SANTA MONICA, CA (April, 08, 2011) – Aniplex of America Inc. announced today that its brand-new anime TV series Blue Exorcist will premiere on the free, ad-supported Hulu.com and the Hulu Plus subscription service (www.hulu.com/blue-exorcist), Anime News Network (www.animenewsnetwork.com/blue_exorcist) and Crunchyroll (www.crunchyroll.com/blue-exorcist). The multi-stream simulcast premiere will be distributed exclusively via the Internet in the US, and will also be available for streaming in Canada through Anime News Network, Crunchyroll and VIZ Anime.
The 1st episode (approx. 25 mins / English subtitled) will premiere at 10:00am PST on Wednesday, April 20th, three days after its initial airing in Japan on Sunday, April 17th through MBS and TBS networks. Aniplex of America’s broadcast of Blue Exorcist marks the first time an anime series has been simulcast in the US on multiple streaming sites simultaneously.
“Blue Exorcist is a highly anticipated title for Aniplex and I hope many viewers will enjoy this dark fantasy adventure,” says Hideki Goto, president of Aniplex of America. “We’re very excited to utilize digital media distribution in showcasing Blue Exorcist to as many as fans possible. To that end, we’ll continue to launch new initiatives and partnerships over the coming months that will hopefully provide fans with access to more anime content.”
About Blue Exorcist
Based on the manga by Kazue Kato (published on Jump Square by Shueisha), Blue Exorcist successfully depicts a hero, Rin Okumura, an energetic, yet naïve young man who aims to become the ultimate exorcist. The manga has been made into animation in the hands of Japan’s acclaimed staff including director Tensai Okamura (Wolf’s Rain, Darker Than Black) and Animation Studio A-1 Pictures (Black Butler, Sound of the Sky –so ra no wo to-, Persona 4, Welcome to THE SPACE SHOW). This 25-episode TV series will air in Japan from April 17th, subsequently followed by the North America online premiere on April 20th. For more information, please visit www.BlueExorcist.com.
The first volume of the English language version of the Blue Exorcist manga was recently published by VIZ Media. For more information, please visit www.vizmedia.com/series?id=1371.
Story of Blue Exorcist
Assiah, the realm of humans, and Gehenna, the realm of demons.
Normally, these two dimensions would never intersect, but having possessed all material substances, the demons are now intruding on the material world.
But among the human race, there are those who can exorcise such demons
- the Exorcists.
Rin and his twin brother Yukio Okumura have been raised by Shiro Fujimoto, an eminent priest, but one day Rin discovers their biological father is actually Satan! As the border between “Assiah” (the human world) and “Gehenna” (demon’s world) is intruded upon by evils, Rin vows to become the ultimate exorcist and defeat his own father, Satan. To hone his raw skills, Rin enters True Cross Academy to train with other exorcist candidates.
STAFF
Original Story: Kazue Kato (published in Jump Square / Shueisha)
Director: Tensai Okamura
Screenplay: Ryota Yamaguchi
Character Design: Keigo Sasaki
Music: Hiroyuki Sawano
Opening Theme: UVERworld
Ending Theme: 2PM
Animation Production: A-1 Pictures
Produced by: Blue Exorcist Committee, MBS
CAST (Japanese)
Rin Okumura: Nobuhiko Okamoto
Yukio Okumura: Jun Fukuyama
Shiemi Moriyama: Kana Hanazawa
Ryuji Suguro: Kazuya Nakai
Renzo Shima: Koji Yusa
Konekomaru Miwa: Yuki Kaji
Izumo Kamiki: Eri Kitamura
Shura Kirigakure: Rina Sato
Igor Neuhaus: Ryotaro Okiayu
Amaimon: Tetsuya Kakihara
Mephisto Pheles: Hiroshi Kamiya
Shiro Fujimoto: Keiji Fujiwara
About Aniplex of America Inc.
