Anime distributor AnimEigo has announced plans to release a 1080p HD Blu-ray Disc edition of Osamu Tezuka’s 1983 anime special, A Time Slip of 10,000 Years: Prime Rose, in early 2026. The upcoming release, a collaboration with SkySet Entertainment, will feature an upgraded presentation over SkySet’s prior 720p BD-R release, including both the original Japanese audio with subtitles and a new English dub.
Upgraded Presentation and Release Details
The new AnimEigo Blu-ray will offer a fully authored 1080p HD remastered edition of the classic anime special. This marks a significant upgrade from the 720p BD-R version previously released by SkySet Entertainment in June 2025, which itself was the anime’s first North American release and included its inaugural English dub. The 2026 release will be available through the MediaOCD Store, Crunchyroll Store, Amazon, and other major retailers.
Comprehensive Audio Options and Bonus Features
Fans can look forward to a rich viewing experience, as the Blu-ray will include both the original Japanese audio track with English subtitles and the recently produced English dub by SkySet Entertainment. The release is also set to include a variety of bonus features, such as English dub outtakes, interviews with the English cast, staff commentary, trailer videos, and pre-production sketches from Tezuka Productions.
The English dub features a talented cast, including KyLeigh Zimmerer as Emiya Tachi, Jacob Eiseman as Gai Tanbara, Christina Assaf Costello as Bunretsu Tanbara, David Wald as Pilar, and John Swasey as Jinba. Phebe Fabacher directed the English dub, with Hayden Davis as the engineer, Kym Rose handling adaptation, and Ralph Villegas overseeing timecoding.
The Legacy of Prime Rose and Osamu Tezuka
A Time Slip of 10,000 Years: Prime Rose is based on Osamu Tezuka’s manga of the same name, which was serialized in Akita Publishing’s Weekly Shōnen Champion from 1982 to 1983. The anime special, directed by Tetsu Dezaki, originally aired in Japan on August 21, 1983, as part of the “24-Hour Television: Love Saves the Earth” charity program. Notably, the anime’s story was specifically written for the film as the manga was still ongoing at the time of its production, with some sources noting it’s even closer to Tezuka’s original idea than the manga.
A Dystopian Narrative
The anime plunges viewers into a perilous future, as a malevolent entity known as Death Mask propels Kujukuri City, Japan, and Dallas, Texas, 10,000 years into the future. These displaced cities become a brutal battleground where survival is paramount. The story follows Gai Tanbara, a member of the Time Patrol, who ventures into this dystopian future determined to break Death Mask’s control over time. Along his journey, he encounters Emiya, a fierce warrior committed to liberating her city from the encroaching darkness. Together, they confront the horrors of their shattered world and the sinister forces threatening humanity’s existence.
“The God of Manga”
Osamu Tezuka, often revered as “The God of Manga” and “Godfather of Manga,” is a monumental figure in Japanese popular culture. His prolific output, including over 700 manga works and 500 anime episodes, revolutionized the manga and anime industries with imaginative characters and pioneering storytelling techniques. His most famous creations include Astro Boy, Jungle Emperor Leo (also known as Kimba the White Lion), Black Jack, Princess Knight, and Phoenix. Tezuka’s founding of Mushi Production studio led to the creation of Japan’s first half-hour animated series, Astro Boy, which set precedents for animation techniques and production methods that continue to influence the anime industry today. The upcoming Blu-ray release of Prime Rose offers an opportunity to revisit a lesser-known, but no less significant, work from this legendary creator.
