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Out This Week: Rankin Bass Christmas Specials. Summer Ghost, Belle and More


In this week's new home entertainment releases there are new 4K editions of four classic stop-motion Holiday specials- a perfect way to pay tribute to Jules Bass (of Rankin and Bass) who passed away last week.  The week also includes the disc debut of Summer Ghost the featurette from up-and-coming filmmaker Loundraw and a new steelbook edition of Mamoru Hosoda's Belle.

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UK Releases For October 31, 2022




Girls und Panzer: das Finale - Part 3 (MVM Entertainment, PG) Amateurs study strategy, but professionals study logistics, because it doesn't matter how many tanks you can get into position if you don't have enough ammo to keep firing! Firepower and constantly evolving strategies are the name of the game as not two, not four, but six more schools square off on three additional battlegrounds! As Oarai's tank team continues their brutal face off against Chi-Ha-Tan, the firefights also rage between Anzio and St. Gloriana, Kuromorimine and Pravda, and Jatkosota and Saunders! Six teams enter and only the survivors will advance! Also, in the weirdest side trip yet, the ladies of Team Anglerfish suddenly find themselves as cow… er, radishgirls in the wild, wild west.
FORMATS :Blu-Ray






King's Game: The Animation (Anime Ltd , 15) A class of thirty-two high school students receive texts commanding them to complete strange tasks. Do what the messages say, and more will follow. Fail to go through with them and face the consequences. Nobuaki Kanazawa has played this game before and knows that these demands must be met. But until penalties for failure become lethal, no one is ready to step out of their comfort zone. With death around every corner, and as orders and punishments become more and more gruesome, the worst in people manages to tear its way out.
FORMATS: Blu-Ray




Tamako Market: Complete Series (Anime Ltd , 12) Tamako Kitashirakawa is the eldest daughter of a family which runs the Tama-ya mochi shop in the Usagiyama Shopping District. One day, Tamako encounters a strange talking bird named Dera Mochimazzwi who comes from a distant land searching for a bride for his country's prince. After becoming overweight from eating too much mochi, Dera ends up becoming a freeloader in Tamako's home. The series follows the everyday life of Tamako, her friends, family and neighbors, and this peculiar bird.
FORMATS: Blu-Ray




Violet Evergarden: The Movie (Anime Ltd,  12) After the aftermath of a war, a young girl who was used as a 'tool' for war learned to live. With the scars of burns, she goes back to her past to feel the true feelings of the Major's, "I love you."
FORMATS: Blu-Ray





US Releases For November 1, 2022





Belle  STEELBOOK (GKIDS Films/Shout Factory, PG) "Suzu is a shy high school student living in a rural village. For years, she has only been a shadow of herself. But when she enters "U", a massive virtual world, she escapes into her online persona as Belle, a globally-beloved singer. One day, her concert is interrupted by a monstrous creature chased by vigilantes. As their hunt escalates, Suzu embarks on an epic and emotional quest to uncover the identity of this mysterious "beast" and to discover her true self in a world where you can be anyone."
FORMATS: Blu-Ray+DVD STEELBOOK




The Classic Christmas Specials Collection 4K (Universal) "'Tis the season to enjoy the timeless holiday favorites in "The Classic Christmas Specials Collection" featuring three unforgettable stories. Produced by Rankin/Bass, "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" and "Santa Claus is Coming to Town" feature iconic "Animagic" stop-motion animation and "Frosty the Snowman" is beautifully animated. Starring the voice talents of Fred Astaire, Jimmy Durante, Mickey Rooney, Burl Ives and many more, these favorites also feature some of the most beloved songs of the season and are sure to entertain audiences of all ages for generations to come!"
FORMATS: 4K




The Dungeon of Black Company: The Complete Season  (Crunchyroll, LLC, TV-14)"Work sucks, and Kinji was avoiding it beautifully by investing every penny. Good plan 'til he finds himself in a new world... with DEBT! Now under the rule of an evil mining company, does he have what it takes to pull off the ultimate grift on this gig?"
FORMATS: Blu-Ray+Digital, Blu-Ray LE



Fate/Kaleid Liner Prisma Illya 2wei! / 2wei Herz!: Complete Collection (Sentai Filmworks, TV-MA )Magical girls don't get time off, so even though Illya and Miyu have just saved the world (see FATE/KALEID LINER PRISMA ILLYA,) it's now their job to clean up the resulting mess! Unfortunately, there's no established system for disposing of hazardous magical materials and sealing the Class Cards has caused some serious side effects… one of which is that Illya now has a duplicate doppelganger who is being a very bad girl! Can Illya get "herself" under control in a conflict of split personalities? And even once she's comfortable with her dark self, is it wise to take her on a trip to the beach while preparing for her next mission? Not unless you're ready for the demons, alternate dimensions, and all the other Magical Girl stuff that ensues!
FORMATS: Blu-Ray



