'The Girl Who Leapt Through Time' ('Tokikake', 2006) Korean DVD Available for Pre-Order!

One of the handful of anime features from the past year or so that really stand out for their quality and pedigree, and one to go into an odd limbo state as far as licensing is concerned for an edition in America or even anywhere with English Subtitles likely, is rescued from falling a little too far into the recent past thanks to a very unlikely Korean DVD with English Subtitles (most Korean Anime DVDs don't have English Subtitles!) - and it's a really nice presentation too, seems to be exactly reproducing the Limited Edition package that went on sale in Japan back in April 2007, but quite a lot cheaper of course.

The original story has been filmed Live Action-style by Kadokawa before at least once (in the 80's, available with English Subtitles in HK via IVL), and there's been a new manga as a prelude to this film, which in itself is described as a continuation to the original story and upon which this new film is based, so there's something fresh here even if you're familiar with the source; despite that, good quality anime features are usually thin on the ground. That aside, this film has been heaped with awards, and has won Best Animated Feature at Sitges, the Animation Grand Award at Mainichi, the Grand Prize (Animation) at the Japan Media Arts Festival, Animation of the Year at Tokyo International Anime Fair, a Special Distinction at Annecy, and the Animation of the Year Award at the Japan Academy Prize. Problem solved then, this is something worth jumping on straight away...

Tokikake Information at Wikipedia, Review at Anime News Network.
Tokikake Trailer at Youtube.

Pre-Order 'The Girl Who Leapt Through Time' Korean DVD with English Subtitles at YesAsia, for release September 19th 2007.