By the way, FUNimation has also acquired the home video rights to D-Frag, BlazBlue: Alter Memory, Riddle Story of Devil, Freezing Vibration, Unbreakable Machine Doll, Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya 1, Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya 2, Haruhi Chan and Churuya San, Lucky Star (the series + OVA), the Strike Witches movie, and the Steins;Gate movie.
In other news today, Disney and Amazon seem to have resumed their pre-order feud. A number of upcoming Disney/Buena Vista titles are no longer available for pre-order on the Amazon site, Guardians of the Galaxy among them. Our friend Chris Tribbey has more on this here at Home Media.
On a related note, Disney seems to have backed away from their commitment to Blu-ray 3D, releasing only select theatrical 3D titles on the format, often only in Europe or in the U.S. as retail exclusives. Probably, this is the studio attempting to save a buck and get its retail partners to pay for 3D when they can. This is a shame, because while we know the audience for Blu-ray 3D is limited, it is a very dedicated enthusiast audience eager for more BD3D content.
Speaking of Disney, at last a couple retail sources are also suggesting that when The Wind Rises arrives on Blu-ray (reportedly on 11/18 according to our retail sources), it may be accompanied by Kiki’s Delivery Service and Princess Mononoke on Blu-ray as well. Keep in mind, these are all still TBA, and so could change.
In other announcement news, Fox has set a new Alien: 35th Anniversary Edition for Blu-ray release on 10/7 (SRP $24.99), but we don’t believe there are any new extras as this is only a single-disc edition. It’s just a re-issue of the existing movie disc in new packaging. Still, the new packaging is nice (see below). [Editor’s Note: We’ve confirmed with Fox that there is no new disc-based content on this release, but you do get a pair of collectible inserts in the package, including an Alien comic and exclusive art cards featuring the work of the late H.R. Giger. Just FYI.]
And Fox has Ice Age: The Complete Collection coming on Blu-ray and DVD on 10/7 (SRP $49.99 and $39.98).
Showtime’s Penny Dreadful: Season One will street on Blu-ray and DVD on 10/14 as well (SRP $54.99 and $45.99).
Universal is releasing a Van Damme: 5-Movie Action Pack on Blu-ray on 10/14, including Hard Target, The Quest, Street Fighter, Sudden Death, and Lionheart.
Kino will release Werewolf Woman (1976) on BD on 10/28.
And Well Go USA has set the 2013 Australian western/crime drama Mystery Road for Blu-ray release on 10/14.
Here’s a look at some cover artwork for the titles above (click on the links to pre-order on Amazon while also supporting The Bits)...
Stay tuned!
- Bill Hunt