News

Live-Action Black Butler, Michiko and Hatchin, Fairy Tale Released Monday

On Monday February 23, Warner Home Video will release the live-action Black Butler film in a Blu-ray Steelbook edition (pictured) and a standard DVD.

The film stars Hiro Mizushima (Zettai Kareshi - Kanzen Muketsu no Koibito Robot) as Sebastian, a demonic "super butler" with impeccable knowledge, manners, grace, cooking skills, martial arts, looks, and more. Ayame Gōriki plays Sebastian's master Shiori. Like the master Ciel in the original manga, Shiori has a seal in her right eye as a symbol of her contract with Sebastian. Sebastian watches over and protects Shiori, but at a price — he consumes her soul.

While the original manga is set in 19th century England, this new film is set in 2020 in an Asian city. Shiori dons male clothes to lead the massive Phantom Corporation. She works as an intelligence operative (nicknamed The Queen’s Watchdog) for the Queen of the Western nations, who tasks Shiori to solve a "serial mummified murder case."

MVM will release the second half of Michiko and Hatchin. The series tells the story of sexy criminal Michiko (Yōko Maki) and abused girl Hana "Hatchin" Morenos (Suzuka Ohgo). The two team up to cross the lawless frontier, searching for a man from their pasts while eluding the police and Hatchin's foster parents.

Manga Entertainment will release "Collection 9" of Fairy Tale. It collects episodes 97 to 108 of the series, and is summarised on the Anime-on-line site as follows:

The most powerful wizards in Fairy Tail travel to a remote island rich in magic - and history. There, they compete against one another to see who among them deserves to be given the title of "S-Class." But where these wizards go, chaos is sure to follow. Their trials are interrupted when the most powerful of the dark guilds - Grimoire Heart - shows up in search of a legendary wielder of black magic. Once they find him, they'll use his skills to bring death to every corner of the world.

As magic forces converge on the island, one of Fairy Tail's former masters makes an unexpected appearance. If the guild is going to stop Grimoire Heart's devious plans, they'll first have to face their own past.