Sentai Filmworks just announced today that they have acquired the Maria Holic Alive! series, which is the follow up Maria Holic. The series will not even begin broadcast in Japan until April 7th, and while they did not say when it might be released in R1, it will almost certainly be a 2012 title.
Synopsis: Some things never change: Ame no Kisaki, that famous and extraordinarily exclusive boarding school, STILL doesn’t accept boys. And Kanako, Kisaki’s most romantically unfortunate student, STILL doesn’t accept them either. They give her the hives. Literally. Sadly, that means that Kanako’s STILL trying to connect with ANYONE of the same sex, and having the usual horrid luck; STILL being in imminent peril of dying from the constant nosebleeds she gets from being over stimulated by the presence of her fellow classmates; and STILL being forced to endure the tragedy of sharing a room with the school’s most beautiful girl, who is, of course, STILL a guy in drag. Poor Kanako! She came to school to major in loving women, and instead she’s STILL failing relationships in Maria Holic Alive!
Funimation announced at its Anime Detour convention panel on Saturday that it has picked up the Tales of Vesperia ~The First Strike~ Movie. Funimation has also acquired additional rights for both Fractale and Freezing - including the home entertainment, broadcast, digital, mobile and merchandise rights for Fractale, and it has the home entertainment, broadcast, theatrical, digital, and merchandising rights for Freezing.
Funimation plans to release the Vesperia Movie, Fractale, and Freezing on DVD and BD next year.
Tales of Vesperia The First Strike Movie
Synopsis: A long time has passed since the end of a massive war between humans and monsters. A new type of energy named "aer" was discovered. When crystallized, this substance became the energy source for "blastia", an ancient civilization's technology that provided a wide array of essential abilities for humanity. Despite it's manipulation, mankind still has little knowledge of what exactly is "aer". On a mission to eradicate a horde of monsters near the town of Shizotania, a group of knights comes across a strange surge of "aer". Yuri Lowell and Flynn Scifo are two new members fresh out of the academy of this knight division. Both are childhood friends who went separate ways, but ended up meeting each other once again while enlisting to serve the Empire.
Fractale
Synopsis: In a far distant future, humanity has embraced the Fractale system as the ultimate path towards utopia. Comprised of several trillion networked computers, Fractale was created in the 22nd century to promote a peaceful lifestyle for the entire world in exchange of a periodic recovery of personal data from individuals through terminals located within their bodies. Living in a rocky coast region, Clain is a young boy fascinated by old technology. After helping a girl named Phryne, she gives him a pendant before disappearing by the next morning. Accessing the data from the peculiar gift, Clain ends up summoning a girl-shaped avatar named Nessa. Together they start a journey as they discover the truth behind the Fractale system.
Freezing
Synopsis: Set in a slightly futuristic world where Earth has been invaded and is at war with aliens from another dimension called the Nova, the story follows the adventures of a Japanese boy named Kazuya Aoi who enrolls for training at a special school for genetically modified girls called Pandoras who battle the aliens, and their male partners, called Limiters, who use a special power called "freezing" to limit their opponent's mobility. The protagonist makes the acquaintance of an unusual older girl named Bridgette L. Satellizer who appears to be the most powerful Pandora in her class, but has not yet chosen a male partner to be her Limiter, and in spite of the warnings of all his friends, he decides to be her Limiter.
The most important business consideration these days for a US Anime studio is to pace itself and not release too much stuff too fast. Funimation proves that today by announcing their plans to release Shiki on both DVD and Blu-ray - in spring of 2012.
Hopefully it won't come out before Rosario. -_^ HEH.
Synopsis: Sotobamura is a small village with around 1300 residents; so small the village isn't even connected to a single highway. An isolated village in which old customs, such as the burial of the dead, are still practiced. One day, the bodies of three people are found dead. Although Ozaki Toshio, the village's lone doctor, feels uncertain, he treats the deaths as a normal occurrence. However, in the days following, the villagers start to die one after the other.
We've had a lot going on over the last few days, but I did want to make a post that Sentai Filmworks (Section 23) announced a couple days ago that they acquired the 2010 television anime series Angel Beats! Sentai says they will dub the series into English and release it on both DVD and Blu-ray Disc, but did not say when. The dub will also premiere at this year's Anime Boston con (April 22 to 24).
You hear that Judy!? :-)
Synopsis: There is a world after death and before reincarnation. There, youth, whose lives were stolen from them before death, defy cruel fate, and their futures. Yuri, the leader of the Shinda Sekai Sensen, leads the rebellion against the god who destined them to have unreasonable lives. On the other hand, Angel, the chairperson of the Student Council for the world after death, (and the Agent for the god?), battles against the SSS members. In a seemingly normal High School, SSS members, armed to the teeth battle it out against Angel and her supernatural powers."
Funimation announced at Katsucon over the weekend that they have licensed Fumihiko Sori's 'To' OVA and are planning a DVD and BD release this summer (which means it will really be released this fall -_^).
They have also licensed the third season of Keroro Gunso (Sgt. Frog), which has been running now for seven years in Japan. They also 'plan' to release it this summer.
To (OVA) Synopsis: The year 2068. Human kind has established a moon colony with a vast population of 300,000 inhabitants. They need supplies and the easiest way to send them is via the Moonlight Bazooka, a gas propelled launcher that shots the containers to the moon orbit. Then one day the 078962-EK ship, best known as the ghost ship Flying Dutchman docks after a 15 year travel carrying the most precious energy resource known by humanity. Space travel is cruel since the travelers only age 2 years while the rest of humanity ages 15 in the process. The second OVA takes place around 100 years later, humanity now is trying to establish colonies around other stellar systems, but still they don't travel as one and carry their national identities and the seed of war. The planet where they find the most suitable colonization terrains soon shows them that living as separate beings in the universe is not a good way to survive.
Not too sure about this one, and it's an all CGI production. Remember how bad Vexel was? Anyone have any comments that has seen it?
Sentai Filmworks (Section 23) has announced that it acquired J.C. Staff's Dream Eater Merry (Yumekui Merry) television anime series. The 12-episode television series, which adapts Yoshitaka Ushiki's manga of the same name, premiered in Japan on January 6.
Sentai did not say how or when the series might be released.
Synopsis: Ten years ago Fujiwara noticed he had a power to see multicolored auras surrounding the person's body. Ever since then he's been having a weird dream about a war with cats. Then one day a mysterious girl falls on top of him...
Sentai (aka Section 23) announced today that they have licensed the Infinite Stratos TV series, but they did not say how (or when) it might be released.
The Infinite Stratos anime adapts Izuru Yumizuru's "popular high-speed low drag school battle" light novel series. The story centers around the IS Academy: a school for training the pilots of the Infinite Stratos weapon system, which can only be used by females.
Summary:Infinite Stratos (IS), a weaponized exoskeleton system, has become the dominant tool of warfare and conflict. Unfortunately for the men in society, only women are able to operate Infinite Stratos... with very few exceptions. One of those exceptions is ORIMURA Ichika, an orphan raised by his older sister who is herself a famous IS pilot. When his compatibility with IS is discovered after he accidentally touches an IS at the age of 15, he's given a scholarship and enrolled in a school that specializes in training IS pilots. Which of course means an... intersting life surrounded by girls for this shy, unassuming boy.
NIS America has announced that they have licensed the Working!! anime series. They are going to release the entire 13-episode series in an English-subtitled DVD set under the title 'Wagnaria!!' next March. The set will include hardcover art book and a collector's case.
In the anime and Karino Takatsu's original four-panel manga that inspired it, a high school freshman named Sōta Takanashi (Jun Fukuyama) works part-time among a restaurant's high-spirited, eccentric, yet cool staffers.
David Williams at Sentai Filmworks confirmed at Izumicon over the weekend that they will be doing a Dub for Clannad After Story, and that it will probably be released in April. He also said they will probably allow us to run another exchange program for those who want to trade in their old subtitled only version.
And as a plus, he also said that Sentai has picked up the license for the Clannad movie and will be releasing it dubbed and subtitled in March.
So rest your minds Clannad fans - your dub is coming. :-)
I wish they had told us this 3 months ago, it would have saved us like 2,000 e-mails about it...
