DVD

License News: Ga-Rei Zero, 5 Centimeters per Second

One of my favourite anime of 2008, Ga-Rei Zero has been licensed by Funimation with a planned DVD release in early 2011 while Makoto Shinkai’s 5 Centimetres per Second has been licensed by Crunchyroll (Yes, the streaming site…). Crunchyroll will be using Bang Zoom! Entertainment’s dub and targets a late September/October release. 5 Centimeters per Second was previously licensed by the now-defunct ADV Films and will represent Crunchyroll’s first DVD release.
(Source: ANN / ANN)

Thoughts: Really awesome that both Ga-Rei Zero and 5 Centimetres per Second have been licensed (In the case of 5 Centimetres, “re-licensed”…). I am still a bit annoyed by the fact that the streaming video services from both companies still block non-US users from watching some, or in the case of Funi, ALL of their videos. Still, I am pretty sure I’ll be getting Ga-Rei Zero, not sure about 5 Centimetres though…

Suzumiya Haruhi no Blu-ray

Fans of the SOS brigade will finally be able to enjoy them in high-definition as Haruhi Suzumiya makes his blu-ray debut this October.

The entire 28 episode series will be packaged into an eight disc set which includes English subtitles. Extras include footage from live events, which brings the total runtime for all eight discs to be around 1080 minutes (18 hours). This will be one of the few Japanese blu-ray releases to include English subtitles. Amazon.co.jp lists the price of the entire set to be ¥29,526 (around SG$460). Pre-ordering is open to both Japanese and international users and the release date is set at 22 October 2010.
(Source: Sankaku Complex)

Thoughts: There goes my future pay-check…the only possible drawback would be the subtitles being in “Engrish” instead…