Japanese Film & Anime on DVD - Top 25 at JList

1. Kiki's Delivery Service 2-disc set (region 2)

Fri, 25 Jun 2010 07:41:07 -0400

Now available on DVD, this is the fabulously beautiful Kiki's Delivery Service (Japanese title "Majo no Takkyubin"), the excellent animated feature film by Miyazaki Hayao. A superb DVD release for collectors that is well worth the price, this 2-disc set includes the full Japanese version of the film, including both the English dubbed and subtitled versions, as well as the original Japanese trailer, comments from the director, and a complete storyboard version of the film, showing the...

2. Project DIVA Presents ~ Miku Hatsune 39's Giving Day (Blu-ray Disc)

Wed, 01 Sep 2010 13:50:28 -0400

Hatsune Miku, the virtual idol who has taken the music scene by storm, held her first live concert on March 9th 2010 to a packed house at Zepp Tokyo. A 3D avatar of the singer was displayed on a large screen on stage, backed by a band, shown in such a way that she could freely roam the stage and create the convincing illusion that she was actually performing - a one of a kind event that's commemorated here on gorgeous high definition Blu-ray. Miku is joined by fellow Vocaloids Rin, Len, and...

3. Nichijou 6 OAD (Limited Edition)

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 01:54:44 -0500

The limited edition of volume six of Arawi Keiichi's comedy manga Nichijou is here, and with it the first glimpse of the anticipated upcoming Kyoto Animation (Kyoani) anime adaptation! This special limited boxed set comes packed with a 25 minute DVD OAV (OAD) anime episode that contains the first fully voiced and original animated look at the zany adventures in the daily lives of the manga cast: Yuuko Aoi, Mio Naganohara, Mai Minakami, Nao Shinonome, and more. Will this be the next K-On or...

4. I am Maru

Fri, 28 Oct 2011 13:02:17 -0400

Maru, the cute cat from Japan who is perfectly adorable in every way, gained his popularity on YouTube with a video of him just being himself, but famously for his love of cardboard boxes and jumping into them. This DVD is region free, allowing for playback on DVD player in the world. There are a total of 19 different tracks each showing off Maru's unique personality and furry love. It's hard to describe the cuteness of Maru, so we'll let the video below show his cuteness for us. This one hour...

5. Ninokuni: The Queen of White Sacred Ash ~ PLAYSTATION 3

Fri, 06 Jan 2012 00:14:56 -0500

From the world-famous animators at Studio Ghibli (Spirited Away, Howl's Moving Castle) and game developer Level Five (Dark Cloud, Professor Layton) comes a highly-anticipated RPG adventure. You play as the boy Oliver, whose mother has died. A toy called Shizuku comes to life and tells him that if he journeys to the land of Ninokuni ("the second country") and defeats an evil sorcerer, he may be able to bring his mother back. Together, Oliver and Shizuku travel through a rich, Ghibli-conceived...

6. Omoide Poro Poro ~ Only Yesterday (region 2)

Tue, 18 Nov 2008 00:20:07 -0500

This brilliant film was directed by Isao Takahata, famous for his heart-wrenching war piece, Grave of the Fireflies. The story of Taeko Ohjima, a single woman living in Tokyo, working as an OL, who decides to take a small vacation to the countryside. Since she has no relatives of her own to visit, she calls upon her sister-in-law's relations to live the life of a farmer. Never could there be a greater dichotomy from the world that she has just left. It is in this simpler, yet nonetheless...

7. Raccoon Wars ~ Heisei Tanuki Gassen Pom Poko (region 2)

Fri, 12 Feb 2010 03:29:35 -0500

A great Studio Ghibli film available for the first time on DVD, this is Heisei Tanuki Gassen, or "Raccoon Wars" in English. When a clan of tanuki (a small dog in Asia similar to a Raccoon, called a Raccoon Dog) is threatened with the destruction of their home and possible extinction, they fight back using everything from magic to their wits to stop the humans from invading. But how does a small group of mammals stop bulldozers or construction men many more times their size? It's a...

8. Ocean Waves ~ Umi ga Kikoeru (region 2)

Wed, 16 May 2007 12:23:01 -0400

A wonderful story from Japanese novelist Saeko Himuro and Hayao Miyazaki's Studio Ghibli, this is the painful story of growing up in a rural high school in Kochi Prefecture, on the Japanese island of Shikoku. In the summer of his 17th year, Taku Morisaki is making preparations for college when Rikako Muto transfers into his class. A mysterious and sometimes difficult city girl who has trouble getting along with others in the school, Rikako nevertheless slowly captures the interest of Taku. A...

9. Princess Mononoke *Deluxe 3 DVD release (region 2)

Sun, 10 Jun 2007 17:06:38 -0400

Princess Mononoke (Mononoke Hime) was an incredible success in Japan, making more money than any movie released here before it. A wonderful tale of the conflict between man and nature, it's told in masterful style by master Japanese animator Hayao Miyazaki. This very special Japanese release features *3 DVDs* that are just loaded with extras. In addition to the full Japanese version, you get 8 different language versions -- English, French, Cantonese, Italian, Spanish, German, and Portuguese...

10. My Neighbor Totoro ~ Tonari no Totoro (region 2)

Fri, 11 Dec 2009 13:02:29 -0500

Enjoy one of Hayao Miyazaki's best-loved works, with the excellent 2-disc release of My Neighbor Totoro. A wonderful film about a magical discovery of two girls, Totoro is filled with incredibly and memorable characters -- the magical Totoro, the unforgettable Neko-bus (cat bus), and more. A fantastic DVD release from Studio Ghibli and Buena Vista Japan, this release includes both the original Japanese version and the English-dubbed, as well English subtitles, so you can enjoy the film any way...

