Maiden Japan Announces License of Hiwamari!

HOUSTON, June 23, 2011— Entertainment label Maiden Japan today announced its acquisition of the hit animated series HIMAWARI! Based on the teenage ninja manga sensation from the writer/artist team of GoDo and TAGRO, HIMAWARI! was directed by Shigenori Kageyama (Fist of the North Star) with script supervision by Mamiko Ikeda (Sgt. Frog, Emma: A Victorian Romance) and character designs by Okama (Evangelion 1.0 & 2.0,) and Seiji Kishimoto (Elfen Lied, Cat Girl Nuku Nuku.)

Ever since being rescued by a ninja when she was younger, Himawari! Hinata's greatest ambition has been to become one herself. Now, finally, she's got her chance to study at Shinobi Gakuen, the elite academy where female ninja are trained! Unfortunately, Himawari! isn't as prepared as some of her fellow candidates and on her very first day she ends up being saved by one of her teachers. To the embarrassment, the person who rescues her isn't even a ninja! He's Hayato Marikoji and HIS duty is to teach the ninja how to act like a normal person like himself!

With that inauspicious start, will Himawari! ever be able to gain entrance to the school? And if she does, can she meet the rigorous standards demanded by her teachers? And why does Hayato remind her so much of an important person from her past? With a whole school full of ninjas, there's certain to be more going on than meets the eye in HIMAWARI!

Maiden Japan will be distributing HIMAWARI! in conjunction with home video distributor Section23 (Clannad, Highschool of the Dead, Appleseed,) with the entire series to be released in both English Subtitled DVD and Digital Formats. About Maiden Japan:Maiden Japan is the exciting new anime label whose first release was the fan originated, cult-hit Papillon Rose. With the sci-fi/detective thriller Glass Maiden, Maiden Japan launched a new series of animated thrillers that will continue over the upcoming months. Keep your eyes ready for further announcements, coming soon!

About Section23 Films:

Section23 Films provides home video marketing and distribution services for a variety of companies, including Sentai Filmworks, Switchblade Pictures, Maiden Japan and AEsir Holdings. With its special focus on genre entertainment, Section23 Films distributes some of the very best anime, martial arts, and horror titles on the market today. CONTACT: Mike [email protected]