Releases - March 2009

The way you buy your anime DVDs is about to change, my friends. AnimeNewsNetwork has reported this week that Best Buy will be changing its strategy for selling DVDs in at least half of its stores nationwide by focusing only on the top 20 sellers in various genres, especially anime. According to them, the economy is forcing them to focus more on those titles that actually bring in revenue consistantly across the US. Some of the stores where anime sells well will continue to stock a variety of titles, but they just may not be located near you. In other words, Best Buy is going to imitate Wal-Mart's marketing plan of tayloring goods to local demand and see if it works for them. For us anime fans, we are once again being exiled to the internet for our purchasing needs. I wonder if this means its a good time to invest in RightStuf?

In other news, Fullmetal Alchemist is returning to television on April 5 with a remake of the series that supposedly will be closer to the manga storyline. The lead voice actors for Al and Ed Elric will be reprising their roles as well as a fair number of other actors. I'm actually surprised and happy about this. Surprised, because I think this is the first time a series has been remade so soon after the first version went to market, and happy because I really enjoyed the original voice actors. It just goes to show you how incredibly popular this series is, and how no one really wanted the show to end. After all, the boys haven't answered half of the questions they've raised in their adventures.

And lastly, just as a note before I give you the lists, Obama makes a cameo in the latest chapters of the manga Air Gear, and it seems the Japanese at least got his campaign message. I'm pretty sure that this is the first time an American presidential candidate has made an appearance in a popular ongoing manga to explain a plot point. ROFL

Games

• Halo Wars (XBOX 360) - 3/3
• Major League Baseball 2K9 (All Consoles) - 3/3
• MLB 09: The Show (PS3, PS2, PSP) - 3/3
• Phantasy Star Portable (PSP) - 3/3
• Sonic & The Black Knight (Wii) - 3/3
• Tomb Raider: Underworld (PS2) - 3/3
• Avalon Code (DS) - 3/10
• Mana Khemia: Student Alliance (PSP) - 3/10
• Valkyrie Profile: Covenant of the Plume (DS) - 3/16
• Rune Factory Frontier (Wii) - 3/17
• Pokemon Platinum (DS) - 3/22
• The Last Remnant (PC) - 3/24
• Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Echoes of Time (Wii, DS) - 3/23

DVDs

• Steam Detectives Complete Collection - 3/3
• Fullmetal Alchemist Season 2 Box Set - 3/10
• Kenichi: The Mightiest Disciple Part 1 - 3/10
• Gurren Lagann Part 3 - 3/17
  
• A Pup Named Scooby Doo: Complete 2nd, 3rd, & 4th Seasons - 3/17
• Pokemon Diamond & Pearl Box 3 - 3/17
• Aria: The Natural Part 2 - 3/24
  
• Voltron Collection 7 - 3/24
• Chrono Crusade Complete Collection - 3/24
• Fruits Basket Complete (Veridian Collection) - 3/24
• Petite Princess Yucie Complete Collection - 3/24
• Solty Rei Box Set (Veridian Collection) - 3/24
  
• The Real Ghostbusters, Vol. 1 - 3/31
• D-Grayman Season 1, Part 1 - 3/31
• Negima Season 2, Part 2 - 3/31
• One Piece Season 1, Part 4 - 3/31
• The Wallflower Complete Collection, Part 2 - 3/31
• Pokemon the Movie 11: Giratina & the Sky Warrior - 3/31

Books

• Gintama Vol. 11 - 3/3
• Naruto Vol. 38, 39, 40, 41 - 3/3
• Skip Beat Vol. 16 - 3/3
• Bleach Vol. 26 - 3/3
• Crimson Hero Vol. 10 - 3/3
• The Gentleman's Alliance Vol. 9 - 3/3
• Wild Ones Vol. 6 - 3/3
• Hunter x Hunter Vol. 25 - 3/3
• Shaman King Vol. 21 - 3/3
• Claymore Vol. 14 - 3/3
• Prince of Tennis Vol. 30 - 3/3
• Getbackers: Infinity Fortress Vol. 3 - 3/10
• Vampire Knight Vol. 6 - 3/10
• Peacemaker Kurogane Vol. 1 - 3/10
• Penguin Revolution Vol. 7 - 3/17
• Case Closed Vol. 28 - 3/17
• Kenshin: VizBig Vol. 5 - 3/17
• xxxHolic Vol. 13 - 3/24
• Negima! Vol. 21 - 3/24
• Dragon Eye Vol. 7 - 3/24
• Samurai 7 Vol. 1 - 3/24
• Kitchen Princess Vol. 9 - 3/24
• Negima?! Neo Vol. 1 - 3/25

My thanks to Borders this month for fixing their bugs on the website.

Sources: AnimeNewsNetwork, TVShowsOnDVD, GameSpot, Mania, Borders Books & Music