Anime Expo 2006: Postmortem

Mike Ferreira (Editor) — July 20th, 2006 — 03:08
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ADV Films announced the acquisition of Bio-Boosted Armor Guyver, Pani Poni Dash!, and Nerima Daikon Brothers. The final release of Kaleido Star will include the first of two OVA episodes. The second OVA is not as of yet accounted for.

Right Stuf acquired the second season of Super GALS: Kotobuki Ran. The company will release the series December first, without an English dub. The news of this acquisition hit only a day after ADV Films, the licensor of the first season of Super GALS, expressed reluctance to acquire the title's second season. ADV cited poor retail sales and difficulty of reaching mainstream stores with the product as its deterrent to licensing, and a probable reason as to why Right Stuf decided on a subtitle-only format.

TOKYOPOP announced the following manga acquisitions: Wild Adapter, Gakuen Heaven, Aqua, Tactics, and Peacemaker Kurogane.

Bandai Visual USA snagged the rights to release Gunbuster (original) and Wings of Rean. Gunbuster is a 1988 Gainax OVA that saw the directorial debut of Hideaki Anno. A DVD release of Gunbuster has recently been all but dismissed by fans and insiders alike after Manga confirmed that its US license to the show had expired earlier this year.

Bandai Entertainment is currently in negotiations for Mai-Otome and the Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam movies. The company licensed .hack//ROOTS, Ghost in the Shell: Solid State Society, the Ghost in the Shell: Stand-Alone Complex "compilation" films, The Great Horror Family, and the live-action Cutey Honey film.

FUNimation acquired the rights to Solty Rei, Glass Fleet, and Witchblade.

Geneon announced its acquisition of the following anime series: Cool Dimension, Paradise Kiss, Disgaea, Hello Kitty Stump Village, and Black Lagoon. It is currently unknown whether the company has also licensed Paradise Kiss' ending song ("Do You Want To" by Franz Ferdinand). The first volume of Hellsing Ultimate OVA will hit stores on December 5, 2006.

Broccoli announced its acquisition of the Galaxy Angel 2 manga and as Kon Kon Kokon. When asked about the Galaxy Angel 2 television series, Broccoli revealed that the title was licensed by another company.