming (CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS), Q&A sessions and above all all else great fun for all who attend. There are so many events going that it's difficult to list them all here but London Gaming con have devised a list of 10 reason for each day why you should attend. Here are those two lists for you.

10 reason to attend on Saturday Keep reading →