Anime On Demand & Crunchyroll updates, plus Manga UK license Angel Beats

Following on from our "Big streaming Anime update as Crunchyroll & Anime On Demand reveal lots of new titles!" post, Crunchyroll have added another title to their already staked lineup.

* Sekai-Ichi Hatsukoi - Season 2, streaming at Crunchyroll, air date: Every Friday from 5.35pm GMT
The series translate into English as World's Greatest First Love'.

"Ritsu Onodera quit working for his father’s company and transferred to work at the publishing company, Marukawa Shoten. To his dismay, he's assigned to edit shojo manga in which he has no interest or experience. He works with a strict boss, Takano, that he has trouble getting along with from the beginning. But, Onodera later discovers that he knows Takano from his past..."
The series started yesterday (October 7th) at Crunchyroll.

*From the Anime On Demand camp, the first episode of Persona 4: The Animation is available to view now HERE.

*Manga Entertainment UK confirmed late this week they have acquired the licensing rights or 'Angel Beats'. ANN describe the plot as being set "In a world after death, angels fight for their fate and their future. Yuri, the leader of the Shinda Sekai Sensen, rebels against the god who destined her to have an unreasonable life. On the otherhand, Tenshi, the chairperson of the student council for the world after death, battles against the SSS members. SSS members utilize armed weaponry to battle it out against the angels harnessing supernatural powers."

Expect more information regarding this release to be made available soon. Perhaps at London Expo later this month!

Big streaming Anime update as Crunchyroll & Anime On Demand reveal lots of new titles!

Since our last post about Anime on Demand (AOD for short) announcing they would be streaming 'Mirai Nikki - Future Diary' on their site a whole host of titles from not only AOD but Crunchyroll have been revealed. This post will bring you up to speed on what is set to be available to the UK stemming from these announcements. It's going to be a very busy season of simulcasts as you'll see from the listings below.

Before we go any further we have a brief update to our previous news item on 'Miriai Nikki - Future Diary'.
AOD revealed that this series will begin streaming from Sunday 9th October and will run across both the Autumn and Winter seasons.

Here are the titles available to the UK as part of this new streaming season from both Anime On Demand and Crunchroll -


-Mirai Nikki - Future Diary, Streaming from Anime On Demand, start date: Sunday 9th October
"Mirai Nikki sees high school 2nd year, Amano Yukiteru, is a boy who has problem making friends. He thinks of himself as a bystander and will always write down everything he sees in a cell phone diary. Tormented by solitude, Yukiteru began to imagine things like a friend called Deus Ex Machina who is apparently the Lord of Time & Space. Seeing Yukiteru's miserable state, Deus gives him a new ability. His diary will now record events that will happen in the near future. Yukiteru is then forced to participate in a game which the winner will become Deus' successor."

- Un-Go, streaming from Anime On Demand, start date TBC
"Un-Go Private detectives have been out of fashion for many years, but that's how Shinjurou Yuuki identifies himself. With his superior deductive powers, Shinjurou solves various challenging cases. Meanwhile, Inga, an attractive young lad, serves as Shinjurou's “buddy”. But contrary to his cute appearance, he's a sharp, arrogant rogue. Why Inga sticks with Shinjurou is not immediately appparent.

The setting of the story is a post-war Tokyo of the future, one that still bears the scars of war. Ruling the land is Media King Rinroku Kaishou, who has the communications infrastructure under his thumb, giving him great power over both politics and industry. Kaishou is renowned for his use of logic and the massive amount of information at his fingertips to solve a great number of mysteries. But unbeknownst to the public at large, most of those discoveries have been the work of Shinjurou Yuuki, "the Last Great Detective." (The public, in fact, regards Shinjurou as a loser, and gives him the nickname, "Defeated Detective".) Still, Shinjurou, together with Inga, can't help but search for the truth."

-Persona 4: The Animation, streaming from Anime On Demand, air date: TBC (but will air every Friday once started)
Director Seiji Kishi (Angel Beats!, My Bride is a Mermaid) and the anime studio AIC ASTA adapted the Persona 4 PlayStation 2 role-playing game from Atlus. The story begins in the rural country town of Inaba, where mysterious murders and kidnappings sweep the countryside. A group of teenagers try to solve the mystery, which is connected to the local weather patterns and a strange video game world which the teenagers and the killer can all enter.

