Media Blasters brings anime rental kiosks to 100 locations across the U.S.

by Chris MaGee

Live in the U.S. and find yourself constantly bemoaning the scarcity of anime on DVD at your local video store? Well, stop your belly-aching! The folks at Media Blasters is rolling out 100 self-serve DVD rental kiosks in the coming months to make the lives of anime otaku that much easier.

According to a post at Anime News Network this week New York-based distributor Media Blasters is making their catalogue of anime titles available through these kiosks that will be set up in specialty video stores and shops throughout the next 18 months. The first kiosk has been set up in New York City at the Image Anime store located at 242 West 30th Street, and for rental fees as low as $1.00 to $2.00 anime fans can get a slew of mazing films and series. "Like what?" you may ask... How about Katsuhiro Otomo's "Akira", Hayao Miyazaki's "Castle in the Sky", Makoto Shinkai's "Voices of a Distant Star" (above left), Shinichiro Watanabe's "Cowboy Beebop" and Satoshi Kon's "Perfect Blue" to name only a few of the dozens of titles being made available.

Not too bad, we think. Keep checking the Media Blasters website for more cities in where these kiosks will be set up.