Namco Awarded Rights From GDH To Publish "Afro Samurai" Video Games
Groundbreaking Manga Series to Make Video Game Debut
Santa Clara, Calif., (August 30, 2005) - Global video games publisher, Namco Hometek Inc. and leading Japanese animation studio, GDH K.K. announced today that GDH has granted Namco the exclusive interactive entertainment rights to "Afro Samurai," the gritty manga series created by Takashi Okazaki. The agreement gives Namco rights to publish two different "Afro Samurai" video games over the next five years.
"'Afro Samurai' is a visually striking and rich story." said Jeff Lujan, business director at Namco Hometek Inc. "With its gritty and unique mix of hip-hop and samurai styling, 'Afro Samurai' is perfectly suited for video games. We are looking forward to working with GDH in bringing this exciting new property to life."
"Afro Samurai" follows the story of one man's journey of bloody hardship and pain. After witnessing the cold blooded murder of his father, Afro devotes himself to the path of revenge. He sheds no tears, knows no love and stops at nothing to achieve his goal. Forever chased by powerful enemies in a lawless technology-speckled dystopia, he evades bullets and blades to reach his final prey: a man who will not die... Created by acclaimed visualist Takashi Okazaki, and originally told in comic book form, "Afro Samurai" is currently in pre-production by GDH group company GONZO and Japan's largest TV network and motion picture production company, FUJI TELEVISION NETWORK as an animated mini-series which Academy Award Nominee Samuel L. Jackson has joined as both co-producer and lead voice actor. Also, "Afro Samurai" will be adapted into a live-action feature film with Samuel L. Jackson to star as the title character and co-producer.
"Namco is uniquely qualified to publish games based on 'Afro Samurai,' Gonzo is just ecstatic to work with a company that is so passionate about the vision of the franchise and who has produced so many outstanding, award-winning games" said Eric Calderon, Vice President of Creative Affairs at GDH. "We're all really excited about working together to break new ground - creatively and technologically. I can't wait to play it! We're psyched that it's going to arrive around the same time as our animated series, comics, and then there's the upcoming live-action movie. The timing is just perfect."
About GDH K.K.:
GDH (Security code: TSE Mothers 3755) is a globally-focused Japanese media company founded in February 2000. The group produces cutting edge entertainment for teens and young adults including the famous GONZO animation brand and for kids and family under the recently launched Gonzo Films and Gonzino brands. GDH is a world leader in content development that actively targets both domestic and international audiences with Japan's trend-setting animation culture and, usually, GDH controls licensing management and international distribution for the content it produces. For additional information, visit www.gdh.co.jp (for GDH) and http://www.gonzo.co.jp/index.html (for GONZO). Contact for GDH K.K., Hiroko Kimura, +81.3.5358.1923, kimurahi@gdh.co.jp.
About Namco Hometek Inc.
Namco Hometek Inc. is the U.S. consumer division of Namco Limited, a Tokyo-based world leader in the high-tech entertainment industry. Based in Santa Clara, CA, Namco Hometek Inc. is an award-winning video games publisher for next generation game consoles. Namco has created some of the industry's greatest video game franchises: "Tekken®," "SOULCALIBUR®," "Dead to Rights®," "Pac-Man WorldTM," "Ridge Racer®," "Time Crisis®" and "ACECOMBATTM." For more information about Namco and its products log onto www.namco.com.
"TEKKEN®," "SOULCALIBUR®," "PAC-MAN WORLDTM," "Ridge Racer®," "Time Crisis®" and "ACECOMBATTM" are trademarks or registered trademarks of Namco Limited in the United States and/or other countries. Dead to RightsTM is a trademark or registered trademark of Namco Hometek Inc. in the United States and/or other countries.
Company names and service names in this document are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners.
Contacts for Namco Hometek Inc.:
Mika Kelly
408-235-2133
mkelly@namco.com
-OR-
Kit Ellis
415-777-4000
kit@kohnkecomm.com