Persona concept designer Kazuma Kaneko, original character designer Shigenori Soejima, and musical composer Shoji Meguro are reprising their respective roles from the game for the anime. Cast members Daisuke Namikawa (Yu Narukami), Showtaro Morikubo (Yōsuke Hanamura), Yui Horie (Chie Satonaka), and Ami Koshimizu (Yukiko Amagi), Tomokazu Seki (Kanji Tatsumi), Kappei Yamaguchi (Kuma), Unshou Ishizuka (Ryōtarō Dōjima), Akemi Kanda (Nanako Dōjima), Mitsuaki Madono (Tōru Adachi), and Romi Park (Naoto Shirogane) are all returning from the game to play their respective characters.

Shihoko Hirata, the original Persona 4 game's theme song singer, will sing the anime's opening theme, "sky's the limit."


-Hunter X Hunter, streaming at Crunchyroll, new episode every Sunday at 4.30am GMT
A reboot of the popular Anime series from the late 90's tells the story of "Gon, a young boy who lives on Whale Island, dreams of becoming a Hunter like his father, who left when Gon was still young. Abundant riches, hidden treasures, fearsome monsters, and exotic creatures are scattered around the world... Gon departs on a journey to become a Pro Hunter who risks his life in search of the unknown. Along the way, he meets other applicants for the Hunter exam: Kurapika, Leorio, and Killua. Can Gon pass the rigorous challenges of the Hunter exam and become the best Hunter in the world!? His wild and epic journey is about to begin!! "
Episode 1 is available now.

-You and Me., streaming from Crunchyroll, air date: every Monday from 6pm GMT
"Friends since kindergarten and seemingly like blood brothers, You and Me follows the lives of Yuta and Yuki Asaba, Shun Matsuokan and Kaname Tsukahara; as well as transfer student Chizuru Tachibana who joins the circle of friends. Together we will watch as they laugh, dance, cry and share the memories of growing up together in everyday life.”

-Chihayafaru, streaming from Crunchyroll, every Tuesday from 6.30pm GMT
"Ayase Chihaya is a sixth grader whose dream is for her older sister to become the top model in Japan. But one day, a transfer student, Wataya Arata, tells her that her dream should be about herself. Arata's dream is to become a famous competitive Karuta player. Chihaya is somewhat shocked when she sees how intense the normally reserved Arata gets about the card game. Eventually, she and her childhood friend Mashima Taichi find themselves being captivated by Karuta. Arata is thrilled by Chihaya's talent and extraordinary hearing, as well as the fact that he has friends to play Karuta with now, but they are forced to go their separate ways after graduating from grade school.

Four years later, Chihaya enters high school and discovers that Arata, who returned to Fukui, no longer plays Karuta. However, she believes that if she continues to play, they will one day be reunited. And so, she and Taichi start a Karuta club at Mizusawa High School."

-Waganari!! season 2, streaming from Crunchyroll, air date: every Saturday (starting October 8th) at 5pm GMT
“The family restaurant WAGNARIA stands by itself in Hokkaido. One day Sota Takanashi, who loves all things small, meets tiny little Popura, who offers him a job working part time at the restaurant. Attracted to her petite stature, Sota accepts her offer. To his surprise, the restaurant is filled with eccentric characters. Get ready to dish up some wacky comedy together with Sota and his coworkers!”

-Fate/Zero, streaming from Crunchyroll, air date: every Saturday (starting from 8th October) at 5pm GMT.
[This is the new prequel series to the popular 'Fate/Stay Night' anime.]
“Ten years prior to the events of FATE/STAY NIGHT, the War of the Holy Grail is a contest in which seven magi summon seven Heroic Spirits to compete to obtain the power of the “Holy Grail,” which grants a miracle. After three inconclusive wars for the elusive Holy Grail, the Fourth War commences.

