FUNimation to Distribute LASTEXILE - Fam, The Silver Wing

[WTK]

via PR... | Official Website

FUNimation Entertainment to Distribute LASTEXILE - Fam, The Silver Wing - in the U.S.

Project Marks 20th Anniversary of GONZO and New Chapter in Hit Anime Series

Flower Mound, Texas (June 22, 2011) – FUNimation® Entertainment today announced it has acquired the U.S. internet streaming and home video rights to the action adventure fantasy anime series “LASTEXILE - Fam, The Silver Wing - ” (also known as “Rasuto Eguzairu - Ginyoku no Famu”) from the legendary studio GONZO, the production team behind the “LASTEXILE” saga.

“LASTEXILE” is a Japanese animated television series created by GONZO which aired on TV Tokyo in 2003. This new “LASTEXILE” brings back director Koichi Chigira, character designer Range Murata, production designer Makoto Kobayashi but will be a new story with new main characters and production designs.
Music will again be done by Hitomi Kuroishi.

U.S. anime fans will be able to see the world premiere of the first episode of “LASTEXILE -Fam, The Silver Wing-” at this year’s Anime Expo in Los Angeles, July 1-4.
http://www.funimation.com/last-exile

About GONZO K.K.
GONZO K.K. is a Tokyo-based media company founded in September 1992. Through its Emmy-winning production company, GONZO produces innovative content for both domestic and international markets. Also an experienced media rights manager, GONZO usually controls licensing, merchandising, and international distribution rights to the content it produces. For additional information, please visit http://www.gonzo.co.jp (Japanese only).

About FUNimation® Entertainment
FUNimation® Entertainment 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 http;//www.funimation.com.

[ExcelGenerations]

I like the art and character designs from the first. I guess I'll check it out when it's released. Maybe checked it out at AX too.

[Tratious]

I'll watch it even though I haven't watched the first one, Range Murata is an awesome designer.

[Renzo]

Not a big fan of the first series. Kinda surprised that they announced this ahead of AX.

[ibby]

Abit odd IMO that Funimation annoucnced this prior to AX. Not a fan of Studio Gonzo in genral.

[FUNiOP]

Obvious license, but nice to see them confirm it so early. I wonder if Crunchyroll will also get to simulcast it since it's a Gonzo show, or if it will just be FUNimation. Hopefully it will get Blu-ray, and not too long after the Japanese release. As far as I can tell so far, the only returning characters are Tatiana and Dio, and Joshua Seth doesn't even voice act anymore, so I really doubt FUNimation would even consider having Bang Zoom! dub it. They'll probably put out an offer to Michelle Ruff to reprise her role, though. I wish I could go to Anime Expo so I could (among so many other things my head would probably explode from trying to do too much) watch the premiere a full season before the actual Japanese airing and FUNimation simulcast starts.

[TAS]

Originally Posted by ibby

Abit odd IMO that Funimation annoucnced this prior to AX. Not a fan of Studio Gonzo in genral.

I expect it was because they want to promote "world premiere of the first episode".

[Buckeye]

I was expecting this announcement, but not this soon. Funi must have some really special plans.

[Keith]

I'm still confused. Is this a sequal or a remake?

[TheLaughingMan]

Originally Posted by Keith

I'm still confused. Is this a sequal or a remake?

Sounds like neither. It's most likely not a remake and i doubt it's a sequel (it only brings back 2 or 3 side characters).
I'd say it looks to be a new Last Exile set in the same universe that wouldn't reference the first one. Tatiana still being there is really awesome.