S23/Sentai Filmworks/Switchblade Pictures/Maiden Japan , etc PR, News, And Announcements - 2012/2014

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[size=16]SENTAI FILMWORKS LICENSES “YUYUSHIKI”[/size]

HOUSTON, April 22, 2013 — Sentai Filmworks invites you to experience life’s ups, downs and surprises and occasionally the internet in their newest acquisition: Yuyushiki! This 13 episode is directed by Kaori and features character designs by Yoshiyuki Tabata with series composition by Natsuko Takahashi and sound direction by Jin Aketagawa.

Everyone knows you can learn a lot on the internet, and some of it is even true. But if you want to know what’s REALLY going on and important, then there’s just one place to go: the computer club! Okay, so maybe it’s not the club itself, but the three girls you’re most likely to find there. And maybe they do spend more time chatting about their social lives and debating things like the virtues of ketchup versus mayonnaise than they do learning about the ins and outs of a keyboard, but whatever they’re up to, it’s sure to put a smile on your face. So come join serious Yui, hyperactive Yuzuko and lovable but not quite in touch with reality Yukari and learn what the mysterious YuiYukari Formula is all about in YUYUSHIKI!

Yuyshiki will be available soon through select digital outlets with a home video release to follow later this year.

About Sentai Filmworks
Sentai Filmworks celebrates its 5th Anniversary as one of the fastest-growing anime companies in North America, producing hit series like Persona 4, Girls und Panzer, Devil Survivor 2, Bodacious Space Pirates, Majestic Prince and High School of the Dead as well as high profile theatrical films such as Grave of the Fireflies, K-ON! and Appleseed. Sentai Filmworks’ programs are distributed through Ingram Entertainment, Diamond Comic Distributors, Section23Films and Waxworks through retailers Amazon, Best Buy, Fry’s, FYE, Hastings, Sam Goody, Suncoast, The Right Stuf, Wal-Mart and other good and fine stores. Digital product offerings may be found at Amazon, Anime Network, Crunchyroll, Google Play, Hulu, iTunes, Netflix, PlayStation Network, Rovi, Vudu, XBOX Marketplace and YouTube.

I always wondered what was up with Sentai and the Internet as their official website(s) are pretty lacking.

Today I decided to check out their facebook page, thinking that a company that has been around for so long (and isn’t Nintendo) has to have a more competent internet presence. There I find a rather active, up-to-date internet outlet for Sentai. Another tragic case of a company using Facebook as their primary internet presence, and they’re using it in a blog-like format. It’s like web sites that put all their stuff in a forum, only more annoying and less convenient.

So I thank people who repost their info onto more civilized places on the internet, places that can be bookmarked, searched, don’t have a real chance of being restricted to Facebook members arbitrarily and have a more guaranteed longevity.

C’mon Sentai. When you were ADV you had websites and even tried to get in on the then-burgeoning fad of BitTorrent. Today your internet presence is scarcely more than an ad-riddled Facebook blog.

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[size=16]SENTAI FILMWORKS LICENSES “SAMURAI BRIDE” [/size]

HOUSTON, April 23, 2013 — Here comes the bride with a katana by her side in Sentai Filmworks’ newest acquisition: Samurai Bride. This 12 episode follow up to the smash series Samurai Girls is helmed by returning director KOBUN, and features character designs by Samurai Girls alumni Tsutomu Miyazawa, with series composition by Satoru Nishizono (Needless, Psychic Squad), sound direction by Jin Aketagawa (AKB0048, Queen’s Blade Rebellion) and music by Tatsuya Katou (MEDAKA BOX, Campione!).

