ADV announcements from Anime Boston shouldn't be anything new by now. However, today ADV released a few official Press Release regarding these newly announcement titles, including their plans for them. Below is what they say... and what we think!

Final Fantasy: Unlimited

HOUSTON, April 28, 2003—ADV Films today announced the acquisition of the rights to release the hit 25-episode anime series “Final Fantasy: Unlimited” on home video. ADV plans an Anime Network™ debut followed by a DVD-only release for the fantasy/adventure title, companion to the acclaimed “Final Fantasy” series of role-playing video games.

Chief director for the anime “Final Fantasy: Unlimited” is Mahiro Maeda, one of the most respected anime directors in Japan. Maeda was recently hand-picked by the producers of “The Animatrix,” the upcoming anime side project based on the hit “The Matrix” film franchise, to direct two of the animated shorts featured in the project.

“Final Fantasy: Unlimited” is produced by SQUARE, TV Tokyo (“NOIR”) and Dentsu (“Princess Mononoke,” “Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex”), with animation produced by Gonzo Digimation, animators of “Hellsing,” “Full Metal Panic!” and several more of anime’s most popular recent titles.

About “Final Fantasy: Unlimited”
“Final Fantasy: Unlimited” is the story of the warrior Kaze, the enigmatic Lisa and a pair of twin children, Ai and Yuh, who meet them as they search bravely for their missing parents. Taking place in a mysterious world, accessed only by an enchanted subway, “Final Fantasy: Unlimited” is packed with monsters, mystery, intrigue, beautiful animation and a plot that twists and turns and doubles back on itself in the truest anime style.

ADV Films leadership is pleased with the acquisition, and expects strong sales for the title. “’Final Fantasy: Unlimited’ arrives with excellent title recognition from the video game, and extensive U.S. fan interest as well,” said ADV Films President, CEO and Co-Founder John Ledford. “We’re excited to be bringing it to the U.S. market.”

Release Plans
ADV Films has not yet announced specific release dates for the title, but Ledford says he expects a broadcast debut in late summer and home video release before the end of September 2003.

OAV Says:
Interesting, a broadcast release would be the wise choice of action. Once Final Fantasy Fans hear a Final Fantasy TV series, they'll jump at it. ADV might need to hype this up a bit more however, the anime did rather poorly in Japan (It was originally planned for 52 episodes, then was reduced to 26) Some Cross promotion with Square-Enix would be a good start.

Magical Shopping Street Abenobashi

HOUSTON, April 28, 2003—ADV Films today formally announced the acquisition of the rights to release the hit 13-episode Japanese animated (anime) series “Magical Shopping Street Abenobashi” (AKA “Abenobashi Maho Shotengai”). ADV plans an Anime Network™ broadcast debut followed by a DVD-only release for the acclaimed title. “Magical Shopping Street Abenobashi” was originally broadcast in Japan in 2002, earning favorable comparisons to such disparate titles as the satirical “Excel Saga” and Hayao Miyazaki’s spiritually informed “Spirited Away.”

“Magical Shopping Street Abenobashi” was directed by Hiroyuki Yamaga (“Neon Genesis Evangelion,” “Wings of Honneamise,” “Automatic Maiden”) from a script by Satoru Akahori (“Sorcerer Hunters,” “K.O. Beast”). It was produced by the Japanese animation powerhouses GAINAX (producers of the seminal titles “Neon Genesis Evangelion,” “FLCL,” “His and Her Circumstances,” “Otaku no Video” and many others) and Madhouse (“Vampire Hunter D,” “Trigun,” “Cardcaptor Sakura,” “Doomed Megalopolis,” “Ninja Scrolll” etc.).

About “Magical Shopping Street Abenobashi”
While in pursuit of the truth about a bit of minor family intrigue, the two friends Sasshi and Ayumi discover that, courtesy of a cross-shaped layout and a quartet of animal deities (cleverly disguised as signs), their familiar neighborhood shopping district is actually a portal to a series of parallel existences. The two are mistakenly transported to an alternate Abenobashi shopping area, and the series details their efforts to return home, with each episode structured as a side-splitting parody of an specific anime or film genre.

