Funimation Acquires Afro Samurai
Unique, Dramatic Mini-Series to Premiere on Spike TV in 2006 With DVD Expected in Early 2007
FORT WORTH, Texas, Feb. 27 -- FUNimation® Entertainment, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Navarre Corporation (Nasdaq: NAVR - News), and a brand management company and one of the nation's leading independent home video entertainment companies, has acquired home video, master toy and merchandising rights to Afro Samurai, an animated mini-series that will premiere on Spike TV in 2006. Academy Award-nominated actor Samuel L. Jackson is set to voice and co-produce the mini-series.
Afro Samurai is based on a graphic novel by Takashi Okazaki and is planned for release at the end of 2006 on Spike TV. Following the North American debut, the mini-series is scheduled for broadcast release in Japan. Afro Samurai is a fusion of animation, science fiction and hip-hop that GONZO, producer of the series and a division of GDH, is using to create the next evolution in entertainment.
"Afro Samurai has a fascinating story line and will undoubtedly have GONZO's stunning animation. High impact titles like this emphasize FUNimation's 'quality over quantity' strategy," says Gen Fukunaga, president and CEO of FUNimation Entertainment. "This is truly a unique project with an impressive team. GONZO is on board as series producer, Samuel L. Jackson is the voice of the lead character and also serving as co-producer, Spike TV is set to telecast the five-part mini-series, and NAMCO is creating the video game."
"Afro Samurai will combine animation, story and music to create an entertainment experience that will captivate audiences around the world," says Arthur Smith, president of GDH's international division. "Afro Samurai will change the way people think about animation and we look forward to working with FUNimation on the brand and bringing this never-before-seen experience to DVD."
The tale of Afro Samurai takes place in a unique world that is part ancient Japan and part futuristic science fiction fantasy. Samuel L. Jackson stars as "Afro" the solitary samurai on a quest to avenge the wrongful death of his father. It is a story of bloody hardship and pain. Afro sheds no tears and knows no love. Forever chased by powerful enemies in a lawless technology- speckled dystopia, he evades bullets and blade to reach his final prey: a man who will not die.
Interested fans and media can check http://www.afrosamurai.com for all the latest news and information on this evolution in entertainment.
About Navarre Corporation
Navarre Corporation (Nasdaq: NAVR - News) is a publisher and distributor of a broad range of home entertainment and multimedia products, including PC software, CD audio, DVD and VHS video, video games and accessories. Since its founding in 1983, the company has established distribution relationships with customers across a wide spectrum of retail channels which includes mass merchants, discount, wholesale club, office and music superstores, military and e-tailers nationwide. The company currently provides its products to over 18,000 retail and distribution center locations throughout the United States and Canada. Navarre has recently expanded its business to include the licensing and publishing of home entertainment and multimedia content, primarily through the acquisitions of Encore Software, Inc., BCI Eclipse Company, LLC, FUNimation Productions, LTD. and The FUNimation Store, Ltd. For more information, please visit the company's web site at http://www.navarre.com .
About FUNimation Entertainment
FUNimation® Entertainment, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Navarre Corporation (Nasdaq: NAVR - News), is a brand management company and one of the nation's leading independent home video entertainment companies. The company's most recent initiative is the FUNimation Channel(SM), a new, 24-hour digital network featuring programming from the top anime brands in the United States. FUNimation has a proven formula for launching and advancing brands, and manages a full spectrum of rights for most of its brands including broadcasting, licensing, production, internet, and home video sales and distribution. For images, or more information on FUNimation Entertainment, the FUNimation Channel, or any of FUNimation's properties, contact Jeff Dronen at 817-788-0627, ext. 251 or jeff.dronen@funimation.com.
About GDH K.K.
GDH (Security code: TSE Mothers 3755) is a globally-focused Japanese media company founded in February 2000. The group produces cutting edge entertainment for teens and young adults including the famous GONZO animation brand and for kids and family under the recently launched Gonzo Films and Gonzino brands. GDH is a world leader in content development that actively targets both domestic and international audiences with Japan's trend-setting animation culture and, usually, GDH controls licensing management and international distribution for the content it produces. GDH group companies include GONZO K.K., G-creators K.K., Future Vision Music K.K., GONZINO K.K., GONZO Rosso Online K.K., GDH Capital K.K., and GK Entertainment K.K.
About Spike TV
Spike TV is available in more than 89 million homes and is a division of MTV Networks. A unit of Viacom (NYSE: VIA - News, VIA.B - News), MTV Networks is one of the world's leading creators of programming and content across all media platforms. MTV Networks, with more than 100 channels worldwide, owns and operates the following television programming services -- MTV: MUSIC TELEVISION, MTV2, VH1, mtvU, NICKELODEON, NICK at NITE, COMEDY CENTRAL, TV LAND, SPIKE TV, CMT, NOGGIN, VH1 CLASSIC, LOGO, MTVN INTERNATIONAL and THE DIGITAL SUITE FROM MTV NETWORKS, a package of 13 digital services, with all of these networks trademarks of MTV Networks. MTV Networks connects with its audiences through its robust consumer products businesses and its more than 95 interactive properties worldwide, including online, broadband, wireless and interactive television services and also has licensing agreements, joint ventures, and syndication deals whereby all of its programming services can be seen worldwide.
