On Oct. 24, 2006, ADV Films begins to wrap up its October lineup of DVD releases with the debut of MACROSS: EVE OF DESTRUCTION, the sixth of seven DVDs re-presenting the classic series in its entirety – and for the first time ever with an English dub. Previously in October, ADV released the 17th and 18th volumes of GATCHAMAN as well as the ninth and final GATCHAMAN COLLECTION, GET BACKERS SEASON ONE THIN-PACK, FARSCAPE STARBURST EDITION 4.3, VERMILION PLEASURE NIGHT: CRÈME DE LA CRÈME, GENE RODDENBERRY’S ANDROMEDA SEASON 5 BOX SET, GENE RODDENBERRY’S ANDROMEDA SLIPSTREAM COLLECTION and the second volume of PAPUWA. For the anime classic, MACROSS: EVE OF DESTRUCTION, this deluxe package, featuring digitally-restored video and a brand-new 5.1 soundtrack, includes interviews, commentaries and other extras. In this release, the battle lines have been drawn, the opposing forces are in place. The Macross is now allied with the same Zentradi fleets they have fought for over a year, but even an armada of a thousand ships is nothing against the overwhelming juggernaut of over four million ships that now oppose them. Yet Mankind has a secret weapon that has thus far repelled every attack against it. Can the force the ancients called “Protoculture” save the Earth from total destruction once again? MACROSS: EVE OF DESTRUCTION ($29.98) is a DVD-only release including episodes 27-31, presented in both English 5.1 and Japanese 2.0 with English subtitles. Extras include the featurette “The Women of Macross,” an interview with Monica Rial (Misa) and Christine Auten (Claudia), liner notes, character and mecha statistics, clean opening animation, and previews of upcoming ADV titles. GATCHAMAN is the seminal 1970s anime series from Tatsunoko Prods. (SPEED RACER, ROBOTECH), which was recut for broadcast in the U.S. as BATTLE OF THE PLANETS and later G-FORCE. GATCHAMAN 17: FUTURE KILL ($14.98) is a DVD-only release including episodes 96-100, presented in both English 5.1 and Japanese 2.0 with English subtitles. Extras include commentary on episode 96 with Luci Christian (Jinpei) and George Manley (narrator), a new installment of “Gatchaman Karaoke,” plus clean opening animation, clean closing animation, and previews of upcoming ADV Films releases. GATCHAMAN 18: FINAL JUSTICE ($14.98) is a DVD-only release including episodes 101-105, presented in both English 5.1 and Japanese 2.0 with English subtitles. Extras include commentary for episode 105 with Leraldo Anzaldua (Ken) and Charles Campbell (adr director), the final installment of “Gatchaman Karaoke,” plus clean opening animation, clean closing animation, and previews of upcoming ADV Films releases. GATCHAMAN COLLECTION 9 ($34.98) is a three-disk box set containing volumes seventeen and eighteen, plus a disk full of extras. The Collection comes in a chipboard box with art by Alex Ross. Video extras include a voice actor round table talk video, Leader X auditions and profile, the video short “Gatchaman at the Alamo” and more. GET BACKERS, animated by Studio Deen (JING – KING OF BANDITS), is the story of Ginji Amano and Ban Midou, two chronically broke but supernaturally empowered youths who run a “recovery service.” Their motto — “If it was taken, get it back.” GET BACKERS SEASON ONE THIN-PACK ($59.98) is a Thin-Pack DVD-only release including all 25 episodes from the first season, presented in both English 5.1 and Japanese 2.0 with English subtitles. FARSCAPE is a live-action sci-fi TV series produced in Australia by The Jim Henson Co. and Hallmark Ent. For four years, astronaut John Crichton (Ben Browder, STARGATE SG-1) has been lost somewhere in the universe, doing whatever it takes to stay alive. He’s lived onboard a massive, living ship named Moya together with a group of escaped alien prisoners who have become his friends. He’s even met the love of his live… a beautiful renegade commando named Aeryn Sun (Claudia Black, STARGATE SG-1). Now, Crichton and his friends are caught squarely in the maelstrom of an intergalactic conflict between the Peacekeeper and the Scarrans -- monstrous alien races hell-bent to use wormhole technology to dominate the universe. But Crichton is determined to end this battle once and for all. FARSCAPE STARBURST EDITION 4.3 ($24.98) is an anamorphic DVD-only release, including episodes 415 - 422. FARSCAPE: STARBURST EDITION 4.3 includes a behind-the-scenes interview with Anthony Simcoe (D’Argo), a video short wrap-up speech from David Kemper, “From the Archives: On the Last Day,” new commentary for the series finale “Bad Timing” with Browder (Crichton), Black (Aeryn) and exec producer David Kemper, a “Listening In” segment with composer Guy Gross covering the episode “Bad Timing,” deleted scenes, updated character histories for Stark, Sikozu, Noranti, Rygel, Moya, and Pilot, more “Cool Farscape Facts,” new “Alien Encounters” and a production design gallery. VERMILION PLEASURE NIGHT: CRÈME DE LA CRÈME is a variety show, directed by FUCCONS creator Yoshimasa Ishibashi, the internationally acclaimed artist whose installations have graced New York’s MOMA and London’s Tate Gallery, VERMILION PLEASURE NIGHT is a mélange of strange and sometimes disturbing vignettes that holds up a cracked mirror to contemporary culture. VERMILION PLEASURE NIGHT: CRÈME DE LA CRÈME ($19.98) is a DVD-only release including the final night and bonus skits – including the best-of compilation “Color of Life” – presented in both English 2.0 and Japanese 2.0 with English subtitles. ADV Films has also released the entire fifth season of GENE RODDENBERRY’S ANDROMEDA. Based on writings of the legendary writer/producer/creator of STAR TREK series franchise Gene Roddenberry, the series is produced by Andromeda Prods. Ltd. in association with Tribune Ent. Co. and Fireworks Ent. Inc. In the final season, Captain Dylan Hunt (Kevin Sorbo, HERCULES: THE LEGENDARY JOURNEYS) has been trapped in time near a black hole for 300 years, struggled with a less-than-cooperative crew of renegades, aliens, android and confronted awesome dangers lurking behind every star. Now, he must face his greatest challenge – understanding his own past and ultimate destiny. On the meteor-scarred planet Seefra-1, Dylan and his crew uncover a mysterious secret merging past, future, space, and time. GENE RODDENBERRY’S ANDROMEDA SEASON 5 BOX SET ($69.98) is a DVD-only release including all 22 episodes of the fifth season. Packed with extras, each episode is presented in anamorphic widescreen in English 2.0 audio and closed captioning. In addition, ADV Films has released GENE RODDENBERRY’S ANDROMEDA SLIPSTREAM COLLECTION, the definitive collection of nationally syndicated weekly sci-fi/action program. It ($169.98) is an anamorphic DVD-only release including all 110 episodes of the fan-favorite series. THE SLIPSTREAM COLLECTION is loaded with all the extensive, behind-the-scenes special features sci-fi fans want, including extensive interviews with the cast members from each season, in depth interviews with the production team, tours of the set, visual effects demonstrations, stunt demonstrations, audio commentaries, deleted scenes, hilarious bloopers and gags, the original TV promos, character profiles, the “High Guard Glossary” and extensive production design galleries. PAPUWA: ZOMBIE SAMBA is the second of a six-disc DVD series. The crazy creatures on Papuwa Island are preparing for the annual Obon festival, where their undead ancestors return to life for a giant zombie dance party. Unfortunately, Liquid’s old war buddies, the Special Battle Unit, have come to crash the party, kidnap Kotaro and send everyone’s grandparents back to their graves. If that wasn’t enough, The Ganma Army has sent reinforcements to reclaim their boss’ son — even if it means restoring his memories and destroying Papuwa Island. Plus, the dastardly Shinsengumi have show up and aim at nothing short of Kotaro’s demise. PAPUWA: ZOMBIE SAMBA ($29.98) is a DVD-only release including episodes six through 10, presented in both English 2.0 and Japanese 2.0 with English subtitles. Extras include translator notes and a character art gallery, plus clean opening animation, clean closing animation and previews of upcoming ADV Films releases. For more information, visit www.advfilms.com.
Rick DeMott
Animation World Network
Creator of Rick's Flicks Picks