Kiritsugu finds himself deeply torn between family and duty – obtaining the Holy Grail. However, his greatest opponent appears in the form of Kirei Kotomine, a priest who cannot find any sense of fulfillment in his life and sets his sights on Kiritsugu as the possible answer to the emptiness he feels.”

Expect more announcements to be revealed in the coming days.

Anime On Demand announce new streaming title 'Mirai Nikki - Future Diary'

The good folks at Anime On Demand have announced their first new title to be streamed on their site as part of the forthcoming simulcast season. The series is 'Mirai Nikki - Future Diary' a series described by AOD themselves (via twitter) as "a beautiful mix of Death Note meets Battle Royale".

Here is more information on the series courtesy of the AOD's partner Anime News Network -

Yukiteru Amano (Yuki) is a loner who never really interact with people and prefers writing a diary on his cell phone with his only companion being an imaginary friend named Deus Ex Machina, the God of Time and Space. However, Yuki soon learns that Deus is not a figment of his imagination but real when Deus makes him a participant in a battle royale with eleven others. Within this "Diary Game", the contestants are given special diaries that can predict the future with each diary having unique features that gives them both advantages and disadvantages.

As is the case with each series licensed by AOD, each episode will be available to stream from their website! Expect more news regarding new additions to the lineup soon!

New titles added to Anime On Demand lineup

Anime On Demand have now begun adding titles as part of their summer streaming lineup to their website.

The first title is "Nura: Rise of the Yokai Clan". The synopsis of this series is "Rikuo Nura lives in Ukiyoe Town and looks like your typical junior high student. But unlike his classmates, he lives in an old, Japanese-style house full of yokai that serve him. Unbeknownst to many, Rikuo is the grandson of Nurarihyon, who is the leader of all yokai. Rikuo is regarded as the Third Heir of the Nura Clan, but he has yet to officially take his seat."

Currently the first seven episodes are available for viewing HERE.

The second series is "Mystic Archives of Dantalian". The plot (as described by Anime News Network) sees "Hugh Anthony Disward inherit an old mansion and a personal library from his grandfather. In the basement of the mansion, he meets a mysterious girl—Dalian. She is a Dantalian and a gateway to "Dantalian's bookshelf", which stores the prohibited books of the demons."

The first three episodes are now available for streaming HERE. It's the intention of Anime On Demand to make this a weekly simulcast once they are parallel with the Japanese viewing schedule.


There are more title to be added in the coming weeks and we'll be sure to notify you once they are available.
For more information on Anime On Demand, visit their website HERE.

Hyper Japan floor plan released!

Next weekend it's Hyper Japan at Olympia in London. Some more details have been released by the fine folks over at HyperJapan.co.uk

A detailed floor plan and running order has been released in pdf format HERE.

The floor plan details that the ground floor will primarily be dedicated to food and culture, while the lower ground floor will house entertainment and bazaar companies. Interesting to not that the now discontinued Tokyopop manga publisher will have a stall on the lower ground floor and will likely be having clearance stock much like they did at London Expo.

Also set to be on the show floor as part of the 'entertainment' section of the convention, our good friends at Anime On Demand, Konami, Nintendo, Namco-Bandai Games and Square Enix products.

If you'd like a more visual look at what the event will be like, we suggest heading over to the official Hyper Japan Youtube channel where view videos like the one below -



Be sure to head over to HyperJapan.co.uk for all the information regarding the event!

New UK summer season simulcast announced

The Summer season of streaming anime simulcasts is fast approaching and a number of title have been announced for us Anime fans to indulge in. They are as follows:

*Usagi Drop
Available to the UK through Anime On Demand
Usagi Drop is the first title be announced for streaming here in the UK through the fine folks at Anime On Demand.

The series follows "Daikichi Kawachi [who is] is just a regular, 30-year-old, single guy. He returns home to attend his grandfather's funeral only to discover that his grandfather had an illegitimate daughter by an unknown woman. The child, 6-year-old Rin, is bitterly unwanted and neglected by the family. This angers Daikichi enough to adopt Rin as his own, despite having no parental experience.

