US anime-market leader FUNimation is currently having a “roll-out riot” and is announcing more and more titles for the upcoming months. Yesterday they announced the US release of Kamui Gaiden and RoboGeisha on their official blog, but without mentioning a specific date or medium.
Today, after some rumbling of disappointed fans who expected more fine animation from Japan, they surprised them by announcing the acquirement of the OVA series FLCL (Fooly Cooly) for a DVD and Blu-ray Disc release in late 2010. The series was produced by Production I.G, Gainax and Starchild in 2000 and was directed by Kazuya Tsurumaki (Gunbuster, Rebuild of Evangelion 1.0 & 2.0).
Because of the way the six episodes of FLCL were produced, this will most likely be another upscale, so looking at FUNimation’s recent releases I’ll wait for proper reviews before ordering this…even thou I don’t own the series on DVD yet.

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Manga Entertainment UK has made some very interesting announcement via the label’s official Twitter account. In the first place, Yoichi Sai’s Kamui Gaiden is supposed to be released on DVD and Blu-ray Disc in the UK this Summer. The live-action adaptation of the anime classic Ninpu Kamui Gaiden opened in Japan in September 2009 and will be released there on DVD and Blu-ray Disc (without English subtitles of course) in February.
And just a few hours ago, it was also announced that Mamoru Hosoda and Satoko Okudera’s hit anime Summer Wars will be released in September in the UK on DVD and Blu-ray Disc, just six month after the subtitle-less Japanese DVD and Blu-ray Disc release from VAP.
Talking about Mamoru Hosoda and Satoko Okudera, I also asked @MangaUK about the often announced and delayed Blu-ray Disc of The Girl Who Leapt Through Time but I didn’t receive an answer yet…
[06.01.10] Update: Jerome Mazandarani, Manga Entertainment UK’s acquisitions & marketing manager has stated in the Twitch comment section (why not here when the AHT is mentioned as the source?) that Summer Wars will (hopefully) get a limited theatrical release in the UK in September followed by a DVD and Blu-ray Disc release later in 2010. Thanks to Ard for the heads up!

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The Japanese Website for Yoichi Sai’s Kamui Gaiden has been updated today and is now showing the second trailer for the live-action adaptation of the ninja manga.

Kamui Gaiden will open on September 19th across Japan.

KAMUI is a Ninja on the run from the world of Ninja bound by rules in search of true freedom. However, he is burdened with the fate, where it is not allowed to take the secret of their powers outside of the tribe — if you are born as Ninja, you must die as Ninja. This brings him to constantly fight for his life against other Ninjas who trie to kill him and hide the secrets within. He does not trust, and he does not love. Showing weakness leads to immediate death. An incident brings him to an old fisherman’s village, where he finally starts to feel trust and affection towards other people. However, his pursuers where just minutes away from setting up a huge trap on Kamui…
Synopsis via AsianMediaWiki

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The Japanese website for Yoichi Sai’s live-action adaptation of the classic Kamui Gaiden anime has been updated with the first trailer.
A teaser trailer has been released back in January.

Kamui Gaiden opens on September 19, 2009 in Japan.
[via Wildgrounds]

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Ken’ichi Matsuyama (Death Note, Detroit Metal City) stars as Kamui, a young castaway ninja hunted by his own clan during the Edo period in this live-action adaptation of the classic ninja anime Ninpu Kamui Gaiden directed by Yoichi Sai (Blood and Bones). Kamui Gaiden will open in Japan this September and the first teaser footage shown on the official website looks pretty promising.

[via Wildgrounds]

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