Three Movies Edited From the Original Series, Plus a Brand-New English Language Track Source: Shout! Factory press release Special Thanks to Tom Chen
DVD cover art for GAIKING: THE MOVIE COLLECTION. Image courtesy of Shout! Factory. © Toei Animation.Back in 2011, SciFi Japan reported that Toei Animation had contracted Winckler-Oya Inc. to produce 23 English dubbed feature films from the studio`s classic anime television series like CAPTAIN HARLOCK (??????????????, Uchuu Kaizoku Kyaputen Haarokku, 1978-79), PLANET ROBOT DANGUARD ACE (???? ?????A(???), Wakusei Robo Dangado Eesu, 1977-78) and FIST OF THE NORTH STAR (????, Hokuto no Ken, 1984-87). The goal of THE TOEI CLASSIC ANIME MOVIE COLLECTION was for Toei to directly offer ready-made English language versions to distributors and mainstream audiences in the United States for television, streaming and home video. Shout! Factory has licensed some of the TOEI CLASSIC ANIME MOVIE titles and announced that their first release will be GAIKING: THE MOVIE COLLECTION, featuring three movies -- imaginatively titled GAIKING I, GAIKING II and GAIKING III -- adapted from the 1976-77 anime series DINO MECH GAIKING (?????????, Daikuu Maryuu Gaikingu). The 2-DVD set will be available from retailers on May 21st. An iconic classic from the golden age of Japanese animation, Gaiking the transforming super robot is back in a trio of feature-length adventures loaded with high-impact action and mind-expanding science fiction! Far off in outer space, the planet Zela is doomed by an approaching black hole, which forces the diabolical Great Emperor to set his sights on a suitable world to colonize for his people... Earth! But before the invasion can begin, the Emperor and his four generals scheme to eliminate the troublesome human race by raiding our planet with giant robot monsters! As one of only a handful of Earthlings with psychic powers, Sanshiro Tsuwabuki is destined to pilot Gaiking, a giant robot that might be Earth’s only hope against the monstrous steel hordes of the Great Emperor. Recruited to join an elite team of pilots who control an incredible arsenal of high-tech weapons and mecha, including a massive carrier known as the Space Dragon, Tsuwabuki and Gaiking must square off against a giant robot tarantula, Zelan mind control, deadly hallucinations, nuclear war and more evil, mechanical monstrosities! The battle for the fate of two worlds begins! Fans and collectors can pre-order this collection now at ShoutFactory.com or Amazon.com. Technical Information Street Date: May 21, 2013 SRP: $19.93 Number of Discs: 2 Region: 1 Running Time: 326 Minutes (+/- 5½ Hours) Audio: English 2.0 Subtitles: English
About Shout! Factory
Shout! Factory is a diversified entertainment company devoted to producing, uncovering and revitalizing the very best of pop culture. Founders Richard Foos, Bob Emmer and Garson Foos have spent their careers sharing their music, television and film faves with discerning consumers the world over. Shout! Factory’s DVD offerings serve up classic, contemporary and cult TV series, riveting sports programs, live music, animation and documentaries in lavish packages crammed with extras. The company’s audio catalogue boasts GRAMMY-nominated box sets, new releases from storied artists, lovingly assembled album reissues and indispensable “best of” compilations. These riches are the result of a creative acquisitions mandate that has established the company as a hotbed of cultural preservation and commercial reinvention. Shout! Factory is based in Santa Monica, California. For more on Shout! Factory, visit shoutfactory.com.
For more information on THE TOEI CLASSIC ANIME MOVIE COLLECTION, please see the earlier coverage here on SciFi Japan: