Saiyuki 1 The Samurai Wild Arms 3

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

ADV ANNOUNCES RELEASE DATE FOR SAIYUKI: THE JOURNEY BEGINS

FIRST EXCITING VOLUME OF SPRAWLING ANIME SERIES TO BE AVAILABLE APRIL 29 2003

HOUSTON January 30 2003?ADV Films today announced an April 29 2003 release for Saiyuki: The Journey Begins first volume of the thrilling humorous wildly entertaining 50-episode anime saga.

The first iterations of the Saiyuki tale were animated in the late 1960s and based on the 16th-century Chinese novel Xiyouji by Wu Cheng-En; ADV Films? release of Saiyuki is based on a manga by Kazuya Minekura and directed by Hayato Date.

Special Edition Available!
ADV?s release of Saiyuki: The Journey Begins will be available in two versions: as a DVD in its standard case or as a special edition including the DVD a t-shirt and a custom series art box sized to hold the first six volumes of the series.

The Story:
Once demons and man lived together in harmony. But when a band of rogue demonic forces sought to resurrect a diabolical monster dark spiritual energy began to cover the land?and the demons decided mankind was no longer friend but food. Now it?s up to a renegade priest a monkey king a lecherous water sprite and a sympathetic demon to stop the resurrection and return harmony to the dangerous land.

Enter the world of Saiyuki! A unique universe of beauty and betrayal where sacred scrolls battle enchanted weaponry and where dragons can transform into jeeps. A land of magic and menace where four reluctant heroes are just as concerned about having a good time a stiff drink and a beautiful woman as they are about saving the world?

Saiyuki: The Journey Begins (SRP $29.98; special edition $44.98) is a DVD-only release including both English- and Japanese-language versions of the title. Extras include clean opening and closing animations; historical background; production sketches; a Saiyuki trailer and ADV Previews.

ADV FILMS ANNOUNCES RELEASE DATE FOR THE SAMURAI

EXCITING HILARIOUS ADVENTURE COMBINES MARTIAL ARTS TROPES WITH BAWDY HUMOR; RETAIL AVAILABILITY APRIL 22 2003

HOUSTON January 30 2003?ADV Films today announced an April 22 2003 release for The Samurai a hilarious zany OVA take on the martial-arts genre combining sword-slashing action with high-school social politics and a look at the Achilles? heel of many a young man (samurai or no): his libido.

Directed by Kazuo Yamazaki (Galactic Pirates) and boasting English-language screenwriting contributions from multitalented ADV Films marketing factotum (and freelance writer) Corey Henson The Samurai is sure to be a fan-favorite.

The Story:
Years ago a samurai warrior defeated a Ninja master in mortal combat. Now many years later the son of the samurai is peacefully attending high school? peacefully that is until the two nubile young granddaughters of the defeated Ninja arrive seeking revenge! Fortunately our hero has mastered all of the skills of his father?s art? but unfortunately the naughty ninjettes have discovered his one weakness! Can our chaste and honorable hero resist their nefarious plots and pulchritude or will the nasty ninja girls triumph? Is sex mightier than the sword? The entire Japanese educational system and most of the surrounding village gets leveled in The Samurai!

The Samurai (SRP $24.98) is a DVD-only release including English- and Japanese-language versions and English subtitles. Includes ADV Previews.

ADV FILMS SETS RELEASE DATE FOR WILD ARMS: THE RETURN OF LAILA

THIRD VOLUME OF FRONTIER FANTASY SERIES TO BE AVAILABLE APRIL 29 2003; BASED ON HIT PLAYSTATION® GAME

HOUSTON January 30 2003?ADV Films today announced a release date of April 29 2003 for Wild Arms: The Return of Laila the third volume of the series directed by Toshiaki Kawasaki (Arc the Lad).

The Story:
After Sheyenne and Kiel help an ace safecracker who wants to go straight get out of the business a mysterious woman out of Sheyenne?s past appears to trouble his dreams. Her name is Laila but she doesn?t stay in his dreams for long. Sheyenne finds she?s alive and well and living in the next town they reach. But there are sinister forces in motion their sights are set on Sheyenne and his Wild ARMS and they aren?t above using anything or anyone to get to him. Without his adult body can Sheyenne protect his long lost love? Find out in the third exciting volume of Wild Arms!

Wild Arms: The Return of Laila (SRP $29.98) is a DVD-only release including both English- and Japanese-language versions and English subtitles. It includes four complete episodes: ?Guilty or...? ?No Home No Body? ?Lie Laila Lie? and ?Lullaby of the Noble-Red.? Extras include: Japanese actor interviews; model sheets; an original Japanese preview; outtakes; and ADV previews.

Posted on Thursday, January 30, 2003 (Archive on Friday, February 28, 2003)