ADV Films has announced its July 6, 2004 street dates. The releases include EXCEL SAGA: IMPERFECT COLLECTION, FINAL FANTASY: UNLIMITED - PHASE 7, NADIA THE SECRET OF BLUE WATER: COLLECTION 2, ALL PURPOSE CULTURAL CAT GIRL NUKU NUKU TV: NINE LIVES, THE DEVIL LADY: THE COMPLETE COLLECTION and THE SUPER MILK-CHAN SHOW: 100% WHOLE.
EXCEL SAGA: IMPERFECT COLLECTION was directed by Shinichi Watanabe (LUPIN III) and produced by JC Staff (AZUMANGA DAIOH) and Victor Entertainment (NOIR). Described as a cross between SOUTH PARK and ANIMANIACS, the series follows unbelievably hyperactive senior secret agent Excel's inept efforts to help Lord Illpalazzo and ACROSS, a secret ideological organization, rule the world.
The collection ($89.98) is a DVD-only release, including 26 complete episodes in both English 2.0 and Japanese 2.0 language versions with English subtitles on six discs with tons of extras.
FINAL FANTASY: UNLIMITED - PHASE 7 was directed by Mahiro Maeda (THE ANIMATRIX) and produced by TV Tokyo (NOIR and NEON GENESIS EVANGELION) and Dentsu (PRINCESS MONONOKE, GHOST IN THE SHELL: STAND ALONE COMPLEX). The series was animated by GONZO, animators of HELLSING and FULL METAL PANIC!
This collection is the last of the series revealing the full extent of Earl Tyrant's plans as the threads of secrecy quickly unravel, and the true natures of Chaos, Soil and the twins are laid bare.
The series ($24.98) is a DVD-only release, including three complete episodes in both English 5.1 and Japanese 2.0 language versions with English subtitles. Extras include: voice actor commentary, production sketches, key animation backgrounds, reversible cover, character booklet and ADV previews.
In addition, the first volume of FINAL FANTASY: UNLIMITED is also available as a Collector's Edition, which includes the VOLUME 1: PHASE 1 DVD and a custom series art box sized to fit the entire series ($39.98).
Inspired by Jules Verne's classic novel 20,000 LEAGUES UNDER THE SEA, NADIA THE SECRET OF BLUE WATER: COLLECTION 2 was directed by Hideaki Anno and animated by GAINAX (NEON GENESIS EVANGELION).
In this the last chapter of the series, Nadia's heritage comes together as a final showdown over the fate of Atlantis.
The series ($49.98) is a DVD-only release, including 19 complete episodes plus the motion picture in both English 2.0 and Japanese 2.0 language versions with English subtitles on six discs. Also included are two CD soundtracks.
ALL PURPOSE CULTURAL CAT GIRL NUKU NUKU TV: NINE LIVES is the fourth and final collection of the series, which was a spin-off from the fan-favorite OVA series ALL PURPOSE CULTURAL CAT GIRL NUKU NUKU, based on a manga by Yuzo Takada (3X3 EYES, BLUE SEED).
The three episodes answer the questions: can an androbot can fall in love and celebrate Valentine's Day, sweat it out like the rest of the class in a hot springs and save Earth from a gigantic asteroid?
The series ($29.98) is a DVD-only release, including three complete episodes in both English 2.0 and Japanese 2.0 language versions with English subtitles. Extras include: interview with Allison Shipp (voice actress for Nuku Nuku), clean opening and closing animation and ADV previews.
THE DEVIL LADY: THE COMPLETE COLLECTION was directed by Go Nagai (GETTER ROBO, CUTEY HONEY and DEVILMAN) and adapted by Toshihiro Hirano (VAMPIRE PRINCESS MIYU) and writer Chiako Konaka.
By day Jun is a beautiful and shy fashion plate, but by night she battles with an army of demonic forces threatening to destroy mankind.
The series ($49.98) is a DVD-only release, including 26 complete episodes in both English 2.0 and Japanese 2.0 language versions with English subtitles on six discs. Extras include: original artwork, clean opening and closing animation, original trailer and ADV previews.
THE SUPER MILK-CHAN SHOW: 100% WHOLE is a comedy series that mixes live-action and animation, produced by Studio Pierrot (GTO and SAIYUKI). The show follows Milk, a foul-mouth, selfish smarty pants superhero with no real superpowers, who is still constantly hired by the idiotic President (of "everything") to save the world.
The series ($29.98) is a DVD-only release in a two-disc set with reversible cover art. Disc 1 includes: three complete episodes and four vintage episodes in English 5.1 audio, live behind-the-scenes breaks, cast commentaries, character Q&A and ADV previews. Disc 2 includes: original Japanese episodes in both English 2.0 and Japanese 2.0 language versions with English subtitles, original video haiku breaks, new opening "Disco Milk" animation, original opening and closing animation and ADV previews.
ADV Films is one of the top producer-distributors of anime for the North American market. Parent company, A.D. Vision, Inc., publishes NEWTYPE USA, the premier anime and manga monthly magazine, and operates Anime Network, broadcasting anime and anime-related programming via digital cable, 24 hours a day. Headquartered in Houston and with additional offices in the Europe and Japan, the company operates ADV Manga, dedicated to publishing graphic novels and ADV Toys, a new division that creates exclusive toys and collectible merchandise based upon the company's extensive original content holdings. For more information, visit www.advfilms.com.
Rick DeMott
Animation World Network
Creator of Rick's Flicks Picks
