A.D. Vision
Encyclopedia
A.D. Vision was an American international multimedia
entertainment company headquartered in Houston, Texas, prior to its collapse and distress sale to four other Houston-based companies in 2009. The company was active in home video
production and distribution, broadcast television, theatrical film distribution, merchandising, original productions, magazine and comic book
publishing. It was the largest anime distributor in North America and the United Kingdom before its demise.
It was founded in 1992 by John Ledford
and Matt Greenfield
. Since then, the company had grown immensely in size and diversified with several subsidiary companies, handling an array of properties and original content. Perhaps their most popular property was Gainax
's post-apocalyptic
anime series Neon Genesis Evangelion, originally released by ADV in the U.S. in 1997 and re-released several times since. The company maintained offices in North America, Europe and Asia. It served the United States, Japan, Canada, United Kingdom, Italy, and Germany. On September 1, 2009, ADV announced it was selling off its assets, including intellectual properties, to several companies.
John Ledford
, a man who started a Japanese video game and video console import business in 1990, received an introduction to anime from one of his friends; the friend introduced My Neighbor Totoro
to Ledford. In 1992 Ledford and Matt Greenfield
launched ADV together and decided to begin licensing anime. Toho
reluctantly licensed Devil Hunter Yohko
to ADV, making the title ADV's first; even though Shozo Watanabe, the general manager of the Los Angeles office of Toho, expressed concern that ADV would not be able to handle the distribution of the film, Toho was unable to find another distributor, so it selected ADV.
Japan's Sojitz
announced that Japan Content Investments (JCI), an investment group run by Sojitz, Development Bank of Japan
, and film distribution company KlockWorx, planned to contribute money to A.D. Vision, in return for equity in the company. ADV founder John Ledford was to remain the majority shareholder and CEO. JCI subsidiary ARM also planned to contribute money for ADV to use in acquiring new distribution licenses. The investment was to ADV Films to raise its output of new anime titles, which had dropped in 2006, back to previous levels or above. In return, ADV planned to assist Sojitz with the acquisition of North American and European content for importation into Japan. According to ADV, they also reportedly had "big plans" for its manga line.
properties in the US as of October 1. In preparation, Geneon USA laid off most of its sales division; however, in September the distribution deal was canceled. Dentsu confirmed that the distribution deal was canceled through a press release on September 21, 2007 with no reasons given except that Geneon and ADV were "unable to reach a mutual agreement."
. This was done as a means of acquiring more titles in the Japanese market. From this point on, virtually all titles that ADV acquired were with Sojitz
's help. However, in January 2008, ADV mysteriously removed a large number of titles from their website. All the titles removed were titles acquired since the Sojitz collaboration including Gurren Lagann, which had test disks sent out with dubbed episodes. As of May 2008, Gurren Lagann was licensed by Bandai Entertainment. ADV Films made booth appearances at the Anime Central 2008
convention, but they canceled their planned panel. In July 2008, FUNimation Entertainment
announced the acquisition of thirty of these titles.
, Mahoromatic: Something More Beautiful
(both were previously licensed by Geneon
), Tsukihime
(previously licensed by Geneon
), Pet Shop of Horrors
(previously licensed by Urban Vision
), and Jewel BEM Hunter Lime (previously licensed by Media Blasters
).
, ADV Films acquired the US rights of Grave of the Fireflies
, the only Studio Ghibli
film whose distribution is not controlled by The Walt Disney Company
, and released it on DVD on July 7, 2009. ADV Films also acquired the licenses of multiple other CPM titles as well.
to four companies: Seraphim Digital Studios
, AEsir Holdings LLC, Valkyrie Media Partners LLC and SXION 23 LLC
. The impact of this sale on the company's plans to license and release new titles, is still not fully known, but the ADV brand name and logo have been retired. Anime News Network has reported that Seraphim Studios, Valkyrie Media Partners and SXION 23 are all corporations registered (initially filed) by Griffin D. Vance IV, who was ADV's senior vice president of business and legal affairs.
The following companies all acquired assets from A.D. Vision:
On the same day ADV made this announcement, major retail website Robert's Corner Anime Blog contacted Mike Baliff, formerly of ADV Films and now heading up Sales and Marketing at Section 23 Films. RCAB's interview revealed that "Section 23 has acquired all of ADV's former licenses and most of the staff" including "everyone at ADV that mattered."
In addition to the new companies that were created from the remains of ADV, Section 23 also took over distribution of Switchblade Films. The company focuses on low-budget J-horror
and pink cinema titles and its DVDs had previously been distributed by ADV. No one is quite certain as to the exact relationship of Switchblade and Section 23. The executives listed on all Switchblade titles differ from those on all other Section 23 releases, and several industry insiders have been led to believe that "Switchblade is someone else's baby". However, when the registration of the company was found, it was revealed that John Ledford (co-founder of ADV) had helped register the company.
On September 18, 2009, the anime review site iSugoi.com posted a full podcast devoted to the shutdown of ADV, analyzing that ADV hadn't really shut down and the new companies such as Section 23 were basically ADV selling itself to itself: that it was not a shutdown but a drastic rebranding and restructuring. The report went on to say that Section 23 was, for all intents and purposes, the direct successor-organization to the old ADV company name, and that ADV split its assets such as the Anime Channel into the other three companies to take advantage of several legal loopholes. The podcast report concluded with the assertion that Section 23, and the umbrella of associated companies ADV split into, could effectively be thought of as Neo-ADV (referencing how in Mobile Suit Gundam
, when the Principality of Zeon was defeated, its remnants reorganized into Neo Zeon).
On October 19, 2009, rival distribution company FUNimation Entertainment
posted an online Q&A video panel hosted by events manager Adam Sheehan. When asked about ADV going out of business, Sheehan's response was the following:
Ken Hoinsky, Managing Founder of MX Media LLC, a translation and localization company contracting with most major anime distribution companies (FUNimation, Viz, Bandai), appeared on the October 29, 2009, Anime News Network
podcast: in it he said that his company also contracts with Section 23, but that he also collectively refers to the allied companies that ADV split into as Neo-ADV.
