Bandai News from Otakon

Bandai confirmed at last weekend’s Otakon convention that the upcoming Cowboy Bebop Best Sessions DVD will include 6 select “best” episodes from the 26 episode series, remastered with Dolby Digital 5.1 and DTS audio tracks.

Bandai will be releasing Love Hina TV episode 25 and the Christmas Special in America this winter. The Spring Special and 3 Love Hina Again OAVs have not been acquired for American release yet.

The is no tentative release date nor episode count for the Ghost in the Shell TV series yet, but the series has a production budget of 800 million yen, more than the cost of many theatrical anime films.

Bandai is apparently interested in getting the .hack//SIGN anime TV series American television broadcast.

Escaflowne was subcontracted to Saban Entertainment for its American television broadcast on the Fox Network. The series was canceled in America mid-run probably due to the sale of Saban Entertainment to Disney. When the Saban license expires, American television distribution rights to Escaflowne will revert to Bandai, at which time Bandai has the option to trying to get the show back on American television. When Saban’s distribution rights to Escaflowne expire was not revealed.

There will be an Outlaw Star DVD boxed set at some time in the future.

Sunrise Animation of Japan still refuses to allow official distribution of an original language, English subtitled version of the first Gundam television series in America.

Source: Anime News Network