Tuesday, May 5, 2009

ADV Films "license rescues" several CPM titles


The independent ADV Nation Blog reports that ADV Films has "license rescued" (or is distributing) several Central Park Media titles. The titles are: "Now and Then Here and There" , "The World of Narue", "Grave of the Fireflies", and "MD Geist" . They use Rightstuf.com as their source. ADV Nation reports that the titles will be released in July, 2009. These are the first titles that have been rescued after Central Park Media filed for Bankrucpty on April 24th, 2009.

About the shows:

"Now and Then Here and There " was originally released by CPM in 2002. The anime recently aired on the Sci-Fi channel during the summer of 2008. The show has also aired on Illusion On-Demand, the International Channel, Comcast's Anime Selects, and multiple other VOD channels. The anime was directed by Akitaro Daichi (Kodacha, Fruits Basket), and written by Hideyuki Kurata (Bamboo Blade, ROD TV/OVA).

Plot Summary: Shu is a typical Japanese boy, but has an unbeatable, optimistic and determined attitude. However, when he sees a mysterious girl with strange eyes named Lala-Ru up on a smokestack, he is soon pulled into a strange desert world. Shu soon discovers the true terrors of war, which includes genocide, brutal torture, hunger, thirst, and child explotation. Now Shu is trying to save Lala-Ru, as well as his hard earned, and often relunctant, new friends from the insane dictator, Hamdo. Whether Shu can possibly accomplish saving those he cares about while still holding up to his values remains to be seen.

"The World of Narue" was originally released by CPM in 2004 in a DVD box set. There were never individual volumes released, it went straight to box set. The anime was directed by Toyoo Ashida (Fist of the North Star Movie/TV, Vampire Hunter D) and Hiromitsu Morita . It was written by Yuu Sugitani (Black Blood Brothers). It was based on the manga by Tomohiro Marukawa, which was also partly released by CPM Press.

Plot Summary: Iizuka Kazuto is a 14 year old boy who meets a somewhat weird but cute and charming girl named Narue Nanase who claims she is an Alien. The show is about the trials and tribulations of the young couple as they get to know each other.

"Grave of the Fireflies " is a studio Studio Ghibli film, directed and written by Isao Takahata. It was first released on DVD in 2002.

Plot Summary: On the final days of World War II, 14-year-old Seita and his four-year-old sister Setsuko are orphaned after their mother is killed during an air-raid by American forces in Kobe, Japan. After having a falling-out with their aunt, they move into an abandoned bomb shelter. With no surviving relatives and their emergency funds and rations depleted, Seita and Setsuko must struggle to survive their hardships as well as those of their country, which is on the losing end of the war.

"MD Geist" was one of CPM's first titles released in North America on VHS in the early 1990's along with "Dominion Tank Police" , and "Project A-ko". It was the was the first top selling anime, and stayed on the VHS top ten charts for weeks after the release. Re-releases of the title (on VHS and later DVD) also sold very well. CPM also co-produced the sequel, MD Giest 2 and a directors cut of the original in 1996. M.D. Geist the character is the logo for CPM's US Manga line, which was the main branch of CPM that dealt with releaseing anime. It was directed by Hayato Ikeda and Kpichi Ohata (director's cut). It was written by Riku Sanjo.

Plot Summary: In the distant future, mankind has colonized other planets in the universe. While many planets lived in peace, the planet Jerra has been ravaged by decades of war. Geist is an M.D.S. (Most Dangerous Soldier), an enhanced human with unsurpassed combat capabilities and an insatiable lust for battle. Because of his uncontrollable nature, Geist is cryogenically frozen and locked in a satellite. Several years later, the satellite crashes and Geist wakes up from his sleep to engage in another war. This time, to help the army stop the planet's central computer from activating a doomsday device that will lead to total annihilation of all life on Jerra.

(Plot summary and general information about the titles taken from Anime News Network)

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