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Bandai Announces U.S. Release of GUNDAM, ESCAFLOWNE
In what was probably the biggest news at Anime Expo, Bandai announced that
GUNDAM will finally be landing in the United States. Bandai Entertainment,
Inc. announced the creation of AnimeVillage.com, an online site for the
distribution of select anime titles in North America. Bandai will be
distributing ESCAFLOWNE,
SABER MARIONETTE J,
CLAMP SCHOOL DETECTIVES (or as
they are calling it "CLAMP SCHOOL"), and of course, selected
GUNDAM titles.
First up for release will be the first three GUNDAM
movies as well as GUNDAM 0080 and GUNDAM 0083.
The catch is that Bandai will only be selling these titles via their web
site. In an attempt to cut down on advertising and marketing costs and
other overhead, they believe that this is the best way to bring the most
value for the least money to the fans. The official site at www.animevillage.com opens
September 1, 1998, but fans can stop by at any time and register with the site.
Pioneer says Goodbye to LDs
The company that has been the staunchest supporter of releasing anime on LD
format has announced that they will begin phasing out LD releases over the
next several months in North America. (Pioneer is still selling plenty of
LDs in Japan.) Pioneer representatives cited low sales figures for
LDs and the continuing growth of the DVD market as the basis for their
decision. While they would like to continue the production of LDs, they
stated, it is just not economically feasible.
On a somewhat brighter note, Pioneer officially announced the US release
of FUSHIGI YUUGI, as well as EL HAZARD 2
and MAGICAL GIRL PRETTY SAMMY, which
will be available starting in 1999.
Media Blasters Ain't Just Lion Around
John Sirabella, President of Media Blasters, announced an agreement with the
Osamu Tezuka Company in Japan to release the 1997 JUNGLE EMPEROR movie in
the United States. The movie is slated for either a summer or holiday
release during 1999.
A.D.V. Films Announces Even More!
Not satisfied with the enormous list of titles they announced at A-Kon
(including CITY HUNTER, NADESICO,
and SAKURA WARS (SAKURA TAISEN)),
A.D.Vision announced
several new titles that have been added to their library. First up is
NADIA: THE SECRET OF BLUE WATER
(FUSHIGI NO UMI NO NADIA),
the 1990-1991 TV series that took the anime world by
surprise. Also on the release list is POWER DoLLS 2, and
SIN, which is
based on a game produced by Ritual Entertainment. A.D.Vision is producing
the SIN OVAs in conjunction with a Japanese
studio.  |
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