Aniplex launched a press release this morning announceing that the Gurren Lagann films--
Gurren Lagann the Movie -Childhood's End- and
Gurren Lagann the Movie -The Lights in the Sky are Stars- --will both be available on DVD in the US and Canada this July (30th, to be exact). But they aren't coming from Bandai...exactly. Aniplex of America, Inc. is releasing the films officially, although they will be available at Bandai Entertainment's online store and ONLY there.
Additionally, the films will not be dubbed into English, but there will be a Limited Edition version and a regular version of each movie. The LE versions will include the Gurren Lagann Parallel Works collection-- the first set --split into two parts; Childhood's End will include the first four videos and Lights in the Sky will include the remaining four.
Each film also comes with a 32-page booklet, a postcard from the Japanese special edition DVD, and a copy of the movie program book that was sold at movie theaters in Japan. You can preorder either version of the movies at a discount at
Bandai's site right now, if you'd like. (Oh, and the official
Gurren Lagann the Movie website updated as well.)
So, bad news for fans of the Gurren Lagann dub, but hey, better something than nothing. And hey, ADV went back and dubbed some titles later-- maybe Bandai/Aniplex could do the same.
ANIPLEX of AMERICA INC. LAUNCHES “GURREN LAGANN THE MOVIE” IN NORTH AMERICA; EXCLUSIVELY AVAILABLE AT BANDAI ENTERTAINMENT E-COMMERCE STORE
SANTA MONICA, CA (April 16, 2010) – Aniplex of America Inc. will release a long waited Gurren Lagann the Movie –Childhood's End- (on July 1, 2010), and GURREN LAGANN the MOVIE –The Lights in the Sky Are Stars- (on July 30, 2010) DVDs in the United States and Canada! The DVDs will be exclusively available at Bandai Entertainment - THE STORE which can be found at http://store.bandai-ent.com.
There will be two SKUs per movie: A Limited Edition and a regular version; both featuring 5.1 Japanese audio with English subtitles.
The Limited Edition includes:
Feature disc: Japanese 5.1 audio with English subtitles
Bonus disc: 4 video segments from Gurren Lagann Parallel Works music video on each Limited Edition sku
A deluxe 32-page recreation of the Movie Program Book that was sold at theaters in Japan
Original postcards that were included in Japanese Special Edition DVD
LE list price is $49.98 and the regular version is $29.98, however if you pre-order now using the Early Bird Special Discount the LE is $39.98 and the regular version is $23.98, but this offer expires on May 13 (for movie 1 versions) and June 11 (for movie 2 versions). After that LE and regular versions will be available for $42.98 and $25.48 respectively, so hurry to http://store.bandai-ent.com and take advantage of the savings before the July release dates!
For detailed information, check out GURREN LAGANN the MOVIE home page at www.gurrenlagannthemovieusa.com
Aniplex Inc. homepage (Japanese)
www.aniplex.co.jp
ABOUT THE MOVIE
The 2-part movie is based on the hit Japanese anime TV series “Gurren Lagann”. The movies were theatrically released in Japan in 2008 and 2009. They were directed by Hiroyuki Imaishi, written by Kazuki Nakashima, Animation production by renowned studio GAINAX (Neon Genesis Evangelion and FLCL) and shares the creative staff from the franchise TV series.
MOVIE SYNOPSIS
GURREN LAGANN the MOVIE –Childhood's End- (112 min.)
This is the story of a man who has yet to realize what destiny holds in store for him….
Far in the future, human live underground quietly and restlessly for hundreds of years, suffering from frequent earthquake and land subsidence. In Giha Village, one of such underground communities, there are two young men. One is called Simon who is shy and naïve, the other is called Kamina who believes in existence of a “surface” world above their heads. Destiny of the two starts moving drastically when the ceiling falls, and a gigantic “Gunmen” and a beautiful girl Yoko with a superconductive rifle come from the surface. Kamina, Simon and Yoko get on “Lagann” that Simon digs out from the ground, and jump out to the surface!
