U.S. Renditions
Encyclopedia
U.S. Renditions was a Special Projects Division of Books Nippan (which was the American branch of Nippon Shuppan Hanbai) and one of the pioneers of anime
home video distribution in North America
. The division was originally founded in February 1987 by Kevin Seymour, David Keith Riddick, Sho Nagata and Satoshi Komatsu. Robert Napton later joined the division and became a key figure in its productions.
After producing two music projects for the Robotech
television series, U.S. Renditions produced the very first subtitled direct-to-home anime video for the American anime market. In March 1990, they began a release of a subtitled version of Gunbuster
, followed in the same month by Dangaioh
. They also released such subtitled hits as Appleseed
and Black Magic M-66
, and even began dubbing anime in 1992, the year their release of Dangaioh was completed. Their first dubbing projects included Macross II
, Giant Robo and Fight! Iczer-One. These video projects were a joint venture with L.A. Hero, which was headed by Ken Iyadomi. U.S. Renditions also worked with U.S. Manga Corps
on a select number of titles.
The company also had a division called Dark Image Entertainment, which was geared for mature audiences. Titles under Dark Image Entertainment included Ambassador Magma, Devilman and Guyver: Out of Control
.
U.S. Renditions had a deal with Manga Entertainment
's UK
Division to distribute selected anime titles and have them dubbed in-house, before Island Records
established Manga's North American operations.
When Books Nippan ceased operations in the mid-1990s, U.S. Renditions was dissolved. Kevin Seymour went on to become a successful anime English voice director. Robert Napton became the director of Bandai U.S.A.'s manga division. Ken Iyadomi went on to produce/co-produce domestic releases by Manga Entertainment and Bandai Entertainment. Although some of their releases have seen re-release through Bandai Visual USA (which subsequently merged with Bandai Entertainment), Manga Entertainment and Media Blasters
, other titles such as the original uncut subtitled version of Dangaioh, Ambassador Magma and Guyver: Out of Control were never re-released and have remained out of print on home video.
except where indicated.
Anime
is the Japanese abbreviated pronunciation of "animation". The definition sometimes changes depending on the context. In English-speaking countries, the term most commonly refers to Japanese animated cartoons....
home video distribution in North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
. The division was originally founded in February 1987 by Kevin Seymour, David Keith Riddick, Sho Nagata and Satoshi Komatsu. Robert Napton later joined the division and became a key figure in its productions.
After producing two music projects for the Robotech
Robotech
Robotech is an 85-episode science fiction anime adaptation produced by Harmony Gold USA in association with Tatsunoko Production Co., Ltd. and first released in the United States in 1985...
television series, U.S. Renditions produced the very first subtitled direct-to-home anime video for the American anime market. In March 1990, they began a release of a subtitled version of Gunbuster
Gunbuster
Gunbuster, known in Japan as is a six episode anime OVA series created by Gainax in 1988. It was the directorial debut of Hideaki Anno, best known as the director of Neon Genesis Evangelion. The title is a combination of the titles of classic tennis anime Aim for the Ace!, whose plot inspired...
, followed in the same month by Dangaioh
Dangaioh
is an anime OVA series produced by Anime International Company studios and released in Japan in 1987. Dangaioh featured character designs by creator Toshiki Hirano, mechanical designs by Shoji Kawamori, and animation direction by Masami Ōbari.-Plot:...
. They also released such subtitled hits as Appleseed
Appleseed (OVA)
is a cyberpunk-style anime OVA that takes place in the future. The anime, produced by Bandai Visual in 1988, is an adaptation of the manga, Appleseed created by Masamune Shirow. The anime departs from the manga's storyline and primarily has only the setting and characters in common...
and Black Magic M-66
Black Magic M-66
is a cyberpunk manga written and illustrated by Masamune Shirow. It was first published as a dōjinshi in 1983, and was later reprinted in tankōbon format by Seishinsha in 1985....
, and even began dubbing anime in 1992, the year their release of Dangaioh was completed. Their first dubbing projects included Macross II
The Super Dimension Fortress Macross II: Lovers, Again
, also known as The Super Dimension Fortress Macross II: Lovers, Again or Super Dimensional Fortress Macross II, is the first animated sequel to The Super Dimension Fortress Macross to feature a new cast of characters...
, Giant Robo and Fight! Iczer-One. These video projects were a joint venture with L.A. Hero, which was headed by Ken Iyadomi. U.S. Renditions also worked with U.S. Manga Corps
Central 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...
on a select number of titles.
The company also had a division called Dark Image Entertainment, which was geared for mature audiences. Titles under Dark Image Entertainment included Ambassador Magma, Devilman and Guyver: Out of Control
Guyver: Out of Control
Guyver: Out of Control is a short original video animation based on the manga, Bio Booster Armor Guyver but is different both in length and story from both the manga and the 12 episode OVA series, Bio-Booster Armor Guyver....
.
U.S. Renditions had a deal with 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...
's UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
Division to distribute selected anime titles and have them dubbed in-house, before Island Records
Island Records
Island Records is a record label that was founded by Chris Blackwell in Jamaica. It was based in the United Kingdom for many years and is now owned by Universal Music Group...
established Manga's North American operations.
When Books Nippan ceased operations in the mid-1990s, U.S. Renditions was dissolved. Kevin Seymour went on to become a successful anime English voice director. Robert Napton became the director of Bandai U.S.A.'s manga division. Ken Iyadomi went on to produce/co-produce domestic releases by Manga Entertainment and Bandai Entertainment. Although some of their releases have seen re-release through Bandai Visual USA (which subsequently merged with Bandai Entertainment), Manga Entertainment and 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...
, other titles such as the original uncut subtitled version of Dangaioh, Ambassador Magma and Guyver: Out of Control were never re-released and have remained out of print on home video.
U.S. Renditions
All titles re-released by Manga EntertainmentManga Entertainment
Manga Entertainment is a producer, licensor and distributor of Japanese animation in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, France, Australia and New Zealand...
except where indicated.
- AppleseedAppleseed (OVA)is a cyberpunk-style anime OVA that takes place in the future. The anime, produced by Bandai Visual in 1988, is an adaptation of the manga, Appleseed created by Masamune Shirow. The anime departs from the manga's storyline and primarily has only the setting and characters in common...
- Dubbed by Manga Entertainment UK - Black Magic M-66Black Magic M-66is a cyberpunk manga written and illustrated by Masamune Shirow. It was first published as a dōjinshi in 1983, and was later reprinted in tankōbon format by Seishinsha in 1985....
- Dubbed by Manga Entertainment UK - Giant Robo - Re-released on VHS by Manga Entertainment and on DVD (with an all-new dub) by Media BlastersMedia BlastersMedia 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...
. - Bio Booster Armor GuyverGuyver (OVA)is a 12 part anime OVA loosely based on Yoshiki Takaya's manga, Bio-Booster Armor Guyver. It was released in Japan from 1989 to 1992. It is the second animated adaptation, following the 1986 film Guyver: Out of Control.-Plot:...
- DangaiohDangaiohis an anime OVA series produced by Anime International Company studios and released in Japan in 1987. Dangaioh featured character designs by creator Toshiki Hirano, mechanical designs by Shoji Kawamori, and animation direction by Masami Ōbari.-Plot:...
- Dubbed by Manga Entertainment UK - GunbusterGunbusterGunbuster, known in Japan as is a six episode anime OVA series created by Gainax in 1988. It was the directorial debut of Hideaki Anno, best known as the director of Neon Genesis Evangelion. The title is a combination of the titles of classic tennis anime Aim for the Ace!, whose plot inspired...
- Re-released on VHS by Manga Entertainment and on DVD by Bandai VisualBandai Visual, is a Japanese anime, film production and distribution enterprise, established by Bandai Co., Ltd. and a subsidiary of Namco Bandai Holdings, Inc., which is based in Minato, Tokyo, Japan. Since the reorganisation of Namco Bandai Holdings in 2006, Bandai Visual now heads the group's Visual and...
USA. - Macross IIThe Super Dimension Fortress Macross II: Lovers, Again, also known as The Super Dimension Fortress Macross II: Lovers, Again or Super Dimensional Fortress Macross II, is the first animated sequel to The Super Dimension Fortress Macross to feature a new cast of characters...
- The Super Dimension Century OrgussThe Super Dimension Century Orgussis an anime science fiction series. It inspired an OVA sequel series called Super Dimension Century Orguss 02. Orguss was the second part of The Super Dimension trilogy from Big West, preceded by The Super Dimension Fortress Macross and then followed by The Super Dimension Cavalry Southern...
- Re-released on DVD by ImaginAsianImaginAsianImaginAsian Entertainment is a multi-media company based in New York City. Its main feature is a television network, iaTV, which premiered in 2004 and which focuses on entertainment featuring people of East Asian and South East Asian descent. There is also some South Asian content...
.
U.S. Renditions (music)
- Robotech: BGM Collection, Vol.1 - The only Robotech soundtrack released on LPGramophone recordA gramophone record, commonly known as a phonograph record , vinyl record , or colloquially, a record, is an analog sound storage medium consisting of a flat disc with an inscribed, modulated spiral groove...
. - Robotech: Perfect Collection - The first digital release of a Robotech soundtrack.
Dark Image Entertainment
All titles rendered out of print following U.S. Renditions' demise except where indicated.- Ambassador Magma
- Devilman - Dubbed by Manga Entertainment UK
- Guyver: Out of ControlGuyver: Out of ControlGuyver: Out of Control is a short original video animation based on the manga, Bio Booster Armor Guyver but is different both in length and story from both the manga and the 12 episode OVA series, Bio-Booster Armor Guyver....
- Outlanders
- Raven Tengu Kabuto - Dubbed by Manga Entertainment UK