Gamers.com has reported that Bandai will create an animated TV series and a Playstation 2 game based on the manga property Gunslinger Girl.  The plot of Gunslinger Girl is reminiscent of Noir, with beautiful brainwashed assassins working at the behest of a super secret intelligence agency carrying out bloody hits against a backdrop of picturesque European locales.  The Bandai-produced anime series should be broadcast in Japan this fall, while the PS 2 game should be out in 2004.  At this time, Bandai Entertainment has no plans to import the title into the U.S., according to Bandai's Jerry Chu, but of course that could change in the future. 

Meanwhile ADV will publish the Gunslinger Girl manga series in English as part of its burgeoning manga publishing program.  Look for the Gunslinger Girl manga series from ADV sometime early in 2004.