In August 2011, A.D. Vision sued Gainax
over Gainax's refusal to accept an option payment for the perpetual live-action rights to Evangelion, including the planned live-action film; ADV charges that by refusing to accept payment, Gainax broke the contract and is asking for the rights and legal fees.
publication arm of A.D. Vision based in Houston, Texas
, specializing in publishing anime and tokusatsu
videos, and other live-action material. In 1996, ADV Films opened its U.K. division, and diversified into the realm of live-action television series, such as Andromeda
, and Japanese films.
The first title to be licensed and released to video was Devil Hunter Yohko
. They were the first North American anime licensor to use all-digital video mastering and transfer (specifically D2
digital video tape), and soon began acquiring an extensive library of titles. Initially, titles were released to video with the original Japanese language track and English subtitles added. A few years later, they began dubbing
releases to English using their own voice actors. ADV started out using a nearby production studio as their recording facility, but after a few years they were able to open up their own production and recording facility in Houston, as well as a second studio in Austin, Texas
. The studios were named Industrial Smoke & Mirrors (IS&M) and Monster Island, respectively. Monster Island closed down permanently in early 2005 and IS&M became known simply as ADV Studios. In more recent years, ADV has also produced dubs of live action Japanese films, as well as doing some work with the video game industry.
ADV Films offered a program called Anime ADVocates, which provided free screening material and other promotional content to nearly 3,000 anime clubs in North America. To qualify for the program, the club had to be sponsored by a local high school, college, university, or public library
and have at least 10 members. Member clubs were also asked to participate in surveys about the content they received. However, in November 2007, ADV Films put the program on hiatus, then on January 18, 2008 ADV Films announced that the program was being suspended indefinitely due to amount of resources the program needed. The company continued to offer anime clubs screening permission for its titles prior to its reorganization.
As of July 2008, ADV Films and ARM Corporation transferred the licenses to over 30 different shows into the hands of fellow anime distributor Funimation Entertainment
. Those rights include the home video, broadcast, digital, and merchandising rights in North America and other regions.
channel in North America dedicated to anime. The network launched in North America in late 2002 and was marketed to multi-system operators (MSOs) as both a stand-alone 24-hour linear network and as a VOD
programming service. The Anime Network
was the United States' first all-anime cable TV
network. On January 4, 2008, Anime Network officially announced that the traditional 24/7 service would cease operations.
The Anime Network exists now as a web site with an Online Player and user forums, as well as a VOD channel operating on many cable and satellite operators, including DirecTV, Dish Network, Cox, Time Warner, Cablevision, Charter and many more.
The network carries a variety of older ADV titles including Ushio and Toro, Rahxephon, Angelic Layer and more, in addition to many new shows from Sentai Filmworks including Clannad, Clannad After Story, Appleseed, Special A, Tears To Tiara, Sin The Movie and many more. Anime Network also airs many shows from Right Stuf Intertnational's Nozomi division, such as Maria Watchers Over Us and Aria, as well as many titles from Enoki Films, including Revolutionary Girl Utena, Demon Lord Dante, and Cosmic Warrior Zero. The Network's website does not currently stream the Right Stuf titles, but all of the Enoki shows are available on its online player.
. The division was launched in 2003, with a strong list of titles and an ambitious plan for growth within the U.S. manga market. However, ADV Manga canceled many of their titles in late 2004 and 2005. In late-2005, they began a more scaled-back release, concentrating on monthly released of a few titles, as well as releasing several acclaimed one-shots. In 2006, ADV Manga released the 6-volume Neon Genesis Evangelion: Angelic Days
series and in 2007 the company resumed releasing several popular titles that had been on hiatus, including Yotsuba&!
and Gunslinger Girl
.
At Anime Expo 2006, manga publisher Tokyopop
announced that it had obtained the licenses for three titles formerly licensed by ADV that had been cancelled: Aria
, Tactics
, and Peacemaker Kurogane
. Meanwhile, Yen Press
has acquired the rights to Yotsuba&!
and Azumanga Daioh
.
in AnimeTrax
, their initial releases included the soundtracks for Super Atragon, Cat Girl Nuku Nuku and Onimusha 2: Samurai's Destiny
.
and Mutineers' Moon
. John Ledford stated that ADV Pro had been "reactivated" and was currently working on Mutineers' Moon
, however, with the current financial situation at ADV Films, this plan had been cancelled.
anime titles. The first product released was Legend of Lyon Flare
. This division was shut down in 2005, and most of its titles were acquired by Critical Mass, the hentai division of The Right Stuf International
.
ADV started a new hentai branch in 2008, Happy Carrot. It presumably folded when ADV shut down in 2009.
In March 2010, Section 23 announced it would be distributing the erotic comedy Papillon Rose for a new licensing company called Maiden Japan. When asked about the new company, Section 23 replied that it was a new label of Switchblade Pictures. It is not known if there will be any future releases from this company.
magazine. A.D. Vision (ADV) contacted its advertising partners to let them know that the February 2008 issue of Newtype USA was the last edition of the magazine.
. PiQ retained much of the editorial staff and freelance writers that once worked on its predecessor, as well as the its 15,000 subscribers. In June 2008, after only four issues had been published, PiQ was canceled and its offices abruptly closed down. The July 2008 dated issue, which had already been released when the announcement was made, was the magazine's last issue.
