As you may be aware, the AnimeExpo 2011 held at the Los Angeles Convention Center recently finished its first day. Whilst I live at the other side of the world and wasnt able to make the event, for those who are interested I have listed below the releases announced by each of the English distributors at the event. Do note that as I am going from external information and I do not live in the US, I may make a mistake or two in my listings, I apologize in advance.
Right Stuf Inc. & Nozomi Entertainment
Revolutionary Girl Utena Set 2 – August Release
Utena and Anthy have become close during their time as roommates, so when Anthy casually mentions she has a brother, Utena can’t help but feel shocked. She thought she knew Anthy, but the longer she and Anthy are friends, the more she discovers she doesn’t know. What other secrets could Anthy be keeping? Atena won’t have time to dwell upon such matters, however, as a new group of duelists has emerged from the shadows. These new challengers wear black rose signets and also seek revolution, but their methods are different than those of Ohtori’s Student Council. They don’t wish to possess Rose Bride – they want to kill her. [Source: Rightstuf]
Victorian Romance Emma Seasons 1-2 – September Release
This complete series collection bundles together both box sets for Emma: A Victorian Romance! In 19th-century London, class lines are sharply drawn, and the social standing to which people are born dictates the path their lives will follow. Emma, an honest and hardworking young maid, never felt her place in life to be a burden. But then she met William, a member of the gentry and the eldest son of a wealthy family. His warm smile and earnest affection threaten to capture her heart… but can love truly conquer all? [Source: Rightstuf]
Dirty Pair: Affair on Nolandia
The Dirty Pair are traveling to the planet of Ookbar in search of a missing girl. Kei and Yuri have traced Missinie to the forest of Nolandia, but their investigations have stalled thanks to the less than helpful Chief of Security. But the Dirty Pair have never let a little bureaucracy stand in their way. It’s the unicorns and UFOs, not to mention the rampaging killer robot, that are going to be the problem as the Dirty Pair tackle their toughest case yet in Affair of Nolandia. [Source: AnimeNewsNetwork]
Dirty Pair: Project Eden
Sent to the planet Agerna to investigate a feud between two opposing factions, Kei and Yuri must find out why strange creatures are attacking vezorium test plants. [Source: AnimeNewsNetwork]
Dirty Pair Flash
Kei and Yuri were originally junior auxiliary agents in the Worlds Works and Welfare Agency (W.W.W.A. or 3WA for short) when the two were paired together under the codename “Lovely Angels.” Kei was coming off her fourth probation for something she had done, and Yuri’s dating exploits were common knowledge, not to mention the two had an instant dislike for each other when they met. At first, Kei and Yuri refused to work with each other, and Kei even resigned from the 3WA. Afterwards, the two continued to work together, although they earned their nickname, “the Dirty Pair” because of all the collateral damage the two (unintentionally) cause in the completion of their cases. And even though the two now get along with one another, they continue to bicker and complain to each other. Although it is often said that these are younger versions of the original Lovely Angels Kei and Yuri, in truth this series is an alternate universe telling of Dirty Pair, set in the years 2248-49. [Source: MyAnimeList]
Gasaraki
The Gowa clan seeks to contact a force known only as Gasaraki. This is set amidst a backdrop of war where bipedal combat machines are being used for the first time. The combination of modern war with traditional Japanese values provides a great setting for the conflicts that arise and attempts to take robot animes in a new direction. [Source: AnimeNewsNetwork]
Martian Successor Nadesico
Akito doesn’t want to fight. Despite a childhood spent on the anime Gekiganger 3, a mecha show, he’d rather cook than pilot a mecha. Fate intervenes when his home on Mars is destroyed, and he is transported instantly to the Earth, mysteriously. He has questions no one can answer fully, but follows a girl from a chance meeting in hopes to discover any. The girl, Yurika, is captain of the private battleship Nadesico, and in order to follow her, he enlists as their cook. Possessing the nanite implants that allow to control mechas, he’s a handy backup pilot for the mechas of the Nadesico. He joins a crew bent on revenging Mars and composed of misfits, otakus, and ditzes. But in reality they are handpicked experts. They take their own private war back to Mars to face the harsh reality that life may not always be like a giant mecha series. [Source: AnimeNewsNetwork]
Nippon Ichi Software America
Dororon Enma-kun
Emma-kun, Yukiko Hime, and Kapaeru are members of a Demon Patrol that are sent to the human world to arrest demons. [Source: AnimeNewsNetwork]
Kimi ni Todoke
