RIGHT STUF and KADOKAWA PICTURES USA to Release THE THIRD: THE GIRL WITH THE BLUE EYE

First anime DVD planned for Summer 2007

GRIMES, IA, February 26, 2007 – Anime producer and distributor The Right Stuf International announced at New York Comic Con that it has been selected by Kadokawa Pictures USA to handle North American production and distribution for the 2006 anime series THE THIRD: THE GIRL WITH THE BLUE EYE (“The Third – Aoi Hitomi no Shoujo”). The first DVD volume is scheduled for a Summer 2007 release.

The 24-episode anime is based upon a series of novels and short stories written by Ryo Hoshino and illustrated by Nao Goto. The original fiction currently spans more than 16 volumes and has appeared in Japan’s Dragon Magazine since 1999, alongside the serialized novels for several properties familiar to anime fans, including Full Metal Panic!, Slayers, Maburaho and Scrapped Princess. A manga interpretation of The Third has appeared in Dragon Age magazine, home to the Full Metal Panic!, Slayers and Chrono Crusade manga series. XEBEC (D.N.Angel, Negima!, Stellvia, Martian Successor Nadesico) produced the animation for the TV series, which ran on Japan’s WOWOW satellite channel from April through October of 2006.

In the post-apocalyptic world of The Third: The Girl With the Blue Eye, remnants of the human race have settled along the desert frontier: battling giant, man-eating insects and living under the watchful eye of The Third, an organization that polices mankind’s use of technology. Although The Third’s goal – preventing another epic war – may be admirable, their tactics breed resentment. Honoka, a “jill of all trades,” is among the many mercenaries and technicians who test the limits of The Third’s “Technos Taboo” regularly. Her expertise with the blade has already won her notoriety. However, when Honoka rescues a mysterious young man from almost-certain death, the “Sword Dancer” finds she, her allies and her A.I.-equipped tank are suddenly even more interesting to The Third.

“We’re excited to work with Kadokawa Pictures USA on The Third,” said Shawne Kleckner, President and CEO of Right Stuf. “It has all of the things we appreciate as anime fans ourselves. We’re very honored to be entrusted with bringing this series to North America, and we look forward to giving The Third the care and attention to detail fans have come to expect from our releases.”

“We are very excited to work with Right Stuf and Mr. Shawne Kleckner to produce The Third and distribute it to North American audiences,” said Mr. Takashi Sakuda, Senior Vice President of Distribution and Licensing for Kadokawa Pictures, USA. “They have both an enthusiasm for The Third and a knowledge of the U.S. anime market that is impressive, and we look forward to collaborating with them to introduce ‘Honoka’ and ‘Bogie’ to U.S. anime fans.”

Visit the series site at thethird.rightstuf.com (www.thethirdanime.com).

ABOUT THE RIGHT STUF INTERNATIONAL
Founded in 1987, The Right Stuf International was one of the first players in the U.S. Japanese Animation ("anime") industry. Right Stuf works to promote knowledge of its own products as well as information about the anime/manga industry, in general. On the production side, Right Stuf is dedicated to creating the highest quality products and chooses to focus on a limited number of anime titles each year. With a product line ranging from anime classics like Astro Boy, Kimba and Gigantor to the most modern comedies and dramas, such as His and Her Circumstances, Gravitation, Comic Party, Shingu, Ninja Nonsense and To Heart, Right Stuf produces quality anime for fans of all ages. For more information, visit www.rightstuf.com.

ABOUT KADOKAWA PICTURES USA
Kadokawa Pictures USA is the Los Angeles-based arm of international multimedia empire Kadokawa Holdings, Inc., which includes: Kadokawa Shoten Publishing, one of the largest publishers in Japan; distributor and production company Kadokawa Herald Pictures; and Kadokawa Daiei Film Studios.

Remakes from the Kadokawa library include the successful “THE RING” franchise and smash hit “THE GRUDGE,” as well as “SHALL WE DANCE?,” “DARK WATER” and the upcoming “ONE MISSED CALL.”

Kadokawa publishes over 100 fiction titles a month, is one of the largest publishers of manga (comics) in Japan, and produces and finances up to seven new films a year, as well as creating video games for distribution throughout Pan Asia.

In addition, Kadokawa produces many animated projects each year, including TV series, OVAs and animated films such as Full Metal Panic! The Second Raid and The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya.