ufotable ~ Fate/stay night [Unlimited Blade Works] Background Art Book ~ unboxing

As promised to someone who left a message on the blog, I'll be doing this "unboxing" first. :)

This is the Fate/stay night [Unlimited Blade Works] Background Art Book which was a book I did not wait to order at all.  I actually rather like background art and I often like it more than the character design actually which is probably a little unusual.  Most anime fans probably prefer character design, even if they really liked background art, they still tend to prefer character design.

Kalafina ~ ring your bell - vinyl record version - unboxing

I finally got the LP version of Kalafina's ring your bell single in the mail on Monday.  This completes my collection of all the versions for this release. :P  Unfortunately, I don't have a way of playing this LP because I don't own a turntable. :(  So fingers crossed that this sells so well that Sony will grant ufotable's founder Kondo Hikaru's wish that they will release a LP containing all of Kalafina's Kara no Kyoukai songs.  I will totally buy it in a heartbeat, that's for sure.  Then maybe if they keep releasing LPs I'll have a reason to actually buy a turntable. :D

I'll keep this post relatively short too because there isn't really that much to say and also because I've been putting in quite a bit of OT at the office recently and I think I'm falling ill again, so I should sleep soon if I can.

First up, photos. :)

Kalafina ~ ring your bell - unboxing

Okay, its seems that Starhub is now working and I seem to be getting normal service again. :) Yay!!  For a while there I thought I may need to abandon my plan to finish the ring your bell unboxings tonight because I couldn't go online for about an hour. :(

I'll make this quick because I would like to go to bed soon.  It was a very long day today at work and I suspect the entire week will most likely be the same.  Hence, I want to zip through this. Photos heavy. :)

I bought all versions as usual.  However, currently, I am still missing the vinyl record version because that one is being sent from Amazon Japan.  I couldn't get it via CDJapan because, by the time I went to make my order, it was all sold out.  It sold out VERY fast on most major online retailers. :(  Luckily, I managed to get 3 copies from two online retailers at cost price. :)  The one from Amazon should come by Friday or Saturday.  Depending on when it arrives, I will either do it over the weekend or next Monday night. :)

For now... photos!!

Kalafina ~ ring your bell (in the silence) -- nice!!! :)

I'm a ufotable fan and I actively take part in Fate/tweet night and have done so since S1 of FSN [UBW].  I actually pay for a premium Niconico account so that I can attempt to get as best a quality as possible even though I go through a free VPN which doesn't always give me the best result.  I do this because I like taking part in Fate/tweet night as the stream plays.

But tonight, aside from wanting to take part in Fate/tweet night, I was up this late because I was waiting to hear Kalafina's ring your bell (in the silence).  The first three episodes of S2 premièred in the cinema in Japan and in the US.  We never get that kind of special treatment in Singapore and I don't think we ever will.... SEA just doesn't seem to be that important a market to the Japanese it seems.  :'(

Fate/stay night [Unlimited Blade Works] PV previews Kalafina's "ring your bell"

I'm awfully busy today but thought I'll pop in just to share with you guys the latest PV that ufotable has released for FSN.

Aside from the fact that I love ufotable's work and think this PV just makes the new season look so exciting, this PV also previews Kalafina's soon to be released ending theme for S2 of this anime.

Kalafina ~ ring your bell - tokuten information

Kalafina has released the information on the tokutens they'll be giving out with the first press release for their upcoming single "ring your bell".  As usual, it's postcards. :)  Finally... I have time to write about them... ultra busy today. :)

Okay... here goes, I'll be quick. :)  Everyone will get two postcards with each purchase.  First let me go through the various shops.

Animate

Kalafina ~ ring your bell - cover art released

Kalafina has released the cover artwork for their soon to be released single "ring your bell", the ending theme for Fate/stay night [UBW].  The cover art for the anime version and the analog version were released earlier.  These is the cover art for the Regular Edition, the Limited Edition (DVD) and the Limited Edition (BD) :)  CLICK ME to view the cover art for the anime and analog versions.

They all look nice! :)  My favourite is the Regular Edition cover because I think Keiko looks really cool in that photo. :P

Now I'm just waiting for tokuten infomation. :)

If you wish to purchase these singles, I usually get mine from CDJapan and you are welcome to use these links if you wish.

