SENTAI FILMWORKS LICENSES NEW WATANABE/KANNO TEAM UP “KIDS ON THE SLOPE”

HOUSTON, April 12, 2012— Sentai Filmworks is proud to announce the acquisition of one of the most anticipated animated series of the decade,  KIDS ON THE SLOPE, the long awaited reunion of the team behind COWBOY BEBOP and MACROSS PLUS, director Shinichiro Watanabe (SAMURAI CHAMPLOO, THE ANIMATRIX ) and composer Yoko Kanno (RAHXEPHON, ESCAFLOWNE, GHOST IN THE SHELL S.A.C.).  Produced for Fuji Televisions prestigious noitaminA block and based on the manga “Sakamichi no Apollon” by Yuki Kodama, the 12 episode series’ already blockbuster list of production credits grows even more impressive with the addition of character designer Nobuteru Yuki (RECORD OF LODOSS WAR, ESCAFLOWNE, BATTLE ANGEL) and scripting by Yuko Kakihara (PERSONA 4-THE ANIMATION, TAYUTAMA-KISS ON MY DIETY,) and his second season collaborator on Disney’s STITCH! anime series, Ayako Kato.  There is perhaps no better summation of the astonishing caliber of talent assembled for this project than Ms. Kodama’s own words: “When it comes to adapting this manga to anime, I can say with no reservations that the series has been blessed with a brilliant combination of staff members that couldn’t be any better.”

It’s the summer of 1966 and high school freshman Kaoru Nishimi is struggling to adjust to the latest of many moves in his young life, this time to his uncle’s home in the seaside town of Kyushu.  It’s never easy adjusting.  It’s never easy fitting in.

But this time will be different.  This time he’ll meet friends who’ll change his life forever.  And he’ll discover a new passion, one that grabs his heart and rocks him to his very soul.

It’s a music.  A beat.  A whole new way of looking at life.  It’s called JAZZ, and together with bad boy Sentaro and music store girl Ritsuko, they’re going to follow their muse to wherever their music takes them!  You think garage bands are something new?  Think again and travel to a time when dreams and a couple of musical instruments really could change the world!   Get ready to be blown away as the acclaimed team behind COWBOY BEBOP reunites for a tale of life, love and all that jazz in THE KIDS ON THE SLOPE!

THE KIDS ON THE SLOPE will begin release through select digital outlets soon with a home video release on DVD & BD to follow.

About noitaminA:  With a top rated late-night anime time slot and major advertising sponsorship from Japan’s largest corporations, Fuji Television’s prestigious noitaminA block was designed to drive creativity and innovation in the art of anime. Assembling high profile teams of creators to produce eight new half hour series per annum, from both famous literary works and original concepts, noitaminA has consistently produced unique and innovative programming that pushes the boundaries of animation to its edge and beyond.

About Sentai Filmworks:
Sentai Filmworks is one of the fastest-growing anime companies in North America, producing hit series like High School of the Dead, Towanoquon, Samurai Girls, Guin Saga, Needless and Angel Beats as well as high profile theatrical films such as Grave of the Fireflies and Appleseed. Sentai Filmworks’ programs can be found on home video distributed by Ingram Entertainment, Baker & Taylor, Section23Films, The Right Stuf and other good and fine distributors.  Digital product offerings may be found at iTunes, Hulu, Netflix, Amazon, Zune Marketplace, Anime Network, Playstation Network, Android Market and YouTube.
www.sentai-filmworks.com

IRON MAN ANIME & X-MEN ANIME arrives on DVD April 24th

Explode onto DVD April 24th

Each Set Includes 12 Episodes From Each Series and New Bonus Features!

CULVER CITY, CALIF. (March 5, 2012) – Sony Pictures Home Entertainment and Marvel Animation release the IRON MAN ANIME and X-MEN ANIME on DVD April 24th. With 12 episodes and bonus features in each DVD, bring home the action and adventures of Iron Man and the X-Men in the classic anime style. Guided by New York Times best-selling author Warren Ellis (Iron Man: Extremis, Astonishing X-Men: Xenogenesis) and produced by Madhouse for Marvel Television and Sony Pictures Entertainment Japan (SPEJ). Sony Pictures Home Entertainment is the distributor.

The IRON MAN ANIME stars Adrian Pasdar (Heroes, Castle, Profit) as the voice of Tony Stark. The set contains special bonus features:
·         Re-Imagining Iron Man explores the plot and themes of the anime series.
·         21st Century Hero: The Technology of Iron Man introduces fans to Tony Stark’s high-tech suits and gadgets.
·         Special Cross Talk round table discussion with the creators of the Iron Man and Wolverine anime series.
·         Voicing Tony Stark, an interview with Japanese actor, Keiji Fujiwara.

The X-MEN ANIME features the voice of actor Scott Porter as Cyclops (The Good Wife, Friday Night Lights, Caprica). The set includes:
·         Re-Examining The X-Men takes viewers behind-the-scenes of creating X-Men’s mutant tales.
·         X-Men: A Team of Outsiders provides an in-depth exploration of Marvel’s most heroic and infamous mutants.
·         Special Talk Session round table discussion with the creators of Marvel anime’s X-Men and Blade.

IRON MAN ANIME: Tony Stark arrives in Japan to help implement his goal of world peace by building the Arc Reactor, a carbon-neutral power plant, that once operational will be able to provide limitless (thus free) energy to the world. Set to retire his Iron Man persona, and about to mass-produce a line of Iron Man armor known as “Iron Man Dio,” Stark’s plans are derailed by a series of high tech Mech monsters. Zodiac, a top secret organization funded by the terrorist group A.I.M. is out to disrupt the Arc Station, steal the Dio armor and put an end to Iron Man. The Armored Avenger’s fight is only just beginning.

X-MEN ANIME: The X-MEN are reunited following the death of a teammate and are summoned by Charles Xavier to Japan following the abduction of Hisako Ichiki. There, they confront the U-MEN, a lunatic cult that steals and transplants mutant organs to further strengthen its own army, and the battle for justice is on. Discovering a series of bizarre occurrences in the area they X-Men investigate only to be confronted with a terrible truth that will force them to confront long buried secrets.

Broadcast Year: 2011 (G4)

IRON MAN ANIME and X-MEN ANIME are rated NOT RATED.  Visit Sony Pictures Home Entertainment on the Web at www.SonyPictures.com.

ABOUT SONY PICTURES HOME ENTERTAINMENT
Sony Pictures Home Entertainment is a Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) company. Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) is a subsidiary of Sony Corporation of America, a subsidiary of Tokyo-based Sony Corporation. SPE’s global operations encompass motion picture production, acquisition and distribution; television production, acquisition and distribution; home entertainment acquisition and distribution; worldwide television networks; digital content creation and distribution; operation of studio facilities; development of new entertainment products, services and technologies; and distribution of entertainment in more than 142 countries. Sony Pictures Entertainment can be found on the World Wide Web at http://www.sonypictures.com.

ABOUT MARVEL
Marvel Entertainment, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company, is one of the world’s most prominent character-based entertainment companies, built on a proven library of over 8,000 characters featured in a variety of media over seventy years. Marvel utilizes its character franchises in entertainment, licensing and publishing. For more information visit www.marvel.com.

FUNimation Entertainment to Distribute LASTEXILE – Fam, The Silver Wing – in the U.S.

Project Marks 20th Anniversary of GONZO and New Chapter in Hit Anime Series

Flower Mound, Texas (June 22, 2011) – FUNimation® Entertainment today announced it has acquired the U.S. internet streaming and home video rights to the action adventure fantasy anime series “LASTEXILE – Fam, The Silver Wing – ” (also known as “Rasuto Eguzairu – Ginyoku no Famu”) from the legendary studio GONZO, the production team behind the “LASTEXILE” saga.

“LASTEXILE” is a Japanese animated television series created by GONZO which aired on TV Tokyo in 2003. This new “LASTEXILE” brings back director Koichi Chigira, character designer Range Murata, production designer Makoto Kobayashi but will be a new story with new main characters and production designs.

Music will again be done by Hitomi Kuroishi.

U.S. anime fans will be able to see the world premiere of the first episode of “LASTEXILE -Fam, The Silver Wing -” at this year’s Anime Expo in Los Angeles, July 1-4.

http://www.funimation.com/last-exile

About GONZO K.K.
GONZO K.K. is a Tokyo-based media company founded in September 1992. Through its Emmy-winning production company, GONZO produces innovative content for both domestic and international markets. Also an experienced media rights manager, GONZO usually controls licensing, merchandising, and international distribution rights to the content it produces. For additional information, please visit http://www.gonzo.co.jp (Japanese only).

