BANDAI & MANGA’S “GHOST IN THE SHELL: STAND ALONE COMPLEX” VOLUME ONE DVD WINS MAJOR AWARD AT THE
CANADIAN ENTERTAINMENT NETWORK AWARDS (CEN)

Manga Entertainment and Bandai Entertainment’s immensely popular animated TV show Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex won the Best Anime DVD in Canada’s National DVD Award Show, CEN - the only awards show of its kind to celebrate the best in the Canadian Home Entertainment Industry.

Stand Alone Complex Volume One conquered the competition, beating out Sony Pictures’ Tokyo Godfathers and anime competitor ADV films’ Evangelion: Platinum One and Lady Death: The Motion Picture. Stand Alone Complex Volume Two was also nominated in the Best Anime DVD competition. This award constituted the only victory at the event for Sony Wonder/Sony Music Video - the company responsible for selling and distributing the series in Canada.

CENA is dedicated to acknowledging the success of DVD sales and rentals, which in 2004 accounted for over $25 billion in consumer spending. CENA honors many major film industry studios with 34 different DVD categories. This Second Annual CEN Award featured actress Minnie Driver making her first Canadian singing debut promoting her new CD “Everything I’ve Got in My Pocket” (Rounder/Universal).

The all-new Stand Alone Complex futuristic anime series continues the story of the acclaimed anime feature film Ghost in the Shell which was based on the popular manga by Masamune Shirow. Female cyborg Major Motoko Kusanagi and her fellow police officers of Section 9 hunt down a host of criminals in both the real and online worlds. In the first four episodes Kusanagi and Section 9 must resolve a hostage crisis, hunt down a runaway state-of-the-art killing machine, solve a mystery behind recent android suicides and investigate a high level conspiracy involving a mysterious computer hacker. Set in the not too distant future where technology plays a key role in everyday life, Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex utilizes the latest in full CG animation presenting illustrious characters and meticulous design along with dramatic animated action.

Manga Entertainment Inc., an Anchor Bay Entertainment Company, specializes in the production and distribution of Japanese animation for theatrical, DVD and home video release worldwide.  Manga's cutting-edge film catalog also features Asian live-action, cult, pop-culture and international animation. Manga films are distributed in the U.S. through Anchor Bay Entertainment. Manga has offices in London and Tokyo, and is headquartered in Chicago

Manga Entertainment is a subsidiary of IDT Entertainment; IDT Entertainment is focused on developing, acquiring, producing and distributing computer-generated as well as traditional animated and live productions for the film, broadcast and direct-to-consumer markets. www.idtentertainment.com

Bandai Entertainment Inc. is the premier distributor of Japanese animation on DVD home video in North America. The company has distributed notable titles like Mobile Suit Gundam SEED, Cowboy Bebop, Wolf’s Rain, and Witch Hunter Robin.  Bandai Entertainment Inc. is a subsidiary of Bandai America Inc., who makes the toys for the hit television series, Power Rangers, Digimon, and Mobile Suit Gundam. Bandai Co., Ltd is the third largest toy company in the World comprising 53 subsidiaries in 18 countries. In addition to toys and children's entertainment, Bandai Co.'s global interests include video game software, multimedia, music and full-length feature films, vending machines, trading cards, candies, and licensed apparel. Additional company and product information is available through our website at www.bandai-ent.com.