Manga Entertainment

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Manga Entertainment, LLC

Type	Subsidiary of Starz Media LLC
Founded	1991
Headquarters	Los Angeles, California[1]
Key people	Andy Frain, Chris Blackwell, Marvin Gleicher, Laurence Guinness, Mike Preece
Industry	Entertainment (Anime)
Products	Anime theatrical and direct marketing and production
Website	Manga Entertainment Manga Entertainment UK Madman Entertainment (Handles Manga's Licences In Australia)

This article is about Manga Entertainment, the anime distributor. For Manga, a term for Japanese comics, see Manga.

To comply with Wikipedia's guidelines, the introduction of this article may need to be rewritten. Please discuss this issue on the talk page and read the layout guide to make sure the section will be inclusive of all essential details.

Manga Entertainment is a producer, licensor and distributor of Japanese animation in the United States, United Kingdom, France, Australia and New Zealand.

Manga Entertainment was founded by Andy Frain for Chris Blackwell's Island Records in 1991.^{[verification needed]} The company's first release, Akira, was both a critical and commercial success,^{[citation needed]} and led the company to license more anime for release in the Europe, Australia and, subsequently, the United States. Manga Entertainment became a hugely successful brand, consistently achieving Top 20 entries in the UK video charts.^{[citation needed][citation needed]}

The company's distribution was initially focused in the UK, Australia and Europe before expanding to the U.S in 1994. Originally based near Chicago, Illinois, Manga's USA branch became Manga Entertainment Inc. and focused on the North American anime market. Manga Entertainment's Australian division became Manga Entertainment Australia Ltd., but Manga Entertainment in the UK still has control over a majority of Manga Australia's catalogue. Frain resigned from Manga in November 1995^{[verification needed]}to start Touchwood Animation Ltd. but he retained a minority share in the company which he sold back to Blackwell prior to Manga's acquisition by IDT.^{[verification needed]} In November 1995, Marvin Gleicher replaced Frain as CEO, with Mike Preece as UK managing director.^{[verification needed]}

Despite their name, the company's principal business is the distribution of anime rather than manga, although they have published some manga in the UK under the Manga Books imprint such as Crying Freeman.^[2]

[edit] The company

Manga Entertainment is an entertainment company that co-produces animation such as Ghost in the Shell, Street Fighter Alpha: The Animation, Highlander: The Search for Vengeance and Eon Kid,^[3], usually through financial contributions toward production costs. However, Manga is primarily involved in the distribution of anime in Europe and the U.S. Manga is a division of Starz Media, a subsidiary of venture capital firm Liberty Media.

Manga Entertainment UK does not license some anime to Australia because Madman Entertainment has already secured the rights the license and distribute to the titles below and are at least six months ahead of Manga UK:

• Death Note
• Bleach
• Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence
• Naruto
• Casshan
• Millennium Actress
• Otogi Zoshi
• Robotech
• She, The Ultimate Weapon
• Tokyo Underground

Manga has also played a part in dubbing anime, when it is not sub-licensing a production that has already been licensed by another company (e.g., Akira, licensed and redubbed by Geneon in 2001, Bounty Dog, and Lupin III: Bye Bye Liberty Crisis).

Manga Entertainment originally opened in London in 1991 in order to bring anime to the European market. The companies first release was the film Akira (which was translated and dubbed in English by Streamline Pictures). The success of Akira was unprecedented and the Manga Entertainment company was quickly created. The U.S. arm debuted in July 1994 with an office near Chicago, Illinois; their first North American release was Macross Plus on late February 1995. Manga Entertainment has become a very well known brand around the world due to its continuing distribution of anime, which have proved to be a great success with fans around the world. This can be seen when Manga released Ninja Scroll and Ghost in the Shell, the latter being the only Japanese animated film to reach No. 1 on the Billboard Top 40 Video Sales chart (August 24, 1996). The company has also become associated with controversy concerning the distribution of hentai anime Urotsukidoji in Europe and Australia.

