We have the February release schedule mostly confirmed including a new license.

February

Getter Robo Armageddon DVD complete series
Iria Zeiram DVD complete OVA series
Jigen's Gravestone DVD
Requiem From the Darkness DVD Complete Series
Blue Submarine No. 6 single DVD
Night on the Galactic Railroad Blu Ray

And here’s the March schedule with another new license.

March

Jigen's Gravestone Blu Ray
Darkstalkers complete OVA series DVD
Magic Night Rayearth complete TV series DVD
Earl and Fairy DVD complete series
Dai Guard complete TV series DVD

Rayearth TV BD will be later in 2016 no date yet

Focus Panel: Garakowa -Restore the World-

Pony Canyon USA is planning a dubbed release in the United States.

Published on Dec 11, 2015
Sincerely…Slowly…Falling in love…

The beautififul love story, DOUKYUSEI (Classmates) is coming to theaters in Japan on 2/20/2016.

Get details on this feature film at: www.DoukyuseiMovie.com

"Garakowa -Restore the World-" Theatrical Screening Tickets Now Available For Premium Members

Pre-screening meetup also planned for Premium subscribers who reserve tickets

Following up on the announcement for the exclusive Garakowa -Restore the World- streaming event, Crunchyroll has announced that it will screen the film theatrically at Camera 3 Cinemas in San Jose, California on Saturday, January 9 at 4pm PST. Free tickets are available now for Premium members ahead of the event through Eventbrite and are limited, so don't delay and RSVP to guarantee yourself a seat.

Seating is also limited, and Crunchyroll will be handing out a special commemorative event poster to all attendees, as well as an exclusive limited-edition postcard set to the first 100 Premium members who check in at the theater. The event is FREE for all Crunchyroll Premium members, and membership will be checked at the door. Each Premium member is also allowed to bring an additional plus one who is a non-member. The postcard set and poster can be seen below.



Crunchyroll will also be hosting a special Meet-up Event at 2 pm, right outside of the Psycho Donuts located next to the theater and is inviting subscribers who have reserved tickets to the event to come and hang out! The first 100 people who arrive will also a receive a free, exclusive Crunchyroll donut. Crunchyroll will also be holding a drawing for VIP seating for the film, so don't miss out and RSVP today. Not a Premium member yet? Upgrade your membership today!

HOUSTON, DECEMBER 17, 2015 – Sentai Filmworks is proud to announce its latest acquisition, Tonari no Seki-kun: The Master of Killing Time. Based on the original work of Takuma Morishige, the series was directed by Yuji Muto, with character design by Masae Otake. Shinji Kawai (STUDIO UNI) acted as Art Director.

During class, a schoolboy named Seki-kun is always creating things to entertain himself. All he cares for is creating things with an artist’s level of perfectionism and a craftsman’s attention to detail. Real dominos, shogi with original rules, a flip book with sounds…

Even Yokoi-san, who sits next to Seki-kun, always gets sucked into watching his games!

Based on the unique original work by Takuma Morishige – Japan’s one-and-only manga about not paying attention in class – this anime is about the silent battles the two have practically all the time. Please look forward to seeing the games Seki-kun breathes life into and seeing Yokoi-san’s reactions!

Tonari no Seki-kun: The Master of Killing Time will be available on select digital outlets with a home video release to follow.

HOUSTON, December 28, 2015 – Sentai Filmworks is proud to announce its latest acquisition, Yamishibai: Japanese Ghost Stories. This anthology breathes new life into the horror anime genre. Utilizing the nearly lost picture card "kamishibai" storytelling method of Showa-era Japan, Yamishibai: Japanese Ghost Stories turns everyday urban legends into the stuff of nightmares. It began airing late nights in the summer of 2013, but by the summer of 2014, it had attracted masters of the J-horror genre as guest directors, with its second season introducing even more terror and invoking its own sort of urban legends.

Tomoya Takashima directed the first season, while ILCA handled general direction for the second, with the aid of horror masters Takashi Shimizu, Noboru Iguchi and Shoichiro Masumoto. Hiromu Kumamoto was in charge of scripting for season one, and worked alongside Brazily Ann Yamada for season two. Animation production was handled by ILCA.

Yamishibai: Japanese Ghost Stories is currently available on Crunchyroll and will soon be available on additional digital outlets, with a home video release to follow.

The plan is to release four DVD sets with the first one starting in 2016. We will include any English dubs that already exist and also the Japanese language with English subtitles. Episodes 80-155 will have improved English subtitles and episodes 145 and 155 will also have the Streamline English dub. All 155 episodes will be released when finished.

This winter, Funimation is simulcasting Season 2 of Snow White with the Red Hair. Even more exciting? Snow White will be getting a Funimation Broadcast Dub and aired in English a mere few weeks after its Japanese air date.

Haven’t gotten to see the first season yet? We’re on top of it. We’re making the Season 1 dub available for subscribers too, so you’ll be all caught up by the time Season 2 makes its dub premiere.

Schedule of Releases:

Season 1 Dub Schedule:
Episodes 1-3 Dub Release – Monday, January 4, 2016
Episodes 4-6 Dub Release – Friday, January 8, 2016
Episodes 7-9 Dub Release – Friday, January 15, 2016
Episodes 10-13 Dub Release – Friday, January 22, 2016

Season 2 Sub Simulcast Schedule:
Episode 1 Subbed Simulcast Release– Tuesday, January 12, 2016

Season 2 Dub Schedule: Episode 1 Broadcast Dub Release – Tuesday, February 16, 2016

Winter 2016 Season Line-up*

[...]

* Additional titles to be announced.

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For Durarara!! only: All episodes of Durarara!! Season 1, Durarara!! X2 Shou (Season 2, Part 1) and Durarara!! X2 Ten (Season 2, Part 2) will also be available in subtitled and dubbed versions.

"Welcome, to the world of darkness…" The highly-anticipated feature film, KIZUMONOGATARI PART1: TEKKETSU will be coming to select U.S. theaters starting on 2/26/2016!

Get the latest info at: http://www.Kizumonogatari-USA.com

HOUSTON, December 28, 2015 – Sentai Filmworks is pleased to announce its latest acquisition, Undefeated Bahamut Chronicle as part of its Winter 2016 anime season lineup. Based off the original light novel by Senri Akatsuki and illustrated by Kasuga Ayumu, this series follows a young man named Lux, the former prince of Arcadia. After an accident in the bathing area lands Lux in hot water with the kingdom’s new princess, Liseshart, he finds himself forced into a duel that pits mechanical weapons against each other. Little does he know what else lies in wait when he has to join the school that trains the wielders of these ancient weapons.

Animation production will be handled by Lerche (Re: Hamatora, Monster Musume: Everyday Life With Monster Girls) with Masaomi Ando (School-Live!) taking the helm as Series Director. The role of Chief Animation Director will be shared by Mayuka Itou and Keiko Kurosawa, the latter of which is also responsible for Character Design. Yuuko Kakihara (Fairy Musketeers, Persona 4: The Animation, Heaven’s Lost Property) is in charge of series composition, and music is handled by Akito Matsuda (The Kawai Complex Guide to Manors and Hostel Behavior, Sound! Euphonium).

Undefeated Bahamut Chronicle is scheduled for a January 2016 release and will soon be available through select digital outlets with a home video release to follow.

HOUSTON, December 29, 2015 – Sentai Filmworks is proud to announce its latest acquisition, Norn9, as part of the winter 2016 anime season lineup. Based on the visual novel of the same name, the story follows a 12-year-old boy named Sorata Suzuhara who finds himself transported to an alternate time, and possibly a different world. Aboard the Norn, a giant spherical ship that acts as a miniature city, Sorata joins three girls and nine young men on a journey toward an unknown destination...

The series will be directed by Takao Abo and produced by Mitsutoshi Ogura, with series composition by Natsuko Takahashi. Character designs will be provided by Yukari Takeuchi, who will also serve as director of animation along with Tomoko Sato. Production will be handled by Kinema Citrus.

