The highly anticipated City Hunter: Angel Dust anime film is finally making its way to North American audiences on Blu-ray. Fans can mark their calendars for July 15, 2025, as that’s when the Blu-ray disc is officially set to ship.
A Long-Awaited Release
City Hunter: Angel Dust, also known as City Hunter The Movie: Angel Dust (劇場版シティーハンター 天使の涙), is a 2023 Japanese animated action film that serves as a significant addition to the City Hunter franchise. The film revisits the world of Ryo Saeba, a “sweeper” who tackles dangerous and unusual jobs in Shinjuku, partnering with Kaori Makimura. Directed by Kazuyoshi Takeuchi and Kenji Kodama, the film adapts the initial part of the final arc from the City Hunter manga, promising a thrilling and nostalgic experience for long-time fans.
Storyline and Key Players
The movie plunges into a captivating narrative:
- The Case: Ryo Saeba, aka City Hunter, and his partner Kaori take on what seems like a simple case from Angie, a filmmaker looking for her missing cat.
- The Twist: An attempt on Angie’s life reveals a deeper plot involving mysterious assassins and “Angel Dust,” a military technology capable of creating super soldiers.
- The Connection: Saeko Nogami from the Metropolitan Police investigates Zoltech, a biotech company behind Angel Dust, which has ties to Ryo’s past and the death of Hideyuki Makimura.
The film stars:
- Akira Kamiya as Ryo Saeba
- Kazue Ikura as Kaori Makimura
- Miyuki Sawashiro as Angie
- Tesshō Genda as Falcon
- Mami Koyama as Miki
- Yōko Asagami as Saeko Nogami
- Hideyuki Tanaka as Hideyuki Makimura
- Subaru Kimura as Espada
Music and Production
Taku Iwasaki composed the score, which was released as a CD album titled City Hunter The Movie: Angel Dust – Original Soundtrack in September 2023. The film features new songs from TM Network, the band long associated with the anime, including the opening song “Whatever Comes,” insert songs “DEVOTION,” “Angie,” and “Watching Your Sky,” and a new version of “Get Wild” for the ending.
Blu-ray Details
- Rating: 18+
- Language: Japanese
- Subtitles: English
- Genre: Action, Comedy, Mystery
- Runtime: 94 minutes
- Region: A
- Number of Discs: 1
- Studio: Shout! Studios
The Blu-ray release also includes bonus features like opening and ending sequences, trailers, and promotional videos.
Reception and Impact
City Hunter: Angel Dust was released in Japan on September 8, 2023, and later in other Asian countries. It topped the Japanese box office during its opening weekend, grossing around $2.2 million (USD). By the end of 2023, it had grossed approximately $7 million (USD).
Where to Pre-Order
Fans eager to own the City Hunter: Angel Dust Blu-ray can pre-order it from online retailers such as Crunchyroll Store and Shout! Factory.
