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ADV Announces September 20 Titles

ADV ANNOUNCES SEPTEMBER 20 RELEASES

Seven Great DVD Releases Deliver Something for Everyone

HOUSTON, July 27, 2005 —ADV Films, the number one producer-distributor of anime in North America, is pleased to announce seven exciting titles set to hit the streets on September 20 – including fresh anime releases like Elfen Lied 3, Samurai Gun 2, Madlax 4, Get Backers 9, affordable new compilations like Saiyuki Double Barrel Collection 5 and the Slayers Movie Box, and the award-winning sci-fi with Gene Roddenberry's Andromeda Season 5 Collection 1. ADV Films has something for every taste!


ELFEN LIED: VECTOR 3

“Plenty Of Viewers Are Thanking Heaven For Brutally Violent, Sexually Provocative Little Girls.” – The New York Times

ADV is proud to announce Elfen Lied: Vector 3, the next chapter in the popular, if controversial, anime series. The carnage will be unleashed everywhere anime is sold September 20.

Elfen Lied was recently showcased in the New York Times as the epitome of “anime's strangest new trend.”

It is certainly one of the most notorious series of the year. Within the fan community, much has been made of the casual nudity and limb-popping violence that are its hallmarks. But discerning otaku appreciate Elfen Lied's playful inversion of genre conventions, in which a happy “harem” setup is turned on its head and forced to play by ultra-violence rules. Or is it an ultra-violent sci-fi thriller subverted by its harem trappings? One thing is for sure – Elfen Lied is one series that fans will be discussing for a very long time.

Lucy, a beautiful young mutant, is bred by the government to be the ultimate weapon. Armed with unfathomable powers, she escapes her handlers, but loses her memory in the process. Fortunately, our young waif is taken in by two well-meaning students. Now, with government killers on her trail, the disposition of a five year old, and a hair trigger for ultra-violence, Lucy and her young friends must unravel the dark secret of her legacy before it's too late.

Elfen Lied showcases the beautiful character designs and mind-bending animation fans have come to expect from ADV Films. It's the story line, however, featuring the dichotomy of a sweet young girl and blood-soaked violence, which has caught fans' attention. Provocative yet tantalizing, Elfen Lied is as entertaining as it is unsettling.

Synopsis: Does time heal all wounds? Or are some cuts so profound that the passing of the years only makes them deeper? No one knows better than Lucy, the horn-headed outcast forced to kill by genetics and circumstance, and Nana, dismembered by Lucy and left to die, who's made a long journey on artificial limbs to exact her revenge. But although Lucy/Nyu's dark past doesn't excuse her staggering body count, it does explain it. In volume three, the pieces of her mysterious puzzle begin to fall into place and shed light on her murderous ways, and opening a narrow window into the memories Kohta has so carefully blocked.

Elfen Lied: Vector 3 (SRP $29.98 DVD) is a DVD-only release including episodes 8 – 10, presented in both English 5.1 and Japanese 5.1 with English subtitles. Video extras include character artwork and production artwork, plus clean opening animation, clean closing animation, and previews of upcoming ADV Films releases.

Limited Collectors Edition Still Available!

The Elfen Lied Collectors Box is still available. This special collectors edition contains the first volume of Elfen Lied in a stunning custom series art box with full color artwork sized to hold the entire four volume series (SRP $39.98).

DVD Product Details

Volume: 3 of 4
Running Time: 75 minutes
Age Rating: TV MA (V, S)
CAT: DELF/003
UPC: 702727111129
Pre-Book Date: 8/23/2005
Street Date: 9/20/2005
Format: DVD
SRP: $29.98

Product specifications and content configuration subject to change.



SAMURAI GUN: HIGH CALIBER ENTRAPMENT

Gun-Toting Warriors Fight For Their Lives Against the Shogun's Evil Minions!

ADV Films is pleased to announce a September 20 street date for Samurai Gun: High Caliber Entrapment, the second volume in the samurai series that's anime's answer to the spaghetti Western.

Samurai Gun is a blood-drenched tour of the bakumatsu years, a turbulent time that ultimately brought an end to Japan's feudal system. A special breed of samurai stands against the corrupt Shogunate, armed with superior strength, speed, agility… and guns! Morally ambiguous “heroes,” razor sharp dialogue, and hair-trigger violence give Samurai Gun the feel of a taut Western. When one lone gunman takes on an army of samurai, they don't stand a chance.

