News from Anime Central -- FUNimation Acquisitions

FUNimation Entertainment Acquires Rosario + Vampire

Flower Mound, TX (May 15, 2010) – FUNimation® Entertainment today announced that it has acquired home entertainment, digital and merchandise rights for the supernatural comedies “Rosario + Vampire” and “Rosario + Vampire Capu2” from studio GONZO.

The anime series are directed by Takayuki Inagaki (“Desert Punk” and “To Heart”) and based on the manga by Akihisa Ikeda, licensed by VIZ in North America.

About Rosario + Vampire
Rosario + Vampire follows the exploits of Tsukune, a teenager who finds himself rejected from the private high school of his choice. In fact, his grades are so bad he can only get into one school and it happens to be for monsters! There he meets a beautiful girl, Moka, who is a vampire with a dark secret hanging around her neck. Will Tsukune win the heart of the vampy beauty or does she just want his tasty human blood for lunch?

FUNimation Entertainment will release the series on DVD starting in 2011.

FUNimation Entertainment Acquires Rideback

Flower Mound, TX (May 15, 2010) – FUNimation® Entertainment today announced that it has acquired the home entertainment, broadcast, digital, mobile and merchandise rights to the action drama “Rideback” from Madhouse Studio, Inc.

The 12-episode anime series is directed by Atsushi Takahashi (“Detroit Metal City” OVA and “Spirited Away”).

About Rideback
In the year 2020 an organization called the GGP has taken control of the world. In Japan, this has been met with insurgency by the university students. One of these students is Rin Ogata, a once promising ballet dancer who has suffered a career-ending injury. She stumbles across a transforming motorcycle-like robot vehicle and discovers that her unique skills, grace and agility make her a natural to ride the Rideback and fight back against the GGP.

FUNimation Entertainment will release the series on DVD starting in 2011.

FUNimation Entertainment Acquires Heaven's Lost Property

Flower Mound, TX (May 15, 2010) – FUNimation® Entertainment today announced that it has acquired the home entertainment, broadcast, digital and merchandise rights to the romantic comedy “Heaven's Lost Property” from Kadokawa.

The 14-episode anime series is directed by Hisashi Saito (“Bamboo Blade”).

About Heaven's Lost Property
A beautiful, voluptuous angel robot (angelroid) falls to earth…into the lap of a lazy high school boy. When its revealed that he is her new master and that she will grant his every request…things get a little crazy

FUNimation Entertainment will release the series on DVD in 2011.

FUNimation Entertainment Acquires Gun x Sword

Flower Mound, TX (May 15, 2010) – FUNimation® Entertainment today announced that it has acquired the home entertainment, broadcast, digital and mobile rights to the sci-fi western anime “Gun x Sword” from d-rights.

The 26-episode series is directed by Goro Taniguchi (“Code Geass” among others) with character design by Takahiro Kimura (“Phantom ~Requiem for the Phantom~,” “My Bride is a Mermaid,” and “Ah! My Goddess”) and written by Hideyuki Kurata (“Bamboo Blade,” “Hellsing the Ultimate Series”).

About Gun x Sword
On the planet of Endless Illusion, a lone man adorned in a tuxedo roams the wild and lawless frontier...Armed with a shape-shifting sword and a powerful Mechanized Armor, Van's sole purpose in life is to find the mysterious clawed man who had murdered his bride. After saving a town from vicious outlaws, he reluctantly takes on a travel companion-a young Wendy Garret. In exchange for his help in finding her brother, she offers herself to Van as a bride, but that's the least of his worries, as more deadly enemies await!

FUNimation Entertainment will release the series on DVD in late 2010.

FUNimation Entertainment Acquires Chrome Shelled Regios

Flower Mound, TX (May 15, 2010) – FUNimation® Entertainment today announced that it has acquired the home entertainment, broadcast, digital and merchandise rights to the sci-fi action anime “Chrome Shelled Regios” from Kadokawa.

The 24-episode series is directed by Itsuro Kawasaki (“Sengoku Basara” and “Tsubasa: RESERVoir CHRoNiCLE The Movie” among others) and based on the light novel series by Shūsuke Amagi and illustrated by Miyū.

About Chrome Shelled Regios
In a barren future where mankind has retreated into mobile cities, a young man with a mysterious past seeks a fresh start. Reluctantly recruited into a student military unit he must once again wield his special powers in defense of his new home against the Filth Monsters that plague the wastelands. In a polluted world where cities battle over scarce resources, even students are used in the fight for survival.

FUNimation Entertainment will release the series on DVD starting in late 2010.

FUNimation Entertainment Acquires Chaos;HEAd

Flower Mound, TX (May 15, 2010) – FUNimation® Entertainment today announced that it has acquired the home entertainment, broadcast, digital, mobile and merchandise rights to the action anime “Chaos;HEAd” from Madhouse Studio, Inc.

FUNimation will release the 12-episode dramatic series directed by Takaaki Ishiyama in 2011.

About Chaos;HEAd
Takumi lives a secluded lifestyle as a hikkikomori. One day, after chatting online with a mysterious stranger, a visit to a URL and a blog lead him to a real life murder.