Added on January 26, 2016  Lesley Aeschliman  anime , Aniplex of America , Eastern Star , featured , FUNimation Entertainment

New Anime Releases for the Week of January 26, 2016

This week sees new anime releases from Aniplex of America, Eastern Star, FUNimation Entertainment, Maiden Japan, Sentai Filmworks, and VIZ Media.

My “Pick of the Week” goes to Eastern Star’s release of Yowamushi Pedal Season 1.

Yowamushi Pedal Season 1 DVD
Eastern Star – Sub – MSRP: $69.95 Get it for $49.99 on Amazon!

Initially, when a fourth grade Sakamichi Onoda started biking to Akihabara every week, it was an effort to save money. After all, why ride the train when you can buy anime capsule toys? Continuing the trend all the way into high school, Sakamichi never thought anything of that 90 kilometer round trip. And he was too distraught over the disbanded anime club to notice that it was more than unusual that he could climb a 20% incline slope while riding a mommy bike. But junior pro cyclist Shunsuke Imaizumi noticed. Driven by a need to improve his own skills, Shunsuke challenges Sakamichi to a race, and while the outcome might seem obvious, there’s some surprises in store for both of them before they reach the finish line.

The other new anime releases for this week include:

Aldnoah.Zero Set 3 DVD | Limited Edition Blu-ray
Aniplex of America – Sub and Dub – MSRP: $39.98 | $94.98

The year is 2016— a year and a half after the assassination of Princess Asseylum. Despite his status as a Terran, Slaine has been granted the title of Mars Knight, is now served by his own personal subordinate, and has been taking part in battles against the United Forces of Earth. Meanwhile on Earth, the Deucalion is finishing up its repairs as, one by one, the ship’s former crew members return in order to proceed to a new battlefront.

Corpse Party: Tortured Souls – Bougyakusareta Tamashii no Jukyou DVD | Blu-ray
Maiden Japan – Sub – MSRP: $29.98 | $39.98

The horrifying events that occurred on the unhallowed grounds of the Heavenly Host school were so gruesome and shocking that the entire school was razed in an attempt to wipe the events from memory. But, foolishly, a new high school, the Kisaragi Academy, was built in Heavenly Host’s place, and all true evil needs is an invitation. So when a group of students innocently perform a charm intended to bind them as friends forever, the nightmarish evil is unleashed once again. Transported into a living hell where Heavenly Host still stands and undead horrors stalk the bloodstained halls, the students are now the prey in the most brutal test ever designed by inhuman minds. What follows isn’t for the squeamish or weak of heart, as they are hunted down in a savage orgy of torture, murder, and insanity.

Giant Gorg Complete TV Series DVD
Eastern Star – Sub – MSRP: $49.95

Yuu Tagami was never close with his father. Yet after the old man’s accidental death, Yuu finds himself on a plane to New York City, following instructions written in a letter from his late father. New York is as strange as it gets for the boy from Japan, but stranger still is Dr. Wave, who he’s supposed to meet. Dr. Wave shares an obsession with the deceased concerning the mysterious New Austral Island. 10 years ago, the island sprang into being and then just as suddenly vanished off the maps. But it’s still there, and Dr. Wave knows there are secrets on that island that demand investigation. Unfortunately, he isn’t the only one. The corporation known as GAIL wants those secrets for themselves, and they’re willing to kill to get their way.

Kingdom Season 1 DVD
FUNimation Entertainment – Sub and Dub – MSRP: $79.98

When low-born servant boys Piao and Xin set out to become the world’s greatest war generals, they quickly find themselves caught up in a violent struggle between two noblemen plotting to overthrow the King. After Piao is killed protecting the rightful ruler of the kingdom of Qin, Xin sets out on a campaign for revenge that leads him straight into the fire of war. Now, with a target on his back and an army of enemies standing in his way, it will be up to a boy with no name and a young king without a throne to return order to their war-torn country.

