In the new issue of Newtype USA Bandai Visual US announced the acquisition of the mecha-heavy 13-episode science fiction anime series Engage Planet Kissdum. While Bandai Visual U.S. remains committed to releasing Criterion quality editions of classic anime series, it has also produced American versions of a number of anime series of recent vintage including Galaxy Angel Rune, Freedom (see 'Geneon to Distribute Bandai Visual'), and Wings of Rean (see 'Bandai Visual Has Wings of Rean'). Certainly that is the case with Engage Planet Kissdum, which just debuted on Japanese TV this April.
Set on a prosperous Earth in 2031, Engage Planet Kissdum involves a desperate struggle against an alien enemy (Hardians). With mechanical designs by the great Shoji Kawamori (Macross, Escaflowne,
While the near simultaneous release of series in Japan and the U.S. is probably the best way to forestall at least a portion of the illegal downloading of fan-subbed anime that has bedeviled the American anime industry (see 'Death Note DVDs Later'), the next best thing is the quick announcement of the acquisition of a North American license, since most key fan sites won't offer downloads of programs that are already licensed for the U.S.
Meanwhile a report from A-kon on the Anime News Network indicates that Bandai Visual is continuing its original mission to bring high quality editions of classic anime to North America with an HD and Blu-Ray release for the 1987 anime classic Wings of Honneamise set for September 11th, as well as a Blu-Ray version of Katsuhiro Otomo's classic Akira (Geneon still has regular DVD rights).