Discotek Media announced several new licenses and releases during a live stream on Monday, including:
- Lovely Complex
- Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha TV series 1
- Hand Maid May
- Dual! Parallel Trouble Adventure
- Lupin III: Sweet Lost Night
- Belladonna of Sadness
- Kurokami The Animation
- Fist of the North Star: The Legend of Kenshirô
- Puss ‘N Boots Travels Around The World
- Futakoi
- Chie the Brat TV series 1
- Rainbow – Nisha Rokubō no Shichinin
- IGPX
Discotek also assured that in the aftermath of Crunchyroll‘s phase out of the Right Stuf store and migration of products to the Crunchyroll store, Discotek titles will continue to be offered on the Crunchyroll store.
Lovely Complex has been newly dubbed in English!
Dubbed by our friends at @SoundCadence!
Extras include clean OPs & EDs, plus dub-centric extras include bloopers & two episode commentaries! pic.twitter.com/gckz7iuIeX
— 💿Discotek Media (@discotekmedia) October 17, 2023
Lovely Complex will debut for the first time on Blu-ray Disc anywhere in the world with a new AstroRes upscale, all 24 episodes on Blu-ray Disc, Japanese audio with English subtitles, and an all-new English dub produced by Sound Cadence. Extras include clean opening and ending sequences, dub bloopers, and two episodes of commentary with the English dub cast and crew. Discotek previously released the 2007 anime on DVD in 2013. Discotek provided a clip of the Sound Cadence English dub:
It’s a clip of Lovely Complex!
And that new gorgeous remaster!
And they are speaking English!
That’s right shoujo lovers everywhere! pic.twitter.com/ZkQV2z2qOn
— 💿Discotek Media (@discotekmedia) October 17, 2023
The English dub cast includes:
- Amber Lee Connors as Risa Koizumi
- Howard Wang as Atsushi Otani
- Hayden Daviau as Nobuko Ishihara
- Alejandro Saab as Heikichi Nakao
- Sarah Wiedenheft as Chiharu Tanaka
- Aaron Dismuke as Ryoji Suzuki
- Tom Laflin as Haruka Fukagawa
- Siv Ryan as Seiko Kotobuki
- Kdin Jenzen as Kazuki Kohori
- Marissa Lenti as Mimi Yoshioka
- Elizabeth Quedenfeld as Mayu Kanzaki
- Marc Swint as Kiyoji Nakano
- Gianni Matragrano as Kuniumi Maitake
- Brent Mukai as Umibozu
- Charles “MoistCr1TiKaL” White as Cane Osugi
— 💿Discotek Media (@discotekmedia) October 17, 2023
Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha!
The same nice upscale used in Japan!
Subtitles have been improved, and the English dub is here!
The original Nanoha series has been gone for a bit, but it’s back! pic.twitter.com/nY3EeOdUAU
— 💿Discotek Media (@discotekmedia) October 17, 2023
Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha will release on Blu-ray Disc in 2024, and will feature the same 1080p upscale release from Japan, the original Japanese audio, the Bang Zoom! English dub, and cleaned up English subtitles.
Hand Maid May!
All 10 episodes, plus the OVA!
This is a new upscale. Still rough due to the masters & history, but a good watch.
The English dub is here, plus the subtitles have been touched up.
Extras include Clean OPs/EDs, promos, & some interesting early DVD oddities. pic.twitter.com/Ncj3WSl1sV
— 💿Discotek Media (@discotekmedia) October 17, 2023
Hand Maid May will release on Blu-ray Disc in 2024, and feature all 10 episodes as well as the 2003 Hand Maid Mai OVA. It will have a restored upscale, the Pioneer English dub, cleaned up subtitles. It will feature a “loving presentation” of Pioneer’s DVD release (which featured dynamic menu interactions), clean opening and ending sequences, and promo videos.
Dual! Parallel Trouble Adventure!
The 13 episode TV show & OVA featuring a multi-dimensional mech adventure!
The dub is here w/ a number of subtitle improvements.
Some decent extras, including character messages & more!
Is this related to Tenchi? Well, in short… yes-ish. pic.twitter.com/ayvnYszhn3
— 💿Discotek Media (@discotekmedia) October 17, 2023
Dual! Parallel Trouble Adventure will release in standard definition Blu-ray Disc in 2024 with all 13 episodes as well as the Dual! Parallel Trouble Adventures Special OVA. It will include the Japanese audio, the Pioneer English dub, touched up subtitle text (removing the “burn in” subtitles from the Pioneer release), clean opening and ending sequence, promo videos, character messages, a Japanese “ADR report” short, and easter eggs from the original Pioneer DVD release.
Lupin the 3rd: Sweet Lost Night!
Time for a new Lupin special coming to Blu-ray!
This one had extensive work to make it look better for Blu-ray, with new subtitles!
Extras include TV commercials & liner notes.
Just a few left… pic.twitter.com/MmjnuTNBR2
— 💿Discotek Media (@discotekmedia) October 17, 2023
Lupin III: Sweet Lost Night will release on Blu-ray Disc in 2024 in Japaese with English subtitles, TV commercials for the special, and liner notes. Discotek notes that with this release, there are only five Lupin III specials that remain unreleased in English.
Belladonna of Sadness!
Gorgeous 4K w/ brand new HDR for the erotically charged classic from Mushi Pro!
This will be a combo pack with UHD & normal BD in the same set!
Subtitles have gotten a bit of a polish.
Plus interview extras & a new commentary by Mike Toole! pic.twitter.com/i3TxrJwc2o
— 💿Discotek Media (@discotekmedia) October 17, 2023
Belladonna of Sadness will feature a new 4K transfer, and will ship on a 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Disc in 2024, with a new HDR grade as well as a 1080p SDR version. Discotek claims it features “better compression” and film grain management than previous releases. The release will feature a commentary track by Mike Toole, newly proofed subtitles, and all interviews from previous releases of the film.
