The Anime News Network is reporting that Bandai is planning a multi-media launch in Japan this fall for its new Battle Spirits Trading Card Game.  Sunrise is producing a Battle Spirits anime that is set to debut this fall and a Battle Spirits manga will launch in Kadokawa’s Kerokero Ace children’s manga magazine in August.

American game designer Michael Elliott (MTG, Duel Masters) has been in charge of the creation of the Battle Spirits TCG, which Bandai has spent three year developing.  The Battle Spirits TCG, which Bandai characterizes as “the next generation of trading card games,” is the product the company produced to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the its Carddas trading card vending machines.  The Battle Spirits cards will feature the demons, dragons, insects, birds, and spirits that players will control in battles during the game, which features fast gameplay and immediate turnarounds.

So far no company has announced plans to bring the Battle Spirits TCG, anime or manga to the U.S., though this is the sort of multi-media property, which, if successful in Japan, is likely to get a shot at the U.S. market.