The Aniplex of America panel at Anime Expo 2019 was completely dominated by the Fate franchise. Announcements include a Fate/Zero complete Blu-ray box set available October 29 and a Fate Stay/Night Heaven’s Feel limited edition and standard edition Blu-ray available November 19.
But much of the panel’s time was devoted to promoting currently available vehicles, many of which are also Fate. Not being a Fate guy, I was a little lost, and more than a little bored. Half of the hour was spent on new releases, meaning content already on streaming platforms or available for sale. And actual new announcements were limited to Blu-ray releases of known properties. There were no new licensing announcements and I feel like the panel was largely a waste of time.
The one bright point was the announcement of an English dub of Cells at Work!, complete with an English OP song, a very rare thing in this day and age. The panel even previewed the full song for us to enjoy and that cheered me up between my eyes glazing over Fate clips. The Cells at Work! English dub of 13 episodes and the special will be available on iTunes and Xbox September 17, 2019, and in a Blu-ray set on August 27, 2019, which will include five animated shorts.
Other than that, Aniplex promoted a Rascal Does Not Dream of a Bunny Girl Senpai Blu-ray coming November 19, an I Want to Eat Your Pancreas Blu-ray coming October 29, and a Kill La Kill Blu-ray box set coming on December 24 to bring some Christmas cheer to a five year old series.
They also held a raffle at the panel but did not announce what the prizes were and I didn’t win so I don’t know. It was probably Fate. It seems like it’s always Fate.
