Section23 Films (legal name "SXION 23, LCC") is an American home video distribution company specializing in anime and Japanese films. The company is one of five successors to ADV Films, as well as the distributor of titles from Sentai Filmworks and Switchblade Films. ADV had announced that it had sold its assets to a group of companies, including Section23, on September 1, 2009. The company is based in Houston, Texas.
About
Section23 Films is a distribution company devoted to marketing and releasing titles into the North American market. The company distributes titles for Sentai Filmworks, Switchblade Pictures, Maiden Japan, and AEsir Holdings.
List of Section23 Films clients
Sentai Filmworks
Sentai Filmworks is an anime licensing company. It was formed in 2008 and had partnered with ADV Films to distribute their anime onto the market including shows that were previously released and licensed by Geneon USA, Urban Vision, Central Park Media, and Bandai Entertainment. As of September 2009, distribution is now handled by Section23 and it is now the successor to ADV Films. Their first title was a re-release of Mahoromatic.
When asked by a fan on Facebook what the reason was for calling the company "Sentai", CEO, Matt Greenfield responded, "It's a multi-layered pun, mostly for the benefit of the Japanese. Although Sentai can be translated as Squadron, Regiment or Flotilla, it basically means a team or group assembled with specific training and equipment for a specific purpose. Plus, Sentai was formed to help keep the anime industry alive in the U.S., so the superhero aspect is a double-play on that that Americans can get."
Switchblade Pictures
Switchblade Pictures is a licensing company that mostly licenses live-action Japanese films (mostly, uncut horror, erotic and shock value cinema). Along with Sentai Filmworks, Switchblade was formed in 2008 and ADV Films also provided intiall distribution. As of September 2009, distribution is now handled by Section23. Their first release was Cruel Restaurant.
Maiden Japan
Maiden Japan is an anime licensing company, created in 2010, that licenses subtitled and English dubbed series and collections with distribution handled by Section23. Maiden Japan is a sister label to Switchblade Pictures. Titles licensed include newer subtitled series as well as classic anime titles from the 80's and 90's (such as Patlabor, New Dominion Tank Police, and Royal Space Force: The Wings of Honnêamise). The first release for Maiden Japan was the erotic comedy Papillon Rose as a subtitled DVD collection in 2010.
AEsir Holdings
AEsir Holdings is an anime licensing company. They hold the rights to several titles which formerly belonged to ADV Films before their shutdown. Released titles include Princess Tutu, Petite Princess Yucie, Parasite Dolls, and Lady Death: The Movie.
Kraken Releasing
Kraken Releasing is a licensing company that specializes in licensing international films that are of the fantasy, science fiction and horror variety. Like Maiden Japan, it is a sister label of Switchblade Pictures. So far its releases are Godzilla vs. the Sea Monster, Godzilla vs. Hedorah, and Godzilla vs. Gigan.
Foreign distribution
Section23 Films, Sentai Filmworks, Maiden Japan, and AEsir Holdings do not directly release their properties in non-North American (English-speaking) markets unlike their predecessor, A.D. Vision, instead sublicensing to other companies such as Manga Entertainment in the United Kingdom and Siren Visual (initially and the majority), then Madman Entertainment and Hanabee in Australia and New Zealand. Mahoromatic: Something More Beautiful was released in the UK by MVM Films in 2010 after Sentai's re-release of the series, and MVM Films has licensed Broken Blade, Rozen Maiden: Overture, Bodacious Space Pirates and Dream Eater Merry for release in the UK.
See also
- Category:Sentai Filmworks
- Category:Maiden Japan
References
External links
- Sentai Filmworks Official Website
- Switchblade Pictures Official Website
- Maiden Japan Official Website
- Section23 Films at Anime News Network's encyclopedia
- Sentai Filmworks at Anime News Network's encyclopedia
- Maiden Japan at Anime News Network's encyclopedia
- AEsir Holdings at Anime News Network's encyclopedia
- Section23 Films at TV Tropes
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