For Immediate Release:

LIVE ACTION FILM “CAT GIRL KIKI” SLATED FOR MAY RELEASE

Second film in AKIHABARA TRILOGY to hit shelves on May 8, 2007 and be priced at $19.95 SRP

NEW YORK, NY (February 28, 2007)  The May release of Cat Girl Kiki, the second live action film in the Akihabara Trilogy, was announced today by Central Park Media. The three stand alone films (Legend of the Doll, Cat Girl Kiki and Pretty Maid Café) in this series are all set in the well known Akihabara shopping district in Tokyo which is a popular destination for hardcore fans of anime, manga, video games and model kits.  This large shopping area and its unique culture provide a colorful backdrop for each of the movies.  

Cat Girl Kiki, a tale about a lonely guy whose adoptive kitten transforms into a beautiful girl, is from the producer of “Shall We Dance?” and “Gamera”. The order date will be April 10, 2007 and the street date will be May 8, 2007.  This DVD will be priced at $19.95 SRP and contain Japanese language tracks with English subtitles.

The Legend of the Doll, the first of the Akihabara Trilogy movies slated for release, has been scheduled for a theatrical premiere on March 19, 2007 at The ImaginAsian Theater in New York City.  For more information about the premiere and the Akihabara Trilogy, visit AsiaPulpCinema.com/akihabara.

Cat Girl Kiki

This is the incredibly strange tail…we mean tale…of Yoshiro, a lonely introvert who is stuck in a rut… Each day is exactly the same, drab and dismal, until he finds an abandoned kitten on the street and brings it home. The next morning, Yoshiro discovers that the kitten has transformed into a beautiful girl named Kiki! Too bad she has cat ears and scratches up the furniture. It seems like a match made in heaven, but what is the secret behind Cat Girl Kiki’s sudden appearance, and what does it mean for Yoshiro’s chance at a normal life?

DVD Features: Japanese Trailers, Sneak Peeks, Language: Japanese with English Subtitles

About Central Park Media
Central Park Media is a 17-year-old Manhattan-based independent video and book publisher.  Central Park Media has been a leading supplier of anime and Asian cult films in the United States since 1990, and a major publisher of manga (graphic novels) since 1994.  The company currently manufactures and distributes animated video programming under several label names, including U.S. Manga Corps, Be Beautiful, Software Sculptors and Central Park Media.  In addition, Central Park Media releases live-action Asian feature films under its Asia Pulp Cinema label and underground live-action programming under its Below The Radar label.

With exclusive rights to hundreds of graphic novels, the company has become a leading North American publisher of Japanese manga and Korean manhwa.  Among CPM’s fan-favorite graphic novel titles are Lee Hyun Se’s Nambul (the best-selling manhwa in Korean publishing history), and Kia Asamiya’s Dark Angel.  Under its Be Beautiful imprint, the company also publishes popular yaoi manga such as the best-selling Kizuna: Bonds of Love (the best-selling yaoi title in Japanese publishing history).  Visit www.centralparkmedia.com, www.cpmpress.com and www.bebeautifulmanga.com for more information.

For high resolution, downloadable artwork and information, please visit CPM’s electronic press kit at www.centralparkmedia.com./cpmdb/presskit.cfm .

IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

ANIMETV revamps the “Top Five Countdown”

Due to the extensive amount of feedback and comments AnimeTV received from episode 1, viewers will be getting a slightly new twist on the TOP FIVE COUNTDOWN from Episode 2, scheduled to be aired March 1.  Co-Creator Mark Fujita states “Top Five Countdowns are deceptively elusive concepts. Top 5… of what exactly? Top 5 sales? Top 5 of our personal favorites? And how do you keep it interesting week after week?” Episode 2 of AnimeTV will count down the top five of a specific category of anime, starting with “Historical” anime this week.  The titles have been selected by around 500 fans who signed up from around the world to review and score anime for the show, in addition to the ATV Crew itself, who also cast their votes. 

“The reason we decided to change the concept for the ATV TOP FIVE is because we all sat down and said ‘What would WE want to see?’ - and we all got terribly excited about the new idea.” said Eric P. Sherman, Producer and Director of AnimeTV.  Watch AnimeTV this Thursday and see an all new episode, as well as an all new Top Five Countdown.