Aniplex of America Inc. ( Santa Monica , California ) is a subsidiary of Aniplex Inc. (headquartered in Tokyo , Japan ), a group of Sony Music Entertainment ( Japan ) Inc. and leading provider of anime content and music production and distribution in Japan . Aniplex Inc. has introduced a variety of properties including such hits as Gurren Lagann, Fullmetal Alchemist, Kuroshitsuji (Black Butler), Rurouni Kenshin, R.O.D -THE TV-, and Blood+, all of which are licensed and distributed worldwide. In addition to its licensing business, the company's direct video release business focuses on delivering coveted titles to North America, including fan-favorite releases such as Gurren Lagann the Movie –Childhood’s End- and -The Lights in the Sky Are Stars-, Durarara!!, R.O.D -THE COMPLETE- Blu-ray Box, the Garden of sinners Blu-ray Disc Box (now sold out) and Baccano! Blu-ray Disc Box. The company's ever-growing line-up of shows are distributed across various digital platforms, available as downloadable and/or streaming video content.
Official Websites:
About Anime News Network
Anime News Network is the number 1 website worldwide for news and information about Japanese anime and manga. Anime News Network was launched in 1998 and now serves millions of readers from around the world every month. The company is also active in market research and has been streaming anime online since 2008. Anime News Network’s mission is to bring the anime industry and its consumers together with the latest and best information, editorial and anime content. For more, visit http://www.AnimeNewsNetwork.com
About Crunchyroll, Inc.
Crunchyroll is a leading global video network and developer of social media applications for Japanese anime and Asian media. Through applications like Crunchyroll for iPhone, iPad, Android, TV set-top boxes, affiliate websites and its own streaming website, Crunchyroll delivers officially-licensed content from leading Asian media producers directly to consumers.
Crunchyroll has offices in San Francisco, Calif. and Tokyo, Japan, and is a member of the Association of Japanese Animations (AJA) and Licensing International Merchandisers' Association (LIMA). Founded in 2006, Crunchyroll is funded by leading venture capital firm, Venrock, Japanese entertainment giant TV TOKYO, digital publishing leader Bitway and a group of angel investors representing some of the brightest and most successful entrepreneurs in Silicon Valley. More information can be found at http://www.crunchyroll.com
About VIZ Media, LLC
Headquartered in San Francisco, CA, VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), is one of the most comprehensive and innovative companies in the field of manga (graphic novel) publishing, animation and entertainment licensing of Japanese content. Owned by three of Japan’s largest creators and licensors of manga and animation, Shueisha Inc., Shogakukan Inc., and Shogakukan-Shueisha Productions, Co., Ltd., VIZ Media is a leader in the publishing and distribution of Japanese manga for English speaking audiences in North America, the United Kingdom, Ireland, and South Africa and is a global ex-Asia licensor of Japanese manga and animation. The company offers an integrated product line including the popular monthly manga anthology SHONEN JUMP magazine, graphic novels, and DVDs, and develops, markets, licenses, and distributes animated entertainment for audiences and consumers of all ages. Contact VIZ Media at 295 Bay Street, San Francisco, CA 94133 www.VIZmedia.com.
five of the company's popular and high-profile anime properties – Durarara!! and
Gurren Lagann the Movies 1 & 2 – are now available and R.O.D -THE TV-, Ghost
Slayers Ayashi, and Toward the Terra will be available soon from the
PlayStation®Network via the PlayStation®Store for downloading onto PlayStation®3
(PS3™) and PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) systems in both the United States and Canada.
"Aniplex is very pleased and thrilled to offer these titles on the PlayStation Network," says
Henry Goto, president of Aniplex of America. "With the ease-of-use, instant accessibility,
and unparalleled reputation of PlayStation's digital media platform, we can reach and tap
into a wider audience base that's ready to discover and enjoy our best titles. In addition, this
provides a great and exciting opportunity to collaborate with our sister company."
Please visit their official site for information about the Europe and Japanese parts of the tour. Girugamesh is rock band to its core and the excitement they bring is something that must be experienced in person.
USA tour dates inside.
Bandai Entertainment announced this week that their official English website for K-ON! is up and running. An English dubbed trailer of the series can be viewed at their website.
The Blu-ray and DVD feature both Japanese audio with English subtitles as well as an English language version featuring the voices of fan favorites Stephanie Sheh, Cristina Vee, Cassandra Lee, and Shelby Lindley.
Blu-ray and DVD for volume 1 is available for pre-order at the Bandai store.