11. TALES from EARTHSEA ~ Gedo Senki (region 2)

Sun, 10 Jan 2010 11:57:34 -0500

In the world known as Earthsea, there is a disturbance in the balance of life. Magic is losing its power, crops failing, live stock are dying and two dragons appear to devour each other, a sign that the balance of the world is falling apart. The archemage (greatest of all wizards) named Ged (aka Sparrowhawk) sets out for a journey to discover the reason for this imbalance, leading him to Arran, an exiled prince constantly running from a shadow that fills him with fear. This leads them to a...

12. The Cat Returns ~ Neko No Ongaeshi (region 2)

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 04:20:06 -0500

Studio Ghibli has come into its own as one of the world's foremost animation houses. This latest DVD release tells the story of a young girl, Haru, who saves a cat prince from being hit by a truck. In return for saving his son's life, the king of cats changes Haru into a cat to marry his son. But everything is not as it would seem, a war rages between the cats, and Haru isn't so sure she's up to marrying the prince. Directed by Hiroyuki Morita and based loosely on the manga Baron - Neko No...

13. Bathtime with Hinako & Hiyoko (Region 2)

Thu, 23 Dec 2010 08:04:15 -0500

A series that seems to grow more in popularity every year, this is the "Hinako to Isshou ni" training series. Originally starting out as an exercise video , it quickly spawned a 2nd "Sleeping with Hinako" series focusing on proper sleeping habits as demonstrated by Hinako. Getchu continues with plenty of fan service delivering their 3rd installment, "Bathtime with Hinako" which includes a new addition to the cast, Hiyoko. The concept focuses on exercises and training that you can do during and...

14. Hyakka Ryouran Samurai Girls 04 Special Box 02 (Blu-ray Disc)

Thu, 23 Jun 2011 01:01:43 -0400

Hyakka Ryouran Samurai Girls is the explosively fun, ecchi anime in the spirit of Queen's Blade that brings you all the historical figures of Feudal Japan that you know, in luscious moe female versions in a modern fighting setting! Also quite similar to Ikkitousen, only with designs from famous Nitroplus desiner Nishii (Demonbane, Jingai Makyou, etc.). This limited Nishii-illustrated special box contains the fourth disc in the Blu-ray release of the series, as well as room for the 5th and 6th...

15. Nichijou 1 ~ Blu-ray Special Edition (Blu-ray Disc)

Mon, 13 Feb 2012 01:17:01 -0500

Fans of the up and coming hit anime Nichijou will want to get their hands on this limited edition Blu-ray collection from Japan. Comes with the first two episodes in full 1080p HD quality, PLUS audio comentary by Mio and Yukko, PLUS original extras not seen in the episodes, PLUS an additional CD filled to the brim with music from the TV show and a special Nichijou no Radio program to enjoy. There are tons to enjoy in this collection, that is if you were not planning on locking it away in your...

16. Whisper of the Heart ~ Mimi wo Sumaseba (Blu-ray Disc)

Sun, 06 Nov 2011 07:50:30 -0500

A great new remastered Blu-ray release from the classic Ghibli collection, this is Whisper of the Heart (Japanese title "Mimi o sumaseba" also translated as "If you listen closely"). Directed by Yoshifumi Kondo and produced by Hayao Miyazaki, this tells the story of the Shizuku, an average 14 year old Japanese girl with a more than active imagination, and of the journey she makes from girlhood into something more, of first girlish love and a rite of passage. The definitive...

17. Queen's Blade Premium Visual Book

Sun, 27 Nov 2011 00:02:50 -0500

We have a special treat for fans of Queen's Blade, the RPG and anime series about strong and sexy female warriors fighting to claim the title of Queen. This is a one of a kind premium artbook/DVD set, one you won't find anywhere else. The sturdy hardcover artbook features over 30 glossy pages full of busty, scantily-clad female warriors, and the DVD contains two never before seen anime episodes featuring Annelotte, the star of Queen's Blade Rebellion, and the warrior elf Alleyne. Of special...

18. Hatsune Miku Live Party 2011 ~ 39's Thanks Live in Tokyo/Sapporo (Blu-ray Disc) -- Limited Edition

Sun, 29 Jan 2012 00:01:11 -0500

Hatsune Miku is the virtual idol everyone's talking about, who in the last few years has taken the world by storm! This limited edition Blu-ray box contains 210 minutes of high-quality video from the Miku Live Party 2011 concerts that were held in Tokyo and Sapporo to resounding acclaim. With over 60 of the most popular Vocaloid songs from producers like supercell, SAMFREE, OSTER project, and wowaka, plus exclusive behind the scenes footage, this DVD is a must have for all fans of Hatsune Miku...

19. MIKUNOPOLIS in LOS ANGELES (Blu-ray Disc)

Sat, 11 Feb 2012 00:40:05 -0500

Ultra-popular virtual idol Hatsune Miku staged her first overseas concert on July 2nd, 2011 at the NOKIA Theatre in Los Angeles, and now you can relive the groundbreaking event in full HD video and sound with this amazing Mikunopolis Blu-ray. Enjoy 24 songs from Hatsune Miku, Megurine Luka, and the Kagamine twins by famous producers like ryo, wowaka, kuma, and iroha, plus 17 minutes of exclusive special features and a book of lyrics so you can sing along with your favorite songs. An awesome...