Noir 2 Rune Soldier 1 Others Announced

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

ADV FILMS SETS RELEASE DATE FOR NOIR: THE HIT LIST

SECOND EXTRAORDINARY VOLUME OF ANIME SERIES TO BE AVAILABLE APRIL 8 2003

HOUSTON January 8 2003-ADV Films today announced a release date of April 8 2003 for NOIR: The Hit List the second DVD volume of the widely acclaimed anime thriller.

The series which premiered in Japan in 2001 was directed by Koichi Mashimo (Dirty Pair Dominion). Viewers praise NOIR?s spectacular animation the use of music its exotic settings (largely in western Europe) and an enduringly complex storyline based on a relationship between a duo of female assassins who cannot trust one another but who need each other to survive. Critics have favorably compared NOIR to such genre-defining live-action suspense films as The Professional and La Femme Nikita.

The story:
The mysteries deepen as professional assassins Mireille Bouquet and Yuumura Kirika now working together under the code name ?NOIR? ply their chosen trade even as they search for the mysterious link that connects them. Is there someone out there who already knows? And if so is it the same mysterious person-or people-who?ve been playing a deadly game of cat and mouse with them since they first met? Secrets wrap around secrets and the body count continues to rise in the second stunning volume of NOIR.

NOIR: The Hit List (SRP $29.98) is a DVD-only release including four complete episodes. DVD offers both English- and Japanese-language versions with English subtitles. Extras include production sketches clean opening and closing animation original Japanese promo spots and ADV previews.

RELEASE DATE SET FOR DAI-GUARD: IN THE RED

FIFTH VOLUME IN HIT SERIES TO BE AVAILABLE APRIL 1 2003

HOUSTON January 8 2003-ADV Films has set a street date of April 1 2003 for the U.S. release of Dai-Guard: In the Red. The fifth volume of the series In the Red includes episodes 18 through 21 of the thrilling humorous critically acclaimed animated series directed by Seiji Mizushima (Generator Gawl Slayers).

The Story:
The danger keeps getting worse. The pressure from the bosses is too intense. The DAI-GUARD pilots have more than enough reason to look for new jobs. But a real hero never lays down his robotically enhanced weaponry until the last foe falls. And these three pilots are all the hero the world needs. Can they prove themselves as the final battle for humanity becomes even scarier? Find out in the fifth death-defying volume of Dai-Guard!

Dai-Guard: In the Red ($29.98 SRP) is a DVD-only release containing four complete episodes. It includes both English- and Japanese-language versions and English subtitles. DVD extras include clean opening and closing animation production sketches and ADV previews.

RELEASE DATE SET FOR THE DEVIL LADY: THE STRENGTHENING

THIRD VOLUME OF CLASSIC ANIME TITLE DIRECTED BY THE LEGENDARY GO NAGAI SET FOR DVD RELEASE ON APRIL 1 2003

HOUSTON January 8 2003-ADV Films has set a street date of April 1 2003 for the DVD release of The Devil Lady: The Strengthening the third volume of director Go Nagai?s classic horror series.

Nagai an elder statesman in the world of anime and manga is the renowned creator of such anime touchstones as Getter Robo Mazinger Z and Grandizer and the Devilman series from which The Devil Lady sprung. The Devil Lady was adapted by Toshihiro Hirano (director of Vampire Princess Miyu) and writer Chiako Konaka.

The Story:
Jun is desperate. Is there anyone who can tell her what is happening within her? Will anyone be able to stop her from becoming The Beast again? Each night brings Jun closer to the truth-but the truth is hard to bear. As Jun clings to the last shreds of her humanity she discovers that she is part of a plan that threatens to erase all traces of humanity from the Earth. The clock is ticking and darkness slowly swallows the day?

The Devil Lady: The Strengthening ($29.98 SRP) is a DVD-only release. including episodes 10 through 13 of the series. DVD extras include a Devil Lady trailer clean opening and closing animation original Japanese artwork and ADV Previews.