Fire in His Fingertips: My Childhood Friend is a Fireman (Ascendent Animation ,TV-MA) Ryo Fujihashi, a single business woman, is rescued from a fire by her best friend, Soma. When Ryo loses everything she owns to the flames, Soma offers his home to her until she can get back on her feet. Will fire ignite within her heart for the charming firefighter in such close proximity to him?"
FORMATS: Blu-Ray






Fire in His Fingertips 2: My Boyfriend is a Fireman (Ascendent Animation ,TV-MA) A firefighter's work is important, but after an emergency causes Soma to miss his girlfriend, Ryo's birthday, he is determined to make their upcoming date perfect to make up for it. Meanwhile, Ryo's old flame, Rei, shows up and now works with her! Will the fire in her heart stay true to Soma, or will old flames reignite?
FORMATS: Blu-Ray




Frosty the Snowman 4K (Universal) A discarded silk tophat becomes the focus of a struggle between a washed-up stage magician and a group of schoolchildren after it magically brings a snowman to life. Realizing that newly-living Frosty will melt in spring unless he takes refuge in a colder climate, Frosty and a young girl who he befriends stow away on a freight train headed for the north pole. Little do they know that the magician is following them, and he wants his hat back. This animated short is based on the popular Christmas song of the same name.
FORMATS: 4K+Blu-Ray+Digital





Henkei Shoujou Transforming Girls (Ascendent Animation,TV-14)  Have you ever seen a schoolgirl transform into an epic Battle-Mech? How about FIVE transforming girls?! Well, now's your chance! Follow the everyday adventures of Tomoyo as she discovers that not everything is as it seems. In the world of 'Henkei Shoujo', anything is possible!
FORMATS: Blu-Ray




Irina: The Vampire Cosmonaut (Crunchyroll, LLC,  TV-14) Two great nations race for the cosmos, launching a secret experiment in the east. Before risking the first human flight, they will send a vampire named Irina. Despite racial differences, she and her human overseer, Lev, aim for the stars together.
FORMATS: Blu-Ray




Moriarty: The Patriot - Part 2  (Crunchyroll, LLC, TV-14) As William's mission to purge Britian's class structure continues, Sherlock edges closer to identifying him. But as the Lord of Crime's plot gets even bloodier, his clues lead the fated rivals to one final showdown - where one of them might end up dead.
FORMATS: Blu-Ray




The Polar Express 4K (Warner Bros., G)When a doubting young boy takes an extraordinary train ride to the North Pole, he embarks on a journey of self-discovery that shows him that the wonder of life never fades for those who believe.
FORMATS: 4K+Blu-Ray+Digital





Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer 4K (Universal) The modern Christmas classic is brought to life in this stop-motion animated feature. Rudolph is shunned by the other reindeer because of his strange red nose. Rudolph and Herbie the Elf decide to run away and wind up having a series of adventures, meeting the Abominable Snowman and making their way through the Land of Misfit Toys before coming back in time to help Santa on Christmas Eve.
FORMATS: 4K+Blu-Ray+Digital





Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town 4K (Universal) The Mailman decides to answer some of the most common questions about Santa Claus, and tells us about a small baby named Kris who was left on the doorstep of the Kringle family (toymakers). When Kris grew up, he wanted to deliver toys to the children of Sombertown. But its Burgermeister (Herr Meisterburger) is too mean to let that happen. And to make things worse, there's an evil wizard named Winter who lives between the Kringles and Sombertown, but Kris manages to melt Winter's heart (as well as the comely schoolteacher's) and deliver his toys.
FORMATS: 4K+Blu-Ray+Digital





Summer Ghost Blu-ray (GKIDS/Shout Factory) "Tomoya, Aoi, and Ryo are high school students who met online. An urban legend speaks of a "summer ghost," a spirit girl who appears when fireworks are set off. Tomoya cannot live the life he envisioned for himself. Aoi cannot find her place in the world. Ryo has his once shining future suddenly pulled away. Each has their own reason for needing to meet the summer ghost. On a summer night when life and death cross paths, where will each of their emotions take them?
FORMATS: Blu-Ray




Tribe Nine: The Complete Season (Crunchyroll, LLC, TV-14) Neo Tokyo is a battlefield, and the only thing keeping the turf wars tame is the game of Extreme Baseball. Word on the street is that the top hitter Shun just recruited two rookies, and their tribe won't back down from the mad man taking over the city.
FORMATS: Blu-Ray


Upcoming Releases

All Release dates are subject to change. Listed Dates are for US release unless stated otherwise. Digital releases may be earlier. Titles are Blu-ray unless stated otherwise.





Cats Eye Season 2 (Discotek Media) November 28
Sherlock Hound (Disctotek Media) November 28.
Coraline 4K STEELBOOK (Shout Factory) December 13
ParaNorman 4K STEELBOOK (Shout Factory) December 13
My Hero Academia S5 part 2 (Crunchyroll) December 20
Goodbye, Don Glees (Shout Factory/GKIDS) December 27