Out This Month: The Mitchells Vs The Machines, Cartoon Saloon Trilogy, Project A-Ko and More
Welcome gentle reader to the final edition of our new release round-up for 2021. By the end of December, releases all but dry up, so we bring you a bumper-sized edition featuring the titles coming out for the rest of the month.
Those releases include the Cartoon Saloon Irish Folklore Trilogy, which is currently the only way to get Wolfwalkers on disc, the Blu-Ray release of Sony's excellent The Mitchells Vs The Machines and the anime blockbuster Demon Slayer The Movie: Mugen Train. Also released are two new UK collector's editions of Studio Ghibli movie from StudioCanal and 80s faves Project A-Ko and Robot Carnival from old school specialists Discotek Media.
Also included are a selection of the best deals for those looking for a bargain. There are more titles than we could possibly include, but you can click through any of the links to see what else is on offer.
We'll be back with more new releases in the new year!
All Information and Prices Provided are Correct at publication time to the
best of our knowledge but are subject to change at any time. Affiliate links
used where available- making a purchase through these links may earn us a
commission at no extra cost to you.
UK Releases For December 13, 2021
Demon Slayer Kimetsu No Yaiba Season One Part Two
(Anime Ltd, 15) "It is the Taisho Period in Japan. Tanjiro, a kindhearted boy who sells
charcoal for a living, finds his family slaughtered by a demon. To make
matters worse, his younger sister Nezuko, the sole survivor, has been
transformed into a demon herself. Though devastated by this grim reality,
Tanjiro resolves to become a demon slayer so that he can turn his sister back
into a human, and kill the demon that massacred his family. A sorrowful tale
of siblings in which the fates of humans and demons intertwine...begins
now!"
💿 FORMATS: Blu-Ray
Death Parade Complete Series (Funimation UK, 15) "When two
people die at the same time, they’re sent to a place that’s neither heaven nor
hell―a lavish bar between worlds where the stakes are high and the rules are
simple: if you win you live again, if you die… you’re gone for good. Decim is
the bartender charged with serving the souls who enter Quindecim. He may make
a mean cocktail, but his true profession is to play the role of arbiter―a
judge who determines whether or not a soul is worthy of reincarnation. To aid
in his judgment, the bar’s patrons are forced to play simple games laced with
sadistic twists designed to bring their true natures to light. To Decim,
judgment has always been black and white―that is―until he meets a mysterious
young woman whose fate seems impossible to decide. His indecision shakes the
very foundation of the games and raises the biggest question of all: Who is
fit to judge the dead?"
💿 FORMATS: Blu-Ray+Digital
Kiki's Delivery Service (StudioCanal UK, U) "When an apprentice witch
turns thirteen, she must leave her home in order to hone her craft. Although
Kiki's sole talent is broom-flying, she sets out for adventure with her cat
Jiji. They settle in a charming seaside town, where Kiki establishes her own
delivery service. As Kiki learns to balance independence with responsibility,
her kind heart wins her many new friends in this coming-of-age tale. "
💿 FORMATS: Blu-Ray+DVD Collector's Edition
Nichijou: My Odinary Life (Funimation UK, 12 )"Yuko and Mio are normal
schoolgirls who lead ordinary lives and cope with day-to-day matters. Their
friends, however, are not that normal: Mio's crush Kojiro brings a goat and
butler to school even though his parents are farmers; Kojiro is constantly
attacked by his female classmate Misato, who is also in love with him; Mai is
a quiet friend but an inveterate prankster; a child genius known only as the
Professor, who built her own parental guardian, the schoolgirl Nano. Added to
the zany mix are the talking cat Sakamoto, the nervous teacher Izumi Sakurai
and the deer-wrestling Principal Shinonome. In spite of all the insanity
around the girls still manage to lead their regular affairs of work and play
with sanity, as it's all just a part of life itself."