RELEASE DATE SET FOR EXCEL SAGA VOLUME 6: GOING WAY TOO FAR!

SIXTH VOLUME OF ICONOCLASTIC WILDLY POPULAR COMEDY SERIES HITS STORE SHELVES APRIL 8 2003

HOUSTON January 8 2003 - ADV Films has set a street date of April 8 2003 for Excel Saga: Going Way Too Far! the sixth and final volume of the popular and outrageously bizarre anime satire.

The one-of-a-kind Excel Saga is best described as the ultimate parody of anime. From the opening credits-a hilarious spoof of Japanese pop videos-to the ending song featuring Menchi the dog singing/barking a plaintive ballad while a human interpreter translates for viewers nothing is sacred in the world of Excel Saga and viewers have responded with every episode of the series enjoying tremendous sales.

The Story:
Just when you thought the plot would never thicken the whole thing congeals and Excel finds herself in a fight for her lives! With the Great Will held hostage the city in ruins the Puchuu running amok and Pedro joining forces with Nabeshin to combat the nefarious That Man the action is fast and hilarious as ACROSS finally makes its move in the final unbelievable volume of Excel Saga!

Excel Saga: Going Way Too Far! ($29.98 SRP) collects five complete episodes of the highly popular comedy series in English as well as the Japanese-language version with English subtitles. DVD extras include AD Vid-Notes?; Episode 25 clean closing animation; Episode 26 clean opening and closing animation; Puni Puni Poemi latest info; production sketches and ADV Previews.

ADV FILMS ANNOUNCES RELEASE DATE FOR CHANCE POP SESSION: SESSION THREE

THREE-GIRL POP GROUP R3 IS ON THE WAY TO STARDOM IN THE THIRD VOLUME OF THE SERIES; IN STORES APRIL 8 2003

HOUSTON January 8 2003-ADV Films today announced a release date of April 8 2003 for Chance Pop Session: Session Three the third volume of the anime series telling the story of three prodigiously talented girls-one a choir girl one a street musician and the third a wealthy aristocrat-who share a dream of musical stardom.

Resonating strongly with the current U.S. fascination with pop-music stardom (evinced by the resounding success of the reality series American Idol - The Search for a Superstar?) Chance Pop Session speaks sincerely to young peoples? desire for stardom and adulation.

The Story:
With their new single ?Pure Blue? R3 race to the top of the charts. Photo shoots public appearances and interviews with top magazines become routine for Akari Yuki and Nozomi. Caught in a whirlwind of publicity and fan adoration the girls discover that the reality of stardom is even better than their dreams! Is it possible that they are even competing with their idol Reika for the world music industry?s top award?

It all seems too good to be true until a meddling family member jeopardizes R3?s entire future. As controversy threatens the group Nozomi learns of the past kept hidden from her and the girls are finally united in song and spirit. R3 sing their hearts out at the awards show but will even their best effort be enough to beat superstar Reika? And what of the final missing link to the girls? past? Can a family torn apart by tragedy finally be reunited by the power of song?

Chance Pop Session: Session Three ($29.98 SRP) is a DVD-only release including four complete episodes of the series. The title includes English- and Japanese-language versions along with English subtitles. Extras include character sketches; background and production art; clean opening and closing animation; original Japanese promo spots; ?How to Be a Pop Star? printed guide (part three); limited-edition Chance Pop Session sticker sheet; and ADV previews.

ADV ANNOUNCES RELEASE DATE FOR CITY HUNTER: .357 MAGNUM

FEATURE-LENGTH TITLE PART OF THE THRILLING HILARIOUS LONG-RUNNING JAPANESE CITY HUNTER DETECTIVE SERIES TO BE AVAILABLE APRIL 8 2003

HOUSTON January 8 2003-ADV Films today announced a release date for City Hunter: .357 Magnum a feature-length companion to the long-running wildly popular Japanese animated television series. Centered around the (mis)adventures of .357-packing professional bodyguard/clean-up man Joe Saeba known as City Hunter. For all his abilities City Hunter is burdened by an active libido-which always seems to get in the way of his missions!

