AnimeVision

FUNimation confirmed four "new" titles over the weekend. The first two will be familiar to most, as they're 'rescues' from the company formerly known as ADV Films: Full Metal Panic! and Full Metal Panic? FUMOFFU!. That means that the whole of the FMP franchise now lives with FUNi.

The other two titles are completely new licenses. First up is Birdy the Mighty Decode (and its second season Decode:02), which follows Federation investigator Birdy's chases of space criminal Geega. Her chase has led her to Earth where, posing as famous model 'Arita Shion' she continues her hunt with the help of high-school student Senkawa. The other new title is Sekirei, where college dropout Minato Sahashi is drawn into the world of 108 well-endowed women, the Sekirei, and the battles between them.

The company has also announced plans to get into the co-production business, which will see the company working on "the acquisition and development of a slate of original anime titles based on major intellectual properties". They're not the first Western company to get into co-production - Manga Entertainment's involvement in Ghost in the Shell being a high-profile example - but results of such co-operation have been a mixed bag. I'll be curious to see what comes of the venture.