Norn9 is scheduled for a January 2016 broadcast in Japan. It will soon be available through select digital outlets, with a home video release to follow.

HOUSTON, December 29, 2015 – Sentai Filmworks is proud to announce its latest acquisition, Phantasy Star Online 2: The Animation, as part of the winter 2016 anime season lineup. Based on the hit MMORPG, this action-adventure series follows Itsuki Tachibana, a player of Phantasy Star Online 2, and the challenges he faces both in and outside of the game.

The series will be directed by Keiichiro Kawaguchi, with Mitsutaka Hirota handling both scripting and series composition. Character designs will be provided by Minoko Takasu, with animation produced by TELECOM ANIMATION FILM (Ramen Fighter Miki, Lupin III - The Italian Adventure (2015), Sengoku Basara: Judge End).

Phantasy Star Online 2: The Animation is scheduled for a January 2016 broadcast in Japan. It will soon be available through select digital outlets, with a home video release to follow.

Takeo can't contain his excitement! It's official: My Love Story!! is getting dubbed! #mylovestorydub

HOUSTON, JANUARY 6, 2015 – Sentai Filmworks is proud to announce its latest acquisition, Girls Beyond the Wasteland, as part of the winter 2016 anime season lineup. Based on the upcoming visual novel adapted by Romeo Tanaka and with character designs by Matsuryu, this anime will follow the exploits of lackadaisical high-school student Buntaro Hojo as he ventures into the realm of dating game development.

The series will be directed by Takuya Sato (Steins;Gate), with series composition by Yuniko Ayana. Character designs for the animation will be provided by Takayuki Noguchi, and production will be handled by Project No.9.

Girls Beyond the Wasteland is scheduled for a January 2016 broadcast in Japan. It will soon be available through select digital outlets, with a home video release to follow.

New Shoujo Anime Simulcast “Rainbow Days” + Seiyu Event “club RAINBOW!”
Posted by Godswill on 01/08/2016 at 2:13pm

We’ve previously announced seventeen shows for our winter simulcast season, but we’re adding a new two-part show in that’s perfect for any fans of love stories or cute anime boys— and of Japanese male seiyuu voice actors!

Rainbow Days is based on a shoujo romance manga that ran in the same magazine as other great shoujo manga like Kimi ni Todoke, My Love Story!!, Wolf Girl and Black Prince, Blue Spring Ride, Lovely Complex, and High School Debut, but it has a twist— unlike some other shoujo manga, the main characters are boys.

The anime version is also noteworthy in that it features some of the hottest male seiyuu voice actors who’ve voiced tons of popular bishounen characters. Each episode is about 12 minutes, and includes a separate 12-minute Japanese voice actor seiyuu show episode called “club RAINBOW,” giving you a special behind-the-scenes look into the world of Japanese voice acting. Both episodes will launch together at the same time every week at funimation.com/rainbow-days, so be sure to catch two episodes there every Sunday at 9:30 AM.

Main cast:

::: see blog post :::

Rainbow Days Synopsis:
After getting dumped on Christmas day, high school boy and hopeless romantic Natsuki Hashiba crosses paths with Anna, an aloof girl in a Santa outfit passing out tissues. For him it’s love at first sight, for her… not so much. With help from his best friends—a playboy, an otaku, and a nice guy with a sadistic streak—Natsuki sets out to win Anna’s heart and heal his own heartbreak along the way.

club Rainbow Synopsis:
If you just can’t get enough of the Rainbow Days anime, or the original manga it’s based on, Club Rainbow is sure to be a fun, cute, can’t-miss addition to your watch list! Join the main voice cast of Rainbow Days as they share behind-the-scenes stories, participate in a variety of games and events that appear in the show, and explore the city of Hokkaido trying to find the real-world locations that served as inspiration for the anime’s setting.

Watch the first episodes of Rainbow Days and club RAINBOW this Sunday at 10:30 ET/9:30 CT at funimation.com/rainbow-days!

