FUNimation Entertainment has announced the acquisition of digital, broadcast, home video and merchandise rights to two anime series from Media Factory, Baka and Test—Summon the Beasts, and Dance in the Vampire Bund. Later this week FUNimation will begin streaming subtitled episodes of both series, and starting March 10th a new subtitled episode in each series will be “simulcast” within days of airing in
Baka and Test—Summon the Beasts (Baka to Test to Shokanju) is a fantasy/romantic comedy based on a series of light novels by Kenji Inoue that has also inspired two manga spin-offs. The 13-episode anime, which debuted on January 7th, is being directed by Shin Onuma (Pani Poni Dash, Ef: A Tale of Memories). Set in a magic academy where the students are grouped rigorously by tests of their abilities, the “Baka” (idiot) of the title is Akihisa Yoshii, who is relegated to Class F where the décor is orange crates and worn tatami mats. By starting a conflict between beasts conjured by the teen wizards, Yoshii leads of revolt of his fellow dunce-level wizards, a group that includes the highly gifted Mizuki, who just happened to be ill on testing day. Can Yoshii and his ragtag band level the playing field with the powerful and privileged Class A kids who have leather recliners, air conditioners, and lots of electronic gear?
Dance in the Vampire Bund is a 12-episode series produced by Shaft and based on Nozomu Tamaki’s manga, which is published here by Seven Seas Entertainment. The sixth volume in the series was released here by Seven Seas last month and Volume 7 is slated to debut on June 8th. In this innovative romantic vampire series, the Vampire Princess Mina Tepes, by paying off the national debt of Japan, has acquired a special district, the “Bund,” that is a safe haven for vampires, who can finally come out of hiding and live in peace. But her scheme is under attack from extremist vampire and human factions who don’t want vampires and humans to live in any sort of harmony.
