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Out This Week: Liz and The Blue Bird, Yu Yu Hakusho, City Hunter and More

January 30, 2023 ,


Welcome back to our new release round-up. This week is a good one for fans of old-school mecha anime with three classic series arriving on Blu-Ray for the first time. There's also old-school cool with City Hunter, shonen action with Shaman King and fantasy with Ascendance of a Bookworm. Also new this week is the 30th Anniversary edition of classic Shonen Jump series Yu Yu Hakusho. This week's UK releases include Kyoto Animation's Liz and The Blue Bird and the latest volume of My Hero Academia.


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UK Releases For January 30, 2023



Liz and the Blue Bird Collector’s Edition (Anime Ltd,U )"Mizore Yoroizuka and Nozomi Kasaki are a pair of best friends in their final year of high school. They're both obsessed with the school's brass band club. With Mizore on the oboe and Nozomi on the flute, they spend their days in happiness, until the club begins to practice songs inspired by the fairy tale Liz und ein Blauer Vogel - "Liz and the Blue Bird". Immersed in this story, Mizore and Nozomi begin to realize that there may be no such thing as being together forever."
FORMATS: Blu-Ray




My Hero Academia: Season Five, Part Two  (Crunchyroll, LLC, 12 ) "A superhero-loving boy without any powers is determined to enroll in a prestigious hero academy and learn what it really means to be a hero."
FORMATS: Blu-Ray, Blu-Ray LE




Tamako Market: Complete Series (Anime Ltd, 12) "Tamako Kitashirakawa is the eldest daughter of a family which runs the Tama-ya mochi shop in the Usagiyama Shopping District. One day, Tamako encounters a strange talking bird named Dera Mochimazzwi who comes from a distant land searching for a bride for his country's prince. After becoming overweight from eating too much mochi, Dera ends up becoming a freeloader in Tamako's home. The series follows the everyday life of Tamako, her friends, family and neighbours, and this peculiar bird."
FORMATS: Blu-Ray





US Releases For January 31, 2023





Ascendance of a Bookworm: Season 3 (Crunchyroll, LLC, TV-14)"After becoming an apprentice blue priestess and facing persecution from some of the nobles, Main starts a new life as the adopted daughter of Karstedt. Will she be able to create a letterpress and protect her loved ones while evil lurks around the corner?
FORMATS: Blu-Ray





City Hunter: Movie & TV Special Collection (Discotek Media, NR) "Ryo Saeba, the legendary City Hunter, is a first-class sweeper for hire, taking on jobs from protecting beautiful women to taking out bad guys permanently. He can be a private detective or hitman, whatever the case calls for, and it often requires the use of his superhuman marksmanship. But even so, Ryo can’t do it alone. His partner is Kaori Makimura, the younger sister of his murdered best friend. Kaori serves as his assistant, while also protecting their attractive clients from Ryo’s “mokkori” advances with her trusty supply of 100 ton hammers. Though they always appear to be at each other’s throats, the partners trust each other implicitly when the chips are down, and together they’ve solved various tough cases."
FORMATS: Blu-Ray





Dino Mech Gaiking: The Complete TV Series (Discotek Media, NR ) "Thousands of years ago, the people of the planet Zela uplifted the cultures of Earth with advanced alien science and technology. Now, with Zela itself in danger of being dragged into a black hole, the supercomputer Emperor Darius wants to find salvation for his people... by taking our planet for himself! The only ones who can stop Darius’ total conquest are the carrier superweapon Daiku Maryu and its intrepid but eclectic crew: an American navy pilot, a sumo wrestler, a kickboxing champion, and a host of other psychic misfits. The newest addition to the team is a brash baseball player named Sanshiro Tsuwabuki, whose arm was damaged in a Zelan attack, and now seeks revenge at the helm of the giant super robot Gaiking!"
FORMATS: SD Blu-Ray




The King of Braves GaoGaiGar: The Complete TV Series (Discotek Media, NR)"He risks his own life without question to protect Mamoru’s class and all of Earth. Drawn by the power of his mysterious origins, Mamoru becomes a member of GGG, joining the ranks of humanity’s bravest defenders as they wage all-out war against the Zonders with their advanced vehicles, weapons and AI robots. When their backs are up against the wall, Gai fuses with Galeon and GGG’s GaoMachines to form the indomitable king of all robots: GaoGaiGar! But even in the face of these awe-inspiring machines, the bravery of humanity in its darkest hour is the true key to victory!"
FORMATS: Blu-Ray





Shaman King Original Uncut Japanese Language TV Series (Discotek Media, NR) " Based on the original manga, laid back Yoh Asakura spends his nights chilling with the local ghosts, including legendary samurai Amidamaru, who Yoh befriends as his Guardian Ghost. Yoh is a Shaman, and not only can he see spirits, he can unite with them and unlock incredible powers. Turns out he’s not the only one, as the “Destiny Star” marks the start of the Shaman Tournament. Every 500 years, Shamans all over the world gather and fight to see who will become: The Shaman King!"
FORMATS: Blu-Ray





The Smurfs Season One Volume 3 (Paramount Pictures) "The Smurfs Season One adventures continue as Blossom and Brainy are transported to an alternate universe, Papa Smurf holds a vote to see who will act as Rescue Smurf, Gargamel tries to transform into a Smurf, Dreamer becomes a knight, and so much more! This magical volume contains episodes 19-26 of Season One!"
FORMATS: DVD




Tetsujin 28 FX: The Complete TV Series (Discotek Media, NR) " By 2030, Shotaro's son was in charge of Tetsujin-28. An Interpol agent like his father, he used the aged robot to combat the Pink Mafia and the Franken organization."
FORMATS: SD Blu-Ray 



Virtua Fighter: The Animated Series (Discotek Media, NR) "He loves fighting almost as much as he loves eating! Based on the classic SEGA video games, it's Virtua Fighter: The Animated Series! We follow Akira Yuki, a Hakkyoku-ken martial artist, training in the United States. One day, he ends up saving a girl named Pai being chased by suspicious men in a restaurant. Akira meets friends such as Jacky, Sarah, Wolf and Lion on his journey, fighting against forces such as the evil martial arts Dojo Koenkan, the deadly merchant Rafale, and the crazy scientist, Eva. What will Akira and friends encounter on their Journey? Will the gang beat the evil crime lords? Or will they all be beat by the forces of evil before they even get there? Seen here in its entirety for the first time, Virtua Fighter: The Animated Series is 35 episodes of martial arts, dumplings, and slapstick that you won't want to miss!"
FORMATS: SD Blu-Ray




Yu Yu Hakusho: Ghost Files - 30th Anniversary Box Set (Crunchyroll, LLC,  TV-PG) "One day, 14-year-old Yusuke Urameshi suddenly finds himself dead, having died pushing a child out of the way of oncoming traffic. Since he has such a bad personality, even the Spirit World was caught by surprise that he would sacrifice himself. Yusuke soon finds out he wasn't supposed to die and has a chance for resurrection and bringing his body back to life. After being resurrected, Yusuke becomes a Spirit Detective, along with his comrades, and one adventure after another happens, whether it be an investigation or a fighting tournament."
FORMATS Blu-Ray




Upcoming Releases

All Release dates are subject to change. Listed Dates are for US release unless stated otherwise. Digital releases may be earlier. Titles are Blu-ray unless stated otherwise.


Strange World February 6 (UK)
Strange World February 14
Dragon Ball GT Complete Series (DVD) February 14
Giovanni's Island February 21
Cartoon Saloon Irish Folklore Trilogy (Standard Edition) February 27 [UK]
The Boxtrolls 4K February 28

















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