Well, hello there good people and welcome back to another edition of Out This Week. As January approaches its climax, it continues to be one of the quietest times of the year. Only a handful of new animation releases are due on either side of the Pond. In the US this week, new releases consist of classic cyber-punk anime sequel Bubblegum Crash, dark fantasy Bastard!!, teen romance Horimiya Season 2: The Missing Pieces, and the unwieldy monikored The Strongest Tank's Labyrinth Raids: A Tank with a Rare 9999 Resistance Skill Got Kicked from the Hero's Party.
New in the UK this week is the disc debut for the acclaimed DreamWorks feature The Wild Robot, alongside Keiichi Hara's fantasy Lonely Castle In The Mirror. Also released is To Your Eternity Season One and a fancy collector's edition of season 2 of school idol anime Love Live! Superstar!!
All information is correct to the best of our knowledge at time of publication but is subject to change.
UK Releases For January 20, 2025
Lonely Castle In The Mirror (Anime Ltd., 12) "In a tranquil neighbourhood of Tokyo, seven teenagers wake to find their bedroom mirrors are shining. At a single touch, they are pulled from their lonely lives to a wondrous castle filled with winding stairways, watchful portraits and twinkling chandeliers. In this new sanctuary, they are confronted with a set of clues leading to a hidden room where one of them will be granted a wish. But there's a catch: if they don't leave the castle by five o'clock, they will be punished. As time passes, a devastating truth emerges: only those brave enough to share their stories will be saved."
FORMATS: Blu-Ray, Blu-Ray Collector's Edition
Love Live! Superstar!! Season 2 (Anime Ltd., 12) "A new school year has begun at Yuigaoka Girls' High School. Liella! is practicing up on the roof as usual, and a new student named Kinako Sakurakoji is drawn in by their voices. She ends up sneaking into the school to quietly watch them train...a decision that is going to change the future of both Kinako and Liella!"
FORMATS: Blu-Ray Collector's Edition
To Your Eternity Season One (Crunchyroll LLC,. 15) "In the beginning, an “orb” is cast unto Earth. “It” can do two things: change into the form of the thing that stimulates “it”; and come back to life after death. “It” morphs from orb to rock, then to wolf, and finally to boy, but roams about like a newborn who knows nothing. As a boy, “It” becomes Fushi. Through encounters with human kindness, Fushi not only gains survival skills, but grows as a “person.” But his journey is darkened by the inexplicable and destructive energy Nokker, as well as cruel partings with the people he loves.
FORMATS: Blu-Ray
The Wild Robot (Universal, U) "Follows the epic journey of a robot—ROZZUM unit 7134, “Roz” for short — that is shipwrecked on an uninhabited island and must learn to adapt to the harsh surroundings, gradually building relationships with the animals on the island and becoming the adoptive parent of an orphaned gosling."'
FORMATS: 4K, Blu-Ray, DVD
US Releases For January 21, 2025
Bastard!! Heavy Metal, Dark Fantasy (Sentai Filmworks, TV-MA) Fifteen years ago, the wizard Dark Schneider led the armies of the Divine Kings in a ruthless bid to conquer the world. Ultimately, Schneider failed and was sealed away into the body of a newborn, but his generals escaped and now the Kings are back with a new plan: unleashing a God of Destruction! Barring their way, however, is the kingdom of Metallicana, where the Great Priest’s daughter will unleash a surprise weapon of her own: Dark Schneider reborn! Can Yoko control her resurrected ally, or will the result be total Armageddon? The ultimate grudge match explodes in Bastard!! -Heavy Metal, Dark Fantasy!
FORMATS: Blu-Ray
Bubblegum Crash (AnimEigo, 13+) "The Japanese Cyberpunk Classic Continues!
It is the year 2034 A.D. The story of the Knight-Sabers is not yet over. In this three-episode mini-series, an old enemy returns to settle the score!"
FORMATS: Blu-Ray
Horimiya Season 2: The Missing Pieces (Crunchyroll LLC., TV-14)" At graduation, the cherry blossoms fall while a nostalgic Hori looks back on her time at Katagiri High School and with Miyamura. Every moment together is precious, even the details that are easy to forget. This is their story, finally complete."
FORMATS: Blu-Ray
The Strongest Tank's Labyrinth Raids: A Tank with a Rare 9999 Resistance Skill Got Kicked from the Hero's Party - The Complete Season (Crunchyroll LLC., TV-14) "Fired from the Hero’s party, Rud is almost ready to give up on his quest to cure his sister’s illness. But upon saving a young girl, he discovers he has insanely powerful defense skills! Now with his shield, this tank is freshly determined to conquer the labyrinth."
FORMATS: Blu-Ray
Upcoming Releases
All dates subject to change.
Mashle: Magic and Muscles January 25
The Apothecary Diaries Season 1 Part 1, January 28
Daffy Duck's Quackbusters January 28
Ninja Scroll January 28
A Certain Magical Index III February 4
Jujutsu Kaisen Season 2 February 4
Macross Zero February 10
Bubblegum Crisis: Perfect Collection February 11
Tamala 2010: A Punk Cat In Space February 11
Sailor Moon: 3 Film Collection February 11
The First Slam Dunk 4K February 18
The Lord Of The Rings: War For Rohirrim February 18
Chie The Brat Season 2 February 25
Cutie Honey February 25
Digimon Adventure Season 2 February 25
The Place Further Than the Universe February 25
Rise Of The Shield Hero Season 3 February 25
Akira 4K Steelbook March 4
Ghost Cat Anzu March 4
Nasu: Summer in Andalusia March 11
Jujutsu Kaisen Season 2 Part 2 March 18
Spy X Family Code White March 18
Spy X Family Season 2 March 18
Memoir Of A Snail March 25
Star Trek Lower Decks: The Final Season March 25
The Apothecary Diaries Season 1 Part 2 March 25