King of Bandit Jing 3 More Announced

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

ADV ANNOUNCES RELEASE DATE FOR KING OF BANDIT JING: VOLUME ONE

FIRST VOLUME OF THRILLING ANIME ADVENTURE TALE TO BE AVAILABLE JULY 22 2003; ART BOX SPECIAL EDITION AVAILABLE

HOUSTON April 23 2003?ADV Films today announced a July 22 2003 release date for King of Bandit Jing. Directed by Hiroshi Watanabe (Orphen Kiki?s Delivery Service) King of Bandit Jing is based upon a manga of the same title by Yuchi Kumakura detailing the adventures of Jing a youthful and charming Robin Hood-esque bandit who travels from town to town stealing valuables and hearts in equal measure. Along for the ride is his randy wiseacre albatross companion Kir who?s constantly getting the pair into difficulties.

Collector?s Edition Available!
ADV?s release of King of Bandit Jing will be available in two versions: as a DVD in its standard case or as a collectors? edition including the DVD and a custom series art box sized to hold the entire series.

The Story:
Hide your coin pouches! No priceless bauble or exquisite jewel is safe from the leering eyes and stealthy hands of Jing the King of Bandits. With a heart of gold and a wisecracking girl-crazy bird sidekick Jing steals his way through one exciting adventure after another!

?The Capital of Thieves?
We meet our intrepid heroes in the notorious Capital of Thieves home of the fabled Double Mermaids a treasure under guard by the city?s evil mayor! Jing will do anything to retrieve the prize but this jewel isn?t quite what everyone expects!

?The Ghost Ship of Blue Hawaii?
Jing and Kir arrive in Blue Hawaii a harbor town terrorized by a ghost ship. With the help of a local cop named Rose whose father has fallen prey to the spell Jing and Kir infiltrate the ship and expose it for what it really is in this parable of human greed.

?The Adonis Capital of Time? (Parts 1 & 2)
Join Jing and Kir on a quest to steal the grapes of time! Or will they get embroiled in a plot to liberate the people from the tyranny of the wicked Master Gear? Can they restore peace in a town cursed by the Demon of Time or will the clock run out for them all?

King of Bandit Jing (SRP $29.98 DVD only; $39.98 Collectors? Edition) is a DVD-only release including four complete episodes. Includes both English- and Japanese-language versions and English subtitles. Extras include: a printed insert; production sketches; clean opening and closing animation; and ADV previews.

ADV FILMS ANNOUNCES RELEASE DATE FOR FULL METAL PANIC! MISSION 02

SECOND VOLUME IN HIGHLY ANTICIPATED SERIES TO BE AVAILABLE JULY 22 2003

HOUSTON April 23 2003?ADV Films today announced a July 22 2003 release date for the second volume of the acclaimed anime series Full Metal Panic! Deftly combining mecha combat martial arts international criminal intrigue high-school politics and a dash of teen romance Full Metal Panic! was enthusiastically received by viewers in Japan. Stateside excitement is running particularly high as the manga Full Metal Panic! which was published in Japan before the release of the anime has since November 2002 been appearing in serial form in Newtype USA magazine.

The creative staff behind Full Metal Panic! is extraordinarily strong. The series was directed by Kouichi Chigara (Gate Keepers Phantom Quest Corps) and produced by GONZO Digimation (Hellsing Blue Sub No. 6).

The Story:
They say vacations never go according to plan and school trips are no exception. Instead of enjoying sunny skies in Okinawa Sousuke and Kaname?s classmates are under cloud cover in Siberia playing the part of hostages. A vicious and unbalanced terrorist has kidnapped Kaname to donate her brain to science?with or without her consent! Will Sousuke and MITHRIL be able to scramble an ad-hoc rescue? Will they be able to get everyone out alive? Get ready as Full Metal Panic! launches into its second stunning volume!

Full Metal Panic! Mission 02 (SRP $29.98 disc only) is a DVD-only release including four complete episodes in both English- and Japanese-language versions with English subtitles. Extras include a reversible cover; a fold-out poster with in-depth background information printed on the reverse; clean opening and closing animations; production sketches Japanese piracy warnings; and ADV Previews.

ADV ANNOUNCES RELEASE DATE FOR SAIYUKI: CONFRONTING THEIR DEMONS

THIRD THRILLING VOLUME OF ACCLAIMED ANIME SERIES TO BE AVAILABLE JULY 22 2003

HOUSTON April 23 2003?ADV Films today announced a July 22 2003 release for Saiyuki: Confronting Their Demons third 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.

The Story:
The Sanzo Party heads further into the thick of the demon plague terrorizing the Earth and dangers threaten them every step of the way. And no matter how far west they go the group?s past is always one step behind! The ruthless fortune teller Chin Yisou seeks to avenge the slaughter of a thousand of his brethren by destroying Hakkai. Then it?s dangerous to trust anyone on this journey - a lesson Goku learns the hard way when he is tricked into eating a forbidden fruit. In the third episode of the volume Gojyo?s love of the ladies could lead to his doom when he agrees to help a young girl find her kidnapped parents. Finally every member has something they would like to forget. A fact they must confront as the party must hole up to wait out a storm.

Four more episodes lead Sanzo and his band deeper into demon territory and reveal more about your favorite demon slayers? mysterious origins. Don?t miss the third spellbinding volume of Saiyuki!

Saiyuki: Confronting Their Demons (SRP $29.98) is a DVD-only bilingual (English/Japanese with English subtitles) release containing four complete episodes. Extras include a full-color fold-out poster; a Saiyuki trailer; production sketches; cultural background notes; clean opening and closing animation; and ADV Previews.

ADV FILMS ANNOUNCES RELEASE DATE FOR YOKAI MONSTERS: 100 MONSTERS

SECOND IN SERIES OF THREE NOT-TO-BE-MISSED LIVE-ACTION FILMS PACKED WITH TRADITIONAL JAPANESE SPIRITS FIGHTING THE DEMONS THAT THREATEN HUMANITY; TO BE AVAILABLE JULY 15 2003

HOUSTON April 23 2003?ADV Films today announced a July 15 2003 release for Yokai Monsters: 100 Monsters second of three breathtaking and delightfully strange 1960s Yokai Monsters theatrical features slated for release on ADV Films? Rubbersuit Pictures imprint.

Featuring a cast of scores of ?Yokai??benevolent spirits that permeate Japanese folklore and which were hinted at in the Academy Award-nominated Hayao Miyazaki film Spirited Away?the Yokai Monsters titles were produced by studio Daiei makers of such classic titles as Daimajin and the Gamera series.

The Story:
A crooked Shrine Magistrate and a greedy developer scheme to evict residents from an apartment building and demolish the adjoining shrine forcing the townspeople into submission. When the apartment owner attempts to reclaim the property he is murdered and a masterless samurai with deep secrets steps into the fray. The situation in the human world is definitely awry and as in the past the Yokai (Spirit Monsters) must take action to correct the wrongs. Divine justice is coming!

Yokai Monsters: many legends but only one message: Heed the spirits or face their wrath!

Yokai Monsters: 100 Monsters ($19.98 SRP) is a DVD-only release. In Japanese with English subtitles. Extras include: U.S. trailer; original Japanese trailer; and ADV Previews.

Posted on Wednesday, April 23, 2003 (Archive on Friday, May 23, 2003)