Things seemed to be going so well for Muneakira Yagyu, the hapless warrior inexplicably stuck with the ability to awaken a girl’s latent samurai powers with a single kiss. Just having to deal with the impossible Jubei, who fell out of the sky and into his arms and lips, would be more than enough for most men to handle, let alone having the additional stress of being the target of a half dozen other sets of feminine wiles and martial arts prowess. But on top of that, they HAD just defeated the minion of a great evil, so was it too much to ask for a little break in the routine of saving Japan? Apparently it was, as the great evil is back, but that’s the LEAST of the problems complicating Muneakira’s life. Because with all the girls he kissed in order to awaken their latent samurai powers, the inevitable has finally happened and someone’s taking the long walk down the aisle with a samurai girl! It’s going to be a REALLY old fashioned wedding and any resistance by the groom will be totally feudal in SAMURAI BRIDE!

Samurai Bride will be available soon through select digital outlets with a home video release to follow later this year.

About Sentai Filmworks
Sentai Filmworks celebrates its 5th Anniversary as one of the fastest-growing anime companies in North America, producing hit series like Persona 4, Girls und Panzer, Devil Survivor 2, Bodacious Space Pirates, Majestic Prince and High School of the Dead as well as high profile theatrical films such as Grave of the Fireflies, K-ON! and Appleseed. Sentai Filmworks’ programs are distributed through Ingram Entertainment, Diamond Comic Distributors, Section23Films and Waxworks through retailers Amazon, Best Buy, Fry’s, FYE, Hastings, Sam Goody, Suncoast, The Right Stuf, Wal-Mart and other good and fine stores. Digital product offerings may be found at Amazon, Anime Network, Crunchyroll, Google Play, Hulu, iTunes, Netflix, PlayStation Network, Rovi, Vudu, XBOX Marketplace and YouTube.

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[size=16]MAIDEN JAPAN ANNOUNCES LICENSE OF NEW DOMINION TANK POLICE[/size]

HOUSTON, April 23, 2013 — Want the biggest bang for your buck in law enforcement? Check out Maiden Japan’s latest acquisition: the action-packed New Dominion Tank Police! Based on classic manga by Masamune Shirow (GHOST IN THE SHELL, APPLESEED) this six episode series features character designs by Noboru Furuse (Initial D) and music by Yoichiro Yoshikawa (Kyo Kara Maoh!).

When tanks are outlawed, only outlaws will have tanks. Or at least, that’s what Mayor Weatherby of New Port seems to be forgetting in his efforts to ban certain forms of weapons, including those used by tank-driving policewoman Leona Ozaki and her partner Al. Granted, the city’s Tank Police DO seem to cause a lot of collateral damage, but New Port’s a dangerous place. Especially with the felonious and partially feline Puma sisters back on the prowl, and the Dai Nippon Geiken Corporation is building even more nefarious devices of evil intent that are finding their way into the hands of local terrorists. Unfortunately for DNGC, they may be connected to the murder of Leona’s former partner, and once this hard-headed heroine sinks her treads into a case, there’s no backing up! And as for the Pumas? It’s going to be like cats and police dogs, but there are few problems that a little carefully applied mobile artillery can’t cure! There’s no place to hide, from the good guys OR the bad guys, as law and order meets chaos theory in NEW DOMINION TANK POLICE!

Maiden Japan will be distributing New Dominion Tank Police in conjunction with home video distributor Section 23 (Clannad, High School of the Dead, Appleseed,) on bilingual English DVD and in digital formats.

About Maiden Japan
Maiden Japan is a new and upcoming distributor of Japanese animation in North America, with a rapidly growing roster of new and classic titles that includes such hot releases as TOKYO MAGNITUDE 8.0, VAMPIRE PRINCESS MIYU TV, BLACK MAGIC M-66 and PATLABOR. A sister company to live action Shock film specialist Switchblade Pictures (ATTACK GIRLS SWIM TEAM VS. THE UNDEAD, ZOMBIE HUNTER RIKA, SULTRY ASSASSIN: NINJA BRAINWASH), Maiden Japan’s programs can be found on home video distributed by Ingram Entertainment, Baker & Taylor, Section23Films, The Right Stuff and other good and fine distributors. Digital product offerings may be found at iTunes, Hulu, Netflix, Amazon, Zune Marketplace, Anime Network, Playstation Network and YouTube.

