Tag: GKIDS

The Featurette’s Spotlight on Lupin the 3rd The First Again!

To hear how loosey-goosey they are shows how comfortable they are not only with the role but also with bringing something new to the character in these localizations.

Preorder the Blu-Ray here
Preorder the Blu-Ray hereLupin the 3rd

By Ed Sum (The Vintage Tempest)

GKIDS & Shout! Factory

Digital Release Date: Dec 15th
Blu-ray™ + DVD combo pack (Preorder on Amazon hereLupin the 3rd) SteelBook™ edition with lithograph (order link): January 12, 2021

Anyone unable to visit movie theatres because Lupin the 3rd The First was a limited screening will now see this CGI film on demand through various online video streaming services. The added content which is part of this package (and the home release) had me fall in love with this gentleman thief all over again.

To be fair, the many voice over artists involved in the localizations of the television series, Lupin the Third Part Two, made him popular. He would not be where he is today in the global-scale; he’s beloved as James Bond (artist/creator Monkey Punch acknowledged his inspiration is from this spy franchise). In America, Tony Oliver (Lupin the III), Michelle Ruff (Fujiko), Richard Epcar (Daisuke Jigen), Lex Lang (Goemon) and Dan Lorge (Zenigata) loved working together, and the stories they have to tell in their reunion special—included in this digital package—is very much worth the watch. It’s an audio recording, and I suspect the reason it was done this way is to keep the talents safe. Not even Lupin wants to mess with the pandemic.

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Weathering With You Gets Two Collector’s Edition Sets!

There are two versions of this release, a limited blu-ray steel book edition and a limited 4K collector’s edition with a rain bucket full of extras like the soundtrack for Weathering With You and mini art book.

Weathering With You Blu-Ray + DVD CaseOriginal review can be found here.

It’s practically raining cats and dogs here in the Pacific Northwest, and the best way to cure the winter blues is to see Makoto Shinkai’s Weathering with You. This anime is about climate change and how how two unlikely teens find romance. Their togetherness shows that life does not have to be tough. Whether that’s with escaping their past or trying to forge an appropriate future for themselves in a quickly changing world of Tokyo, this movie certainly made waves when it premiered back in 2019.

Shout! Factory also recognizes the niche this anime has carved. If you missed out in picking up the earlier editions or were holding out for a better, comprehensive collector’s edition–it’s now here! There are two versions, a limited blu-ray steel bookLupin the 3rd edition and a limited 4K collector’s edition with a rain bucket full of extras like a CD and mini art book. The following featurettes online are a tease of what’s available in this new set, along with the details of what else to expect.

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Tomm Moore’s Secret of Kells Lands in the USA Proper!

This humble re-release to the United States may well pave the way for a box set which will add Song of the Seas and Wolfwalkers to the mix.

Lupin the 3rd
Available to Purchase on Amazon USALupin the 3rd

By Ed Sum
(The Vintage Tempest)

GKIDS & Shout! Factory

Available in the USA

Those who haven’t seen Cartoon Saloon‘s Irish mythology trilogy can now see how it all began with The Secret of Kells (2009)! One of the problems was with early home video distribution. It’s limited availability in certain markets made this film generally unavailable in other countries.

This humble re-release to the United States may well pave the way for a box set which will add Song of the Seas and Wolfwalkers to the mix. With Shout! Factory and GKIDS behind this distribution, I hope that they are listening. Hopefully, Universal Studios Home Entertainment rights for Song is soon ending or can be transferred so one distributor can offer a compendium with an art folio to celebrate all three films.

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Who’s on Second? Lupin the III or The First? And Landing on Home Video

This modern update is certainly filled with classic moments which range from this thief somehow losing his clothes, making grandiose escapes, and winning some innocent girl’s heart.

Lupin the 3rdBy Ed Sum
(The Vintage Tempest)

Limited Screenings
Japanese Language with Subtitles
October 21

Please local listings for showtimes

Coming to Digital
December 15, 2020

Steelbook, Blu-ray and DVD
January 12, 2021

Lupin the Third joins the long line of anime heroes given the CGI upgrade, and honestly, he looks terrific! This master thief’s legacy will continue for as long as Monkey Punch wants. Whether or not it’s on hold since he passed away last year, I’m sure other directors have ideas on how to continue this gentleman thief’s adventures for years to come. But for anyone new to this popular character, I recommend checking out The Castle of Cagliostro (Netflix link) before seeing this movie.

Simply titled Lupin III: The First, this outing shows how this family line continues on their quest for the Bresson Diary. It was thought to be lost, but it has since been found. The actual book is tucked in a very elaborate clock-like tableau that, if opened, reveals notes to some ancient treasure even Alexander the Great would want. Well, maybe, but to say too much will ruin the reveal.

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Straight up We’ll Climb in this GKIDS Rerelease of The Wind Rises

This GKIDs re-release is a step above from the prior Disney version. The transfer is essentially the same. We get a few added videos, like “10 Years With Hayao Miyazaki Documentary” and “Film Completion Press Conference.”

Lupin the 3rd
Watch it online or buy at Amazon USALupin the 3rd

By Ed Sum
(The Vintage Tempest)

GKIDS & Shout! Factory

Release Date:
Sept 22, 2020

The question of which North American Studio Ghibli home video release is worthwhile to own depends on how consistent the package design is between each distributor’s release. I tried to obtain all the region two releases but as home video player technologies changed, I adapted because I favoured high definition over a low fidelity DVD format.

The changeover of rights is not confusing. Disney got the license for certain films, and if the title was deemed “too adult,” it was a Touchstone Pictures release. Universal Pictures handled the non-Miyazaki products, and over time the Mouse conceded. GKIDs and Shout! Factory took over distribution. I’m at the point of filing away my cases and making a custom binder to store my many versions and not worrying about how my collection looks on the media shelf. With The Wind Rises now on Bluray, I can say my collection is more or less complete.

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Diving into Weathering With You’s Home Video Release!

Amano has powers given to her by the almighty graces of Amaterasu. Very few people know she can manipulate the weather—an ability granted to her because of a wish—and it comes at a cost…

Lupin the 3rd
Regular and Steelbook limited edition available to preorder on Amazon USA

By Ed Sum
(The Vintage Tempest)

Release Date:
September 15, 2020

Collector’s Edition:
Nov 17, 2020

Shout! Factory

The anime Weathering with You (天気の子) is more than just a movie about climate change. It’s also about relationships and how people handle crises. Here, Hodaka Morishima (Kotaro Daigo) is not happy with his life and runs away from home. He believes he can do better by himself in Tokyo. However, with no valid credentials, nobody will hire him.

A chance encounter with Hina Amano (Nana Mori) turns out to be the best thing to happen for the lad. The two develop feelings and pretty soon a lot of obstacles get in their way to happiness. One of them includes the fact both are orphans and it doesn’t take very long for social services to catch up to them!

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