GENEON ENTERTAINMENT’S MARCH ANIME FAN-FAVORITES

Street Date: March 13, 2007
DearS Complete Box Set
Catalog #: 12724
Price: $79.98
Time: 325 min
 
Zipang Vol. 4: Attack on G Island
Catalog #: 12770
Price: $24.98
Time: 100 min
 
Street Date: March 20, 2007
Shana Vol. 4
Catalog #: 12778
Price: $29.98
Time: 100 min
 
Synopses:
 
DearS Complete Box Set
One year ago, an alien spacecraft crashed into Tokyo Bay, leaving the entire crew stranded on Earth with no means of returning home.  In no time, the aliens are granted Japanese citizenship and begin participating in a home-stay program with the local people in order to learn all about human culture. When one DearS goes astray and wanders into the life of an ordinary high school student named Takeya, the adventure begins and this DearS is about to learn things they don’t teach you in school!
Rating: 16 UP
 
Zipang Vol. 4
From the sidelines to the front line - Mirai fights for the sake of humankind!
The days of Mirai as a neutral rescue ship are over:  Battleship Mirai has emerged! Forced into battle with its own countrymen, the peacekeeping effort appears doomed. Escalating tension even more, Commander Kadomatsu is blindsided, as the loyal but suspicious Lt. Kusaka finally reveals his true motives.  When the rescue crew deployed at G Island comes face-to-face with the bloodiness of war, the aftermath of battle permanently stains their memories.  Wrestling with its identity, are they the peacemakers or simply someone’s pawn?
Rating: 13 UP
 
Shana Vol. 4
The Denizens have begun their final plans and with Shana ensnared it appears that her end is imminent.  Shana’s history as a Flame Haze is now revealed as we see how her earlier life progressed, training to become the greatest Flame Haze to bond with the Flame of the Heavens and acquire the Nietono no Shana from the deadly Tennmokuikko…
Rating: 13 UP

For Immediate Release:

“LEGEND OF THE DOLL” THEATRICAL PREMIERE SET FOR MARCH 19TH
First movie of AKIHABARA TRILOGY to be screened at The ImaginAsian Theater in New York City

NEW YORK, NY (February 23, 2007)  Central Park Media announced today that it would be kicking off the theatrical release of Legend of the Doll, the first live action film in the Akihabara Trilogy, with a premiere at The ImaginAsian Theater in New York City  (239 East 59th Street) on March 19, 2007 at 7pm.  This is the first of 3 movies set in the famed Akihabara shopping district in Tokyo which is a popular destination for hardcore fans of anime, manga, video games and model kits.  This city-sized shopping area provides a colorful backdrop and plays an integral part in the storylines of each of the movies.  

Prior to the screening, there will be a formal welcome which will include an introduction to the film by Tetsuya Ikeda, the producer of the Akihabara Trilogy movies as well as the producer of “Shall We Dance?” and “Gamera”.  As Mr. Ikeda’s schedule prevents him from personally attending the premiere, he is preparing a very special video message for the event.  In addition, all attendees will be eligible to participate in a prize raffle prior to the start of the movie.

In honor of the strong anime tie-in, all cosplayers who are dressed as either their favorite anime character or in Akihabara style will be admitted free to the premiere. Admission will be charged to all other attendees.  Any members of the press wishing to attend the theatrical premiere should RSVP at prpress@teamcpm.com as soon as possible.  As the formal welcome ceremony will start promptly and seating will be limited, all attendees are encouraged to arrive on time.

About Legend of the Doll:
Model-maker and action figure collector Ryouta achieves his lifelong dream when he finally completes his collection with a rare action figure model at a shop in Akihabara. Tragically, the doll is stolen by a group of delinquents before Ryouta can even get it home. Disappointed to his very core, Ryouta wanders the streets until he finds a bizarre, back alley shop. Venturing inside, he purchases an ultra-rare figure named “Airu”. Ryouta rushes the figure home and quickly assembles it…And to his surprise and delight the figure comes to life. Airu is a real, living girl…And she only has eyes for Ryouta!  For more information about the Akihabara Trilogy, visit www.asiapulpcinema.com/akihabara. 

