Bandai Entertainment Acquires Witchblade Takeru Anime Manga
July 3, 2006 (Cypress, Ca) – From Anime Expo: Bandai Entertainment, INC. announced today at Anime Expo that it has acquired the North American publishing rights for the Witchblade Takeru manga from Top Cow Productions, Inc. creators of Witchblade. The manga series is an adaptation of Gonzo's Witchblade anime television series which is currently airing in Japan and as the LOS ANGELES TIMES recently stated “is fast becoming a comic to anime crossover juggernaut.”
“This property has been one of our long term goals,” says Bandai Entertainment's Robert Place Napton. “We began our publishing relationship with Top Cow with our line of successful Tankobon graphic novels, introducing manga fans to the classic Witchblade and Tomb Raider comic book series -- this original Witchblade manga from Japan is the next step.”
Witchblade is the first ever American comic book to be adapted for the Japanese anime market. Bandai Entertainment plans to release the series in English following the same pattern as the Japanese edition of the manga which will be available in Japan later this month. Release date is to be determined but likely to coincide with the release of the Witchblade Anime series in the North America. More details to follow.
“There's great excitement with the incredible response to the Witchblade anime both in Japan and internationally. We're looking forward to working with Bandai Entertainment to bring this manga to the U.S.,” says Matt Hawkins, President and COO of Top Cow Productions, Inc.
Look for more information on this series in the coming weeks.
For more information on Bandai Entertainment, visit www.bandai-ent.com
For more information on Top Cow and Witchblade visit www.topcow.com
“This property has been one of our long term goals,” says Bandai Entertainment's Robert Place Napton. “We began our publishing relationship with Top Cow with our line of successful Tankobon graphic novels, introducing manga fans to the classic Witchblade and Tomb Raider comic book series -- this original Witchblade manga from Japan is the next step.”
Witchblade is the first ever American comic book to be adapted for the Japanese anime market. Bandai Entertainment plans to release the series in English following the same pattern as the Japanese edition of the manga which will be available in Japan later this month. Release date is to be determined but likely to coincide with the release of the Witchblade Anime series in the North America. More details to follow.
“There's great excitement with the incredible response to the Witchblade anime both in Japan and internationally. We're looking forward to working with Bandai Entertainment to bring this manga to the U.S.,” says Matt Hawkins, President and COO of Top Cow Productions, Inc.
Look for more information on this series in the coming weeks.
For more information on Bandai Entertainment, visit www.bandai-ent.com
For more information on Top Cow and Witchblade visit www.topcow.com
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