Based on the popular manga by Kazuhiro Kumagai, Samurai Gun was produced by Studio Egg and Avex, Inc. (Initial D) in association with ADV Films. It was first aired on Japanese television less than a year ago. The DVD series will include a never-before-seen 13th episode.

Synopsis: An elite group of specially trained fighters in feudal Japan, the Samurai Guns forge ahead in their relentless struggle against the sinister forces of the Shogun. With their expertly crafted firearms and explosives, these brave warriors are badly outnumbered but still they have no choice but to infiltrate heavily fortified enemy installations to rescue fallen comrades. Can this new breed of rebel samurai avoid the cunning traps the Shogun's operatives set for them at every turn? Follow the explosive action as a tiny band of fearless warriors takes on the Shogun's entire military establishment in Samurai Gun!

Samurai Gun: High Caliber Entrapment (SRP $29.98 DVD) is a DVD-only release including episodes five through seven, presented in both English 5.1 and Japanese 2.0 with English subtitles. Video extras include production sketches and a “Fun With Audio” segment, plus clean opening animation, clean closing animation, and previews of upcoming ADV Films releases.

Collectors Edition Still Available!

The Samurai Gun Collectors Box is still available. This special collectors edition includes the first volume of Samurai Gun plus a stunning custom series art box with full color artwork, sized to hold the entire four volume series (SRP $39.98).

DVD Product Details

Volume: 2 of 4
Running Time: 75 minutes
Age Rating: TV MA (V, S, L)
CAT: DSMG/002
UPC: 702727153327
Pre-Book Date: 8/23/2005
Street Date: 9/20/2005
Format: DVD
SRP: $29.98

Product specifications and content configuration subject to change.



MADLAX: ELDA TALUTA

Fourth Volume in the Sexy Super-Assassin Series

On September 20, ADV Films raises the bar for the “girls with guns” genre with the release of Madlax: Elda Taluta. This tour de force from the creators of Noir pairs an unassuming teen with the gun-for-hire Madlax in an action-packed mystery with more twists than a corkscrew.

“Madlax is a great looking series…with an emotionally resonant opening theme song, smooth animation, convincing explosions, and other technical touches that make it shine” (DVD Verdict).

Directed by Koichi Mashimo (Noir, .hack//sign, Sorcerer Hunters) and designed by the full Noir team of Satoshi Osawa, Minako Shiba, Satoko Miyachi and Kinji Teraoka, MADLAX was produced by animation powerhouses Bee Train (Noir, .hack//sign) and Victor Entertainment (Excel Saga, Ghost In the Shell: Stand Alone Complex, RahXephon).

Synopsis: CARROSSEA DOON – Only he understands where his loyalties lie. On the one hand, he is a highly secretive employee for Bookwald, the largest corporation in the world. On the other, he works in a clandestine manner for the mysterious Friday Monday. Carrossea is a chameleon. He weaves in and out and through not only the civil-war-torn Gazth-Sonika, but also some of the most powerful and influential minds on the planet. And he does it all because he is searching – searching for something of his own. But what that something is; only he knows for sure.

Madlax: Elda Taluta (SRP $29.98 DVD) is a DVD-only release including episodes 13-16, presented in both English 5.1 and Japanese 2.0 with English subtitles. Video extras include design sketches, original Japanese TV spots, and “Conversations with SSS,” plus clean opening animation, clean closing animation, and previews of upcoming ADV Films releases.

Collectors Edition Still Available!

The Madlax Collectors Box is still available. This special collectors edition contains the first volume of Madlax in a stunning custom series art box with full color artwork sized to hold the entire seven volume series (SRP $39.98).

DVD Product Details

Volume: 4 of 7
Running Time: 100 minutes
Age Rating: TV 14 (V)
CAT: DMAD/004
UPC: 702727117923
Pre-Book Date: 8/23/2005
Street Date: 9/20/2005
Format: DVD
SRP: $29.98

Product specifications and content configuration subject to change.


GETBACKERS: RETURN TO THE LIMITLESS FORTRESS

“If you've been on the fence about Getbackers, now is the perfect time to pick it up.”

– Detroit News



ADV Films is pleased to announce the ninth volume in the Get Backers saga, Return to the Limitless Fortress, hitting store shelves September 20. The hit action-comedy series, based on the popular manga by the same name, is one of the hottest anime series of the year, and this new DVD more than lives up to the hype!