MAMORU HOSODA’S “THE BOY AND THE BEAST” OPENS IN U.S. THEATERS NATIONWIDE MARCH 4
Posted by Funimation on 01/19/2016 at 11:09am

We’ve got two big announcements today, so let’s get started!

If you’ve ever been curious about the ins-and-outs of our theatrical releases, we’ve made it easy to stay on top of any and all developments! As of today, FunimationFilms.com is up and running—bringing you the latest news surrounding our upcoming theatrical releases. Check back often to watch new trailers, purchase advance movie tickets, get theater information, and more.

Next up, we’re excited to announce the official release date of latest film from internationally acclaimed director Mamoru Hosoda, The Boy and the Beast. This film will hit select theaters nationwide starting Friday, March 4, 2016. Tickets go on sale on February 5th, so be sure to stay tuned to FunimationFilms.com/theboyandthebeast, to secure your tickets early—not only does this ensure you’ve saved yourself a seat during this limited run, it also tells the theaters that there’s a demand for critically acclaimed, high-profile anime movies!

To make sure you can watch the movie the way you want, you’ll have the option to purchase tickets to see the movie in the original Japanese version (with English subtitles), the new English dub version produced by Funimation, or both. For those who might be curious, the English dub was developed closely with Hosoda himself to ensure the voice cast matched both his vision and direction for the film. Here’s a quick rundown of the film’s plot:

The Boy and the Beast (“Bakemono no Ko” in Japanese) tells the story of Kyuta, a young orphan living on the streets of Shibuya, who stumbles into a fantastic world of beasts. He’s taken in by Kumatetsu, a gruff, rough-around-the-edges warrior beast who’s been searching for the perfect apprentice. Despite their constant bickering, Kyuta and Kumatetsu begin training together and slowly form a bond as surrogate father and son. But when a deep darkness threatens to throw the human and beast worlds into chaos, the strong bond between this unlikely family will be put to the ultimate test—a final showdown that will only be won if the two can finally work together using all of their combined strength and courage.

To find out more, visit FunimationFilms.com/boyandthebeast and let us know on social media if you plan to attend! Official press release after the jump:

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MAMORU HOSODA’S “THE BOY AND THE BEAST” OPENS IN U.S. THEATERS NATIONWIDE MARCH 4 Advance Tickets on Sale February 5; English Dub Cast Revealed

FLOWER MOUND, TEXAS – January 19, 2016. Funimation® Entertainment announced today the theatrical date for the eagerly anticipated release of “The Boy and The Beast.” The latest masterpiece from acclaimed director Mamoru Hosoda, “The Boy and The Beast” will open on March 4 and screen in theaters across the U.S. Theatergoers will be able to purchase tickets to watch either the original Japanese language version (with English subtitles), the new English dub version produced by Funimation, or both. The English dub was developed closely with Hosoda to ensure the voice cast matched both his vision and direction for the film. The nationwide theatrical release of “The Boy and The Beast” will be the first time the English dub will be available to the general public. Prior to that, the film screened with English subtitles and only at a handful of film festivals in North America. Advance tickets go on sale on February 5 and can be purchased at funimationfilms.com/theboyandthebeast. “The Boy and The Beast” is a limited theatrical engagement and fans are encouraged to secure their tickets early.

“We’re very proud to showcase our English dub for the U.S. theatrical release of the ‘The Boy and The Beast,’” said Gen Fukunaga, CEO and founder of Funimation. “It was a rare opportunity to work so closely with a film’s director on a dub production and doubly so with Mamoru Hosoda – arguably the world’s most prominent anime director.”

Funimation has distributed two prior Hosoda films in the U.S., including the critically acclaimed and award-winning “Wolf Children” in 2013 and “Summer Wars” in 2010. “The Boy and The Beast” is garnering critical acclaim of its own – having recently secured a nomination in the Best Animated Feature-Independent category for the 43rd Annual Annie Awards, which recognize the best in the field of animation. The winners will be announced February 6.