, Gad Guard
, Hellsing
, Last Exile
, Mahoromatic: Automatic Maiden, and Rurouni Kenshin
. Because of ADV's large number of titles, its UK division also became the largest anime distributor in the UK. However, it faced competition against Manga Entertainment UK and MVM Films. Its German division wasn't as successful as the UK division since the majority of titles licensed by ADV US were already licensed by other anime distributors. Following the collapse of A.D. Vision, the fate of the titles released by A.D. Vision's international divisions remain unknown although it is possible that local distributors would pick up the titles, such as Manga Entertainment
& MVM Films
in the United Kingdom, and Panini Video and SP Vision, Kazé Germany
, OVA Films, etc. in Germany. However, Devil May Cry
, Guyver: The Bioboosted Armor
, and Ah! My Goddess (season 2) were re-licensed by Manga Entertainment
and Welcome to the N.H.K.
was re-licensed by MVM Films
in the UK.
Multimedia
Multimedia is media and content that uses a combination of different content forms. The term can be used as a noun or as an adjective describing a medium as having multiple content forms. The term is used in contrast to media which use only rudimentary computer display such as text-only, or...
entertainment company headquartered in Houston, Texas, prior to its collapse and distress sale to four other Houston-based companies in 2009. The company was active in home video
Home video
Home video is a blanket term used for pre-recorded media that is either sold or rented/hired for home cinema entertainment. The term originates from the VHS/Betamax era but has carried over into current optical disc formats like DVD and Blu-ray Disc and, to a lesser extent, into methods of digital...
production and distribution, broadcast television, theatrical film distribution, merchandising, original productions, magazine and comic book
Comic book
A comic book or comicbook is a magazine made up of comics, narrative artwork in the form of separate panels that represent individual scenes, often accompanied by dialog as well as including...
publishing. It was the largest anime distributor in North America and the United Kingdom before its demise.
It was founded in 1992 by John Ledford
John Ledford
John R. Ledford II is an American entrepreneur, co-founder and former president of ADV Films . He now serves as President of Sentai Filmworks....
and Matt Greenfield
Matt Greenfield
Matt Greenfield is the American co-founder of the now-defunct ADV Films. Originally an avid fan who ran an anime club in Houston, Texas with John Ledford , he and Ledford founded ADV Films in 1992. ADV Films began as an importer of anime, marketing primarily to the existing network of anime fans...
. Since then, the company had grown immensely in size and diversified with several subsidiary companies, handling an array of properties and original content. Perhaps their most popular property was Gainax
Gainax
is a Japanese anime studio famous for productions such as Gunbuster, The Wings of Honneamise, Nadia: The Secret of Blue Water, Neon Genesis Evangelion, FLCL and Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann which have gone on to critical acclaim and commercial success, as well as for their association with...
's post-apocalyptic
Apocalyptic and post-apocalyptic fiction
Apocalyptic fiction is a sub-genre of science fiction that is concerned with the end of civilization due to a potentially existential catastrophe such as nuclear warfare, pandemic, extraterrestrial attack, impact event, cybernetic revolt, technological singularity, dysgenics, supernatural...
anime series Neon Genesis Evangelion, originally released by ADV in the U.S. in 1997 and re-released several times since. The company maintained offices in North America, Europe and Asia. It served the United States, Japan, Canada, United Kingdom, Italy, and Germany. On September 1, 2009, ADV announced it was selling off its assets, including intellectual properties, to several companies.
History
John Ledford
John R. Ledford II is an American entrepreneur, co-founder and former president of ADV Films . He now serves as President of Sentai Filmworks....
, a man who started a Japanese video game and video console import business in 1990, received an introduction to anime from one of his friends; the friend introduced My Neighbor Totoro
My Neighbor Totoro
, is a 1988 Japanese animated fantasy film written and directed by Hayao Miyazaki and produced by Studio Ghibli. The film follows the two young daughters of a professor and their interactions with friendly wood spirits in postwar rural Japan...
to Ledford. In 1992 Ledford and Matt Greenfield
Matt Greenfield
Matt Greenfield is the American co-founder of the now-defunct ADV Films. Originally an avid fan who ran an anime club in Houston, Texas with John Ledford , he and Ledford founded ADV Films in 1992. ADV Films began as an importer of anime, marketing primarily to the existing network of anime fans...
launched ADV together and decided to begin licensing anime. Toho
Toho
is a Japanese film, theater production, and distribution company. It is headquartered in Yūrakuchō, Chiyoda, Tokyo, and is one of the core companies of the Hankyu Hanshin Toho Group...
reluctantly licensed Devil Hunter Yohko
Devil Hunter Yohko
is an anime series created by Madhouse, produced by Toho, and published in North America by ADV Films. Devil Hunter Yohko was ADV Films' first VHS release...
to ADV, making the title ADV's first; even though Shozo Watanabe, the general manager of the Los Angeles office of Toho, expressed concern that ADV would not be able to handle the distribution of the film, Toho was unable to find another distributor, so it selected ADV.
Japan's Sojitz
Sojitz
is a trading corporation based in Tokyo, Japan. It operates in many industries, including construction, forestry, plastics, chemicals, mining, petroleum, textiles, and international trade. Sojitz also participates in joint ventures with foreign companies in Japan....
announced that Japan Content Investments (JCI), an investment group run by Sojitz, Development Bank of Japan
Development Bank of Japan
is a Japanese corporation incorporated on 1 October 2008 under the Development Bank of Japan Inc. Law . Current ownership structure of DBJ is solely owned by the Government of Japan through Minister of Finance.- Overview :...
, and film distribution company KlockWorx, planned to contribute money to A.D. Vision, in return for equity in the company. ADV founder John Ledford was to remain the majority shareholder and CEO. JCI subsidiary ARM also planned to contribute money for ADV to use in acquiring new distribution licenses. The investment was to ADV Films to raise its output of new anime titles, which had dropped in 2006, back to previous levels or above. In return, ADV planned to assist Sojitz with the acquisition of North American and European content for importation into Japan. According to ADV, they also reportedly had "big plans" for its manga line.