The heart-warming slice of life story follows Daikichi's struggles and successes as a single parent, and Rin's passage from childhood into adolescence. The manga made us laugh, cry, and left us with smiles on our faces, so we're incredibly excited about Usagi Drop's anime debut.

Anime on Demand subscribers can tune in this Thursday [today, or depending when you're reading this July 7th] to watch the first episode of Usagi Drop at the same time as Japanese viewers."
[Series info from Anime On Demand]


*Cat God (aka Natsume Yuujinchou)
Available to the UK through Crunchyroll

Crunchyroll describe the series as follows -
"Mayu is a nekogami (cat god) who leads a life of playing games while Koyama Yuzu runs an antique shop. Mayu will be visited by many other gods whom lead a life of enjoyment.”

You can watch a preview for the series HERE.

The series is set to debut to premium members of the site on July 8th (tomorrow) and for everyone else from July 15th.


*Yuri Yuri
Available to the UK through Crunchyroll

Our good friends at UK-Anime describe this series as follows -
YuruYuri, an adaptation of a comedy manga, featuring staff working on the project which includes both the director and writer of Mitsudomoe and Minami-ke's first season, about a group of female friends who take over a former clubroom at their school to use for their own amusement.

The first episode is available to watch now at Crunchyroll with the a new episode to be added every Tuesday.


*Kamisama Dolls
Available to the UK through Crunchyroll
UK-Anime describe the series as follows: Brain's Base supernatural action-drama manga adaptation which the trials and tribulations of a college student named Kyouhei, who moves away from Tokyo to escape from some unspecified issues there only to find himself caught up in a bloody murder that appears to have been carried out by an old friend of his sister's and his decidedly spooky "doll".

If you are a premium member of the site, you can watch the first episode now with the next episode set be available from July 12th. If you're not a premium member, the launch of the first episode will be from July 12th.


*Natsume Yujincho
Available to the UK through Crunchyroll
Finally, we come to Natsume Yujincho. A series that Crunchyroll has previously been streaming but never available to us here in the UK. Well the third season will be part of their lineup to the UK along with the previous two seasons!
Crunchyroll describe the series as "Natsume Takashi has the ability to see spirits, which he has long kept secret. However, once he inherits a strange book that belonged to his deceased grandmother, Reiko, he discovers the reason why spirits surround him."

Episodes 1-27 are available to view now with the episode 28 (the first of the new season) set to be available to premium members from July 11th.

We will be sure to keep you up to date on other developments involving the summer season for UK streaming Anime!

Deadman Wonderland now available through Anime on Demand

After an unexpected delay, Anime On Demand are now happy to present the first episode of the series 'Deadman Wonderland'.

This was one of the three series that Anime On Demand recently announced that they had acquired for streaming as part of their service to UK viewers. (The other two being 'Nichijou' and 'Steins;Gate', the latter according to our friends at UK-Anime is set to debut on the website this weekend!)

You can watch 'Deadman Wonderland' episode 1 right now here.

Another programming note, episode 3 of "[C] – Control – The Money and Soul of Possibility" is available for streaming as is the fifth instalment of 'Tiger & Bunny'.

We'll keep you up to date on any further programming notes for Anime on Demand when they become available.

On our next podcast, set to be recorded today (Friday 6th May) we'll be previewing the titles that will be available to view on Anime On Demand including Deadman Wonderland! So be sure to listen to that when available!

Anime On Demand update us on the launch of three series

Following our interview with Andrew Partridge on our most recent podcast, Anime On Demand have revealed the their recently acquired titles 'Deadman Wonderland', 'Nichijou' (also known in English as 'My Wonderful Life') and 'STEINS;GATE' will (if all goes well) be launching on their site this weekend!

"For those wondering re: Deadman Wonderland, Nichijou and STEINS;GATE, we're receiving assets shortly so expect them to launch by Saturday :)"

That quote coming from their twitter account www.twitter.com/AnimeOnDemand

We'll keep you updated on any further developments.
For more information on Anime On Demand, please visit http://www.anime-on-demand.com/

Podcast - Episode 21 w/ Andrew Partridge from Anime On Demand

This weeks edition of The Anime Chronicle Podcast is available for your listening pleasure!

