Release Date: November 12th.
Pre-order this title here.
Megazone 23 is a series that has a special place in my heart, and I’m very excited an updated collector’s edition is being released by Media OCD/AnimEigo. Not only was the soundtrack phenomenal, but also it paved the way to help make anime mainstream. The compositions scored by Shirō Sagisu still holds up today, and he’s better known for other series like Evangelion and Berserk.
Also, anyone who loves Mikimoto Haruhiko’s art will most likely say he was on his A-game during this era! That’s because a lot of his watercolour works were used to help promote many a series. From Macross to Gunbuster, his style had a quality which is beautiful to look at.
Production-wise, this series created by Noboru Ishiguro and Hiroyuki Hoshiyama (Artland/Tatsunoko) has lots to like. I believe it was the first to introduce virtual idols to the cyberpunk anime genre, and in North America, Carl Macek took notice. He spliced bits and pieces of this series to create Robotech the Movie. That was not as well received as the original.
The difference between this series and Macross are with the music, and themes explored. The idea of a virtual idol pretty much began with this series. And I suspect why Sharon existed in Macross Plus. There are other nuances that Megazone 23 would later influence in productions far and wide. Digital reality was always a common theme to be explored, but it was never done in such a style as this!
And while copies of the prior AnimEigo release are still floating around to be sold, this edition collects all those extras from previous solo releases for fans to enjoy. Now all I need is to locate the albums. My favourite track is Senaka-Goshi ni Sentimental (Sentimental Over My Back). Kumi Miyasato’s vocals simply made this track simply magical. The YouTube video can be found at the end of this
From the Press Release:
Making its debut in 1985, Megazone 23 ignited the Japanese Original Video Animation (OVA) boom. It proved there was a market for direct-to-video anime films and paved the way for anime to become not just a niche genre, but a world-wide phenomenon. It was soon joined by a visually mind-blowing sequel, and a 2-part spinoff that takes place centuries later.
The new release from AnimEigo compiles the complete Megazone 23 trilogy along with an array of bonus features that includes the original ADV Films commentary track, ADV Films English dub tracks for all 3 parts (4 episodes), UK dubs for Megazone 23 Part III, an English subtitled Japanese commentary track with illustrator Gaku Miyao and producer Hiroki Sato, line art galleries, liner notes by noted anime author Giles Poitras, and more.
Megazone 23 Plot Synopsis:
What does it mean to be young at the end of the world?
The year is 1985 — at least, Shogo Yahagi thought it was. A few days ago, the young biker was out living it up on the streets of Tokyo–listening to the latest Eve tape, running around with his friends, and trying to flirt with the girl he almost ran over! But everything changed when a deadly encounter with a mysterious motorcycle sent him speeding into danger. With a shadowy cabal now hot on his heels, Shogo quickly realises that he’s stepped into the deep end of a conspiracy that’s about to tear his reality asunder.
Megazone 23 Blu-ray Edition Features:
- Contains Megazone 23 Parts 1-3
- List Price: $39.99
- Complete ADV Films dub for all 3 parts (4 episodes)
- Megazone Part II International Version
- Streamline Pictures dub for Megazone 23 Part 1
- UK dub for Megazone 23 III
- Original ADV Films commentary track
- Japanese commentary with Gaku Miyao & Hiroki Sato
- Original Japanese promos (now soft-subtitled)
- Original US and UK Promos
- Colour and line art galleries
- Liner notes by Giles Poitras
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