Anime News

MGM Paves the Way for Classic Anime Series ?Prince Planet? to Launch on YouTube? & Hulu on November 9
Date: 11/10/2009
LOS ANGELES, CA - Anime Fans Alert! To the delight of anime fans everywhere, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc. (MGM) is pleased to announce that the classic 1960?s anime series, ?Prince Planet? will be made available on Hulu and Youtube? beginning today.

?Prince Planet? is the English name given to one of the earliest Japanese TV anime series (Planet Boy Popi) when it was first televised in America in the mid-1960?s. More than 45 episodes will be made available as ?Prince Planet? tells the story of a member of the Universal Peace Corps from the Planet Radion coming to Earth on a mission to determine if this world meets standards for membership in the Galactic Union of Worlds and assist its inhabitants during his stay.

As part of an aggressive initiative to mine the studio?s extensive library, ?Prince Planet? was a hidden gem in the archives of the MGM library. Noticing a trend in how well anime is performing on digital platforms, MGM executives took steps to restore the series for the new media world.

?We are pleased the tech team here at MGM invested the time and resources in digital restoration services to bring this series to life for the new digital age,? said Yaoshiang Ho, Director, Worldwide Digital Media. ?From fans of classic animation to anime connoisseurs, viewers will be able to enjoy ?Prince Planet? on demand and online in a way they?ve never seen it before through MGM?s digital media partners.?

?Prince Planet? was originally produced in Japan by TCJ (Television Corporation of Japan) for Dentsu advertising in conjunction with K. Fujita Associates and aired on the Fuji Television Network in 1965. This show was one of the first heavily merchandised shows in Japan, with simple things like shoes offered for sale with the Planet Boy Popi logo. An English-dubbed version was released by American International Television Productions in 1965 and produced by James Nicholson and Samuel Z. Arkoff and was last seen on American television in 1979.

To check out ?Prince Planet? on Youtube please click here: http://www.youtube.com/show/princeplanet

To check out ?Prince Planet? on Hulu please click here: http://www.hulu.com/prince-planet

For a selection of artwork please click here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/43774185@N07/sets/72157622741607050/

About Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc.
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc., through its operating subsidiaries, is actively engaged in the worldwide production and distribution of motion pictures, television programming, home video, interactive media, music and licensed merchandise. The company owns the world?s largest library of modern films, comprising around 4,100 titles. Operating units include Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc., Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures Inc., United Artists Films Inc., MGM Television Entertainment Inc., MGM Networks Inc., MGM Domestic Networks LLC, MGM Distribution Co, MGM International Television Distribution Inc., Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Home Entertainment LLC, MGM ON STAGE, MGM Music, MGM Worldwide Digital Media, MGM Consumer Products and MGM Interactive. In addition, MGM has ownership interests in international TV channels reaching nearly 120 countries. MGM ownership is as follows: Providence Equity Partners (29%), TPG (21%), Sony Corporation of America (20%), Comcast (20%), DLJ Merchant Banking Partners (7%) and Quadrangle Group (3%). For more information, visit http://www.mgm.com.
Source: WebWire