On this edition of the program, Jeremy and Hugo discuss a few notes from the last few weeks of news and then we bring you an interview with Andrew Partridge from the new UK streaming website 'Anime On Demand' to talk about the concept of the site and much, much more!

You can stream or download the show at our website here.
or
You can stream or download the show using the links below:

Click here to be taken to download page.

Podcast Powered By Podbean

Enjoy the show~!

Anime On Demand announce '[C]' as part of their lineup.

Anime On Demand (AOD for short), the new legal UK based Anime streaming site has announced a new addition to it's simulcast lineup following their recent announcements (which we've documented in recent blog posts).

"...for the first time ever, Fuji Television's popular Noitamina block will kick off for legal streaming in the UK via our website. We are pleased as a starting point to announce the simulcast of "[C] – Control – The Money and Soul of Possibility" starting on April 21st, one week after its Japanese broadcast debut."

For those unaware, the Noitamina block is one of the highest rated blocks of Anime on Japanese television.

This new series is "set in a world where the Japanese government was rescued from the brink of financial collapse by the Sovereign Wealth Fund. For its citizens, however, life has not improved, and unemployment, crime, suicide, and despair are rampant.

Kimimaro, raised by his maternal grandmother after the disappearance of his father and the death of his mother, is a scholarship student whose only dream is to avoid all this and live a stable life. One day, however, he meets a man who offers him a large sum of money if he'll agree to pay it back. From then on his fate is radically altered as he's drawn into a mysterious realm known as "The Financial District." "

Now the all important question. When can you see this show on AOD? Well it begins tomorrow (Thursday 21st April) exclusively through their website at 5.45pm GMT. The schedule see AOD launch a new episode one week after the original Japanese television broadcast. (It only started running in Japan last week!) And best of all, you'll be able to watch for free on their site. If you want to watch it in 720p definition you will need to purchase a subscription.

For more information on Anime On Demand, visit their website here.

The Third title revealed by Anime On Demand is...

Following on from the initial two announcements by Anime On Demand via their twitter account, they confirmed later in the day that the third title they were revealing to compliment their simulcast lineup for Spring is 'Deadman Wonderland'.

This plot of the horror series as described by the good folks at Anime News Network (who as previously noted, are a direct partner with Anime On Demand) is as follows:

"Ganta Igarashi has been convicted of a crime that he hasn't committed, and sent to a new, privately owned and operated prison, where the inmates are the main attraction in a modern day twist to the gladiatorial coliseums of ancient times. Throw in a healthy dose of weird little girl, some new-found super powers, and a little conspiracy theory, and you have Deadman Wonderland."

This series along with 'Tiger and Bunny', 'My Wonderful Life' and 'Steins;Gate' makes for diverse debut lineup of simulcasts for Anime On Demand. There are still two titles to be announced. But if these are anything to go by, it's safe to assume that we're in store for a wide variety of Anime to sink our teeth into!

For more information on Anime On Demand, visit their official website HERE.

See the video below for a preview of the 'Deadman Wonderland' series (in Japanese):

'Nichijou' (My Ordinary Life) confirmed for streaming by Anime on Demand

Following our last post about 'Steins;Gate' being confirmed for streaming by Anime On Demand, they've just confirmed another title via their twitter account in the form of 'Nichijou' translated meaning 'My Ordinary Life'.

As according to Anime News Network, they describe series as:
"While the title suggests a story of simple, everyday school life, the contents are more the opposite. The setting is a strange school where you may see the principal wrestle a deer or a robot's arm hide a rollcake. However there are still normal stories, like making a card castle or taking a test you didn't study for."

This series has also begun airing through Crunchyroll. There is one more title to be announced by Anime On Demand later today! Watch this space!


On a related note, following our interview we conducted with Andrew Partridge of KAZE at the London Expo last October, it has been confirmed that KAZE will be present at the London Expo at the end of May. They have made it know they'll be bring items to purchase with them including (in "limited quantities") the 'Clamp In Wonderland - Precious Edition' music video compilation featuring characters from 1989-2006.

