Yokai Monsters Collection Coming to Blu-ray from Arrow Video in October

 
Arrow Video
has announced plans to release more Daiei/Kadokawa tokusatsu to Blu-ray, this time a box set comprised of the four yokai films. ADV Films previously released the original trilogy to DVD in 2003, followed by complete collection in 2008, while Media Blasters/Tokyo Shock released THE GREAT YOKAI WAR to DVD in 2006 (the dub contained in this set is presumably the one they commissioned). Arrow has a great lineup of extras as well. You can find pre-order links, product description, specs, and extras below. The set releases on 10/18/2021 in the UK, and the USA and Canada roughly a day later.

Information courtesy of Arrow Video:

Pre-order in the UK via Arrow: https://bit.ly/3j2eHBk
Pre-order in the UK via Zavvi: https://bit.ly/2VhOarl
Pre-order in the UK via HMV: https://bit.ly/3rGMBQ1
Pre-order in the UK via Amazon: https://amzn.to/3iafd0G
Pre-order in the US via DiabolikDVD: https://bit.ly/3BXv3DF
Pre-order in the US via Grindhouse: https://bit.ly/2Vg0gBk
Pre-order in Canada via Unobstructed View: https://bit.ly/3ydxZtS

From the makers of Daimajin comes a trilogy of terror ripped from the pages of Japanese folklore, with ghosts and monsters from ancient myths and legends brought to life through stunning special effects, alongside an epic, big-budget reboot of the series from a modern-day master of the macabre, now available together on Blu-ray for the first time.

In the first film in the trilogy, 100 Monsters, a greedy slumlord’s attempts to forcefully evict his tenants invite the wrath of the titular spirits when a cleansing ritual is botched, with terrifying results. The second film, Spook Warfare, tells the tale of an evil Babylonian vampire inadvertently awoken by treasure hunters, and a brave samurai that teams with the yokai to defeat the bloodthirsty demon. In the final film, Along with Ghosts (released only 12 months after 100 Monsters), the yokai are roused to defend a young girl on the run from deadly yakuza.

Decades later, none other than Takashi Miike (Audition) helmed The Great Yokai War, a loose remake of Spook Warfare that used cutting-edge digital effects to renew the franchise for a new generation. In it, a young boy is given a grave responsibility: to band together with a group of yokai to defend humanity against a vengeful and powerful demon that has sworn retribution against modern-day Japan.

Production Year: 1968
Region Code: B (UK release), A (North American release)
UK Rating: 15
Running Time: 80 + 79 + 78 + 124 Total: 361 mins
Number of Discs: 3
Language: Japanese
Subtitles: English
Audio: 1.0 / 5.1
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 / 1.85:1
Colour: Colour

LIMITED EDITION BOXSET CONTENTS

-High Definition (1080p) Blu-ray presentations of all four films
-Optional English subtitles on all four films
-Illustrated 60-page collectors’ book featuring new writing on the series by Stuart Galbraith IV, Raffael Coronelli and Jolyon Yates
-Reversible sleeves featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Jolyon Yates
-Postcards featuring newly commissioned artwork for each film by Jolyon Yates
-Foldout ‘yokai guide’ poster illustrated by Jolyon Yates

DISC ONE – 100 MONSTERS
-Original uncompressed Japanese mono audio
-Hiding in Plain Sight, a brand new documentary giving a primer on yokai for Western audiences, featuring interviews with experts Matt Alt, Zack Davisson, Kim Newman, Lynda E. Rucker and Hiroko Yoda
-Theatrical trailer
-US re-release trailer
-Image gallery

DISC TWO – SPOOK WARFARE / ALONG WITH GHOSTS
-Brand new 4K restoration of Spook Warfare by Kadokawa Pictures
-Original uncompressed Japanese mono audio for both films
-Theatrical trailers for both films 
-US re-release trailers for both films
-Image galleries for both films

DISC THREE – THE GREAT YOKAI WAR
-DTS-HD MA 5.1 original Japanese and dubbed English audio
-Brand new audio commentary by Japanese cinema expert Tom Mes
-Archive interviews with the cast and crew, including Takashi Miike
-Short Drama of Yokai, two shorts detailing the further adventures of the yokai
-Another Story of Kawataro, two shorts featuring the continuing story of the kappa character in the film
-World Yokai Conference, a publicity event where Miike speaks about the film-Promotional Events, video of the press conference to announce the start and completion of filming, as well as the premiere in Tokyo
-Documentary on the film’s young star, Ryunosuki Kamiki, and his experience making the film
-Theatrical trailer
-Image gallery
 
Sources: Arrow Video website and Facebook page
 
Reversible cover art

 

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