North American distributor Funimation announced at its Anime Expo panel on Saturday that it has licensed the Blood-C: The Last Dark film, Ikki Tousen: Great Guardians, Ikki Tousen: Xtreme Xecutor, the Michiko & Hatchin (Michiko to Hatchin) television anime series, and the Appleseed XIII series. It also announced that it will simulcast the Aesthetica of a Rogue Hero (Hagure Yusha no Aestetica) and Binbogami ga! television anime series. The following is the company's announcement:
Funimation has acquired the broadcast, home entertainment, streaming, and mobile rights to both the Blood-C television anime series and the Blood-C: The Last Dark film. Manga creator team CLAMP developed the story and original character designs for both the Blood-C television series and the film. Production I.G animated both projects. Funimation streamed the television series as it aired in 2011 on the Nico Nico website. The sequel film, Blood-C: The Last Dark, opened in Japan on June 2nd, 2012.
Funimation has acquired the broadcast, home entertainment, streaming and mobile rights to Michiko & Hatchin. The 22-episode television anime series premiered in Japan in October 2008. Manglobe (Samurai Champloo, Ergo Proxy) produced the series, which marked the directorial debut of Sayo Yamamoto (Lupin III: The Woman Called Fujiko Mine). The series tells the story of sexy criminal Michiko (Yoko Maki) and abused runaway Hana “Hatchin” Morenos (Suzuka Ohgo). The two team up to cross the lawless frontier, searching for a man from their pasts while eluding the police and Hatchin's foster parents.
Funimation has acquired the broadcast, home entertainment, and streaming rights for the Appleseed XIII series. Appleseed XIII is a 2011 13-episode direct-to-video retelling of Masamune Shirow's Appleseed future paramilitary manga, separate from Kazuyoshi Katayama‘s previous original video anime and Shinji Aramaki‘s two computer-animated movies.
Funimation will simulcast both Binbogami ga! and Aesthetica of a Rogue Hero. Binbogami ga! adapts Yoshiaki Sukeno's supernatural comedy manga of the same name. The story revolves around Ichiko Sakura, a girl whose blissful life comes from her bountiful “happiness energy” — gained by sapping that energy from other people. To restore the balance, the Binbo-gami (Poverty God) Momiji Binbada attempts to eliminate her. Yoichi Fujita (Gintama) is directing the series at Sunrise with Kento Shimoyama (Bleach) handling series composition. Kenji Tanabe (Naruto Shippuden the Movie: Bonds) is designing the characters. The series will premiere on July 4th, 2012.
Aesthetica of a Rogue Hero adapts Tetsuto Uesu's light novel series. The story follows an international training organization named Babel which protects the young people returning from another world. A wayward hero named Akatsuki has come back to the real world from a world of sword and magic called Areizaado, along with a beautiful girl who is a demon king's daughter. Rion Kujo (Samurai Harem, Ikki Tousen: Shugaku Toshi Keppu-roku) will direct the series at studio ARMS. Ryunosuke Kingetsu (Ninja Nonsense, Tales of Symphonia the Animation) is handling the series composition. The series will premiere on July 6th, 2012.
Funimation added broadcast, home entertainment, streaming, and mobile rights for the Aria the Scarlet Ammo television anime series. Funimation previously streamed the series as it aired in 2011. The company has also acquired the broadcast, home entertainment, and mobile rights to the complete anime series of Jormungand. Funimation simulcast the 12-episode first season starting in April, and Funimation will also simulcast the second season that premieres in October.
Lastly, Funimation has added broadcast, home entertainment, and theatrical rights for the EUREKA SEVEN AO television anime series. Funimation previously revealed it had acquired the home media rights for the series in April, and the company is simulcasting the series as it airs.
There you go, anime-fans, now you will have a lot to look forward to. Stay tuned!
