Hanabee Entertainment, is a brand new anime company in Australia who has so far been picking up huge crowds at anime conventions through their Red vs Blue wares. The company was formed by Eric Cherry, former CEO of another successful and currently active Australian anime publisher Siren Visual, and it seems like his releases of both demanded and unique anime series will follow on in this new venture (Which considering we are outnumbered considerably by US anime publishers…. the Australian market can always do with more awesome publishers of anime!). Over the last month or two the company has been teasing their first couple of anime announcements through their Facebook page – the first of which was cracked pretty easy but has just now been formally announced as Toradora!
After being a hit series in the USA where it was published by Nippon Ichi Software America, Hanabee will be bringing the series down under in two installments the first of which will contain episodes 1 through 13 on DVD for $49.95 RRP. The release of Toradora Part 1 will be on store shelves from the 3rd October 2012.
Originally released as a light novel in 2006 by Yuyuko Takemiya, only one and a bit years later this anime series began airing in Japan and has also followed on with manga, video games and an OVA release. As with the US release, this will only contain a Japanese dub with English subtitles.
Storyline
Beware: Tiger ahead. Tread cautiously.
Tigers are fierce creatures and Taiga Aisaka is no exception. Coupled with a short temper, a height complex and a mean right hook, Taiga, nicknamed the Palmtop Tiger, is not someone to be messed with. Despite his less than stellar start, for one, Ryuji Takasu, handling such creatures will need to be his forte, when the one he has as a classmate is also his neighbour. But all isn’t that bad when it just might be that looks and first impressions can be deceptive and nothing is as it seems. Just like Ryuji, the school’s delinquent, may simply be a gentle guy at heart; Taiga might also sport a softer side under her harsh exterior.
… Suddenly tigers might not be all that fierce as Ryuji feared.
I have previously written reviews on both USA releases, my review of Part 1 can be read HERE and if you are unfamiliar with this series, will give you some idea for what it is about.
This is but ONE announcement which will be made at SMASH! tomorrow and the one one which has been made available beforehand as it was more or less set in stone. Check out their panel at the convention to hear the team formally announce potentially a couple of others in person. If you cannot make it to the convention… keep your eyes on this site as I will be posting them up as soon as information is made available.
