ACF 1807: Section23 Films announces April 2013 slate of releases

TOKYO MAGNITUDE 8.0 Available on April 2nd

Home video distributor Section23 Films has announced its April slate of releases, including Tokyo Magnitude 8.0, Maiden Japan’s newest acquisition, which will be available on both DVD and Blu-Ray.

Product details, in order of release:

Title:                 TOKYO MAGNITUDE 8.0 COMPLETE COLLECTION

Published by:    Maiden Japan

Distributed by:  Section23 Films

Run Time:         325 min.

Street Date:      4/2/2013

Format:             DVD

Language:         English & Japanese with English Subtitles

SRP:                $59.98

SYNOPSIS:  The devastation is unleashed in the span of seconds.  Yielding to centuries of unrelenting pressure, an ancient rift in the Earth gives way and a force equivalent to over a thousand atomic bombs erupts beneath the feet of the citizens of the world's largest mega-cities!  For the people of the greater Tokyo area, the results are catastrophic as even "earthquake-proof" buildings sway like weeds in the wind, gas mains rip open in gouts of flame and huge sections of the city's vital infrastructure are torn into shreds.  For sister and brother Mirai and Yuki who were caught in the earthquake while in Odaiba during summer holiday, it's the start of a desperate journey back to their parent's home in Setagaya.  For motorcycle courier Mari, it means an equally frantic battle towards Sangenjaya and her own daughter and mother.  Joining together in an epic odyssey through the mangled streets, these three must brave impossible obstacles and endure unspeakable hardships and heartbreak, with no way of knowing if their loved ones are even still alive.  But they've no other choice!  In the aftermath of nature's fury, only the strongest of will and most courageous of heart can hope to survive in TOKYO MAGNITUDE 8.0!

Title:                 TOKYO MAGNITUDE 8.0 COMPLETE COLLECTION BLU-RAY

Published by:    Maiden Japan

Distributed by:  Section23 Films

Run Time:         325 min.

Street Date:      4/2/2013

Format:             BD

Language:         English & Japanese with English Subtitles

SRP:                $69.98

SYNOPSIS:  The devastation is unleashed in the span of seconds.  Yielding to centuries of unrelenting pressure, an ancient rift in the Earth gives way and a force equivalent to over a thousand atomic bombs erupts beneath the feet of the citizens of the world's largest mega-cities!  For the people of the greater Tokyo area, the results are catastrophic as even "earthquake-proof" buildings sway like weeds in the wind, gas mains rip open in gouts of flame and huge sections of the city's vital infrastructure are torn into shreds.  For sister and brother Mirai and Yuki who were caught in the earthquake while in Odaiba during summer holiday, it's the start of a desperate journey back to their parent's home in Setagaya.  For motorcycle courier Mari, it means an equally frantic battle towards Sangenjaya and her own daughter and mother.  Joining together in an epic odyssey through the mangled streets, these three must brave impossible obstacles and endure unspeakable hardships and heartbreak, with no way of knowing if their loved ones are even still alive.  But they've no other choice!  In the aftermath of nature's fury, only the strongest of will and most courageous of heart can hope to survive in TOKYO MAGNITUDE 8.0!

Title:                 INU X BOKU SS COMPLETE COLLECTION

Published by:    Sentai Filmworks

Distributed by:  Section23 Films

Run Time:         300 min.

Street Date:      4/9/2013

Format:             DVD

Language:         English & Japanese with English Subtitles

SRP:                $59.98

SYNOPSIS:  Ayakashi Kan: a mysterious condominium, widely believed to be haunted, where every resident is required to have a personal bodyguard, or Secret Service agent.  When the socially inept Ririchiyo moves in, all she's looking for is a little peace and quiet and some practice at inter-personal communications.  However, she quickly discovers that her bodyguard Soushi might not just be foxy; he might actually BE a fox - a fox spirit that is.  In fact, all of Ayakashi Kan's residents, and their agents, are more than they seem at first glance: each and every one of them has both human and non-human ancestors.  But that's okay, because Ririchiyo does too!  Welcome to the weirdest, wackiest mansion in town where no one is entirely human and mayhem is the order of the day, in INU X BOKU SS!

