Sprite Animation's Monster Samurai to be Featured in the 2006 SIGGRAPH Electronic Theater

Sprite Animation's Monster Samurai to be Featured in the 2006 SIGGRAPH Electronic Theater

LOS ANGELES, July 31 /PRNewswire/ -- Sprite Animation Studios announced today that a six minute pilot of Monster Samurai will be featured in this year's SIGGRAPH Electronic Theater. Written and directed by Moto Sakakibara, Monster Samurai recently competed in the short program for Annecy Film Festival and will also be screened at Ottawa Film Festival's International Showcase Screenings. The project is co-produced by Sprite Animation Studios and GENCO, Inc. and is currently in development as a TV series and feature film.

Monster Samurai follows the trials and tribulations of Midomaru, a cold-hearted assassin who is turned into an ogre one day by a mysterious figure. As Monster Samurai, Midomaru must now save one thousand people to atone for his villainous past, or be eternally cursed. During the course of his journey, he helps people in need and discovers the true meaning and value of life. The action packed adventure blends samurai drama with a twist of western comedy.

"I'm thrilled to be part of SIGGRAPH's Computer Animation Festival again," said Sakakibara. "Last year we premiered Journey to the West as part of the Animation Theater and this year Monster Samurai will be screened in the Electronic Theater, along with other great works of computer graphics. Monster Samurai is a blend of various influences from my childhood. They include the samurai movies directed by Akira Kurosawa and the countless television heroes I worshipped as a young child. I wanted to share that excitement with people by merging my experience with the unique style, characters and storyline that Sprite Animation produces."

Sprite Animation Studios (www.spritee.com) was founded in 2002 as a boutique studio that specializes in creating a distinctive and contemporary style of animation. With its beautiful use of color and funky pop images, Sprite Animation's Journey to the West project gained acclaim in 2005 as it premiered at SIGGRAPH's Animation Theater. Based in Los Angeles, CA, the studio's first theatrical feature, GON, is currently in production and is scheduled for release in 2008.

GENCO, Inc., (www.genco.co.jp) was founded by Taro Maki in Tokyo, Japan. Since its inception in 1997, Genco, Inc. has created original content for television, film, home entertainment and video games. Genco, Inc. is also a major investor in merchandising and publishing rights of various properties in Japan.

For further information on Sprite Animation Studios and to get a glimpse of Monster Samurai, please go to http://www.spritee.com/showcase/index.html

Source: Sprite Animation Studios

CONTACT: Grace McNamee of Sprite Animation Studios, +1-310-528-4187,
grace@spritee.com

Web site: http://www.genco.co.jp/

Web site: http://www.spritee.com/
http://www.spritee.com/showcase/index.html

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