The North American anime licensing company Maiden Japan announced on Tuesday that it has licensed the Patlabor video anime series. Maiden Japan will release the series in conjunction with the home video distribution company Section23 Films. The companies will release the seven-episode series on bilingual DVD and Blu-ray Disc. The companies will also release the series digitally.
The series revolves around the motley crew of Japan’s Section 2, Division 2, which is comprised of police officers who are well versed in both law and robotics. Members Noa Izumi and Isao Ohta pilot the giant “Labor” robots to bring down those who would use Labors to commit crimes. Central Park Media originally released the series in North America on DVD in 2003.
The North American anime distributor and retailer Right Stuf, Inc. announced on Tuesday that it has licensed the Space Adventure Cobra television anime series. Right Stuf and Nozomi Entertainment will release the series in two DVD sets starting in late 2013. The companies will also release the series digitally. Right Stuf’s release will mark the first time the 1982-1983 series will be released in North America.
Right Stuf is also taking questions for original creator Buichi Terasawa on the series’ official website until February 15.
The 31-episode anime adapts Terasawa’s 18-volume science-fiction manga series, which ran in Shueisha’s Weekly Shonen Jump from 1978 to 1984. The series tells the adventures of a space pirate and his female android partner. Osamu Dezaki (The Rose of Versailles, Golgo 13, Black Jack) directed the series at Tokyo Movie Shinsha.