Title                  INU X BOKU SS COMPLETE COLLECTION BLU-RAY

Published by:    Sentai Filmworks

Distributed by:  Section23 Films

Run Time:         300 min.

Street Date:      4/9/2013

Format:             BD

Language:         English & Japanese with English Subtitles

SRP:                $69.98

SYNOPSIS:  Ayakashi Kan: a mysterious condominium, widely believed to be haunted, where every resident is required to have a personal bodyguard, or Secret Service agent.  When the socially inept Ririchiyo moves in, all she's looking for is a little peace and quiet and some practice at inter-personal communications.  However, she quickly discovers that her bodyguard Soushi might not just be foxy; he might actually BE a fox - a fox spirit that is.  In fact, all of Ayakashi Kan's residents, and their agents, are more than they seem at first glance: each and every one of them has both human and non-human ancestors.  But that's okay, because Ririchiyo does too!  Welcome to the weirdest, wackiest mansion in town where no one is entirely human and mayhem is the order of the day, in INU X BOKU SS!

Title:                 LETTER BEE SEASON 2 COLLECTION 1

Published by:    Sentai Filmworks

Distributed by:  Section23 Films

Run Time:         325 min.

Street Date:      4/9/2013

Format:             DVD

Language:         Japanese with English Subtitles

SRP:                $49.98

SYNOPSIS: After Niche carries the wounded and stunned Lag back to the Bee Hive, the Letter Bee finally begins to piece the puzzle together.  Now he knows what's happened to Gauche, why the Marauders are so focused on stealing mail and the actual intent of the group controlling both, Reverse.  However, when he's forbidden to reveal the truth, Lag is soon forced out of the artificial sunlight and back into the world of perpetual night.  And soon Reverse's plot to take down the Letter Bees and overthrow the Amberground government begins to accelerate.  If things weren't already bad enough, the giant insect creatures called gaichuu are apparently evolving into something new; there may be traitors working within the Hive; and Niche's sister, who's definitely not human friendly, shows up to turn family drama into a full-scale siege!  It all spells serious trouble for the Letter Bees, but if anyone can weather the storms and gloom of night, Lag and his team are the ones who'll deliver.  The excitement continues as the man of letters who's also the ultimate man of action carries on fighting in TEGAMI BACHI: LETTER BEE REVERSE Collection 1!

Title:                 HIIRO NO KAKERA SEASON 1

Published by:    Sentai Filmworks

Distributed by:  Section23 Films

Run Time:         325 min.

Street Date:      4/16/2013

Format:              DVD

Language:         English & Japanese with English Subtitles

SRP:                $59.98

SYNOPSIS: Every girl dreams of being an enchanted princess, but how many stop to think about all the grim and horrible things that happen in fairy tales?  That's a lesson Tamaki learns all too graphically when she's attacked on the way to her grandmother's house by creatures she thought only existed in myths!  Fortunately, she's rescued by an extraordinary young man: one who's not only part demon; but her future classmate as well, and one of the protectors that Tamaki will need if she's going to fulfill her destiny as a Tamayori princess.  A destiny that no one's bothered to tell her she's inherited until now!  And if it wasn't bad enough to learn that every plan she's had for the future has to change, to top it all off, Tamaki still has to start attending a new high school as well!  The new girl in school will have to learn how to deal with some very, very old school-type problems in a hurry in Hiiro no Kakera ~ The Tamayori Princess Saga.

Title:                 HIIRO NO KAKERA SEASON 1 BLU-RAY

Published by:    Sentai Filmworks

Distributed by:  Section23 Films

Run Time:         325 min.

