FUNimation Entertainment to Acquires Hetalia World Series

FUNimation Entertainment to Acquires Hetalia World Series
and the Movie HETALIA AXIS POWERS: PAINT IT, WHITE

Flower Mound, TX - July 30, 2010 – Flower Mound Texas, FUNimation Entertainment, the leading distributor of Japanese anime in North America, announced today it has reached an agreement with Japanese production studio Media Factory, Inc. for the online simulcast and home entertainment release of the comedy series “Hetalia World Series” in the United States.

Starting in August, FUNimation Entertainment will premiere the newest episode of “Hetalia World Series” shortly after its initial digital download premiere in Japan. The anime will be available with its original Japanese dialogue with English subtitles through FUNimation.com and FUNimation streaming partners. A date and time for its U.S. debut will be coming soon.

“Hetalia World Series” continues the off-beat tradition of its predecessor, “Axis Powers Hetalia”, following Italy, Germany, and now joined more prominently by Prussia on their escapades re-interpreting the past. Colorful, cute, and crass; this is world history as you have never seen it before.

Created by Hidekaz Himaruya, Hetalia World Series reunites the voice cast “Axis Powers Hetalia”. The anime stars Daisuke Namikawa, as Italy, Hiroki Yasumoto voicing Germany, and new addition Atsushi Kousaka as Prussia. The series is produced by Studio Deen (“Fruits Basket”, “Vampire Knight”).

FUNimation has also acquired to first animated feature-length adaptation of the series “Axis Powers Hetalia.” The film is called HETALIA AXIS POWERS: PAINT IT, WHITE and is the first appearance of the character Iceland. The nations must ward off aliens and save mankind as we know it from extinction and the draining of color throughout the world.

FUNimation will release the movie on DVD in 2011.

For more information about the series, please visit http://www.funimation.com/hetalia.

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FUNimation Entertainment Press Release