ADV FILMS ANNOUNCES RELEASE DATE FOR SAKURA WARS TV: OVERTURE

SECOND VOLUME OF THE 25-EPISODE TV SERIES TO BE AVAILABLE JULY 8, 2003; TIES IN TO POPULAR SAKURA WARS OVA, VIDEO GAMES

HOUSTON, April 14, 2003—ADV Films today announced a July 8, 2003 release date for Sakura Wars TV: Overture, second volume of ADV’s DVD release of the title.

Well known for its enthusiastic genre hopping, including robot combat, musical theatre, romance, a dose of history lesson and more, the Sakura Wars franchise—including video games, OVAs and this television series—has proven an enduring fan favorite.

The Story: The Imperial Flower Combat Troop gains two new members: Kouran the Brain and Kanna the Brawn. But the Evil Darkness has gained new members too: Setsuna the Imp and his trusty companion Resatsu the Lumbering Brute! To make matters worse, the printing shop has delivered the programs for the Gala Premiere and they’re full of spelling errors!

Based on the video game that took the world by storm, Sakura Wars TV brings you even more of the beautiful warriors made popular in the Sakura Wars OVA. Can these lovely lasses harness their inner power to defeat the demon world? Will Sakura finally prove herself as a true member of the team? Who will survive when Sumire finds out about her billing in the show?

Sakura Wars TV: Overture ($29.98 SRP) is a DVD-only release containing four complete episodes. It includes both English- and Japanese-language versions, and English subtitles. DVD extras include: an eight-page printed booklet, including production sketches; production notes; clean opening and closing animation; character bios; and ADV previews.

About ADV Films:
In 1992, ADV Films (ADV) began to forge the international market for Japanese animation (“anime”) by combining unique titles, outstanding production values and efficient large-scale distribution. Today, ADV is the #1 producer-distributor of Japanese animation to the North American market, with the firm’s holdings including such premier titles as Spriggan, Sailor Moon, Samurai X, Medabots, Robotech, Gasaraki and Neon Genesis Evangelion. ADV has also expanded into other forms of genre programming, including live-action science fiction programs Gene Roddenberry's Andromeda and Farscape, and classic science fiction such as Gamera: Guardian of the Universe. ADV’s corporate parent, A.D. Vision, Inc., publishes Newtype USA, the premiere anime and manga monthly in the English-speaking world, and operates The Anime Network, broadcasting anime and anime-related programming via digital cable, 24 hours a day. Headquartered in Houston, Texas, USA, with additional offices in the EU and Japan, and distribution on four continents, ADV is fast becoming an international entertainment powerhouse. For more information, visit ADV on the web at http://www.advfilms.com.

SAKURA WARS TV: OVERTURE
Running Time: 100 minutes; Age Rating: 12+
Pre-Book Date: 6/10/03
Street Date: 7/8/03
Format: DVD
SRP: DVD Only - $29.98