About Central Park Media:
Central Park Media is a 17-year-old Manhattan-based independent video and book publisher.  Central Park Media has been a leading supplier of anime and Asian cult films in the United States since 1990, and a major publisher of manga (graphic novels) since 1994.  The company currently manufactures and distributes animated video programming under several label names, including U.S. Manga Corps, Be Beautiful, Software Sculptors and Central Park Media.  In addition, Central Park Media releases live-action Asian feature films under its Asia Pulp Cinema label and underground live-action programming under its Below The Radar label.

With exclusive rights to hundreds of graphic novels, the company has become a leading North American publisher of Japanese manga and Korean manhwa.  Among CPM’s fan-favorite graphic novel titles are Lee Hyun Se’s Nambul (the best-selling manhwa in Korean publishing history), and Kia Asamiya’s Dark Angel.  Under its Be Beautiful imprint, the company also publishes popular yaoi manga such as the best-selling Kizuna: Bonds of Love (the best-selling yaoi title in Japanese publishing history).  Visit www.centralparkmedia.com, www.cpmpress.com and www.bebeautifulmanga.com for more information.

For high resolution, downloadable artwork and information, please visit CPM’s electronic press kit at www.centralparkmedia.com/cpmdb/presskit.cfm.

IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

 ANIMETV INITIAL VIEWERSHIP EXCEEDS EXPECTATIONS

The premiere episode of ANIMETV which went live on February 15 exceeded predictions for viewership.  With approximately 50,000 viewers and counting (by around 5000 viewers per day), the video podcast show is attracting serious anime fans and converting casual ones from more than 70 countries around the world, and promises to continue to expand. “We expected the show to do well, but without advertising or PR, there was just no way to tell how many people would really come to watch the premiere episode. The release exceeded our expectations for the pilot episode by far,” stated helmer Eric P. Sherman.  “There are people writing to us from all over the world including Japan and the UK, saying this is their new favorite show. And we haven’t even really gotten started yet!”

 According to Mark Fujita, co-creator of AnimeTV, the show was created because the folks at Bang Zoom! Entertainment wanted to watch it! “We realized there were no real shows on TV that review anime. There are plenty of review shows for movies, and some good ones for games. But what about one specifically for anime? That would be something we would personally like to watch.”

 “We talked to some folks at Cartoon Network about doing it as a TV show, ” says Sherman.  “They told us ‘Why not just make it yourselves as a podcast show?’ So we did!” 

As they began to develop the idea over the next year, the concept began to evolve. “For an extremely low budget venture, it was nothing short of a miracle that it actually got finished,” admits Producer Tony Oliver. According to Kristi Reed, another one of the show’s Producers, AnimeTV required a crew of 30 to pull off, including movie lights and a huge amount of rented equipment. “It was a five camera shoot, we needed a Director of Photography, a control room set up with video monitors, talk back capability, a floor director, seven lavalier microphones for the cast, two boom mic operators, and two sound mixers. We also had an art director and set designer, make up artists, and probably most importantly, craft services.” (which means snacks for the 30 hungry people!) When it came time for Post-Production, sorting through five cameras worth of video tapes, and beginning to tackle the animation sequences, graphics, and music became a full time job for an entire creative suite of people. Every step of the way, it became more obvious that the show’s complexity had been under-estimated. 

“Even the Top Five Countdown was much more involved than originally anticipated. Coordinating the votes from fans around the world via email was one aspect. Then came the design of the graphics, the animation, sound effects, scoring, selecting clips from each show once the votes were tallied up, and finally coordinating the voice over recordings with the same voice talent who does Toonami’s promos.” It’s this kind of close attention to detail that makes AnimeTV so much fun to watch. “You can watch the show several times over, and still see little things that you missed the first time,” says anime fan and voice actress Stephanie Sheh. “I’m really glad that something like this is finally going to be out there.” The creative team is just ready for some sleep. “There have been many sleepless nights trying to get this show produced,” say Reed.  “But would I do it all over again? In a heart beat.” 