Distribution of Geneon properties
In August 2007, a notice was sent to retailers stating that ADV Films would be taking over the distribution, marketing, and sales of GeneonGeneon
is a Japanese music, anime and home entertainment production and distribution enterprise headquartered in Akasaka, Minato, Tokyo, Japan. Geneon has been involved in the production and distribution of several anime in Japan...
properties in the US as of October 1. In preparation, Geneon USA laid off most of its sales division; however, in September the distribution deal was canceled. Dentsu confirmed that the distribution deal was canceled through a press release on September 21, 2007 with no reasons given except that Geneon and ADV were "unable to reach a mutual agreement."
Sojitz partnership
In June 2006, ADV Films entered in to a partnership with the Japanese Sojitz CorporationSojitz
is a trading corporation based in Tokyo, Japan. It operates in many industries, including construction, forestry, plastics, chemicals, mining, petroleum, textiles, and international trade. Sojitz also participates in joint ventures with foreign companies in Japan....
. This was done as a means of acquiring more titles in the Japanese market. From this point on, virtually all titles that ADV acquired were with Sojitz
Sojitz
is a trading corporation based in Tokyo, Japan. It operates in many industries, including construction, forestry, plastics, chemicals, mining, petroleum, textiles, and international trade. Sojitz also participates in joint ventures with foreign companies in Japan....
's help. However, in January 2008, ADV mysteriously removed a large number of titles from their website. All the titles removed were titles acquired since the Sojitz collaboration including Gurren Lagann, which had test disks sent out with dubbed episodes. As of May 2008, Gurren Lagann was licensed by Bandai Entertainment. ADV Films made booth appearances at the Anime Central 2008
Anime Central
Anime Central is an anime convention that is held yearly in Rosemont, Illinois, United States. It is one of the fastest growing anime conventions in the U.S. and has ranked as the 3rd largest North American anime convention since 2010. The convention is like many other anime conventions; it runs...
convention, but they canceled their planned panel. In July 2008, FUNimation Entertainment
FUNimation Entertainment
Funimation is an American entertainment company. Originally founded in 1994 by Gen Fukunaga, the company became a subsidiary of Navarre Corporation on May 11, 2005...
announced the acquisition of thirty of these titles.
Sentai Filmworks partnership
On October 20, 2008, it was announced that ADV had entered into a licensing arrangement with Japanese partner Sentai Filmworks. The highlight of the new partnership was that ADV would be licensing the television anime adaptation of the popular visual novel Clannad, also they acquired the rights to Koharu Biyori, MahoromaticMahoromatic
is a sci-fi romantic comedy manga and animeseries which contains elements of the literary genre of tragic dramas. It is about a female android former soldier, Mahoro...
, Mahoromatic: Something More Beautiful
Mahoromatic
is a sci-fi romantic comedy manga and animeseries which contains elements of the literary genre of tragic dramas. It is about a female android former soldier, Mahoro...
(both were previously licensed by Geneon
Geneon
is a Japanese music, anime and home entertainment production and distribution enterprise headquartered in Akasaka, Minato, Tokyo, Japan. Geneon has been involved in the production and distribution of several anime in Japan...
), Tsukihime
Tsukihime
is a Japanese eroge dōjin visual novel game created by Type-Moon, who first released it at the Winter Comiket in December 2000. It was adapted in 2003 into an anime series, Shingetsutan Tsukihime, produced by J.C.Staff and Geneon, and a manga series, which has been serialized since 2004 in...
(previously licensed by Geneon
Geneon
is a Japanese music, anime and home entertainment production and distribution enterprise headquartered in Akasaka, Minato, Tokyo, Japan. Geneon has been involved in the production and distribution of several anime in Japan...
), Pet Shop of Horrors
Pet Shop of Horrors
is a Japanese horror manga created by Matsuri Akino. The series focuses on the eccentric Count D, proprietor of a mysterious pet shop located in the heart of Chinatown, and the numerous patrons who visit his shop....
(previously licensed by Urban Vision
Urban Vision
Urban Vision Entertainment Inc., an American based production/distribution company created in Los Angeles, California formed in July, 1996 by Mataichiro Yamamoto to help introduce the alternative animation genre known as anime or Japanimation to mainstream media....
), and Jewel BEM Hunter Lime (previously licensed by Media Blasters
Media Blasters
Media Blasters is an entertainment corporation founded by John Sirabella and Sam Liebowitz, based in New York City. They are in the business of licensing, translating, and releasing to the North American market manga compilations and anime and live-action movies and television series to home-video...
).
Central Park Media acquisitions
Following the May 2009 bankruptcy and liquidation of Central Park MediaCentral Park Media
Central Park Media was an American multimedia entertainment company based in New York City, New York, that was active in the distribution of East Asian cinema, television series, anime, manga and manhwa titles in North America prior to its bankruptcy in 2009...
, ADV Films acquired the US rights of Grave of the Fireflies
Grave of the Fireflies
is a 1988 Japanese animated war tragedy film written and directed by Isao Takahata. This is the first film produced by Shinchosha, who hired Studio Ghibli to do the animation production work...
, the only Studio Ghibli
Studio Ghibli
is a Japanese animation and film studio founded in June 1985. The company's logo features the character Totoro from Hayao Miyazaki's film My Neighbor Totoro...
film whose distribution is not controlled by The Walt Disney Company
The Walt Disney Company
The Walt Disney Company is the largest media conglomerate in the world in terms of revenue. Founded on October 16, 1923, by Walt and Roy Disney as the Disney Brothers Cartoon Studio, Walt Disney Productions established itself as a leader in the American animation industry before diversifying into...
, and released it on DVD on July 7, 2009. ADV Films also acquired the licenses of multiple other CPM titles as well.
Division and rebranding
On September 1, 2009, ADV announced that it was selling off its assets, including intellectual properties, its distribution arm and the Anime NetworkAnime Network
The Anime Network , a former subsidiary of A.D. Vision, Inc. , is a cable and satellite digital broadcast service in North America dedicated to anime.-History:...
to four companies: Seraphim Digital Studios
Seraphim Digital Studios
Seraphim Digital is an audio and video post-production studio, located in Houston, Texas. It was formerly called Amusement Park Media before it was sold off by A.D. Vision. The studio is best known for producing English language dubs of anime and Japanese films released by ADV Films and Sentai...
