http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/newsitem.cfm?NewsID=5552
I'm hoping the legalities are settled because this sounds awesome!
Ultraman - Announcement For '66 Ultraman's DVD Release Date, Cover Art, Content, Extras
Posted by David Lambert
4/27/2006
News Graphic
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 26, 2006
NAVARRE CORPORATION'S BCI TO RELEASE
ALL 39 ORIGINAL EPISODES OF THE CLASSIC,
JAPANESE LIVE-ACTION TV SERIES
"Ultraman"
"Volume One" Three Disc Set Available July 18th for $39.98
Los Angeles, CA It was one of the top syndicated shows for boys in the late '60s and early '70s, creating a massive cult following that continues to this day. Now, BCI, a wholly owned subsidiary of Navarre Corporation, has announced that it will be releasing the complete 39 episode series "Ultraman," beginning with a three-disc, 20-episode set, in its original, uncut length, on July 18th at a suggested retail price of $39.98. The announcement was made by Greg Glass, Senior Vice President, BCI.
"Ultraman represents one of the most popular 'tokusatsu'special effectssuperhero genre productions ever to come out of Japan," said Glass. "This series pre-dated the popular Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, and we expect it to garner a tremendous fan base here in the United States."
Ultraman was produced by Tsuburaya Productions, and the 39 original episodes were broadcast on Tokyo Broadcasting System (TBS) from July 1966 to April 1967. An additional 11 Ultraman TV series were produced from 1967 to 1998. Ultraman was syndicated on television in the United States by United Artists in the 1970s.
An abundance of special features includes:
* Two collectible baseball-style cards featuring photos of Ultraman and his foes
* Original Japanese audio track, with newly created English subtitles
* English dubbed tracks created for the original television broadcast by the same team that voiced Speed Racer
* Interviews with English dub team Peter Fernandez, Corinne Orr and the late Earl Hammond
* Newly re-mastered with stereo sound and brilliant color
Each of the three DVDs will be packaged in individual slipcases, featuring photos of monsters from the series, all housed in a foil slipcase. The boxed set will include a Kajiu (monster) encyclopedia, as well as a 12-page booklet on the series.
BCI will feature a full episode of "Ultraman" at its San Diego Comic-Con booth this July. The DVD series will also be supported by a print, TV and online marketing and advertising campaign. "Volume Two," featuring the remaining 19 original episodes, will be available in October.
Ultraman is the story of a series of "Ultra-heros" that arrive on Earth to fight giant, evil monsters set on destroying the world. Each Ultraman can grow to over 200 feet tall, and uses a variety of energy emission powers, as well as expert, hand-to-hand martial arts fighting styles.
The series was created by Eiji Tsuburaya, a special effects pioneer responsible for bringing the classic Godzilla character to life in 1954. Tsuburaya was the director of special effects on over 100 films throughout his career, including every major monster film produced in Japan.
About Navarre Corporation Navarre Corporation is a publisher and distributor of a broad range of home entertainment and multimedia products, including PC software, CD audio, DVD video, VHS video, video games and accessories. Since its founding in 1983, the company has established distribution relationships with customers across a wide spectrum of retail channels which includes mass merchants, discount, wholesale clubs, office and music superstores, military and e-tailers nationwide. The company currently provides its products to over 18,000 retail and distribution center locations throughout the United States and Canada. Navarre has recently expanded its business to include the licensing and publishing of home entertainment and multimedia content, primarily through the acquisitions of Encore Software, Inc., BCI Eclipse Company, LLC, FUNimation Productions, Ltd. and The FUNimation Store, Ltd. For more information please visit the company's web site at http://www.navarre.com.
About BCI
BCI, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Navarre Corporation, is an independent entertainment video and audio supplier. BCI has continually redefined the standards and concepts of this industry, often introducing national success categories through its intuitive mass marketing skills. Its vast collection of titles represents both exclusively licensed titles from around the world, as well as in-house produced CDs and DVDs.
