In case you were living under a rock, Anime Expo is in full swing this weekend. Funimation released some anime news today at their industry panel that will excite fans of several franchises. So without further babble, lets dive into the news of the day.
Free! Franchise
Funimation has more home video swimming goodness to add with the Free! movies coming to home video this October. Pre-orders for the movies begin on July 15th. The New releases include:
- “High Speed! -Free! Starting Days-“
- Prequel movie that explores Haruka and Makoto’s past in middle school and also introduces several new characters that were featured in “Free! -Take Your Marks-“ and are now key members of the Free! family and part of the new third season Free! -Dive to the Future-“ that premieres later this month
- “Free! -Take Your Marks-“
- Released in the theaters this past March, this sequel to “Free! -Eternal Summer-“ focuses on Haruka, Makoto, Rin, and Sosuke as the head to college. This was the film is a direct set-up to season three “Free! -Dive to the Future-.”
- Free! Movie Collection
- Special box set that includes both “High Speed! and Free! -Take Your Marks-“ and the “Free! -Timeless Medley-” compilation movies, which retell Seasons 1 & 2 of the television series and feature brand new content – scenes from Haruka and Makoto’s past, the introduction of Rin’s father, and footage of new characters Asahi and Ikuya.
Features exclusive rigid box with artwork
- Special box set that includes both “High Speed! and Free! -Take Your Marks-“ and the “Free! -Timeless Medley-” compilation movies, which retell Seasons 1 & 2 of the television series and feature brand new content – scenes from Haruka and Makoto’s past, the introduction of Rin’s father, and footage of new characters Asahi and Ikuya.
Re-Release (Home Video): Witch Hunter Robin
Witches are individuals with special powers like ESP, telekinesis, mind control, etc. Robin, a 15-year-old craft user, arrives from Italy to Japan to work for an organization named STN Japan Division (STN-J) as a replacement for one of STN-J’s witch hunters who was recently killed. Unlike other divisions of STN, STN-J tries to capture the witches alive in order to learn why and how they became witches in the first place.
Returning to home video on October 23, 2018
Pre-orders begin July 15
New Series (FunimationNow): SSSS Gridman
The new series from studio Triggers will premiere on FunimationNow this fall. SSSS Gridman is an upcoming 2018 Japanese anime television adaptation of the 1993–1994 tokusatsu series, Gridman the Hyper Agent.
New Release (Home Video): Mamoru Hosoda Movie Collection
Brand new box set of the all four current films from genius filmmaker Mamoru Hosoda
- “The Girl Who Leapt Through Time”
- “Summer Wars”
- “Wolf Children”
- “The Boy and the Beast”
The Mamoru Hosoda set will feature an exclusive rigid box. This will be a value collection option for fans of Mamoru Hosoda.
Funimation has acquired the “ReLIFE” OVAs. Will be released on FunimationNow and home video
Arata Kaizaki (27) quit the job he landed after graduation in only three months. His life did not go well after that. Now his parents are threatening to stop sending money, and want him to come back to the country. He has no friend or girlfriend to share his troubles with…as he hits rock bottom a strange man named Ryo Yoake appears. Yoake invites Kaizaki to join a societal rehabilitation program for NEETs called ReLife. This program uses a mysterious drug to make him look younger, and sends him back to high school for a year.
New Series (FunimationNow): Tokyo Ghoul: re Part 2
On the heels of the first half of Tokyo Ghoul: re finishing its run in the spring anime season, Part 2 is coming this fall. Part 2 of the third season of Tokyo Ghoul – “Tokyo Ghoul re:” will premiere on FunimationNow this October.
https://youtu.be/Py24xhrpeNs