:anime: Free/Low-Cost Anime Pick of the Month:: PSYCHO-PASS: Extended Edition

PSYCHO-PASS: Extended Edition

Official Sites: Japanese, English
Additional Links: HD noitaminA Preview Entry (original series)
Video [Free]: FUNimation.com (New eps.: subscribers-only first week, everyone else one week later), Hulu (new eps. one week later)

File this under "surprise", but in my wait for Terror of Resonance to be posted onto Hulu, I happened upon the special extended edition of the PSYCHO-PASS, instead! Titled, of course, as PSYCHO-PASS: Extended Edition, this version of the hit anime series consolidates the original 22, half-hour-long episodes to 11, hour-long episodes with all-new additional footage. It focuses on the  efforts of a law-enforcement group that uses weapons capable of ascertaining a person's true nature and the troublesome relationship between "Inspectors" and their "Enforcer" partners--individuals marked as "potential criminals" by the devices.

I never heard about FUNimation intending to stream this series, nor did I bother giving it an entry in the spring/summer noitaminA preview, given its format. Despite all of this, I am adding this to this month's already-hefty list of Free/Low-Cost Anime Picks because of noitaminA's 10th anniversary and each of the block's anime automatically counting as Picks when they debut for the year. Not to mention, a lot of people like the series, as well, so here is something for them to look forward to. New episodes of the series are available first at FUNimation.com (under the "Special [#]" subheaders) and a week later at Hulu, in Japanese with English subtitles.

:boxing: Quick Pick:: Canelo vs Lara

When viewing Canelo-Lara at first blush, it is not quite as easy to automatically pick a clear winner. When delving more into the figures and data, it is not any clearer. Saul "Canelo" Alvarez has the dogged tenacity, that explosive, ever-pressuring fight style, the speed, and power, but Erislandy Lara is far better skilled and the technician, more experienced and poised, and--while not up to Canelo's level--possesses a good amount of speed and pop. Many of those traits could give one man that vital edge over the other, but a few oddities are also present.

:anime: Free/Low-Cost Anime Pick of the Month Friendly Reminder:: Terror in Resonance

While both Sailor Moon and Sailor Moon Crystal have been selected as July's "Free/Low-Cost Anime Picks", Shinichiro Watanabe's Terror in Resonance (Zankyou no Terror) was actually already slated-in as this month's Pick, as well! As part of HD's commemoration of noitaminA's 10th anniversary, all TV anime from the block will become their respective month's Pick(s) when they debut during the year. And so, the terrorism anime is technically the first Pick of the month, despite being the third mentioned and debuting after SMC did…

…But I digress. You can read the show preview here and check out the series at FUNimation.com, which debuted just yesterday, but is currently available to the site's subscribers only. As is typical with other FUNi simulcasts, it is likely to appear on Hulu and possibly YouTube, at no cost, next week. And lastly, it is in Japanese with English subtitles.


[UPDATE (07.17.14)]: Now updated with Hulu link.

:anime: Free/Low-Cost Anime Pick of the Month:: Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon Crystal

Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon Crystal

Official Sites: Japanese, English, Viz Media
Additional Links: ANN Entry, MAL Entry
Video (Free {Streaming}): Hulu, Crunchyroll, Niconico (Free first two weeks per new episode, Pay afterwards), Neon Alley

…Since Sailor Moon is being selected as a Free/Low-Cost Anime Pick, why not choose the all-new adapatation, Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon Crystal, too?!

:anime: Free/Low-Cost Anime Pick of the Month:: Sailor Moon

Sailor Moon

Official Sites: Japanese, English
Additional Links: ANN Entry, MAL Entry
Video (Free {Streaming}): Hulu, Neon Alley
Video (Pay {Download-to-Own}): iTunes, Google Play, Amazon Instant Video, PlayStation/Sony Entertainment Network, Xbox Video

(As you may have noticed with the Picks over the past year or so, I have been experimenting with the show info format above, though I am closing down on a final one here. I will be trying to include more DtO links, as well as posting links to aggregates like Neon Alley, Aniplex Channel, Anime News Network, and Toonzaki. As much as I dislike listing sites that just show embedded video from other venues (i.e. Hulu, YouTube) or a collection of them from a company's catalogs, some of them have interactive social features and communities, so I will provide links there for those interested in striking up a conversation with other fellow viewers.)

This was one of the titles leftover from last month's intended anniversary special, where I was going to post one Free/Low-Cost Anime Pick for each week, but alas, life and other matters got in the way. I decided to shift some of the celebrations to this month, instead, so we'll be kicking off with one of the most no-brainer and mention-worthy titles to come around recently.