FORT WORTH, Texas, Feb. 27 -- FUNimation® Entertainment, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Navarre Corporation (Nasdaq: NAVR - News), and a brand management company and one of the nation's leading independent home video entertainment companies, has acquired home video, master toy and merchandising rights to Afro Samurai, an animated mini-series that will premiere on Spike TV in 2006. Academy Award-nominated actor Samuel L. Jackson is set to voice and co-produce the mini-series.
Afro Samurai is based on a graphic novel by Takashi Okazaki and is planned for release at the end of 2006 on Spike TV. Following the North American debut, the mini-series is scheduled for broadcast release in Japan. Afro Samurai is a fusion of animation, science fiction and hip-hop that GONZO, producer of the series and a division of GDH, is using to create the next evolution in entertainment.
"Afro Samurai has a fascinating story line and will undoubtedly have GONZO's stunning animation. High impact titles like this emphasize FUNimation's 'quality over quantity' strategy," says Gen Fukunaga, president and CEO of FUNimation Entertainment. "This is truly a unique project with an impressive team. GONZO is on board as series producer, Samuel L. Jackson is the voice of the lead character and also serving as co-producer, Spike TV is set to telecast the five-part mini-series, and NAMCO is creating the video game."
"Afro Samurai will combine animation, story and music to create an entertainment experience that will captivate audiences around the world," says Arthur Smith, president of GDH's international division. "Afro Samurai will change the way people think about animation and we look forward to working with FUNimation on the brand and bringing this never-before-seen experience to DVD."
The tale of Afro Samurai takes place in a unique world that is part ancient Japan and part futuristic science fiction fantasy. Samuel L. Jackson stars as "Afro" the solitary samurai on a quest to avenge the wrongful death of his father. It is a story of bloody hardship and pain. Afro sheds no tears and knows no love. Forever chased by powerful enemies in a lawless technology- speckled dystopia, he evades bullets and blade to reach his final prey: a man who will not die.
Interested fans and media can check http://www.afrosamurai.com for all the latest news and information on this evolution in entertainment.
About Navarre Corporation
Navarre Corporation (Nasdaq: NAVR - News) is a publisher and distributor of a broad range of home entertainment and multimedia products, including PC software, CD audio, DVD and VHS video, video games and accessories. Since its founding in 1983, the company has established distribution relationships with customers across a wide spectrum of retail channels which includes mass merchants, discount, wholesale club, office and music superstores, military and e-tailers nationwide. The company currently provides its products to over 18,000 retail and distribution center locations throughout the United States and Canada. Navarre has recently expanded its business to include the licensing and publishing of home entertainment and multimedia content, primarily through the acquisitions of Encore Software, Inc., BCI Eclipse Company, LLC, FUNimation Productions, LTD. and The FUNimation Store, Ltd. For more information, please visit the company's web site at http://www.navarre.com .
About FUNimation Entertainment
FUNimation® Entertainment, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Navarre Corporation (Nasdaq: NAVR - News), is a brand management company and one of the nation's leading independent home video entertainment companies. The company's most recent initiative is the FUNimation Channel(SM), a new, 24-hour digital network featuring programming from the top anime brands in the United States. FUNimation has a proven formula for launching and advancing brands, and manages a full spectrum of rights for most of its brands including broadcasting, licensing, production, internet, and home video sales and distribution. For images, or more information on FUNimation Entertainment, the FUNimation Channel, or any of FUNimation's properties, contact Jeff Dronen at 817-788-0627, ext. 251 or jeff.dronen@funimation.com.
About GDH K.K.
GDH (Security code: TSE Mothers 3755) is a globally-focused Japanese media company founded in February 2000. The group produces cutting edge entertainment for teens and young adults including the famous GONZO animation brand and for kids and family under the recently launched Gonzo Films and Gonzino brands. GDH is a world leader in content development that actively targets both domestic and international audiences with Japan's trend-setting animation culture and, usually, GDH controls licensing management and international distribution for the content it produces. GDH group companies include GONZO K.K., G-creators K.K., Future Vision Music K.K., GONZINO K.K., GONZO Rosso Online K.K., GDH Capital K.K., and GK Entertainment K.K.
About Spike TV
Spike TV is available in more than 89 million homes and is a division of MTV Networks. A unit of Viacom (NYSE: VIA - News, VIA.B - News), MTV Networks is one of the world's leading creators of programming and content across all media platforms. MTV Networks, with more than 100 channels worldwide, owns and operates the following television programming services -- MTV: MUSIC TELEVISION, MTV2, VH1, mtvU, NICKELODEON, NICK at NITE, COMEDY CENTRAL, TV LAND, SPIKE TV, CMT, NOGGIN, VH1 CLASSIC, LOGO, MTVN INTERNATIONAL and THE DIGITAL SUITE FROM MTV NETWORKS, a package of 13 digital services, with all of these networks trademarks of MTV Networks. MTV Networks connects with its audiences through its robust consumer products businesses and its more than 95 interactive properties worldwide, including online, broadband, wireless and interactive television services and also has licensing agreements, joint ventures, and syndication deals whereby all of its programming services can be seen worldwide.
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