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.

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[size=16]SENTAI FILMWORKS LICENSES “UTA NO PRINCE SAMA 2”[/size]

HOUSTON, April 23, 2013 — The music is back but the song is definitely not the same in Sentai Filmworks’ newest acquisition: Uta no Prince Sama 2. The new season of the smash hit features direction and series composition by Koh Yuh (Loveless, Angelic Layer) with character designs by Mitsue Mori and music by Elements Garden (Love, Election & Chocolate, Bodacious Space Pirates).

After the amazing high note that capped the first season, would it be fair to expect Haruka and her hunky harem of beautiful boy singers to be able to top themselves? Ah, but what if they had a little more help? Yes, believe it or not, now there are even MORE gorgeous guys ganging up for the attention of the song-mistress who’s available for even more music making now that she’s moved into the dorms. Only now StArish as some REAL competition, as the new golden throated warblers from the SENIOR MASTER COURSE make it their job to show the first six what it really takes to become a J-Pop star. And what about that mysterious seventh member of StArish? Yes, he’s back as well in his own catty fashion! But does he plan to take Haruka to fantasyland? Will the boys get kicked back to the street if they can’t stay in sync? And will Haruka stay composed and keep composing when the sophomore slump hits her writing? Find out if everyone can learn to live (and sing) in harmony as the hits keep on coming in UTA NO PRINCE SAMA 2!

Uta no Prince Sama 2 will be available soon through select digital outlets with a home video release to follow later this year.

About Sentai Filmworks
Sentai Filmworks celebrates its 5th Anniversary as one of the fastest-growing anime companies in North America, producing hit series like Persona 4, Girls und Panzer, Devil Survivor 2, Bodacious Space Pirates, Majestic Prince and High School of the Dead as well as high profile theatrical films such as Grave of the Fireflies, K-ON! and Appleseed. Sentai Filmworks’ programs are distributed through Ingram Entertainment, Diamond Comic Distributors, Section23Films and Waxworks through retailers Amazon, Best Buy, Fry’s, FYE, Hastings, Sam Goody, Suncoast, The Right Stuf, Wal-Mart and other good and fine stores. Digital product offerings may be found at Amazon, Anime Network, Crunchyroll, Google Play, Hulu, iTunes, Netflix, PlayStation Network, Rovi, Vudu, XBOX Marketplace and YouTube.

Per PR

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[size=16]SENTAI FILMWORKS LICENSES “THE GARDEN OF WORDS”[/size]

HOUSTON, April 24, 2013 — A chance encounter becomes so much more in Sentai Filmworks’ newest acquisition: The Garden of Words. From acclaimed filmmaker Makoto Shinkai (Children Who Chase Lost Voices, The Place Promised in Our Early Days), comes a new work of life, love and the spaces between. The Garden of Words is directed by Makoto Shinkai and features character designs by Kenichi Tsuchiya with music by KASHIWA Daisuke.

When Takao, a young high school student who dreams of becoming a shoe designer, decides to skip school one day in favor of sketching in a rainy garden, he has no idea how much his life will change when he encounters Yukino. Older, but perhaps not as much wiser, she seems adrift in the world. Despite the difference in their ages, they strike up an unusual relationship that unexpectedly continues and evolves, without planning, with random meetings that always occur in the same garden on each rainy day. But the rainy season is coming to a close, and there are so many things still left unsaid and undone between them. Will there be time left for Takao to put his feelings into actions and words? Between the raindrops, between the calms in the storm, what will blossom in THE GARDEN OF WORDS?

The Garden of Words will be available soon through select digital outlets with a home video release on bilingual BD & DVD to follow later this year.

