The Dagger of Kamui Blu-ray Offers a Powerful Revival of a Cult Favourite

AnimEigo is bringing The Dagger of Kamui to Blu-ray with a cleaned-up remaster, new extras, and a long-overdue spotlight on a classic anime adventure.

The Dagger of Kamui Blu-Ray ArtRelease Date: April 7, 2026
Available to pre-order on Amazon USA

At long last, The Dagger of Kamui is getting a Blu-ray release. Fans of this classic should be pleased to see it receiving a cleaned-up remaster, and the trailer already makes a strong impression. AnimEigo and parent company MediaOCD are also going the extra mile with a newly recorded featurette, and for those familiar with the manga, this release offers a chance to revisit its cinematic adaptation in style.

From the Press Release:

The 1985 film is based on a series of novels written by Tetsu Yano and follows Jiro, an orphan who trained as a ninja and uses a special dagger to seek revenge against a priest for killing his adoptive family. During his quest, he uncovers a conspiracy involving hidden treasure, Ainu heritage, and a journey to the American Old West. Directed by the legendary Rintaro (Kimba The White Lion, Galaxy Express 999, Astro Boy Metropolis) and produced by the famed anime studio Madhouse, THE DAGGER OF KAMUI is a must-see for action fans. It also features the work of the acclaimed art director Mukuo Takamura (Adieu Galaxy Express 999, Sailor Moon).

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Wanda John-Kehewin’s Powerful Visions From The Fire Looks Toward Healing

In Visions From The Fire, Damon Quinn’s search for identity deepens through dreams, spirits, and painful truths. Wanda John-Kehewin and Nicole Marie Burton shape a thoughtful second chapter that blends coming-of-age drama with Indigenous spirituality and quiet emotional power.

Visions From The Fire Graphic Novel Cover_544x838
Volume Two is available on Amazon USA

HighWater Press

Wanda John-Kehewin and Nicole Marie Burton’s graphic novel The Dream series is beginning to take shape. With the release of the second volume, Visions From The Fire, the next stage of Damon Quinn’s journey is becoming clear. What’s presented here is more than a traditional coming-of-age story. To appreciate where it is heading, though, it helps to begin with the first book, Visions of the Crow.

Here, Damon feels like a ne’er-do-well, struggling simply to survive as high school graduation draws near. It is easy to sympathize with him. At school, he is bullied because of his mixed heritage. As a Cree-Métis teen, he is left wrestling with questions of identity and belonging. He does not know who his father is, and he desperately wants answers. At home, his relationship with his mother is strained by her alcoholism, often leaving him to spend as little time there as possible.

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Like a Bat Out of Hell, Luc Besson’s Dracula is Flying Fast to VOD!

Luc Besson’s Dracula is arriving on VOD on March 10, 2026. Starring Caleb Landry Jones, Christoph Waltz, and Zoë Bleu, this romantic reimagining of the vampire myth also stands as one of Vertical’s biggest theatrical successes to date.

Luc Besson’s Dracula Movie Poster Coming to Prime Video, Apple TV, Fandango, and YouTube

Straight out of theatres and into your home, Luc Besson’s Dracula is ready to strike beginning March 10, 2026. It is already listed on Prime Video, and is reported to be one of Vertical’s highest-grossing releases to date. This romantic reimagining stars Caleb Landry Jones, Christoph Waltz, and Zoë Bleu, and offers a bold new take on the iconic vampire myth.

In my review, I noted that Dracula: A Love Tale reshapes the familiar myth into a sweeping gothic romance driven by loss, reincarnation, and pulp energy. Caleb Landry Jones leans hard into the Count’s theatrical menace, while Christoph Waltz gives Van Helsing a scene-stealing presence that helps keep the film lively. Though the digital effects can feel uneven, the film still lands as an entertaining and memorable take on the legend.

Although a Blu-ray and DVD release date has not yet been announced, seeing this vampire reincarnate around Easter would be rather ironic indeed.

Luc Besson’s Dracula Trailer

 

Terror Awaits When Nash The Slash Rises Again!

