ADV Films Announces July 13 Street Dates
HOUSTON, May 14, 2004?ADV Films, the #1 producer-distributor of anime in the U.S., today announced July 13, 2004 street dates for Birth; Farscape: Season Four, Collection 5; Hello Kitty & Friends: Timeless Tales; Knights of the Zodiac: Pirates from the Island of Spirits; Robotech Remastered: Masters Collection 1; and Wedding Peach: Summer Flower.
BIRTH
ADV Films announced a July 13, 2004 street date for the DVD release of Birth, a classic sci-fi action-packed film.
Perfect for sci-fi action fans of Robotech® and Gundam, the high-flying action scenes were animated by the talented team at Kaname Productions. The new cover art was illustrated by well-known character designer and animation director Iko Kanada (Windaria).
Aqualoid was a prosperous planet, but an attack from a mysterious life force, the Inorganics, transforms it into a post-apocalyptic shell of its former self. When Nam finds a mysterious sword, he is suddenly the object of a planet-wide chase. With the Inorganics closing in, will Nam and his friends discover the secret of the sword and save their world? Or will they destroy Aqualoid in favor of a new Birth?
Birth (SRP $24.98 DVD) is a DVD-only release, including an 85-minute featurette in both English 5.1 and Japanese 2.0 language versions with English subtitles. Extras include art gallery and ADV previews.
Volume: 1 of 1
Running Time: 85 minutes
Age Rating: 12+
CAT: DBI/001
UPC: 702727055621
Pre-Book Date: 6/15/04
Street Date: 7/13/04
Format: DVD
SRP: $24.98
FARSCAPE ?: SEASON FOUR, COLLECTION FIVE
ADV Films announced a July 13, 2004 street date for the DVD release of Farscape: Season 4.5, the fifth and final volume in this compelling series!
TV Guide has hailed the award-winning series as ?The Best Sci-Fi on TV;? USA Today called Farscape ?TV?s Best Space Series;? and Farscape received the 2003 Saturn Award for Best Syndicated/Cable Series (the series? third win in a row) and has been nominated again for 2004.
Episodes from Farscape Season Four: Collection Five:
?WE?RE SO SCREWED, PART I: FETAL ATTRACTION? (Episode 419)
Moya's crew tracks Aeryn to a Scarran Border Station. She is imprisoned upon a freighter about to leave for Katratzi, a Scarran base. To keep the ship docked and under quarantine, Noranti gives Rygel a deadly, contagious disease. This gives the crew time to plan a rescue, but no one figures on the cunning and ruthlessness of Aeryn's captor.
?WE?RE SO SCREWED, PART II: HOT TO KATRATZI? (Episode 420)
Moya's crew travels to Katratzi, a Scarran base where Scorpius is being tortured for wormhole information. The crew plans to incite a confrontation between the Kalish and Charrid forces at the base, hoping the diversion will allow them to free Scorpius, and keep wormhole knowledge out of Scarran hands.
?WE?RE SO SCREWED, PART III: LA BOMBA? (Episode 421)
After thwarting Crichton's escape plan, Scorpius denies that he's a Scarran spy, and demands Crichton's help to destroy a cavern of vital Scarran flora ? claiming it will also provide them with a better means of escape. While Rygel and Noranti fight an evil Stark, Sikozu must reveal her true agenda if they are all to survive.
?BAD TIMING? (Episode 422)
Safely back on Moya, Crichton learns of the Scarrans? intention to invade Earth. He analyzes his data and comes up with a way to collapse the wormhole to Earth, but he can?t do it alone. Meanwhile, Braca demands Scorpius be released from Moya and returned to his Command Carrier. And Aeryn has a few surprises of her own, including the identity of her baby?s father.
Farscape: Season Four, Collection Five (SRP $39.98) is a DVD-only release containing four episodes on two discs (episodes 419 through 422); presented in anamorphic widescreen format; and includes both English 5.1 English 2.0 language versions and closed captioning. DVD extras include: behind the scenes: Anthony Simcoe (?D?Argo?); Inside Farscape: Beyond Hope ? The End of Farscape? or Not; From the Archives: On the Last Day - Farscape wrap speech from David Kemper; Cool Farscape facts by Paul Simpson, author of Farscape: The Illustrated Companion series guides; and ADV previews.