About Sentai Filmworks
Sentai Filmworks celebrates its 5th Anniversary as one of the fastest-growing anime companies in North America, producing hit series like Persona 4, Girls und Panzer, Devil Survivor 2, Bodacious Space Pirates, Majestic Prince and High School of the Dead as well as high profile theatrical films such as Grave of the Fireflies, K-ON! and Appleseed. Sentai Filmworks’ programs are distributed through Ingram Entertainment, Diamond Comic Distributors, Section23Films and Waxworks through retailers Amazon, Best Buy, Fry’s, FYE, Hastings, Sam Goody, Suncoast, The Right Stuf, Wal-Mart and other good and fine stores. Digital product offerings may be found at Amazon, Anime Network, Crunchyroll, Google Play, Hulu, iTunes, Netflix, PlayStation Network, Rovi, Vudu, XBOX Marketplace and YouTube.

Per PR

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
[size=16]SENTAI FILMWORKS LICENSES “MY TEEN ROMANTIC COMEDY ~ SNAFU”[/size]

HOUSTON, April 25, 2013 — They say opposites attract, but putting them together may have catastrophic consequences in Sentai Filmworks’ newest acquisition: My Teen Romantic Comedy ~ SNAFU! This 12 episode romantic comedy gone wrong is directed by Ai Yoshimura and features character designs by Yuu Shindou with series composition by Shotaro Suga (Darker Than Black, Lagrange – The Flower of Rin-ne), sound direction by Satoshi Motoyama (Demon King Daimao, Dream Eater Merry) and music by monaca (A-Channel + smile).

So exactly what’s going to happen when Hachiman Hikigaya, an isolated high school student with no friends, no interest in making any and a belief that everyone else’s supposedly great high school experiences are either delusions or outright lies, is coerced by a well meaning faculty member into joining the one member “Services Club” run by Yukino Yukinoshita, who’s smart, attractive and generally considers everyone in her school to be her complete inferior? But wait, we haven’t added the third caustic ingredient yet! Meet Yui Yuigahama, who’s cute, bright, cheerful and apparently needs the service club’s help to bake cookies. Is this a recipe for romance or will the end product be poison gas or a nuclear meltdown? Will there be cookies, nookie or a reason for everyone to play hooky? Get ready for romantic comedy gone totally wrong as the barrage à trois of the Service Club is unleashed on the unsuspecting student body in MY TEEN ROMANTIC COMEDY ~ SNAFU!

My Teen Romantic Comedy ~ SNAFU will be available soon through select digital outlets with a home video release to follow later this year.

About Sentai Filmworks
Sentai Filmworks celebrates its 5th Anniversary as one of the fastest-growing anime companies in North America, producing hit series like Persona 4, Girls und Panzer, Devil Survivor 2, Bodacious Space Pirates, Majestic Prince and High School of the Dead as well as high profile theatrical films such as Grave of the Fireflies, K-ON! and Appleseed. Sentai Filmworks’ programs are distributed through Ingram Entertainment, Diamond Comic Distributors, Section23Films and Waxworks through retailers Amazon, Best Buy, Fry’s, FYE, Hastings, Sam Goody, Suncoast, The Right Stuf, Wal-Mart and other good and fine stores. Digital product offerings may be found at Amazon, Anime Network, Crunchyroll, Google Play, Hulu, iTunes, Netflix, PlayStation Network, Rovi, Vudu, XBOX Marketplace and YouTube.

http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2013-05-17/sentai-filmworks-adds-soubi-yamamoto-this-boy-caught-a-merman-anime
[size=20]Sentai Filmworks Adds Soubi Yamamoto’s This Boy Caught a Merman Anime[/size]
posted on 2013-05-17 18:21 EDT

2nd anime in independent animator’s This Boy/Kono Danshi series

North American anime licensing company Sentai Filmworks announced at its panel at Anime Central on Friday that it has acquired the second installment in independent animator Soubi Yamamoto’s Kono Danshi (This Boy) anime project, titled This Boy Caught a Merman (Kono Danshi, Ningyo Hiroimashita.).

