Denkyu: Anime Webzine

CRUNCHYROLL EXPANDS ITS KOREAN DRAMA CATALOG WITH A PARTNERSHIP WITH KOREA¹S
PREMIERE NETWORK GIANT SBS

More Korean Dramas Fully Licensed and Legally Streamed on the Number One (1) Online Destination for Anime and Asian Entertainment

San Francisco, CA and Tokyo, Japan (December 15, 2009) ‹ Crunchyroll expands its already extensive Korean program lineup with its newly formed alliance with Korea¹s premiere network giant Seoul Broadcasting System (SBS).  This alliance will expand the online distribution giant¹s massive online catalog of Korean, Chinese and Japanese dramas with an additional twenty-six (26) titles including MONEY WAR, THE PAINTER OF WIND, PERFECT NEIGHBOR, PRINCESS JA-MYUNG, QUEEN OF GAME, WORKING MOM, STAIRWAY TO HEAVEN and much more to North and South America territories.  More information can be found at http://www.crunchyroll.com.

With this new partnership, Crunchyroll drama fans will be able to watch programming from Korea¹s leading network, SBS, that has produced award winning dramas such as THE KING & I, ON AIR, MONEY WAR, TAZZA and THE PAINTER OF WIND.  The additional programs will enhance the viewing experience and pleasure for all fans of the Asian drama genre.

³We are honored to partner with SBS-Korea¹s premier network², states Crunchyroll CEO Kun Gao, ³This partnership will allow us to provide the Crunchyroll community with the best of Korean language programming from Korea.²

³Crunchyroll has shown a successful track-record of serving Korean entertainment brands to a world wide community², states SBS International, Inc. CFO, Heenam Kim, ³We¹re pleased to start a commercial relationship with one of the most important on-line distribution companies and proud to have this opportunity to offer our  programming on this exceptional online channel and we look forward to working with Crunchyroll here in the  Americas.²

Fans can enjoy most content on the site for free and Crunchyroll will soon be launching a Drama Membership plan that will provide immediate access with higher quality streams and many other features.  More information around the upcoming Drama Membership can be found at http://www.crunchyroll.com.

About SBS International
Established in November 1990,(Seoul Broadcasting System) provides a wide variety of programming including Dramas, Entertainment shows, sports, news and documentaries to an increasingly global audience. To better meet the demands for Korean programming in the U.S., SBS launched its first channel via its Los Angeles based subsidiary, SBS International Inc. in August 2004.

Currently reaches more than 100,000 households through major U.S. satellite and cable service providers and is expanding its coverage by reaching more operators in metropolitan areas. The SBS channel is a 24-hour long showcase of widely popular dramas, top-rated variety shows, and trusted news programs directly from Korea. In October 2006, SBS International continued its growth with the launching of a second channel, SBS PLUS, a 24-hour drama and sports channel offered exclusively on DIRECTV, the largest satellite operator in the U.S. For more information, please visit www.sbs-int.com

About Crunchyroll

Crunchyroll is the largest online community and video site for the very best in Japanese Anime and Dramas from Asia. Crunchyroll’s content is provided by Asian media leaders including TV TOKYO, Shueisha, d-rights, Fuji Creative Corporation (FCC), Media International Corporation (MICO), Pony Canyon, Yomiuri Telecasting Corporation, Toei Animation, Gonzo, Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation America and many others.Crunchyroll was founded in June 2006 and has offices in both San Francisco and Tokyo. Crunchyroll is a pioneer and innovator within the Japanese anime industry and the only video service in the world to offer hit programs like NARUTO SHIPPUDEN, GINTAMA and many others online to its subscribers within one hour of its Japanese broadcast. Crunchyroll is a member of the Association of Japanese Animations (AJA) and the Licensing International Merchandisers Association (LIMA) and is funded by leading venture capital firm, Venrock. More information can be found at its website http://www.crunchyroll.com <http://www.crunchyroll.com/> .

Akido Ikeda’s international sensation Dayan is finally available in the United States! The mischievous cat Dayan has already captured the hearts and minds of Japan, spawning over thirty books, a theme park, museums, and stores dedicated entirely to the fictional world where he resides, Wachifield! Discover the phenomenon this spring with the first four books, published by Dark Horse in handsome hardcover.

Wachifield is an enchanted, anthropomorphic world conceived by author Akiko Ikeda during her childhood—a mystical universe where plants and animals talk, and with their words teach classic tales of wisdom played out in fun, heartwarming scenes and through vivid artwork. Her whimsical and timeless illustrations have garnered international recognition, and her intricate world continues to expand due to her nearly limitless imagination.