Sherman and Fujita describe the casting process of nothing short of “intense.” “We spent around eight months looking for the right people to make up the ‘ATV Crew’,” says Sherman. “We post notices everywhere we could. The key was to find intelligent, well-spoken, interesting young people, who were also die-hard anime fans.” Bang Zoom received thousands of submissions to audition for the show, but before any prospective cast members were allowed to come in for auditions, they each underwent an exhaustive application process. “We needed to weed out the wanna-be’s from the real anime fans,” says Sherman.  “It didn’t matter how great they looked or how funny they were. If they didn’t know their anime backwards and forwards, they wouldn’t even be considered for a part on this show.” After several rounds of auditions the finalists were brought together in various groups and allowed to talk about anime with each other for two minute intervals. At the end of the final round, everyone was sent home. Eight people made it to that final round, but only six were needed. Unfortunately, all eight were amazing. Only six were needed, but it could not be denied that eight great people had been found. Fujita recalls, “We sat down with Johnny [Yong Bosch] and the other producers and finally it was decided that we’d go with these final eight - and have two of them sit out for each review.” Each member of the ATV Crew represents “one type of anime fan” according to Fujita. “I’m sure they will all get hate mail as well as a lot of fan mail,” says Tony Oliver.  “Because they are very opinionated. But that’s what makes this show work. The cast is what makes it work. And once people get to know them, they are going to fall in love with them.”

Bang Zoom! is hoping that you’ll fall in love with AnimeTV, so that it stays online. “We’ve definitely put our collective hearts and souls into this show. And I think that comes across. The other day I got an email from a young woman in Sommerset, England. She just wanted to say thank you for producing this show. And you know what? That makes all those months with no sleep worth it.”

NEXT EPISODE INFO:

WHEN: THURSDAY, MARCH 1, 8:00 PM, PST

WHERE:  www.goanimetv.com

About AnimeTV

AnimeTV is a 15-minute program hosted by actor Johnny Yong Bosch (Trigun, Last Exile, Bleach), with segments on:  anime reviews (done by actual, non-industry anime fans), fan cosplay, a top five anime countdown, interviews with voice actors, and other interactive segments. Anime is scored and reviewed by real fans from around the world who vote on their favorite anime. AnimeTV is a free video podcast or webcast airing new episodes every other Thursday night at 8:00 PM, PST. Previous episodes will not be archived which means that there is only a two week window to view each episode. Behind the Scenes clips will also be available for viewing on the website.

About Bang Zoom! Entertainment, Inc.

Bang Zoom! is committed to carrying out projects which contribute to the promotion of innovative cultural awareness internationally. They work creatively in the entertainment industry to develop and produce the highest quality of English language versions of Anime possible. More information can be found at their official website  www.bangzoomentertainment.com.

Illumitoon Entertainment’s first announced anime series license, Beet the Vandel Buster, has arrived to show off what the new company can do. Beet the Vandel Buster: The Sacrifice introduces us to Beet, a young would-be adventurer who seeks to defeat the Vandel demon race which has plagued the entire world into the Century of Darkness. Pulled from the pages of Monthly Shonen Jump and animated by Toei Animation, Beet’s journey spans two series as he gathers a group of friends and warriors to help bring peace to the land. (more…)

Weekly Shonen Jump’s insane adult-styled parody series is in America. Of course, if you have Cartoon Network then you probably already know what BoBoBo-Bo Bo-BoBo is. OK, who am I kidding? You’re probably still trying to figure it out and aren’t alone. Bo-BoBo takes adult humour, bizarre cultural references, and lots of anime parodies to create a “running gag” show that makes you wonder how long they got away with it (76 episodes). Illumitoon Entertainment has taken up the job of releasing the series “uncut,” according to the packaging, which adds back in the Japanese track and subtitles. But how does Bo-BoBo: Bo-nafide Protector fare from the new company? (more…)

Space Station Liberty is hosting a interview with veteran voice actor Richard Epcar tonight at 10 PM EST/7 PM PST on Talkshoe. The interview will be streamed live, and listeners can call in with questions. The interview will also be available for download afterwards, along with previous ones with people like Melanie MacQueen and Chase Masterson.

IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Anime and Manga are leading the entertainment revolution in the United States and other parts of the world. Now, for the first time ever, be a part of the revolution as AnimeTV brings Viral Video to a new level.

AnimeTV (TM) premieresFebruary 15 at 8:00pm PSTonitunes, youtube, revver, bliptv, vsocial, andgoanimetv.com. AnimeTV (TM) is a Free Podcast anime review show with a cast of die-hard anime fans who know their stuff. Hosted byJohnny Yong Bosch(AKIRA, TRIGUN, BLEACH).Produced byBang Zoom! Entertainment, inc. Proudly sponsored by:GLICO, CALPICO, FIJI WATER,HOOK UPS, KELLOGG’S POP TARTS, POM TEA, SOCKO, BIRDHOUSE

Meet the cast - “The ATV Crew”

FOR ASNEAK PEEK AT THE SET & MORE:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/animetv/sets/72157594497173357/

WHAT WILL BE THE FIRST SHOW TO BE REVIEWED ON ANIMETV (TM)? THE MELANCHOLY OF HARUHI SUZIMYA (Clips from the authorized English version will be seen for the first time anywhere.)

