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FUNimation Adds Slayers Revolution, Evolution-R Fantasy Sequels (Update 4)
posted on by Egan Loo
The North American distributor FUNimation Entertainment has announced on Monday that it has licensed The Slayers Revolution and Slayers Evolution-R fantasy comedy anime series from Enoki Films. These 2008 and 2009 anime are the fourth and fifth television series based on Hajime Kanzaka and Rui Araizumi's novel series, after the first Slayers series, Slayers Next, and Slayers Try. The first three Slayers television series were previously licensed by Central Park Media, and then FUNimation picked up their licenses in 2005.
Like the previous Slayers projects, Slayers Revolution and Slayers Evolution-R follow the comic misadventures of the sorceress Lina Inverse (Megumi Hayashibara) and the swordsman Gourry Gabriev (Yasunori Matsumoto) in a fantasy land. Several other familiar characters in the franchise make appearances during the series, and Takashi Watanabe (Boogiepop Phantom, Ikki Tousen, Lost Universe) directed all five series. The 13 Slayers Revolution episodes aired in Japan from July to September, and the 13 planned Slayers Evolution-R episodes will continue the story in January. FUNimation's digital release of the two series will begin in 2009, and the complete versions of both will ship on DVD in 2010.
Image © 2008 Kanzaka, Araifumi/Fujimi Shobo/Slayers R Production Committee
Update: According to FUNimation's press release, the company will release the complete series on DVD in 2010. However, the website lists a 2009 date.
Update 2: FUNimation has confirmed with ANN that 2009 is the scheduled date for the digital release.
Update 3: FUNimation lists its Slayers Revolution license as a 26-episode series. Hajime Kanzaka, the author of the original Slayers light novels, had indicated that Slayers Revolution and Slayers Evolution-R were originally planned as one 26-episode series with a production break in between the two halves.
Update 4: FUNimation has confirmed that it has licensed both Slayers Revolution and its follow-up, Slayers Evolution-R.
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