I resolve... to live life in full color... a call to 'animax-tion'

MANILA, Philippines - Good news, anime-niacs!

Animax pulls a same-time, same-week broadcast so you can tune in to what the Japanese have been beaming from their TVs

Come April 6, Animax Asia, Sony Pictures’ arena for all things anime, will write itself firmly into the annals of international TV history as the world’s first broadcaster to offer a new anime series outside Japan on a same-time simulcast. Clinching the groundbreaking deal, Animax Asia proudly presents the world premiere of Tears to Tiara across Asia, completely simultaneous with the anime series’ debut in Japan on Chiba TV.  

And with just four days to catch your breath from the record-setting same-time anime simulcast, you can enjoy the spectacular premiere of the blockbuster anime series Fullmetal Alchemist – Brotherhood in Animax Asia’s first same-week broadcast deal on April 10. Under this agreement, fans across Asia will catch exclusively on Animax, the long-awaited new series that follows the top-rated Fullmetal Alchemist series, within just six days that each new episode premieres in Japan.   

A first for any broadcaster outside Japan, the elusive and unprecedented same-day-and-time premiere of Tears to Tiara, set in a magical and fantasy medieval world, marks a new standard in international anime broadcast pioneered by Animax Asia on Apri 6 at 12:35 a.m., early Monday morning premiere that is fully synchronized with Japan’s 1:35 a.m. Tokyo broadcast.  

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. 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.   

Following the exhilaration of Tears to Tiara, Animax viewers will then be among the first in the world outside Japan to enjoy the highly-anticipated Fullmetal Alchemist – Brotherhood when it debuts April 10, 2009, airing Fridays, 8.30pm across Asia on Animax. Definitely the biggest anime series of the year and in the same league of household anime titles including Slam Dunk, Dragonball, Gundam, and Naruto that have taken the world by storm, Fullmetal Alchemist — Brotherhood will see all 51 episodes come to Animax in the same week of its Japan premiere via Animax Asia’s same-week broadcast deal.   

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. Airing in original Japanese audio, premiering episodes of Tears to Tiara will be accompanied by local language subtitles, while Fullmetal Alchemist – Brotherhood will include English and Chinese subtitles for a start. To ensure fans do not miss out on the latest action, Animax will offer primetime repeat broadcasts of Tears to Tiara and Fullmetal Alchemist–Brotherhood, as well as a recap marathon of the month’s new episodes on the last Saturday and Sunday of each month starting from April 25 and 26, respectively.  

Finally, on March 26, 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.  

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Tears to Tiara premieres April 6, airing Mondays 12:35 a.m. in the world’s first same-time simulcast with Japan on Animax.

Fullmetal Alchemist—Brotherhood premieres April 10, airing Fridays 8:30 p.m. in Animax Asia’s first same-week anime broadcast.

The Alchemist Of Anime

Ryo Oyama-san, producer of Fullmetal Alchemist—Brotherhood, answers our Supreme show questions.  

What trigged you to start Fullmetal Alchemist—Brotherhood?

The biggest motivation to do this series is of course the support of the fans of FMA. It is this great support from only the Japanese fans, but also the fans from all over the world for FMA, that led to the production of a new series.

Can you tell us what to expect from Fullmetal Alchemist— Brotherhood?

Because I hope viewers will enjoy watching the series, I don’t want to reveal too many details here, but it is a story that I think is going to be enjoyable for not only the devoted fans of FMA, but also for viewers who have not watched the first series.

Is production of Fullmetal Alchemist going smoothly ?

High-quality image production of FMA is currently in progress, under the supervision of director Yasuhiro Irie. In fact, episode 1 of the series has just been completed. It is filled with many big-scale action scenes, so please look forward to it.

How do you personally feel producing an anime with such a loyal and international fan base, and which has had such success?

I am really feeling the thrill that you can only feel with animation. I can fully experience the power of FMA2 having the ability to produce animated moving images, and it having the ability to easily overcome geographical, racial, and language barriers. For example, I see FMA fans gathering together at events and co-playing their favorite characters while enjoying the show. Be it in America, Germany, France, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and of course Singapore, internationally we are able to see such occurrences. This is truly a wonderful experience.