The story follows a high school boy named Shima Kawauchi who is wrapped in his own grief. On the day he loses his grandfather, he goes to the beach to cry by himself and almost drowns when he slips. He is rescued by a beautiful young man named Isaki — who happens to be a merman.

Yuuki Kaji and Hikaru Midorikawa star in the anime as Shima and Isaki, respectively, and Midorikawa also sings the theme song “Umi yori Aoku” (Bluer Than the Sea). The 29-minute anime shipped on DVD with English subtitles in Japan on November 19.

As a 21-year-old, Yamamoto made her scriptwriting and directorial debut in 2011 with the first 28-minute Kono Danshi anime, Kono Danshi, Uchū-jin to Tatakaemasu. (This Boy Can Fight Aliens!). Her first anime had its international premiere at New York Comic Con in 2011, and Sentai Filmworks released the anime in North America.

Sentai Filmworks also revealed part of its September release slate at the panel. The company will release Golgo 13 Complete, Nyan Koi!, and Phi-Brain: Puzzle of God Season 2 Collection 1 in September. These releases will be on both DVD and Blu-ray Disc.

Golgo 13 on BD? I appreciate it, and if it should truly happen I’ll buy it, but I’m shocked to hear it. I wasn’t even sure that it was “HD” to begin with.

I’ve been wracking my brain on these for a couple days now, but have made very little headway on them.

But just incase any of you want to try and figure these out before the AB Sentai panel tomorrow morning, I’ll post the blank/letter ratios here as well.

https://www.facebook.com/notes/sentai-filmworks/join-sentai-filmworks-at-anime-boston/644936322200150

[size=16]List of Announcements:[/size]

███████████ (ne█ to ██████)

11 space - 1 space - 6 space

████ ██████ █r█████l ██ ███s █ █████ ██████

4 space - 6 space - 1 space - 5 space - 2 space - 3 space - 1 space - 5 space - 6 space

█████████ ███████

9 space - 7 space

███████ ████████ Plans (██ ████████ █████)

7 space - 8 space - 2 space - 8 space - 5 space

██████ ███ ███ Season █ █████D

6 space - 3 space - 3 space - 1 space - 5 space

████████ █ █ ██████

8 space - 1 space - 1 space - 6 space

███████ ██████ █V████

7 space - 6 space - 1 space - 4 space

NEW ANNOUNCEMENT ADDED 5/23/13:

███████ Season █ ██████

[I]7 space - 1 space - 6 space[/I]

Yeah, I got nothing. Been going thru CrunchyRoll too, and still nada.

? (new to Sentai)

that is all i can figure…

I would like to buy a vowel?

I suppose that it would have been too easy but I would have preferred some sort of ciphered clue, instead of these blanks. Better still would be a series of riddles/clues; those can’t be easily solved with automation dredged up via a simple google search and they’re more fun.

I’ve been focusing on that last next-to-last clue as a word with “V” as its second letter isn’t that common. Sadly, no show has come to mind that fits that yet (though there’s no guarantee that the clue is for a show).

[quote=“celestial_being”]
I’ve been focusing on that last next-to-last clue as a word with “V” as its second letter isn’t that common. Sadly, no show has come to mind that fits that yet (though there’s no guarantee that the clue is for a show).[/quote]

I played around with that one and I doubt that part is a show.
As a matter of fact, I’m pretty sure it’s DVD/BD, which fits the 6 letter requirement with a “V” as the second letter.

And while I’m at it, I’m pretty sure that is 5 space one with a “D” at the end as well.

That doesn’t really solve anything though, save for “some series” is getting a dub.

[quote=“TheCoffeeGod”]

[quote=“celestial_being”]
I’ve been focusing on that last next-to-last clue as a word with “V” as its second letter isn’t that common. Sadly, no show has come to mind that fits that yet (though there’s no guarantee that the clue is for a show).[/quote]

I played around with that one and I doubt that part is a show.
As a matter of fact, I’m pretty sure it’s DVD/BD, which fits the 6 letter requirement with a “V” as the second letter.

