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Funimation Licenses The Disappearance of Nagato Yuki-chan, Show By Rock!! Anime

FUNimation Entertainment announced at Anime Detour on Saturday that it has acquired the rights to Show By Rock!! and The Disappearance of Nagato Yuki-chan. Streaming times will be announced at a later date.

The Disappearance of Nagato Yuki-chan will premiere in Japan on April 3. Funimation describes the story:

From the creator of the international hit The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya comes a new spinoff featuring familiar faces! In an alternate universe, shy, awkward Yuki Nagato attempts to court her crush, Kyon, with the help of her best friend and neighbor, the perky and indomitable Ryoko Asakura. Together, the trio defends their high school literature club from extermination…and from the pestering of their over-the-top classmate Tsuruya and her friend and minion Mikuru.

The original The Disappearance of Nagato Yuki-chan manga is Puyo's official spinoff based on Nagaru Tanigawa's Haruhi Suzumiya light novel series. Yen Press publishes the manga in North America.

Sanrio's original Show By Rock!! anime will premiere on April 5 in Japan. Funimation describes the story:

Set in the glamorous metropolis Tokyo Midi City, where music—and the dream of musical superstardom—is everything. Here, “battle of the bands” is more than just a teen rivalry: Dozens of ensembles compete for the honor of playing atop the city's highest tower. When a Gothic Lolita-clad catgirl cutie named Cyan stumbles into the music world, she too is swept up by the dream of fame. After joining forces with three other colorful characters—bunnygirl honor student Chuchu, shy doggirl Retoree, and adorable sheepgirl Moa—the quartet becomes Plasmagica, the freshest band on the scene. Armed with special instruments, the girls face off with other bands striving for stardom, like the cool and passionate Visual Kei band Shingan Crimsonz, or the handsome pop idols Trichronika. Will the band find celebrity? Or are they doomed to be one-hit-wonders…

Takahiro Ikezoe (Slap Up Party: Arad Senki, Ozma) is directing the project at animation studio BONES (Soul Eater Not!, Fullmetal Alchemist), while Touko Machida is handling series composition. Masaru Oshiro (Ie Naki Ko Remi, Major) is designing the characters, while Ryō Hirata (Appleseed XIII, Chaika the Coffin Princess) will provide supporting character design and prop design. Fumihiro Katagai (Chaika the Coffin Princess, Shangri-La) is credited with concept and mecha design.

FUNimation Entertainment also confirmed on Friday it will continue to stream Assassination Classroom, One Piece, and Fairy Tail for the Spring 2015 season.