Bandai Entertainment has released some additional details concerning the Limited Edition of its .hack//SIGN (pronounced 'dot-hack') anime series.  The Limited Edition will street on March 4, 2003, while the regular edition won't be out until March 18.  The Limited Edition, which has an srp of $64.98, includes a box that will hold the entire series as well as several other goodies.  In addition to a plush figure of the porcine 'Grunty' character, the Limited Edition also includes a CD of music from the series, a .hack PS2 Video Game Demo Disk, as well as an exclusive .hack//SIGN postcard set, sticker, and T-shirt. The regular edition will retail for $29.98, but it won't include the extras.

 

One of the most popular anime series in Japan, .hack//SIGN is actually a multi-platform saga with different aspects of the story told in anime, manga, and video game formats (see 'Bandai Nabs .hack//SIGN Anime Rights').  Three of Japan's top creators collaborated in the creation of the .hack//SIGN universe.  Yoshiyuki Sadamoto (Evangelion, Wings of Honneamise) provided the character designs, while Kazunori Ito (Ghost in the Shell) wrote the immersive storyline that spills across the various media, and Kouichi Mashimo (Noir) directed the popular .hack//SIGN anime series.