Funimation has acquired the rights to the 13-episode horror/action anime Shikabane Hime: Aka.

ADV has announced a slate of anime releases for 2009 led by Clannad from Kyoto Animation.

In Part Two of this two-part interview, we continue our discussion of the changing licensing environment in Japan, ADV’s strategy for subbing vs. dubbing, and pricing and packaging; the status of its catalogue; the state of anime on American TV including the Anime Network, and ADV’s plans for Blu-ray releases and for its product mix in the future.

In Part One of this two-part interview, Leford talks about the current status at ADV; ADV’s changing strategy; some new anime announcements; his assessment of the anime market in North America, and the changing licensing environment.

ICv2 is asking readers of its ICv2 Guide magazine for input into the magazine’s direction in a survey kicked off this week.

An ICv2 Release. The ICv2 Graphic Novel Conference will be held on Thursday, February 5th, in association with the New York Comic Con. These are the panelists currently booked for the event.

Funimation has announced that the Witchblade anime is now available for downloading via iTunes.

In Part Three, we talk about the impact of illegal filesharing on comic sales; the role of social networking sites; Dark Horse’s Clamp project in 2009; and the role of anthologies.

In January Media Blasters will release Ah My Buddha Vol. 1: The Aroused One , a sexy harem comedy.

This week, Steve Bennett discusses trends in cartoons on TV.