SANTA MONICA, CA (March 20, 2015) –Aniplex of America has announced their acquisition of three new titles that will be available for simulcast in the upcoming spring season. These titles are: Gunslinger Stratos, NISEKOI: (second season of NISEKOI), and Plastic Memories. Along with the second cour of the fan-favorite series, Fate/stay night: Unlimited Blade Works, these new simulcast titles will surely make for an extremely powerful season for Aniplex of America. All titles will be available to stream on the Aniplex Channel (AniplexChannel.com), Crunchyroll (Crunchyroll.com), Hulu (Hulu.com) and DAISUKI (www.Daisuki.net). The streaming schedule for each title will be available at a later date. Aniplex of America has also announced that they will launch the official websites for these newly acquired titles.

FUNimation Acquires Rights to Show By Rock!!
Posted by Michelle on 03/28/2015 at 6:55pm

We’re excited to announce that we have acquired the rights for Studio Bones’ new super-cute nekomimi music anime, Show By Rock!! This series is all about music and features bands of cute animal-ear girls AND handsome animal-ear guys, covering all types of music— pop, visual kei rock, Japanese, and more, with something for all audiences. The Show By Rock!! franchise comes to you in conjunction with Sanrio (yes, THAT Sanrio), and it’s got lots of popular Japanese seiyuu voice actors with popular singing backgrounds, so you know it’s going to be adorable and fun!

Here’s a preview of the bands in Show By Rock!! [see blog post]

[...]

Simulcast schedule will be announced soon, so stay tuned to FUNimation social media until then! Here’s the synopsis:

Musical merriment and cute creatures collide in this series from the dream team pairing Sanrio and Studio Bones (Ouran High School Host Club, Soul Eater)!

Set in the glamorous metropolis Tokyo Midi City, where music—and the dream of musical superstardom—is everything. Here, “battle of the bands” is more than just a teen rivalry: Dozens of ensembles compete for the honor of playing atop the city’s highest tower. When a Gothic Lolita-clad catgirl cutie named Cyan stumbles into the music world, she too is swept up by the dream of fame. After joining forces with three other colorful characters—bunnygirl honor student Chuchu, shy doggirl Retoree, and adorable sheepgirl Moa—the quartet becomes Plasmagica, the freshest band on the scene. Armed with special instruments, the girls face off with other bands striving for stardom, like the cool and passionate Visual Kei band Shingan Crimsonz, or the handsome pop idols Trichronika. Will the band find celebrity? Or are they doomed to be one-hit-wonders…

Check out the Promotional Videos below!

https://youtu.be/NT1RiclFhtc

https://youtu.be/MXaR1BfsWho

FUNimation Acquires Rights for The Disappearance of Nagato Yuki-chan
Posted by Michelle on 03/28/2015 at 6:55pm

FUNimation has acquired the rights for the romance, slice-of-life anime series–The Disappearance of Nagato Yuki-chan!

Haruhi fans will be excited to know that Minori Chihara (Dragonaut’s Toa, Ikki Tousen’s Ekitoku Chouhi) and Tomokazu Sugita (Assassination Classroom’s Karasuma, Chobits’ Hideki Motosuwa) will reprise their roles as Yuki and Kyon…and perhaps there will even be a few other familiar voices, too!

Stay tuned to FUNimation’s social media channels and this blog for more information coming soon!

synopsis:
From the creator of the international hit The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya comes a new spinoff featuring familiar faces! In an alternate universe, shy, awkward Yuki Nagato attempts to court her crush, Kyon, with the help of her best friend and neighbor, the perky and indomitable Ryoko Asakura. Together, the trio defends their high school literature club from extermination…and from the pestering of their over-the-top classmate Tsuruya and her friend and minion Mikuru. No true Haruhi devotee should miss The Disappearance of Nagato Yuki-chan

FUNimation Acquires the Rights to Ninja Slayer
Posted by Michelle on 03/30/2015 at 7:00pm

Wasshoi!! Our newest simulcast announcement goes out to fans of Trigger, the kickass and fan-favorite rising star anime studio that brought you one-of-a-kind titles as Little Witch Academia, Inferno Cop, and the mega-hit Kill la Kill!

FUNimation has acquired the streaming and home video license for Ninja Slayer, the long-awaited new show with all the styling and bombast you’ve come to love from Trigger! Ninja Slayer’s origin is shrouded in mystery; although it originally appeared as a novel series posted on Twitter in Japan, legend has it that it was actually translated from an original English series from two enigmatic American creators, Bradley Bond and Philip Ninj@ Morzez, who are totally on the run from actual ninjas. Who knows? All we can say is that with this origin story and this studio, Ninja Slayer is going to be way over-the-top and frickin’ awesome.

So we’ve told you what’s up with Ninja Slayer, but what’s it about? Here’s the summary:

From Kill la Kill’s radical Studio Trigger comes a badass and outrageous ninja anime that kicks reason to the curb with a screaming “WASSHOI!”

Ninjas. Karate. Sushi. The dystopian cyber underworld of Neo-Saitama is ruled from the shadows by an intricate web of drugs, yakuza gangs, and evil syndicate ninjas wielding fearsome “karate.” In a sea of the blood of his enemies, a lone maverick stands. NINJA SLAYER is a ninja who kills other ninjas in the name of ninja vengeance. A former salaryman whose family was killed by evil ninjas, Ninja Slayer cheats death and casts away his past to embrace the dark, mystical NINJA SOUL, a mysterious spirit that grants him great power in his quest for revenge. But will this bloodthirsty spirit consume Ninja Slayer before his enemies are all “dead on departure?” Domo. I’m Ninja Slayer.