Here are the versions (source SMEJ):

Kalafina ~ ring your bell - anime / analog LE covers released

Kalafina released three new visuals today.  The covers for the Regular Edition, Limited Edition + DVD and Limited Edition + BD have not been released.

They did release a new promo image of the trio and the Anime LE and Analog LE covers.

source

Lisani! Vol.19 ~ Kalafina's interview

This is an easy, picture heavy post. One of my friends just returned from Japan with a gift for me.  He knows that I really like the anime Psycho-Pass so he thought that he'll buy me something with Psycho-Pass on it and he bought me the Lisani! Vol.19 magazine which was super cool of him. :)

I was really pretty happy about it because not only does vol.19 come with a Psycho-Pass cover, it also comes with a postcard and a Kalafina interview. I knew that vol.18 comes with an interview with Kalafina, but I didn't realise that vol.19 also contained an interview with them.

Kalafina ~ "believe" tops several music distribution charts / debuts Lapis at mini-live

source

This is a photo from Wednesday's event at Lazona Kawasaki Plaza.  Kalafina gave a mini commemorative live yesterday to celebrate the release of their latest single "believe".

According to several articles, the specific charts they recorded No.1 positions in are the following... the iTunes Anime Top Album, mora Album (whole album), mora hi-res (single song), and the mora hi-res album (whole album) charts.

Kalafina ~ 「believe」 (Fate/stay night [Unlimited Blade Works] single) ~ un-boxing

Unfortunately, I'm going to have to speed through this.  If I have time, I'll come back and talk about the MV and my personal thoughts on the music in another post tomorrow.  But it's past 1am now and I have a ton of photos to upload, so I have to hurry if I hope to sleep by 2am.

Sooooo here goes.... very picture heavy... hopefully, text light. :)

Regular Edition

Kalafina ~ "believe" debuts within Top 10 on the Oricon Daily Charts rank

I had to put in some unexpected OT and got home a lot later than I would have liked so have only just finished shooting photos of the singles.  I'll put them up a separate post after this but first....

source

OMEDETOU!!!  Kalafina's "believe" managed to debut at No. 9 on the Oricon Daily chart for 18th Nov 2014. I have to admit that I was not hopeful that they'll rank well because there are a ton of things being released on the 19th.  There are boy bands like Sexy Zone and old school rockers like Mr. Children and Superfly.  There's also Egoist who's "Fallen" is the theme song for another very popular anime "Psycho-Pass Season 2".  And there's Scandal too which is a very popular girl rock band.

Kalafina's comments on "believe" (Fate/stay night [Unlimited Blade Works] ending theme)

I'm really excited about Kalafina's newest release.  REALLY EXCITED!  :)  I'm dying for new music from Kajiura Yuki and the trio.  I actually chose Fedex for this shipment and although CDJapan sent the shipping info to Fedex on Sunday evening, I have had no updates on the package on Fedex today (Monday) so it looks like I may not get it tomorrow (Tuesday) as I initially hoped. :'(

So even though I should be writing another article for someone else :P , I decided to delay that for a bit to translate this article about Kalafina and posting it up tonight because I have Kalafina on my mind tonight. =D

ufotable ~ Fate/stay night [Unlimited Blade Works] Blu-ray boxset I - announce & tokuten

The blu-ray boxset of ufotable's adaptation of Fate/stay night [Unlimited Blade Works] was announced on the 24th Oct. I was too busy to talk about it then but now I have a little time so I'll talk a little about it. :) The set will go on sale on the 25th March 2015 but can be pre-ordered right now.

 

Fate/stay night [Unlimited Blade Works] #05 ~ a few screen caps

I just finished watching the live stream of Ep05 on niconico. :)  I really do like ufotable's art style and the way they tell the story.  Maybe I'm bias, I don't know... but this feels so much more engaging than the first FSN by Studio Deen.

Maybe it's because Emiya Shirou is really a lot less annoying here.  Maybe because so far Tohsaka Rin is still pretty cool and hasn't faded into the background for annoyingly boring Shirou-Saber bonding.  Maybe because of Fate/tweet night, I try to watch the live stream so that I can take part in the event and hence, I feel more excited about it than I normally would.  I don't know why but so far ufotable's FSN[UBW] is very enjoyable and I look forward to more next week.

