Anime Expo 2011

Aniplex Industry Panel

The Aniplex panel, presented by Yosuke Kodaka, E.J. Rivera, and a Durarara!! cosplayer, opened with a trailer going through a whole bunch of past and present Aniplex titles, including Rurouni Kenshin, Blood: The Last Vampire, Read or Die, and Durarara!!. Rivera introduced the company to the audience and then announced that Aniplex will run its own streaming channel on the new Niconico.com website, the English language version of the popular Japanese video streaming site. They also have a number of titles available on the Playstation Network.

Rivera listed all of their current physical release and digital catalogue, including the Gurren Lagann films, the Read or Die complete Blu-ray box set, and Baccano! on Blu-ray.

Moving on to new announcements, Rivera revealed an English-subtitled trailer for Blue Exorcist, whose first DVD is set for October and the second for January, with two more releases to follow. Rivera noted that all three volumes of Durarara!! are available in its entirety at Aniplex's booth. Fans who purchase any Durarara!! DVD will get a poster from the show and a ticket to an autograph session with the series' English voice actors. (Fans can also earn the poster by taking part in a stamp rally at the booth, while supplies last.) The series just launched on Cartoon Network's Adult Swim evening block this past Saturday at 12:30 a.m. and 4:30 a.m. Eastern time.

Rivera followed up with upcoming releases, starting with the Rurouni Kenshin remastered Blu-ray releases, which will include both Japanese and English audio and subtitles. The first set is due in August.

The Durarara!! cosplayer, dressed as information broker Orihara Izaya, "passed on" an announcement to Rivera: that Aniplex will release Blue Exorcist on DVD in North America. Pre-orders for the first part start on August 1, with the first volume tentatively set for October, the second for January 2012, the third for April 2012, and the fourth for July 2012.

Aniplex's second announcement is Puella Magi Madoka Magica, whose details are all still to be determined. Details will come "soon" but the company has launched the official website already.