And here’s your Japanese voice cast:

[...] (see actual blog post)

Simulcast launch date and time are still TBD, but stay tuned to FUNimation social media to be the first to know! In the meantime, here’s the trailer:

https://youtu.be/Mv3eiorvNo4

The Harem King Returns! FUNimation Acquires Rights for High School DxD BorN
Posted by Michelle on 03/31/2015 at 5:00pm

Your favorite Occult Research Club members are back for more adventures and nosebleed inducing drama. That’s right aspiring harem kings (and queens), FUNimation has acquired the rights for High School DxD BorN!

series synopsis:
The babes and boys of the Occult Research Club are Back! Lovable loser (and bust buff) Issei and his clan of bewitching beauties return for a new season of supernatural tussles and sexy shenanigans—featuring old friends and new enemies! Now that all the girls live in Issei’s home, life seems like nothing but fun and scantily-clad lounging…for now! Join Rias, Akeno, Koneko, Asia, Xenovia, Gasper, and everyone’s favorite Harem King Issei as they fight, fumble, and fondle their way through their demonic high school lives.

Japanese Voice Cast Info:

[...] (see blog post)

Genre: Fantasy, Fan Service

Stay tuned for more information about simulcast date and times! If you want to catch up on previous seasons of High School DxD, please visit http://funimation.com/high-school-dxd

FUNimation Acquires the Rights for Seraph of the End: Vampire Reign
Posted by Michelle on 03/31/2015 at 6:00pm

FUNimation is pleased to announce that we have acquired the simulcast and home video rights for Seraph of the End: Vampire Reign! The fantasy action series will premiere on April 4th, at 10am ET.

series synopsis:
From Wit Studio, the creative force behind Attack on Titan, comes a brand-new action series—Seraph of the End: Vampire Reign! After a mysterious virus wipes out ninety percent of humanity, vampires emerge from the recesses of the earth to enslave mankind, treating them like livestock. After growing tired of donating blood in exchange for protection, 12-year-old Yuichiro Hyakuya and his best friend Mikaela Hyakuya plot an escape along with the other orphans. After being the only successful runaway, Yuichiro joins the Moon Demon Company, an extermination unit of the Japanese Imperial Demon Army dedicated to killing off vampires. A true shonen fan should not miss out on Seraph of the End: Vampire Reign!

Japanese Voice Cast Info:

[...] (see blog post)

Click here for more information about Seraph of the End: Vampire Reign.

FUNimation Acquires Rights for Mikagura School Suite
Posted by Michelle on 04/01/2015 at 4:06pm

Our 2015 Spring Simulcast season is looking awesome! We’re pleased to announce that we’ve acquired the rights for the action comedy anime series–Mikagura School Suite!

series synopsis:

From the studio behind Laughing Under the Clouds and Yuruyuri comes a high school fantasy unlike any other! Like most awkward teens, formerly reclusive gamer Eruna Ichinomiya struggle to find her place at Mikagura High School. But her experience is far from ordinary, as the mischief-making members of the school’s manga, calligraphy, drama, and other cultural clubs vie for total school domination in a rather extreme way—ULTIMATE ATTACKS. Get ready for the high-energy high school adventure you’ve only ever dreamed of.

You’ll wish that your high school was this much fun!

Japanese Voice Cast Info:

[...] (see blog post)

Premiere date and time have yet to be determined, so stay tuned! Click here for more info about the show.

We’ve got MORE announcements coming! So check back with us tomorrow for more!

FUNimation Acquires the Heroic Legend of Arslan
Posted by Michelle on 04/02/2015 at 12:00pm

Our next announcement brings back a story that’s an oldie but a goodie. FUNimation has acquired the rights for The Heroic Legend of Arslan! This action, fantasy adventure series is sure to appeal to fans of Fullmetal Alchemist.

Synopsis:
From the original creator of Fullmetal Alchemist, Hiromu Arakawa brings back an old series—The Heroic Legend of Arslan! In the kingdom of Pars lies the Royal Capital of Ecbatana, a powerful city ruled by the fearsome King Andragoras. Arslan, the 14-year-old prince of Pars, is a green ruler and lacks the fierce leadership skills possessed by his father. After his father falls victim to a treacherous plot headed by one of his most trusted comrades, the kingdom of Pars falls in the war with the neighboring nation of Lusitania. Narrowly escaping with his life, Arslan must embark on a journey to reclaim the fallen kingdom and fulfill his destiny as ruler of Pars.

Japanese Voice Cast Info:

[...] (see blog post)

The series is set to premiere on April 5th at 5:00 am ET.

FUNimation Acquires the Rights to Blood Blockade Battlefront
Posted by Michelle on 04/03/2015 at 1:00pm

blood blockadeFUNimation is thrilled to announce that we have acquired the rights for Blood Blockade Battlefront! Studio Bones and Trigun creator, Yasuhiro Nightow, have teamed up to bring us an exciting sci-fi action-adventure epic. The manga for the series is currently distributed by Dark Horse Comics in the U.S.

synopsis:

A breach between Earth and the netherworlds has opened up over the city of New York, trapping New Yorkers and creatures from other dimensions in an impenetrable bubble. They’ve lived together for years, in a world of crazy crime sci-fi sensibilities. Now someone is threatening to sever the bubble, and a group of stylish superhumans is working to keep it from happening.

This is one wild ride you won’t want to miss. Stay tuned for show dates and times.