, AEsir Holdings LLC, Valkyrie Media Partners LLC and SXION 23 LLC
Section23 Films
Section23 Films is an American home video distribution company specializing in anime and Japanese films. The company is one of five successors to ADV Films, as well as the distributor of titles from Sentai Filmworks and Switchblade Films. ADV had announced that it had sold its assets to a group of...
. The impact of this sale on the company's plans to license and release new titles, is still not fully known, but the ADV brand name and logo have been retired. Anime News Network has reported that Seraphim Studios, Valkyrie Media Partners and SXION 23 are all corporations registered (initially filed) by Griffin D. Vance IV, who was ADV's senior vice president of business and legal affairs.
The following companies all acquired assets from A.D. Vision:
- Sentai Filmworks is the licensor company for acquiring Japanese anime into the North American market.
- AEsir Holdings has licensed rights to most of ADV Films' former library of titles (some titles are licensed directly by Sentai Filmworks).
- Seraphim Studios acquired Amusement Park Media, ADV's production studio, and it was renamed Seraphim Digital Studios.
- Valkyrie Media Partners acquired the Anime NetworkAnime NetworkThe Anime Network , a former subsidiary of A.D. Vision, Inc. , is a cable and satellite digital broadcast service in North America dedicated to anime.-History:...
. The network continues to operate as before the sale. - Section23 Films is a distributor and marketing company of Switchblade Pictures, Sentai Filmworks, and AEsir Holdings.
On the same day ADV made this announcement, major retail website Robert's Corner Anime Blog contacted Mike Baliff, formerly of ADV Films and now heading up Sales and Marketing at Section 23 Films. RCAB's interview revealed that "Section 23 has acquired all of ADV's former licenses and most of the staff" including "everyone at ADV that mattered."
In addition to the new companies that were created from the remains of ADV, Section 23 also took over distribution of Switchblade Films. The company focuses on low-budget J-horror
J-Horror
Japanese horror, or J-Horror, is Japanese horror fiction in popular culture, noted for its unique thematic and conventional treatment of the horror genre in light of western treatments...
and pink cinema titles and its DVDs had previously been distributed by ADV. No one is quite certain as to the exact relationship of Switchblade and Section 23. The executives listed on all Switchblade titles differ from those on all other Section 23 releases, and several industry insiders have been led to believe that "Switchblade is someone else's baby". However, when the registration of the company was found, it was revealed that John Ledford (co-founder of ADV) had helped register the company.
On September 18, 2009, the anime review site iSugoi.com posted a full podcast devoted to the shutdown of ADV, analyzing that ADV hadn't really shut down and the new companies such as Section 23 were basically ADV selling itself to itself: that it was not a shutdown but a drastic rebranding and restructuring. The report went on to say that Section 23 was, for all intents and purposes, the direct successor-organization to the old ADV company name, and that ADV split its assets such as the Anime Channel into the other three companies to take advantage of several legal loopholes. The podcast report concluded with the assertion that Section 23, and the umbrella of associated companies ADV split into, could effectively be thought of as Neo-ADV (referencing how in Mobile Suit Gundam
Mobile Suit Gundam
is a televised anime series, created by Sunrise. Created and directed by Yoshiyuki Tomino, it premiered in Japan on Nagoya Broadcasting Network on April 7, 1979, and lasted until January 26, 1980, spanning 43 episodes...
, when the Principality of Zeon was defeated, its remnants reorganized into Neo Zeon).
On October 19, 2009, rival distribution company FUNimation Entertainment
FUNimation Entertainment
Funimation is an American entertainment company. Originally founded in 1994 by Gen Fukunaga, the company became a subsidiary of Navarre Corporation on May 11, 2005...
posted an online Q&A video panel hosted by events manager Adam Sheehan. When asked about ADV going out of business, Sheehan's response was the following:
Ken Hoinsky, Managing Founder of MX Media LLC, a translation and localization company contracting with most major anime distribution companies (FUNimation, Viz, Bandai), appeared on the October 29, 2009, Anime News Network
Anime News Network
Anime News Network is an anime industry news website that reports on the status of anime, manga, Japanese popular music and other otaku-related culture within North America, Australia and Japan. Additionally, it sometimes features similar happenings throughout the Anglosphere and elsewhere in the...
podcast: in it he said that his company also contracts with Section 23, but that he also collectively refers to the allied companies that ADV split into as Neo-ADV.
In August 2011, A.D. Vision sued Gainax
Gainax
is a Japanese anime studio famous for productions such as Gunbuster, The Wings of Honneamise, Nadia: The Secret of Blue Water, Neon Genesis Evangelion, FLCL and Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann which have gone on to critical acclaim and commercial success, as well as for their association with...
over Gainax's refusal to accept an option payment for the perpetual live-action rights to Evangelion, including the planned live-action film; ADV charges that by refusing to accept payment, Gainax broke the contract and is asking for the rights and legal fees.
ADV Films
ADV Films was the home videoHome video
Home video is a blanket term used for pre-recorded media that is either sold or rented/hired for home cinema entertainment. The term originates from the VHS/Betamax era but has carried over into current optical disc formats like DVD and Blu-ray Disc and, to a lesser extent, into methods of digital...
publication arm of A.D. Vision based in Houston, Texas
Houston, Texas
Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, and the largest city in the state of Texas. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 2.1 million people within an area of . Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of , which is the ...
