Animax airs Tears to Tiara and Fullmetal Alchemist - Brotherhood same-time anime simulcast!

Tears to Tiara

Animax Asia is going to make another world's first history and I know every anime fans and otakus will be happy to hear this big news. Tears to Tiara and Fullmetal Alchemist - Brotherhood will debut across Asia on Animax and it is a same-time and same-week broadcast respectively.

Animax Asia will air Tears to Tiara and its the firs series to be aired same-time simulcast tv series that will premiere on April 6, 2009, Monday 12:25am on Animax, and simultaneous to the series 1:35am (Tokyo) debut in Japan. After 4 days of the world premiere of Tears Tiara, the 2009's most-anticipated blockbuster anime series, Fullmetal Alchemist-Brotherhood will debut on Animax Asia inthe same-week broadcast that will premiere on April 10, 2009, Friday at 8:30pm with each new episode airing within six days of its premiere in Japan.

April 6, 2009 will be another big hit in the history of anime tv here in Asia, and Animax Asia is the World's first broadcaster to offer brand new anime series outside Japan in a same-time simulcast, meaning that we will enjoy and watch new anime here in our cable tv, even they premiered it in Japan at the same date and time. Animax Asia will host the tv premiere of Tears to Tiara across Asia, that is simultaneous with Chiba TV in Japan.

“The inaugural deal to bring Tears to Tiara to Animax viewers across Asia simultaneous with viewers in Japan is a milestone not only for Animax Asia, but also for the anime business as the speed of international broadcast is brought to its pinnacle. We are very proud to provide viewers with what was previously seemingly impossible,” said Gregory Ho, Vice President & General Manager, Animax Asia.

Promising enthralling characters, beautiful artwork, and an exciting storyline complete with spellbinding powers and epic battles, Tears to Tiara draws its inspiration from the gaming arena where it originates as a captivating fantasy role-playing game on the PC and Sony PlayStation 3 platforms. Published by Aquaplus, the Japanese games publisher behind titles like ‘To Heart’ and ‘Utawarerumono’, the ‘Tears to Tiara’ game proved so popular that it sold out across Asia at Sony as of March 2009.


Fullmetal Alchemist – Brotherhood is the third and latest on-screen rendition of the Fullmetal Alchemist franchise based on the best-selling manga (comics) series by Hiromu Arakawa. Production for Fullmetal Alchemist – Brotherhood is undertaken by anime studio BONES which made the previous Fullmetal Alchemist series, and is directed by Yasuhiro Irie who also helmed Kurau: Phantom Memory, Soul Eater, episodes of Alien Nine and RahXephon, as well as animation sequences in the first Fullmetal Alchemist series.

“Set to emulate the overwhelming success of the first series and sequel movie, Fullmetal Alchemist – Brotherhood offers a touching story, exciting action and fantastic artwork that have become hallmarks of the world-renowned Fullmetal Alchemist franchise. Definitely the biggest and most keenly anticipated mega anime title this year, Fullmetal Alchemist – Brotherhood comes to Animax amidst stiff competition for the show worldwide, and that is made all the more satisfying for our viewers with the highly-coveted same-week broadcast,” added Gregory Ho.

The two anime series will be available in original Japanese audio and local language subtitles will be provided.Engish and Chinese subtitles will be seen on the screen during the live airing, and local language subs will be applied. Tears to Tiata and Fullmeta Alchemist - Brotherhood will have a recap marathon of the month's new episode on the last Saturday and Sunday of each month starting from April 25-26, 2009.