Get Backers, animated by the famous Studio Deen (King of Bandit Jing), is the story of Ginji Amano and Ban Midou, two chronically broke but supernaturally empowered youths who run a “recovery service.” Their motto? “If it was taken, get it back.”

Synopsis: The place looked fine when they left it. Makubex had founded the new Volts and was well on his way to cleaning up the Limitless Fortress and making it safe for everyone. The future looked as bright as Ginji is…not bright. So what went wrong? Try everything. Masaki Kurusu, the last of the Four Kings who served under the Lightning Emperor, has come back to the Limitless Fortress. Only this time it's not a friendly visit. He's formed a new squad of killers out of some of Ginji's old allies. What's worse, he's kidnapped Makubex and locked him away where no one can find him. Looks like the Get Backers have to go back to the place they hate the most. But can they rescue Makubex in time?

Get Backers: Return to the Limitless Fortress (SRP $29.98 DVD) is a DVD-only release including episodes 41-45, presented in both English 5.1 and Japanese 2.0 with English subtitles. Extras include clean opening animation, clean closing animation, and previews of upcoming ADV Films releases.

Collectors Editions Still Available!

Two Get Backers Collectors Boxes are still available. The first special collectors edition contains the first volume of Get Backers in a stunning custom series box designed to hold the first five volumes; the second collectors box contains volume six, features all-new artwork, and is designed to hold volumes six through 10. Both collectors boxes have a suggested retail price of $39.98.

DVD Product Details

Volume: 9 of 10
Running Time: 125 minutes
Age Rating: 15+
CAT: DGBK/009
UPC: 702727085529
Pre-Book Date: 8/23/2005
Street Date: 9/20/2005
Format: DVD
SRP: $29.98

Product specifications and content configuration subject to change.



SAIYUKI DOUBLE BARREL COLLECTION 5

Classic Series Now Available In a Stunning New Package – and an Unbeatable Price!

The Saiyuki saga is essential viewing for any true anime fan. Now, thanks to ADV Films, there's no reason not to own it! The fifth volume in the Saiyuki Double Barrel Collection, containing 200 minutes of classic demon-hunting action on two disks for just $29.98, hits stores everywhere September 20. “a high octane action/comedy that just kicks a**” (Anime From Japan).

Based on the original 16th-century Chinese novel Xiyouji by Wu Cheng-En, Saiyuki first began to take shape with an animated version of the tale in the late 1960s. The current incarnation features a colorful cast of characters based on the popular manga by Kazuya Minekura and features the production work of TV Tokyo (Noir), Dentsu Inc. (Final Fantasy Unlimited) and Studio Pierrot (The Super Milk-chan Show, Naruto).

Synopsis: The road west is marred by the potholes from the past—Sanzo's adoption by Buddhist monks, Hakkai's life in a Catholic orphanage, and Gojyo's troubled relationship with his brother. But was it these childhood burdens that made them into the only men who could undertake this incredible journey? Or was it their previous stint in paradise that forged their eternal bonds? After all, when an bored bureaucrat of the gods takes in a heretical monkey, and joins forces with two other rebels of heaven, those are the kinds of things that keep friends together. Forever. (For better or for worse.)

Saiyuki Barrel Collection ($29.98 SRP) is a 2-disc DVD-only release including 8 complete episodes presented on 2 DVDs. Audio is presented in English 5.1 and Japanese 2.0 with English subtitles. Extras include cultural background notes, production sketches, cleaning opening and closing animation, Saiyuki trailer, and ADV previews.

DVD Product Details

Volume: 5 of 6
Running Time: 200 minutes
Age Rating: TV 14 (V, L)
CAT: DSY/1D5
UPC: 702727127328
Pre-Book Date: 8/23/2005
Street Date: 9/20/2005
Format: DVD
SRP: $29.98

Product specifications and content configuration subject to change.



SLAYERS MOVIE BOX

The Fan-Favorite Series In an Affordable Thin-pack Collection!

ADV Films is pleased to announce a special compilation containing all of the feature films based on the fan-favorite anime series Slayers, the action-comedy starring odd couple Lina Inverse and the buxom Naga the Serpent. The Slayers Movie Box, an affordably priced Thin-pack collection, is due to arrive in stores September 20.