Anime On Demand confirm their second title, and it's a UK Exclusive license!

Through the wonderful world of social media, well the Anime On Demand Twitter account specifically, it's just been confirmed that the next title as part of the simulcasting schedule will be 'Steins;Gate'.

The series (as according to their partner Anime News Network)"is about a group of friends who have customized their microwave into a device that can send text messages to the past. As they perform different experiments, an organization named SERN who has been doing their own research on time travel tracks them down and now the characters have to find a way to avoid being captured by them."

There was some concern from UK anime fans when Crunchyroll announced that they had picked up the rights to the program but not for the UK. Anime On Demand will be the UK exclusive simulcaster of this series "over the next 2 seasons"

Anime On Demand are expected to be announcing more titles they will streaming shortly. So watch this space for more information on this as we get it!

For more information on Anime On Demand, you can read our previous blog entry about their streaming service or visit their website at http://www.anime-on-demand.com/

First title revealed for 'Anime On Demand'

Following the announcement of the 'Anime On Demand' service coming to the UK, the new service has announced their first title as part of the Spring simulcast season in the form of 'Tiger Bunny'.

The series is described by Anime On Demand partner Anime News Network as the following:

"Sternbild City is home to people called "Next," who use their special abilities to protect the people as superheroes. These heroes solve cases and save lives so they can wear sponsor logos or acquire "hero points." Their activities are documented on the popular program "Hero TV," which picks the "King of Heroes" in a yearly ranking. The veteran hero Wild Tiger has always preferred to work alone, but now he's been assigned the rookie Barnaby Brooks Jr., who has a different perspective on being a superhero."

On top of Tiger Bunny being part of their streaming lineup, there are also a few other titles currently available until June 1st, those being the original 'Mobil Suit Gundam' and 'Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam' series. There are also a variety of trailers and other features available on the website.

Be sure to head over to Anime On Demand's website where you can watch the first episode of 'Tiger Bunny' now and for free!

Please view below to read the full press release regarding Tiger Bunny on 'Anime On Demand'.

----------------

PARIS, France, April 4th, 2011 - Anime on Demand is proud to announce its

first simulcast the exclusive TIGER & BUNNY from 04 April, with the

first four episodes available free of charge. Simulcasting will continue

every weekend alongside broadcast in Japan from now on.

TIGER & BUNNY is directed by Keiichi Sato (character design / mechanic design / concept works supervisor of THE BIG O), with original character designs by Masakazu Katsura, creator of I"s and VIDEO GIRL AI. Stern Bild is a metropolitan city where superheroes called NEXT help to maintain peace. Sporting sponsor logos on their suits, these heroes work to solve cases and save people's lives in order to earn Hero Points, while also helping to improve the public image of their corporate sponsors. Their activities are documented and broadcast by the popular show “HERO TV” in which each superhero strives to become the “King of Heroes” of the year.

One such hero is Wild Tiger (real name Kotetsu T. Kaburagi), a veteran superhero who relies on his years of experience and instincts to fight crime. Though obligated to work for his boss's best interest, Kotetsu follows his own code of honor and is even willing to cause destruction to public property for the sake of protecting the lives of his fellow citizens.

Over time, he has grudgingly earned the nickname “Crusher for Justice.”

Now, Kotetsu suddenly finds himself forced to team up with rookie hero Barnaby

Brooks Jr.

“We're very excited to make Sunrise's latest creation, TIGER & BUNNY,

available to fans in the UK exclusively through Anime-On-Demand.com,” says

Andrew Partridge, UK Business Development. “The incredibly creative story

alongside the show's uncanny potential to create the same excitement in

new fans that tiles like Cowboy Bebop did before it is what drew us in. We can't

wait to share the UK premiere with you today and all further episodes in sync with broadcast

from here on out!”

To view the official trailer and to follow TIGER & BUNNY's release please visit AoD's official Facebook page at Anime-on-Demand. For more information on TIGER & BUNNY and other animated titles from AoD please visit www.Anime-On-Demand.com.