ADV Films leadership is excited about the acquisition. “ ‘Magical Shopping Street Abenobashi’ is arriving on U.S. shores with an outstanding reputation among anime fans, and its charm, humor, intelligence and striking animation quality are really going to draw in U.S. viewers,” said ADV Films President, CEO and Co-Founder John Ledford. “We’re looking forward to putting it forward into the U.S. market.”

Release Plans
ADV Films has not yet announced specific release dates for the title, but Ledford says he expects an Anime Network broadcast debut toward the end of 2003, with a DVD release in 2004.

OAV Says:
Having it air on Anime Network is a smart move. Not only does it give fans a chance to see it before grabbing the DVDs, its a great way to get people to jump onto this station and demand it in their area. Especially if ADV does this for all their upcoming releases.

"Neon Genesis Evangelion: Director’s Cut"

HOUSTON, April 28, 2003—ADV Films today announced formally that the firm will release the Director’s Cut of the final six episodes of the enormously influential anime series “Neon Genesis Evangelion.” These Director’s Cut episodes include additional footage, never before released in the U.S. ADV Films expects to release the Director’s Cut in two three-episode DVD volumes; each volume will include both the extended Director’s Cut versions and the original versions of the episodes.

ADV Films Co-Founder and Senior Producer Matt Greenfield produced ADV Films’ original release of “Neon Genesis Evangelion,” and he is at the helm of the firm’s Director’s Cut release as well. “It’s very exciting to be working on ‘Evangelion’ again after so many years,” said Greenfield. “The release of the original series was a pivotal moment in the development of the North American anime market, and we’re very eager to see how fans will react to the revisions and refinements the creators have made to their original vision.

“By including both the original and revised episodes,” continued Greenfield, “we’ve made it possible for Eva-philes to get an inside look at the directorial decisions that went into the creation of one of anime’s most brilliant and original series. If you’ve ever wondered what Eva’s really all about, these new collections will get you closer than you’ve ever been before.”

Release Plans
ADV Films has not yet announced release dates for “Neon Genesis Evangelion: Director’s Cut” (note: this is a working title only).

OAV Says:
Making a note regarding that Neon Genesis Evangelion: Director’s Cut is just a working title, is more than enough for one to know noting has really be planned for this. This could mean two things, one they just haven't gotten around to planning this. Two, they're in the process of making this one fierce EVA release. And they would have to... We've spent lots of cash on the Boxset, and then the Movies. Why spend even more money for the same thing (well part of it) just for a few extra scenes? ADV's gotta through something else into the package.

Azumanga Daioh

HOUSTON, April 28, 2003—ADV Films today formally announced the acquisition for stateside release of “Azumanga Daioh,” an acclaimed Japanese animated series that premiered in early 2002 in Japan. “Azumanga Daioh,” was produced by Genco (“Serial Experiments Lain”) and JC Staff (“Excel Saga”), and is based on the manga (serialized in the Japanese magazine Dengeki Daioh) by Kiyohiko Azuma. ADV plans an Anime Network™ debut, followed by a DVD-only release for this comedy title.

About “Azumanga Daioh”
“Azumanga Daioh” follows the day-to-day adventures of a comical group of high school girls and their equally eccentric friends and teachers. The manga by Kiyohiko Azuma was published as a series of four-panel strips, much like the traditional comic strips published in American newspapers. To reflect the concept of the manga, each episode of the “Azumanga Daioh,” anime consists of several loosely related, character-driven segments, many of which adapt Azuma’s original strips.

ADV Films leadership praised the title. “‘Azumanga Daioh’ is one of the most inventive and clever anime series to come out of Japan in the last few years,” ADV Films President, CEO and Co-Founder John Ledford said. “The original manga was a master stroke of originality, and the anime is very much in keeping with it. I think fans are going to be thrilled.”

Release Plans
ADV has not yet announced specific release plans for “Azumanga Daioh,” but Ledford expects the title to debut sometime later this year.

OAV Says:
Well, can't comment on that. Its coming out this year... that's about it. Their likely still trying to figure out how to market this.

That's it for today, needless to say, ADV has brought them selves one step closer to world domination. If they can start release these this year, its going be a good year for them.

We might do another feature like this in future. It all depends on the feedback we get. Like it? Hate? Let us know at staff@otakuaniverse.com