Otakon - 2003
Media Blasters
by Mikhail Koulikov,
Studio Representative: John Sirabella
While Media Blasters was not able to announce any new acquisitions at this time, Mr. Sirabella discussed company plans and reconfirmed several previous announcements. The release schedule the company will follow in the upcoming months will have three to five titles released per month on the Anime Works label and one to two on the adult Kitty Media line.
Following the lead of several other companies, Media Blasters is planning to begin releasing manga in English, focusing on titles it already holds the animation release rights to. However, at this time, there are no plans to move into releasing soundtrack CD's.
"Constant negotiations" are ongoing for the acquisition and release of the Weiss Kreuz OAV series and Weiss Kreuz: Gluehen. Media Blasters does hold first option rights to both titles. Following the success of titles like Weiss Kreuz and Fake, the company is also looking into releasing the classic yaoi anime Ai no Kusabi and Zetsu Ai/Bronze.
Regarding the possibility of further episodes of Berserk being created, according to Mr. Sirabella, the company is "willing to put up plenty of money" to finance such a project. However, no further information is available at this time.
Although Media Blasters released both Kite and Mezzo Forte, another unspecified US company will be releasing the upcoming Mezzo Forte TV series. Science fiction and fantasy publisher Del Ray Books will be translating and releasing the novels the anime series Twelve Kingdoms is based on.
Finally, Mr. Sirabella stated in response to a question from the audience that overall, sales of Anime Works titles account for about half of Media Blasters' total revenue.
While Media Blasters was not able to announce any new acquisitions at this time, Mr. Sirabella discussed company plans and reconfirmed several previous announcements. The release schedule the company will follow in the upcoming months will have three to five titles released per month on the Anime Works label and one to two on the adult Kitty Media line.
Following the lead of several other companies, Media Blasters is planning to begin releasing manga in English, focusing on titles it already holds the animation release rights to. However, at this time, there are no plans to move into releasing soundtrack CD's.
"Constant negotiations" are ongoing for the acquisition and release of the Weiss Kreuz OAV series and Weiss Kreuz: Gluehen. Media Blasters does hold first option rights to both titles. Following the success of titles like Weiss Kreuz and Fake, the company is also looking into releasing the classic yaoi anime Ai no Kusabi and Zetsu Ai/Bronze.
Regarding the possibility of further episodes of Berserk being created, according to Mr. Sirabella, the company is "willing to put up plenty of money" to finance such a project. However, no further information is available at this time.
Although Media Blasters released both Kite and Mezzo Forte, another unspecified US company will be releasing the upcoming Mezzo Forte TV series. Science fiction and fantasy publisher Del Ray Books will be translating and releasing the novels the anime series Twelve Kingdoms is based on.
Finally, Mr. Sirabella stated in response to a question from the audience that overall, sales of Anime Works titles account for about half of Media Blasters' total revenue.
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