The City Hunter franchise has generated millions of dollars in revenue worldwide with comic books movies a television series and other merchandise all enjoying strong viewership and brisk sales. The City Hunter graphic novel (manga) series by Tsukasa Hojo sold millions of copies every week in Japan while the television series scored big ratings all over the world. City Hunter also spawned a hit film starring international movie star Jackie Chan.

The Story:
A beautiful pianist comes to Tokyo for a charity concert and City Hunter is there. But music isn?t his forte-Joe wants lessons in the language of love. Typically though things don?t go his way. A foreign dignitary is assassinated in cold blood; secret agents scour the streets for a missing microchip; and diplomatic infighting swirls around the upcoming concert-until Nina the pianist and her grandfather Klaus are kidnapped. The City Hunter?s intrepid assistant Kaori does her best to save them trying to pull a helicopter from the sky with her bare hands! But City Hunter is the only hope-IF he can stop thinking about love long enough to blast his way into a special forces stronghold! A maelstrom of exploding grenades the rumble of Falcon?s jeep and the tinkling of the ivories all set the stage for City Hunter: 357 Magnum. The show must go on!

City Hunter: .357 Magnum (SRP $29.98) is a DVD-only release including both English- and Japanese-language versions and English subtitles. Extras include the first episode of the City Hunter TV series (forthcoming from ADV Films later in 2003) and ADV Previews.

ADV ANNOUNCES FIRST-EVER DVD RELEASE OF SATIRICAL ANIME CLASSIC COMPILER

IN EQUAL PARTS HILARIOUS BITING AND BIZARRE; COMPLETE COLLECTION TO BE AVAILABLE APRIL 8 2003

HOUSTON January 8 2003-ADV Films today announced a release date of April 8 2003 for the first-ever DVD release of the fan-favorite original video animation (OVA) Compiler a refreshingly loopy anime satire combining computer jokes cybersex Japanese regional humor and a genuinely multi-dimensional plot into one truly original package.

The Story:
When a 2-D universe discovers our 3-D existence they send a two-member team of beautiful Domni-Matrixes to prepare us for total integration. But once the lovely Compiler and Assembler get a taste of 3-D love their plans change. When Compiler and Assembler?s 2-D Masters get wind of the amorous hijinks however they set out to eliminate the Earth the Domni-Matrixes and the cute young earthlings they?ve shacked up with. Add the sinister duplicate White Compiler dispatched to eliminate Compiler?s Earthling allies and you?ve got one strange spicy deadly tale!

Compiler (SRP $19.98) is a DVD-only release including all three parts of the title in both English- and Japanese-language versions with English subtitles. Includes ADV Previews.

ADV FILMS SETS RELEASE DATE FOR RUNE SOLDIER: ENTER THE KLUTZ

FIRST VOLUME OF WACKY ANIME ADVENTURE TALE TO BE AVAILABLE APRIL 8 2003

HOUSTON January 8 2003-ADV Films today announced an April 8 2003 release date for Rune Soldier: Enter the Klutz first volume of the anime adventure tale combining fantasy magic and epic quests in one irreverent package. Rune Soldier was created by Ryo Mizuno the mind behind the acclaimed Record of Lodoss War anime.

The Story:
Armed with Merrill?s cunning Genie?s strength and Melissa?s prayers this all-female band has no trouble raiding ancient ruins-unless a magic seal blocks the way. As an investment the girls decide to hire a magician. Any magician. Alas all of the available magicians prefer reading to raiding-except Louie. Swallowing their pride (and several pints) the girls take on the loud brash novice. In return the hapless Louie gives them all the adventure they can handle-and then some!

Rune Soldier: Enter the Klutz (SRP $29.98) is a DVD-only release including both English- and Japanese-language versions and English subtitles. Extras include clean opening and closing animations and ADV Previews.

Posted on Wednesday, January 08, 2003 (Archive on Saturday, February 08, 2003)