Funimation has announced that they have acquired the rights to Kuragehime (Princess Jellyfish) the 2nd season of Sora no Otoshimono (Heaven's Lost Property) which will be released under the name "Heaven's Lost Property Forte".
They will release both series on DVD in 2011.
Kuragehime (Princess Jellyfish) Amamizukan is an apartment complex where no boys are allowed. Kurashita Tsukimi, a girl who adores jellyfish, lives there happily with her friends who all have nerdy obsessions of their own. Their peaceful lives gradually start to change when a beautiful woman helps Tsukimi out of a pinch. She moves into the apartments -- but it turns out "she" is really a "he."
Sora no Otoshimono: Forte (Heaven's Lost Property Season 2) Tomoki's peaceful life is far away in the past, now he has to deal with 2 angeloids Ikaros and Nymph along with his friends from school, each one of them very special on their own ways. Tomoki's dream about an angel warning him from the rage of heavens is getting very common at his sleep, then one day a new angel who has power up to the standard of Ikaros arrives Earth with the sole purpose of terminating Tomoki since his dream is starting to connect both realities, the Earth and the Synapses, a very powerful angel indeed.
Funimation has decided to return to offering collector editions for anime titles starting in January, which will include a rigid box and a premium item. These premium editions will be available for the FIRST PRESSING ONLY and cost US$5 more than the regular editions that will be a plain cardstock box, slim case DVDs, and no premium item.
The first batch of premium first pressings include:
The two editions will be created for complete 13-episode series releases and for the "Part 1" of two-part (24 or 26 episode) series releases.
We will be shipping the new premium sets to all customers who pre-order these titles, and then whatever we have leftover until they are sold out, at which time we will switch to the standard editions at the slightly lower price, but we won't be offering the standard editions for sale until the premium edition is sold out.
In addition to the new premium sets, Funi will launch a new line for its anime titles called "Anime Classics." This will become their other 'end of life' label and will take it's place beside their S.A.V.E. edition economy sets as the final and last stage release version of a series. The first title under this label will be the Gantz boxed set being released in January.
Funi keeps it going, announcing at their Otakon panel Friday afternoon that they have licensed three films - the Evangelion: 2.0 You Can (Not) Advance movie, Ginmaku Hetalia - Axis Powers Paint it White, and Summer Wars!
Hell yes! :-)
Funimation also confirmed that they have licensed the 2.22 version of the Evangelion film. Funimation is planning DVD, Blu-ray, and theatrical releases (though no time frame was specified). They are also planning a theatrical release for Summer Wars in 2010. All three films will see DVD and BD releases in 2011.
Evangelion: 2.0 You Can (Not) Advance (Evangelion Shin Gekijōban: Ha)
Under constant attack by Angels, NERV introduces two new pilots: the mysterious Makinami Mari Illustrous and the intense Asuka Langley Shikinami. Parallel to the incursion, Gendo Ikari and SEELE proceed the secret project that involves both Rei and Shinji.
Ginmaku Hetalia - Axis Powers Paint it White
The movie involves a mysterious force causing unusual incidents to happen all over the world, and the nations having to try to ward off the threat of human extinction from the alien race known as Pict, who seek to transform mankind and drain the color from the world (with America deciding that the world will be saved under his command).
Summer Wars
When timid eleventh-grader and math genius Kenji Koiso is asked by older student and secret crush Natsuki to come with her to her family’s Nagano home for a summer job, he agrees without hesitation. Natsuki’s family, the Jinnouchi clan, dates back to the Muromachi era, and they’ve all come together to celebrate the 90th birthday of the spunky matriarch of the family, Sakae. That’s when Kenji discovers his “summer job” is to pretend to be Natsuki’s fiancé and dance with her at the birthday celebration. As Kenji attempts to keep up with Natsuki’s act around her family, he receives a strange math problem on his cell phone which, being a math genius, he can’t resist solving. As it turns out, the solution to the mysterious equation causes a hijacking of the social networking site through which most of the world's social and business traffic flows.