, specializing in publishing anime and tokusatsu
Tokusatsu
is a Japanese term that applies to any live-action film or television drama that usually features superheroes and makes considerable use of special effects ....
videos, and other live-action material. In 1996, ADV Films opened its U.K. division, and diversified into the realm of live-action television series, such as Andromeda
Andromeda (TV series)
Andromeda is a Canadian-American science fiction television series, based on unused material by the late Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry, developed by Robert Hewitt Wolfe, and produced by Roddenberry's widow, Majel Barrett Roddenberry. It starred Kevin Sorbo as High Guard Captain Dylan Hunt...
, and Japanese films.
The first title to be licensed and released to video was Devil Hunter Yohko
Devil Hunter Yohko
is an anime series created by Madhouse, produced by Toho, and published in North America by ADV Films. Devil Hunter Yohko was ADV Films' first VHS release...
. They were the first North American anime licensor to use all-digital video mastering and transfer (specifically D2
D2 (video format)
D-2 is a professional digital recording videocassette format created by Ampex and other manufacturers through a standards group of the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers and introduced at the 1988 NAB convention as a lower-cost alternative to the D-1 format...
digital video tape), and soon began acquiring an extensive library of titles. Initially, titles were released to video with the original Japanese language track and English subtitles added. A few years later, they began dubbing
Dubbing (filmmaking)
Dubbing is the post-production process of recording and replacing voices on a motion picture or television soundtrack subsequent to the original shooting. The term most commonly refers to the substitution of the voices of the actors shown on the screen by those of different performers, who may be...
releases to English using their own voice actors. ADV started out using a nearby production studio as their recording facility, but after a few years they were able to open up their own production and recording facility in Houston, as well as a second studio in Austin, Texas
Austin, Texas
Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of :Texas and the seat of Travis County. Located in Central Texas on the eastern edge of the American Southwest, it is the fourth-largest city in Texas and the 14th most populous city in the United States. It was the third-fastest-growing large city in...
. The studios were named Industrial Smoke & Mirrors (IS&M) and Monster Island, respectively. Monster Island closed down permanently in early 2005 and IS&M became known simply as ADV Studios. In more recent years, ADV has also produced dubs of live action Japanese films, as well as doing some work with the video game industry.
ADV Films offered a program called Anime ADVocates, which provided free screening material and other promotional content to nearly 3,000 anime clubs in North America. To qualify for the program, the club had to be sponsored by a local high school, college, university, or public library
Public library
A public library is a library that is accessible by the public and is generally funded from public sources and operated by civil servants. There are five fundamental characteristics shared by public libraries...
and have at least 10 members. Member clubs were also asked to participate in surveys about the content they received. However, in November 2007, ADV Films put the program on hiatus, then on January 18, 2008 ADV Films announced that the program was being suspended indefinitely due to amount of resources the program needed. The company continued to offer anime clubs screening permission for its titles prior to its reorganization.
As of July 2008, ADV Films and ARM Corporation transferred the licenses to over 30 different shows into the hands of fellow anime distributor Funimation Entertainment
Funimation Entertainment
Funimation is an American entertainment company. Originally founded in 1994 by Gen Fukunaga, the company became a subsidiary of Navarre Corporation on May 11, 2005...
. Those rights include the home video, broadcast, digital, and merchandising rights in North America and other regions.
Anime Network
Anime Network was a cableCable television
Cable television is a system of providing television programs to consumers via radio frequency signals transmitted to televisions through coaxial cables or digital light pulses through fixed optical fibers located on the subscriber's property, much like the over-the-air method used in traditional...
channel in North America dedicated to anime. The network launched in North America in late 2002 and was marketed to multi-system operators (MSOs) as both a stand-alone 24-hour linear network and as a VOD
Video on demand
Video on Demand or Audio and Video On Demand are systems which allow users to select and watch/listen to video or audio content on demand...
programming service. The Anime Network
Anime Network
The Anime Network , a former subsidiary of A.D. Vision, Inc. , is a cable and satellite digital broadcast service in North America dedicated to anime.-History:...
was the United States' first all-anime cable TV
Cable television
Cable television is a system of providing television programs to consumers via radio frequency signals transmitted to televisions through coaxial cables or digital light pulses through fixed optical fibers located on the subscriber's property, much like the over-the-air method used in traditional...
network. On January 4, 2008, Anime Network officially announced that the traditional 24/7 service would cease operations.
The Anime Network exists now as a web site with an Online Player and user forums, as well as a VOD channel operating on many cable and satellite operators, including DirecTV, Dish Network, Cox, Time Warner, Cablevision, Charter and many more.
The network carries a variety of older ADV titles including Ushio and Toro, Rahxephon, Angelic Layer and more, in addition to many new shows from Sentai Filmworks including Clannad, Clannad After Story, Appleseed, Special A, Tears To Tiara, Sin The Movie and many more. Anime Network also airs many shows from Right Stuf Intertnational's Nozomi division, such as Maria Watchers Over Us and Aria, as well as many titles from Enoki Films, including Revolutionary Girl Utena, Demon Lord Dante, and Cosmic Warrior Zero. The Network's website does not currently stream the Right Stuf titles, but all of the Enoki shows are available on its online player.
ADV Manga
ADV Manga was ADV's division for the licensing and distribution of English translations of Japanese mangaManga
Manga is the Japanese word for "comics" and consists of comics and print cartoons . In the West, the term "manga" has been appropriated to refer specifically to comics created in Japan, or by Japanese authors, in the Japanese language and conforming to the style developed in Japan in the late 19th...
. The division was launched in 2003, with a strong list of titles and an ambitious plan for growth within the U.S. manga market. However, ADV Manga canceled many of their titles in late 2004 and 2005. In late-2005, they began a more scaled-back release, concentrating on monthly released of a few titles, as well as releasing several acclaimed one-shots. In 2006, ADV Manga released the 6-volume Neon Genesis Evangelion: Angelic Days
Neon Genesis Evangelion: Angelic Days
is a manga by Fumino Hayashi based on an original story by Gainax. It is an adaptation of the video game Girlfriend of Steel 2, and dramatizes the actions of the Instrumentality from the final episode of Neon Genesis Evangelion, which featured the show's cast in a high school romantic comedy in...
series and in 2007 the company resumed releasing several popular titles that had been on hiatus, including Yotsuba&!
