Right Stuf's Nozomi Entertainment Announces the Maria Watches Over Us – Season 4 DVD Collection

Box set featuring complete fourth TV season of Maria-sama ga Miteru scheduled for July 6, 2010

GRIMES, IA, March 30, 2010 – Anime producer and distributor Right Stuf, Inc. and Nozomi Entertainment are pleased to announce the release of the MARIA WATCHES OVER US (Maria-sama ga Miteru) - Season 4 DVD Collection on July 6, 2010.

The Season 4 DVD Collection will include the 13 television episodes and 11 specials that comprise the fourth season of Maria Watches Over Us.

It will feature Japanese audio, along with English on-screen translations, and two English-language subtitle tracks: one with regular dialogue subtitles and a second, special subtitle track that retains the Japanese honorifics.

The Maria Watches Over Us – Season 1 DVD Collection (TV), the Season 2 DVD Collection: Printemps (TV) and the Season 3 DVD Collection (OVA) are currently available to English-speaking audiences from Right Stuf and Nozomi Entertainment.

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“funny, touching and engrossing” – Anime News Network
“this series is awesome” – Otaku USA
“Very recommended.” – AnimeOnDVD at Mania.com
“Shelf Worthy” – Anime News Network's Shelf Life
“a truly beautiful anime” - Future Anime

“Best Shojo” Anime of 2008 – Anime Insider

AnimeOnDVD.com DVD of the Month – July 2008
An AnimeOnDVD.com Pick of the Week

The Maria Watches Over Us anime is based upon a series of novels – written by Oyuki Konno and illustrated by Reine Hibiki – that began in 1998 and spans more than 34 volumes. Short stories related to the series have been published in the shoujo (girls') magazine Cobalt, and a manga adaptation was serialized in the anthology magazine Margaret. The series' publisher, Shueisha, produced 14 drama CDs (featuring radio-style plays), and there are also several Internet radio plays.

The anime adaptation of Maria-sama ga Miteru – also referred to by fans as “MariMite” – encompasses two, 13-episode TV seasons, a 5-episode OVA (original video animation) as its third season, and a 13-episode fourth season, which aired on Japanese television during 2009.

Maria Watches Over Us features animation by Studio DEEN (Fruits Basket, Gravitation, Rurouni Kenshin), scripting by Reiko Yoshida (ARIA, Boys Over Flowers, Story of Saiunkoku), and direction by Yukihiro Matsushita (Seasons 1-3; Blue Dragon, Sugar Sugar Rune) and Toshiyuki Kato (Season 4; Full Moon O Sagashite, CODE-E).

Visit mariasama.rightstuf.com for more information about Maria Watches Over Us (Maria-sama ga Miteru), including detailed character profiles, trailers, downloads and more.

About MARIA WATCHES OVER US (Maria-sama ga Miteru) – Season 4

Yumi and the Yamayuri Council have found two new helpers in Kanako and Toko. Unfortunately, their assistance comes with a certain tension, as neither girl is particularly fond of the other and both seem likely candidates to be Yumi's petite soeur. But will either one be a good fit for Yumi? As the school year marches on, the work for the Yamayuri Council piles up, and pressure begins to mount for Yumi to make her final decision. Contains the complete 13-episode fourth season (TV), plus “specials” 1-11.

MARIA WATCHES OVER US (Maria-sama ga Miteru) - Season 4 DVD Collection (TV)
Pre-Book: 6/1/2010
Street Date: 7/6/2010
Runtime: Approximately 325 minutes, Dolby Digital Stereo, Color
Genre: Drama
Suggested Rating: 13+

Format: DVD (Japanese, English Subtitles, English On-Screen Translations)
Catalog #: RSDVD1022
ISBN: 1-57032-651-7
UPC: 7-42617-1022-2-6
SRP: $49.99

Discs/Set: 4
Case Qty: 9 / case

DVD Features:
Scene access; Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo audio for Japanese dialogue; two English subtitle tracks (regular dialogue subtitles, plus a special subtitle track that includes Japanese honorifics); and English on-screen translations. PLUS: Season 4 specials 1-11, clean opening, clean closing, liner notes and Nozomi Entertainment trailers.

* Cover Art: http://outgoing.rightstuf.com/sleeves/rsdvd1022.jpg
MARIA WATCHES OVER US (Maria-sama ga Miteru) 4th Season © OYUKI KONNO / SHUEISHA • YAMAYURIKAI III Licensed by d-rights Inc.

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** Product specifications and content may be subject to change.

ABOUT RIGHT STUF, INC.
Currently celebrating its 23rd year in business, Right Stuf, Inc. was one of the first players in the U.S. Japanese Animation ("anime") industry, as both an anime producer/distributor and a retailer. Right Stuf works to promote knowledge of its own products, as well as the anime and manga industry, in general, through its online storefront at RightStuf.com and a variety of media including podcasts and special publications.

Nozomi Entertainment, Right Stuf's production division, is dedicated to the highest quality releases. True to the Japanese word that inspired its name, Nozomi's focus is on “what fans want.” By focusing on a limited number of anime properties each year, the Nozomi production team ensures each release receives the care and attention to detail it deserves.

From anime classics like Astro Boy, Kimba and Gigantor to modern comedies, dramas and favorites such as The Irresponsible Captain Tylor, His and Her Circumstances, Gravitation, Shingu: Secret of the Stellar Wars, Ninja Nonsense, The Third: The Girl With the Blue Eye, Emma: A Victorian Romance, Maria Watches Over Us, ARIA, Gakuen Alice and Rental Magica, Right Stuf and Nozomi Entertainment produce quality programming for fans of all ages and interests. For more information, visit www.rightstuf.com and www.nozomient.com.