Volume: 5 of 5
Running Time: 200+ minutes
Age Rating: N/A
CAT: DFS/4D5
UPC: 702727063022
Pre-Book Date: 6/15/04
Street Date: 7/13/04
Format: DVD
SRP: $39.98
HELLO KITTY & FRIENDS: TIMELESS TALES
ADV Films announced a July 13, 2004 street date for the DVD and VHS release of Hello Kitty & Friends: Timeless Tales, the third volume of this adorable series!
Join the celebration for the 30th anniversary of Hello Kitty® with the third release in the new Hello Kitty & Friends series, Timeless Tales. Hello Kitty, the flagship brand of Sanrio, is enjoyed by fans of all ages worldwide and has a multi-million dollar retail presence. Strong appeal for fans of Barbie Fantasy Tales Collection, Disney classics and Strawberry Shortcake.
Join Kitty and her friends as they bring your favorite storybook tales to life! Follow Kitty as she enters a magical wonderland in Alice and Wonderland. Skip through the Swiss mountainside with Kitty as Heidi. Then explore a world of flying carpets and genies with Pekkle the duck in Aladdin and His Magic Lamp. Also, discover an island of little people with Keroppi the frog in The Adventures of Gulliver.
Hello Kitty & Friends: Timeless Tales ($14.98 DVD, $9.98 VHS) is a DVD and VHS release, containing four episodes. Episodes are presented for the first time ever on DVD and feature English 2.0-language audio.
Volume: 3 of 6
Running Time: 100 Minutes
Age Rating: ALL
CAT: DHKW/003 (DVD), VHKW/003 (VHS)
UPC: 702727080128 (DVD), 702727084430 (VHS)
Pre-Book Date: 6/15/04
Street Date: 7/13/04
Format: DVD and VHS
SRP: DVD: $14.98 VHS: $9.98
KNIGHTS OF THE ZODIAC: PIRATES FROM THE ISLAND OF SPIRITS
ADV Films announced a July 13, 2004 street date for the DVD and VHS release of Knights of the Zodiac: Pirates from the Island of Spirits, the fifth volume in this exciting anime action series.
The series is produced by TV Asahi (Sailor Moon and Gundam Wing) and Toei Animation (Dragonball Z and Neon Genesis Evangelion).
Evil Docrates has managed to steal every piece of the magical armor, save one. Now all that stands in the way of his world domination is the gold helmet, so he kidnaps Princess Sienna and holds her for ransom. Can Seiya and his Bronze Knights battle phantom pirates, keep the golden helmet out of Docrates? hands and save the princess in time?
Knights of the Zodiac: Pirates from the Island of Spirits (SRP $14.98 DVD; SRP $9.98 VHS) is a DVD and VHS release, containing four complete episodes in English 2.0. Closed captioning is available on VHS and DVD releases. Includes ADV previews.
Volume: 5 of 10
Running Time: 100 minutes
Age Rating: N/A
CAT: DKZ/005 (DVD); VKZ/005 (VHS)
UPC: 702727076626 (DVD); 702727079832 (VHS)
Pre-Book Date: 6/15/04
Street Date: 7/13/04
Format: DVD & VHS
SRP: DVD: $14.98, VHS: $9.98
MEGAZONE 23 PART 2
ADV Films announced a July 13, 2004 street release date for the DVD release of Megazone 23 Part 2, the second volume in this thrilling series.
A classic title from the eighties ?Golden Age of Anime,? the three-part Megazone 23 is a refreshing blast of intellectual science-fiction and rousing action in the tradition of The Matrix and Blade Runner. Megazone 23 was anime?s first successful OVA (original video animation) release and was used by Harmony Gold to create Robotech the Movie in the eighties.
Charged with a murder he didn?t commit, Shogo Yahagi is once again on the run from the military and the police. But this time he?s not flying solo ? guided by the artificial intelligence EVE and surrounded by a gang of renegade bikers ? it?s choppers versus mechas to the end!
Megazone 23 Part 2 (SRP $24.98 DVD) is a DVD-only release, including an 85 minute feature in both English 5.1 and Japanese 2.0 language versions with English subtitles. Extras include: poster, production artwork and ADV previews.
Collector?s Edition Available!
The first volume of Megazone 23 is also available as a Collector?s Edition, which includes the Volume 1: Part 1 DVD, a custom series art box sized to hold the entire three-part series and an exclusive Megazone 23 mouse pad. (SRP $34.98).