About FUNimation® Entertainment
FUNimation® Entertainment is the leading company for home video sales of Japanese animation in the United States. FUNimation has a proven formula for launching and advancing brands, and manages a full spectrum of rights for most of its brands including broadcasting, licensing, production, internet, and home video sales and distribution. For more information about FUNimation Entertainment and its brands, visit http;//www.funimation.com .

VIZ MEDIA CELEBRATES 25th ANNIVERSARY

25 Years of Storytelling and Pioneering New Paths in Global Entertainment

San Francisco, CA, May 4, 2011 – VIZ Media, the largest distributor and licensor of anime and manga in the North America, will celebrate its 25^th Anniversary on July 7^th, 2011.  Over its 25 year history, VIZ Media has led the transformation of manga and anime from a niche category sold only at specialty retailers into a mass media phenomenon popularized on Cartoon Network, Hulu and iTunes, and available at Barnes & Noble and Walmart.  Today, VIZ Media is North America’s largest distributor of anime and manga, and is leading the global anime and manga industries to their digital futures.  To celebrate 25 years of pioneering new paths in global entertainment and publishing, later this year VIZ Media will be unveiling new properties, marketing programs, and distribution partnerships.

 

Since 1986, VIZ Media has primarily distributed titles exclusively owned by its parent companies, Shueisha Inc., Shogakukan Inc., and Shogakukan-Shueisha Productions Co., Ltd.. In 2011, VIZ Media will diversify its award-winning library further by licensing properties from other global content creators as well as creating its own content. On the digital front, VIZ Media has created partnerships with Apple, Hulu, Netflix, Google and more, leading the way to new paths for distribution of manga and anime.

 

“For 25 years, VIZ Media has been telling stories that resonate with audiences and fans all over North America,” said Hidemi Fukuhara, President and CEO of VIZ Media. “Even after two-and-a-half decades of explosive growth, we still see tremendous potential to adapt, grow and leverage our library of world-renowned and beloved characters. With a full slate of new anime and manga releases planned this year, VIZ Media has something for everyone.”

 

The VIZ Media library includes global blockbuster franchises like NARUTO, INUYASHA, POKÉMON, DRAGON BALL Z, YU-GI-OH!, BLEACH, VAMPIRE KNIGHT, and DEATH NOTE.  VIZ Media’s manga titles are available at mass retailers everywhere, and through VIZ Media’s free VIZ Manga App for the iPad™, iPhone™, and iPod Touch™, the first manga-dedicated app in North America.  VIZ Media anime titles can be seen on Disney XD, Cartoon Network and Adult Swim, is available for Download-to-Own/Download-to-Rent via iTunes, PlayStation^®Network, Amazon Instant Video and Zune on Xbox LIVE^®, and for streaming on the company’s own VIZAnime.com, Hulu and Netflix, and is available for purchase on DVD at mass DVD retailers.

VIZAnime.com To Stream Highly Anticipated BLUE EXORCIST Anime on 4/20!

PARANORMAL ANIME ADVENTURE BLUE EXORCIST PREMIERES ON VIZANIME.COM THIS MONTH

New Aniplex Series About A Teenager And His Infernal Destiny Launches In The U.S. Only Days After Japanese Debut

VIZ Media has announced that it will serve as an official distribution partner for Aniplex of America’s domestic debut of the BLUE EXORCIT anime series. VIZ Media will carry the new action series (subtitled) on its VIZAnime website beginning Wednesday, April 20^th, just days after its eagerly anticipated debut on Japanese TV on April 17^th. New episodes will stream on the site every Wednesday.

 

In the animated series, Rin, along with his twin brother Yukio Okumura are raised by an eminent priest, Shiro Fujimoto, but one day Rin discovers that their biological father is actually Satan! As the border between “Assiah” (the human world) and “Gehenna” (demon’s world) is intruded upon by evils, Rin vows to become the ultimate exorcist to defeat his own father, Satan. To hone his raw skills, Rin enters True Cross Academy to train with other exorcist candidates. Can Rin fight the demons and keep his infernal bloodline a secret? It won’t be easy, especially when drawing his father’s sword releases the demonic power within him!

