Funimation Annouces a Slew of New Licenses at Otakon 2012

Anime lovers, be ready.

Funimation, the company that brought the US some of the best animes to date, such as Dragonball Z, Yu Yu Hakusho, and more, has announced more great titles coming stateside. Announced at this weekend’s Otakon. Here is the press release straight from Funimation’s blog:

Flower Mound, TX –July 28, 2012- FUNimation Entertainment announced today at Otakon that it has acquired the streaming, broadcast, home entertainment, video on demand, pay-per-view, and DTO/DTR rights to the complete anime OAV series, Tenchi Muyo! War on Geminar. This spin-off series takes place roughly 15 years after the events in Tenchi Muyo! GXP.

From the animation studio (AIC SPIRITS) that brought you Ga-Rei Zero and Tokko and the director of Baki the Grappler (Koji Yoshikawa) FUNimation is pleased to announce the acquisition of streaming, home entertainment, theatrical and merchandise rights to the complete Tenchi Muyo! franchise.

Synopsis: Kenshi – half-brother of intergalactic hero Tenchi Masaki – has been summoned to the mysterious world of Geminar, and his only hope of returning to Earth is piloting a bio-mechanical weapon in a shocking assassination attempt! When the mission fails and Kenshi is captured, he discovers he’s been lied to by the very culprits who transported him to this strange new world. Luckily, Princess Lashara kindly welcomes Kenshi and invites him to live amongst her followers. Now, caught up in a political whirlwind – and hotly pursued by Geminar’s female population – Kenshi must find a way to get home while civil war erupts all around him! Additional information may be found at: http://www.funimation.com/tenchi-muyo-war-on-geminar

In addition, FUNimation has acquired the streaming, home entertainment, and digital rights to the complete anime series Lupin III: The Woman Called Fujiko Mine.

Series Synopsis: What happened when Lupin III met Fujiko Mine for the first time? Find out in the first new chapter of the Lupin III franchise in 25 years! More information may be found at: http://www.funimation.com/lupin-the-third-fujiko-mine

FUNimation has also acquired the streaming, home entertainment, broadcast, pay per view and merchandise rights to the complete anime series, Maken-Ki! Battling Venus. The series is directed by Koichi Ohata, best known for directing Ikki Tousen: Great Guardians and MD Geist.

Series synopsis: Based on the manga series by Takeda Hiromitsu, this romantic comedy is about Ohyama Takeru, a typical perverted teenage boy. His new school doesn’t require entrance exams, and it just turned co-ed! Unfortunately, his dreams of a happy high school life are dashed when he finds out the school is much more than it seems. All of the students wield a special item – a Maken – to unleash their magical abilities in duels! Can Takeru find a Maken that works for him? Even while trying to fit in at a new school and dealing with all kinds of girl problems? Additional information may be found at: www.funimation.com/maken-ki-battling-venus

FUNimation has also acquired the streaming, broadcast, home entertainment, theatrical and merchandise rights for the complete anime series Sankarea. The series is directed by Shinichi Omata, best known for his work in Mahou Shoujo Madoka Magica and Arakawa Under the Bridge

Series synopsis: Furuya’s not interested in the living, he’s got zombies on the brain! When Furuya’s cat dies, he decides he’s going to try and bring it back to life. In the process, he stumbles across a girl who is involved in an accident and turns into a real zombie! What’s Furuya going to do now that the thing he loves the most is right in front of his eyes? Additional information may be found at: http://www.funimation.com/sankarea

Lastly, home entertainment rights have also be acquired for the following, with additional information to be announced at a later date:

Space Battleship Yamato Resurrection
Synopsis: A crisis is approaching Earth with the expansion of a moving black hole, in the year 2220. A plan is devised to move over 300-million people from Earth. When the latest transportation fleet is attacked, Space Battleship Yamato comes to its defense, the ship is now commanded by Susumu Kodai, also aboard is daughter Miyuki, child of Susumu and Yuki.

Fairy Tail Season 2- 24 New Fairy Tail Episodes – We’ll follow the continuing adventures of our favorite Fairy Tail Guild members: Lucy, Natsu, Erza, Gray and Happy as they take on new jobs, make new friends, go against incredible adversaries and solve big mysteries all in the Kingdom of Fiore.

Fairy Tail – The Movie- – We’ll be introduced to a new female character that carries a mysterious stone with her called the Phoenix Stone. We’ll also find out how the Fairy Tail guild gets tied up in the mystery. It’s a great story that you won’t want to miss!

Aquarion Evol
Synopsis:. The “Abductors” Invaders from Altea come to Earth with only one purpose, to harvest humans. DEAVA the Aquaria Academy exists to train men and women to use Aquaria, but they cannot ever merge because of Guize stones, these block an “unholy union” between genders. The story follows Amata and Mikono in their enrollment into DEAVA, and fight their fight with Abductors.

Akira
Synopsis: It’s the year 2019, thirty-one years have passed since the start of World War III. A top-secret child with amazing powers of the mind breaks free from custody and accidentally gets a motorcycle gang involved in the project. This incident triggers psychic powers within one of the gang members, Tetsuo, and he is taken by the army to be experimented on. His mind has been altered and is now on the path of war, seeking revenge on the society that once called him weak.

One Piece Season 5 Season 5 (Episodes 264 – 336) will span the entire Enies Lobby Arc, as the Straw Hat Pirates continue their battle with CP9, and ends with the Ice Hunter Arc. Fans can look for One Piece Season 5 to hit DVD in the summer of 2013.

But that’s not all for One Piece fans! FUNimation Entertainment also announced the acquisition of the One Piece feature length film, One Piece Film: Strong World.

One Piece Film: Strong World takes place between the Thriller bark and Sabaody Archipelago Arcs as the Straw Hats Pirates return to their hometowns in East Blue to face off against the infamous, Golden Lion Shiki. When Shiki abducts Nami to use as his personal navigator, the Straw Hats must place their very lives on the line to save her.

FUNimation Entertainment has yet to announce any information regarding the release of this film.

About FUNimation® Entertainment

FUNimation® Entertainment is the leading anime company in North America. FUNimation has a proven formula for launching and advancing brands. They manage a full spectrum of rights for most of their brands including broadcasting, licensing, production, internet, and home video sales and distribution. For more information about FUNimation Entertainment and its brands, visit www.funimation.com.