Yotsuba&!
is an ongoing Japanese comedy manga series by Kiyohiko Azuma, the creator of Azumanga Daioh. It is published in Japan by ASCII Media Works, formerly MediaWorks, in the monthly magazine Dengeki Daioh and collected in ten tankōbon volumes...
and Gunslinger Girl
Gunslinger Girl
Gunslinger Girl is an ongoing manga by Yu Aida. It first premiered in the November 2002 issue of the monthly shōnen magazine Dengeki Daioh. The chapters are also being published in tankōbon volumes by ASCII Media Works. 13 volumes have been released in Japan as of April 2011...
.
At Anime Expo 2006, manga publisher Tokyopop
Tokyopop
Tokyopop, styled TOKYOPOP, and formerly known as Mixx, is a distributor, licensor, and publisher of anime, manga, manhwa, and Western manga-style works. The existing German publishing division produces German translations of licensed Japanese properties and original English-language manga, as well...
announced that it had obtained the licenses for three titles formerly licensed by ADV that had been cancelled: Aria
ARIA (manga)
is a utopian science fantasy manga by Kozue Amano. The series was originally titled when it was published by Enix in the magazine Monthly Stencil, being retitled when it moved to Mag Garden's magazine Comic Blade. Aqua was serialized in Stencil from 2001 to 2002 and collected in two tankōbon volumes...
, Tactics
Tactics (manga)
is a Japanese manga series collaborated between Sakura Kinoshita and Kazuko Higashiyama. It was serialized in Comic Blade Masamune. Kinoshita supplied the character "Kantarou," and Higashiyama supplied the character "Haruka." The manga was first released in North America by ADV Manga in 2004...
, and Peacemaker Kurogane
Peacemaker Kurogane
is a historical fiction manga series written and illustrated created by . It is unrelated to the Peace Maker manga by Ryōji Minagawa. The story begins in 19th century Japan before the Meiji Restoration, a chain of events that led to enormous changes in Japan's political and social structure while...
. Meanwhile, Yen Press
Yen Press
Yen Press is the manga and graphic novel imprint of Hachette Book Group. In addition to their regular book releases, Yen Press produces a monthly anthology called Yen Plus. The company's varied list demonstrates an interest in publishing a wide variety of Japanese manga, Korean manhwa, and other...
has acquired the rights to Yotsuba&!
Yotsuba&!
is an ongoing Japanese comedy manga series by Kiyohiko Azuma, the creator of Azumanga Daioh. It is published in Japan by ASCII Media Works, formerly MediaWorks, in the monthly magazine Dengeki Daioh and collected in ten tankōbon volumes...
and Azumanga Daioh
Azumanga Daioh
is a Japanese comedy manga by Kiyohiko Azuma. It was serialized by MediaWorks in the shōnen manga magazine Dengeki Daioh from 1999 to 2002 and collected in four bound volumes...
.
ADV Music
ADV Music was the music publishing division which focused on distributing anime and movie soundtracks. Launched in 2003 after ending their partnership with The Right Stuf InternationalThe Right Stuf International
The Right Stuf International, Inc. is an American retailer based in Grimes, Iowa that markets and distributes anime and manga-related products throughout the United States and internationally...
in AnimeTrax
AnimeTrax
AnimeTrax is a joint venture between ADV Films and The Right Stuf International to distribute anime soundtracks in the United States. In 2003 ADV Films formed their own music division to serve the same purpose in the form of ADV Music...
, their initial releases included the soundtracks for Super Atragon, Cat Girl Nuku Nuku and Onimusha 2: Samurai's Destiny
Onimusha 2: Samurai's Destiny
Onimusha 2: Samurai's Destiny, released in Japan as is the second installment in the Onimusha series of video games. The plot revolves around a new protagonist, , as he battles a demonic Genma army which is invading 1571 Japan. Nobunaga Oda, a sinister warlord who was slain in the previous game,...
.
ADV Pro
ADV Pro was the company's anime production studio. They have worked on such in house productions as Lady DeathLady Death
Lady Death is a fictional character, a comic book goddess created by Brian Pulido and Steven Hughes. Lady Death first appeared in Evil Ernie #1 by Eternity Comics in December 1991. Lady Death then reappeared in the Evil Ernie: The Resurrection mini-series published by Pulido under his now defunct...
and Mutineers' Moon
Mutineers' Moon
Mutineers' Moon is a 1991 science fiction novel written by American writer David Weber. It is the first book in his Dahak trilogy, and is available in the Baen Free Library.It was later republished in the Empire From The Ashes compendium....
. John Ledford stated that ADV Pro had been "reactivated" and was currently working on Mutineers' Moon
Mutineers' Moon
Mutineers' Moon is a 1991 science fiction novel written by American writer David Weber. It is the first book in his Dahak trilogy, and is available in the Baen Free Library.It was later republished in the Empire From The Ashes compendium....
, however, with the current financial situation at ADV Films, this plan had been cancelled.
Soft Cel Pictures
Soft Cel Pictures was the branch of the company that specialized in the release of hentaiHentai
is a Japanese word that, in the West, is used when referring to sexually explicit or pornographic comics and animation, particularly those of Japanese origin such as anime, manga, and computer games. The word hentai is a kanji compound of 変 and 態...
anime titles. The first product released was Legend of Lyon Flare
Legend of Lyon Flare
is a hentai anime Original Video Animation released in 1986 for part 1 and 1987 for part 2. It is known for having Yorihisa Uchida as the character designer and as being an example of the tentacle rape genre of hentai as well as the eroguro genre. Legend of Lyon Flare was also the first title...
