Episodes Begin Streaming November 21st
Source: Anime Network press release
Official Site: mashiro.tv (Japan)
Special Thanks to Christian Lopez

The students at the all-girl Yuihime private academy are not happy that their
school is going co-ed. © 2011 Palette/ Ketsu Hime Joshi Gakuen Nukobu

Watch it boys: if you’re trying to get in, these girls will make sure you stay out!

Broadcast and digital distributor Anime Network has announced the acquisition of the all new high school comedy, MASHIROIRO SYMPHONY ~ THE COLOR OF LOVERS (ましろ色シンフォニー ~the color of lovers ~, 2011), for their streaming service, Anime Network Online.

Director Eiji Suganuma (PATLABOR: THE MOVIE, SERIAL EXPERIMENTS LAIN) and producers Media Factory (MARIA HOLIC: ALIVE, INFINITE STRATOS) welcome you to a school rumble where the females hold all the cards, and the males are just trying to survive! The odds are stacked, and there’s no place to hide from the wrath of a thousand girls in MASHIROIRO SYMPHONY ~ THE COLOR OF LOVERS!
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English Dubbed First Episode Now Streaming
Source: FUNimation Entertainment
Official Site: tv-tokyo.co.jp/fairytail (Japan), funimation.com/fairy-tail (US)
Special Thanks to Jackie Smith and Michelle Lee

Combo Pack art for FAIRY TAIL: PART 1. Photo courtesy of
FUNimation Entertainment. © 2009 Fairy Tail Guild
Production Committee: Hiro Mashima/ Kodansha/ TV Tokyo

FUNimation Entertainment will release their first Blu-ray/DVD Combo set of the action/adventure anime FAIRY TAIL (フェアリーテイル, Fearii Teiru, 2009) on November 22nd. Based on the hit manga by Hiro Mashima (each new manga volume published since 2007 has debuted in the Top 5), the long running series is co-produced by A-1 Pictures and Satelight, and directed by Shinji Ishihira. The Blu-ray/DVD Combo set contains episodes 1-12.

In the Kingdom of Fiore, powerful wizards harness the forces of Dragon Fire, Ice, Weaponry, and the Zodiac to make their living by joining magical guilds and contracting out their services to become “wizards for hire”.

Lucy Heartfilla is a young mage who has always wanted to join the magical guild of Fairy Tail. Running away from home, she meets Natsu, a teenage boy who- along with his best friend, Happy the cat- is on a journey to find for the missing dragon Igneel who raised him. Natsu reveals that he is actually a member of Fairy Tail and offers Lucy membership into the guild, which she gladly accepts. Lucy is introduced to Erza and Gray, both members of Fairy Tail, and the four young wizards team up to seek their fortunes. Growing stronger with every mission, they travel the countryside helping people and battling rival guilds, but with personalities as different as their magic skills, this team may end up doing more damage than good.
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The odd Inga and the ‘Defeated Detective’ Shinjurou Yuuki unravel a criminal conspiracy in the new anime series UN-GO. © 2011 Un-Go Committee

Episodes Begin Streaming November 13th
Source: Sentai Filmworks, Anime Network press releases
Official Site: un-go.com (Japan)
Special Thanks to David Williams and Christian Lopez

Sentai Filmworks has acquired UN-GO (アンゴ, pronounced ‘An Go’, 2011), the eagerly awaited new series from Fuji TV’s prestigious noitaminA animation block and mega animation studio BONES.

Loosely inspired by a collection of detective stories by Japanese literary giant Ango Sakaguchi, the all star production transposes the action to a gritty near future, post-war Tokyo, and is helmed by director Seiji Mizushima (FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST, MOBILE SUIT GUNDAM 00, DAIGUARD) with a storyline by his FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST collaborator Shou Aikawa (BLOOD REIGN: CURSE OF THE YOMA, MARTIAN SUCCESSOR NADESICO, GHOST SLAYERS AYASHI). In yet another unique twist, character design duties have been split between illustrator pako (RENTAL MAGIKA) and Loveless and Earthian manga creator Yun Kouga (MOBILE SUIT GUNDAM 00).
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SPACE BATTLESHIP YAMATO is just one of thirty movies making their Australian premiere at the 15th Japanese Film Festival.
Photo courtesy of Japan Foundation. © 2010 Space Battleship Yamato Production Committee.

Source: Japan Foundation, Sydney press releases
Official Site: japanesefilmfestival.net
Special Thanks to Evon Fung and Amanda Thompson

Not long now until the 15th Japanese Film Festival hits Sydney and Melbourne with their biggest line-up to date. Featuring 30 films – all Australian premieres – the festival lineup includes the live action feature SPACE BATTLESHIP YAMATO, Koki Mitani’s new comedy A GHOST OF A CHANCE, Studio Ghibli’s box office smash ARRIETTY, Takahisa Zeze’s latest LIFE BACK THEN, OBA: THE LAST SAMURAI (with director Hideyuki Hirayama and actor Yutaka Takenouchi in attendance), ABACUS AND SWORD, Yoshihiro Nakamura’s A BOY AND HIS SAMURAI, VILLAIN, GANTZ and GANTZ: PERFECT ANSWER.
Continued…

SKETCH OF MUJO, the first documentary to be made in the wake of the 2011 earthquake and tsunami, is one of six new Japanese films
screening during the “Premiere Japan 2011″ festival at the Barbican Centre.

Six New Japanese Films Screening November 25-27
Source: Barbican Centre, Sarah Harvey Publicity press release
Special Thanks to Liz Parkinson

Now in its seventh year in London, Premiere Japan comes to the Barbican for the first time from 25 to 27 November, screening six of the best and most recent features and documentaries from Japan. Highlights include Locarno Film Festival winner, TOKYO PARK featuring rising star Haruma Miura; the latest delight from Yazaki Hitoshi, SWEET LITTLE LIES adapted from Ekuni Kaori’s best selling novel, and SKETCH OF MUJO the first documentary to be made in the wake of the devastating earthquake and tsunami earlier this year. Each screening is preceded by a short film chosen from submissions made by students, both Japanese and non-Japanese, at the University of the Arts London.
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VIZ Media Releases Anime Feature Film Based on the Popular Nintendo Video Game
Source: VIZ Media, MediaLab press releases
Special Thanks to Jane Lui and Erik Jansen

Cover art for PROFESSOR LAYTON AND THE ETERNAL DIVA
DVD. Photo courtesy of VIZ Media. © LEVEL-5/ Team
Layton 2009

VIZ Media, LLC, the largest distributor and licensor of anime and manga in North America, will release a new anime feature-length film, PROFESSOR LAYTON AND THE ETRENAL DIVA (レイトン教授と永遠の歌姫, Reiton-kyooju to Eien no Utahime, 2009), on DVD November 8th. The movie is based on the highly popular PROFESSOR LAYTON series of video games for the Nintendo DS and will be suitable for All Ages. The DVD features both subtitled and dubbed English dialogue options, and will carry an MSRP of $19.97 U.S. / $19.98 CAN.

Professor Layton, a true English gentleman, renowned archaeologist, and the world’s greatest amateur super sleuth, embarks on his most daring adventure yet when he receives a letter from his old student, the famous opera diva Janice Quatlane. She is set to perform at the legendary Crown Petone Opera House and invites him to attend as her special guest. Meanwhile, a spate of disappearances hits London. Two young school girls are the latest victims and the Professor suspects it’s related to the mysterious occurrences at the theatre. The Professor and his loyal assistant Luke travel to the Opera House to solve their toughest puzzle yet, the mystery of Eternal Life!
Continued…

Episodes Begin Streaming November 18
Source: Anime Network press release
Official Site: anime-majikoi.com (Japan)
Special Thanks to Christian Lopez

The female members of samurai team cause havoc in MAJIKOI ~ OH! SAMURAI
GIRLS. © 2011 MinatoSoft/ Majikoi Production Commitee

Broadcast and digital distributor Anime Network announced that they will begin streaming the slapstick comedy MAJIKOI ~ OH! SAMURAI GIRLS (真剣で私に恋しなさい, Maji de Watashi ni Koi Shinasai!, 2011), in Japanese with English subtitles on Anime Network Online.

Adapted from Minato Soft’s popular visual novel, directed by Keitaro Motonaga (AKANE IRO NI SOMARU SAKA, SCHOOL DAYS), with story supervision by Katsuhiko Takayama (AND YET THE TOWN MOVES, e.f. A TALE OF MEMORIES), the 12-episode series centers around a city where samurai ancestry runs deep, a tightly knit group of girls who suddenly find themselves with two new members, and a ton of new problems.

