Friday, June 8, 2007

“GALAXY ANGEL RUNE” voice actress Yuuna Inamura, “FREEDOM” series planner Dai Sato and director Shuhei Morita all to appear in-person
TORRANCE, Calif., June 8, 2007 – Bandai Visual USA Inc., a leading innovator in Japanese animation, today announced further details of its participation at Anime Expo® 2007 at the Long Beach Convention Center in Long Beach, Calif. June 29-July 2, 2007. More information can be found on the website HYPERLINK "http://www.anime-expo.org" www.anime-expo.org.

Bandai Visual USA, exhibiting throughout the show at booth #1605, will be offering “FREEDOM” volume 1, which will mark the first commercial availability of a high-definition anime title in North America. Shuhei Morita, the director of “FREEDOM,” will be participating in a special “FREEDOM” panel on Friday, June 29, 6:00-6:50 p.m. in Live Programming Room #1. Also participating in the panel will be “FREEDOM” series planner Dai Sato (“Cowboy Bebop,” “Ghost in the Shell: Stand-Alone Complex”). Behind-the-scene-stories will be revealed as part of the panel, which will be followed by a question-and-answer session. Fans can submit questions for Mr. Morita at HYPERLINK "http://www.bandaivisual.us/freedom/bonus/bonus03.html" www.bandaivisual.us/freedom/bonus/bonus03.html.

“The “FREEDOM” panel at Anime Expo® 2007 will be a memorable experience for all who attend,” said Tatsunori Konno, president and CEO of Bandai Visual USA. “This is the first HD DVD anime title to be released in North America and we will have its esteemed director Mr. Morita there in-person for this important moment in U.S. anime history.”

Bandai Visual USA will also be part of the “Galaxy Angel Rune” panel on Friday, June 29, 3:00-3:50 p.m. in Live Programming Room #2. Participating in the panel will be “Galaxy Angel Rune” voice actor Yuuna Inamura, who will also make appearances at the Bandai Visual USA and Broccoli International USA booth to sign copies of “Galaxy Angel Rune” volume 1, which is being made available for purchase before the official July 10 release date. Ms. Inamura’s appearance is sponsored by anime content developer Broccoli Co. Ltd.

Bandai Visual USA will be unveiling its new license titles and showing clips at a special Bandai Visual USA panel on Friday, June 29, 2:00-2:50 p.m. in Live Programming Room #2.

“FREEDOM” volume 1 (SRP: $39.99) will be simultaneously released in HD DVD/DVD Twin Format (HD DVD layer & DVD layer on single side in one disc) in Japan and the U.S. on June 26, and will be the first introduction of the title in North America. “FREEDOM” will be released in HD DVD, including HDi network function that allows viewers to watch extra features. The DVD has already sold more than 100,000 in Japan, and won top honors at the Tokyo International Anime Fair 2007 for its high-quality animation combining 2D and 3D graphics. The complete series to be released in 6 volumes. The official “FREEDOM” site can be found at HYPERLINK "http://www.bandaivisual.us/freedom/" www.bandaivisual.us/freedom/.

Anime fans will also be able to purchase popular Bandai Visual USA titles such as “Gunbuster,” “Gunbuster 2” volumes 1-3, “Demon Prince Enma” volumes 1-2, “The Wings of Rean” volume 1, “Patlabor The Movie” and “Patlabor 2 The Movie” and “Galaxy Angel Rune” volume 1 (before its official July 10 release date). Bandai Visual USA will be giving away an assortment of free prizes, such as posters, lucky charms and branded file folders to fans who purchase a DVD (while supplies last).

Located in Long Beach, California - Anime Expo®, the nation’s largest anime/manga convention, serves to foster trade, commerce and the interests of the general public and animation/ comics industry. This event serves as a key meeting place for the general public to express their interest and explore various aspects of anime/manga, as well as for members of the industry to conduct business. AX 2007 will be held June 29 – July 2, 2007 at the Long Beach Convention Center in Southern California. SPONSORS: ADV Films, Bandai Entertainment, Copic Markers, Digital Manga, Gaia Online, Go! Media, Infinity Studios, Imaginasian TV (IaTV) and the Los Angeles Times. More information can be found at its website (www.anime-expo.org).

The Society for the Promotion of Japanese Animation (SPJA) is a non-profit organization with a mission to popularize and educate the American public about anime and manga, as well as provide a forum to facilitate communication between professionals and fans. This organization is more popularly known by its entertainment property – Anime Expo®. More information can be found at its website (www.spja.org).

Bandai Visual USA Inc. (www.bandaivisual.us.) was established in 2005 as a wholly owned subsidiary of Bandai Visual Co., Ltd., a leading company in animation industry in Japan, with a mission to facilitate stronger, more active involvement in positioning, marketing and distribution of Bandai Visual programs in North America. From its base in Torrance, California, Bandai Visual USA has started marketing and distributing Japanese anime titles in 2006, under the concept of Bandai Visual’s business model which has been successful in Japan for many years. Bandai Visual USA will expand its business enthusiastically by releasing “authentic Japanese” products with a tight relationship with its parent company and affiliates. Bandai Visual USA titles on DVD and next generation media are released under its Honneamise label, named after the 1987 animation film that Bandai Visual first produced.

The statements made in this press release that are not historical facts are "forward-looking statements." These forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and assumptions that are subject to risks and uncertainties. The Company cautions readers of this press release that a number of important factors could cause Anime Expo®/SPJA’s actual future results to differ materially from those expressed in any such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, without limitation, product delays, industry competition, rapid changes in technology and industry standards, protection of proprietary rights, maintenance of relationships with key personnel, vendors and third-party developers, international economic and political conditions. The Company may change its intention, belief or expectation, at any time and without notice, based upon any changes in such factors, in the Company's assumptions or otherwise. The Company undertakes no obligation to release publicly any revisions to any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.
Comments (0)