💿 FORMATS: Blu-Ray+Dgital, Blu-Ray LE
Robotech Part Two: The Marsters Saga (Funimation UK, 12) "
When an alien ship crashes in the South Pacific, humanity
reverse-engineers its Robotechnology to build the warship SDF-1 and
prepare for another assault. But the arrival of a new armada will kick
off a generation-long war for both Earth and the cosmos!"
💿 FORMATS: Blu-Ray+Digital
Ron's Gone Wrong (20th Century PG) "The story of Barney, an awkward
middle-schooler and Ron, his new walking, talking, digitally-connected device.
Ron's malfunctions set against the backdrop of the social media age launch
them on a journey to learn about true friendship."
💿 FORMATS: Blu-Ray
Whisper Of The Heart (StudioCanal UK, U) " Shizuku Tsukishima, a
young girl in junior high, loves to read. Yet, every time she opens a library
book, it seems the same name appears on the cards: "Seiji Amasawa". As Shizuku
learns who this person is, she also begins to learn about herself and her
goals in life—a discovery that will change her life forever."
💿 FORMATS: Blu-Ray+DVD Collector's Edition
UK Release For December 14
The Mitchells Vs The Machines (Sony, PG) " Katie
Mitchell, a creative outsider, is accepted into the film school of
her dreams, her plans to meet “her people” at college are upended
when her nature-loving dad Rick determines the whole family should
drive Katie to school together and bond as a family one last time.
Katie and Rick are joined by the rest of the family, including
Katie’s wildly positive mom Linda, her quirky little brother Aaron,
and the family’s delightfully chubby pug Monchi for the ultimate
family road trip. Suddenly, the Mitchells’ plans are interrupted by
a tech uprising: all around the world, the electronic devices people
love – from phones, to appliances, to an innovative new line of
personal robots – decide it’s time to take over. With the help of
two friendly malfunctioning robots, the Mitchells will have to get
past their problems and work together to save each other and the
world!"
💿 FORMATS: Blu-Ray, DVD
US Releases For December 14, 2021
Cartoon Saloon's Irish Folklore Trilogy (GKIDS Films/Shout Factory, PG)
"Magic, fantasy and Celtic mythology come to life in Cartoon Saloon's
celebrated Irish Folklore Trilogy, featuring three Academy Award®-nominated*
modern animated classics. The studio's first film, The Secret of Kells, which
beautifully tells the tale of a master illuminator and his young apprentice,
is followed by the breathtakingly gorgeous Song of the Sea, which recounts the
adventure of a mythical seal-child and her brother on a quest, and the
triumphant Wolfwalkers, which delves into the friendship between a young
huntress and a free-spirited wolf-girl. This limited edition set features the
exclusive Blu-ray™ presentation of Wolfwalkers and hours of new bonus features
exploring the three films in environmentally friendly packaging that reflects
each film's loving depiction of the natural world."
Dr. Stone Season One (Funimation, TV-14) ""Modern
society is lost when a mysterious light turns humanity to stone. After
thousands of years, high schoolers Senku and Taiju break free. By combining
teamwork and science, they’re determined to revive the petrified masses and
rebuild civilization."
💿 FORMATS: Blu-Ray
Fate/Grand Order: The Movie Divine Realm of the Round Table:
Camelot Wandering; Agateram (Blu-Ray)
"The wandering knight, Bedivere, reaches the end of his journey.