Starting on Friday, November 18, Anime Network will kick off the online release with the first two episodes going live at 12 PM Eastern. A new episode will be available every week there after. Each episode will also be available on the free, ad-supported Hulu service as well as the Hulu Plus subscription service, within 24 hours. Distribution on additional services and platforms will follow in 2012.
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Source: FUNimation Entertainment press release
Official Site: geneon-ent.co.jp/hellsing (Japan), funimation.com/hellsing-ultimate (US)
Special Thanks to Scott Lonski

Japanese cover art for HELLSING ULTIMATE OVA 8.
© Kouta Hirano • Shonen Gahosha Co, Ltd./ Wild Geese

FUNimation Entertainment has acquired the U.S. home video rights to the long awaited HELLSING ULTIMATE OVA 8 (ヘルシングＯＶＡ・VIII巻, Herushingu OVA VIII), in addition to the previously announced HELLSING ULTIMATE 1-7 OVAs. Production on the HELLSING ULTIMATE OVAs will begin immediately at the original studio, New Generation Pictures, and will include the original cast featuring Crispin Freeman in his return as Arucard. FUNimation Entertainment will release these new OVAs starting in 2012.

The new home video releases will feature exclusive extras including panel discussions and one-on-one interviews recorded at the 2011 Anime Vegas Convention taking place this month. Fans will be encouraged to submit questions for the cast via the FUNimation Facebook page to possibly be included as part of the extra features.
Continued…

Anime Film Streets in Late November
Source: The Associates press release
Official Site: juiz.jp (Japan)

Cover art for EDEN OF THE EAST: PARADISE LOST. Photo
courtesy of The Associates. © 2010 EDEN OF THE EAST.

Writer/director Kenji Kamiyama’s EDEN OF THE EAST: PARADISE LOST (東のエデン 劇場版Ⅱ Paradise Lost, Higashi no Eden Gekijooban II: Paradise Lost, 2010) is the thrilling feature-length conclusion to the acclaimed anime series EDEN OF THE EAST (東のエデン, Higashi no Eden, 2009). The film (cert. 15) will be released on DVD (Region 2, PAL) and Blu-ray (Region B) in the UK by Manga Entertainment on 21st November 2011.

The story of political and subversive intrigue in the series finally reaches endgame. Even as the law enforcement net tightens around Saki and her fellow Eden of the East associates over alleged terrorist activities, the complex web surrounding the mysterious Mr. Outside is finally untangled as the remaining Selecao attempt to outmaneuver one another. Takizawa’s memories and identity are also finally revealed including his association with a former Prime Minister and his request to be the King of Eden.
Continued…

The anime feature TRIGUN: BADLANDS RUMBLE will be released on Aussie DVD and Blu-ray in November. Photo courtesy of Madman Entertainment.
© 2010 Yasuhiro Naito/ Trigun the Movie Production Committee

Source: Madman Entertainment
Official Movie Site: funimation.com/trigun (US), trigun-movie.com (Japan)

Vash The Stampede is back in TRIGUN: BADLANDS RUMBLE (トライガン The Movie 公式サイト, 2010). The first full length TRIGUN movie is coming to DVD (Region 4, PAL) and Blu-ray (Region B) in Australia on November 16th from distributor Madman Entertainment.
Continued…

Nanoha Itou and Kaito Daimon attempt to solve a potentially deadly puzzle in the anime series PHI-BRAIN ~ KAMI NO PUZZLE. © 2011 Sunrise/ NHK · NEP

Episodes Begin Streaming this Friday
Source: Sentai Filmworks, Anime Network press releases
Official Site: phibrain.net, nhk/anime/phibrain (Japan)
Special Thanks to David Williams and Christian Lopez

Key art for PHI-BRAIN ~ KAMI NO PUZZLE. © Sunrise/
NHK · NEP

Sentai Filmworks and Anime Network have acquired the new paranormal thriller series PHI-BRAIN ~ KAMI NO PUZZLE (ファイ・ブレイン 神のパズル, Fai Burein Kami no Pazuru, 2011) from famed director and manga creator Junichi Sato (SAILOR MOON, SERGEANT FROG, PRETEAR, ARIA), and legendary anime studio SUNRISE (MOBILE SUIT GUNDAM, COWBOY BEBOP, SORCERER HUNTERS, DIRTY PAIR, ESCAFLOWNE). Based on a treatment by ‘Hajime Yatate’, a collective name for the Sunrise staff, and with script supervision by Mayori Sekijima (NAJICA BLITZ TACTICS, PLASTIC LITTLE, SOL BIANCA, CLAMP SCHOOL), the 25 episode series features character designs by veteran animator Youhei Sasaki and music by Akio Izutsu.

