New Katsuhiro Otomo (Akira) Based Anime US Bound

Logo handmade by Bannister Column by Scott Green New Katsuhiro Otomo (Akira) Based Anime US Bound

Bandai Visual USA, Inc. has announced that they will be releasing “SOS! TOKYO METRO EXPLORERS: THE NEXT on both Blu-ray Disc and standard DVD in the US on December 11, 2007. Director Shinji Takagi, who served animation director on Steamboy and Blood: The Last Vampire lead team behind the animation of Steamboy in this adaptation of Akira creator Katsuhiro Otomo’s short manga SOS! Big Tokyo Metro Explorers. The movie, which employs a cell shaded look with 3D CGI, follows a fifth grader who discovers a notebook that leads him and his expedition of friends to a community living under Tokyo. Staff includes Directed by Shinji Takagi Screenplay by Sadayuki Murai (Millennium Actress, Perfect Blue, Kino's Journey, Boogiepop Phantom) Original Story & Character Design by Katsuhiro Otomo Character Design & Animation Directed by Hidekazu Ohara (The Cannon Fodder segment of Memories) Sound Directed by Keiichi Momose (Blood: the Last Vampire, Steamboy) Music by Yoshihiro Ike (Blood: the Last Vampire, Karas, Freedom) Animation Created by Sunrise Emotion Studio The Blu-ray edition will retail for $64.99. The DVD will retail for $54.99. Features include include audio commentary by the creators, behind-the-scenes featurette, creator interviews, theatrical trailer, 12-page booklet exploring the world of SOS! TOKYO METRO EXPLORERS: THE NEXT