NIS America announced earlier this week that PandoraHearts Volume 2 Premium Edition is available at selected retailers: Right Stuf, The Anime Corner Store, Anime Castle, and NIS America's Online Store. PandoraHearts Volume 2 Premium Edition comes with a hard cover art book and 12 episodes in 2 DVDs for a pricetag of $59.99.
MARINA DEL REY, Calif. (January 21, 2010) The realms collide in the highly anticipated free to play, browser based MMORPG (Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game) ETERNAL DESTINY! Become a hero and right the turmoil and instability caused by the God of Chaos, regain control of the chaotic land and embrace your ETERNAL DESTINY! Beta keys are being provided via online partners starting this coming Sunday (January 23, 2011; 6:00 pm PST -January 30, 2011; 6:00 pm PST). Get your key today and join the action! No download required! More information can be found at www.warpportal.com <http://www.warpportal.com>
Animeplex USA has released a fun blooper video of the English dubbing of the Durarara!! anime set to be released on January 25, 2011.
MARINA DEL REY, Calif. (January 11, 2011) – GungHo Online Entertainment, Inc. (Headquarter: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, President & CEO Kazuki Morishita, from here on “GungHo”) is happy to announce that on Wednesday December 22, 2010 it commenced distribution of “Twimon”, a new Twitter client application for iPhone/iPod touch/iPad, developed by GAME ARTS, that lets players nurture monsters and raid regions in the real world.
“Twimon” is a “regional invasion style monster raising application” that comes with all the basic functions of a Twitter client as well as more than 60 different “monsters” on the timeline that can be raised and used to attack/conquer “outposts” that use GPS tracking to make actual buildings seem like the point of attack. Players can randomly acquire monsters still in their eggs and win experience points by tweeting or tapping the screen. Monsters will upgrade as they build their experience points, transform and gain strength as time passes.
When a Twitter-raised monster is sent into an “outpost” that the user wishes to conquer, it will begin its attack. When the outpost’s “endurance level” reaches zero, a new “title” certifying conquest of the outpost will be sent to the user along with other rewards such as a new monster egg.
“Outposts” can be searched from areas surrounding the user’s present location. In addition to stations, public institutions, dining spots and other outposts searched via “category search”, players can also register outposts that do not appear on the search. In addition, when a fellow Twitter user that they follow is in the midst of attacking an outpost, the player can help them conquer that outpost. For example, if a user in California is following a user in New York, the California player can participate in conquering the outpost in New York. Of course, this is on a global scale so players can attack outposts all over the world with players around the globe without so much as taking a step outside the United States. Ways of playing are also varied and players can select the outpost of attack according to their personal preference while others can play to collect all of the monsters.
In addition, players can win “achievements” according to their actions inside the game. There is a wide variety of achievements ranging from “title mania” to “title collector” depending on the number of titles that the player has won. Please search for your own unique playing style.
Items for sale include “recovery potion” that recovers the monster’s stamina or the “adrenadrink” which improves their attacking strength. The “level down milk” is a unique and convenient item for players who do not like the look of their monster after it has transformed to the next level and wishes to bring it back to its old self. Become a Twimon master by playing according to your personal monster rearing and conquering plan!
GungHo will continue to actively pursue contents development that brings to shape a new “playful spirit” and strive to offer “inspiring and fun experiences” to as many customers as possible.
【Basic Information】
Title: Twimon Genre: Regional invasion style monster raising application
Billing method: Free basic play (Per-item billing method) Usage method: Download onto compatible models via “App Store” Twitter account: Twimon_Lab
URL for application download:
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/twimon/id404143656?mt=8
Characteristic: Twitter + monster + location game= Twimon! In addition to basic Twitter client functions, users raise their own monsters through “tweets” and “taps” in order to conquer various “outposts!”
Conquer outposts around the world by supporting the attack of following users! Can you get all of the 60 plus monsters!?
Download start date: Wednesday December 22, 2010
Southern California's Akihabara maid inspired cafe, Royale/T, will play host to the Holiday Hot Mess event on Tuesday December 21, 2010. The event will focus on the Japanese girl fashion movement. Various groups and fashion labels will be present including Diamond, STAR COUTURE, and H.NAOTO. Events includes a fashion show, PARAPARA dance sessions by special guest DJ Yuki, and performances by local band Dig Jelly. General admissions will be $10. You can find the full press release inside for those who are interested.