It is A.D. 1273 in Jerusalem. The Holy Land has been transformed into a massive desert and its people have been forced out of their homes as three major powers wage war with each other in this wasteland. The Knights of the Round Table come together to protect the Holy City and their Lion King. With the whole of his kingdom summoned into a strange land, Ozymandias, the Sun King, quietly plots against the tyranny of this bizarre realm. The mountain people, protectors of those who were stripped of their land, await their chance at rebellion. In order to fulfill his mission, Bedivere heads for the Holy City where the Lion King rules. There he meets humanity’s final Master, Ritsuka Fujimaru, who has come to Jerusalem, accompanied by his Demi-Servant, Mash Kyrielight, in their quest to restore human history. "
It is A.D. 1273 in Jerusalem. The Holy Land has been transformed into a massive desert and its people have been forced out of their homes as three major powers wage war with each other in this wasteland. The Knights of the Round Table come together to protect the Holy City and their Lion King. With the whole of his kingdom summoned into a strange land, Ozymandias, the Sun King, quietly plots against the tyranny of this bizarre realm. The mountain people, protectors of those who were stripped of their land, await their chance at rebellion. In order to fulfill his mission, Bedivere heads for the Holy City where the Lion King rules. There he meets humanity’s final Master, Ritsuka Fujimaru, who has come to Jerusalem, accompanied by his Demi-Servant, Mash Kyrielight, in their quest to restore human history. "
💿 FORMATS: Blu-Ray
RightStuf Anime Exclusive
Happy Go Lucky Days (Sentai Filmworks, TV-14) "Love is love.
Someday, the pain of being in love will be an endearing memory. No
matter who the feelings are towards, no matter what form it takes, all
love and lifestyles have the same value. An omnibus anime tells the
stories of "The wedding of an ex", "a student and a teacher at an
all-boys' school" and "childhood friends whose bodies and hearts change
with adolescence.""
Harukana Recieve Essentials (Funimation, TV-14) "Haruka
is a high schooler, ready to start her summer break! But when she and
her new roommate, Kanata, are challenged to a game of beach
volleyball, it’s time to don their bathing suits and serve up some
punishment—if only they knew how!"
💿 FORMATS: Blu-Ray+Digital
The Mitchells Vs The Machines (Sony, PG) " Katie
Mitchell, a creative outsider, is accepted into the film school of
her dreams, her plans to meet “her people” at college are upended
when her nature-loving dad Rick determines the whole family should
drive Katie to school together and bond as a family one last time.
Katie and Rick are joined by the rest of the family, including
Katie’s wildly positive mom Linda, her quirky little brother Aaron,
and the family’s delightfully chubby pug Monchi for the ultimate
family road trip. Suddenly, the Mitchells’ plans are interrupted by
a tech uprising: all around the world, the electronic devices people
love – from phones, to appliances, to an innovative new line of
personal robots – decide it’s time to take over. With the help of
two friendly malfunctioning robots, the Mitchells will have to get
past their problems and work together to save each other and the
world!"
💿 FORMATS: Blu-Ray+DVD+Digital
One Piece Collection 28 (Funimation, TV-14) " As the
final battle at the Colosseum begins, the remaining contestants
deal with Diamante while Luffy, Zoro, and Viola head through the
palace. Meanwhile, the Tontatta have a spicy plan to stop Sugar.
The tournament ends—but Doflamingo traps everyone on Dressrosa,
and a deadly new game is revealed. The rules: take out the Straw
Hats and their allies, defeat Doflamingo, or never see sunrise!"
💿 FORMATS: Blu-Ray+DVD
Rent A Girlfriend (Sentai Filmworks, TV-14)
" When Kinoshita Kazuya's new girlfriend brutally dumps
him, he discovers a surprising new alternative - renting a
girlfriend instead! However, while this does let Kazuya avoid
the embarrassment of explaining to his friends and family why
he's suddenly partner-less, he's unprepared for what happens
when Mizuhara Chizuru arrives to fulfill his rental contract.
Not only is she completely not what he expected, but her real
life has a frightening number of cross-overs with his own! And
when it turns out that his grandmother is just crazy about
Chizuru, it's not like he can just swap her out for a different
model! Or can he? Will Kazuya and Chizuru's relationship
progress beyond a "goods purchased" mode? And what happens if
Kazuya's ex-girlfriend decides to re-enter the picture?"
💿 FORMATS: Blu-Ray
Robotech Part 3:The New Generation (Funimation, TV-14) "An alien spaceship crash lands on Earth and the technology
and secrets she bears lead Earth into three destructive
interplanetary wars."