Street Date:      4/16/2013

Format:             BD

Language:         English & Japanese with English Subtitles

SRP:                $69.98

SYNOPSIS: Every girl dreams of being an enchanted princess, but how many stop to think about all the grim and horrible things that happen in fairy tales?  That's a lesson Tamaki learns all too graphically when she's attacked on the way to her grandmother's house by creatures she thought only existed in myths!  Fortunately, she's rescued by an extraordinary young man: one who's not only part demon; but her future classmate as well, and one of the protectors that Tamaki will need if she's going to fulfill her destiny as a Tamayori princess.  A destiny that no one's bothered to tell her she's inherited until now!  And if it wasn't bad enough to learn that every plan she's had for the future has to change, to top it all off, Tamaki still has to start attending a new high school as well!  The new girl in school will have to learn how to deal with some very, very old school-type problems in a hurry in Hiiro no Kakera ~ The Tamayori Princess Saga.

Title:                 PLACE TO PLACE COMPLETE COLLECTION

Published by:    Sentai Filmworks

Distributed by:  Section23 Films

Run Time:         325 min.

Street Date:      4/16/2013

Format:             DVD

Language:         Japanese with English Subtitles

SRP:                $49.98

SYNOPSIS: Everyone has a circle of friends they hang out with.  But even within a small group there are smaller groups of friends, best friends and, here's where it gets complicated, boyfriends and girlfriends.  Sometimes relationships just develop in a way where you're not exactly sure what you are to the other person.  Which is the problem Tsukimi has when it comes to Io.  Io's as tall and easygoing as Tsukimi is short in both temper and stature, but he also seems to be totally clueless about how she's starting to feel.  Yet, at times, he's almost too affectionate.  It's just confusing and irritating.  And their prankster friends Mayoi and Sakai aren't much help.  Especially Mayoi, as it gives her one more thing to tease Tsukimi over.  Hime, the fifth member of their usual gang of five isn't much better, because she's not really well connected to reality anyway.  Which leaves Tsukimi stuck in a quandary.  Are she and Io just best friends?  And is it worth risking that for what Tsukimi wants?  It's a puzzle she'll have to solve as they live from one moment to the next in PLACE TO PLACE.

Title:                 HAKUOKI OVA COLLECTION

Published by:    Sentai Filmworks

Distributed by:  Section23 Films

Run Time:         150 min.

Street Date:      4/23/2013

Format:             DVD

Language:         English & Japanese with English Subtitles

SRP:                $29.98

SYNOPSIS: A geisha should posses all of these and more.  The coming war grows more imminent with each passing moment and Kyoto is filled with turbulence as the various factions vie for power.  And when rumors reach the Shinsengumi that a group of rogue warriors intend to attack their headquarters, they must investigate the situation or risk perishing before they've even begun to fight.  The only safe meeting place seems to be the Sumi Inn inside the red light district of Shimabara.  So, it is up to Chizuru to disguise herself as a geisha and infiltrate the inn.  But life as a geisha can be filled with hazards of many kinds, especially for one as beautiful as Chizuru.  Does Chizuru have what it takes to be a convincing geisha?  Can the Shinsengumi protect her and keep her from harm's way without blowing her cover?  Discover the answers in Hakuoki: A Memory of Snow Flowers!

Title:                 PSYCHIC DETECTIVE YAKUMO COMPLETE COLLECTION

Published by:    Sentai Filmworks

Distributed by:  Section23 Films

Run Time:         325 min.

Street Date:      4/23/2013

Format:             DVD

Language:         Japanese with English Subtitles

SRP:                $49.98

SYNOPSIS: Haruka Ozawa’s sophomore year is getting seriously scary.  One of her friends is possessed, another has committed suicide and Haruka could be the next one to flunk the still-breathing test.  So, what’s her only way out of this potentially lethal dead end?  Yakumo Saito, an enigmatic student born with a mysterious red eye that allows him to see and communicate with the dead.  But the deceased don’t always desist and some killers are more than ready to kill again to keep dead men from telling any more tales.  That doesn’t stop Haruka’s knack for digging up buried secrets, and there’s even more evidence of bodies being exhumed by both Yakumo’s police contact and an investigative journalist with a newly made corpse in her closet!  Can this pair of anything but normal paranormal detectives solve the ultimate dead case files or will they end up in cold storage themselves?  If the spirits are willing, they may just have a few ghosts of a chance in PSYCHIC DETECTIVE YAKUMO!

