VIZ Media has announced the acquisition of the rights to fantasy anime series Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit for television, home video and web streaming. The series will premiere on Neon Alley on Friday, January 17.
Based on a series of novels by Nahoko Uehashi, Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit chronicles the adventures of a wandering warrior named Balsa, who has vowed to atone for eight deaths in her past by saving an equivalent number of lives. For more details, check out the press release following the jump.
VIZ MEDIA ANNOUNCES LICENSE ACQUISITION OF MORIBITO: GUARDIAN OF THE SPIRIT ANIME SERIES AND DEBUT ON NEON ALLEY
Anime Fantasy Action Series About A Wandering Warrior And A Fallen Prince Launches This Month On VIZ Media’s Innovative 24/7 Anime Channel Neon Alley
San Francisco, CA, January 8, 2014 – VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), the largest distributor and licensor of anime and manga in North America, opens 2014 with the announcement of the mid-season Neon Alley debut of MORIBITO: GUARDIAN OF THE SPIRIT on Friday, January 17th at 10:30PM (PST). The 26-episode fantasy/action anime series is rated ‘TV-14’ and new installments will debut every Friday.
VIZ Media has also acquired the North American home video and web streaming rights for MORIBITO: GUARDIAN OF THE SPIRIT and plans to release the complete series on DVD and Blu-ray in 2014.
MORIBITO: GUARDIAN OF THE SPIRIT is based on a bestselling collection of Japanese fantasy novels by author Nahoko Uehashi. The anime series tells the story of Balsa, a nomadic warrior who has vowed to atone for eight deaths in her past by saving an equivalent number of lives. On her journey, she saves a fallen prince who carries the burden of a sacred spirit – one who has the power to save the world and bring new life to a broken empire. But, she must first protect the Prince from those who would do him harm – including his own father, the Emperor, who has ordered his assassination!
Neon Alley is VIZ Media’s innovative 24-hour English-dubbed linear anime channel that is available for general web access as well as for the Xbox 360® and Xbox LIVE® and the PlayStation®3 (PS3™) gaming system and the PlayStation®Network. Fans can also take advantage of the platform’s Video-On Demand “Catch Up” option which offers the flexibility to watch shows such as MORIBITO anytime. The “Catch Up” option also allows viewers to search for specific content by individual series or by latest additions.
“MORIBITO: GUARDIAN OF THE SPIRIT is the latest addition to the Neon Alley anime roster and we are very excited to kick off 2014 with this critically acclaimed action packed adventure that was developed by the famed animation studio Production I.G.,” says Charlene Ingram, Senior Animation Marketing Manager. “Balsa and Prince Chagum embark on a dangerous quest to discover the Prince’s mysterious connection to a legendary water spirit with the power to destroy his kingdom, or save it. Tune in every week for new episodes and also look forward to the forthcoming release of the series on DVD and Blu-ray later this year!”
“Working with VIZ Media is truly a pleasure, and as the group continues to expand Neon Alley, we are pleased to look into our library and make more quality titles available,” comments Mr. Yuma Sakata, President and CEO, Dentsu Entertainment USA.
Neon Alley’s diverse programming schedule includes a mix of action, adventure, sci-fi, supernatural, fantasy, and horror anime, all uncut and dubbed into English and presented in HD (when available), for a low monthly subscription rate of only $6.99.
For more information on Neon Alley, please visit www.NeonAlley.com.
For more information about other anime titles from VIZ Media, please visit: www.viz.com.
For more information about Dentsu Entertainment, please visit www.DentsuEntertainment.com