Buy From Amazon Buy From RightStuf
💿 FORMATS: Blu-Ray+Digital
UK Releases For Decmeber 20, 2021
Cartoon Saloon's Irish Folklore Trilogy
(StudioCanalUK, PG)Magic, fantasy and Celtic
mythology come to life in Cartoon Saloon's celebrated
Irish Folklore Trilogy, featuring three Academy
Award®-nominated* modern animated classics. The studio's
first film, The Secret of Kells, which beautifully tells
the tale of a master illuminator and his young apprentice,
is followed by the breathtakingly gorgeous Song of the
Sea, which recounts the adventure of a mythical seal-child
and her brother on a quest, and the triumphant
Wolfwalkers, which delves into the friendship between a
young huntress and a free-spirited wolf-girl. This limited
edition set features the exclusive Blu-ray™ presentation
of Wolfwalkers and hours of new bonus features exploring
the three films in environmentally friendly packaging that
reflects each film's loving depiction of the natural
world."
Buy From Amazon
💿 FORMATS: Blu-Ray Collector's Edition
The Rising Of The Shield Hero Season One
(Funimation UK, 15) "Iwatani Naofumi, a run-of-the-mill otaku, finds a book in
the library that summons him to another world. He is tasked
with joining the sword, spear, and bow as one of the Four
Cardinal Heroes and fighting the Waves of Catastrophe as the
Shield Hero. Excited by the prospect of a grand adventure,
Naofumi sets off with his party. However, merely a few days
later, he is betrayed and loses all his money, dignity, and
respect. Unable to trust anyone anymore, he employs a slave
named Raphtalia and takes on the Waves and the world. But
will he really find a way to overturn this desperate
situation?"
💿 FORMATS: Blu-Ray+Digital
US Releases For December 21, 2021
Alice In Borderland (Sentai Filmworks, TV-MA) " Ryohei Arisu is bored with life. Nothing is new or
exciting, and playing games is the only relief from the
endless monotony of a seemingly pointless existence. If
only, he wishes, he could be someplace else… a different
world… where things were more exciting. Then Ryohei and his
friends, Daikichi and Chota, see what seems to be an
incredibly powerful firework in the sky, brighter than any
shooting star, and when they can see again, they discover
that they're in an entirely new reality. Unfortunately, as
they quickly learn, while this new world is, indeed, far
more exciting, it's also incredibly dangerous. Trapped in a
post-apocalyptic environment where the only way to survive
is to compete in a series of increasingly deadly games,
Ryohei and his friends have no choice except to adapt or
perish!"
A3! Season Spring & Summer (Funimation, TV-PG) "
Mankai Company is a far cry from its glory days as an
all-male theater. With only one member left and debt
collectors at the door, it’s no wonder Izumi Tachibana finds
herself in over her head when she boldly confronts the
Yakuza’s loan sharks, promising to bring her father’s
theater back into the spotlight. She might be able to
recruit enough talent, but can they bloom into the actors
she needs?"
Demon Slayer Kimetsu No Yaiba The Movie: Mugen Train
(Funimation, R)
"Tanjiro Kamado, joined with Inosuke Hashibira, a boy raised
by boars who wears a boar's head, and Zenitsu Agatsuma, a
scared boy who reveals his true power when he sleeps, board
the Infinity Train on a new mission with the Flame Pillar,
Kyojuro Rengoku, to defeat a demon who has been tormenting
the people and killing the demon slayers who oppose it"
High School Of The Dead (Sentai Filmworks, TV-MA )"The lockers are splattered with blood, the student bodies
are piling up and that's not mystery meat they're eating in
the cafeteria… it's the faculty! And that's just the start
of the worst day of school ever when a nightmarish virus is
unleashed, turning humans into flesh eating zombies and
converting Fujimi High School into a literal hell on
Earth. Now it's a crash course in survival, and the
only test or skill that matters is the ability to keep
moving, breathing and fighting. Because if nerds, jocks and
the surviving staff can't find a way to work together to
escape this carnal house of education, they're all going to
end up on the menu. And that's assuming there's anyplace
safe left to escape to. At the sound of the school bell, the
Zombie Apocalypse will begin as Kumuro, Saya, Rei, Busujima,
Hirano band together in the ultimate collectors' edition of
the wildest anime about reanimated corpses ever: High School
of the Dead!"