 

VIZ Media is the official North American publisher of the BLUE EXORCIST manga (graphic novel) series, created Kazue Kato. Volume 1 is on sale now and is published under the company’s Shonen Jump Advanced imprint. BLUE EXORCIST is rated ‘T+’ for Older Teens and carries an MSRP of $9.99 U.S. / $12.99 CAN.

 

BLUE EXORCIST Volume 1 will also available on April 11^th as part of VIZ Media’s expansive digital manga library available exclusively for the VIZ MANGA APP for the Apple^® iPad™ mobile device. For more information on the VIZ MANGA APP, please visit www.VIZ.com/apps/.

 

Manga creator, writer and illustrator Kazue Kato won the prestigious Tezuka Award when she was only 19 for her work, Rabbit And I, published in Japan in Akamaru Jump magazine. Her latest manga series, BLUE EXORCIST, debuted in Jump Square magazine in April of 2009.

LUCKY STAR MANGA VOL. 6 IN STORES TODAY; NYAF NEWS ROUNDUP

October 12, 2010 (Cypress, CA) – Bandai Entertainment announced today that Lucky Star
Manga Vol. 6 will be in book stores today and comic shops tomorrow. The title was rescheduled
due to a production delay. Lucky Star Vol. 7 is on schedule for a November release.
Over the weekend at New York Comic Con/Anime Festival, Bandai Entertainment made the
following announcements:
Mobile Suit Gundam, the original anime classic, will be released as a 2-part Anime Legend DVD
and for the first time on DVD it will feature both the English language audio and the Japanese
audio track with English subtitles. This will be the 42 episode release (one episode has long been
withheld at the request of creator Tomino). This will feature the original English dub.
Gundam Unicorn 2 on blu-ray will be available at the Bandai Store on November 12th.
Gundam Unicorn has been licensed for standard DVD release by Bandai Entertainment. The DVD
version, unlike the Blu-Ray, will feature two episodes on each over a 3-part release, for a total of
six episodes.
The Girl Who Leapt Through Time is coming to Blu-ray. Specs and dates TBD
As previously announced by Manga Entertainment, Ghost in the Shell: Solid State Society is
coming to blu-ray.
K-ON! Season 1 will be released over 4 parts on standard DVD and blu-ray and each volume will
have a regular edition and a special edition featuring a CD with tracks to be determined. The
English dub will not feature English versions of the songs. Two new cast members were
announced: “Ritsu” will be played by Cassandra Lee and “Mugi” will be played by Shelby Lindley.
Gundam 00 movie: A wakening of the Trailblazer has been licensed for North American release.
Specs and release dates TBD.

CRUNCHYROLL ANNOUNCES DAILY DEAL FOR JUNE 10, 2010

World’s Leading Asian Media Lifestyle Brand to Provide Huge Daily Discounts on a 10 pack of Gintama: Chibi Voice I-dolls for its Members and Users

San Francisco, Calif. (June 10, 2010) – Today’s Crunchyroll Daily Deal is
Gintama: Chibi Voice I-dolls (10-Pack) (MSRP: $73.05 U.S.; User Discounted
Price: $55.99 U.S.; Member Discounted price: $45.99 U.S.).  Not only can you
watch previous simulcasts of Gintama anime on Crunchyroll
(http://www.crunchyroll.com/gintama) for free, you can now play with the
Gintama voice I-dolls straight from Japan. This deal features a box of 10
random figures and there are five total possible gashapon (capsule toy)
characters to collect: Gintoki, Hijikata, Katsura, Okita, and
Ginpachi-sensei.  Each character has a little voice base that, when pressed,
plays a phrase spoken by the respective character in the show in a chibi
voice.  This product will be discounted for users with an even larger
discount for Crunchyroll members beginning today May 10, 2010 at 12:00:00AM.
More information can be found at www.crunchyroll.com/deals
<http://www.crunchyroll.com/deals> .

Products will be available for purchase for a limited time until quantities
have either sold out or the deal “expires” (whichever comes first).   The
next deal and new product will start the following midnight PST. Shipping
charges internationally will be approximately $10.00 (U.S.) and countries
eligible for the daily deal will vary by product.