News
ADV Films Reportedly Selects Blu-ray Disc Format
posted on by Mikhail Koulikov
The ICv2 retailer news website reports that ADV Films has chosen the Blu-ray Disc format and plans to release titles on the high-definition format as soon as this spring. According to ICv2's source, the company will first concentrate on bringing out Blu-ray versions of some of its most recent licenses, rather than any back catalog titles. Since high-definition transfers of some anime may have to be prepared, this decision may cause some release date delays. The news comes in light of the company's reported short-term issues with the distribution of various anime titles.
Sony, the primary backer of the Blu-ray Disc format, released Tekkonkinkreet and Paprika on the format last September. At first, Warner Brothers committed to Blu-ray and HD DVD and will release Appleseed: Ex Machina on both competing formats, but it announced before last month's Consumer Electronics Show that it will dedicate itself to the Blu-ray format exclusively after May. Bandai Visual USA has released Royal Space Force: Wings of Honneamise and Freedom on HD DVD, but it also released Honneamise and SOS! Tokyo Metro Explorers: The Next on Blu-ray Disc and plans Yukikaze on Blu-ray only. Funimation has been releasing selected Dragon Ball Z movies on Blu-ray, starting with last November's Broly The Legendary Super Saiyan and Broly the Second Coming.
The Walt Disney Company has committed to Blu-ray, although it has not announced an anime title on the format except for the Ghibli no E-Shokunin: Oga Kazuo Ten: Totoro no Mori no Kita Hito (The Artisan of Ghibli: Kazuo Oga Exhibition: The Man Who Drew Totoro's Forest) art exhibition collection in Japan.