Digital distribution will begin this week on the streaming service, Anime Network Online. Starting Friday, November 4th, Episodes 1 to 5 will be released daily online at 4 PM Eastern to catch up to the release of Episode 6 on Wednesday, November 9th. New episodes will be available every Wednesday. Each episode will also be available on the free, ad-supported Hulu service, as well as the Hulu Plus subscription service, within 24 hours. Distribution on additional services and platforms will follow in 2012.
Continued…

Source: Sentai Filmworks press release
Official Site: mashiro.tv (Japan)
Special Thanks to David Williams

Key art for MASHIROIRO SYMPHONY ~ THE COLOR OF LOVERS.
© 2011 Palette/ Ketsu Hime Joshi Gakuen Nukobu

Sentai Filmworks has acquired MASHIROIRO SYMPHONY ~ THE COLOR OF LOVERS (ましろ色シンフォニー ~the color of lovers ~, 2011), the anime adaptation of the hit game franchise from visual novel developer Pallete, which has already spawned three manga spinoffs and a series of drama and music CDs.

Produced by Manglobe, the 12 episode series is scripted by Team RIKKA and directed by Eiji Suganuma (SASAMEKI KOTO, NINJA CADETS). Adaption of the intricate original designs by Tsubasu Izumi (AKANE-IRO NI SOMARU SAKA, EF: A TALE OF MEMORIES) were handled by Toshie Kawamura (THE WORLD ONLY GOD KNOWS, YES! PRECURE 5, PRECURE ALL-STARS), who also serves as the animation director.

MASHIROIRO SYMPHONY ~ THE COLOR OF LOVERS will be available digitally soon. The home video release will follow next year on subtitled DVD.
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The FAFNER anime series and movie are coming to North America in 2012. © King Record.Co.,Ltd. © Xebec/Tatsumiyajima Yakuba

Source: FUNimation Entertainment press release
Official Site: fafner.jp (Japan)
Special Thanks to Jackie Smith and Michelle Lee

FUNimation Entertainment has acquired the home entertainment, digital, and merchandise rights to the FAFNER (蒼穹のファフナー, Sookyuu no Fafunaa) anime series and movie.

The twenty-six episode series focuses on a group of children who pilot the titular Fafners in a war against the Festum— giant aliens who destroyed much of the world. The movie FAFNER: DEAD AGGRESSOR: HEAVEN AND EARTH (蒼穹のファフナーDead Aggressor HEAVEN AND EARTH, Sookyuu no Fafunaa: Dead Aggressor: Heaven and Earth, 2010) takes place two years after the end of the original series.
Continued…

Teo (Miyuki Sawashiro), Haruka (Haruka Ayase) and Cotton (Tamaki Matsumoto) explore a land of long-lost childhood treasures in the computer animated
film OBLIVION ISLAND: HARUKA AND THE MAGIC MIRROR. © 2009 Fuji Television Network/ Production I.G / Dentsu/ Pony Canyon

Source: FUNimation Entertainment press release
Special Thanks to Jackie Smith and Michelle Lee

FUNimation Entertainment has acquired the home entertainment, broadcast, digital, and mobile rights to the Production I.G. full length animated film, OBLIVION ISLAND: HARUKA AND THE MAGIC MIRROR (ホッタラケの島 〜遥と魔法の鏡〜, Hottarake no Shima – Haruka to Maho no Kagami, 2009). Directed and co-written by Shinsuke Sato (the GANTZ live action films), the film was nominated for the award for Excellent Animation of the Year at the 33rd Japan Academy Prize.
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World’s First Virtual Pop Idol Will Be Featured in a Special One-Night-Only Event
Source: MediaLab press release
Special Thanks to Erik Jansen

Flyer for the Hatsune Miku LIVE in SAPPORO event.
Photo courtesy of MediaLab. © 2011 Crypton Future
Media, Inc.

Live Viewing Japan, a distribution company focused on bringing Japanese entertainment media to an international audience, has announced that it will stage a very special one-night-only Hatsune Miku event simultaneously in nine major U.S. cities on Thursday, November 10, 2011 at 7:00pm (local time). Hatsune Miku Live Party 2011 39′s LIVE in SAPPORO (originally organized by 5bp Inc. in August, 2011) will screen a live concert performance of Hatsune Miku in movie theaters in select markets. More information about this exclusive one-night-only event is available at liveviewing.jp/009_mikupa.html.

The cities that will host the Hatsune Miku event include:
Baltimore, MD
Boston (Manchester), MA
Chicago, IL
Houston, TX
Los Angeles, CA
Orange, CA
New York, NY – Two locations
San Francisco/Bay Area, CA
Seattle, WA
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Source: Sentai Filmworks press release
Official Site: melomelomelon.com (Japan)
Special Thanks to David Williams

Melon from AKIKAN! © Riko Ranjo, Hiro Suzihara/
Shueisha, Authority A

Sentai Filmworks has let the genie out of the bottle… or in this case, can… with the company’s announcement of the acquisition of the latest ‘pop’ culture phenomenon from Japan, AKIKAN! (アキカン!, 2009).

