Bandai Visual USA and Image Entertainment to Release Classic Anime Series "Gunbuster"
TORRANCE, Calif., Oct. 24, 2006 - Bandai Visual USA Inc., a leading innovator in Japanese animation, and Image Entertainment, Inc. (Nasdaq: DISK), a leading independent licensee, producer and distributor of home entertainment programming in North America, today announced that the 1988 anime series “Gunbuster” will be released for the first time on DVD February 20.
A favorite among anime fans, “Gunbuster” has been re-mastered in HD 24P format with newly translated English subtitles under the supervision of the original producers. The DVD set (SRP: $64.99) will contain all six episodes on 3 discs and includes a 24-page color booklet.
* First-time U.S. DVD release
* Newly translated English subtitles for all six episodes
* Bonus clips totaling 30 minutes
* 24-page color booklet
* All packaged in an original deluxe art box imported from Japan
The directorial debut of acclaimed creator Hideaki Anno (“Neon Genesis Evangelion,” “Nadia - Secret of Blue Water,” “Cutie Honey,” “His and Her Circumstances”), “Gunbuster” casts pretty girls and giant robots in a moving epic of interstellar naval war and is a story of a young girl's struggle to pilot the ultimate weapon.
The first commercial success of the fan-turned-pro studio Gainax, “Gunbuster” (“Aim for the Top!”) was the first anime OVA (original video animation) made by and for the “otaku generation” - a series for those who love anime. Not tied to any pre-existing manga or toy campaign, “Gunbuster” was a declaration that anime could be made for its own sake.
More information will be available on the official “Gunbuster” site (www.bandaivisual.us/Gunbuster/ ) after November 8.
About Bandai Visual USA Inc.:
Bandai Visual USA Inc. was established in 2005 as a wholly owned subsidiary of Bandai Visual Co.,Ltd with a mission to facilitate stronger, more active involvement in positioning, marketing and distribution of Bandai Visual programs in North America. From its base in Torrance, California, Bandai Visual USA seeks to form new alliances and reinforce existing ties in an effort to strengthen Bandai Visual's international presence as a producer and content provider in the ever expanding and diversified specialty programs market. Bandai Visual USA titles are released on DVD under its Honneamise label, named after the 1987 animation film that Bandai Visual first produced. More information is available at www.bandaivisual.us .
About Image Entertainment:
Image Entertainment, Inc. is a leading independent licensee, producer and distributor of home entertainment programming in North America, with over 3,000 exclusive DVD titles and approximately 200 exclusive CD titles in domestic release and approximately 300 programs internationally via sublicense agreements. For many of its titles, the Company has exclusive audio and broadcast rights and, through its subsidiary Egami Media, Inc., has digital download rights to more than 1,500 video programs and over 150 audio programs containing more than 2,500 tracks. The Company is headquartered in Chatsworth, California, and has a domestic distribution facility in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Company's subsidiary Image Entertainment (UK) maintains a content acquisition office in London, England. For more information about Image Entertainment, Inc., please go to www.image-entertainment.com .
Forward-Looking Statements:
This press release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 relating to, among other things, our goals, plans and projections regarding our financial position, results of operations, market position, product development and business strategy. These statements may be identified by the use of words such as “will,” “may,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe,” and other terms of similar meaning in connection with any discussion of future operating or financial performance. All forward-looking statements are based on management's current expectations and involve inherent risks and uncertainties, including factors that could delay, divert or change any of them, and could cause action outcomes and results to differ materially from current expectations.
These factors include, among other things, our inability to raise additional working capital, changes in debt and equity markets, increased competitive pressures, changes in our business plan, and changes in the retail DVD and entertainment industries. For further details and a discussion of these and other risks and uncertainties, see “Forward-Looking Statements” and “Risk Factors” in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, and our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2006. Unless otherwise required by law, we undertake no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
GUNBUSTER
Street Date: February 20, 2006
Catalog #: BUDH0104DVD
UPC#: 858604001042
DVD SRP: $64.99
A favorite among anime fans, “Gunbuster” has been re-mastered in HD 24P format with newly translated English subtitles under the supervision of the original producers. The DVD set (SRP: $64.99) will contain all six episodes on 3 discs and includes a 24-page color booklet.
* First-time U.S. DVD release
* Newly translated English subtitles for all six episodes
* Bonus clips totaling 30 minutes
* 24-page color booklet
* All packaged in an original deluxe art box imported from Japan
The directorial debut of acclaimed creator Hideaki Anno (“Neon Genesis Evangelion,” “Nadia - Secret of Blue Water,” “Cutie Honey,” “His and Her Circumstances”), “Gunbuster” casts pretty girls and giant robots in a moving epic of interstellar naval war and is a story of a young girl's struggle to pilot the ultimate weapon.
The first commercial success of the fan-turned-pro studio Gainax, “Gunbuster” (“Aim for the Top!”) was the first anime OVA (original video animation) made by and for the “otaku generation” - a series for those who love anime. Not tied to any pre-existing manga or toy campaign, “Gunbuster” was a declaration that anime could be made for its own sake.
More information will be available on the official “Gunbuster” site (www.bandaivisual.us/Gunbuster/ ) after November 8.
About Bandai Visual USA Inc.:
Bandai Visual USA Inc. was established in 2005 as a wholly owned subsidiary of Bandai Visual Co.,Ltd with a mission to facilitate stronger, more active involvement in positioning, marketing and distribution of Bandai Visual programs in North America. From its base in Torrance, California, Bandai Visual USA seeks to form new alliances and reinforce existing ties in an effort to strengthen Bandai Visual's international presence as a producer and content provider in the ever expanding and diversified specialty programs market. Bandai Visual USA titles are released on DVD under its Honneamise label, named after the 1987 animation film that Bandai Visual first produced. More information is available at www.bandaivisual.us .
About Image Entertainment:
Image Entertainment, Inc. is a leading independent licensee, producer and distributor of home entertainment programming in North America, with over 3,000 exclusive DVD titles and approximately 200 exclusive CD titles in domestic release and approximately 300 programs internationally via sublicense agreements. For many of its titles, the Company has exclusive audio and broadcast rights and, through its subsidiary Egami Media, Inc., has digital download rights to more than 1,500 video programs and over 150 audio programs containing more than 2,500 tracks. The Company is headquartered in Chatsworth, California, and has a domestic distribution facility in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Company's subsidiary Image Entertainment (UK) maintains a content acquisition office in London, England. For more information about Image Entertainment, Inc., please go to www.image-entertainment.com .
Forward-Looking Statements:
This press release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 relating to, among other things, our goals, plans and projections regarding our financial position, results of operations, market position, product development and business strategy. These statements may be identified by the use of words such as “will,” “may,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe,” and other terms of similar meaning in connection with any discussion of future operating or financial performance. All forward-looking statements are based on management's current expectations and involve inherent risks and uncertainties, including factors that could delay, divert or change any of them, and could cause action outcomes and results to differ materially from current expectations.
These factors include, among other things, our inability to raise additional working capital, changes in debt and equity markets, increased competitive pressures, changes in our business plan, and changes in the retail DVD and entertainment industries. For further details and a discussion of these and other risks and uncertainties, see “Forward-Looking Statements” and “Risk Factors” in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, and our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2006. Unless otherwise required by law, we undertake no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
GUNBUSTER
Street Date: February 20, 2006
Catalog #: BUDH0104DVD
UPC#: 858604001042
DVD SRP: $64.99
bookmark/share with:
