Lupin III and Panda Kopanda DVD release dates

Discotek Media has announced via Facebook the release dates for their upcoming DVD releases of Lupin III: The Complete First TV Series and Panda! Go Panda!

Previously released in North America on DVD but now out of print, Panda! Go Panda! will return to store shelves on April 17, 2012.  Distotek has confirmed that both short films, Panda! Go Panda! and Panda! Go Panda! The Rainy-Day Circus will be included in this new DVD release.



Next up is Lupin III: The Complete First TV Series, scheduled to make its North American DVD debut on June 26, 2012. No word yet on whether the set will feature an English dub, but it is probably more likely to feature the original Japanese audio with English subtitles.

I'm really glad that Discotek Media has acquired these licenses and is dedicated to getting out of print titles back on the shelves and bringing other titles to North America for the first time.  Now if they could only acquire the rights to Lupin III: The Castle of Cagliostro and release it on Blu-ray here we'd be all set!

Discotek Media licenses Panda Kopanda

Hot on the heals of the announcement that they're bringing the first season of Lupin III to DVD, Discotek Media has posted on Facebook that they've acquired the rights to the two Panda Kopanda films.

Mimiko, Panny, and Papa Panda.

Known as Panda! Go, Panda! and Panda! Go, Panda! The Rainy-Day Circus (Panda Kopanda: Amefuri Circus no Maki)  in North America, the films follow Mimiko and her adventures with a baby panda named Panny and his father, Papa Panda.  Both films were directed by Isao Takahata and written by Hayao Miyazaki and made their debut in Japan in 1972 and 1973.

Although previously available in North America on DVD from Geneon/Pioneer, the edition is no longer in print.  Discotek mentions in the comments of their post that their upcoming release "will be better than the Pioneer DVD" and "will have the original credits."  No release date has been announced except that the new edition can be expected in 2012.  Both films are currently available in their entirety on Hulu.

First season of Lupin III coming to DVD

Although not exactly Studio Ghibli news, Discotek Media has announced via Facebook that they've licensed the first season of Lupin III for DVD release in spring 2012.

L to R: Jigen, Lupin, Fujiko, and Goemon (source)

The Lupin III television series debuted in Japan in 1971, inspired by the manga series by Kazuhiko Kato a.k.a Monkey Punch.  The storyline follows master thief Lupin III, grandson of Arsène Lupin from the Maurice Leblanc novels, and his exploits alongside a group of criminal friends.  The television series ran for three seasons (1971-1985) and inspired a string of popular films, including what is probably the most famous of the group, The Castle of Cagliostro (1979).

Lupin III: The Castle of Cagliostro (source)

Although common knowledge to Studio Ghibli fans, Hayao Miyazaki served as director of several episodes of the first and second seasons of the series (alongside future creative partner Isao Takahata) and made his directorial debut with The Castle of Cagliostro.  Long before his feature film work, Miyazaki was making a name for himself in television animation with several series, including Future Boy Conan and Sherlock Hound, and many see his contributions to the Lupin III series and film as transitional works that would eventually lead to the birth of Studio Ghibli.

Jigen and Lupin III in a scene from the first season. (source)

There's no word yet from Discotek Media regarding whether the first season DVD release will feature a dub or subtitles only, but more information should become available as we near the release date.  I'm personally a big fan of The Castle of Cagliostro, so any news is good news when it comes to more Lupin III heading our way!