FUNimation will release three films theatrically in January in collaboration with The Bigger Picture (see 'FUNimation Films with The Bigger Picture') in over 100 theaters in the
The features are Vexille, the new film from the Appleseed team (see 'FUNimation Nabs Feature from Appleseed Team'); the eighth One Piece feature, The Desert Princess and the Pirates Adventures in Alabasta; and a 2007 live action feature, Genghis Khan -- To the Ends of the Earth and Sea. One Piece is scheduled for a February 19th DVD release; the other two will be released on DVD sometime in 2008.
This program is different from (and involves fewer theaters than) the Anime Bento program FUNimation ran last summer (see 'Anime Bento Festival').
And in an unrelated announcement also made at New York Anime Festival, FUNimation has announced the hiring of a replacement for departed COO Ward Thomas (see 'Ward Thomas Leaving FUNimation'). Gary A. Ross, the new COO, co-founded the Suncoast retail chain and grew the business to 420 stores. He also held executive positions at Blockbuster, Musicland, The Gap, Target, and specialty retailer Top Hat Inc.