In the annals of fantasy there is no mage as feared, no sorcerer as powerful as the fiery redhead Lina Inverse. And when the exceptionally well-endowed Naga the Serpent accompanies her, the forces of evil will find there's nowhere to hide. From Hajime Kanzaka, creator of Lost Universe.

The Slayers Movie Box contains 285 minutes of Slayers goodness, including not only Slayers: The Motion Picture, but also the standalone Slayers: Return, Slayers: Great, Slayers Gorgeous, and Slayers: Premium.

The Slayers Movie Box (SRP $49.98 DVD) is a DVD-only release. Individual shows include English 5.1 or 2.0 and Japanese 5.1 or 2.0 with English subtitles.

DVD Product Details

Running Time: 285 minutes
Age Rating: TV 14 (V, D)
CAT: DSL/BX1
UPC: 702727128028
Pre-Book Date: 8/23/2005
Street Date: 9/20/2005
Format: DVD
SRP: $49.98

Product specifications and content configuration subject to change.



GENE RODDENBERRY'S ANDROMEDA SEASON 5 COLLECTION 1

“Another Legendary Journey” – Sci-Fi Entertainment

ADV Films is pleased to announce a September 20 street date for Gene Roddenberry's Andromeda Season 5 Collection 1, collecting the first five episodes of the award winning sci-fi series' fifth season and including more than an hour of exclusive special features on two DVDs!

Starring Kevin Sorbo (Hercules: The Legendary Journeys) as Captain Dylan Hunt and based on an original concept found in the unpublished papers of Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry, Gene Roddenberry's Andromeda features inspiring stories of genuine heroism laced with humor, thundering action, and spectacular visual effects. A massive hit with TV audiences around the world, the Gemini Award-winning and Saturn Award-nominated Gene Roddenberry's Andromeda will thrill sci-fi and action fans of all ages!

Synopsis: Captain Dylan Hunt has never had it easy. He's been trapped in time near a black hole for three hundred years… struggled with a less-than-cooperative crew of renegades, aliens, and androids… seen the Commonwealth government he sought to restore fall into the wrong hands and betray him. Now, he faces perhaps his greatest challenge – understanding his own past and ultimate destiny. On the meteor-scarred planet Seefra-1, Dylan and his crew uncover a mysterious secret… merging past, future, space, and time.

Gene Roddenberry's Andromeda Season 5 Collection 1 (SRP $39.98 DVD) is a two DVD release including the first five episodes of the fifth season presented in English 5.1. Special features include a “Meet the Cast” segment with Kevin Sorbo (Captain Dylan Hunt), Behind the Scenes with Director of Photography Gordon Verheul, Behind the Scenes with Executive Producer Bob Engels, a special feature “Visual Effects: From Concept to Completion,” TV promo spots, an art gallery, and – of course – bloopers!

DVD Product Details

Running Time: 250 minutes
Age Rating: TV PG
CAT: DAN/5D1
UPC: 702727096624
Pre-Book Date: 8/23/2005
Street Date: 9/20/2005
Format: DVD
SRP: $39.98

Product specifications and content configuration subject to change.


About ADV Films:

In the 13 years since its inception, ADV Films has become the #1 producer-distributor of Japanese animation (“anime”) for the North American market and has also developed a leadership position in the UK. With best-selling titles such as Neon Genesis Evangelion, RahXephon, Robotech, Full Metal Panic, Hello Kitty and Azumanga Daioh, ADV Films' extensive catalog is fueling the popularity of anime around the globe. ADV Films' library also includes popular live-action science fiction programs such as The Jim Henson Company's Farscape, the nationally syndicated Gene Roddenberry's Andromeda and the Saturn Award-nominated Mutant X. In 2005 ADV Films was voted “Best Anime Company” in the SPJA awards, presented at Anime Expo, North America's largest anime convention.

Parent company, A.D. Vision, Inc., encompasses a multitude of complementary media divisions, spanning publishing, television, licensing and merchandising and continues to expand into new areas. Its Anime Network™ is America's first and only television network dedicated to bringing anime and anime-related programming to consumers nationwide via digital cable 24 hours a day. The company has two publishing arms: Newtype USA, the premier anime and manga monthly magazine, and ADV Manga™, dedicated to publishing graphic novels. Headquartered in Houston, the company has offices in Europe and Japan. For more information, visit www.advfilms.com.

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