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Media Blasters No Longer Has Rights to Bakuman, Kenshin, Berserk Anime (Updated)
posted on by Crystalyn Hodgkins
Media Blasters CEO John Sirabella posted a message on Friday on Media Blasters' official website regarding the state of many of its licenses. Sirabella confirmed in the post that Media Blasters no longer has the rights to the Bakuman., Rurouni Kenshin, and Berserk television anime series. Sirabella also noted while Media Blasters had once acquired the rights to Sayonara, Zetsubou-Sensei and Moyashimon, the company has no plans to release them and noted that "these titles can and may be licensed to another company."
Sirabella added that its AnimeWorks, Tokyo Shock, and Kitty Media labels are the only Media Blasters labels that will continue to acquire and publish titles in 2013, and Media Blasters will specifically focus on its Kitty Media label with the company releasing at least one Kitty Media title per month in 2013. Media Blasters will also focus on producing and releasing original productions through Fever Dreams.
Sirabella noted that many other Media Blasters titles have expired, but did not list others aside from Rurouni Kenshin and Berserk. Sirabella did note, however, that if fans have questions about certain titles, they can post their questions on the company's Facebook page.
Sirabella explained in the post that a "major back accident in [Media Blasters'] warehouse" slowed down the company. He noted that while he had once planned on letting Media Blasters end as a company to pursue original productions through Fever Dreams, he decided to rebuild Media Blasters. Media Blasters' office moved last year to New York City and then it re-opened a warehouse and the Fever Dreams studio in Belleville, New Jersey.
Sirabella said that Media Blasters is again focusing on acquiring new titles and releasing them on DVD through New Media. Media Blasters also announced it has acquired the live-action Zombie 108 film for its Tokyo Shock label.
Update: Media Blasters commented on its Facebook page that it will not be releasing Squid Girl Season 2.
[Via WTK]
this article has been modified since it was originally posted; see change history