So 2006 was a good year for ADV Films, but how do things look for 2007?  Well, announcements at the moment are limited, but what has been said is certainly interesting.  First up is the new giant robot show Jinki: Extend, which adds to ADV's already impressive roster in the genre - this is the company that brought us Neon Genesis Evangelion, RahXephon, Full Metal Panic!, Dai Guard and Gasaraki after all.  Also confirmed is the Sorcerer Hunters OVA, which should appeal to fans of Slayers and Rune Soldier, and Comic Party Revolution, a cheerful comedy set in the world of fan-made manga.  Also definitely worth keeping an eye open for is This Ugly Yet Beautiful World, a special 'Anniversary show' from Neon Genesis Evangelion creators Gainax.
 

However, decent those these titles are there is one that really stands out for Hugh.  'As we announced last week we're very lucky to have the next awesome work from Production I.G., Le Chevalier D'Eon, which we will schedule as quickly as possible.'  What we have seen of the show looks incredibly impressive too, especially the visuals, and it looks to be a real coup for ADV, particularly as Manga Entertainment has a habit of snapping up Production I.G. titles.

 These five titles may not sound like a lot, but they are only the beginning.  One of the disadvantages of the ever increasing number of

anime events in the UK is that companies spread their announcements out, so these shows are only what is coming in the first quarter of next year.  It isn't all newness though, there are a host of re-releases coming too.  ADV are promising to reissue a number of their older series in budget boxsets, much like the Burn Up Excess set that was released this year.  Titles currently announced for the 'ADV Classics Collection' treatment are the saving-the-world-on-a-budget action comedy Dai Guard, the intriguing Gad Guard and the action-packed Ninja Resurrection.  Hugh confirms that there will be a comprehensive series of these budget re-issues, so we wouldn't be surprised to see the likes of Chrono Crusade, Excel Saga or Magical Shopping Arcade Abenobashi hit the shelves in boxset form later in the year.
 

 So what else have ADV got up their sleeves?  Well the most interesting thing is the fact that they've got more anime coming to TV.  Admittedly only available to Sky and certain Cable digital viewers, new channel Rock World TV (formerly called Redemption TV) has jumped on the anime bandwagon and will be screening the bizarre and hilarious Cromartie High and the absolutely superb gothic drama Gilgamesh.  These smaller niche channels have embraced anime in a big way, and we wouldn't be surprised to see more ADV anime hit the screens in 2007.  Who knows, the more exposure it gets, the more likely a terrestrial channel is to give it a go.  Expect to see ADV

 at expos and conventions around the country too, they have always been a company that likes to engage fans directly through these kinds of events, and that won't change next year.

Things went well in 2006 but what are ADV's aims for 2007?  'To keep raising the bar in terms of quality' says Hugh,  'I want everyone to know that the ADV logo on a title is a guarantee of a quality purchase, that whatever your individual tastes, you know that if ADV choose to release it in the U.K., then it's worth the asking price.'  Who can argue with that?

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