Animation industry veteran director Yuji Himaki, already known for his work about a superhero made of bread with the latest Anpanman feature film, switches materials and genders to helm both the 12 episode series and the bonus OVA telling the story of a bubbly young girl who just happens to be a soft drink can, while the process of adapting creators Riku Ranjo and Hiro Suzuhira’s original text and art go respectively to script-master Hideaki Koyasu (BRIGHTER THAN THE DAWNING BLUE, KURE-NAI), and character designer Ryo Tanaka (VIRTUA FUGHTER, LUPIN III, MISSED BY A DOLLAR).

AKIKAN! will be distributed digitally through a variety of outlets and on subtitled DVD in January 2012.
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LOUPS=GAROUS Available on November 29th
Source: Section23 Films press release
Special Thanks to Mike Bailiff

Photo courtesy of Section23 Films.

Home video distributor Section23 Films has provided details on its November slate of releases; including LOUPS=GAROUS. The animated thriller will be released on both DVD and Blu-Ray by Section23 client, Sentai Filmworks.

Also scheduled for October are DVD editions of AMAGAMI SS COLLECTION 2, NINJA TRIPLE-FEATURE, ICE COMPLETE COLLECTION, and ZOMBIE TRIPLE-FEATURE, the Blu-ray edition of CLANNAD COMPLETE COLLECTION, and COICENT / FIVE NUMBERS on both DVD and Blu-ray.

Read on for plot descriptions, DVD/Blu-ray specs, and cover art for all of these titles.
Continued…

The post-apocalyptic world of ICE is coming next month to DVD in the United Kingdom. Photo courtesy of Cine du Monde. © 2008 E.Net Frontier/Eleven Arts.

Source: Cine du Monde
Official Site: project-ice.com (Japan), cinedumonde.co.uk/ice-anime (UK)
Special Thanks to Andrew Kirkham

Cover art for the UK DVD release of ICE. Photo courtesy
of Cine du Monde. © 2008 E.Net Frontier/ Eleven Arts.

It is the Apocalypse. A drastic change in the environment causes every male on the face of earth to die out by 2012. Most of the remaining women perish after fighting in a world war over their territories. 20,000 survivors huddle together in the Shinjuku area, which has become an ocean of trees.

Within this small, all-female world, humankind divides into two groups: One which accepts its fate to perish and chooses to give their lives to pleasure. Whilst the other group strives to save the future through the power of science. It’s the beginning of an intense battle between these two forces over ‘ICE’, which is said to be the last hope for mankind.

The UK home video label Cine du Monde will release the anime feature ICE (アイス, 2007) on DVD this November 7th.
Continued…

Source: Eleven Arts Entertainment press release
Official Movie Site: hagaren-movie.net (Japan), funimation.com/fullmetal-alchemist-the-sacred-star-of-milos (US)
Special Thanks to Shun Ohara

Promotional art for FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST: THE
SACRED STAR OF MILOS. Image courtesy of Eleven
Arts Entertainment. © 2011 Hiromu Arakawa/
Hagaren the Movie 2011

Eleven Arts and FUNimation Entertainment are bringing the feature length followup film to the popular FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST anime franchise, FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST: THE SACRED STAR OF MILOS (鋼の錬金術師 嘆きの丘（ミロス）の聖なる星, Hagane no Renkinjutsushi: Mirosu no Sei-naru Hoshi, 2011), to more than 100 theater screens across North America this Winter.

Eleven Arts is the company that has brought you such celebrated Japanese films as MEMORIES OF TOMORROW starring Ken Watanabe and Yoji Yamada’s LOVE AND HONOR. FUNimation Entertainment is known for releasing quality anime titles to the American market, and they have handled such popular titles as DRAGON BALL and EVANGELION. In 2011, these two companies brought EVANGELION: 2.0 YOU CAN (NOT) ADVANCE and TRIGUN: BADLANDS RUMBLE to North American theaters with great success.

FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST: THE SACRED STAR OF MILOS was released in Japan on July 2, 2011. The movie was produced by the animation studio BONES (CoOWBOY BEBOP: THE MOVIE) and directed by Kazuya Murata (assistant director on CODE GEASS). It features the official theme song “Good Luck My Way” by L’Arc-en-Ciel.
Continued…

© 2011 FUNimation Entertainment.　© 2011 Nico Nico, Inc.

Fall Slate of Simulcast Series Announced October 14th
Source: FUNimation Entertainment press release
Official Site: niconico.com/anime
Special Thanks to Jackie Smith and Michelle Lee

During New York Comic con, North America’s anime leader, FUNimation Entertainment, and the world’s premier video networking website, niconico.com, announced that they are forming a partnership that will begin with the simulcast of several of the newest anime series debuting in Japan this fall. All simulcast episodes will be available at niconico.com/anime.