Managing Director, Kaoru Mfaume, oversaw Manga Entertainment's worldwide operations until he left in 2007.^{[verification needed]} His tenure at Manga followed an extensive career in the anime industry originally working as a production and development executive before becoming Manga’s Vice President of Acquisitions. He has served as executive producer on a number of high profile anime projects including Dead Leaves, Blood: The Last Vampire, Street Fighter Alpha Generations and Iron Kid, and is a permanent member of the Ghost in the Shell Production Committee.

[edit] Manga Entertainment Australia

The first presence of Manga Entertainment in Australia and New Zealand was in 1991, when Manga Entertainment UK sub-licensed Akira to Ronin Films Pty Ltd. Akira was a commercial success in Australia when it was released in cinemas nationwide. Manga then transferred that license to 21st Century Pictures Pty Ltd in 1992 and then received a VHS release. Manga UK tried to get Urotsukidoji: Legend of the Overfiend released in the country for a cinema-wide release, but was refused classification by the OFLC, which in turn was banned outright in Australia. Due to the recession in Australia at the time, Manga Entertainment and Island Records did not think it was a good idea to set up an Australian subsidiary until 1994, when Manga Entertainment Australia Pty Ltd. was established. Manga Australia re-submitted Urotsukidoji for classification, which was then classified R18+ without cuts. It received a cinema-wide release but then the Classification Review Board made the OFLC cut it before a VHS release date was announced. Manga then gave Siren Entertainment the distribution rights to most of their titles. Manga Entertainment merged with its new distributor, Madman Entertainment, in 2003 before being sold to IDT.

[edit] Manga UK products

[edit] Manga Force

From January 2007. Manga UK started to produce a fortnightly magazine aimed at promoting both the company itself through the use of some of its more revered titles. Issue one, for example, used Ghost in the Shell. The magazine will run for fifty issues and cost £8.99 for each issue after the first issue which was £2.99.

[edit] Anime Showcase

DVD cover for Anime Showcase

Anime Showcase is a promotional DVD which is being distributed for Manga UK by HMV. The price of the DVD is £3.99 and includes various snippets of different anime including:

• Noein - Episode 1
• Heat Guy J - Episode 1
• Otogi Zoshi - Episode 1
• A five minute preview of Hellboy: Sword of Storms
• Trailers For 'Tokyo Zombie', 'Noein', 'Tactics' and others.

A second Anime Showcase DVD was recently released. Priced at £3.99 (or free with selected Manga DVDS), it contained the following-

• Bleach - Episodes 1 & 2
• Naruto - Episodes 1 & 2
• Trailers for various Manga properties.

[edit] Anime licenced by Manga Entertainment

As of 2005^[update], Manga Entertainment owns the English rights to 57 anime titles. Their UK arm, Manga Entertainment UK, also sub-licenses a number of titles such as Akira and Naruto from American companies who do not have a UK division.

[edit] Current Licenses

[edit] United Kingdom (DVD Region 2)

• AD Police (BBFC: 18)
• Adventures with Iczer (BBFC: 12)
• Akira (BBFC: 15)
• Amon Saga (BBFC: 15)
• Appleseed (1988 OVA version) (BBFC: 15)
• Armageddon (BBFC: 12)
• Bleach (BBFC: 12)
• Black Jack (The Movie) (BBFC: 12)
• Blood: The Last Vampire (BBFC: 15)
• Bubblegum Crash (BBFC: 12)
• Buso Renkin (BBFC: 12)
• Casshan:Robot Hunter (OVA) (BBFC: 12)
• Choke (BBFC: 18)
• Dangaioh (BBFC: 15)
• Dark Myth (BBFC: 15)
• Dead Leaves (BBFC: 15)
• Death Note (BBFC: 12 ^[4])
• Detonator Orgun (BBFC: 15)
• Ghost in the Shell (BBFC: 15)
  

  

