TSS and SONIC NEWS were contacted exclusively by ADV Films early last week for a sneak preview of the upcoming release of Sonic The Hedgehog: The Movie on UMD Video format. ADV confirm the UMD will be launched alongside some of their other popular Anime licenses in a test market, Australia. These UMD will be available down under before the end of the month with a RRP of AU$24.99 at all major PSP retailers.
ADV ANNOUNCES FUTURE ANIME UMD RELEASES
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MELBOURNE, March 29, 2006 — ADV Films, the number one producer-distributor of anime in North America, is proud to announce upcoming anime releases on Sony’s UMD Video format. In order to test the popularity of anime in Western nations in this exciting new format, ADV Films will release a select line of their most popular anime licenses in Australia. “It has been long proven that Australia is a nation very much akin to the United States when it comes to entertainment.” said ADV Films President Founder and CEO John Ledford. “If this trial shows success it will open the floodgates for future ADV Films Anime releases on the UMD Format worldwide.”
Amongst the titles to be released include the critically acclaimed Neon Genesis Evangaleon and popular children’s titles Sonic The Hedgehog and Hello Kitty. These UMD will retail for AU$24.95 and will be available in late April at all major retailers. “Japanese animation and video games have always gone hand-in-hand; the anime fan base is largely the same group of consumers that’s purchasing already, so it’s only natural for us to move to the PlayStation Portable gravitate to that format,” said Jim Yardley, Vice President of Sales, ADV Films. “The episodic action makes great on-the-go viewing.”
About ADV Films:
In the 14 years since its inception, ADV Films has become the #1 producer-distributor of Japanese animation (“anime”) for the North American market and has also developed a leadership position in the UK. 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
ADV were kind enough to not only provide us with the tip – but send us additionally a preproduction copy of the UMD to preview – photos are available in the media column below. We apologise for the poor image quality of the photographs at present, better shots will be added as they become available.