And while I’m at it, I’m pretty sure that is 5 space one with a “D” at the end as well.

That doesn’t really solve anything though, save for “some series” is getting a dub.[/quote]

I was afraid that it wouldn’t be so easy.

Is there a prize for solving this? It seems overly obtuse just to be something to tease us. :frowning:

I suppose I can wait the <12 hours for the “big reveal”.

Sadly none of the blocks seem to fit the word “commentary”, as in what Sentai needs to start putting on their releases again and what I don’t think it’d hurt TAN to stream. That’d be real news IMO. :wink:

[quote=“celestial_being”]
Is there a prize for solving this? It seems overly obtuse just to be something to tease us. :frowning: [/quote]

Other than the fun of trying to figure it out and the self satisfaction if you do, I doubt there’s anything in it for the people who want something for their effort.

It looks like there is a strong possibility that there will be some Bandai rescues.

[quote]

Just saw this rootsofjustice tweet this. Interesting.[/quote]

I think this may be it. Sentai has added:

Godannar (DVD)
Gatchaman (DVD+BD)
Digi Charat TV/OVA/Special (DVD)

They also confirmed Bluray this fall for

Hakuoki Season 3
Campionne
AKB0048
Kokoro Connect

Edit: Thanks Coffee.

Gatchaman re release is a big surprise and on blu ray. I only wish that would also bring over gatchaman squeals over other then ova but probably won’t. Who knows. Interesting to see what if any former bandai titles sentai gets as mentioned in another thread. I personally would love to see Hayate The Combat Bulter. Then hopefully it’s squeals. We will see.

Per PR:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
[size=16]SENTAI FILMWORKS LICENSES ANIMATION SERIES “LEVIATHAN ~ THE LAST DEFENSE ~”[/size]

HOUSTON, May 31, 2013 — Can three lone girls turn the tide of an alien invasion? Find out in Sentai Filmworks’ newest acquisition: the animation series Leviathan ~ The Last Defense ~! Based on a new mobile game launched in Japan by the global nobile social company GREE[1], this 13episode series is directed by Kenichi Yatagai and features character designs by Takaharu Okuma (Kotoura-san) with series composition by Yasunori Ide (Hanaukyo Maid-tai), sound direction by Yosuke Morita and music by Shiho Terada (Inazuma Eleven GO) and Tomoki Kikuya (Hidamari Sketch).

There lands of Aquafall were a paradise, where water flows freely, the hills are covered with lush vegetation and life in all forms flourishes in peace and abundance. That’s before the meteors began to fall, each impact spawning new, hideous monsters. It soon becomes clear that there were others who want to claim the entire green world for themselves. An enemy that will not stop until everything has been vanquished. Fortunately, the fairy Syrop is on guard and knows exactly what to do. Working quickly, she recruits an extraordinary team of young women to form the base of the Aquafall Defenders: the incredibly strong Jormungand, the rich Bahamut and the stoic Leviathan. But can three lone girls really turn the tide of an alien invasion? The scales of fate hang in the balance in Leviathan ~ The Last Defense~!

Leviathan ~ The Last Defense ~ will be available soon through select digital outlets with a home video release to follow later this year.

About Sentai Filmworks
Sentai Filmworks is one of the fastest-growing anime companies in North America, producing hit series like High School of the Dead, Towanoquon, Samurai Girls, Guin Saga, Needless and Angel Beats as well as high profile theatrical films such as Grave of the Fireflies and Appleseed. Sentai Filmworks’ programs can be found on home video distributed by Ingram Entertainment, Baker & Taylor, Section23Films, The Right Stuf and other good and fine distributors. Digital product offerings may be found at iTunes, Hulu, Netflix, Amazon, Zune Marketplace, Anime Network, Playstation Network, Google Play and YouTube.