Anime Expo 2008 License Roundup

Spanning from July 3-6, Anime Expo is arguably the biggest anime convention in America, usually where the American anime distributors announce several titles. 

Amongst all the noise Funimation has been making around its deals with Geneon Entertainment USA and ARM Corporation, involving dozens of previously released or in the process of being released titles; there have been several other acquisions from anime distributors and manga publishers, detailed below:

Kadokawa Pictures USA announced that they have picked up the licences to: Junjou Romantica, Spice and Wolf, Rental Magica, My Heartfelt Sympathy, Ninomiya-kun, H2O ~Footprints in the Sand~, and Coo ~ Our Guardian (Wagaya no Oinarisama.).   All these titles were part of the recent order Kadokawa Pictures served to AnimeSuki.com to take down fansub torrent links.  It is unknown whether or not these titles have already been snapped up by other American anime distributors for production in America, like what has already happened with the majority of Kadokawa Pictures USA licenses.

Bandai Entertainment have announced the license to the manga adaptation of the anime film The Girl Who Leapt Through Time (to tie in with the release of the anime), and the licence of the highly anticipated anime Hayate the Combat Butler.  To consolidate the recent liquidation of Bandai Visual USA, Bandai Entertainment have announced their plans to release the previously released (by Bandai Visual USA) anime Freedom in a Blu-ray boxset under the Honneamise label, along with theatrical compilation of Gainax’ Gunbuster and Gunbuster 2 OVA series; Freedom will be followed by a regular DVD release under the normal Bandai Entertainment label. 

The Right Stuf International have announced the license to the anime series Gakuen Alice, along with the Japanese remaster of the classic Toward the Terra anime movie.

Tokyopop have announced the licences of the manga titles: Phantom Dream, Tsubasa: Those with Wings, .hack//G.U. (novel), Peacemaker Kurogane, Momo Tama, Castle of Dreams, NG Life, Togainu no Chi, This Ugly Yet Beautiful World, Maid-sama! and Demon Sacred.

CMX Manga have announced the license of The Name of the Flower manga.

Go! Comi have announced the licenses of the manga titles: Days of Cool Idols, Angel’s Coffin, CROWN and Bound Beauty.

801 Media and their sister company Juné Manga have announced the licenses of the manga: Hey Class President, Dog x Cat, Desire-Dangerous Feelings, Moonlit Promises, Tricky Prince, Double Trouble, Where has Love Gone?, Then Comes Love, Pure Heart, The Way to Heaven, Clan of the Nakagamis, Homerun Ken, The Object of my Affection, Love/Knot, The Longest Time, Live for Love, Eat or be Eatern, The Spiral of Sand, Honey/Chocolate, Manhatten Love Story, Planet of Earthquake, Cut, The Lonely Egoist, When the Heavens Smile, Suggestive Eyes, Hey, Sensei, Love Syndrome, Love Potion.

Digital Manga Publishing has announced the licenses to the manga: Utahime – Princess Song, Overclock: Once in a Blue Moon, Ghost Hunt Sramble, Tale of a White Night, 1 Sakura Hill, Lyrical Nanoha StrikerS, RH Plus, Time for Magic.  And on their co-produced (with Shinshokan) label Doki Doki: Princess Princess+, Happy Boys, Wolf God, Otodama, Crimson Cross, Millennium Prime Minister.

Dark Horse Comics has announced the license of the manga Neon Genesis Evangelion: The Shinji Ikari Raising Project.

Viz Media have announced the licenses to the manga: Honey Hunt, Gestalt, Magic Touch, Otomen, Heaven’s Will and Oishinbo; along with the VizBig versions of Fushigi Yugi and Hot Gimmick.