AnimEigo and parent company MediaOCD have announced the upcoming Blu-ray home media release of “Alien Nine”, scheduled for June 9. Based on the manga series written and illustrated by Hitoshi Tomizawa, originally serialized in Akita Shoten’s “Young Champion”, the OVA follows a group of elementary school girls tasked with battling alien invaders in a not-too-distant future where such attacks have become part of everyday life.
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Set around Yuri, a newly elected sixth grader who suddenly finds herself responsible for capturing and eliminating aliens at school, “Alien Nine” combines science fiction, action, horror, and darkly comic coming-of-age elements. Yuri is joined by the energetic Kasumi and the serious Kumi, who also become part of the strange “alien party”. Their assignment is made even more bizarre by the use of symbiotic alien helmets known as Borgs, creatures that protect their hosts while surviving on waste material from their bodies.
“Alien Nine” was written by Sadayuki Murai, known for “Perfect Blue”, “Durarara” and “Steamboy”, and directed by Yasuhiro Irie, whose credits include “Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood”. The OVA was also produced by Taro Maki, a key figure behind titles such as “Tokyo Godfathers” and “Millennium Actress”. With its unusual blend of gleeful genre energy, disturbing imagery, and schoolgirl action, the work has maintained a cult reputation among anime fans.
The new Blu-ray release marks the first time “Alien Nine” will be available in HD. The edition also features a new AstroRes restoration and upscale, along with a number of extras, including clean opening and ending animation, an original English cast interview, original promos, a dubbing diary, a music clip, staff interviews, the “Steps to Alien Fighters” featurette with the Japanese voice cast, and an executive producer Taro Maki interview.
The Blu-ray includes all four episodes, with a total running time of 113 minutes, English dub, Japanese language with English subtitles, and region-free playback.
Alien Nine OVA Blu-Ray Features:
- $29.95 SRP
- Clean opening and ending animation
- Original English cast interview
- Original promos
- Dubbing diary
- Music clip
- Staff interview
- “Steps to Alien Fighters” featurette with Japanese voice cast
- Executive producer Taro Maki interview
- For ages 13 and up