Kurokami!
The 1st proper simuldub returns to Blu-ray! It’s a great show a lot of people missed.
This time w/ both Japanese & English audio!
The original BDs were done by Justin back for Bandai Entertainment!
The new release lets Kurokami shine!
Extras are TBD. pic.twitter.com/mJQlLIW3Tg
— 💿Discotek Media (@discotekmedia) October 17, 2023
Kurokami The Animation will release on Blu-ray Disc in 2024. The release will include the original Japanese audio, as well as the English dub (unlike the original Bandai Entertainment Blu-ray Disc release). The 2009 anime bears the historical distinction of being both the first simuldubbed television anime, and the first Blu-ray Disc that Media OCD and Anime News Network founder Justin Sevakis‘ worked on.
Fist of the North Star: Legend of the True Savior: The Legend of Kenshiro!
The finale of the film series tells a story of how Kenshiro became the hero we know!
Subbed, plus with a brand new English dub!
Extras include Promo clips, plus dub bloopers from the film series! pic.twitter.com/tKq8rWF8hk
— 💿Discotek Media (@discotekmedia) October 17, 2023
Fist of the North Star: Legend of the True Savior – The Legend of Kenshiro (Shin Kyūseishu Densetsu Hokuto no Ken Zero: Kenshirō-den) is coming in 2024 on Blu-ray Disc with the Japanese audio and English subtitles, as well as a new English dub produced by Sound Cadence. The release will feature trailers, television commercials, and dub bloopers.
Puss ‘N Boots Around the World!
The 3rd film featuring Pero, the character who grew into the Toei Mascot!
This has brand new subtitles for the Japanese audio & the vintage Turner English dub!
Extras TBD pic.twitter.com/PQvBhAB2D8
— 💿Discotek Media (@discotekmedia) October 17, 2023
Puss n’ Boots Around the World (Nagagutsu o Haita Neko 80 Nichikan Sekai Isshū) will release on Blu-ray Disc in 2024, and it will include a new HD transfer, the Turner Television dub, and a new subtitle script.
Futakoi!
It’s a harem anime all about twins!
So does he pick one girl in this one or can he choose two?
The video is very impressive on this, with a few minor hiccups.
Extras are clean OP/ED plus a music video!
It’s actually a rather wholesome, innocent, & fun show! pic.twitter.com/McmrT9f9Ex
— 💿Discotek Media (@discotekmedia) October 17, 2023
Futakoi is coming on Blu-ray Disc in 2024, upscaled into high definition. The release will include clean opening and ending sequences, and a full music video for the opening song.
Chie the Brat!
The final Isao Takahata TV show before he made Grave of the Fireflies, Only Yesterday, & more!
The truly amazing classic about a girl in 70s Osaka is getting a 1st English subbed release EVER!
Fantastic show that helped inspire genres & shows for generations! pic.twitter.com/doWCttUugQ
— 💿Discotek Media (@discotekmedia) October 17, 2023
Chie the Brat, the final television anime series that groundbreaking Studio Ghibli anime director Isao Takahata ever worked on, will release on Blu-ray Disc in 2024. Discotek‘s release will be the first-ever release of the 1981 anime in English. The release will include the clean ending sequence and a Blu-ray Disc release promotional clip.
Rainbow!
This is a gritty & dark drama about kids thrown into a youth prison.
The show streamed, but never got a disc. It’s a really good drama, so we’re fixing that.
Clean OPs & EDs for extras! pic.twitter.com/aJ7OFLZtXw
— 💿Discotek Media (@discotekmedia) October 17, 2023
Rainbow – Nisha Rokubō no Shichinin will release on Blu-ray Disc in 2024 in full 1080p. The release will include the Japanese track with English subtitles, as well as clean opening and ending sequences.
IGPX!
The mecha-racing classic returns!
5 discs w/ both the Production I.G & Toonami versions have been upscaled by the power of @astro_res.
Subbed & dubbed for I.G, dubbed for Toonami (w/ Peter Cullen narration!)
Extras are TBD, but we’re hoping it’ll be special & massive. pic.twitter.com/EpR9r0l2hH
— 💿Discotek Media (@discotekmedia) October 17, 2023
IGPX will ship on Blu-ray Disc, and will feature a new upscale based on newly-located anamorphic masters. The release will include both the Production I.G and Toonami versions in a five-disc release. Discotek noted that the release may include extensive extras, but the extras have not yet been approved by the licensor. Discotek previously released both seasons of the anime on DVD in 2016.
Discotek Media also announced the following live-action releases for its Nihon Nights and Toku Time labels:
- BELA: Humanoid Monster (Yōkai Ningen Bela) live-action film based on the character Bela from the Yōkai Ningen Bem (Humanoid Monster Bem) franchise, coming on Blu-ray Disc in December
- Fatal Frame (Zero) 2014 live-action film based on the game franchise of the same name, coming on Blu-ray Disc in 2024
- Kamikaze Girls (Shimotsuma Monogatari) 2004 film, coming in full HD, with a making-of video, translated interviews with cast and crew, workprint footage, press conference and promotional event footage, teasers, trailers, commercials, international trailer, an omake short film, and a music video. The release is coming in 2024
- Hurrican Polymar 2016 live-action film, coming on Blu-ray Disc in 2024
Discotek Media also announced that it will release the American cartoon Extreme Dinosaurs in standard definition Blu-ray Disc, with all 52 episodes, coming in 2024.
Source: Discotek‘s live stream