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Sentai Filmworks Adds Gatchaman, Di Gi Charat, Godannar Anime

North American anime licensing company Sentai Filmworks announced at its panel at Anime Boston on Saturday that it has licensed the Gatchaman, Di Gi Charat, and Godannar anime.

Sentai Filmworks will release the entire original Gatchaman television anime series bundled with the three-episode 1994-95 OVA series on DVD and Blu-ray Disc in October. The company will then release the OVA series separately on DVD only. The first Gatchaman anime premiered in October of 1972 and earned an average rating of 21%. It was only planned for two quarters (kūru or cours) of a year, but was extended to two full years and 105 episodes. Tatsunoko Production's classic sci-fi hero series follows five people who serve as agents of the International Science Organization in Tokyo in the near future. Galactor, a mysterious group whose technology far surpasses that of humans, has declared war on the entire world and has already subjugated half of it. Dr. Nanbu has assembled these five young heroes as humanity's last hope.

ADV Films released the Gatchaman television series on DVD before, and Urban Vision once released the video anime remake on DVD.

Sentai Filmworks will release the original Di Gi Charat television anime series on DVD only in October. Sentai Filmworks also has the license to the three Di Gi Charat OVAs that went with the first series and the Winter Garden special. The company did not reveal when it will release the OVAs and Winter Garden.

The 16-episode original Di Gi Charat television anime series aired in 1999. Synch-Point released part of the series in North America on DVD in 2005. The series follows the alien-hybrid cat-girl Di Gi Charat who wants to be a superstar as she works in an anime chain store called Gamers!. The series of shorts was originally created as an advertisement for the Digital Gamers! store in Akihabara. Hiroaki Sakurai (Cromartie High School, Maid Sama!) directed the series at Madhouse.

The 26-episode Godannar series originally aired in 2003-2004. Yasuchika Nagaoka (Crest of the Stars, Banner of the Stars) designed the original concept for the series and directed the series, and Takahiro Kimura (Brigadoon, Code Geass) designed the characters. AIC A.S.T.A. and Oriental Light and Magic animated the series. The sci-fi series revolves around Dannar and Anna, who met while fighting an alien force called Mimesis. On their wedding day, the Mimesis strike again, and Anna finds a secret robot known as the Neo-Okusaer and uses it to save Dannar. Dannar and the robot then merge to become the Godannar. ADV Films previously released the series on DVD in 2006-2008. Sentai Filmworks will release Godannar on DVD only in October.

Additionally, Sentai Filmworks revealed that it will release the first season of the AKB0048 television anime series on bilingual DVD and Blu-ray Disc in September. The company will also release the following titles in October: Hakuōki Reimeiroku on DVD and Blu-ray Disc, Campione! on DVD and Blu-ray Disc, and Kokoro Connect on DVD and Blu-ray Disc.