See below and visitwww.goanimetv.comfor more info

In the wake of expanding ocean-related terrorist activities, the Peace Keeping Navy (PKN) form an alliance of the greatest naval fleets to protect the world. However, the terrorist revolutionaries of the Undersea Silence Revolution (USR) don’t take this move against them lightly and open up a new war commanded by Admiral Red. Only the wits of the seasoned sub captain Hayami and his 707 crew can mount a challenge to stop the USR from transforming the world into Red’s ideals. Submarine 707R: The Movie from Geneon Entertainment brings the two-episode OVA submarine adventure to the US where far too few naval titles have seen the light of day. (more…)

PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 11, 2007

The First Anime DVD Release from Illumitoon Entertainment and Westlake Entertainment Debuts with Hugely Popular New Anime Series BEET THE VANDEL BUSTER: THE SACRIFICE

Woodland Hills, CA ­ On January 30, 2007, BEET THE VANDEL BUSTER: THE SACRIFICE, the premiere Anime release under the new partnership between Illumitoon Entertainment Ltd. and Westlake Entertainment, will arrive on
DVD. Featuring four 30-minute episodes, the disc will be available for
$24.98 SRP.
Based on the comic serialized in the popular Shonen Jump manga, BEET THE VANDEL BUSTER: THE SACRIFICE debuts on DVD for the first time in North America and includes the episodes The Dream Catcher, The Sacrifice, Bog of the Dead and The Burning Lance. Originally airing in Japan against ³Yu-Gi-Oh² with comparable ratings, Westlake Entertainment will eventually distribute all 78 episodes of the 2004/2005 television series in subsequent volumes.

BEET THE VANDEL BUSTER: THE SACRIFICE was created by the animators of ³DBZ,² ³DBGT,² ³One Piece² and ³Zatch Bell² and was produced in the United States by the same US Producer of ³DBZ,² ³DBGT² and ³Full Metal Alchemist.² The DVD also features the design staff best known for monster design on the popular ³Digimon² series. BEET THE VANDEL BUSTER Volume II will be released in March 2007.

Darkness and despair have overtaken the Earth as a demon race known as Vandels roam freely and terrorize mankind. The Zenon Warriors, Earth¹s greatest Vandel Busters, struggle against the tyranny of the Vandels, along with Zenon¹s determined younger brother, Beet. In a dramatic showdown, the Dark Overlord of the Vandels, Beltorze faces off against the Zenon Warriors in an epic battle to save Beet¹s home village. But when Beet¹s actions compromise the team, Zenon is forced to make a decision that will affect Beet and the Zenon Warriors forever! Meanwhile, Beet¹s childhood friend Poala braves the Bog of the Dead and gets the attention of a new Vandel, Mugine, who initiates a vile plot to destroy her.

About Illumitoon Entertainment, Ltd.

Illumitoon Entertainment, Ltd. is a newly formed collaboration of business and creative professionals focused on delivering customized, quality entertainment to the North American markets. The company¹s principals have more than 20 years combined experience in acquiring, producing, and distributing anime, as well as creating original productions for the U.S., Canada, Australia and New Zealand. For more information, visit the company online at www.illumitoon.com.

# # #
Beet the Vandel Buster: The Sacrifice
Street date: January 30, 2007
TV PG
Price: $24.98 SRP

For Immediate Release:

LIVE ACTION FILM “LEGEND OF THE DOLL” TO BE RELEASED IN APRIL

First film in AKIHABARA TRILOGY to be priced at $19.95 SRP
NEW YORK, NY (January 30, 2007)  Central Park Media announced today that Legend of the Doll, the first live action film in the Akihabara Trilogy, has been slated for release this April. Each of these stand alone films are set in the famed Akihabara shopping district in Tokyo which is a popular destination for hardcore fans of anime, manga, video games and model kits. This city-sized shopping area provides a colorful backdrop and plays an integral part in the storylines for each of the three movies.

