Pioneer Otakon News

Pioneer will be distributing the Sailor Moon S and SS TV series with 3 episodes per tape on dubbed (Cartoon Network version) and uncut subtitled VHS. The dual language DVD version will contain the uncut episodes. They are “conspiring” to put out an uncut dubbed version on tape. Currently DIC still owns the domestic rights to the first two TV seasons and is asking more for them than any US anime company is currently willing to pay.

Pioneer is co-producing the Armitage III sequel with their Japanese counterpart, so it should be dual language production. The El Hazard OAV series on DVD is on hold. Simultaneous release dates with Japanese releases take precedence over DVD releases of older catalog titles. Pioneer will be trying to get the Lain DVD box set out before Christmas. A 3×3 Eyes VHS box set including both two-tape sets of all seven episodes will be released in November; the DVD box set will be released in December.

On the Fushigi Yugi front, the OAVs will be sold in early November with 1 episode for the first tape and 2 episodes per tape for the following 4 tapes. OVA DVDs will follow sometime later. The omake segments will be included in the release. They are hoping for a DVD release of the second season of the television series before Christmas.

On the topic of the upcoming release of Akira, they going to do a new dub. The audio will be Dolby Digital 5.1 for both the English and Japanese audio. Two versions of the movie are being prepared, a movie only and a special edition version. They are trying to do a theatrical or TV release before the home-video re-release. It will be at least a year from the signing of the contract until the final product is completed, so expect to see Akira on the market again probably sometime in 2002. They are “looking to re-launch the music line possibly at the end of next year.”

Pioneer will be releasing all 70 uncut TV episodes of Card Captor Sakura. The DVDs will feature Madhouse cel art covers with the original Japanese Clamp cover art being used on the interior inserts.

Pioneer reiterated that there are currently no conclusive plans for any new Tenchi Muyo anime to be created in Japan.

Source: Anime on DVD