Princess Tutu (Sentai Filmworks, TV-14) "Once there
was a writer, a creator of tales, who was blessed with the
ability to bring his stories to life. But when the writer
dies before his story is finished, what becomes of the
characters left behind? For the girl known as Duck, the
world changed when an old man gave her a pendant that
transformed the duck that she was into a young girl. Now she
must gather the shards of a shattered Prince's heart and
finish the story of the Prince and the Raven. But will that
require Duck to make a sacrifice of her own? Enter a world
of dance and wonder as ballet, myth and romance come
together in the anime hailed as a modern classic, Princess
Tutu."
Project A-KO (Discotek Media ) "Project A-ko is the
typical love triangle of three school girls and their
confrontations with aliens, giant robots, and women who look
like burly men."
Resident Evil: Infinite Darkness ( Sony) "
Federal agent Leon S. Kennedy teams up with TerraSave staff
member Claire Redfield to investigate a zombie outbreak.
Based on the popular video game series of the same name by
Capcom."
The Severing Crime Edge Complete Collection (Sentai
Filmworks, TV-MA)
" Iwai Mushanokoji's beautiful flowing tresses have
been cursed all her life, making them seemingly impossible
to cut. Then she encounters hair-obsessed Kiri Haimura,
whose special set of scissors prove to be cursed as well
when they cut off a single lock of Iwai's gorgeous mane!
Unfortunately, others have Iwai's luscious locks as their
mane obsession as well, and an entire evil crew cuts in on
the action with their own cursed shearing implements! Unlike
Kiri, however, they're not going to be satisfied with just a
little bit of a trim! Can Kiri stop this shear insanity and
snip their distressing ambitions in the bud? Will Iwai
suffer a fatally close shave at the hands of these hackers?
Get ready for razor-edged suspense and hair-raising thrills
when good hair becomes the root of all evil!"
Girly Air Force (Sentai Filmworks) " Mysterious
flying creatures called Zai suddenly appear and over- whelm
all of mankind’s aerial combat forces. To fight them,
mankind modifies existing aircraft frames to create
mechanized soldiers called “Daughters,” which are operated
by automated piloting mechanisms called “Anima” that have
the appearance of human girls. Narutani Kei, a boy who
yearns to take to the skies, encounters a shining red
aircraft and its pilot, an Anima named Gripen who has been
named mankind’s secret weapon."
Grenadier: The Beautiful Warrior (Media Blasters )"During the time of the Great Japanese Civil War, the
faithful samurai Yairo Torajima finds himself surrounded by
an enemy army and certain death. At the moment of his
impending doom, the bountiful Rushuna appears and rescues
him with nothing more than an enchanting smile and a
high-caliber revolver! Together, Yajiro and Rushuna
challenge and defeat countless formidable enemies with his
swift sword and her uncanny talent for reloading on the
bounce! Now, Yajiro joins Rushuna on a mission that is
crucial to the survival of humankind- the search for the
solution to permanently end all wars and establish world
peace for eternity! "
Robot Carnival (Discotek Media)A FUTURISTIC
FANTASIA OF VISIONARY ANIMATION! A COLLECTION OF ART,
ANIMATION, & ROBOTS FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 4K ULTRA HD!
Crawling across a desiccated landscape, Robot Carnival comes
barreling its way onto 4K Ultra HD for the first time! A
visual treat for the eyes as well as the mind, Robot
Carnival is an anthology collection of nine short films,
many directed by Japan’s top animators before they were
famous. From funny to dramatic, artistic to entertaining,
each story reaches towards the furthest corners of time and
space to bring you a tale of robots and the people who make
them. Whether you have a love for great hand-drawn
animation, an appreciation for fine storytelling, or just
like robots, this anthology is a must!