Bandai (who we are all wondering about) announced at Comic-Con that they have acquired both the Tales of the Abyss and the Turn A Gundam series. No information was provided on when they might be released (or how), but I figure it will be well into 2011 before we see either of these on DVD or BD.
Personally, while I'm glad, I think ∀ Gundam should have been released in the R1 around 2003 or 2004. I'm not sure how much of an audience will be left for this show after 12 years - you know, other than me. :-)
Tales of the Abyss (2008 / 26 Eps) Luke fon Fabre, the spoiled son of a noble from the kingdom of Kimlasca-Lavaldear, has been confined inside his father's mansion ever since he was kidnapped seven years ago by a rival country, the Malkuth Empire. Now Luke's memory of the life he led before is missing, and a strange voice, which only he can hear, has been calling out to him ever since. One day while training with his mentor, Van Grants, a strange woman called Tear breaks into the mansion with the sole intent of taking Van's life. During the struggle Luke is transported far from home, along with Tear, and now that Luke has finally gained the freedom he's been dreaming of, what awaits him in the outside world will shatter everything he's ever known about himself.
Turn A Gundam (1999 / 50 Eps) The year is Correct Century 2345. The civilization of Earth is at about the level it was during World War I. Long ago, humanity traveled through space, but the people of Earth have long forgotten about that. However, an advanced civilization still exists in cities on the moon, and now this Moonrace, in desperate need of resources, sets its sights back on its home planet. Three Moonrace teenagers, Loran Cehack, Keith Laijie, and Fran Doll, are sent to make sure that a return is even feasible, and are followed two years later by the invading Dianna Counter forces. Now, five thousand years after humanity first traveled into space, a new war is brewing between the Earthlings defending their homes, the Moonrace looking to settle on Earth, and other members of the Moonrace who believe a return to Earth may revive a nightmare from humanity's forgotten past...
In addition to the new Anime licenses announced at AX, a few of the manga companies also had panels, and here is a roundup of what they have picked up:
Viz Manga:
51 Ways to Save Her Ai Ore Mistress Fortune Oresama Teacher Sakura Hime Kaden: The Legend of Princess Sakura
TokyoPop:
Gakuen Heaven Shichijo Sweet Sweet Darling Hekikai no AiON Lives Puzzle + The Secret Notes of Lady Kanoko (Warau Kanoko-sama) You and Me
DMP:
Boku no Shiru Anata no Hanashi Border - Kazuma Kodaka Countdown 7 Days Demon City Shinjuku [Novel] Gochisosama Houou Gakuen Misoragumi Kusatta Kyo Shino Houteishiki Replica Sabaku no Oujisama
In direct response to my personal concerns calling for more 'new material' for the R1 market (how could it be anything else after all), most of the majors did not disappoint and offered up quite the new licensing blitz at the AX 2010 show over the weekend.
First lets start with Funimation, who announced:
Trigun: Badlands Rumble Black Lagoon: Roberta’s Blood Trail Darker Than Black Season 2 Shakugan no Shana Season 2 Hellsing Ultimate Vol # 5-7 Toaru Majutsu no Index (A Certain Index of Prohibited Books) Toaru Kagaku no Rerugan (A Certain Scientific Railgun)
Keep in mind these are ALL 2011 titles. Trigun: Badlands Rumble will get a limited US theatrical release before it goes out on DVD. All of these are important titles for US release, especially Railgun. And thank God they are finally going to finish Hellsing Ultimate.
Funi also picked up another batch of former Geneon releases including Ai Yori Aoshi, Armitage III, Haibane Renmei, Hellsing TV anime, Serial Experiments Lain, Tenchi in Tokyo, Tenchi Muyo!, Tenchi Universe, and Texhnolyze. All good choices.
Sadly, Funi also announced that they have NOT picked up the license for Evangelion: 2.0 You Can (Not) Advance. I know this is going to disappoint a lot of people (including me). Word on the street has it that the asking price for the series was the highest price EVER for an R1 license, and I think the huge success the title has seen on BD in Japan worked against it's R1 prospects. Maybe later on.
Funi wasn't the only company busy at the show!