Kajiura Yuki tweets ~ watching Fate/stay night [Unlimited Blade Works] ep05 :)

引き続き Fate / stay nightも見るよヽ(*^^*)ノ！
— 梶浦由記 Yuki Kajiura (@Fion0806) November 8, 2014

Oh.... Kajiura Yuki is also going to be watching tonight's Fate/stay night [Unlimited Blade Works] broadcast. :)

Me too... if I can get my niconico stream to work properly tonight.  It's always a little wonky for me and sometimes I don't connect till it begins. Fingers crossed.

ps. In an earlier tweet, she also watched Sword Art Online 2, hence why she wrote "引き続き"... she's continuing on to watch Fate/stay night. :)

Fate/stay night [Unlimited Blade Works] - caster

本日24時から「#05 放課後に踊る」が放送開始！ライダーが登場です！25時からのニコ生配信もぜひ http://t.co/mXyQwQUv1C Fate/tweet nightも開催！本日の推奨ハッシュタグは→ #fate05 pic.twitter.com/8LiiqisMVJ
— Fate/stay night (@Fate_SN_Anime) November 8, 2014

The one thing I really like about the way ufotable has been pushing Fate/stay night [Unlimited Blade Works] is how they have been using twitter. I have taken part in all the Fate/tweet night events so far but haven't been lucky enough to get a DM with an illustration attached yet. Fingers crossed that I will be able to get one by the end of the series. The other thing that ufotable does which is cool is that they really do post quite a few updates with different screenshots throughout the week. Kind of cool and helps yo drum up excitement. I am out now....hope that I can get back in time to watch the niconico stream tonight. :)
And yes, I am writing this because I am bored. :p
Hopefully we can leave soon. :p

ufotable releases photo of Ayano Mashiro's "ideal white" anime ver. single

「Fate/stay night」主題歌ＣＤを頂戴しました。ノンテロップＯＰのＤＶＤ付。 マチアソビでのステージも超盛り上がりました。綾野ましろさん公式サイトはこち⇒http://t.co/z6B2JCamOc #ufotable pic.twitter.com/Cn8OUKTzfD
— 近藤光（ufotable） (@hikaruufo) October 18, 2014

A staff member for ufotable Kondo Hikaru tweeted a photo of a physical version of Ayano Mashiro's "Fate/stay night [Unlimited Blade Works]" anime version of "ideal white". Looks nice. :)

The single is scheduled for an October 22nd release which is really soon. Kalafina's CD is scheduled for a Nov 19th release so we probably won't see a similar photo yet.

Kalafina ~ website updated, streaming "believe" tv-spot

source

I can't believe I forgot all about this yesterday. Kalafina's offcial website was updated either yesterday or the day before, I THINK.  I was looking at it last night and completely forgot to blog about it.  I think I wanted to sleep too much. :P

It now features artwork for the "believe" single and it's also streaming the 30-sec "believe" TV spot. But unfortunately, it's once again region-locked to Japan. :(  They have made these streaming videos available to international audiences before but not this time.... sucks. :(

Fate/stay night [Unlimited Blade Works] ~ info on bonus video on anime DVD

ufotable has released more information about the upcoming OP and EP releases for FSN[UBW].

The OP for this series is "ideal white" by Ayano Mashiro.  CLICK ME for info about the different versions and for the cover art.

The ED for this series is "believe" by Kalafina. CLICK ME for info about the different versions and for the cover art.

Previously, the Anime Versions of each release merely mentioned that the clip on the DVD will be a Fate/stay night video clip.  Today ufotable updated their website and revealed that the FSN clip that they will be putting on the DVDs will be the textless opening and ending animations for the anime.

Which means that Ayano Mashiro's "ideal white" anime version will get the textless OP and Kalafina's "believe" anime version will get the textless ED.

ufotable also released two more illustrations with this announce.

source

source

The anime versions are limited time release versions which means that once it reaches a certain date, they will cease production of these editions.  So if you would like to pick these up, make sure you do so before they cease production. :)