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Reborn! Gets Tie-In Events, Blu-ray Box Sets, Compilation CD

Anime News Network's merchandise coverage sponsored by Tokyo Otaku Mode.

Approximately 10 years ago the anime adaptation of Akira Amano's Katekyo Hitman Reborn! premiered on Japanese television. The series' production companies are taking note by planning a series of collaborations and new merchandise to celebrate the milestone.

One of the first collaboration is the return of "Vongole Festa" at the Jump Shop within the Tokyo Dome City store. This is the first Volgola Festa in five years and its running simultaneously with ēlDLIVE Festa, another series based on a work by Akira Amano. Vongole Festa will launch on May 20 and run for one week. Visitors can get a limited edition postcard for participating (see below image).

Reborn! was added to the line-up at the J-World Tokyo theme park last year and ran until January. The park will again feature the characters as part of a "Future Edition" event starting on June 5. Visitors can get a second limited edition postcard.

Finally, Nico Nico headquarters' nicocafe will feature Reborn! as starting on July 20. Visitors can get the third limited edition postcard at that location.

Katekyo Hitman Reborn! premiered in the fall 2006 anime season. The series is getting a Blu-ray box release that is separated into three boxes. The second box includes nine Blu-ray discs (episodes 74-141), a bonus disc, and a bonus drama CD. Customers that purchase the Blu-ray box through the Canime online shop will also get 19 postcards with artwork from the original DVD jackets. Character designer Masayoshi Tanaka drew the release's digipak illustration and Akira Amano drew a new illustration for the Blu-ray case's back side.

The box set costs 38,000 yen (US$339) and is slated for release on May 17. The first Blu-ray box was released on April 19 for the same price. It included episodes 1-73.

The anime will also get a new CD release featuring all the opening and ending themes from the series as well as previously recorded character songs. "Katekyo Hitman Reborn! Anime Theme Songs & Character Theme Songs Cover Collection" is a two-disc set covering 31 songs from the series and is slated for release on July 19 for 2,800 yen (US$25).

[Via Nijimen (Link 2)]