Section 23 announced:
Highschool of the Dead
Nozomi picked up:
So-Ra-No-Wo-To Revolutionary Girl Utena TV and Movie
Viz picked up:
Nurarihyon no Mago (Nura: Rise of the Yokai Clan)
And last, but certainly not least, the biggest announcement of the show (IMHO) came from Bandai, who has picked up:
K-On!
Bandai said the current contract is only for the first season, and also said they have not decided if it will be DVD, BD, or both and did not know if it will be dubbed, and if so, who the dub cast would be. In other words, they have the show, but don't know much else at this point. Stay tuned.
They didn't specify if they had licensed all or only part of Kaleido Star, and also didn't give a time frame for these to be re-re-re-re-released on DVD. If you are interested in any of these series now, we still have plenty of the ADV released DVD boxed sets in stock for all four series.
I was pleasantly surprised this morning the hear that Anchor Bay (of all companies) has picked up the 73 Minute Anime OVA 'First Squad: the Moment of Truth', and says it will be released on DVD and BD later this summer!
The First Squad story, written by Misha Sprits and Aljosha Klimov, is set on the Eastern front in the opening days of World War II. A group of Soviet teens with extraordinary abilities are preparing to fight the invading German army, which is attempting to raise a supernatural army from the dead to battle for its cause. It won Best Animated Feature at the Asia Pacific Screen Awards and the Kommersant Newspaper's Prizes at the Moscow International Film Festival.
Synopsis: During the winter of 1941/42, the Second World War comes to a temporary standstill on the Eastern Front yet both Nazi and Soviets are putting everything they got in order to turn the tide in their favour. Meanwhile Ahnenerbe, Nazi occult organization within the SS, calculates that the next "moment of truth" (a rare moment when actions of a single man can determine the outcome of an event, a battle or even the entire war) is approaching on the Eastern Front. The man is some anonymous Soviet officer and unless he is eliminated, his actions are going to bring success to some local Soviet offensive. To eliminate him, spiritualists of Ahnenerbe summon the long-dead baron von Wolff from the world of the dead. To counter this plan, special occult branch of the Soviet Intelligence, called 6th Division, deploys it's best agent - 14-year-old esper girl Nadya, the only survivor from the special operations unit of 6th Division - the "First Squad".
Bandai has announced that it has licensed both the Melancholy of Haruhi-chan Suzumiya and Nyorōn Churuya-san net anime series. They will both will ship together on two DVDs later this summer. Bang Zoom! Entertainment will be doing the dubbing, which I;m sure will make Eric Sherman very happy!
Melancholy of Haruhi-chan Suzumiya (ONA) A comical spin-off of the ever popular "Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya" television series originally aired back in 2006 involving all the major characters in more child-like forms of their animated selves going through various spoofs of previous plot line; like Nagato and the dreaded laptop with a twist of having hentai on it. face offs with the rack of costumes that were stuffed in the corner of the club room. and dodge ball tournaments on crack.
Nyorōn Churuya-san (ONA) A series of shorts about Tsuruya from The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya, based on the iconic format of the Nyorōn Churuya-san manga. Episodes mainly concern her search for smoked cheese.
Note: ONA is the term for 'Original Net Animation', similar to OVA in Anime circles. ONA's are minor spin off productions, usually short, often parody, and generally created and released directly to streaming video sites on the Internet.
I know this will make a lot of people happy! Funimation announced a whole basket of new licenses over the weekend during Anime Central. They include:
Rosario + Vampire Rosario + Vampire Capu2 Chaos;HEAd Chrome Shelled Regios Rideback Sora no Otoshimono (Heaven's Lost Property) Gun x Sword
All of the new titles are scheduled as 2011 releases except for Gun X Sword and Regios which will release late this year (4th Quarter).
Rosario + Vampire 13 Episodes Genre: Comedy, Fantasy, Romance, Supernatural Due to poor grades, Tsukune Aono, an average high school student, has been unable to get accepted into any private academy of his choice. By exceptional accident, the only school to accept him turns out to be anything but ordinary; the school is attended by youkai disguised as humans. Fearing for his life, he attempts to escape only to meet Moka Akashiya, a beautiful girl who just happens to be a vampire. Despite this, Tsukune decides to stay at the academy, hiding his human nature from students and teachers. Tsukune also discovers that when the rosary around Moka's neck is removed, her true nature emerges.
