Anime Unleashed
Anime Unleashed was an anime block that was broadcast on the American cable TV network G4. The block was placed on the original TechTV in early 2003 and moved to G4techTV after the two networks merged. Titles airing on the block almost exclusively came from domestic anime distributors ADV Films, Bandai Entertainment and Geneon Entertainment USA (formerly Pioneer Entertainment).
Anime Unleashed | |
---|---|
Country of origin | United States |
No. of episodes | Unknown |
Production | |
Running time | 21–22 minutes (30 minutes w/commercials) |
Release | |
Original network | TechTV (Transitioned to G4TV) |
Original release | December 30, 2002 – March 16, 2006 |
History
Anime Unleashed was first announced by The Screen Savers host Leo Laporte in late 2001. TechTV's vision was to air a wave of anime series that dealt with technology, futuristic themes, and science fiction. Its premiere date was December 30, 2002.[1]
On March 16, 2006, Anime Unleashed was taken off the G4 schedule. In a commercial aired on G4, promoting the network's newest additions and changes in late March and April 2006, they contained both a clip of anime and a quick flash of the Anime Unleashed logo, the logo being more visible when watched frame by frame. Despite this, and indications by G4 personnel that the block might have a chance of returning, it never came back on-air after being taken off and was quietly canceled. The broadcast rights to the shows still airing on Anime Unleashed before its cancellation are assumed to have long since expired (and in the case of shows licensed from the now-defunct Geneon, reverted to the original Japanese licensors or picked up by other companies, such as Funimation Entertainment)
Although unrelated, after about five years of the block's quiet cancellation, Marvel Anime made its North American debut on G4, marking the first time the channel has aired anime since Anime Unleashed, followed by the premiere of Viper's Creed on October 21.
List of anime broadcast by Anime Unleashed (2002-2006)
- Armitage III: Poly Matrix
- Banner of the Stars
- Betterman
- Blue Seed
- Boogiepop Phantom
- Colorful
- Crest of the Stars
- Cromartie High School
- Dual! Parallel Trouble Adventure
- Gad Guard
- Gate Keepers 21
- Geneshaft
- Gungrave
- Last Exile
- Magical Shopping Arcade Abenobashi
- RahXephon
- R.O.D the TV
- Serial Experiments Lain
- Silent Möbius
- The SoulTaker