ADV Announces 4 New Gonzo Acquisitions
Update: ADV Films updated the following press release with a more accurate description of Red Garden.
ADV ANNOUNCES FOUR NEW GONZO ACQUISTIONS
Red Garden, Welcome to the NHK, Pumpkin Scissors, Magikano
All to Launch Late 2007
HOUSTON, May 11, 2007 — At 9pm this evening ADV Films co-founder Matt Greenfield will formally announce that ADV has acquired four of the hottest new titles to come out of the world-famous studio GONZO (Gantz, Hellsing): the sexy supernatural thriller Red Garden, the critically-acclaimed dark comedy Welcome to the NHK, the sci-fi actioner Pumpkin Scissors, and the magical comedy Magikano.
The announcement will be made during the ADV Industry Panel at Anime Central, the Midwest's largest anime convention, where Greenfield will preview all four series for fans and provide background info and launch dates for each.
“We're pleased to continue our ongoing relationship with GONZO, one of the most innovative studios in Japan,” said Greenfield. “The diversity of these titles demonstrates GONZO's range and ability to find exciting new angles to classic anime concepts.”
Greenfield continued, “From the horror saga Red Garden to the gritty comedy of Welcome to the NHK, these are series that fans in America have been demanding. We're pleased to be presenting them all within this year. And these are just a few of the many exciting new titles ADV will be announcing over the next several months.”
Red Garden
From studio GONZO and director Kou Matsuo (Rozen Maiden) comes an urban horror masterpiece as sexy as it is disturbing. Unique character designs, stylish settings, and a haunting story make Red Garden one of the most anticipated titles of 2007.
Synopsis:. An odd string of suicides surrounds a private institution on Roosevelt Island. On the night a classmate dies, Kate, Rachel, Rose and Claire wake with no memories of the evenings' events. The next night, the four girls are drawn together by mysterious red butterflies only they can see. Converging at Central Park, the girls are approached by a strange woman who tells them they are dead. Now, the four girls must work together to learn the secrets of their death – and the means to return to their previous life.
Red Garden is 24 episodes and will be released over six DVDs. Volume 1 currently is scheduled to go on sale September 18.
Welcome to the NHK
From studio GONZO and director Yūsuke Yamamoto (Sgt. Frog) comes Welcome to the NHK, the series that turns a humorous eye to the NEET generation (Not In Employment, Education, or Training). Throw agoraphobia into the mix and you've got comedy gold! Based on the hit manga series of the same name (published in North America by TOKYOPOP), Welcome to the NHK is a dark comedy filled with social satire, interesting characters, and crazy conspiracy theories.
Synopsis: Meet Satou Tatsuhiro, a 22 year-old man who thinks everything around him is wrapped up in some sort of conspiracy. It's not long before Satou's conspiracies turn into one big theory… that a secret organization known as the N.H.K. is out to fill the world with reclusive adolescents like himself, also known as hikikomori. Now they've upped the ante by using media to turn unsuspecting viewers into otaku, and Satou becomes determined to stop the N.H.K. There's only one problem – he's too frightened to even go outdoors!
Welcome to the NHK is a 24 episode series presented over six DVDs. Volume 1 currently is scheduled to go on sale October 2.
Pumpkin Scissors
Powerhouse studios GONZO and AIC (Solty Rei, Ah! My Goddess) have come together with famed director Katsuhito Akiyama (Thundercats, Guyver: The Bioboosted Armor) to create a masterpiece that has revitalized the war genre in anime. With gorgeous animation, hardboiled characters, and exciting action, Pumpkin Scissors is a series that has it all.
Synopsis: A ceasefire is suddenly called between the Royal Empire and the Republic of Frost. Three years later, the lower class of the Empire faces starvation, many of the military units have turned into petty bandits, and those in power are corrupted by greed. To aid in the war relief effort, the Pumpkin Scissors unit is created. The unit's path is soon crossed with Randel Oland, a mysterious former member of the 901 Anti-Tank Troopers, one of the Army's top-secret units.
Pumpkin Scissors is a 24 episode series presented over six DVDs. Volume 1 currently is scheduled to go on sale October 23. The six volume manga, upon which the anime series based, will be published in North America later this year by Del Rey Manga.
Magikano
Based on the manga series from Takeaki Momose (Miami Guns) and directed by Seiji Kishi (Ragnarok The Animation, Yugo the Negotiator) comes a tale on one young man and the many magical girls who protect him.
Synopsis: Unbeknownst to average teenager Haruo Yoshikawa, his three sisters have magical powers, which they use to protect him and keep him out of trouble. Everything is going fine until a young witch cursed to lose her powers discovers that Haruo is the boy she needs to break her curse. Now Ayumi Mamiya must awaken the latent powers within Haruo to restore hers. Unfortunately, Haruo's sisters aren't going to let her near him without a fight!
Magikano is a 13 episode series presented over three DVDs. Volume 1 currently is scheduled to go on sale December 4.
About ADV Films:
In the 15 years since its inception, ADV Films has become the #1 producer-distributor of Japanese animation (“anime”) outside of Japan and has the largest English-language anime library in the world. With best-selling titles such as Neon Genesis Evangelion, RahXephon, Robotech, Full Metal Panic, Hello Kitty and Azumanga Daioh, ADV Films' extensive catalog is fueling the popularity of anime around the globe. Always on the forefront, ADV is introducing North America to bold new anime franchises such as Gantz, Elfen Lied, Chrono Crusade, Peacemaker and DNAngel. ADV Films' library also includes popular live-action science fiction programs such as The Jim Henson Company's Farscape, the nationally syndicated Gene Roddenberry's Andromeda and the Saturn Award-nominated Mutant X. In 2005 ADV Films was voted “Best Anime Company” in the SPJA awards, presented at Anime Expo, North America's largest anime convention. The readers of Anime News Network designated ADV Films “Overall Favorite Anime Company” in both 2004 and 2005.
Parent company, A.D. Vision, Inc., encompasses a multitude of complementary media divisions, spanning publishing, television, licensing and merchandising and continues to expand into new areas. Its Anime Network™ is America's first and only television network dedicated to bringing anime and anime-related programming to consumers nationwide via digital cable 24 hours a day. The company has two publishing arms: Newtype USA, the premier anime and manga monthly magazine, and ADV Manga™, dedicated to publishing graphic novels. Headquartered in Houston, the company has offices in Europe and Japan. For more information, visit www.advfilms.com.