The first movie to be released, Legend of the Doll, was written by the producer of “Shall We Dance?” and “Gamera” and focuses on the trials and tribulations of a lonely guy who creates the perfect female figure from a special model kit.

The order date will be March 13, 2007 and the street date will be April 10, 2007. This DVD will be priced at $19.95 SRP and contain Japanese language tracks with English subtitles.

Legend of the Doll

A comical, heart-throbbing love fantasy. Model-maker and action figure collector Ryouta achieves his lifelong dream when he finally completes his collection with a rare action figure model at a shop in Akihabara. Tragically, the doll is stolen by a group of deliquents before Ryouta can even get it home. Disappointed to his very core, Ryouta wanders the streets until he finds a bizarre, back alley shop. Venturing inside, he purchases an ultra-rare figure named “Airu”. Ryouta rushes the figure home and quickly assembles it…And to his surprise and delight the figure comes to life. Airu is a real, living girl…And she only has eyes for Ryouta!

DVD features include: Japanese Trailers, Sneak Peeks, Language: Japanese with English Subtitles.

Running time: 68 minutes
Genre: Comedy/Fantasy
Rating: N/A
WEA Selection: 712533
SRP: $19.95
UPC: 7-19987-25332-2

About Central Park Media
Central Park Media is a 17-year-old Manhattan-based independent video and book publisher focused on Japanese and Korean animation and graphic novels. Central Park Media has been a leading supplier of anime in the United States since 1990, and a major publisher of manga since 1994. The company currently manufactures and distributes animated video programming under several label names, including U.S. Manga Corps, Be Beautiful, Software Sculptors and Central Park Media, as well as live-action Asian feature films under its Asia Pulp Cinema label and live action underground programming under its Below the Radar label.

With exclusive rights to hundreds of graphic novels, the company has become a leading North American publisher of Japanese manga and Korean manhwa. Among CPM’s fan-favorite graphic novel titles are Lee Hyun Se’s Nambul (the best-selling manhwa in Korean publishing history), and Kia Asamiya’s Dark Angel. Under its Be Beautiful imprint, the company also publishes popular yaoi manga such as the best-selling Kizuna: Bonds of Love (the best-selling yaoi title in Japanese publishing history). Visit www.centralparkmedia.com, www.cpmpress.com and www.bebeautifulmanga.com for more information.

For high resolution, downloadable artwork and information, please visit CPM’s electronic press kit at www.centralparkmedia.com./cpmdb/presskit.cfm .

GENEON ENTERTAINMENT’S FEBRUARY ANIME FAN-FAVORITES

Street date: February 7, 2007
Viewtiful Joe Vol. 7
Catalog #: 12700
Price: $19.98 U.S.
Time: 85 min

Street date: February 21, 2007
DearS: Complete Box Set
Catalog #: 12724
Price: $79.98 U.S.
Time: 325 min

Elemental Gelade Vol. 5
Catalog #: 12732
Price: $29.98 U.S.
Time: 100 min

Paradise Kiss Vol. 2
Catalog #: 12924
Price: $29.98 U.S.
Time: 100 min

Synopses:

Viewtiful Joe Vol. 7
Got Cheese Burger?
As Joe and Jr. desperately search for a hamburger shop, they find a cell phone on the ground. They end up searching for its owner, a runaway girl, while chasing Gran Bruce who raids the hamburger truck! Being separated from Joe, Jr. has to fight against Jadow by himself. It is time for Jr. to prove that he is a hero candidate too. Meanwhile, Silvia is able to escape from her room when she is looking for a detergent. Biankies didn’t even notice she is gone? Can she manage to get out of Jadow’s HQ?
Rating: 7 UP

Elemental Gelade Vol. 5
As a last resort, Cou reacts with Viro, but this new bond creates mixed emotions for Ren. While the group continues to ponder Viro’s intentions, they must also find answers to Chaos Choir’s intentions in order to survive. When the group arrives at Viro’s childhood village, they find a lot more than they bargained for as newer and more powerful enemies lie in wait.
Raiting: 13 UP

DearS: Complete Box Set
One year ago, an alien spacecraft crashed into Tokyo Bay, leaving the entire crew stranded on Earth with no means of returning home. In no time, the aliens are granted Japanese citizenship and begin participating in a home-stay program with the local people in order to learn all about human culture. When one DearS goes astray and wanders into the life of an ordinary high school student named Takeya, the adventure begins and this DearS is about to learn things they don’t teach you in school.
Rating: 16 UP