. This division was shut down in 2005, and most of its titles were acquired by Critical Mass, the hentai division of The Right Stuf International
The Right Stuf International
The Right Stuf International, Inc. is an American retailer based in Grimes, Iowa that markets and distributes anime and manga-related products throughout the United States and internationally...
.
ADV started a new hentai branch in 2008, Happy Carrot. It presumably folded when ADV shut down in 2009.
In March 2010, Section 23 announced it would be distributing the erotic comedy Papillon Rose for a new licensing company called Maiden Japan. When asked about the new company, Section 23 replied that it was a new label of Switchblade Pictures. It is not known if there will be any future releases from this company.
Newtype USA
Newtype USA was the US edition of Japan's NewtypeNewtype (magazine)
is a monthly magazine publication originating from Japan, covering anime and manga . It was launched by publishing company Kadokawa Shoten on March 8, 1985 with its April issue, and has since seen regular release on the 10th of every month in its home country...
magazine. A.D. Vision (ADV) contacted its advertising partners to let them know that the February 2008 issue of Newtype USA was the last edition of the magazine.
PiQ
PiQ premiered in May 2008 as a replacement for Newtype USA. It was published by PiQ LLC, a now-defunct subsidiary. The magazine had a broader focus and expanded coverage of topics beyond anime and mangaManga
Manga is the Japanese word for "comics" and consists of comics and print cartoons . In the West, the term "manga" has been appropriated to refer specifically to comics created in Japan, or by Japanese authors, in the Japanese language and conforming to the style developed in Japan in the late 19th...
. PiQ retained much of the editorial staff and freelance writers that once worked on its predecessor, as well as the its 15,000 subscribers. In June 2008, after only four issues had been published, PiQ was canceled and its offices abruptly closed down. The July 2008 dated issue, which had already been released when the announcement was made, was the magazine's last issue.
Foreign Distribution
A.D. Vision established international divisions in the United Kingdom and Germany to directly release their properties there. They also released titles that weren't originally licensed by A.D. Vision in the U.S., such as ChobitsChobits
is a Japanese manga created by the Japanese manga collective Clamp. It was published by Kodansha in Young Magazine from February 2001 to November 2002 and collected in eight bound volumes....
, Gad Guard
Gad Guard
is a 26-episode anime television series directed by Hiroshi Nishikiori and produced by Gonzo, which was broadcast across Japan by the anime satellite television network, Animax, and the terrestrial Fuji Television network. It has been licensed for North American distribution by Geneon...
, Hellsing
Hellsing
is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Kouta Hirano. It first premiered in Young King Ours in 1997 and ended in September 2008. The individual chapters are collected and published in tankōbon volumes by Shōnen Gahosha. As of March 2009 all chapters have been released in 10 volumes in...
, Last Exile
Last Exile
is a Japanese animated television series created by Gonzo. It featured a production team led by director Koichi Chigira, character designer Range Murata, and production designer Mahiro Maeda. The three had previously worked together in Blue Submarine No. 6, one of the first CG anime series...
, Mahoromatic: Automatic Maiden, and Rurouni Kenshin
Rurouni Kenshin
, also known as Rurouni Kenshin and Samurai X, is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Nobuhiro Watsuki. The fictional setting takes place during the early Meiji period in Japan. The story is about a fictional assassin named Himura Kenshin, from the Bakumatsu who becomes a wanderer to...
. Because of ADV's large number of titles, its UK division also became the largest anime distributor in the UK. However, it faced competition against Manga Entertainment UK and MVM Films. Its German division wasn't as successful as the UK division since the majority of titles licensed by ADV US were already licensed by other anime distributors. Following the collapse of A.D. Vision, the fate of the titles released by A.D. Vision's international divisions remain unknown although it is possible that local distributors would pick up the titles, such as Manga Entertainment
Manga Entertainment
Manga Entertainment is a producer, licensor and distributor of Japanese animation in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, France, Australia and New Zealand...
& MVM Films
MVM Films
MVM Films is a British distributor of Japanese animation. The company sublicenses anime titles from US Anime companies such as Media Blasters, Geneon, Nozomi Entertainment, Urban Vision, AnimEigo, and US Manga Corps, which do not have a UK presence, and releases them on Region 2 DVD...
in the United Kingdom, and Panini Video and SP Vision, Kazé Germany
Kazé
Kaze is the name of a French publisher which specializes in anime. Founded in 1994, the company began its debut publishing Chronicles of Lodoss War on VHS....
, OVA Films, etc. in Germany. However, Devil May Cry
Devil May Cry: The Animated Series
is an anime series based on the video game series by Capcom. It debuted on the WOWOW TV network in Japan on June 14, 2007 and ran 12 episodes.The show was produced by the anime studio Madhouse and was directed by Shin Itagaki...
, Guyver: The Bioboosted Armor
Guyver: The Bioboosted Armor
is a Japanese anime series based on the long-running manga series, Bio Booster Armor Guyver, written by Yoshiki Takaya, adapting chapters 1 - 59 of the manga. The production was in association with ADV Films and Kadokawa Shoten...
, and Ah! My Goddess (season 2) were re-licensed by Manga Entertainment
Manga Entertainment
Manga Entertainment is a producer, licensor and distributor of Japanese animation in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, France, Australia and New Zealand...
and Welcome to the N.H.K.
Welcome to the N.H.K.
is a Japanese novel written by Tatsuhiko Takimoto, with a cover illustration by Yoshitoshi ABe, and was published by Kadokawa Shoten in Japan on January 28, 2002. The novel was first published in English by Tokyopop on October 9, 2007...
was re-licensed by MVM Films
MVM Films
MVM Films is a British distributor of Japanese animation. The company sublicenses anime titles from US Anime companies such as Media Blasters, Geneon, Nozomi Entertainment, Urban Vision, AnimEigo, and US Manga Corps, which do not have a UK presence, and releases them on Region 2 DVD...
in the UK.
External links
- ADV Films (Archive)