First Titles Scheduled for Release by FUNimation in Late Summer 2008
MINNEAPOLIS, July 3 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Navarre Corporation
(Nasdaq: NAVR) announced today that its wholly-owned subsidiary, FUNimation
Entertainment, has entered into an exclusive agreement to distribute select
DVD titles in North America on behalf of Geneon Entertainment, a leading
producer of Japanese animation.
Under the terms of the agreement, FUNimation Entertainment obtains the
exclusive rights in North America to the manufacturing, marketing, sales
and distribution of established Geneon titles, including Ergo Proxy,
Hellsing Ultimate and Black Lagoon.
"Geneon is a strong producer, known for excellent production and
quality of its anime series," said Gen Fukunaga, president and CEO of
FUNimation Entertainment. "We are pleased to partner with them and we are
committed to the successful release of these series."
"FUNimation's momentum as the leading anime distributor continues to
build," said Yushin Soga, president and CEO of Geneon. "We are sure this
partnership will only grow the prominence of our portfolio."
About FUNimation Entertainment
FUNimation(R) Entertainment is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Navarre
Corporation and the leading company providing Japanese animation in the
United States. FUNimation is known for acquiring top-rated anime series
from Japan and for being the market share leader for home video sales of
anime in the United States. The company has a proven formula for launching
and advancing brands, and manages a full spectrum of rights for many of its
brands including broadcasting, licensing, production, internet, and home
video sales and distribution.
About Navarre Corporation
Navarre(R) Corporation (Nasdaq: NAVR) is a publisher and distributor of
physical and digital home entertainment and multimedia products, including
PC software, DVD video, video games and accessories. Navarre develops,
licenses and publishes home entertainment and multimedia content through
its Encore, BCI, and FUNimation subsidiaries and has established
distribution relationships with customers across a wide spectrum of retail
channels. Navarre was founded in 1983 and is headquartered in New Hope,
Minnesota. Additional information regarding Navarre can be found at
http://www.navarre.com.
About Geneon Entertainment
A leading supplier of Japanese animation in North America, and the
recipient of the 2006 "Best Anime Company" by the Society for the Promotion
of Japanese Animation, GENEON ENTERTAINMENT (USA) INC., is a subsidiary of
Tokyo-based advertising giant Dentsu, Inc. Geneon Entertainment primarily
develops animation properties for release in North America on DVD and new
media.
About Dentsu Inc.
Dentsu Inc., founded in 1901, is the largest advertising agency brand
and the fifth largest marketing and communications organization in the
world. Based in Tokyo, the group has more than 6,000 clients and more than
15,000 full-time employees in both Japan and in its offices overseas.
Consolidated sales for fiscal term 03/07 were recorded at $17,738 million.
Dentsu is publicly quoted on the Tokyo Stock Exchange (Code 4324).
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