Paradise Kiss Vol. 2
Yukari takes the drastic step of running away, when her mother vehemently objects to her involvement with “Paradise Kiss.” Dropping out of school, Yukari pursues the only goal left to her; becoming a professional model. As her whirlwind romance with George passionately heats up, a worried classmate, Tokumori, shows up to warn her that she’s in danger of being expelled from school and questions her relationship with George. Now Yukari faces her most difficult life-altering decision: giving up what her heart desires.
Rating: 16 UP

PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 9, 2007

TOKKO VOLUME ONE PREMIERES ON DVD FROM MANGA ENTERTAINMENT

Five Bone-Chilling Episodes from the Newest Anime Sensation Bows March 27th, 2007

CHICAGO, IL – Manga Entertainment unveils another anime classic with the March 27, 2007 DVD premiere of Tokko Volume 1. Enter a world of relentless mayhem populated by flesh-eating zombies and the determined cops eager to bring them to justice! Directed by famed anime creator Abe Masashi (“Tenchi Muyo,” “Blue Gender”), the first five thrilling installments of Tokko Volume 1 are sure to wow anime aficionados everywhere. Tokko Volume 1 has an SRP of 24.98, with a pre-book date of February 14, 2007.

Tokko Volume 1 begins when Shindo Ranmaru graduates from the police academy and is assigned to Tokki: Special Mobile Investigation Force. On the day of his graduation, he meets Rokujo Sakura, the half-naked girl he has been seeing in his dreams. He discovers she works for a secret group within Tokki, known as Tokko: Special Public Safety Task Force.

Shindo ends up joining Tokko to avenge his parents’ death and solve the mysterious mass murder of 185 families in his hometown of Machida. Linked to the deaths are bottomless pits that begin to appear all around Japan. From these abysses emerge mysterious creatures with a hunger for human flesh and blood, sent to seek and destroy. The investigation soon points to something called The Box of Dirge. Will Shindo uncover the reasons behind the mass murders and avenge his parents’ deaths, or will this assignment prove to be the first and last assignment for this young rookie?

Tokko Volume One on DVD contains the first five breathtaking episodes:
1: Dawn
2: Dream
3: Bond
4: Omen
5: Phantom

In addition, Tokko Volume 1 boasts a “bottomless pit”-full of eye-popping bonus features including:

• Widescreen presentation (1.78:1), enhanced for 16×9 TVs
• Excerpts from cast roundtable discussion
• Image Gallery
• DVD Rom: Screensaver

Tokko Volume One
Pre-Book Date: February 14, 2007
Street Date: March 27, 2007
Cat. #: M5002
ISBN: 0 1313 82002-9 8
Running Time: 125 minutes
SRP: $24.98

Manga Entertainment Ltd. is an entertainment company specializing in the production, marketing and distribution of Japanese animation for theatrical, television, Internet, DVD and home video release worldwide. The Manga film library is marketed and distributed in the U.S. through Starz Home Entertainment. The company is headquartered in Los Angeles with offices in London and Tokyo. Manga is a division of Starz Media, a subsidiary of Liberty Media Group.

Starz Media, LLC, is a programming production and distribution company operating worldwide. It includes the Film Roman, Anchor Bay Entertainment, and Manga Entertainment brands. Its units create animated and live-action programming — including theatrical films — and programming created under contract for other media companies. It distributes that programming, and programming acquired from outside producers, through home video retailers, theaters, broadcasters, ad supported and premium television channels, and Internet and wireless video distributors in the US and internationally. Starz Media is an operating unit of Starz, LLC, which is a wholly owned subsidiary of Liberty Media Corporation that is attributed to Liberty Capital Group, www.starz.com.

Type-Moon’s second visual novel game and their first commercial project, Fate/stay night, gained the benefit of a group more aware of how to work in the industry after creating the succcessful game Tsukihime. Both erotic PC games also benefit in terms of animation studios converting the story and characters into a general-audience TV-series that everyone can enjoy. Animated by Studio DEEN and licensed for US release by Geneon Entertainment, Fate/stay night: Advent of the Magi follows Shirou Emiya’s kind-hearted nature forced into a battle royale for the Holy Grail. (more…)