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ADV Announces April 25 Releases

HOUSTON, March 13, 2006—ADV Films, the number one producer-distributor of anime in North America, is pleased to announce three exciting new titles set to hit the streets on April 25, including the second volume of The Fuccons, volume six of the post-apocolyptic goth thriller Gilgamesh, and the fourth installment of Hakugei – Legend of the Moby Dick.





THE FUCCONS: IT'S A FUCCON WORLD!



“A cult hit!”—IMDB.com



ADV Films is proud to present the second full-length DVD of Japan's #1 dysfunctional mannequin family comedy series. The Fuccons: It's a Fuccon World! will be available in finer home media retail outlets everywhere April 25.



The Fuccons is nothing short of a full-blown pop culture phenomenon in Japan, where it's not only taken over TV but inspired scads of licensed products – and even its own themed restaurants! The series has already been licensed to a number of markets in Asia and Europe. Now it's America's turn!



The allure of The Fuccons is hard to describe. It's a series of short films about an American family that's been transplanted to Japan. The fact that mom, dad, and son are 50's-era mannequins only begins to describe The Fuccons' overall weirdness. “It's like what Leave It To Beaver must look like to guys who drop a whole lot of acid before they watch it” (Film Threat). The Fuccons is something you have to see to believe, but you can start getting the flavor of the show right now at the site www.fuccons.com, or by checking out the special low-priced introductory disc Meet The Fuccons (SRP $5.98), on sale now.



The Fuccons originally began as a segment on the Japanese variety show Vermillion Pleasure Night, where it became such a hit that it was spun off into its own TV program (known there as “Oh Mikey!”). At about three minutes an episode, it runs as an interstitial or “bumper” between other programs. The short program has since become one of the biggest phenomena on Japanese TV!



Synopsis: The mannequin family that invaded Japan is back and they're more demented than ever! Can poor Mikey withstand the horror of the horribly improper twins, Tony and Charles? Will he be able to keep up with the schedule obsessed Time Boy? Will his amorous ambitions for the lovely Emily ever come to fruition? Or will he succumb to the wily and convoluted plans of his devious cousin Laura and her partner in crime Brown? The answers will be revealed in the smash comedy hit that's so popular in Japan that it even has its own restaurants!* Take a deep draught of the insanity and get plastered with the second mind-roasting volume of THE FUCCONS!



*NOT A JOKE! REALLY!



The Fuccons: It's a Fuccon World! (SRP $19.98 DVD) is a DVD-only release including 18 episodes presented in both English and Japanese with English subtitles.



DVD Product Details



Volume: 2 of 3
Running Time: 55 minutes
Age Rating: TV 14 (L, D)
CAT: DFC/002
UPC: 702727144424
Pre-Book Date: 3/28/2006
Street Date: 4/25/2006
Format: DVD
SRP: $19.98





Product specifications and content configuration subject to change.







GILGAMESH: IN THE SOUL ECLIPSE



“This is the anime to seek out and find this year.”—DVD Verdict



ADV continues to redefine anime April 25 with Gilgamesh: In the Soul Eclipse, the sixth volume in the innovative DVD series with a cool Goth edge. “Dark, cool and fast paced… Gilgamesh is one of our favorite contemporary anime series on the market” (Cinegeek.com).



Gilgamesh is the sci-fi masterpiece from Shōtarō Ishinomori (Cyborg 009, Kamen Rider). Ishinomori has created a dark, post-apocalyptic world where the sky has been turned into a psychedelic mirror, and civilization is only a shadow of its former self. Where beautiful assassins transform into terrifying winged creatures. Where children are born with amazing powers. And where a brother and sister are hunted by organizations with shadowy agendas. Gorgeous animation, breakthrough character designs, and stunning visuals make this suspenseful, addictive tale of mystery, magic, and espionage the first gothic masterpiece of the new millennium!



Synopsis: While Tatsuya and his Orga brethren deal with a devastating loss, the ice-cold Countess boldly attempts to make a kill of her own. This pushes Tatsuya to shut her out at last, in a violent, spectacular rage. Isamu, in turn, gets even closer to the secretive widow, at an intimate dinner with just the two of them, where he demands to know how this sick war began—and what part he and the Countess are truly playing in the battle. Thus, the truth of Heaven's GATE is revealed. Elsewhere, a key Heaven's GATE player is murdered by the least likely soldier in this shadowy combat. And as the hidden Gilgamesh regroups and restores their power, the devious Kazmatsuri strenghthens his own force to confront the red- and black-leathered warriors, at last showing to what depths he has descended in effort to end the conflict. Is he really destroying the world? Or doing whatever he can to save it? And for you…Time is running out. The choice must be made. Whose side are you on?