  Cover of Ghost in the Shell.
• Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence (BBFC: 15)
• Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex (BBFC: 15)
• Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex 2nd Gig (BBFC: 12)
• Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex Solid State Society (BBFC: 15)
• Golgo 13 (BBFC: 18)
• Heat Guy J (BBFC: 12)
• Hellsing Ultimate (BBFC: 15)
• Highlander: The Search for Vengeance (BBFC: 15)
• Kai Doh Maru (BBFC: 15)
• Karas (BBFC: 12)
• Landlock (BBFC: 15)
• Urotsukidoji: Legend of the Demon Womb (BBFC: 18 - Edited)
• Urotsukidoji: Legend of the Overfiend (BBFC: 18 - Edited)
• Macross Plus (BBFC: 12)
• Madox 01 (BBFC: PG)
• MÄR (BBFC: 12)
• Mega Man: Star Force (BBFC: 12)
• Millennium Actress (BBFC: PG)
• Naruto Unleashed (BBFC: 12)
• Naruto: The Lost Story (BBFC: 12)
• Naruto the Movie: Ninja Clash in the Land of Snow (BBFC: 12)
• Neon Genesis Evangelion: Death and Rebirth (BBFC: 15)
• Neon Genesis Evangelion: The End of Evangelion (BBFC: 15)
• New Dominion Tank Police (BBFC: 12)
• New Gall Force (BBFC: PG)
• Ninja Scroll (BBFC: 18 - Original release - Edited, 10th anniversary edition - Uncut)
• Origin: Spirits of the Past (BBFC: 12)
• Orguss 02 (BBFC: 15)
• Otogi Zoshi (BBFC: 15)
• Perfect Blue (BBFC: 18)
• Razor Blade Smile (BBFC: 18)
• Read or Die (OVA) (BBFC: 15)
• Robotech: The Complete Saga (BBFC: 12)
• Robotech: The Macross Saga (BBFC: PG)
• Robotech: The Masters (BBFC: 12)
• Robotech: The New Generation (BBFC: PG)
• She, The Ultimate Weapon (BBFC: 15)
• Space Adventure Cobra (BBFC: 15)
• Street Fighter Alpha (BBFC: 15)
• Street Fighter Alpha Generations (BBFC: 12)
• Street Fighter 2 (BBFC: 15)
• Submarine 707R (BBFC: PG)
• Survive Style 5+ (BBFC: 15)
• Sword for Truth (BBFC: 18)
• Tactics (BBFC: 15)
• Tetsujin 28 (BBFC: 12)
• Tetsujin 28: The Movie (BBFC: PG)
• The Secret Adventures of Tom Thumb (BBFC: 15)
• The Secret of Mamo (BBFC: 15)
• Tokko (BBFC: 15)
• Tokyo Fist (BBFC: 18)
• Tokyo Underground (BBFC: PG)
• Vampire Hunter D (OVA version) (BBFC: 15)
• Vampire Wars (BBFC: 18)
• Virus Buster Serge (BBFC: 12)
• Voltron (BBFC: U)
• X: The Movie (BBFC: 15)
• Zeorymer (BBFC: 15)

[edit] Australia (DVD Region 4, Distributed By Madman Entertainment, formerly by Siren Entertainment and Polygram)