The companies are forming a joint effort where both companies will be contributing to the acquisition of new anime titles from Japan. “Our goal is to simulcast top-notch anime. It’s an ambitious plan but one in which we are investing heavily,” said Gen Fukunaga, President and CEO of FUNimation Entertainment.
Continued…

The sci-fi anime FREEDOM is now avilable on Australian Blu-ray and DVD. Photo courtesy of Madman Entertainment. © 2006 Freedom Committee

A New Vision of the Future from the Creator of AKIRA
Source: Madman Entertainment

The sci-fi anime series FREEDOM (自由, 2006) is now available on DVD (Region 4, PAL) and Blu-ray (Region B) from Australian distributor Madman Entertainment. Animated by Sunrise (COWBOY BEBOP, MOBILE SUIT GUNDAM), FREEDOM features character designs by Katsuhiro Otomo, the creator of AKIRA. The seven-part series uses a hyper anime-realistic cell-shaded 3D look similar to APPLESEED and VEXILLE.

In the year 2041, mankind created their first space colony on the moon. But after a freak cataclysm devastated human civilization on Earth, the republic of the moon built a domed megalopolis known as Eden. Now in the year 2267, a boy called Takeru spends his time engaging in hover-craft races against rival street gangs, unaware that he is about to embark in the journey of unearthing Eden’s origin.
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Blu-ray and DVD cover art for NARUTO SHIPPUDEN THE MOVIE: BONDS. Photos courtesy of VIZ Media. © Masashi Kishimoto /2007 Shippuden © NMP 2008

The World’s Most Popular Ninja Returns in the Second NARUTO SHIPPUDEN Anime Feature Film
Source: VIZ Media, MediaLab press releases
Official Site: naruto.com
Special Thanks to Jane Lui and Erik Jansen

VIZ Media, LLC, the largest distributor and licensor of anime and manga in North America, is proud to announce the DVD and Blu-ray release of the latest NARUTO feature film on October 25th. NARUTO SHIPPUDEN THE MOVIE: BONDS (劇場版 NARUTO−ナルト− 疾風伝 絆, Gekijooban Naruto Shippuuden: Kizuna, 2008) will be the first Blu-ray release from the international anime franchise to hit North American shores, and is rated ‘T+’ for Older Teens and priced at $24.98 (Blu-ray) and $19.98 (DVD) in both the U.S. and Canada.
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Mecha Anime Begins Streaming this Month
Source: Sentai Filmworks press release
Official Site: breakblade.jp (Japan)
Special Thanks to David Williams

The highly anticipated BROKEN BLADE debuts this month
on Anime Network Online. © 2010 Yunosuke Yoshinaga/
Flex Comix, Broken Blade Production Committee

Sentai Filmworks has announced the company’s acquisition of one of the year’s most eagerly awaited anime titles; BROKEN BLADE (ブレイク ブレイド, Bureiku Bureido, 2010), an epic new series of animated films based on the international manga bestseller from Yunosuke Yoshinaga (Rampage).

Created in six 50 minute installments, the mega production is helmed by Chief Director Tetsuro Amino (MACROSS 7, SHIKI, JEWELL BEM HUNTER LIME), and Director Nobuyoshi Habara (DNANGEL, NEGIMA!, FAFNER) working from screenplays by screenwriter Masashi Sogo (BLEACH, GANTZ, SAMURAI X/ RUROUNI KENSHIN). Music duties for the blockbuster production will be handled by Yoshihisa Hirano (DEATH NOTE, BEYBLADE, OURAN HIGH SCHOOL HOST CLUB).

Digital distribution of the first 50 minute installment of BROKEN BLADE will begin this October on Anime Network Online and through many other outlets. The home video release will follow in 2012 with releases on DVD and Blu-Ray.
Continued…

DVD and Blu-ray cober designs for the Australian release of EDEN OF THE EAST: PARADISE LOST. Photo courtesy of Madman Entertainment. © 2010 EDEN OF THE EAST.

Source: Madman Entertainment
Official Site: juiz.jp (Japan)

The anime feature EDEN OF THE EAST: PARADISE LOST (東のエデン 劇場版Ⅱ Paradise Lost, Higashi no Eden Gekijooban II: Paradise Lost, 2010) will be released on DVD (Region 4, PAL) and Blu-ray in Australia by Madman Entertainment on October 19th. The film wraps up the storyline begun in the acclaimed anime series EDEN OF THE EAST (東のエデン, Higashi no Eden, 2009).