Title:                 PATLABOR OVA

Published by:    Maiden Japan

Distributed by:  Section23 Films

Run Time:         210 min.

Street Date:      4/30/2013

Format:             DVD

Language:         English & Japanese with English Subtitles

SRP:                $29.98

SYNOPSIS: Drunk drivers are bad, but put a drunk driver in a giant robot called a Labor and you've got a disaster waiting to happen.  And when REAL criminals get their hands on those same giant robots, the cops need giant robots of their own just to maintain the status quo, right?  Well, that's the logic behind the development of the Patlabor program and special Labor Crime units like Japan's Section 2 in any case.  But what logic fails to take into account is where to find police officers who're equally conversant with both robots and the regulations?  And THAT's where the motley crew of Section 2, Division 2 comes in!  With ridiculously perky tomboy Noa Izumi and gun-happy madman Isao Ohta as primary Labor pilots and the impossibly laid back Captain Goto in what passes for command, SV2 is ready to hit the streets with their twenty ton feet!  But will they be taking a byte out of crime or have they bitten off more than they can chew?  The law of the land and the laws of robotics are about to collide in the first Earth shattering collection of MOBILE POLICE PATLABOR!

Title:                 PATLABOR OVA BLU-RAY

Published by:    Maiden Japan

Distributed by:  Section23 Films

Run Time:         210 min.

Street Date:      4/30/2013

Format:             BD

Language:         English & Japanese with English Subtitles

SRP:                $39.98

SYNOPSIS: Drunk drivers are bad, but put a drunk driver in a giant robot called a Labor and you've got a disaster waiting to happen.  And when REAL criminals get their hands on those same giant robots, the cops need giant robots of their own just to maintain the status quo, right?  Well, that's the logic behind the development of the Patlabor program and special Labor Crime units like Japan's Section 2 in any case.  But what logic fails to take into account is where to find police officers who're equally conversant with both robots and the regulations?  And THAT's where the motley crew of Section 2, Division 2 comes in!  With ridiculously perky tomboy Noa Izumi and gun-happy madman Isao Ohta as primary Labor pilots and the impossibly laid back Captain Goto in what passes for command, SV2 is ready to hit the streets with their twenty ton feet!  But will they be taking a byte out of crime or have they bitten off more than they can chew?  The law of the land and the laws of robotics are about to collide in the first Earth shattering collection of MOBILE POLICE PATLABOR!

Title:                 QWASER OF STIGMATA II COMPLETE

Published by:    Sentai Filmworks

Distributed by:  Section23 Films

Run Time:         325 min.

Street Date:      4/30/2013

Format:             DVD

Language:         Japanese with English Subtitles

SRP:                $49.98

SYNOPSIS: No sooner has the matter of the Sword of Maria been resolved when word comes of a NEW ancient artifact: the Magdalene of Thunder!  Given that finding it requires "sampling" the soma of girls who may have been in proximity to the artifact, Alexander "Sasha" Nikolaevich's extensive hands on experience makes him a natural choice to do the necessary research.  There's just one small catch: the Magdalene's hidden within the cloisters of the all-girl Seirei Academy, which means that Sasha will be checking in as "Alexandra!"  And with covering the large tracts of land the search will encompass will keeping Sasha's hands full, racking up a victory is no sure thing.  Not to mention there's also another transfer student checking out the girls and the Seirei Academy has a virtual fighting system that could level the playing field.  There will be plenty of soul-baring tête-à-têtes and hook ups on the balcony in addition to the usual full frontal assaults!  So get ready for double whammies and bombshells galore, as no sucker punches are pulled in QWASER OF STIGMATA II!