Momokyun Sword Complete Collection DVD | Blu-ray
Sentai Filmworks – Sub – MSRP: $49.98 | $59.98

Not every girl starts life as a baby inside a giant peach that was found floating in a river. But Momoko did. And most girls’ best friends aren’t Inugami the dog god, Sarugami the monkey god, and Kijigami the pheasant god. But that’s who’s been teaching Momoko how to use a sword and fight since she was little. With all this, one would expect that Momoko’s life is going to be an unusual one. So when an army of evil Oni starts rampaging through feudal Japan and a team of Heavenly-sent Celestial Goddesses arrives to stop them, is it any surprise that Momoko finds herself being recruited for an epic quest? Well, it is for Momoko, but for a champion of the Gods, she’s a bit slow on the uptake. When it comes to fighting, she’s peachy-keen and if there’s one thing that’s certain, it’s that the bad guys are about to get totally creamed.

Naruto Shippuden Set 25 DVD
VIZ Media – Sub and Dub – MSRP: $44.82

The great ninja war continues in Set 25 of Naruto Shippuden.

One Piece Season 7 Voyage 5 DVD
FUNimation Entertainment – Sub and Dub – MSRP: $39.98

The Burning Hot Hell of Impel Down serves as the backdrop for a showdown with Warden Magellan, a monster with a penchant for poisoning prisoners. Luffy throws down with the toxic terror, but no warrior escapes unscathed when pummeling a foe too poisonous to touch. After the rubber-man succumbs to the toxins breaking down his body, Bon Clay braves subzero temperatures and bloodthirsty wolves to track down a miracle worker rumored to have vanished into the gates of hell. Enter Emporio Ivankov. This larger-than-life personality has the Healing Hormones needed to save Luffy, but the cure could take ten years off the pirate’s life. Consequences be damned, Luffy and Bon Clay take the ultimate leap of faith as they hurtle toward a reunion with Crocodile – and a prison riot that could spring them from the clink and speed them on the way to saving Ace.

Re:_Hamatora Complete Collection DVD | Blu-ray
Sentai Filmworks – Sub and Dub – MSRP: $59.98 | $69.98

Having the incredible powers that come with being a Minimum Holder can be a huge advantage to a private detective firm like Hamatora, but how can anyone stop someone who can both come back from the dead and steal your powers at the same time? That’s the problem that now confronts Murasaki and Hajime, and it’s made even more vexing by the fact that the team’s founder, Nice, may be dead as well. But while it may or may not have been Nice, Art is definitely killing himself for more than just Art’s sake and his goal seems to be to gather as many stolen powers as he can in order to rival Nice’s ability. However, the strength of a power isn’t all that matters, and a lesser ability can triumph over a greater one if used correctly.

Tamako Market Complete Collection Blu-ray
Sentai Filmworks – Sub and Dub – MSRP: $69.98

Tamako knows all about mochi, the traditional Japanese dessert treat. When she’s not attending school, she even invents new flavors and varieties for her family’s mochi shop. Growing up, on the other hand, is something that she’s still trying to find the right recipe for. With the help of her best friends Kanna and Midori, Tamako’s determined to make the best of things, but it’s complicated. Especially when it comes to her relationship with her best boy friend Mochizo, whose family runs a rival mochi shop. And lately, Midori’s been feeling a little odd about her feelings towards Tamako as well. And what’s with up with that strange bird fluttering around, the one that speaks fluent Japanese? It’s all very overwhelming, but at least there’s one thing Tamako can count on: whether her day’s been good or bad, there’ll always be something wonderful at the end of every adventure when she takes a walk through Tamako Market.

Wicked City Remastered Special Edition DVD
Eastern Star – Sub and Dub – MSRP: $24.95

It’s not unusual for lady-killer Renzaburo Taki to share a night with a woman. When that woman can turn into a demonic spider, however, it’s just a little worrying. The demons are on the move, and as a member of the Black Guard, Taki’s job–his “real” job–is to protect the human world from the demon world. And his work is just beginning. A fragile peace exists between the two worlds, brokered by a treaty. In order for the renewal of that treaty to go smoothly, Taki has to protect Giuseppi Mayart, a 200-year-old man with immense spiritual power, from an extremist faction of demons seeking to bring chaos to the two worlds. Worst of all, Taki’s assigned a partner for the mission: the unnaturally beautiful Makie, a fellow Black Guard member and herself a demon. The two will have to go all out to protect the old man, as not only are the demons going to extreme lengths to kill him, but Mayart seems oddly unconcerned for his own safety. Is there more going on than Taki and Makie relalize?