Accused of terrorism and feeling the heat, Saki Morimi’s high-tech crew is in the crosshairs. Meanwhile, the shroud of mystery covering Akira Takizawa is lifted as he and his fellow Selecao make their final moves. Every game must come to an end. For those playing Mr. Outside’s twisted game of conspiracy thrills, the end comes now.
Continued…

Source: Sentai Filmworks press release
Official Site: tbs.co.jp/soremachi (Japan)
Special Thanks to David Williams

Hotori Arashiyama, the main character in AND YET THE
TOWN MOVES. © 2010 Masakazu Ishiguro

Sentai Filmworks has put a chocolate on the pillowcases of anime fans everywhere with the announcement of the company’s acquisition of the acclaimed slice of life anime AND YET THE TOWN MOVES (それでも町は廻っている, Soredemo Machi wa Mawatteiru, 2010). Based on hit manga by Masakaza Ishiguro, the story of trouble prone Maid-Waitress Hotori is familiar ground for director Akiyuki Shinbo, whose previous body of work includes handling the HIDAMARI SKETCH, NEGIMA and MARIAHOLIC franchises. Script supervision is by genre stalwart Katsuhiko Takayama, whose resume includes such familiar titles as LOVE HINA, FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST, GODANNAR and SORCERER HUNTERS, while character design for the 12 episode series is being handled by chief animation director Hiroki Yamamura (MAHOROMATIC).

Digital distribution of AND YET THE TOWN MOVES will begin through many outlets this winter, and the series will find its way to home video next January with the release of all 12 episodes on subtitled DVD.
Continued…

NARUTO Voice Actress, NARUTO SHIPPUDEN THE MOVIE: BONDS Premiere, Panel Discussions, Booth Activities And Giveaways
Source: VIZ Media, MediaLab press releases
Special Thanks to Jane Lui and Erik Jansen

TIGER & BUNNY co-creator Masayuki Ozaki will attend.
Photo courtesy of VIZ Media. © 2011 Sunrise/ T&B
Partners, MBS

VIZ Media, LLC, the largest distributor and licensor of anime and manga in North America, has announced a packed schedule of events, panel discussions, promotional giveaways, theatrical film premieres, and rare guest appearances for the 2011 New York Comic Con, taking place at the Jacob Javits Convention Center in New York City, October 13th – 16th. VIZ Media will be located in Booth 932.

The annual New York Comic Con is the largest gathering on the East Coast dedicated to comics, graphic novels, anime, manga, video games, toys, movies, and television. Complete details on New York Comic Con is available at newyorkcomiccon.com.

This year, VIZ Media is proud to welcome Junko Takeuchi, the Japanese voice of Naruto, who will participate in a special NARUTO SHIPPUDEN panel discussion on Friday, October 14th from 1:15pm to 2:15pm in Room 1A22. Come welcome the actress for her first-ever U.S. appearance, and hear her experiences performing the voice for the world’s most popular ninja!

VIZ Media is pleased to welcome Masayuki Ozaki of Sunrise, the co-creator and Executive Producer of the hit anime TIGER & BUNNY, currently streaming on VIZAnime.com. He will participate in a can’t-miss TIGER & BUNNY panel discussion, taking place on Sunday, October 16th from 1:15pm to 2:15pm in Room 1A03.
Continued…

Series Debuts October 13th on Anime Network Online
Source: Sentai Filmworks, Anime Network press releases
Official Site: towanoquon.com (Japan)
Special Thanks to David Williams and Christian Lopez

Poster art for TOWANOQUON. © 2011 BONES/ Towa no
Quon Production Committee

Sentai Filmworks has rewarded fans of dark heroic action everywhere with the eagerly awaited announcement of the company’s acquisition of TOWANOQUON (トワノクオン, Towa no Quon, 2011), the spectacular new series of animated features from anime powerhouse BONES (EUREKA SEVEN, NO. 6). Produced by a literal all-star lineup of creators, the first film in the series is directed by Umanosuke Iida (HELLSING, MOBILE SUIT GUNDAM: THE 08TH MS TEAM, MIGHTY SPACE MINERS), with script supervision by Saizo Nemoto (KIKAIDER, TOKYO MAIDEN 2) and character designs by Toshihiro Kawamoto (COWBOY BEBOP, WOLF’S RAIN, GOLDEN BOY), while music is in the legendary hands of Kenji Kawai (THE RING, DARK WATER, SKYCRAWLERS, PATLABOR, RANMA ½, BLUE SEED, SORCERER HUNTERS).