Samurai Troopers (Discotek Media) " Long ago, there
existed an evil spirit that waged a war to conquer the human
world. Defeat drove him back to the realm of darkness, but
not before vowing to return and exact his revenge. A
thousand years later, the world has all but forgotten the
name of Arago, Emperor of Doom. When black clouds smother
the bright city lights of Shinjuku the people of the world
plunge into terror, unprepared for the evil spirit’s return!
Five young men emerge, wearing mystical armor said to grant
strength enough to defeat Arago once and for all! But
despite the might of their armor, Ryo of the Wildfire, Toma
of the Heavens, Shu of the Stone, Shin of the Torrent, and
Seiji of the Nimbus will have to join together and learn to
work as a team if they are to have any chance of defeating
the armies of the Empire of Doom."
Akudama Drive (Funimation, 15) "The bustling metropolis of Kansai, where cybernetic screens litter the neon landscape, may seem like a technological utopia at first glance. But in the dark alleys around the brightly-lit buildings, an unforgiving criminal underbelly still exists in the form of fugitives known as Akudama. No stranger to these individuals, Kansai police begin the countdown to the public execution of an infamous Akudama ""Cutthroat,"" guilty of killing 999 people. However, a mysterious message is sent to several elite Akudama, enlisting them to free Cutthroat for a substantial amount of money. An invisible hand seeks to gather these dangerous personas in one place, ensuring that the execution is well underway to becoming a full-blown bloodbath."
💿 FORMATS: Blu-Ray
US Releases For December 31, 2021
Urusei Yatsura: Movie 1 Only You (Discotek Media, 13+) "Invitations
sprinkled throughout the city tell of the wedding set to occur soon, between
bride Elle and groom… Ataru Moroboshi?! Doubt swells as word spreads across
the town. Who is Elle, and why would she want to marry someone like Ataru? The
funny thing is, not even Ataru knows who his bride-to-be is! The secret lies
in an afternoon of play eleven years ago, when Ataru stepped on a girl’s
shadow. And while Ataru might have forgotten about her, Elle remembers- uh,
something anyway. She’s definitely here for romantic reasons, which assuredly
have nothing to do with a garden full of handsome, frozen men! Will any of
that even matter, though, with Lum on the rampage? Witness the directorial
debut of acclaimed animation master Mamoru Oshii (Ghost in the Shell and
Urusei Yatsura: Beautiful Dreamer) in this can’t-miss Urusei Yatsura
adventure!"
💿 FORMATS: Blu-Ray
Buy From Amazon Buy From RightStuf
This Week's Best Deals
All prices are subject to change and do not include postage or delivery
costs.
My Teen Romantic Comedy SNAFU Climax (Blu-Ray) $69.98 $38.15
Nausicaa Of the Valley Of The Wind (Blu-Ray)
$29.95 $16.85
Penguin Highway (Blu-Ray) $26.99 $15.59
Princess Mononoke (Blu-Ray) $29.95 $16.85
Tokyo Godfathers (Blu-Ray ) $26.99
$18.70
Transformers The Movie 35th Anniversary 4K
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Akira (4K ) $29.98 $19.99
The Cat Returns STEELBOOK (Blu-Ray) $26.98 $16.19
Castle In The Sky STEELBOOK (Blu-Ray) $26.98 $16.19
From Up On Poppy Hill STEELBOOK (Blu-Ray) $26.98 $16.19
Injustice (Blu-Ray) $16.57
Perfect Blue STEELBOOK
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Porco Rosso STEELBOOK (Blu-Ray) $26.98 $16.19
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Princess Mononoke STEELBOOK (Blu-Ray) $26.98 $16.19
The Secret World Of Arriety STEELBOOK (Blu-Ray) $26.98 $16.19
Spirited Away STEELBOOK (Blu-Ray) $26.98 $16.19
Superman: The Complete Animated Series
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Transformers The Movie (4K
Steelbook) $17.99
Escaflowne The Movie £9.99
Mirai £5.99
Millenium Actress £12.23
A Silent Voice £5.99
