Anime Expo Announcements Pt. 1

ADV Films made a big splash at Anime Expo today announcing the acquisitions of these exciting titles as upcoming DVD releases:

The twenty-six episode RahXephon is the hottest anime series of the year on Japanese television. In the year 2015 the world outside of Tokyo has been destroyed?or so it appears. High school student Ayato Kamina encounters a sudden fighter attack of mysterious origins. In the midst of the destroyed city he meets a mysterious girl named Reika Mishima. As if led by Reika Ayato boards the subway and arrives at the sanctuary where he comes upon the moment in which the giant humanoid being ?Rahxephon? emerges from its egg. Now Ayato must pilot the Rahxephon in defense of his world and discover the truth behind his skewed reality. RahXephon was created and directed by Yutaka Izubuchi (Gasaraki the Gundam franchise) and produced by Bones (Angelic Layer) Victor Entertainment (Noir) and Fuji TV (Astro Boy Battle of the Planets).

Zaion (I Wish You Were Here) is a Gonzo Digimation (Blue Submarine No. 6 Full Metal Panic) production and is directed by Seiji Mizushima (Generator Gawl Dai-Guard) from scripts by Natsuko Takahashi (Vandread). A virus comes to Earth from outer space infecting humans and turning them into hideous mutated monsters. Soldiers equipped with nano-technologically powered cybernetic armor are deployed to stop the infected creatures.

Kaleido Star is a co-production from Gonzo Digimation Korean-based production company Koko and ADV Films and was created and directed by Junichi Sato (the Sailor Moon franchise) and HAL Film Maker (Strange Dawn). Tsubasa Kaoru is a little girl with a big dream. She wants to join the extravagant circus known as the Kaleido Stage and become the Kaleido Star. But it?s hard enough to get a ticket to the show let alone join the Kaleido Stage circus! Tsubasa?s luck changes one day when she gets a ticket and sneaks backstage and runs into the owner Kalos Nagato. Kalos needs a replacement performer and gives Tsubasa the chance to show off her talents. After getting a taste of the limelight Tsubasa is more determined than ever to become a Kaleido Star.

Nuku Nuku Dash is a twelve episode retelling of All-Purpose Catgirl Nuku Nuku featuring the same cast of characters from the original series.

Cosplay Complex is a three-episode OVA about cosplay fandom from the fine folks who brought you Handmaid May.

Blue Seed 2 OVA is the three episode OVA sequel to the popular Blue Seed TV series and features the return of Momiji Kusanagi the Terrestrial Administration Center and the deadly Aragami.

The three part Sorcerer Hunters OVA continues the adventures (or is it misadventures?) of Carrot Tira Chocolate and the rest of the crew from the Sorcerer Hunters TV series.

Based on the manga by Miho Fujii Super Gals is produced by TV Tokyo and Studio Pierrot and follows the adventures of three fashion-conscious teenage girls as they shop in the Tokyo-district of Shibuya.

Pretear is produced by Hal Film Maker and WOWOW (The Big O) and based on the manga by Junichi Sato and Kaori Naruse which originally appeared in Asuka magazine. Pretear offers a new twist on the familiar legend of Snow White and tells the story of Himeno a young girl who discovers she is destined to save the world from evil with the help of seven handsome knights.

Steam Detectives is based on the manga from creator Kia Asamiya (Martian Successor Nadesico). The twenty-six episode ?steam punk? series chronicles the adventures of Narutaki Steam City?s resident boy detective as he fights crime alongside a faithful butler a curvaceous nurse and the giant robot Goriki.

Bandit King Jing is the recent Japanese television hit produced by SME Visual Works Inc (Samurai X Blood: The Last Vampire Plastic Little) and . No treasure or valuable is safe from Jing the King of Bandits as he plunders anything and everything in this adventure comedy series.

ADV panelists also hyped a few of the titles announced at previous conventions including the two-episode Excel Saga spin-off Puni Puni Poemi (the only anime series that can match Excel for sheer insanity) the action-packed Full Metal Panic the long-awaited Noir and the stunning live action martial arts film Princess Blade (featuring fight choreography by Iron Monkey star Donnie Yen).

Posted on Saturday, July 06, 2002 (Archive on Tuesday, August 06, 2002)