Netflix Dives into Anime with Knights of Sidonia
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- June 28, 2014
By James DeRuvo (doddleNEWS)
Netflix is expanding its original series lineup again, and this time they’re getting ultra cool, and ultra niche. Yep, they’re going Anime. And of course, that means space battles, giant mecha transforming fighter ships, and evil aliens, with a courageous young Japanese boy standing between ultimate doom for freedom and galactic domination. That’s Knights of Sidonia.
A hero rises to save a world that’s also a spaceship under siege by an alien threat in this original anime series based on the popular manga … Netflix
Based on the popular manga comic book of the same name, Knights of Sidonia follows a young boy named Nagate, a nautral born refugee who comes from humble beginnings but is noticed for his skills as a pilot. After Earth is destroyed by the shapeshifting Guana – aliens who’s goal is to destroy all of humanity, Nagate ends up on a giant community space ship called the Sidonia, and joins a an elite force of genetically engineered defenders determined to stop them.
"Netflix has a huge base of anime fans and we are thrilled to be bringing exclusively for the first time them a first-run anime series, especially one as well-plotted, humorous, and beautifully animated as?Knights of Sidonia," Erik Barmack, VP, Independent Content at Netflix
Netflix has bought 12 episodes of the Knights of Sidonia, which is being produced in Tokyo by Polygon Pictures (Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Tron: Uprising). Netflix plans to stream each episode worldwide after it premieres on NHK in Japan. But what’s interesting is that, true to the whole anime vibe, Netflix plans on streaming the series in the original Japanese with English Subtitles, but also will offer”dubbed local language dialogue” in all Netflix territories.
Will it work? Well, anime fans are a dedicated bunch, and I have a hunch that with Comic-Con coming up, the premiere of Knights of Sidonia on the 4th of July is well-timed. And you can bet that binge watchers will give it a go.
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Press Release:
Only on Netflix: 'Knights of Sidonia,' based on the popular manga series Hotly-anticipated Mecha Sci-fi Series to be available to watch instantly in all Netflix territories immediately following the Japanese TV release
December 12, 2013 / BEVERLY HILLS, Calif.
Netflix, Inc. (NASDAQ:NFLX) announced today it will make available the complete first 12 episode season of Polygon Pictures' hotly anticipated anime series "Knights of Sidonia" in all Netflix territories in Summer of 2014.
Based on the best-selling manga series by Tsutomu Nihei, published in Japan by Kodansha and in English by Vertical, "Knights of Sidonia" follows the struggle of humans to survive against the monstrous alien "Gauna" using mecha weapons called "Garde" (Guardian Robots).
The story focuses on the ship Sidonia and young Garde pilot Nagate Tanikaze as he uses his amazing combat skills to protect what remains of human civilization.
"Netflix has a huge base of anime fans and we are thrilled to be bringing exclusively for the first time them a first-run anime series, especially one as well-plotted, humorous and beautifully animated as Knights of Sidonia," said Erik Barmack, VP, Independent Content at Netflix.
"We are ecstatic at the opportunity to run 'Knights of Sidonia' firstly and exclusively on Netflix. This is an epochal deal, as we are able to deliver our beloved anime property to a wider audience in direct and timely fashion, than ever before," said Shuzo John Shiota, CEO of Polygon.
"Knights of Sidonia" is produced by Tokyo-based Polygon Pictures, winner of multiple Daytime Emmy Awards for Hasbro's television series "Transformers Prime" and the animators behind "Tron: Uprising" and several episodes of "Star Wars: The Clone Wars." The series is directed by Kobun Shizuno, who worked on "GI Joe," the animated series and co-directed by Hiroyuki Seshita, a veteran of the "Final Fantasy" video game series.
"Knights of Sidonia" will be available on Netflix in Japanese with the choice of subtitles or dubbed local language dialogue.
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