K-On! Manga ends

So, recently news have come with the publication of the latest issue of Manga Time Kirara Carat that the High School portion of the K-On! manga will come to an end next month, just as with the College chapters. In other words, Kakifly’s K-On! manga is ending altogether. This, of course, means previous information suggesting the High School chapters would continue was incorrect. On one hand this comes as a relief to me, personally, as that means my fears for the future of the series were unfounded. But on the other hand – it’s the end of K-On!. And I for one have a hard time seeing how it can be wrapped up in a satisfactory manner at this point in the story. Which begs the question; why now? Why restart the series in a big way only to pull the plug a year later, while it still feels like it’s taking off rather than winding down? None of this makes any sense. Could we be looking at a temporary “ending” like when it ended in the fall of 2010? Or is there something going on behind the scenes that is forcing the manga to conclude prematurely? Is this really the end point Kakifly had in mind?

K-On! College manga to end (Update)

So, with the recent news that the College chapters of K-On! are about to come to an end, fans have been speculating on the future of the High School side published in Manga Time Kirara Carat. The Anime News Network article which brought this to light stated the Carat chapters will continue – however, now that the announcement is official, it turns out there is no such confirmation. At present, it seems like the K-On! manga could very well be ending altogether within the next couple of months.

K-On! College manga to end

As reported in an Anime News Network article earlier today, the issue of Manga Time Kirara that’s published this week will announce the end of the ongoing K-On! manga – at least partially. Spoiler warning: If you haven’t kept up with the K-On! franchise beyond what’s been released in English, read no further.

Watching K-On! Episode 13 (Bonus Episode) – “Winter Days!”

Each member of the Light Music Club faces their own everyday struggle on this cold winter day.

Upcoming releases

Updated list of upcoming K-On! media. As always, only Japanese and English language releases listed.

June 19^th – “K-On!! Season 2 Collection vol. 1” anime DVD/Blu-Ray (US)

June 21^st – “K-On! Ho-kago Live!! HD” PS3 game (JP)

July 18^th – “K-On!” Movie DVD/DVD Limited Edition/Blu-Ray/Blu-Ray Limited Edition (JP)

Not a long list by any means, but certainly interesting.

Movie DVD/Blu-Ray specs revealed

So, broadcaster TBS revealed today on the official K-On! website the details of the upcoming home video release of the K-On! movie. The release date, as we already know, is July 18^th, and there will be four different editions: Regular DVD (priced at 3990 yen), Limited Edition DVD (7560 yen), regular Blu-Ray (7665 yen) and awesomest of all, the Limited Edition Blu-Ray (9240 yen).

Regular edition

Limited Edition

The Limited Edition will come in a box full of various K-On! goodies, and will include a second disc filled to the brim with bonus features. The full list can be seen at the official site, though be warned that the extras listing contains an indirect movie spoiler.

Translated bonus feature details, courtesy of ultimatemegax:

The LEs will come with a small booklet of the storyboards (450 pg), a small version of the booklet sold in theatres (40 pg), a mini production booklet (24 pg), cords for a song played in the movie, a 5-piece bromide set, a small version of the appreciation tickets (5 kinds), and a 3-sided box. They also come with a bonus disc (BD will get a BD, DVD will get a DVD).

On the bonus disc are the following features: Yamada Naoko in London (location/scenario scouting), Tanaka Minami's dubbing report (additional feature of the recording sessions), a backstage feature of Houkago Tea Time in Universal Studios Japan, a Houkago Tea Time in TBS press conference, a special program K-On! the movie navigational program, music recording, stage greetings on opening day, non-text OP/ED, pre-movie bit about manners, and TV CMs/previews/trailers.

Included on the feature disc are commentaries by staff, cast, and producers.

And there you have it. The price tag may seem steep – as is usual for anime in Japan – but seeing how packed with extras the LE is (149 minutes worth of video extras, three audio commentaries, a box and lots of physical goods), it should definitely be worth it. For anyone wondering, the discs will include Japanese subtitles but no English translation of any kind. All editions will offer 5.1 and 2.0 audio mixes, encoded in Linear PCM for the Blu-Ray versions and Dolby Digital for DVD.

Two and a half months to go…