Anime and manga distributor ADV Films has acquired the short anime film THE VOICES OF A DISTANT STAR and plans a DVD-only release for the title. Using a mix of traditional and computer animation, the film was written, directed, edited and animated by Makoto Shinkai using a Power Macintosh 7600/120 computer and several consumer and professional-level design and animation software programs. Shinkai recently won the award for "Most Valuable Newcomer" at the 2002 Tokyo Anime Fair. The story, set in the year 2046, follows two young lovers who are separated when the young girl Mikako joins the UN Space Force and sets out to destroy a dangerous threat to Earth. THE VOICES OF A DISTANT STAR will make its North American premier in August, at the San Diego Comic-Con International.