ADV/Geneon call off Strategic Alliance
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
ADV AND GENEON
CALL OFF STRATEGIC ALLIANCE
HOUSTON, September 21, 2007—ADV Films, the number one producer-distributor of anime outside of Japan, today confirmed that it has withdrawn plans to distribute Geneon Entertainment’s DVDs, CDs, and other product in North America.
“We regret that we could not complete an arrangement with Geneon Entertainment,†said ADV Films co-founder and President John Ledford. “We have enormous admiration for Geneon’s line and wish them the best of luck.â€
The strategic alliance announced jointly by ADV Films and Geneon Entertainment on August 29, which was slated to take effect October 1, would have made ADV Geneon’s sole distributor in North America.Â
About ADV Films:
In the 15 years since its inception, ADV Films has become the #1 producer-distributor of Japanese animation (“animeâ€) outside of Japan and has the largest English-language anime library in the world. With best-selling titles such as Neon Genesis Evangelion, RahXephon, Robotech, Full Metal Panic, Hello Kitty and Azumanga Daioh, ADV Films’ extensive catalog is fueling the popularity of anime around the globe. Always on the forefront, ADV is introducing North America to bold new anime franchises such as the new Guyver, Le Chevalier D’Eon, Gantz, and Elfen Lied.  ADV Films’ library also includes popular live-action science fiction programs such as The Jim Henson Company’s Farscape, the nationally syndicated Gene Roddenberry’s Andromeda and the Saturn Award-nominated Mutant X.   In 2005 ADV Films was voted “Best Anime Company†in the SPJA awards, presented at Anime Expo, North America’s largest anime convention. The readers of Anime News Network designated ADV Films “Overall Favorite Anime Company†in both 2004 and 2005.
Parent company A.D. Vision, Inc. encompasses a variety of complementary media divisions, spanning publishing, television, licensing and merchandising and continues to expand into new areas. Its Anime Networkâ„¢ is “America‘s #1 Anime Channel,†reaching more than 40 million households. Anime Network is the nation’s top video-on-demand (VOD) offering as well as a 24/7 linear cable channel and is the first television network dedicated to bringing anime and anime-related programming to consumers nationwide.  The company has two publishing arms: Newtype USA, North America’s top-selling anime and manga monthly magazine, and ADV Mangaâ„¢, dedicated to publishing graphic novels.  Headquartered in Houston, the company has offices in Europe and Japan. For more information, visit www.advfilms.com.
[…] titles in ADV’s hands has been called off between the two companies. The press releases from ADV and Dentsu (Geneon’s Japanese parent company) don’t reveal many details other than the […]