• Akira (OFLC: M, Theatrically Released in 1991 by Island Visual, Manga Entertainment UK, Ronin Films and ICA Projects)
• Amon Saga (OFLC: M)
• Anime Classics (OFLC: R 18+, A boxset containing Ninja Scroll, Akira and Ghost In The Shell, a re-branding of Manga UK's Manga Classics)
• Appleseed OVA (OFLC: M, Previously released on VHS by itself and bundled with Battle Angel Alita)
• Blackjack (OFLC: M)
• Blood: The Last Vampire (OFLC: M)
• Dead Leaves (OFLC: MA 15+)
• End Of Evangelion (OFLC: M)
• Ghost in the Shell (OFLC: M, Theatrically released in 1995 by Manga Entertainment Australia)
• Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex (OFLC: M)
• Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex 2nd GIG (OFLC: M)
• Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex - Individual Eleven (OFLC: M)
• The Professional: Golgo 13 (OFLC: R 18+)
• Highlander: The Search for Vengeance (OFLC: M)
• Kai Doh Maru (OFLC: M)
• KARAS (OFLC: M)
• Macross Plus (OFLC: PG)
• Millennium Actress (OFLC: PG)
• Noein (OFLC: M)
• Neon Genesis Evangelion: Death and Rebirth (OFLC: M)
• Ninja Scroll (First VHS Production Certification, Manga's USA uncut version, OFLC: MA 15+, Re-Issued VHS Certification OFLC: R 18+, using Manga's Australian and UK BBFC cut for the VHS, edited DVD and the uncut DVD version, Theatrically Released in 1994 by Manga Entertainment Australia)
• Patlabor: The Movie (OFLC: PG, re-released as a 2 disc DVD collection with Patlabor 2, Theatrically released in 1995 by Manga Entertainment Australia and Siren Entertainment)
• Patlabor: The Movie 2 (OFLC: PG, re-released as a 2 disc DVD collection with Patlabor 1, Theatrically released in 1996 by Manga Entertainment Australia)
• Shadow Skill (OFLC: M)
• Street Fighter Alpha: Generations (OFLC: M)
• Street Fighter Alpha: The Movie (OFLC: M)
• Street Fighter II: The Animated Movie (OFLC: M, Theatrically released in 1996 by Manga Entertainment Australia, Columbia Tristar and Sony Music Entertainment Australia)
• Street Fighter II V (OFLC: M)
• Urotsukidoji: Legend Of The Overfiend (OFLC: R 18+, Edited, Theatrically released in its uncut form by Manga Entertainment Australia in 1992)
• Urotsukidoji: Legend Of The Demon Womb (OFLC: R 18+, Edited, Theatrically released by Manga Entertainment Australia in 1995)
• Virus Buster Serge (OFLC: M)
• Wicked City (OFLC: R 18+, Previously released on VHS bundled Monster City a.k.a Demon City Shinjuku on 1 tape and by itself)
• X: The Movie (OFLC: MA 15+)

[edit] Expired licences in Australia

• Voltron (Re-released by Madman Entertainment)
• Cyber City Oedo 808 (Re-released by Madman Entertainment, OFLC's Manga VHS certifications, M and MA 15+, DVD certification, M, Released on 3 VHS tapes, and released on 1 tape as apart of Manga's The Cyberpunk Collection)
• Demon City Shinjuku (OFLC: M, Re-released by Madman Entertainment, used to be called

by Manga's Name, Monster City, released on 1 tape from Manga, and bundled with Wicked City on 1 tape)

• Fist of the North Star (OFLC: M)
• Giant Robo (OFLC: PG, M)
• Landlock (OFLC: M)
• Macross Plus: Movie Edition (OFLC: PG)
• Macross II (OVA version by Kiseki Films, OFLC: PG, Manga's movie version, OFLC, M)
• Orguss 02 (OFLC: PG)
• Perfect Blue (OFLC: MA)
• Project A-ko (OFLC: PG, M, Re-released by Madman Entertainment)
• The Castle of Cagliostro (OFLC: PG, re-released by Madman Entertainment,)
• Wings Of Honneamise (OFLC: M, re-released by Madman Entertainment under Bandai Visual's Honneamise Label, Theatrically released by Manga Entertainment Australia in 1995)
• Mystery of Mamo(OFLC: M, re-released by Madman Entertainment)
• Space Adventure Cobra (OFLC: M, re-released by Madman Entertainment, Theatrically released by Manga Entertainment Australia in 1995)
• The Secret Adventures of Tom Thumb (OFLC: M)
• Violence Jack (OFLC: RC, R 18+, Distribution of the Violence Jack OVA's was scrapped in Australia a few months after Violence Jack 1 was refused classification. But 2 and 3 went through without a problem.)
• Riding Bean (OFLC: M)
• You're Under Arrest! (OFLC: M)
• Bubblegum Crisis (OFLC: M)

[edit] Yet to be released on DVD by Manga Entertainment in Australia (Still Licensed)