Gilgamesh:In the Soul Eclipse (SRP $29.98 DVD) is a DVD-only anamorphic release including episodes 21 through 23, presented in both English 5.1 and Japanese 2.0 with English subtitles. Video extras include “Revelations: In the Studio with the New Gilgamesh,” “Revelations: Heaven & Hell,” “Revelations: In the Studio with the Mitleid Corp.,” production sketches, and a glossary of terms, plus clean opening animation, clean closing animation, and previews of upcoming ADV Films releases.



Collectors Edition Still Available!



Limited supplies of the Gilgamesh Collectors Box are still available. This special collectors edition contains the first volume of Gilgamesh in a stunning custom series art box with full color artwork sized to hold the entire seven volume series (SRP $39.98).



DVD Product Details



Volume: 6 of 7

Running Time: 75 minutes
Age Rating: TV 14 (V)

CAT: DGLM/006
UPC: 702727122521

Pre-Book Date: 3/28/2006
Street Date: 4/25/2006

Format: DVD

SRP: $29.98





Product specifications and content configuration subject to change.





HAKUGEI – LEGEND OF THE MOBY DICK: HEARTS OF STEEL



“...a great spin on a classic story that has withstood the test of time.”– Anime Frontier



ADV Films, the number one producer-distributor of anime in North America, is pleased to announce the fourth volume in its adaptation of Melville's classic tale of obsession, Hakugei – Legend of the Moby Dick: Hearts of Steel, which is set to hit the streets on April 25!



The first volume in Legend of the Moby Dick, which PLAY magazine hailed as “the sleeper hit of 2005,” has been well received by fans and critics alike. Anime Frontier describes Legend of the Moby Dick as “a great spin on a classic story that has withstood the test of time,” and Active Anime's reviewer said it “rocket-launches the classic tale of Moby Dick into the starry expanse of space adventure.



Directed by Osamu Dezaki (The Rose of Versailles), Legend of the Moby Dick is distinguished by lush artwork and dazzling panoramas. Set in the far distant future, this series relocates the search for the great white to a crew of space borne scavengers and the doomed planet they must rally to protect.



Synopsis: On its last breath, a dying planet cries for independence. In an underground base, hidden deep within a labyrinth of tunnels, Ahab and his crew meet with Lucky's brother Shiro, the leader of the Moad Civilian Movement. When a celebration is held in his honor, Ahab turns a cold shoulder to Shiro's warm reception and finds that he can't see eye-to-eye with his new partner. Meanwhile, Dew rekindles an old love, uncovers the secrets of his past, and learns the horrifying truth behind his mysterious connection to Moby Dick. As the Moad citizens begin their fight for independence, Ahab marches off alone to settle an age-old score with the menacing android Murato. The crimes of the past will unlock the GATE to the future in the fifth dramatic volume of Hakugei: Legend of the Moby Dick!



Hakugei – Legend of the Moby Dick: Hearts of Steel (SRP $29.98 DVD) is a DVD-only release including episodes fifteen through eighteen, presented in both English 5.1 and Japanese 2.0 with English subtitles. Video extras include character sketches and a “Space Whalers Lexicon,” plus clean opening animation, clean closing animation, and previews of upcoming ADV Films releases.



DVD Product Details

Volume: 4 of 6

Running Time: 100 minutes
Age Rating: TV PG

CAT: DGWW/004
UPC: 702727119224

Pre-Book Date: 3/28/2006
Street Date: 4/25/2006

Format: DVD

SRP: $29.98





Product specifications and content configuration subject to change.



About ADV Films:

In the 14 years since its inception, ADV Films has become the #1 producer-distributor of Japanese animation (“anime”) for the North American market and has also developed a leadership position in the UK. With best-selling titles such as Neon Genesis Evangelion, RahXephon, Robotech, Full Metal Panic!, Hello Kitty and Azumanga Daioh, ADV Films' extensive catalog is fueling the popularity of anime around the globe. Always on the forefront, ADV is introducing North America to bold new anime franchises such as Gantz, Elfen Lied, Chrono Crusade, Peacemaker and D.N.Angel. ADV Films' library also includes popular live-action science fiction programs such as The Jim Henson Company's Farscape, the nationally syndicated Gene Roddenberry's Andromeda and the Saturn Award-nominated Mutant X. In 2005 ADV Films was voted “Best Anime Company” in the SPJA awards, presented at Anime Expo, North America's largest anime convention. The readers of Anime News Network designated ADV Films “Overall Favorite Anime Company” in both 2004 and 2005.



Parent company, A.D. Vision, Inc., encompasses a multitude of complementary media divisions, spanning publishing, television, licensing and merchandising and continues to expand into new areas. Its Anime Network™ is America's first and only television network dedicated to bringing anime and anime-related programming to consumers nationwide via digital cable 24 hours a day. The company has two publishing arms: Newtype USA, the premier anime and manga monthly magazine, and ADV Manga™, dedicated to publishing graphic novels. Headquartered in Houston, the company has offices in Europe and Japan. For more information, visit www.advfilms.com.

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