However, the surface is not such a dreamland as Kamina imagined. The world is reined by the Spiral King and his army beastmen. Kamina and Simon, along with their comrades challenge the Spiral King to change the desperate world to the one with hope for the future by GURREN LAGANN!
GURREN LAGANN the MOVIE –The Lights in the Sky are Stars- (126 min.)
Valiantly persevering through the traumatic aftermath of Kamina's death, Team Dai-Gurren collectively destroys the Four Generals and finally reaches Teppelin, the royal capital, where Simon wins a fierce battle against the Spiral King, Lordgenome. An oppressed surface world is at last liberated, however this hard-fought victory inadvertently sets into motion the advent of a far greater menace that is yet to come.
Seven years have passed after the battle of Teppelin…
Humans have since reclaimed the surface of the earth and rebuilt civilization. Under Simon's leadership, they enjoy an unprecedented period of peace and prosperity. However, humanity's increasing population growth triggers the sudden emergence of an unknown, powerful enemy.
The fearsome, manipulative power of the mysterious Anti-Spiral proves too overwhelming for humans to even fight back. When everyone becomes desperate and loses hope, Team Dai-Gurren members reunite to stand up once again. The last high-stakes battle for Simon and his team is about to begin…can Gurren Lagann pierce the heavens one last time to save mankind?
ABOUT “GURREN LAGANN PARALLEL WORKS”
Creators of Gurren Lagann TV series and Taku Iwasaki, a composer of soundtrack, together created kick-ass animation to a music video! Each creator approached multi-dimensional world of Gurren Lagann with own imagination and inspiration from music! This is an ultimate alternative world of Gurren Lagann!!
About ANIPLEX of AMERICA INC.
Aniplex of America Inc. (Santa Monica, California) is a subsidiary of Aniplex Inc. (headquartered in Tokyo, Japan), a group of Sony Music Entertainment and leading provider of anime content and music production and distribution in Japan. Aniplex Inc. has introduced a variety of properties including such hits as “Gurren Lagann,” “Fullmetal Alchemist,” “Kuroshitsuji (Black Butler)”, “Rurouni Kenshin (Samurai X),” “R.O.D –THE TV-,” “Blood+,” all of which are licensed and distributed worldwide. In 2005, the company established A-1 Pictures, currently the largest and most technically advanced animation studio in Japan.
About Bandai Entertainment Inc.
Bandai Entertainment Inc. is a subsidiary of Namco Bandai Holdings (USA) Inc. and the premier distributor of Japanese animation on DVD and programming for television broadcast in North America. Titles include Gurren Lagaan, Code Geass Lelouch of Rebellion, The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya, Cowboy Bebop, Outlaw Star, Escaflowne, Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex, Gundam Seed Destiny, My Hime, and many more.
Some of you industry otaku may be wondering if this means that Aniplex of America is going to start releasing more of their own stuff-- that may be. I would have guessed that this was more a response to lower sales of the TTGL TV series than expected and perhaps Bandai's unwillingness to dub, but ANN has an
interview with Aniplex exec Hideki Goto, who says that Aniplex is planning to bring their close relationship with anime creators to the fans in the future.
I need to buy expecially since if I miss it for this cheap I may not have the opetrunity again. stupid mcdonalds salary stupid needing a car.
I need to stop being poor and get this but it's roughly 80 bucks for both LE movies...sigh. I might hold off and see if they'll do a re-release before I can justify buying the movies.
Same here man the subs are good and all but the dub at least to me has that special touch that the subs simply don't have.
already sent away for them and lucky star buying $100 worth of stuff including the LEs gets free shipping.
I won't be buying any of these dvds right now. I like to have choices on my anime dvds. And how do I know that Aniplex won't have a print problem, like Bandai did with vol 2 (sub-only)? XD