Funimation Productions, the company behind the American versions of DBZ, Yu-Yu Hakusho, and Blue Gender, has acquired the rights to Kiddy Grade, an anime space opera in the mode of the classic Dirty Pair series.  It follows the exploits of two beautiful agents, who work for the interstellar agency known as GOTT (Galactic Organization of Trade and Tariffs).  Eclair, the older member of the duo, is a master of disguises (and sexy outfits), who possesses superhuman speed, strength, and ability.  Watch out when Eclair reaches for her lipstick, which contains explosives as well as a whip.  Her younger partner, Lumiere, who's rarely seen without her white gloves and wine bottle, is an expert in electronic warfare.  While posing as receptionist/secretaries at GOTT, ?clair and Lumiere are actually members of secret ES group ('Encounter of Shadow Work) that works behind the scenes to clear up trouble between various states and planets.  With superpowered gorgeous girls, lots of cool mecha designs, and sexy spaceships, Kiddy Grade has been a big hit in Japan, and should manage to receive considerable TV exposure here in the States, before the series is through.

Funimation has had a very good track record in picking properties to bring to the U.S., because the company only acquires series that like, Kiddy Grade, are extremely successful in Japan.  As Funimation CEO Gen Fukunaga told ICv2, 'If a show isn't popular and doesn't get good ratings in Japan, there is no reason to think that it will be popular here.'  Although the director of Kiddy Grade, Goto Keiji, has never directed before, he is well known in anime circles as the character designer for Martian Successor Nadeisco and Gate Keepers.  In Kiddy Grade the director found the right balance between the ultra cuteness ('kawaii') of the female leads, the sleek coolness of the spaceships and mecha designs, and edge-of-your-seat scenes of combat mayhem.