Kuronuma Sawako is completely misunderstood by her classmates. Her timid and sweet demeanor is often mistaken for malicious behavior. This is due to her resemblance to the ghost girl from “The Ring”, which has led her peers to give her the nickname Sadako. Longing to make friends and live a normal life, she is naturally drawn to Kazehaya Shouta, the most popular guy in class, whose “100% refreshing” personality earns him great admiration from Sawako. So when Kazehaya starts talking to her, maybe there is hope for the friendships Sawako has always longed for. Maybe…there is even a little hope for some romance in her future. [Source: MyAnimeList]
Aniplex
Blue Exorcist – October Release
Humans live in the world of Assiah, demons in Gehenna. The two dimensions are not meant to interfere with each other, but demons still possess creatures in Assiah in spite of this. The humans who can fight these demons are known as exorcists. Rin Okumura is a boy who bears the curse of being Satan’s illegitimate son. His foster father sacrificed himself to save him from demons. To avenge his foster father’s death as well as to prove himself, Rin decides to follow the path of an exorcist. [Source: AnimeNewsNetwork]
Puella Magi Madoka Magica
After experiencing a bizarre dream, Madoka Kaname, a kind 14-year old girl, encounters a magical creature named Kyube. Madoka and her friend Sayaka Miki are offered the opportunity of gaining magical powers if they agree to make a contract with the strange little being. He will also grant them one wish, but in exchange they shall risk their lives by accepting the responsibility of fighting witches. Invisible to human eyes, witches are catalysts of despair in the areas they inhabit. An ally of Kyube, a magical girl named Mami Tomoe, befriends and encourages the two girls to accept the contract. For an unknown reason, another magical girl named Homura Akemi is determined to prevent Madoka from accepting the deal. [Source: AnimeNewsNetwork]
Viz Media
Nura: Rise of the Yokai Clan Demon Capital
Rikuo Nura appears to be an average high-school kid. No one knows that he comes home everyday to a house full of the once fearsome yokai of legend, nor that at night, Nura transforms into the all powerful leader of these spirits. However, much to the disappointment of -well- everyone, Rikuo is determined to live as normal a life as possible. [Source: MyAnimeList]
Pokemon: Zoroark: Master of Illusions
Celebi sees Raikou, Entei, and Suicune fighting in the future in an attempt to stop this from happening, Celebi then travels to the past. Ash encounters a shadowy figure that looks identical to how he looks, but the other appears to be evil. [Source: MyAnimeList]
Professor Layton and the Eternal Diva
Puzzle expert Professor Hershel Layton and his apprentice Luke are invited to an opera by one of his former students, only to learn that most of the audience in attendance have come seeking eternal life, which has been promised to be given to a single person who successfully comes out on top after a series of puzzles. Along with the claim that a young woman who died has been reborn as a child and the search for a long lost civilisation, the mysteries run deep as Layton seeks the truth behind all the riddles. [Source: AnimeNewsNetwork]
Funimation
Last Exile: Fam, the Silver Wing
LASTEXILE –Fam, the Silver Wing- is a new original tale in the LASTEXILE universe. It features new characters, new mechanics and an all new story centered around the young ace vanship pilot, Fam, and her trusted navigator, Giselle, as they pilot their vanship, Vespa, through the free and peaceful skies. [Source: Funimation]
Cat Planet Cuties uh….. Asobi ni Ikuyo
The story centers around Kio Kakazu , a high school freshman living in Okinawa. During a memorial service for one of his family ancestors. A mysterious girl with cat ears appears before him indroducing herself as Eris and claiming that she is an alien. However She be more troubling than he first realizes. [Source: AnimeNewsNetwork]
Also announced were the series B-Gata H-Kei, Deadman Wonderland and Steins;Gate, all of which I have summaried previously in the following article on Madman Entertainment Acquisitions in Australia: HERE. Overall, not a bad assortment, with a number of older series being mixed into the more recent titles…. especially surprised seeing NISA announce Dororon Enma-kun, a title that seems to have been released in the 70’s. If I get further press releases or acquisition news from this expo, I will keep you all informed.
That’s really cool that they have last’s years trend setters and hits (Kimi ni Todoke) while exposing old school classics (Utena). Ah nostalgia <3
Dororon Enma-kun <-there was a newer series brought out recently. It is not the 70's series, I can guarantee.
Really excited for Madoka US release, and B Gata H Kei.
Ah, thanks for the clarification, thought it was a little bit weird them licensing a 70’s series…. will have to check it out when it is released….
I am also looking forward to Madoka, it was no real surprise that they would be releasing it over here… just got to hope it gets picked up in Australia as well, like B Gata H Kei was…