“The Boy and The Beast” (“Bakemono no Ko” in Japanese) tells the story of Kyuta, a young orphan living on the streets of Shibuya, who stumbles into a fantastic world of beasts. He’s taken in by Kumatetsu, a gruff, rough-around-the-edges warrior beast who’s been searching for the perfect apprentice. Despite their constant bickering, Kyuta and Kumatetsu begin training together and slowly form a bond as surrogate father and son. But when a deep darkness threatens to throw the human and beast worlds into chaos, the strong bond between this unlikely family will be put to the ultimate test—a final showdown that will only be won if the two can finally work together using all of their combined strength and courage.

“U.S. audiences will truly be wowed by the rich imagery, characters and storyline of ‘The Boy and The Beast,’” said Mike DuBoise, EVP and COO of Funimation. “We have no doubt that this film will bring anime to the forefront of mainstream theatrical audiences, appealing to all fans of animated films, both young and old.”

The complete cast for English dub of “The Boy and The Beast” is as follows:

::: see blog post :::

For more information on “The Boy and The Beast” visit funimationfilms.com/theboyandthebeast. Hi-res stills and screener are available to media at epk.tv.

HOUSTON, January 19, 2016 – Sentai Filmworks announced its acquisition of the darkly cerebral science fiction series, Knights of Sidonia Season 2: Battle for Planet Nine. The story continues to follow ace pilot, Nagate Tanikaze, as he spearheads the defense of Sidonia against a terrifying alien threat alongside an unlikely ally, a human-alien hybrid whose voice is strikingly similar to someone he loved and lost. However, Sidonia may be in more danger than anyone realized, as diabolical forces plot not only from without but also within.

Based on the manga by Tsutomu Nihei (Wolverine: Snikt!), this sci-fi anime was directed by first-season co-director Hiroyuki Seshita, with Sadayuki Murai (Bubblegum Crisis: Tokyo 2040, Kino's Journey) returning for series composition and script. The animation was handled by Polygon Pictures.

Knights of Sidonia Season 2: Battle for Planet Nine will be available soon for home video on both Blu-ray and DVD.

HOUSTON, January 20, 2016 – Sentai Filmworks is proud to announce its latest acquisition: the classic, offbeat comedy Azumanga Daioh! Based on the original 1999 manga series written and illustrated by Kiyohiko Azuma, Azumanga Daioh is a witty romp into the misadventures of six high-school girls – Chiyo, Tomo, Yomi, Sakaki, Kagura, and a transfer student from Osaka, aptly nicknamed “Osaka.” Under the “guidance” of some rather peculiar teachers, the girls try their best to survive wacky school culture festivals, bread-eating contests, a teacher obsessed with seeing his female student in short shorts, awkward (and sometimes dangerous!) trips to Chiyo's summer home, and more!

The anime series was directed in 2002 by Hiroshi Nishikiori (Trinity Seven, I’m Gonna be an Angel!, GAD GUARD), with Ichiro Okouchi (Negima!, CODE GEASS: Lelouch of Rebellion) in charge of series composition. Production was handled by J.C.Staff (Honey and Clover, Nodame Cantabile, Detective Opera Milky Holmes).

Azumanga Daioh will soon be released on home video as part of its Sentai Selects line of classic animated features, in both dubbed and subtitled formats.

HOUSTON, January 20, 2016 – Sentai Filmworks is proud to announce its acquisition of the 2005 slice-of-life comedy Strawberry Marshmallow. Based on the 2002 manga series written and illustrated by Barasui, Strawberry Marshmallow follows 20-year-old Nobue Itoh as she half-watches, half-instigates the adorable exploits of the elementary school kids Miu, Matsuri, Ana and her own sister, Chika.

The anime series was produced by anime studio Daume (DearS, Please Teacher!), with Takuya Sato (Girls Beyond the Wasteland, Student Council’s Discretion, Steins;Gate) handling both directorial and series composition duties.

Strawberry Marshmallow will soon be released on home video in both dubbed and subtitled formats.

Working on this one! Japanese with English subtitles and English dub. Planning an April or May 2016 release date.