Finally, March 26, 2009, viewers can pledge to be part of history at www.ipledgeAnimax.com and join in the online countdown to the historical Tears to Tiara broadcast and debut of 2009’s biggest title Fullmetal Alchemist – Brotherhood this April on Animax. (Read more below)

Tears to Tiara premieres Apr 6, 2009, airing Mondays 12.35am in the world’s first same-time simulcast with Japan on Animax

Fullmetal Alchemist - Brotherhood premieres April 10, 2009, airing Fridays 8.30pm in Animax Asia’s first same-week anime broadcast



SYNOPSES

TEARS TO TIARA
Set in a magical and fantasy medieval world, Tears to Tiara unfolds with the Divine Empire’s rise to power as it conquers lands far and wide. On the island of Erin still ruled by the Ancient Kingdom, the Goidelic people are attempting to sacrifice priestess Riannon to revive protagonist and demon king Arawn to lead the resistance against the Empire. Although the ritual fails and Riannon survives, Arawn’s seal is broken and resurrected. Armed with mysterious and devastating powers as well as a human’s demeanour, Arawn joins Riannon, her brother and battalion commander Arthur, along with their team of fighters comprising a swordsman, an archer and a quintet of pixies, in an epic struggle against the Divine Empire.

Promising enthralling characters, beautiful artwork, and an exciting storyline complete with spellbinding powers and epic battles, Tears to Tiara draws its inspiration from the gaming arena where it originates as a captivating fantasy role-playing game on the PC and Sony PlayStation 3 platforms. Published by Aquaplus, the Japanese games publisher behind titles like ‘To Heart’ and ‘Utawarerumono’, the ‘Tears to Tiara’ game proved so popular that it sold out across Asia at Sony as of March 2009.

Produced by Japanese anime studio White Fox, Tears to Tiara is directed by Tomoki Kobayashi, who was also responsible for directing anime series including Chobits, Rozen Maiden and the anime adaptation of Utawarerumono. Screenplay for Tears to Tiara is by Doko Machida, the writer behind screenplays for Lucky Star, Wolf’s Rain and Saiyuki Reload.

FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST – BROTHERHOOD
Fullmetal Alchemist – Brotherhood is set in a fictional world where alchemy – the transmutation of raw materials into objects – is science and the way of life. The brand new anime series is based on Hiromu Arakawa hit manga series which follows the well-loved Elric brothers Edward and Alphonse on their perilous journey in search of the legendary Philosopher’s Stone. They set forth in the hope that the magical artefact can restore their bodies after a failed alchemy experiment to revive their dead mother cost Edward’s left leg and right arm; as well as Alphonse’s entire body, leaving his soul affixed to a suit of armour.

Production for Fullmetal Alchemist – Brotherhood was undertaken by anime studio BONES which made the original Fullmetal Alchemist series, and is directed by Yasuhiro Irie who also helmed Kurau: Phantom Memory, Soul Eater, episodes of Alien Nine and RahXephon, as well as animation sequences in the first Fullmetal Alchemist series.

Hiroshi Ohnogi (Macross Zero) leads script development while Hiroki Kanno (Yu Yu Hakusho The Movie: Poltergeist Report) takes on character design, with music by Akira Senju (Mobile Suit Victory Gundam). Producers include Ryo Oyama from production and distribution firm Aniplex; broadcaster MBS' Hiro Maruyama; Nobuyuki Kurashige from video games and publishing firm Square Enix; and BONES' Noritomo Yonai. Well-loved voice talents Paku Romi and Rie Kugimiya, winner of the ‘Best Lead Actress’ at the Third Annual Seiyū Awards for her part in Shakugan no Shana, are reprising their roles as protagonists Edward and Alphonse Elric respectively.

With a story spun off from the manga series, the previous Fullmetal Alchemist anime series was broadcast in 2003 and was voted the most popular anime of all time in Japan in two online polls by Japanese broadcaster TV Asahi. Its theatrical sequel Fullmetal Alchemist the Movie: Conqueror of Shamballa debuted 2005 to great critical acclaim including ‘Animation Of The Year’, ‘Best original story’ and ‘Best music’ awards at the 2005 Tokyo Anime Fair; the ‘2005 Animation Grand Award’ prize from the Mainichi Film Awards; as well as the ‘Best Animated Film’ honour at Canada’s Fantasia International Film Festival.