Digital distribution of the 6-part mini-series will begin this month on Anime Network Online. Starting on Thursday, October 13, the first TOWANOQUON feature will begin streaming online at 1:00 PM Eastern, with a new part available every two weeks. TOWANOQUON will be shown in Japanese with English subtitles.
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Major Motoko Kusanagi hunts cyber criminals in GHOST IN THE SHELL: STAND ALONE COMPLEX. Photo courtesy of Madman Entertainment.
© 2002-2004 Shirow Masamune- Production I.G/Kodansha

The Complete Section 9 Cases Collected
Source: Madman Entertainment
Official Site: Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex, ghostintheshell.com.au (Aus)

Packaging for GHOST IN THE SHELL: STAND ALONE COMPLEX Complete
Collection. Photo courtesy of Madman Entertainment. © 2002-2004
Shirow Masamune- Production I.G/Kodansha

On October 19th, the complete GHOST IN THE SHELL: STAND ALONE COMPLEX (攻殻機動隊 STAND ALONE COMPLEX, Kookaku Kidootai Sutando Aroon Konpurekkusu) will be released in Australia as a limited edition DVD box set (Region 4, PAL) from Madman Entertainment. The STAND ALONE COMPLEX television series is based on Masamune Shirow’s manga and Mamoru Oshii’s highly influential film GHOST IN THE SHELL (攻殻機動隊, Goosuto In Za Sheru/Kookaku Kidootai, 1995), one of the most popular anime movies of all time and widely cited as inspiration for the MATRIX.

Madman’s GHOST IN THE SHELL: STAND ALONE COMPLEX Complete Collection contains all 53 episodes from Season 1 and Season 2 as well as three feature length STAND ALONE COMPLEX films.
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The seven part OVA series FREEDOM— featuring character and mecha designs by AKIRA creator Katsuhiro Otomo— will be released on Blu-ray and DVD
in the United Kingdom on October 10th. Photo courtesy of The Associates. © 2006 Freedom Committee

Character and Mecha Designs by AKIRA Creator Katsuhiro Otomo
Source: The Associates press release
Official Site: freedom-project.jp (Japan)

UK DVD cover art. Photo courtesy of The Associates.
© 2006 Freedom Committee

AKIRA creator and STEAMBOY co-writer and director Katsuhiro Otomo’s unmistakeable visual style shines throughout FREEDOM (自由, 2006), a beautifully envisioned sci-fi anime series of cinematic scope and quality that puts most TV animation in the shade. Written by Katsuhiko Chiba (BLUE DRAGON; SLAYERS), Yuuichi Nomura (XAM’D: LOST MEMORIES) and Dai Sato (CASSHERN; GHOST IN THE SHELL: STAND ALONE COMPLEX), directed by Shuhei Morita (COICENT; KAKURENBO) and with Otomo on board as the series’ character and mecha designer, this seven-episode (plus Prologue) series will more than satisfy those hungry anime fans who are eagerly waiting to see what Otomo will produce next.

FREEDOM (cert. 12) will be released on DVD (Region 2, PAL) and as a Collectors’ Edition Blu-ray (Region B) by Manga Entertainment on 10th October 2011. The Collector’s Edition includes all seven episodes of FREEDOM in HD on one Blu-ray disc plus the series on two standard definition DVD discs and a bonus set of four art cards packaged in a beautifully designed slip cover.
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Key art for the anime .hack//QUANTUM and GUILTY CROWN, coming from FUNimation Entertainment.
© 2011 .hack Conglomerate　© Quantum Project. © 2011 Guilty Crown Committee

Source: FUNimation Entertainment press releases
Official Sites: hack.channel.or.jp/quantum and guilty-crown.jp (Japanese)
Special Thanks to Jackie Smith

Distributor FUNimation Entertainment recently announced that it has acquired North American rights to the action fantasy .hack//QUANTUM and the sci-fi series GUILTY CROWN.

.hack//QUANTUM (ドットハック クワンタム, Dotto Hakku Kuwantamu, 2010) is the latest installment in the .hack franchise from Showgate. An anime adaptation of the .hack role-playing games created by Bandai Namco Games, this three episode OVA is animated by Kinema Citrus Studio and directed by Masaki Tachibana (TOKYO MAGNITUDE 8.0).

GUILTY CROWN (ギルティクラウン, Giruti Kuraun, 2011) is debuting on Fuji TV’s late night noitaminA block in October. The Production I.G. produced series is directed by Tetsuro Araki (DEATH NOTE, HIGH SCHOOL OF THE DEAD). The series script supervisor is Hiroyuki Yoshino (MACROSS FRONTIER), while original character designs are created by redjuice, the artist best known as the illustrator for the music group, Supercell. Supercell’s musician, Ryo, is composing the music.
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