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Hanabee Announcements from Supanova Gold Coast 2014
posted on by Jon Hayward
The following announcements were made by Zi Xie, Hanabee's Content and Promotions Manager during the Hanabee Panel held at Supanova Pop Culture Expo Gold Coast on the 5th of April 2014;
Beyond the Boundary
In this dark fantasy, high school student Akihito Kanbara tries to save his fellow school-mate, Mirai Kuriyama, from committing suicide and Mirai responds by stabbing Akihito with a sword created from her own blood. Mirai suddenly discovers that Akihito is actually half Yōmu, making him the offspring of a supernatural creature called a Yōmu and invunerable to wounds / possibly immortal. Mirai then reveals that she is a Spirit World Warrior, a specialist who protects humans from Yōmu that seek to cause humanity harm. And while her special power to manipulate blood makes her isolated among the supernatural underground, together with Akihito she starts to gain the confidence to kill Yōmu.
Kyōkai no Kanata started as a light novel by Nagomu Torii with illustrations by Tomoyo Kamoi. When the first volume received an honorable mention in the novel category of the Kyoto Animation Award program in 2011 the studio later released the first volume in 2012, the second in April 2013 and the third in October 2013.
- Risa Taneda as Mirai Kuriyama.
- KENN as Akihito Kanbara.
- Minori Chihara as Mitsuki Nase.
- Tatsuhisa Suzuki as Hirofumi Nase.
Taichi Ishidate (episodes of Clannad After Story, Hyōka, K-ON) directed the anime at Kyoto Animation and Jukki Hanada (Gakuen Alice, Chūnibyō demo Koi ga Shitai!, Steins;Gate) was in charge of the series scripts. Miku Kadowaki (The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya, K-ON! movie animation director) designed the characters.
Chihara was not only part of the voice cast, but she is also recorded the opening theme song, "Kyōkai no Kanata." Hikaru Nanase (Infinite Stratos, Zone of the Enders, Scrapped Princess, Polyphonica, Galaxy Angel) scored the music.
The series premiered on Asahi Broadcasting Corporation, Tokyo MX TV, and TV Aichistations on October 2nd 2013. The series was simulcast by Crunchyroll and licensed by Sentai Filmworks on the 12th of October 2013.
Apart from the fact that Hanabee will be releasing Beyond the Boundary, there is no further information until Supanova Pop Culture Expo Melbourne.
Supanova X Hanabee = Beyond the Boundary Maid Cafe
After having run the Hanabee Maid Cafe at Manifest for two years, Hanabee have decided to launch a Beyond the Boundary Maid Cafe at Supanova Expo Melbourne. Zi Xie, Hanabee's Content and Promotions Manager stated;
"When we got Beyond the Boundary I knew we had to do something big with this title. We've learnt a lot from running the Maid Café the past two years and we're so thrilled to bring the Maid Café experience to the Supanova Crowd!"
The cafe will again be staffed by maids and butlers from DokiDoki Station dressed in Beyond the Boundary themed outfits and run maid performances every half hour. La Petite Creperie will be providing the food with an extensive Japanese drinks list and themed crepes. If attendees would like a polaroid photo with the maids or butlers there will be options to do so.
The Hanabee Maid Cafe will be operating from 10am to 6pm on Saturday the 12th and Sunday the 13th of April. You can view the press-release here.
Toradora! English dub and Blu-ray release
Toradora! is a romantic comedy that follows Ryūji Takasu, a gentle second year high school student who is shunned by his peers because his face looks like a intimidating delinquent. Class arrangements put him alongside his best friend, Yusaku Kitamura, Ryūji's hidden crush, Minori Kushieda and Minori's best friend, Taiga Aisaka. Taiga is a tiny but ferocious girl who is shunned - even by her family - as the "Palmtop Tiger" but she is secretly in love with Kitamura. Because of this, Taiga agreeds to help Ryūji with his love interest if he helps her get closer to hers and their love-hate relationship begins.
Toradora! is based on the light-novel series of the same name by Yuyuko Takemiya with illustration and character design by Yasu. The anime is produced by J.C. Staff with director, Tatsuyuki Nagai (Honey and Clover II, Waiting in the Summer), character design by Masayoshi Tanaka (Highschool of the Dead, Joshiraku) and art direction by Chikako Shibata (Chobits, Azumanga Daioh, Bakuman.). Ryūji Takasu is voiced by Junji Majima (Ayumu Aikawa in Is This a Zombie?) and Taiga Aisaka is voiced by Rie Kugimiya (Happy in Fairy Tail, Alphonse Elric in Fullmetal Alchemist).
NIS America announced on the 12th of March 2014 that they will be re-releasing Toradora! with a dub on Blu-ray . If you would like to see for yourself what the new dub sounds NIS America uploaded a English trailer here. The voice cast is as follows;
- Cassandra Lee Morris as Taiga Aisaka (Ritsu Tainaka from K-On! and Kyubey from Puella Magi Madoka Magica).
- Erik Scott Kimerer as Ryuji Takasu.
- Christine Marie Cabanos as Minori Kushieda (Azusa Nakano from K-On!, Madoka Kaname from Puella Magi Madoka Magica).
- Johnny Yong Bosch as Yusaku Kitamura (Ichigo Kurosaki from Bleach and a list of roles too large to name).
- Erika Harlacher as Ami Kawashima (Haruka Uehara from Lagrange - The Flower of Rin-ne).
Yes, Toradora! was one of Hanabee's first acquisition announcements and it was released back in October 2012, quickly followed by a second volume and OVA pack and has since been released in a collected edition in September 2013.
Hanabee's dub release is currently scheduled for the 7th of July 2014 on Blu-ray and DVD with both new English dub and Japanese audio / subtitles. It is currently unknown if Hanabee will be releasing Toradora! dub along NIS America's release of a single premium edition or two standard boxes but packaging and release details are to be confirmed.
If you would like to view Hanabee's press release on the Toradora! dub please click here.
Anohana ~ The Flower We Saw That Day Blu-ray release
Six childhood friends drift apart after one of their number, Meiko "Menma" Honma dies in an accident. Ten years later the leader of the group, Jinta Yadomi, has withdrawn from society, neglecting high school and lives as a shut-in. However suddenly he starts to see a ghost of Meiko whom only he can see and interact with. Meiko wishes for Jinta to fufill her wish so she can pass onto the afterlife but cannot remember what that wish is. So Jinta pulls together their childhood friends once again to help Meiko move on and in turn find the resolution they require to move on as well.
Tatsuyuki Nagai (Toradora!, Toaru Kagaku no Railgun) directed off scripts by Mari Okada (Toradora!, Kuroshitsuji/Black Butler). Masayoshi Tanaka (Toradora!, Katekyo Hitman Reborn!) is designed the characters and the singer-songwriter REMEDIOS (Reimy) composed the music. The anime premiered on the 14th of April 2012 in Fuji TV's late-night Noitamina timeslot and ran for 11 episodes.
The DVD of Anohana was originally released on the 3rd of July 2013. The Blu-ray release is scheduled for the 4th of June 2014 and further details will be released soon.
