FUNimation Announces Simulcast of Rainbow

FUNimation

Rainbow was another anime with a high profile at this year’s Tokyo Anime Fair. Following the lives of seven boys from reform school to their later release, this post-World War II series has all the makings of a good war drama. From what I’ve seen, this show is worthy of laudation.

Here are the details from FUNimation:

Flower Mound, Texas (May 28, 2010) -- FUNimation^® Entertainment and Japanese broadcaster Nippon Television Network Corporation (NTV) have entered into an agreement giving the American anime leader exclusive rights to the U.S. online simulcast of the network’s newest animated series “Rainbow”.

The collaboration will allow the simulcast and streaming of already aired episodes of the 26-episode dramatic series, known as “RAINBOW - Nisha Rokubo no Shichinin” in Japan, as it continues its run on NTV weekly at 12:59 a.m.

Starting Tuesday, June 1 at 12:00 p.m. CDT, FUNimation will deliver episode nine just one hour after its broadcast in Japan via www.funimation.com [1]. In addition, the first eight episodes which have already aired will be available for streaming. All episodes feature the original Japanese dialogue accompanied by English subtitles.

“We are proud to partner with NTV on this new title as we expect to significantly grow our simulcast business” said Gen Fukunaga, CEO of FUNimation Entertainment “it is a natural extension of our already strong partnership on anime series and live-action films.”

NTV is one of the top broadcast networks in Japan. This series by Tokyo-based Madhouse Studios is based on the manga published by Shogakukan of the same name written by George Abe and illustrated by Masasumi Kakizaki. Both depict the lives of seven juvenile delinquents at a reform school in 1955.

“Rainbow” is directed by Hiroshi Koujina (Escaflowne: The Movie, Macross Plus the OVA and the Movie Edition) and stars Shun Oguri, Shihori Kanjiya, Rikiya Koyama, Romi Paku, Takaya Kuroda, Keiji Fujiwara, and Takaya Hashi. Megumi Hayashibara is the voice of the narrator.