Tower of Druaga News

FUNimation Entertainment Announces Strategic Alliance with GDH for More Effective Delivery of Titles to North America
 
Flower Mound, Texas – March 20, 2008 -- FUNimation® Entertainment and Japanese producer GDH have entered into an agreement to broadcast GDH’s current and future hit series via online media distribution and to collaborate on each series DVD launch in the US.
The strategic alliance will begin Friday, March 20 with the action fantasy anime series "The Tower of Druaga" and the action horror series "Blassreiter".
The collaboration will showcase English subtitled versions of GDH properties streamed via FUNimation’s website (www.funimation.com) as well as through GDH’s key video-sharing partners.
 
In addition, FUNimation will offer a download-to-own option for these episodes through www.funimation.com and other sites at $1.99 per episode. 
 
“Our eventual goal is to simulcast these series online in tandem with the Japanese broadcast debut,” said Gen Fukunaga, president and CEO of FUNimation Entertainment. “We will also be working much more closely with GDH on the U.S. DVD release of the dubbed series. This coordination will enhance the success of these series in the U.S.”
 
”We are very excited about this strategic alliance, which enables us to deliver GDH content to US audiences much more effectively in multiple media platforms such as growing online media and traditional packaged media,”  said Shinichiro Ishikawa, Executive Vice President of GDH.
 
 
About GDH                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            
GDH is a globally-focused Japanese media company founded in February 2000. The group produces cutting edge entertainment for teens and young adults through its GONZO animation brand. Kids and family product is distributed through the GONZO FILMS and GONZINO brands.
GDH is a world leader in content development targeting both domestic and international audiences with Japan's trend-setting animation culture and, usually, GDH controls licensing management and international distribution for the content it produces. For additional information, visit www.gdh.co.jp/english (for GDH) and www.gonzo.co.jp(for GONZO - Japanese only).
GDH group companies include GONZO Rosso K.K., GONZO K.K., Future Vision Music K.K., GONZINO K.K., and GK Entertainment K.K.
 
About FUNimation Entertainment
 
FUNimation® Entertainment, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Navarre Corporation, is the leading company for home video sales of Japanese animation in the United States.  FUNimation has a proven formula for launching and advancing brands, and manages a full spectrum of rights for most of its brands including broadcasting, licensing, production, internet, and home video sales and distribution. For more information about FUNimation Entertainment and its brands, visit www.funimation.com.

THE TOWER OF DRUAGA-THE SWORD OF URUK- TO PREMIERE ON CRUNCHYROLL

Online Media Distribution Leader to Broadcast Sequel on January 8, 2009

San Francisco, CA (December 26, 2008) ­ Return to exciting world of Gonzo¹s
THE TOWER OF DRUAGA in the sequel to the hit series THE TOWER OF DRUAGA ­
THE AEGIS OF URUK - with the Crunchyroll Anime Membership. Following on the
suspense of the original title, the sequel promises to continue with many
surprises in store. More information can be found at www.crunchyroll.com.

Crunchyroll Anime Membership will begin on January 8, 2009-in conjunction
with the first ever world wide simulcast of NARUTO SHIPPUDEN and has a
SPECIAL pre-order price of $6.95/month.    Fans are encouraged to pre-order
the subscription plan by January 8, 2009 to lock in the special holiday deal
and begin enjoying over one hundred (100) fantastic anime titles in January.
All fans can enjoy all content on the site for free, including the upcoming
THE TOWER OF DRUAGA ­ THE SWORD OF URUK -, but Anime Members will enjoy some
additional special privileges. More information can be found at
www.crunchyroll.com <http://www.crunchyroll.com> /preorder.

Crunchyroll Anime Membership benefits include higher quality streams of all
shows (in some cases at 720p High Definition Video) with no advertisement
and early access to simulcast shows such as THE TOWER OF DRUAGA ­ THE SWORD
OF URUK -, LINEBARRELS OF IRON, NARUTO SHIPPUDEN, GINTAMA, SKIP BEAT, SHUGO
CHARA!, WEB GHOST and additional titles as early as one (1) hour after their
Japan Broadcast.  In addition, Crunchyroll Anime Members will be awarded a
special NARUTO Headband virtual item for their avatars in the famed virtual
world of Crunchyland!

About GDH K.K.
GDH is a globally-focused Japanese media company founded in February 2000.
The group produces cutting edge entertainment for teens and young adults
through its GONZO animation brand. Kids and family product is distributed
through the GONZO FILMS and GONZINO brands.
GDH is a world leader in content development targeting both domestic and
international audiences with Japan's trend-setting animation culture and,
usually, GDH controls licensing management and international distribution
for the content it produces.
For additional information, visit www.gdh.co.jp/english
<http://www.gdh.co.jp/english>  (for GDH) and www.gonzo.co.jp
<http://www.gonzo.co.jp> (for GONZO - Japanese only).
GDH group companies include GONZO Rosso K.K., GONZO K.K., Future Vision
Music K.K., GONZINO K.K., GDH Capital K.K. and GK Entertainment K.K.
About Crunchyroll
Headquartered in San Francisco, California ­ Crunchyroll is hailed as a
leading online entertainment brand with the largest international online
community and destination focused on Asian entertainment including anime,
drama, music in addition to electronic entertainment and auto content.
Crunchyroll¹s distribution channel and partnership program delivers content
to over five million passionate fans worldwide. Crunchyroll is funded by the
premiere group Venrock.  More information can be found at its website
http://www.crunchyroll.com.