Animax Asia Takes Off With Last Exile –Fam, the Silver Wing– in a Same-Day-As-Japan Simulcast

Singapore, 24 September 2011 – Anime fans should buckle up and sit tight for an adventure in the skies this October as Animax brings on one of Japan's fall anime season's top productions, LASTEXILE –Fam, The Silver Wing–, in an exclusive same-day-as-Japan simulcast!

LASTEXILE –Fam, The Silver Wing– is the fifth and latest anime TV series simulcast by Animax in the last two years. Animax made history in 2009 as the first TV network in the world to offer a same-time-as-Japan simulcast anime TV series, and followed that with three other anime series simulcast in the same week of the shows' premieres in Japan.

“Anime simulcasts are still such a rarity in television due to the huge investments, the large amount of preparations required for broadcast, as well as the great trust needed by business partners in Japan. As Asia's first channel specialising in anime, Animax is committed to making simulcasts possible, and to continue offering viewers this exciting privilege as we know it means the world for them to enjoy their favourite anime fast and nothing beats the experience of watching it on Animax, on TV,” said Ricky Ow, General Manager & Senior Vice President, Networks, Asia, Sony Pictures Television.

Premiering 15 October 2011, LASTEXILE –Fam, The Silver Wing– airs Saturdays at 8pm (SG/MY/PH/SA/HK) and 10.30pm (TW), first and exclusively to Animax viewers in some 37 million households across 17 territories in Asia, within the same day of the Japanese debut. The series hails from Japan's Gonzo as a landmark production in celebration of the anime studio's 20th anniversary of founding.

Following the trailblazer that was Gonzo's 2003 hit LASTEXILE anime series, LASTEXILE –Fam, The Silver Wing– is a brand new series set to win over a new generation of fans, while reigniting the passion in lovers of the original fantasy-action series. With a brand new, original story and characters, viewers will be awed by new flying machines, magnificent air battles and powerful armies, back in the rich and memorable LASTEXILE universe.

LASTEXILE –Fam, The Silver Wing– centres on 15 year old pilot, Fam Fan Fan in a compact "Vespa" flying machine. As a member of the Sky Pirates, she and the other members make a living by hunting for battleships that they resell.

And when the Ades Federation declares war on the Turan Kingdom, Fam and her good friend Giselle, are caught in the conflict between the two factions. Striking a deal with the Turan Kingdom, the girls will have to save the nation's princesses from the Ades Federation siege, in exchange for Turan's flagship…

To produce the iconic new series, Gonzo reunited key crew members of the first LASTEXILE anime series. Director Koichi Chigira (Full Metal Panic!, The Tower of Druaga series) returns to helm LASTEXILE –Fam, The Silver Wing–. Artist and designer Range Murata (Blue Submarine No. 6, Shangri-La) and Makoto Kobayashi (Mobile Suit Gundam Z, SAMURAI 7) are back to provide the new series with LASTEXILE's unique visual style. Music will again be from Hitomi Kuroishi (Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion).

In promotion of the upcoming premiere of LASTEXILE –Fam, The Silver Wing–, fans can also find out more about the new anime series from the dedicated micro-site created by Animax at HYPERLINK "http://www.Animax-asia.com/shows/Last Exile" www.Animax-asia.com/shows/Last Exile, complete with show information, pictures and video clips.

With LASTEXILE's creative talents and Gonzo's production expertise coming together once again, there is no stopping their new series LASTEXILE –Fam, The Silver Wing– from taking off to a spectacular flight into the heavens, brought to viewers across Asia in a same-day-as-Japan simulcast only on Animax!

LASTEXILE –Fam, The Silver Wing– premieres 15 October 2011
Airing Saturdays at 8pm (SG/PH/MY/SA/HK) and 10.30pm (TW) in a
Same-day-as-Japan simulcast, first and exclusively on Animax

Also visit www.animax-asia.com/shows/lastexile for more about
LASTEXILE –Fam, The Silver Wing– on Animax

About Animax Asia
Launched on 1 January 2004, Animax is Asia's first channel brand specializing in Japanese animation – anime. Animax offers a wide variety of anime programs from across the most popular genres including action, romance, horror, supernatural, comedy to slice-of-life.

The channel created TV history in April 2009 as the world's first regional broadcaster to offer a same-time-as-Japan simulcast anime series with Tears to Tiara. In 2010, Animax brought blockbuster shows such as Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood and Inuyasha – The Final Act to Asia.

In addition, Animax Asia's first multimedia, multiplatform original animation production LaMB won Taiwan's Golden Bell Award in the "Best Animation Program" category, and was a finalist in the "Best Animation" category at the regional Asian Television Awards in 2009.

Currently reaching 37 million homes in 17 markets across the region, Animax Asia aims to offer anime for everyone. Wholly owned by Sony Pictures Entertainment, Animax Asia is managed by Sony Pictures Television Networks, Asia which also operates AXN, AXN Beyond, Sony Entertainment Television and ONE. See www.animaxtv.com for more.