KNT DVD Boxset to be Released in Japan

[felineki]

The official site has updated with some news: A special event is going to be held on August 6th, featuring Yattarou's voice actor Kappei Yamaguchi, head writer Satoru Akahori, and possibly others. It's going to be held at Asagaya Loft A at 7:30 PM. Tickets are currently on sale (enter code "37064" in the search bar).

Wish I could be there.

[Blackcat]

I hope they upload a video of the event or something!

[Violet]

The official site has updated with some news: A special event is going to be held on August 6th, featuring Yattarou's voice actor Kappai Yamaguchi, head writer Satoru Akahori, and possibly others. It's going to be held at Asagaya Loft A at 7:30 PM. Tickets are currently on sale.

Wish I could be there.

That sounds so awesome.  A real life KNT event in 2012

[felineki]

Megumi Hayashibara's radio show Tokyo Boogie Night advertised the upcoming DVD release back on it's June 10th broadcast, which can be heard here (at about 23 minutes, 45 seconds in). Somewhat natural given that her show is sponsored by King Record/Star Child, the same company that's publishing the DVD box, but it's also worth mentioning that Megumi Hayashibara herself voiced a character in one episode of KNT: Chomoranma #1/2, the mountain climbing robot. The narrator who reads the sponsor credits at the beginning and ending of this broadcast might also sound familiar.

[KageReneko]

I always had curiosity about that character voiced by Hayashibara; is it supposed to be a kind of parody of Ranma 1/2 (whose seiyuu also is Hayashibara besides Kappei Yamaguchi)? I just can't see a real connection besides the name and seiyuu...

[felineki]

It's a weird pun. The robot's name comes from "Chomolungma", which is another name for Mt. Everest. When rendered in Japanese syllables, this becomes "Chomoranma". All the Karakara mechs have a model number at the end of their name, so it becomes "Chomoranma #1/2" as a reference to Ranma 1/2. And to further the reference the staff decided to go the whole 9 yards and actually get Hayashibara to do the voice.

[KageReneko]

Wow... This must be the most complicated pun/reference ever...

[felineki]

So the official KNT reunion event happened today. I haven't been able to find much info on what happened yet, but apparently Satoru Akahori (head writer), Kappei Yamaguchi (Yattarou VA), Orikasa Ai (Pururun VA) and Noritaka Suzuki (character design) were there.

[KageReneko]

Wow, even the seiyuus left Guido/Sukashii behind... T_T

[felineki]

Apparently the booklet that comes with the DVD set contains the package arts of all the old KNT merchandise.

[felineki]

Tenko mentioned back when the box art was revealed that there was more art on the back. Well, one fan who received their DVD box has posted a picture of it here. Features: 

[felineki]

Reports are that the picture quality is very good. Some small screenshots can be seen here (unfortunately the full size versions are gone). The included booklet apparently explains that the DVDs were made from Sotsu Agency's telecine masters, which puts an end to those decades of rumors about the masters having been lost/destroyed/etc.

EDIT: Here's a couple larger screenshots that were posted on a message board thread. The quality seems about the best you could hope for with a 20 year old show.

Also apparently it was said at the recent event that the reason KNT went unreleased on DVD for so long was simply that the VHS tapes 20 years ago didn't sell well enough! After years of rumors about lost film, copyright issues, or even numbers of fingers, it's good to have an official explanation, even if it's a mundane one.

[felineki]

Here's a blog post with some pictures taken at the event that took place on Monday. They served Pizza Cat pizza, Karakara chicken, and three types of cocktails named after the Nyankii's special attacks. They also gave away a picture of Yattarou drawn by his voice actor Kappei Yamaguchi, and signed by him, head writer Satoru Akahori, and Pururun's voice actress Ai Orikasa.

[felineki]

I managed to get a hold of some of the full-sized versions of the screenshots I mentioned earlier. They should give a good idea of the DVDs' picture quality:

OP Usahime
Mipple
Pururun
OP Nyankii
Hot springs girls
Pururun again
Hot springs Otama & Pururun

[Purrcat]

Great info felineki!
On a full HD 1080p screen I suspect it will still look a bit outdated, but that's only to be expected.. The screenshots look as sharp as we'd ever get without re-animating every frame, and they're way sharper than most of my memories of the show

[felineki]

The KNT box set was the 2nd best selling animation DVD of the last week in Japan!

[KageReneko]

Wow... It even surpassed Totoro!! I hope this give a good future to the franchise, I mean, I would love to have a new videogame and toys featuring the otasukes!! Even a damn sequel!!

I'm dreaming I know, but it can be possible...

[Violet]

I really want this.  Can't afford it right now, but I'll get it eventually.  First I'll wait for the US box set and see how complete it is.

[felineki]

It's limited edition, hopefully it doesn't end up becoming too hard to find or expensive in the future.

[felineki]

OP
ED

These were just posted to Youtube today, and I would assume they're taken from the DVD given the picture quality. Unfortunately the sound seems pretty muffled.