Posted: Jun 30, 2003
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Bandai Entertainment Celebrates Independence Day With A Series of Launches and Events During Anime Expo 2003
Popular Anime Convention Will Be Held July 3-6 in Anaheim, CA
NEW YORK, NY (June 30, 2003) - During Anime Expo 2003, Bandai Entertainment, the premiere distributor of Japanese animation in North America, will introduce three new, highly anticipated anime properties, The Big O II, s-CRY-ed, and Witch Hunter Robin to the thousands of fans expected to visit the Anaheim Convention Center, July 3-6. In addition, sister company, Bandai America, will host a variety of contests and activities at their booth for anime juggernaut Gundam, as well as their exciting new properties Jagun Fighters and Superior Defender.
The Big O II
The Big O, a stylized, futuristic anime series will be aired as part of Cartoon Network's popular “Adult Swim” late-night block during the month of August. As the first action series created specifically for the three-hour, Sunday through Thursday block, The Big O II will pick up where it left off last season with all-new adventures. Set four decades after a mysterious occurrence known only as "The Event," which nearly destroyed Paradigm City and erased the memories of its citizens, the series is set in a partially rebuilt Paradigm City -- now a grim police state -- whose citizens still question what happened to them 40 years ago.
Witch Hunter Robin
A runaway hit in Japan, Witch Hunter Robin, is a “Buffy the Vampire Slayer meets X-Files,” and promises to be one of the biggest DVD releases of 2003. In the world of Witch Hunter Robin, where witches abuse their supernatural powers, a special team is tasked with hunting this new threat to society. This organization known as the “STN” is comprised of several highly skilled craft users and experts in covert operations; however, their most powerful craft-user is a young woman named Robin. Her mysterious gift to summon deadly flames will determine the fates of her colleagues and lead her into the dark world of mystique and witchcraft.
Title: Witch Hunter Robin
Running Time: 125 min.
Format: DVD with Limited Edition Collector’s Box and Original CD Soundtrack
UPC: 669198300691
SRP: $49.98
Prebook: August 28, 2003
Street Date: October 7, 2003
Title: Witch Hunter Robin
Running Time: 125 min.
Format: DVD
UPC: 669198300097
SRP: $29.98
Prebook: August 28, 2003
Street Date: October 7, 2003
Thursday-Sunday, July 3-6
Bandai America will host fun Gundam trivia contests, provide exclusive giveaways, and display unique action figure models straight from Japan. A massive six-foot Gundam statue and replica uniforms of Mobile Suit Gundam characters Amuro Ray and Sayla Mass will also be on display.
Beware of the Power of the Eye! Bandai America will showcase one of their latest hot toy properties, Jagun Fighters. A unique action figure brand combined with game play activity, Jagun Fighters sets opponents against one another as they battle with intricately crafted game pieces called Power Eye Stones. In addition to learning how to play the game, fans will receive exclusive Jagun Fighters giveaways, as well as have the opportunity to sign up as a beta tester for the brand. Beta testers will receive advance product samples to take home and battle with their friends, and their feedback may be used to create new items in the collection.
In addition, Bandai Entertainment will be premiering its ‘Bandai Theater’ for the first time at this year’s Anime Expo convention. The Theater will give Anime Expo attendees an opportunity to take a glimpse into the past, present, and future of Japanese animation from Bandai Entertainment. The Bandai exhibit will also be featuring numerous daily events including: an Anime Karaoke contest, t-shirt giveaway, stunts, a Grunty reunion, autograph signings, and more. Please visit the Bandai Entertainment exhibit at Anime Expo for the most updated schedule.
Friday-Saturday, July 4-5
Bandai America is calling on the vast legion of creative customizers for the Gundam Model Building Contest taking place on Friday, July 4 and Saturday, July 5. Participants will be given a Gundam action figure model kit at the Bandai booth, and will have one hour to complete their models. The goal of the contest is to see how fans use their creativity when customizing their own Gundam model kits at home, including battle-damage, scarring, special paint jobs, dioramas, etc. Participants must bring their own customizing tools (excluding razors, knives or sharp objects). All of the finished models will be on display, and a panel of judges will select the winner who will receive a Gundam Perfect Grade or Level 8 action figure model kit. Fans who are interested in participating must pre-register by e-mailing their name, address and phone number to bandaiinfo@rogersassoc.com. Only a limited number of spaces are available.
After checking out the panel/screening for Bandai America’s newest collection of pint-sized heroes, come by the booth to see the action figures and other toys in the Superior Defender product line. Superior Defender is the next BIG thing in robots. An intergalactic adventure of incredible proportions, a new 3-D animation TV show is set to debut in Fall 2003 on Cartoon Network and will feature a variety of vertically challenged robots called the Mobile, Knight and Musha Defenders.
ABOUT BANDAI ENTERTAINMENT
Bandai Entertainment Inc. is the premier distributor of Japanese animation on DVD home video in North America. The company has distributed notable titles like Mobile Fighter G Gundam, Escaflowne, Cowboy Bebop, and .hack//SIGN. Bandai Entertainment Inc. is a subsidiary of Bandai America Inc., who makes the toys for the hit television series, Power Rangers, Digimon, and Mobile Suit Gundam. All U.S. operations are headquartered in a large, ultra-modern facility in Cypress, Calif. Bandai Co., Ltd is the third largest toy company in the world comprising 53 subsidiaries in 18 countries. In addition to toys and children's entertainment, Bandai Co.'s global interests include video game software, multimedia, music and full-length feature films, vending machines, trading cards, candies, and licensed apparel. Bandai Entertainment is headquartered in Cypress, California and additional company and product information is available through our website at www.bandai-ent.com.
ABOUT BANDAI AMERICA
Bandai America Inc. is a subsidiary of Bandai Co. Ltd., the third largest toy company in the world, with 27 subsidiaries in 8 countries worldwide. Global interests include toys and children’s entertainment, video game software, multimedia, music, full-length feature films, vending machines, trading cards, candies and licensed apparel. Bandai America Inc. is celebrating its 25th anniversary as the master toy licensee of some of the most popular properties and brands in children’s toys and entertainment, including the Power Rangers, Gundam, Digimon, Strawberry Shortcake and Hello Kitty product lines. Bandai America is headquartered in Cypress, California and company information is available at www.bandai.com.
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