• 3x3 Eyes (OFLC: M)
• Armageddon (OFLC: MA 15+)
• A Wind Named Amnesia (OFLC: M)
• AD Police (OFLC: MA 15+)
• Angel Cop (OFLC: M)
• Battle Angel Alita (OFLC: M, released on 1 tape by Manga and bundled on 1 tape with Appleseed OVA)
• Bounty Dog (OFLC: M)
• Blue Sonnet (OFLC: M)
• Bubblegum Crash (OFLC: M)
• Crying Freeman (OFLC: M, R 18+)
• Devilman (OFLC: M, MA 15+)
• Dominion Tank Police (OFLC: PG)
• Doomed Megalopolis (OFLC: M)
• Genocyber Episodes 4 and 5 were not released by Manga Video (OFLC: M, R 18+)
• Gunhed (OFLC: M)
• Guyver (OFLC: PG, M)
• Goku: Midnight Eye (OFLC: M)
• Goku II: Midnight Eye (OFLC: MA 15+)
• Junk Boy (OFLC: MA 15+)
• Kabuto (OFLC: M)
• Mad Bull 34 (OFLC: R 18+)
• New Dominion Tank Police (OFLC: PG, M)
• Odin: Photon Sailer Starlight (OFLC: M)
• Sohryuden (Known in Australia as The Legend of the 4 Kings OFLC: M)
• Tactics
• Tokyo Babylon (OFLC: PG, M)

[edit] North America (DVD Region 1)

• Amon Saga
• Angel Cop [17+]
• Appleseed [16+] [TV-14]
• Black Jack: A Surgeon with the Hands of God [13+]
• Blood: The Last Vampire [17+]
• Bounty Dog
• The Castle of Cagliostro [9+] [MPAA: PG-13]
• Dangaioh [13+]
• Dead Leaves [17+]
• Descendants of Darkness [13+] (TV rights)
• Ghost in the Shell (along with Polygram Films) [17+]
• Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex (along with Bandai Entertainment) [13+ and 16+ on Disc 3 (for Episode 10: Jungle Cruise)] [TV-14]/[TV-PG/TV-14/TV-MA]
  • Ghost in the Shell: S.A.C. 2nd Gig [13+] [TV-14]/[TV-MA]
  • Ghost in the Shell: S.A.C. Solid State Society [13+]
• Ghost Sweeper Mikami (Movie) [16+]
• Gurren Lagann [13+] (TV rights)
• Highlander: The Search for Vengeance
• Kaidohmaru
• Karas [13+]
• Landlock
• Macross II [13+]
• Macross Plus [13+]
• MD Geist [M]
• Neon Genesis Evangelion: Death and Rebirth [15+]
• Neon Genesis Evangelion: The End of Evangelion [17+]
• Ninja Scroll [18+]
• Noein [13+]
• Perfect Blue (along with Miramax Films) [17+] [MPAA: Restricted; Unrated for uncut version]
• Psychic Wars
• Street Fighter II: The Animated Movie (along with Columbia Pictures) [13+] [MPAA: PG-13]
• Street Fighter II V [13+]
• Street Fighter Alpha: The Movie [13+]
• Street Fighter Alpha: Generations [13+]
• Shadow Skill (OVA and movie)
• Sword for Truth
• Tactics [13+]
• Tokko [13+]
• Vampire Wars
• Virus Buster Serge
• X the Movie [TV-14] [MPAA: Restricted]

See also the list of anime licensed by Manga Entertainment.^[5]

[edit] US Spanish-language releases

• Ninja Scroll
• Patlabor the Movie 1 (expired)

[edit] Expired licenses in North America

• Black Magic M-66 [16+]
• Dark Myth
• Devilman
• Fist of the North Star (TV, first 36 episodes only) [13+]
• Giant Robo
• Gunbuster [13+]
• Guyver [13+]
• Mad Bull 34 [18+]
• New Dominion Tank Police
• Patlabor: The Movie [10+]
• Patlabor 2: The Movie [10+]
• Rayearth (OVA) [13+]
• Red Hawk [15+]
• Violence Jack
• Wings of Honneamise

Both Patlabor movies were subsequently licensed by Bandai Visual USA (now a subsidiary of Bandai Entertainment) and released through its Honneamise distribution label. Their releases included remastered video and audio and new English dubs for both movies (they were released in 2006). Bandai Visual USA also released a subtitled-only DVD set of Gunbuster on February 2007, as well as a DVD/Blu-Ray twin set of Wings of Honneamise on September 2007.^[6]. Giant Robo has since been licensed by Media Blasters, which completed the series (along with the Ginrei spinoff) and re-dubbed the English dialogue.

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Manga Video and Manga Entertainment LTD
• Manga Entertainment at YouTube
• Mangaforce Fan Site.
• Original Manga Trailer