According to Video Business, Geneon, which was acquired by the ad agency Dentsu last year, is planning a major expansion of its U.S. activities by opening offices in Minneapolis and New York and inaugurating a new U.S.-based theatrical distribution division, Geneon films. 

The new Geneon Films division will oversee the fall release of the Appleseed movie, based on the manga by Masamune Shirow (see 'Geneon Will Distribute Appleseed Movie'). 

Geneon's Minneapolis office demonstrates the growing importance to the anime market of the Minnesota-based Best Buy and Target chains, while Geneon's Big Apple office was chosen for its proximity to HQs for MTV (Heat Guy J) and the Cartoon Network (Lupin the Third).

Eiji Orii, who joined Pioneer/Geneon back in 1983, will oversee the expansion from his newly appointed position of Senior VP and Chief Planning Officer.  Takashi Tanaka, who formerly headed the Dentsu agency's New York office, has been named Executive VP and COO; while Yushin Soga, who was one of the producers of Spirited Away and Princess Mononoke, will be the new Senior VP and CFO.