FORT WORTH, Texas, Feb. 13 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- FUNimation(R) Entertainment, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Navarre Corporation , a brand management company and one of the nation's leading independent home video entertainment companies, announced today that Dragon Ball Z(R) returns to week-night programming on Cartoon Network. The popular anime series arrives in its new programming slot tonight and will air Mondays through Thursdays at 10:30 p.m. ET.
"We are excited that Dragon Ball Z is coming back to week-night programming on Cartoon Network and that fans will again be able to enjoy their favorite anime series each night," explained Gen Fukunaga, president and CEO of FUNimation Entertainment.
Dragon Ball Z is an action adventure anime series that follows the adventures of Goku and the Z Warriors as they protect Earth and battle evil villains. The series and the success of the Dragon Ball franchise have brought awareness of anime, and its potential, to mainstream entertainment in the United States. Some of the successes in the Dragon Ball franchise include:
-- Top 10 Boy's License! (License! Magazine - November 2005)
-- Over 20 Million Home Videos Sold to Date
-- In 2005, eight of the Top 50 selling anime DVDs were Dragon Ball
Z titles (Video Scan)
-- There have been 20 video games based on the Dragon Ball franchise with
life-to-date sales exceeding nine million units
-- In September 2005, Lycos.com announced their Top 10 search terms for
the last 10 years and "Dragonball" placed #2!
-- dragonballz.com receives over 1.5 million visitors per month
Fukunaga finishes, "Dragon Ball Z has a proven track record of broadcast success in the United States, which has helped make it one of the most popular anime brands in the world."
About Navarre Corporation
Navarre Corporation is a publisher and distributor of a broad range of home entertainment and multimedia products, including PC software, CD audio, DVD and VHS video, video games and accessories. Since its founding in 1983, the company has established distribution relationships with customers across a wide spectrum of retail channels which includes mass merchants, discount, wholesale club, office and music superstores, military and e-tailers nationwide. The company currently provides its products to over 18,000 retail and distribution center locations throughout the United States and Canada. Navarre has recently expanded its business to include the licensing and publishing of home entertainment and multimedia content, primarily through the acquisitions of Encore Software, Inc., BCI Eclipse Company, LLC, FUNimation Productions, Ltd. and The FUNimation Store, Ltd. For more information, please visit the company's web site at http://www.navarre.com/ .
About FUNimation Entertainment
FUNimation(R) Entertainment, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Navarre Corporation , is a brand management company and one of the nation's leading independent home video entertainment companies. The company's most recent initiative is the FUNimation Channel(SM), a new, 24-hour digital network featuring programming from the top anime brands in the United States. FUNimation has a proven formula for launching and advancing brands, and manages a full spectrum of rights for most of its brands including broadcasting, licensing, production, internet, and home video sales and distribution. For images, or more information on FUNimation Entertainment, the FUNimation Channel, or any of FUNimation's properties, contact Jeff Dronen at 817-788-0627, ext. 251 or
First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact: cfelber@navarre.com
