Slam Dunk: Crunchyroll Teams Up with Toei Animation
Oct 27th 2008Online Media Distribution Giant and Leading Animation Production Studio Begin Online Streaming, Subscription and Download-To-Own of Many Titles
San Francisco, CA and Tokyo, Japan (October 27, 2008) — One of the most
prolific animation production studios, Toei Animation Co., Ltd., is
partnering with online media distribution giant, Crunchyroll, to provide
streaming, subscription and download-to-own options for some of the several
popular anime titles to begin October 27, 2008. More information can be
found at www.Crunchyroll.com
“A partnership with Toei Animation is fantastic for Crunchyroll and the
anime industry in the U.S. and international markets,” states Mr. Kun Gao
Crunchyroll CEO, “it is great validation to have one of the oldest, largest
Japanese animation studios using our platform to bring anime to a much
larger audience and monetize through new digital channels.”
Toei Animation Co., Ltd.'s Mr. Kanji Kazahaya, Director of International
Department, states, “we are excited and thrilled to be working with
Crunchyroll on developing our digital business. We believe that digital
distribution holds the potential to improve the economics of our studio
rather than weaken it and Crunchyroll is a great company to work with
because of its reach and unique approach to end users.”
Toei Animation Co., Ltd anime titles that will be available (October 27,
2008) on Crunchyroll include: DIGIMON ADVENTURE 02, FIST OF NORTHSTAR,
PRETTY CURE and SLAM DUNK.
Title Synopses:
DIGIMON ADVENTURE 02 (デジモンアドベンチャー02)
3 years after the adventure of Tai and his friends, a new enemy Digimon
Kaiser appears in the Digital World and he is out to control all Digimon.
The powers of Digimon Kaiser prevent Agumon and other Digimon from
Digivolving, causing a big scare. In this pinch a new generation of hero
arrives, it's the Veemon! Veemon is able to combine with DigiMental and
create a new type of Digimon that has never been seen before. Tai calls upon
Daisuke Motomiya, a kid on his soccer team to the Digital World and to fight
along with Veemon. What kind of adventures will this new pair run into, but
more importantly, will they be able to save the Digital World from the
Digimon Kaiser?
Download-to-own: $1.99/episode. Catalog Number: AWDVD-0805
FIST OF THE NORTH STAR (北斗の拳)
The year is 19XX – war has turned the world into a nuclear wasteland.
The oceans have dried up, the land scorched, and it appears as though all
life has gone extinct. However, humanity had survived these harsh
conditions, only to relapse into society where violence dominates.
In this world of mayhem, a drifter in possession of a lethal fighting style
known as the Divine Fist of the North Star wanders through the arid desert.
He is Kenshiro, and on his chest he bears 7 wounds as he treks through the
wastelands to rescue his lover Yuria who has been kidnapped by Shin, his
former friend. Along the way he takes Bat and Lin under his wing as they
continue their journey. With the ruins of earth as the backdrop, many come
in the way of Kenshiro as he tries to find Yuria in this epic saga!
Download-to-own: $1.99. Catalog Number: AWDVD-0806
PRETTY CURE (ふたりはプリキュア)
Honoka Yukishiro is an honor-roll student always boasting the best grades in
her class. At first glance, she may seem rather stuck-up, but actually she's
just a bit spacey.
The two are 8th graders at the Verone Junior High School for girls. Nagisa
and Honoka each encounter Mepple and Mipple – two mysterious creatures who
came down from the sky one night. Mepple and Mipple have fled from their
homeland – the Field of Light – in order to escape an attack by the evil
force of Dotsuku Zone. These two strange creatures grant Nagisa and Honoka
the power to transform into superheroes called "Cure Black" and Cure White",
and thus the two girl become guardians of planet Earth.
Using their super powers, the two girls with contrasting lifestyles and
personalities work together to battle the evil enemies sent to conquer Earth
by Dotsuku Zone.
BUT will they be able to save our planet?
SLAM DUNK (スラムダンク)
His rivalry with the star rookie Rukawa, and the dominating presence of the
towering captain Akagi drives Sakuragi to realize his potential on the
court. With Haruko, and his old up-to-no-good gang cheer him on from the
sidelines things get heated up! But the competition is stack upon Shohoku!
Ryounan High with its superstar player Sendo, top contender Kainan High,
along with Touma High, and the towering Shouyo High -- Sakurgai and Shohoku
High need go up against these veteran tourney regulars to capture the title.
Can Shohoku survive with such tough competition? Will captain Akagi be able
to realize his dream of a national championship? For the self-proclaimed
“genius” Sakuragi, the battle has just begun!!
Download-to-own: $1.99. Catalog Number: SSDVD-0604
About Toei Animation Co., Ltd.
About Crunchyroll
The statements made in this press release that are not historical facts are
"forward-looking statements." These forward-looking statements are based on
current expectations and assumptions that are subject to risks and
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number of important factors could cause Crunchyroll.com's actual future
results to differ materially from those expressed in any such
forward-looking statements. Such factors include, without limitation,
product delays, industry competition, rapid changes in technology and
industry standards, protection of proprietary rights, maintenance of
relationships with key personnel, vendors and third-party developers,
international economic and political conditions. The Company may change its
intention, belief or expectation, at any time and without notice, based upon
any changes in such factors, in the Company's assumptions or otherwise. The
Company undertakes no obligation to release publicly any revisions to any
forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date
hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.
"You don't even know you're already dead!!"
Nagisa Misumi is an outstanding athlete and daring girl that doesn't take
to studying but has a very strong sense of justice. She is one of the most
popular students in her class.
Download-to-own: $1.99/episode. Catalog Number: AWDVD-0715
Hanamichi Sakuragi, an entering freshman at Shohoku High, holds a record for
being rejected by 50 girls during middle school. Ever since the last girl
turned him down for a guy on the basketball team, Sakuragi's been
traumatized by the sport. One day, an unsuspecting Sakuragi is approached by
a cute girl who asks him, “do you like basketball?” Sakuragi immediately
falls head over heels for this girl, Haruko, and answers “I love it!”
Dreaming of the day he can capture Haruko's heart, Sakuragi, who doesn't
know a dribble from a dunk, begins his training. But Haruko had her sights
set on another freshman, Kaede Rukawa, the superstar rookie. The freshmen
pair and the rest of the Shohoku basketball squad begin their season with
their sights set on a national championship…
With headquarters in Tokyo and sales offices in Los Angeles, Hong Kong,
Shanghai and Paris, Toei Animation (Jasdaq: 4816) ranks amongst the world's
most prolific animation production studios. Toei Animation's operations
include animation development and production, and worldwide marketing and
program licensing. Since its founding in 1956, Toei Animation has produced
more than 9,000 episodes of TV series (189 titles) and 172 long feature
films as of March, 2007.
Headquartered in San Francisco, California – Crunchyroll is hailed as a
leading online entertainment brand with the largest international online
community and destination focused on Asian entertainment including anime,
drama, music in addition to electronic entertainment and auto content.
Crunchyroll's distribution channel and partnership program delivers content
to over four million passionate fans worldwide. Crunchyroll is funded by the
premiere group Venrock. More information can be found at its website
http://www.Crunchyroll.com.
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