City of Industry, CA (February 2, 2004) - From Mainland China - by way of Southern California- based Playhut Entertainment - comes the Next Wave in original animation. WAY OF THE WARRIORS, DECHENG and BIRD ISLAND are the titles of three of the most popular animé-style series across China - and for the first time, American fans of the burgeoning genre will have the opportunity to own collections of these unique animated series.
Playhut Entertainment, the programming and licensing arm of leading toy manufacturer Playhut, Inc., has made an exclusive arrangement with the producers of China's most-watched animé series and is bringing them into the U.S. as DVD debuts.
Already, major retailers nationwide are embracing Chinamation in preparation for their U.S. DVD premiere. Sam Goody, MediaPlay and Sun Coast are among the first Video/DVD retailers climbing aboard the Chinamation locomotion.
The first of the collections is WAY OF THE WARRIORS, an action-packed animé adventure series about tales of love, loss and war between two feuding families. Pre-order date for WAY OF THE WARRIORS is March 15. The first volume, which includes four separate episodes for a total running time of 88 minutes, will street on May 4. Suggested Retail Price is $24.98.
Next Chinamation series to make its U.S. DVD premiere is BIRD ISLAND. A striking science fiction-based animé series, BIRD ISLAND is the story of a teenager with supernatural powers who struggles to uncover the truth about his human and alien heritage, while saving the earth from evil alien invaders. The survival of the human race lies with Tin Wang, a tortured teen with a mysterious past. Combining personal drama with high action, BIRD ISLAND has a pre-order date of April 15 and a street date of June 1. The four-episode/88-minute running time first volume carries an SRP of $24.98.
Third in Playhut Entertainment's Chinamation series is DECHENG, an action adventure animé series that follows the odyssey of a young orphan who grows up and returns to his war-torn country in order to fulfill his destiny as a great warrior and savior. After years of training, DECHENG leaves his monk's tutelage to defend his native land from siege - gaining the admiration of his people while instilling fear in his enemy. The pre-order date for DECHENG is May 15. The gripping animé adventure will street on July 6. Carrying an SRP of $24.98, the first volume will contain four individual adventures with a total running time of 88 minutes.
The term used for Japanese animation, animé offers lifelike characters, rich environments, compelling personalities that range from comical to dangerous and engrossing worlds that appeal to audiences across the globe. Outside of Japan, animé has generated devoted fans worldwide for its unique style that represents a significant departure from the traditional U.S.-produced animated cartoons. Playhut Entertainment's Chinamation introduces the best of the animé-style programming currently produced and airing in China.
"We are excited to introduce the legions of animé fans in the U.S. to the highly stylized version of the genre originating from China," said Charles Siroky, Director of Special Markets for Playhut Entertainment. "Each of the Chinamation titles offer the highest quality animation with storylines and characters that are extremely compelling. We are confident that animé devotees nationwide will embrace the outstanding animation currently produced in China."
Playhut Entertainment is the entertainment and licensing division of Playhut Toys, the #1 marketer of play environments in the United States. Playhut Entertainment is a producer and distributor of original children's programming and an importer of quality animated entertainment from Asia and around the world.