Dayan, the central character and favorite resident of the town of Tachiel, is an adventurous cat whose curiosity often leads him into fantastical adventures. Luckily, he has the support and help of his friends, who include Marcy the dependable bunny, and the hard-drinking alligator Nbah. Follow Dayan and his courageous cronies as they outwit a coven of angry witches, a devilish forest nymph, and even their own shadows! Along the way they manage to make new friends, experience the snow magic of the Eurocka festival, and make a rainy Thursday into an event to remember!

Though originally written for children, adults and fans of Japanese culture will love these stories for their deceptively complex narrative, darker undertones, and alcoholic alligators.

Dark Horse proudly presents, for the first time in English, The Dayan Collection. The first four volumes—Dayan’s Birthday, Thursday Rainy Party, White Eurocka, and Chibikuro Party—will be released in the states on April 23, 2008, for a retail price of $9.95.

Dark Horse is pleased to announce the addition of Blood+ to its ever-growing line of translated prose and manga. This already established work has found a new life and audience in the animated TV series airing on Cartoon Network’s Adult Swim Anime Block. Blood+ will also soon make its way to the sliver screen in a live-action theatrical film produced by William Kong (House of Flying Daggers; Hero; and Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon) slated for a 2009 release.

Blood+ chronicles the adventures of Saya, an amnesiac girl who discovers she is far from normal. Living with a foster family just outside an American military base in Okinawa, Japan, she soon comes upon the reality of her extraordinary past. She learns she is an immortal warrior whose lineage could even date back to Ancient Egypt or earlier. For centuries she has been locked in a battle against a race of vampiric creatures known as Chiropterans, monsters that are intent on destroying all life on Earth. In an epic tale that crisscrosses the globe, Saya battles to save the world while searching for the secret of her lost memories.

Saya has previously graced the Dark Horse catalogue in 2005 with the book Blood: The Last Vampire Night of the Beasts. The Blood+ universe will continue through Dark Horse in three spectacular manga story lines and two stimulating series of prose novels.

“Dark Horse is proud to continue championing one of the greatest-ever and most-celebrated properties ever to come from Japan: Blood the Last Vampire, as told through a host of new manga and prose novels,” says Michael Gombos, Director of Asian Licensing at Dark Horse Comics. “We are honored to bring three new manga and two series of prose novels to the English-speaking world, allowing everyone to further enter the world of Saya Otonashi and compatriots!”

Blood+ Volume One manga is available February of 2008 and Blood+: First Kiss Volume One prose novel is on sale March 2008.

As has been reported elsewhere, the February 2008 issue of Newtype USA will indeed be our last. We’re sure a lot of you are still wondering just what happened and would like some answers regarding the magazine and your subscriptions, so read on:

What?
That’s right. Newtype USA is done. Kaput. It’s been a lot of fun and taken a lot of hard work to make it all happen, and to everyone who’s picked up an issue and found something new or interesting, we thank you for your support. You’re the reason why we tried to make NTUSA the best magazine we could every month.

When?
We’re ending a nearly five and half year run of publishing Newtype USA with our current February 2008 issue. For those that were just discovering the magazine or renewing a subscription, we can’t apologize enough for how crummy this must be. You’re welcome to write to us and express your sorrow, your anger or even your congrats (should you find reason to celebrate).

Why?
Frankly, as far as the NTUSA staff is concerned, there were circumstances that were beyond our control that led to all of this. It’s probably not best to go into the details, but we can say that it had nothing to do with the magazine we produced, its pricing or its performance. Considering the number of hoops that were set before us each month, we made our way through each one and generated the best magazine we could.

Who?
The good news in all of this is that the team behind Newtype USA is now starting up a new magazine called PiQ. Unfortunately, somewhere along the way people were led to believe that this new magazine is simply a renamed Newtype USA clone or what have you. That’s not the case. PiQ is an entirely new magazine, with a new voice and covering a wider range of entertainment, while still revolving around anime and fan culture. And let’s be clear, PiQ is its own entity, operating outside the bounds of both Newtype publisher Kadokawa Shoten and Newtype USA parent company ADV.

Where?
After all of this, you’re probably totally disheartened over the demise of Newtype USA. We feel your pain, really. But keep your chin up because you’ll be able to get your first glimpse of PiQ when the first issue hits newsstands in March. You can also find the PiQ web site at piqmag.com. It’s still in development, but things are gonna be happening soon over there. If you have questions about your NTUSA subscription and how that’ll switch over to PiQ, please contact us directly at subscriptions@newtype-usa.com.

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We hope that answers some of your questions about Newtype USA and what it means for you as a reader and/or subscriber. Take heart in knowing that we’re still here and still excited to have your attention, and more importantly, things are looking up. All we ask is that you stick with us and see what the future brings. See you on the other side!

AniMonday!  AniMonday!  AniTuesday!  AniTuesday!

Double your anime viewing pleasure!  Beginning this week, anime will now be shown on Monday and Tuesday nights starting at 11pm on the SciFi channel.