Volume: 2 of 3
Running Time: 85 minutes
Age Rating: 15+
CAT: DMZ/002
UPC: 702727070822
Pre-Book Date: 6/15/04
Street Date: 7/13/04
Format: DVD
SRP: $24.98
ROBOTECH REMASTERED: MASTERS COLLECTION 1 VOLUME 4
ADV Films announced a July 13, 2004 street release date for Robotech Remastered: Masters Collection 1, the fourth volume in this newly re-edited and re-mastered series that includes an exclusive action figure!
It features never before seen footage and a fresh, clean digital transfer of Robotech from the original 16mm film stock, returning the series to a lovely and near-pristine state without compromising the character of the original animation.
Fifteen years after the conclusion of the first Robotech War, the proud tradition of honor and valor begun by the crew of the SDF-1 is carried on in the first graduating class of the United Earth Forces Military Academe. So begin the new battles to save the Earth!
Robotech Remastered: Masters Collection 1 (SRP $29.98 DVD) is a DVD-only release, including 12 complete episodes in both English 5.1 and Spanish 5.1 in a two-disc set, which includes an art box fitting both discs and an exclusive limited edition Super Veritech Morpher collectible that transforms from robot to spacecraft plus offers a power-packed pull back motor. The audio has been restored and remixed to create the highest-quality sound experience. New footage featuring scenes cut from the original broadcast version of Robotech has been added, including new opening and closing credits and eye catches, creating a never-before-seen version of this seminal adventure series.
Volume: 4 of 7
Running Time: 300 minutes
Age Rating: 13+
CAT: DRT/1D4
UPC: 702727081125
Pre-Book Date: 6/15/04
Street Date: 7/13/04
Format: DVD
SRP: $29.98
WEDDING PEACH: SUMMER FLOWER
ADV Films announced a July 13, 2004 street release date for Wedding Peach: Summer Flower, the fourth volume in this love-struck magical girl series.
It is based on a manga by Sukehiro Tomita (Sailor Moon), Nao Yazawa and Tenyu, with animation produced by KSS, known for other bright, vibrantly animated comedies such as Happy Lesson, Oh My Goddess! and To Heart. The stellar staff also includes Pokémon films? director Kunihiko Yuyama and character designer Kazuko Tadano of Sailor Moon fame.
One by one classmates begin to disappear, ghosts emerge out of nowhere and poor little Jama-P is kidnapped by the devil Sandra! In comes the Love Angels to battle devil after devil sent down to Earth by the wicked queen Lady Raindevila. Will love triumph over evil after the dust settles?
Wedding Peach: Summer Flower (SRP $29.98 DVD) is a DVD-only release, including five complete episodes in both English 2.0 and Japanese 2.0 language versions, with English subtitles. Extras include: clean opening and closing animation, a reversible cover and ADV previews.
Collector?s Edition Available!
The first volume of Wedding Peach is also available as a Collector?s Edition, which includes the Volume 1: Love Wave DVD, an attractive custom series art box to house volumes 1-5, inflatable beach ball featuring character art and a bonus DVD filled with extras (SRP $39.98).
Volume: 4 of 10
Running Time: 125 minutes
Age Rating: 13+
CAT: DWP/004
UPC: 702727074424
Pre-Book Date: 6/15/04
Street Date: 7/13/04
Format: DVD
SRP: $29.98
About ADV Films:
ADV Films is the #1 producer-distributor of Japanese animation (?anime?) for the North American market with best-selling titles such as Neon Genesis Evangelion, RahXephon, Robotech, Full Metal Panic!, Hello Kitty and Azumanga Daioh. ADV Films? product line also includes live-action science fiction programs including The Jim Henson Company?s Farscape. Parent company, A.D. Vision, Inc., publishes Newtype USA, the premier anime and manga monthly magazine, and operates Anime Network?, broadcasting anime and anime-related programming via digital cable, 24 hours a day. Headquartered in Houston and with additional offices in the Europe and Japan, the company operates ADV Manga, dedicated to publishing graphic novels, and ADV Toys, a new division that creates exclusive toys and collectible merchandise based upon the company?s extensive original content holdings. For more information, visit www.advfilms.com.
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Posted on Friday, May 14, 2004 (Archive on Monday, June 14, 2004)