New UK focused 'Anime On Demand' streaming service comes to the UK!

In the world of streaming anime, there are many options. The likes of Crunchyroll, a site with a service that provides quality Anime to those of here in the UK and around the world. But, there is one disadvantage with the service. Amongst all of the title in the back catalogue of Crunchyroll and the Funimation YouTube channel there is the issue of region locking. An issue that those of us, particularly here in the UK have felt the brunt of for quite some time. Well that could be about to change with the arrival 'Anime On Demand'. A brand new video streaming portal dedicated for the UK audience.

The service is due to begin in April and has been made possible thanks to Kaze and Anime News Network. Kaze, known more for their work in the Anime industry in France are now expanding their presence to the UK to help provide a service that could finally be exactly what UK fans of streaming Anime have been wanting for a very long time.

Anime News Network is one of the world leading websites in Anime News. Covering news from around the globe and have also dipped their toes into the streaming Anime world too.

The service is due to begin this month, in time for the Spring simulcast season. There are currently two pricing options available for the launch of service. An annual pass at the cost of £34.99 and a season pass at the cost of £9.99 (that runs from April till June and will also include an extra month so you can sample the next season of simulcasts as well). The launch subscriptions are a great chance to jump on the bandwagon of potentially the next big step for the UK anime industry!

For more information on Anime On Demand, visit their website at http://www.anime-on-demand.com/ or, read the press release below for all the information!

---------------------

PARIS (March 7th, 2011) - Kazé SAS and Anime News Network are pleased to announce "Anime on Demand", a new Video on Demand (VoD) platform for the UK dedicated to bringing you the hottest anime fresh from Japan in association with some of the UK's leading anime distributors.

Ever wanted a service where you didn't click on a file and find you were geo-filtered out? Ever felt frustrated with monthly-subscriptions and want to try a different way of doing things? How about one where you can interact face-to-face at events across the UK with the staff behind the project? All of these questions and more are what helped shape our decision to launch this platform in consensus with the whole UK industry.

Launching in April in time for the Spring simulcast season, we'll be bringing you some of the hottest titles in one convenient spot for the UK - more lineup details from Monday.

Instead of a monthly subscription price as well - alongside at least one free simulcast per season, we'll be trialling a completely new and awesome pricing system so you don't have to pay for the same content repeatedly!

Special first season pricing will be as follows:

SPECIAL LIMITED OFFER: Spring Season - early adopter's pass (April-July, including an extra month to sample the new season's anime): £9.99

Annual pass (Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter seasons): £34.99

There'll be some extra special bonuses for Annual pass buyers to be announced along with our line-up later in March.

Expect to see us travelling the convention scene in 2011 as well - starting with Kitacon at the beginning of April! If you have a question, request or something *you* would like to see then come along and see us there.

You can also sign up at Kitacon for £10 and get a free gift with registration! All you will be asked to enter to our sign up computer at the event will be your email address, a user name and a password plus bring the season pass fee!

Please visit www.anime-on-demand.com to sign up – with subscriptions opening from the evening of the 4th of April, also check us out on either Twitter or Facebook at the links below.

LINKS:
Website: www.anime-on-demand.com
Twitter: www.twitter.com/animeondemand
Facebook: Anime on Demand

ABOUT KAZE SAS:
Kazé is the leading distributor for Japanese anime in the France and beyond and has gone from strength to strength since combining with the Viz Media Group. With a diverse selection of licenses ranging from TV series like Bleach, Death Note and Professor Layton and the Eternal Diva across a wide variety of products including DVDs, CDs and merchandise. Watch out in 2011 for new and innovative ways to watch animé from Kazé and a host of other partners in the UK!

ABOUT ANIME NEWS NETWORK:
Anime News Network is the number 1 website worldwide for news and information about Japanese anime and manga. Anime News Network was launched in 1998 and now serves millions of readers from around the world every month. The company is also active in market research and has been streaming anime online since 2008. Anime News Network’s mission is to bring the anime industry and its consumers together with the latest and best information, editorial and anime content. For more, visit http://www.AnimeNewsNetwork.com