A stylish and thoughtful documentary, Nash The Slash Rises Again! examines the life, sound, and legacy of one of Canada’s most singular musical innovators, celebrating an artist who turned performance, technology, and mystery into something unforgettable.

Nash the Slash Rises Again! Promotional Tour TrailerOpens at Select Theatres March 13

Nash the Slash is an original. A living Phantom of the Theatre, unafraid to obscure himself, he’s often seen performing wrapped like a mummy, minus the Egyptian motifs, instead donning dark sunglasses and a stiff top hat. When we see him in Nash the Slash Rises Again!, he’s not just a silent film star, but a silver age minx. He exists in a space where noir sensibilities thrive. Nearly everyone knows the name, even if the sound itself feels ephemeral, electronic, and ahead of its time.

What’s presented in Tim Kowalski’s documentary brilliantly honours him like a living memorial. Rameses the Great would be jealous. When this musician doesn’t predate the theatrical shock of early Pink Floyd or Alice Cooper, but feels spiritually adjacent to them, evolving along a parallel creative wavelength. One suspects they’d have relished sharing a stage had the opportunity arisen.

With interests leaning heavily into the horror film genre, shock becomes part of the live experience for those fortunate enough to witness him perform. Not every show has him embodying The Invisible Man, but the theatricality remains central. His life and career are explored in thoughtful detail through Tim Kowalski’s documentary.

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Run, Kitty, Run! The Legend of Hei 2 on Blu-Ray! Coming Soon

The beloved Chinese animated fantasy returns with The Legend of Hei 2, continuing the story of spirits and humans struggling to coexist. With new dangers emerging from the spirit world, this sequel expands the mythology with a fresh adventure and stunning hand-drawn animation.

The Legend of Hei 2 Blu-rayGKIDS and Shout! Studios
Release Date: May 12, 2026

The story continues in The Legend of Hei, the acclaimed Chinese animated film that won audiences over with its beautiful hand-drawn animation and heartfelt storytelling. For anyone who missed the original, the movie is available online, with the home video still easy to find. Now the sequel, The Legend of Hei 2, arrives with a brand-new adventure filled with fresh dangers and a looming threat from the spirit world.

While the premise of maintaining balance between worlds may sound familiar, this story takes its own path. The conflict between spirits and humans is a universal theme, but this sequel expands the mythology in new directions rather than echoing other animated series. Readers can check out my review of the first film here.

The upcoming Blu-ray release of The Legend of Hei 2 arrives May 12, 2026 from GKIDS and Shout! Studios, bringing the acclaimed animated sequel home with several behind-the-scenes extras.

From the Press Release:

Revered for its luminous hand-drawn animation and emotionally rich storytelling, The Legend of Hei 2 reunites audiences with a world where spirits and humans coexist in uneasy harmony, raising the stakes with a sweeping new chapter that balances heart, humor, and kinetic action.

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Is There Gold To Be Found With Kayara, A Peruvian Animated Film?

A rare animated look at the Incan world, Kayara blends a familiar coming-of-age structure with a thoughtful historical lens. The result is an engaging adventure about identity, resilience, and a civilization fighting to preserve its spirit.

Kayara Movie PosterThe ancient Incan world is fascinating not only because of where it existed within the cosmos, but also because, as a mountain community, the way its people communicated between villages is worth examining too. While there are plenty of scholarly publications on the subject, seeing that world brought to life through animation is incredibly rare. Now there’s Kayara, the latest entry to deliver not only a strong coming-of-age tale, but also a historical glimpse into this culture’s past.

My first exposure to this world came through The Mysterious Cities of Gold; I don’t count The Emperor’s New Groove, since it’s more sitcom-oriented than folklore-driven. While The Road to El Dorado is more about the arrival of the Spaniards, I still wanted to know more. Thanks to Shout! Studios’ commitment to bringing world animation to their growing catalogue of releases, I was pleased to check out Ainbo: Spirit of the Amazon (review), made by Peruvian animation studio Tunche Films, and their next work proves just as enlightening.

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