Quote:First Titles Scheduled for Release in Late Summer
FLOWER MOUND, July 03, 2008 -- FUNimation Entertainment, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Navarre Corporation, and Geneon Entertainment (USA) Inc., a leading producer of Japanese animation, announced today their partnership to distribute select DVD titles in North America.
Under the terms of the agreement, FUNimation Entertainment obtains the exclusive rights to the manufacturing, marketing, sales and distribution of established Geneon titles, including international successes "Ergo Proxy", "Hellsing Ultimate" and "Black Lagoon".
Among the first titles to be released includes the special edition of "Hellsing Ultimate", directed by Tomokazu Tokoro and produced by Satelight (?Aquarion? and ?Baldr Force EXE Resolution?).
Follow up releases include "Black Lagoon Second Barrage", ?Karin?, "Kyo Kara Maoh Season 2", and "Lyrical Nanoha".
?Geneon is a strong producer, known for excellent production and quality of its anime series,? said Gen Fukunaga, president and CEO of FUNimation Entertainment. ?We are pleased to partner with them and we are committed to the successful release of these series.?
"FUNimation?s momentum as the leading anime distributor continues to build," said Yushin Soga, president and CEO of Geneon. "We are sure this partnership will only grow the prominence of our portfolio."
Additional titles include: ?Black Lagoon?, ?Elemental Gelade?, ?Fate Stay Night?, ?Kamichu?, ?Ninja Vixens?, ?Paradise Kiss?, ?Rozen Maiden?, ?Rozen Maiden Traumend?, ?Shana?, ?Shonen Onmyouji?, ?The Familiar of Zero?, ?The Story of Saiunkoku?, ?When They Cry?, and ?The Law of Ueki?.
About FUNimation Entertainment
FUNimation® Entertainment, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Navarre Corporation, is the leading company for Japanese animation in the United States. FUNimation is known for acquiring top-rated anime series from Japan and for being the market share leader for home video sales of anime in the United States. The company has a proven formula for launching and advancing brands, and manages a full spectrum of rights for most of its brands including broadcasting, licensing, production, internet, and home video sales and distribution.
About Navarre Corporation
The Navarre Corporation is a publisher and distributor of physical and digital home entertainment and multimedia products, including PC software, DVD video, video games and accessories. Additional information is available at http://www.navarre.com.
About Geneon Entertainment
A leading supplier of Japanese animation in North America, and the recipient of the 2006 "Best Anime Company" by the Society for the Promotion of Japanese Animation, GENEON ENTERTAINMENT (USA) INC., is a subsidiary of Tokyo-based advertising giant Dentsu, Inc. Geneon Entertainment primarily develops animation properties for release in North America on DVD and new media.
About Dentsu Inc.
Dentsu Inc., founded in 1901, is the largest advertising agency brand and the fifth largest marketing and communications organization in the world. Based in Tokyo, the group has more than 6,000 clients and more than 15,000 full-time employees in both Japan and in its offices overseas. Consolidated sales for fiscal term 03/07 were recorded at $17,738 million. Dentsu is publicly quoted on the Tokyo Stock Exchange (Code 4324).
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YAY! I'm happy that at least season 2 of Kyo Kara Maoh and the Shana OVA will end up getting released now as it increases the chances of it getting licensed and released in Australia.