ADV has outlined an aggressive weekly release schedule for 12 Japanese live action genre films.

ICv2 talked with Chris Oarr about ADV’s aggressive release schedule for its Switchblade live action films.

Malcom Wong’s Dog Eaters screenplay won three awards at the Screenwriting Expo 5 in Los Angeles .

Toei Animation has forged a deal with the online site Crunchyroll to offer download-to-own and streaming access to four anime.

Warner Bros. has acquired the rights to make a live action adaptation of Ninja Scroll , the 1993 anime feature directed by Yoshiaki Kawajiri. It’s being written by Alex Tse, who wrote the Watchmen script.

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.