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The Rising of the Shield Hero and One Piece: Stampede Released Monday
posted on by Andrew Osmond
On Monday June 22, Manga Entertainment will release Season One Part One of The Rising of The Shield Hero as a Collector's Blu-ray/DVD, a standard Blu-ray and a standard DVD. The Limited Edition includes a booklet, art cards and other extras. Manga summarises the story:
"Geeky university student Naofumi Iwatani goes from 2nd class citizen to 2nd class hero when he s summoned to the videogame-like kingdom of Melromarc. Known as the weakest of four heroes, the Shield Hero, he s tasked with defending the world from calamity. But when Naofumi ends up betrayed and belittled from the start, will this cynic even be willing to help?"
Takao Abo (Norn9) directed the anime at Kinema Citrus. Keigo Koyanagi (Regalia: The Three Sacred Stars) was in charge of series composition. Masahiro Suwa (Chaika the Coffin Princess animation director) adapted Minami Seira's original character designs for animation. Crunchyroll co-produced the show with Kadokawa.
Manga is also releasing the feature film One Piece Stampede as Blu-ray/DVD Steelbook, a standard Blu-ray and a standard DVD. The film marked the 20th anniversary of the anime inspired by Eiichiro Oda's One Piece pirate manga. Funimation described the story:
"Monkey D. Luffy and his Straw Hat pirate crew are invited to a massive Pirate Festival that brings many of the most iconic characters from throughout the franchise to participate in competition with the Straw Hats to find Roger's treasure. It also pits the Straw Hats against a new enemy named Bullet, a former member of Roger's crew."
Manga's third new release this week is Heroic Age, the 26-part series made in 2007 by the Xebec studio. It will be released on Blu-ray and DVD. Tow Ubukata (Fafner, Le Chevalier D'Eon, Mardock Scramble) created this science-fiction story about the struggle of the Iron Tribe — humanity — against the technologically advanced Silver Tribe that has ruled space ever since the ancient Gold Tribe disappeared. A man named Age and princess named Deianeira are the answers to Gold Tribe's prophecies that bind all the races.
Manga's fourth release is Demon Lord, Retry! on Blu-ray. Manga describes the story:
"Akira Oono is an ordinary working adult who manages the MMORPG Infinity Game. Fifteen years after creating the game, Oono decides to shut the servers down once and for all. However, as the clock strikes midnight, he somehow finds himself in the body of middle-aged Hakuto Kunai, Infinity Game's Demon Lord!
"Soon after his mysterious transportation, he witnesses the demon Greole chasing after a little girl named Aku. Although he effortlessly dispatches the creature, Hakuto is still concerned; after all, he does not remember creating the girl or the demon! Doubting whether he truly is in the world of his creation, Hakuto decides to investigate. Bringing Aku along as his guide and companion, Hakuto sets out on a journey to find out exactly who or what summoned him to this fantasy world—all while leaving chaos and destruction in his wake?"
Hiroshi Kimura (Haitai Nanafa both seasons, The Irresponsible Galaxy Tylor, Danchigai) directed the series at EKACHI EPILKA (Crossing Time). Novelist and scriptwriter Ōka Tanisaki oversaw the series scripts, and Chiyo Nakayama (key animator for Robotics;Notes, Kuroko's Basketball all three seasons) adapted Makoto Iino's original character designs for animation.