Rosario + Vampire Capu2 13 Episodes Genre: Comedy, Fantasy, Romance, Supernatural A new semester has arrived for Tsukune and the gang featuring a handfull of girl obsessed female first years and it seems like among these first years emerges another vampire who holds a grudge against her sister Moka. What shall this grudge lead to in the future and shall Tsukune suceed in taming this new problem child into his friend, no one knows what the future holds.
The new season is set to continue to follow the manga, introduce new characters from the manga and characters created strictly for the anime.
Chaos;HEAd 12 Episodes Genres: Action, Drama, Horror, Mystery, Supernatural Takumi is a high school student. He is withdrawn and is not interested in 3D things. In his town, a mysterious serial murder case happens and people get panicked. One day, when he chats on the internet, a man suddenly contacts him and gives him an URL. He goes to the website and finds a blog image that suggests a next murder case.... On the next day, it really happens.... Takumi Nishijō suffers from intense delusions as a result of his apparent schizophrenia and the extremely secluded lifestyle he lives as a hikkikomori. One day he accidentally stumbles upon a gruesome murder scene, a part of a chain of events called "New Generation." After this, his life gets caught up in these events, and he meets a bunch of increasingly insane anime girls with swords.
Chrome Shelled Regios 24 episodes Genre: Adventure, Fantasy, Science Fiction In the distant future, a polluted world has been overtaken by havoc-wreaking creatures called filth monsters. Humanity, having been forced to relocate itself, must live in isolated mobile cities called Regios. A mysteriously skilled fighter named Layfon Alseif enrolls in the Academy city of Zuellni and is immediately noticed by Nina Antalk, leader of the 17th Military Arts Unit. He then reluctantly joins her squad, uncertain of what future awaits him and his new teammates within the city as well as the impending dangers in the midst of a plagued world.
Rideback 12 Episodes Genre: Science Fiction In a future world where an organization called the GGP has taken control of the world, Rin Ogata was a promising up-and-comming ballet dancer, but suffered a serious injury and decided to quit. Years later in college she comes across a club building and soon finds herself intrigued by a transforming motorcycle like vehicle called a Rideback. She soon finds that her unique ballet skills with balance and finesse make her a born natural on a Rideback.
Sora no Otoshimono (Heaven's Lost Property) 13 Episodes Genre: Comedy, Fantasy, Romance Tomoki Sakurai often encounters a strange girl in his dreams asking for his help, but he can't remember her face when he wakes up. When an Unidentified Mysterious Animal (U.M.A.) falls out of the sky, his life of pacifism suddenly becomes complicated. The animal turns out to be an angel, Ikaros.
Gun x Sword (previously released on DVD by Geneon) 26 Episodes Genre: Action, Adventure, Drama, Science Fiction Armed with a metal sash that straightens into a sword, lanky swordsman Van is traveling through the desert, searching for the mysterious clawed man who killed his bride. Along the way he picks up a fellow traveler: Wendy, a young girl whose town he saves from bandits by summoning a mecha with his sword. Wendy is searching for her missing older brother, whose engraved gun she carries on her back. In their mutual quest they run afoul of more bandits and villains, a mysterious woman named Carmen99, and more mecha battles a la Wild West.
Funimation will be releasing Eden of the East (TV & Movies) on DVD and BD in early 2011.
Synopsis: On November 22, 2010 ten missiles strike Japan. However, this unprecedented terrorist act, later to be called as "Careless Monday," does not result in any apparent victims, and is soon forgotten by almost everyone. Then, 3 months later... Saki Morimi is a young woman currently in the United States of America on her graduation trip. But just when she is in front of the White House, Washington DC, she gets into trouble, and only the unexpected intervention of one of her fellow countrymen saves her. However, this man, who introduces himself as Akira Takizawa, is a complete mystery. He appears to have lost his memory. and he is stark naked, except for the gun he holds in one hand, and the mobile phone he's holding with the other hand. A phone that is charged with 8,200,000,000 yen in digital cash.
by Oasis.