BLACK JACK – THE COMPLETE OVA arrives in HD for the first time

1 month ago 26

Anime distributor AnimEigo and parent company MediaOCD have announced that the acclaimed anime medical drama about a mysterious doctor for hire based on the award-winning Osamu Tezuka manga series, Black Jack, is arriving for the first time in vivid HD with the upcoming home media Blu-ray release of Black Jack – The Complete OVA. The Blu-ray arrives December 16, 2025.

Considered the “Godfather of Manga,” Tezuka significantly impacted the worldwide appeal of anime and manga, producing more than 700 manga works and 500 anime episodes, including such groundbreaking titles as Astro Boy, Princess Knight, and Kimba the White Lion. Before the age of streaming and digital media, Tezuka’s works were among the first to find popularity with North American audiences. Often, part of cultural exchanges put together by APAs in the animation and furry communities, anime such as Kimba the White Lion, significantly influenced the animation style of many of The Walking Disney Company‘s OG animators.

A gripping blend of House M.D. and The X-Files, the Black Jack anime series is a medical mystery drama based on Tezuka’s iconic 1970s manga Black Jack. The OVA series follows a brilliant, enigmatic surgeon who tackles the world’s most baffling medical cases—always for a steep price. Directed by the legendary Osamu Dezaki (Astro Boy, The Rose of Versailles, The Snow Queen, Rainbow Brite), co-founder of Studio Madhouse, the Black Jack anime episodes pushed the boundaries of animation with bold visual storytelling and cinematic flair. Long unavailable, all 12 episodes return at last—fully remastered in stunning 1080p HD—in this definitive Blu-ray release from AnimEigo.

Black Jack BD Cover

In 1963, Dezaki joined Tezuka’s Mushi Production and made his directorial debut in 1970 with the influential boxing series Ashita no Joe (Tomorrow’s Joe). Over his nearly 50-year career, Dezaki left an indelible mark on the anime industry. He is known for his bold, innovative visual style, having pioneered techniques like split-screens, stark lighting contrasts, and his own signature methods—most famously the “postcard memory” (a scene that fades into a painterly still image) and the “triple swish pan” (rapid, repeated cuts of a climactic moment to heighten dramatic impact). These stylistic hallmarks became trademarks of Dezaki’s work and are used to striking effect throughout Black Jack.

Meanwhile, Tezuka’s original Black Jack manga won the first-ever Kodansha Manga Award for shonen in 1977 and has sold over 47 million copies in Japan. Dezaki’s 1996 feature film adaptation, Black Jack: The Movie, went on to win Best Animation Film at the Mainichi Film Awards, further cementing the series’ legacy—and his.

Read the official description below:

When mysterious medical ailments strike, there is only one person to call: the mysterious Black Jack – an unlicensed doctor who can solve any malady… for a
price. Aided by his zesty little companion Pinoko, Dr. Black Jack travels the world, curing diseases that, at times, seem almost supernatural. But there is always a
cure… or is there?

Black Jack OVA Blu-ray features:

$54.95 SRP
12 episodes on three discs
Commentary with director Osamu Dezaki (Eps. 1, 6 and 10)
Interviews with Masao Maruyama, Akio Otsuka, Yuko Mizutani, and more
Includes original Japanese and U.S. promotional trailers
Includes original 4×3 SD versions of eps 1-7
For ages 13 and up
For sale in North America, the UK, Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand only
1080p HD / Total Running Time – 500 minutes / English 2.0 and Japanese 2.0 Stereo / English Subtitles / Region Free