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Discotek Licenses Appleseed OVA, Gakuen Utopia Manabi Straight!, Kyo kara Maoh! TV Anime

Discotek Media announced on Friday that it has licensed the 1988 original video anime (OVA) Appleseed, the Gakuen Utopia Manabi Straight! television anime, and the Kyo kara Maoh! television anime. Blu-ray Disc sets for each title except Appleseed are scheduled for release on April 30. Appleseed will be DVD only on the same day.

In addition, Discotek announced that it will release Lupin III: Part IV on Blu-ray Disc in Japanese with English subtitles on April 30. The company previously released the series on English-dubbed Blu-ray Disc and DVD.

Discotek's release of Appleseed will include both the English dub and the Japanese track with English subtitles. Kazuyoshi Katayama wrote and directed Appleseed based on Masamune Shirow's manga. Discotek describes the story:

After the devastation of World War III, the scattered governments of the world construct the perfect city administered by perfect Biodroids - artificially created half-human half-robots. Life in Olympus is carefully controlled and monitored - and some of its human population have had enough. A dedicated band of terrorists plot to destroy Gaia, the central computer, and restore freedom to mankind. After a daring raid of a high security facility, they have the weapons and information they need to complete their mission - including the key to the end of Gaia. Will they be stopped before they ruin the dream of paradise?

Appleseed takes us into the explosive world of the Extra Special Weapons and Tactics Squad of the Olympus Police Force, as they battle against those who would destroy their utopia. Join two of the finest (and most reckless) officers on the force in this high-tech animated thriller.

Manga Entertainment previously released the OVA in North America on VHS and DVD.

Discotek's release of Gakuen Utopia Manabi Straight! will contain all 12 episodes of the television series and the OVA episode in Japanese with English subtitles. Discotek describes the story:

The year is 2035, and birth rates have dropped dramatically across Japan. The drop in student population, combined with large cultural shifts, have made it so attending high school is no longer considered mandatory. Seioh Academy is no different, with student morale at an all-time low. At the start of the new term, a boisterous girl by the name of Amamiya Manami--nick- name Manabi--starts life at this new school. Her enthusiastic passion lands her the job of student council president on her very first day of classes! Together with her classmates Mika, Mutsuki, Mei, and Momoha, will she be able to turn this school around and create the dazzling, exciting school life she's always dreamed of?

The series animated at ufotable premiered in 2007. The anime has inspired several manga adaptations.

Discotek's release of Kyo kara Maoh! will include the 39-episode first season with both the English dub and the Japanese track with English subtitles. Discotek describes the story:

Yuri Shibuya is an average baseball loving high school student. One day, Yuri tries to save his former classmate from a group of hoodlums. Turning on him, they drag Yuri into the bathroom and push his face into the toilet. When they flush the toilet, he is transported to another world! Yuri is then taken to a castle and crowned King of the Demon World! Is he going to end up as the leader of the land, surrounded by his extraordinarily handsome lieges or will he make it back home?

The anime premiered in 2004 as an adaptation of Tomo Takabayashi's light novel series. The anime was followed by a five-episode OVA sequel, Kyo kara Maoh! R, and the 39-episode Kyo kara Maoh! 3rd Series television anime.

Geneon Entertainment and later FUNimation Entertainment previously released the series in North America. Funimation's license expired in 2011.

Source: Discotek's Facebook page

Update: Appleseed is DVD only. Thanks, loveliver.