Anime Unleashed
Encyclopedia
Anime Unleashed was an anime
block that was broadcast
on the American
cable TV
network
, G4
. The block was placed on the original TechTV
in early 2003 and moved to G4techTV
after the two networks merged. Titles airing on the block almost exclusively came from domestic anime distributors ADV Films, Bandai
and Geneon
(formerly Pioneer Animation).
host Leo Laporte
in late 2002. TechTV's vision was to air a wave of anime series that dealt with technology, futuristic themes, and science fiction. Its premier date was December 30, 2002.
On March 16th, 2006, Anime Unleashed was taken off the G4 schedule. In a commercial aired on G4, promoting the network's newest additions and changes in late March and April 2006, they contained both a clip of anime and a quick flash of the Anime Unleashed logo, the logo being more visible when watched frame by frame. Despite this, and indications by G4 personnel that the block might have a chance of returning, it never came back on-air after being taken off and was quietly canceled. The broadcast rights to the shows still airing on Anime Unleashed before its cancellation are assumed to have long since expired (and in the case of shows licensed from the now-defunct Geneon, reverted back to the original Japanese licensors or picked up by other companies, such as Funimation Entertainment
)
Although unrelated, after about five years of the block's quiet cancellation, Marvel Anime
will make a North American debut on G4
, marking the first time the channel will have anime since Anime Unleashed, followed by the premiere of Viper's Creed
on October 21.
Anime
is the Japanese abbreviated pronunciation of "animation". The definition sometimes changes depending on the context. In English-speaking countries, the term most commonly refers to Japanese animated cartoons....
block that was broadcast
Broadcasting
Broadcasting is the distribution of audio and video content to a dispersed audience via any audio visual medium. Receiving parties may include the general public or a relatively large subset of thereof...
on the American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
cable TV
Cable television
Cable television is a system of providing television programs to consumers via radio frequency signals transmitted to televisions through coaxial cables or digital light pulses through fixed optical fibers located on the subscriber's property, much like the over-the-air method used in traditional...
network
Television network
A television network is a telecommunications network for distribution of television program content, whereby a central operation provides programming to many television stations or pay TV providers. Until the mid-1980s, television programming in most countries of the world was dominated by a small...
, G4
G4 (TV channel)
G4, also known as G4 TV, is an American cable- and satellite-television channel originally geared primarily toward young adult viewers, originally based on the world of video games...
. The block was placed on the original TechTV
TechTV
TechTV was a 24-hour cable and satellite channel based in San Francisco featuring news and shows about computers, technology, and the Internet. In 2004, it merged with the G4 gaming channel which ultimately dissolved TechTV programming...
in early 2003 and moved to G4techTV
G4techTV
G4techTV was a cable and satellite channel resulting from a merger between Comcast-owned G4 and TechTV. The headquarters is based in Los Angeles...
after the two networks merged. Titles airing on the block almost exclusively came from domestic anime distributors ADV Films, Bandai
Bandai
is a Japanese toy making and video game company, as well as the producer of a large number of plastic model kits. It is the world's third-largest producer of toys . Some ex-Bandai group companies produce anime and tokusatsu programs...
and Geneon
Geneon
is a Japanese music, anime and home entertainment production and distribution enterprise headquartered in Akasaka, Minato, Tokyo, Japan. Geneon has been involved in the production and distribution of several anime in Japan...
(formerly Pioneer Animation).
History
Anime Unleashed was first announced by The Screen SaversThe Screen Savers
The Screen Savers was a live American TV show on TechTV. The show launched concurrently with the channel ZDTV on May 11, 1998. The Screen Savers originally centered around computers, new technologies, and their adaptations in the world...
host Leo Laporte
Leo Laporte
Léo Gordon Laporte is an Emmy Award winning, American technology broadcaster, author, and entrepreneur. A former resident of Providence, Rhode Island, he now lives in Petaluma, California with his wife Jennifer and two children, Abby and Henry....
in late 2002. TechTV's vision was to air a wave of anime series that dealt with technology, futuristic themes, and science fiction. Its premier date was December 30, 2002.
On March 16th, 2006, Anime Unleashed was taken off the G4 schedule. In a commercial aired on G4, promoting the network's newest additions and changes in late March and April 2006, they contained both a clip of anime and a quick flash of the Anime Unleashed logo, the logo being more visible when watched frame by frame. Despite this, and indications by G4 personnel that the block might have a chance of returning, it never came back on-air after being taken off and was quietly canceled. The broadcast rights to the shows still airing on Anime Unleashed before its cancellation are assumed to have long since expired (and in the case of shows licensed from the now-defunct Geneon, reverted back to the original Japanese licensors or picked up by other companies, such as Funimation Entertainment
Funimation Entertainment
Funimation is an American entertainment company. Originally founded in 1994 by Gen Fukunaga, the company became a subsidiary of Navarre Corporation on May 11, 2005...
