Funimation announcements

FUNimation Entertainment Acquires Dragonaut from GDH
Flower Mound, TX – February 14, 2009 – FUNimation® Entertainment today announced that it has acquired home entertainment , broadcast, digital, internet, merchandising and mobile rights to the 25-episode sci-fi drama anime series Dragonaut from GDH.
This Studio GONZO mecha series is directed by Manabu Ono (Hellsing, Full Metal Panic).
About Dragonuaut
In order to avoid Earth's impending destruction from an asteroid, the International Solarsystem Development Agency (ISDA) works on the "D-Project", and secretly creates weapons called “dragons “. However, they soon find out that the asteroid is not their only threat, as powerful dragon-like creatures appear on Earth. After witnessing a murder by one of the creatures, Jin Kamishina gets involved with the ISDA and becomes a dragon pilot, otherwise known as a "Dragonaut". Helping him on his journey is the mysterious Toa.
FUNimation Entertainment will release the series beginning in late 2009.

FUNimation Entertainment Acquires Tower of Druaga from GDH
Flower Mound, TX – February 14, 2009 – FUNimation® Entertainment today announced that it has acquired home entertainment, broadcast, and limited digital rights to the 25-episode action fantasy anime series Tower of Druaga from GDH.
Based on the 1984 Namco video game, this Studio GONZO series is directed by Koichi Chigira.
About Tower of Druaga
In a summer once every five years, demons within in the mysterious Tower of Druaga lose their powers due to a magic spell cast by a god named "Anu". During this time, King Gilgamesh, ruler of the kingdom Uruk, and his army have invaded the tower and built a fortress city on the very first floor of Druaga. Thus begins the story of a warrior named Jil who embarks on a quest for the legendary Blue Crystal Rod, a powerful artifact said to be held on the highest floor of Druaga. However, others want the treasure for themselves.
FUNimation Entertainment will release the series in two complete season sets beginning in late 2009.

FUNimation Entertainment Acquires Blassreiter from GDH
Flower Mound, TX – February 14, 2009 – FUNimation® Entertainment today announced that it has acquired home entertainment, internet, merchandising and mobile rights to the 24-episode action horror anime series Blassreiter from GDH.
This original Studio GONZO series is directed by Ichiro Itano (Angel Cop, Robotech: The Untold Story, Violence Jack).
About Blassreiter
A mysterious plague has taken grip of Germany and is turning humans into demonic creatures out to destroy and kill. Joseph Jobson is the sole man able who is able to save the country and hunt down the man who has cursed them.
FUNimation Entertainment will release the series in two half-season sets beginning in late 2009.

FUNimation Entertainment Acquires Bamboo Blade from D. Rights
Flower Mound, TX – February 14, 2009 – FUNimation® Entertainment today announced that it has acquired home entertainment and broadcast rights to the 26-episode sports-themed anime series Bamboo Blade from D. Rights.
This humorous series is directed by Hisashi Saito and is based on a Japanese manga series written by Masahiro Totsuka.
About Bamboo Blade
Toraji Ishida is a high school kendo teacher who is challenged by a fellow kendo teacher: If Ishida can assemble a girls' kendo team that can defeat his girls' team in a practice match, Ishida can eat free meals at his father's sushi restaurant for a whole year. Now Ishida must find five girls to join the team. Luckily, just before the match he finds Tamaki!
FUNimation Entertainment will release the series in two half-season sets beginning in late 2009.

Hey baseball fans! Major league players report to Spring training camp next week in preparation for the 2009 season and while they do that voice actors report to FUNimation Entertainment studios to record the English dub of Big Windup!
The 26-episode competition anime series from Kodansha Ltd. will be coached (directed) by veteran director Christopher Bevins.
The team roster (cast):

Takaya Abe Greg Ayres
Ren MIHASHI Sean Michael Teague
Azusa Hanai Joel McDonald
Kosuke Izumi Chris Burnett
Yuto Sakaeguchi Aaron Dismuke
Yuichiro Tajima Todd Haberkorn
Shoji Suyama Anthony Bowling
Fumiki Mizutani Jean-Luc Hester
Kazutoshi Oki Chris Cason
Chiyo Shino'oka Cherami Leigh
Maria Momoe Cynthia Cranz
Tsuyoshi Shiga Chuck Huber
Kyouhei Akimaru Jason Liebrecht
Shuugo Kanou Jamie McGonnigal
Atsushi Hatake Josh Grelle

About Big Windup
Most guys can’t wait for baseball to start. But not Mihashi. For this kid, the crack of the bat is the sound of failure. Every summer he gets caught in a pickle between wanting to stay on the mound and watching his pitches get blasted out of the park. But each spring brings a fresh start, and this year, Mihashi’s at a new school with teammates that don’t know how bad he used to be. Most importantly, he’s got Abe – a real superstar behind the plate. If Mihashi can learn to trust his new catcher, this could be the year he falls in love with the game all over again.
FUNimation Entertainment will release the 26 episode series in two 13-episode sets later this year.