Aniplex of America adds the Garden of Sinners to PlayStation Network

Aniplex of America has announced that the seven chapter movie Kara no Kyoukai (The Garden of Sinners) is now available for rent on PlayStation network's video-on-demand service in the US and Canada. The following seven chapters are available in Japanese with English subtitles for $2.99 each in standard definition widescreen:

• Chapter 1: Thanatos (Overlooking View)
• Chapter 2: …and nothing heart (Murder Speculation, Part A)
• Chapter 3: ever cry, never life (Remaining Sense of Pain)
• Chapter 4: garan-no-dou (The Hollow Shrine)
• Chapter 5: Paradox Paradigm
• Chapter 6: Fairy Tale (Oblivion Recording)
• Chapter 7: …not nothing heart (Murder Speculation, Part B)

The Garden of Sinners was only previously available in North America as an import boxset, which completely sold out.

Source: Aniplex USA | the Garden of sinners

Image © KINOKO NASU / Kodansha, Aniplex, Notes, ufotable

Anime Tourism of Hanasaku Iroha Revives the Model Spa

According to Hokkoku Newspaper, Yuwaku Hot Spring , the model town of Hanasaku Iroha, has been humming with business since the start of the anime. After the earthquake in March, nearly 1,500 guests have canceled the hotel reservations in Yuwaku but the rooms of all the nine hotels were fully booked by the anime fans just before the holidays in May. The bottles of Yuwaku Cider have been flying off the shelves because the cider was shown in the ED.

Iroha fans taking pictures of the sign of the model train station

Comparisons between the real sceneries in Yuwaku and the scenes in the anime

Entrance of the hotel area

Yuwaku - Anime

Main street

Yuwaku - Anime

Bridge Ohana walks on

Yuwaku - Anime

Bench Yuina sits with a Yuwaku Cider

Yuwaku - Anime

The rival hotel

Yuwaku - Anime

Yuwaku Spa Tourist Association said they expect the anime fans to visit the town repeatedly.

Source: Hokkoku Shinbun

Ga-rei Zero Added to Netflix Streaming

Netflix's streaming service has begun offering AIC Spirits & Asread's 12 episode anime series Ga-rei Zero. This prequel to Hajime Segawa's Ga-rei manga series has been released in a DVD/Blu-ray combo pack in North America by FUNimation.

Directed by Ei Aoki (Hourou Musuko: Wandering Son), the series follows Kagura Tsuchimiya, the daughter lineage of demon beast controllers, who'll eventually use her spirit dog Ga-Rei Byakuei in the service of the Japanese Ministry of Defense's anti-paranormal forces, and, unfortunately, against her adopted sister Yomi. (Beyond the demon battling brutality, the anime is often remarked upon for scenes of Kagura and adopted sister Yomi Lady and the Tramping sticks of Pocky.)

Source: Netflix

Naruto Fight Highlights and More... Some Sakuga For Your Saturday

Every month, the best bits of sakuga, full motion in anime, are put together into compilation videos. Some of you might have already seen one, but here's a second, annotated look at what's been eyed to be the cream of crop for May, 2011.

Also, here's a video compilation of the work of Gorou Sessha, who did work of Kannagi, Sengoku Basara, Precure and Toradora, but who perhaps made his biggest mark on Naruto Shippūden, particularly its Sasuke fights.