)
Although unrelated, after about five years of the block's quiet cancellation, Marvel Anime
Marvel Anime
Marvel Anime is a four-part anime project with collaborations from both Marvel Entertainment and Madhouse. The project took famous Marvel characters and reintroduced them for a Japanese audience in a 12-part series. The announcement was confirmed at the 2009 San Diego Comic-Con...
will make a North American debut on G4
G4 (TV channel)
G4, also known as G4 TV, is an American cable- and satellite-television channel originally geared primarily toward young adult viewers, originally based on the world of video games...
, marking the first time the channel will have anime since Anime Unleashed, followed by the premiere of Viper's Creed
Viper's Creed
is a Mecha action anime series created by Sony Pictures Japan with animation by AIC Spirits and Digital Frontier. Though Hiroyuki Kanbe is the main director of the show, Shinji Aramaki is solely responsible for the creation and conception of the show...
on October 21.
List of anime broadcast by Anime Unleashed (2002-2006)
- Armitage the Third: Poly Matrix
- Banner of the StarsBanner of the Starsis a series of science fiction novels written by Hiroyuki Morioka, which serve as sequels to Crest of the Stars. The series is ongoing. Three of the four novels in the series have been made into anime.- Characters :Main characters:...
- BettermanBettermanis a Japanese anime television series which began airing in 1999. It was created by Sunrise's internal "Studio 7" under the direction of Yoshitomo Yonetani...
- Boogiepop PhantomBoogiepop Phantomis a twelve episode anime television series produced by Madhouse Studios, based on the Boogiepop light novel series by Kouhei Kadono, particularly that of Boogiepop and Others and Boogiepop At Dawn...
- ColorfulColorfulis a manga by Torajirō Kishi which was adapted into a 16-episode anime series. The episodes are composed of vignettes typically involving men and teenage boys attempting to catch a glimpse of women's panties and/or look down their blouses. The episodes are fast-paced, experimental in animation and...
- Crest of the StarsCrest of the Starsis a three-volume space opera science fiction novel written by Hiroyuki Morioka with cover illustrations by Toshihiro Ono. Beginning in 1999, the novels were adapted into anime series, the first of which ran for 13 episodes on WOWOW...
- Cromartie High SchoolCromartie High Schoolby Eiji Nonaka, is a Japanese comedy manga, which was subsequently adapted into an anime and a 2005 live-action movie titled Cromartie High - The Movie directed by Yūdai Yamaguchi. It follows the everyday life of Takashi Kamiyama and his odd classmates at Cromartie High School, an infamous school...
- Dual! Parallel Trouble AdventureDual! Parallel Trouble Adventureis a fourteen episode series created in 1999 by Masaki Kajishima and produced by AIC, both well-known for the Tenchi Muyo! franchise. It is licensed in the US by Pioneer LDC, later known as Geneon...
- Gad GuardGad Guardis a 26-episode anime television series directed by Hiroshi Nishikiori and produced by Gonzo, which was broadcast across Japan by the anime satellite television network, Animax, and the terrestrial Fuji Television network. It has been licensed for North American distribution by Geneon...
- Gatekeepers 21
- GeneshaftGeneshaftis a Japanese science fiction anime television series set in space, produced by Bandai Visual in 2001, and directed by Kazuki Akane...
- GungraveGungrave (anime)is a Japanese animated television series based on the video game of the same name, created by Yasuhiro Nightow. The series is directed by Toshiyuki Tsuru, from a screenplay by Yousuke Kuroda, and produced by Madhouse Studios....
- Last ExileLast Exileis a Japanese animated television series created by Gonzo. It featured a production team led by director Koichi Chigira, character designer Range Murata, and production designer Mahiro Maeda. The three had previously worked together in Blue Submarine No. 6, one of the first CG anime series...
- Magical☆Shopping Arcade Abenobashi
- RahXephonRahXephonis a Japanese anime series about 17-year-old Ayato Kamina, his ability to control a godlike mecha known as the RahXephon, and his inner journey to find a place in the world...
- R.O.D. the TV
- Serial Experiments LainSerial Experiments LainSerial Experiments Lain is an anime series directed by Ryutaro Nakamura, original character design by Yoshitoshi ABe, screenplay written by Chiaki J. Konaka, and produced by Yasuyuki Ueda for Triangle Staff. It was broadcast on TV Tokyo from July to September 1998...
- Silent MöbiusSilent Möbiusis a twelve-volume manga, a 26-episode anime series, and a pair of motion pictures, created by manga artist Kia Asamiya. Both anime versions have been licensed by Bandai Entertainment...
- The SoulTakerThe SoulTakerFor the Soul Taker film starring Joe Estevez see Soultaker . is an anime series that focuses on Kyosuke Date who was killed by his mother, and afterward gained the ability to turn into a monster known as "The SoulTaker". The show was Tatsunoko's first attempt at a more adult series.There is a...