Monthly UK DVD Awards - April

[Fudce]

It's that time again, an entire six weeks after the March awards started we finally got a winner in Howl's Moving Castle from Optimum, and now we have to do it all over again for the month of April.

Again this month we have a high profile release, this time it's Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children (Columbia) which has had a lot of forum inches of talk, both sides of the Atlantic. Optimum aren't standing back either this month, with two releases from their 'Ghibli Collection' series.
ADV Films had a relativly small showing this month, with four releases, including volume one of the delinquent anime, Chromartie High School. With only three releases coming from them this month, Manga Entertainment started two new series and also released the latest in the Robotech series, Robotech: The Masters - Extended Edition #2.
With the most releases of any company this month, Beez shows no sign of slowing down their movement in the UK anime industry. Ending one series and starting two more, they'll be hoping that Crest of the Stars (volume 1) will do well this month. MVM wasn't far behind with five different DVDs released, including the final volume of Chobits, and an artbox with volume 6 of Fullmetal Alchemist.

There has been a lot of talk whether Planetes volume 6 from Beez has been released, and after searching around I am still not 100% certain. I am however going with what is shown on the website of Pinnacle Vision (Beez UK Distributor) which states the release date as 3 Apr 2006.

Only three weeks to vote this month, due to the tiebreaker 'Vote off' to decide the final winner last month. Voting ends Sunday 4th June at the usual time. (6pm BST - 1pm forum time)


These awards are not associated with Anime On DVD, but are a view of what the general anime fans of UK believe to be the best DVD release of each month.

Previous Winners (http://www.fudce.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk)
August: Barefoot Gen 1&2 (Optimum)
September: Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind (Optimum)
October: R.O.D. the TV (MVM Films)
November: Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex - Volume 7 (Manga Ent.)
December: (joint) Full Metal Alchemist - Volume 3 (MVM Films)
December: (joint) Last Exile - Volume 7 (ADV Films)
December: (joint) Neon Genesis Evangelion Platinum - Volume 6 (ADV Films)
January: Haibane Renmei - Volume 4 (MVM Films)
February: Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence (Manga Entertainment)
March: Howl's Moving Castle (Optimum)

[ic14]

Its very clsoe between Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children (impressed me a lot more than i thought it would), Tetsujin 28 Vol1 (retro goodness,woo!) and Spirit of Wonder.

In the end though, Spirit of Wonder impressed me most out of this lil lot.

[Fudce]

I'm currently looking at DNAngel volume 5 for my vote, but I'm not gonna cast it just yet, Amazon Rental permitting I may get a chance to watch four other from the list before the deadline.
Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children, and Chobits volume 6 came close, but in the end a good comentary track always wins me over! /images/graemlins/catgirl0.gif

[Tora-chan]

Went for Tetsujin 28. Really cool show so far, and at a lower price too! /images/graemlins/sdsmiley.gif

[maehara]

Crest of the Stars. Lafiel rules.

[shokoti]

Lots of good stuff this month. FMA had another great volume, Crest of the Stars started its UK release, Yukikaze also began (and I think this is probably going to fly under most people's radars even though it's really quite good), the visually pretty stunning and (for me) enjoyable KARAS got its first volume, Advent Children finally came out (and I really need to watch it) plus loads of great continuing shows and a couple of other good new starters.

But for me the best release was Whisper of the Heart. A truly magical movie that really surprised me.

[Fort Max]

Karas gets my vote, very solid release of an entertaining and visually breathtaking movie that came out of nowhere and really wowed me.

[ic14]

[ QUOTE ]
shokoti said:
Yukikaze also began (and I think this is probably going to fly under most people's radars even though it's really quite good),

[/ QUOTE ]
It was alright, but it just didnt grab me.

[aniki21]

I haven't seen all the ones on this form, but Planetes Vol. 6 is the best installment of any anime I've seen in a long, long time, and it's moved the series into the #1 spot on my list.

[Fudce]

[ QUOTE ]
Fudce said:
I'm currently looking at DNAngel volume 5 for my vote, but I'm not gonna cast it just yet, Amazon Rental permitting I may get a chance to watch four other from the list before the deadline.
Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children, and Chobits volume 6 came close, but in the end a good comentary track always wins me over! /images/graemlins/catgirl0.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

I decided to stick with DNAngel to get my vote, Samurai 7 came close but again, the commentary was the key.

Only one week left to vote, folks!

[otaku_kei]

had to be champloo this volume really took things to a new level and reinvigorated a show that hadnt even gotten tired.

tetsujin came close though

[Njr Scrawl]

I went for Whisper of the Heart. Crest came a close 2nd though.

[Nilrem]

I can't remember what I voted for (too long ago), but I think it was Whisper of the Heart.

I was a bit dubious about it at first, but absolutely loved it.

[Fudce]

No winner again this month, in what is becoming a regular event, we have a vote off to decide the winner, this time between Whisper of the Heart (which I mis-spelled yet again) and Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children.

You can vote for the winner in the one-week voteoff, here (http://forums.animeondvd.com/showflat.php?Cat=&Number=1357934&page=0&view=colla psed&sb=5&o=&fpart=1).