Character and Mecha Designs by AKIRA Creator Katsuhiro Otomo Source: The Associates press release Official Site: freedom-project.jp (Japan)

AKIRA creator and STEAMBOY co-writer and director Katsuhiro Otomo’s unmistakeable visual style shines throughout FREEDOM (??, 2006), a beautifully envisioned sci-fi anime series of cinematic scope and quality that puts most TV animation in the shade. Written by Katsuhiko Chiba (BLUE DRAGON; SLAYERS), Yuuichi Nomura (XAM’D: LOST MEMORIES) and Dai Sato (CASSHERN; GHOST IN THE SHELL: STAND ALONE COMPLEX), directed by Shuhei Morita (COICENT; KAKURENBO) and with Otomo on board as the series’ character and mecha designer, this seven-episode (plus Prologue) series will more than satisfy those hungry anime fans who are eagerly waiting to see what Otomo will produce next. The year is 2267 and, following a global catastrophe that rendered the Earth uninhabitable, mankind has settled in a vast, domed moon colony originally intended to be a stepping stone for manned space missions to Mars. Known as Eden, this artificial environment provides a peaceful, albeit heavily regulated, existence for millions of people. Among them is 15-year-old Takeru, who, along with many other boys his age, spends most of his free time racing souped-up Lunar Terrain Vehicles for fun. As a punishment for crashing his LTV on a public road during one particular race, Takeru is sentenced to several hours of “volunteer” work, which involves doing routine maintenance checks on equipment on the lunar surface outside Eden’s dome. During one of his “volunteer” shifts, Takeru witnesses an object falling from the sky and goes to investigate. At the crash site he discovers the remains of a small capsule bearing several relics seemingly sent from Earth, including a photograph of a pretty girl and some younger children and bearing a cryptic, handwritten message on the reverse. Immediately infatuated with the girl in the image, Takeru is convinced that the photo is evidence that the Earth is once again supporting human life and begins a voyage of discovery that will not only send him flying across the vast reaches of space but will also shake the Republic of Eden to its very foundations. Action, romance, comedy and adventure are combined with stunning imagery and superlative animation in FREEDOM, a thrilling sci-fi fable that promises to be one of the most heralded anime DVD and Blu-ray releases of the year. FREEDOM (cert. 12) will be released on DVD (Region 2, PAL) and as a Collectors’ Edition Blu-ray (Region B) by Manga Entertainment on 10th October 2011. The Collector`s Edition includes all seven episodes of FREEDOM in HD on one Blu-ray disc plus the series on two standard definition DVD discs and a bonus set of four art cards packaged in a beautifully designed slip cover.

Label: Manga Entertainment Release date: 10th October 2011 Release type: DVD, Blu-ray Certificate: 12 Running time: 210 mins Pricing: Collector`s Edition Blu-ray - £34.99, DVD - £24.99 Genre: Anime Director: Shuhei Morita Stars: Daisuke Namikawa, Showtaro Morikubo, Dai Matsumoto Audio: English and Japanese 5.1 DTS HD MA Subtitles: English Special Features Introduction Trailer? Freedom Digests ?Talking About Freedom Session 1? Talking About Freedom Session 2 Freedom In The USA 1? Freedom In The USA 2? Another Vehicle Race ?Nissin Cup Noodle TV Commercial Digest ?Freedom: The Hope ?Fly Me To The Moon 1 (The Apollo`s Journey) Fly Me To The Moon 2 (From The Apollo To Freedom) Next Episode Trailers? Messages From The Characters? Opening Credits Closing Credits