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Crunchyroll Adds God Mars Sci-Fi Anime to Catalog

Media distribution service Crunchyroll announced on Thursday that it has added TMS Entertainment's God Mars science-fiction anime series to its catalog. The site also added the live-action film Shinobi Girl: The Movie and the South Korean animated film Aachi & Ssipak on Thursday.

Crunchyroll is streaming the entire God Mars series now for all members in the United States and Canada.

The 64-episode series based on Mitsuteru Yokoyama's (Tetsujin 28/Gigantor) manga originally aired in Japan in 1981-1982. The series centers on Mars, who was sent as a baby to Earth with the eventual goal of destroying it. However, after being adopted by a Japanese family and given the name Takeru, Mars grows up experiencing the beauty of the planet and its inhabitants, and he questions his mission. Mars uses the powerful robot God Mars to protect the Earth from his people, even being forced to fight his own brother.

Tetsuo Imazawa (Kinnikuman, Psychic Wars, Tsuri Baka Nisshi) directed the series off of Keisuke Fujikawa's (Galaxy Express 999, Space Battleship Yamato) scripts. Hideyuki Motohashi (Ceres, Celestial Legend, Fushigi Yugi) served as character designer and animation director, Hajime Kamegaki (Space Warrior Baldios) handled the mecha design, and Kei Wakakusa (Hikaru no Go) handled the series' music.

Right Stuf previously released the 95-minute film version of the series in North America. Hulu also began streaming the TV series in North America in 2013, marking its first English release in North America.

The live-action film Shinobi Girl: The Movie is available now to premium members in the United States and Canada, and will be available one month from now to free users. Crunchyroll describes the film as follows:

SHINOBI GIRL: The Movie tells the tale of Noriko, a Wall Street business woman who uncovers heinous corporate corruption and barely lives to tell about it. Accused of a murder that she didn't commit, Noriko is on the run and creates an alter-ego, SHINOBI GIRL, a masked vigilante who sets out to right the wrongs on Wall Street and protect and defend the downtrodden and exploited.

The Aachi & Ssipak animated film is available now on Crunchyroll for all users in the United States and Canada. Crunchyroll describes the film as follows:

Aachi & Ssipak is a whacked story about two hoodlums who steal and sell addictive popsicles on the black market in a post-apocalyptic dystopia. They must fend for their lives in this eye-popping film that redefines animated action.

Cinedigm previously released the film in North America on home video.

Image © Hikari Production・TMS