Urban Vision

For the television network known as "Asia Vision", see Asia Vision (TV network).
Urban Vision Entertainment, Inc
Animation film studio
Industry Media and Entertainment
Founded July 1996 (1996-07)
Founder Mataichiro Yamamoto
Defunct 2016
Headquarters Los Angeles, California
Key people
 Mataichiro Yamamoto (CEO)
Products Anime, Live-action
Divisions AsiaVision

Urban Vision Entertainment Inc. was an American-based production/distribution company created in Los Angeles, California formed in July 1996 by Mataichiro Yamamoto to help introduce the animation medium known as anime to the American mainstream.

History

Urban Vision Entertainment was formed in July 1996 by Mataichiro Yamamoto to help introduce the alternative animation genre known as anime to mainstream media. The company primarily produces and acquires Japanese animation for direct-to-home video release. Urban Vision founder Mataichiro Yamamoto helped pioneer the anime genre in the US with the computer-generated theatrical release, Golgo 13: The Professional in 1983.

Urban Vision worked closely with the world-renowned Studio Madhouse animation studio in Tokyo, Japan (Wicked City, Ninja Scroll, Vampire Hunter D). The company's initial release, another Madhouse project, was Bio Hunter, released on home video in July 1997. Additional Urban Vision releases include Tekkaman Blade II, Gatchaman OVA, Twilight of the Dark Master, Dragon Slayer, Psycho Diver: Soul Siren and Final Fantasy: Legend of the Crystals.

Urban Vision's Live action production/distribution subsidiary AsiaVision was launched in March 2006 their first release for this label was Curse, Death & Spirit, an anthology of three short horror stories directed by Hideo Nakata (director of The Ring, The Ring 2). As with anime, AsiaVision plans to retain a focus on Asian horror, action, and thriller.

Current Status

Currently, Urban Vision has been inactive in the last few years and have not announced any new licenses. On September 7, 2010, the online retailer Right Stuf removed all of their Urban Vision catalog due to the distributor not shipping out orders to them.[1] The following day, Urban Vision released a statement saying that the company has been restructuring itself and are halting their home video production unit and focusing on digital distribution.[2] As of November 2012, both of their websites have disappeared and some of their titles have been re-licensed and released by Discotek Media and Sentai Filmworks.

Films licensed by Urban Vision Entertainment

Anime

Live action (AsiaVision)

Miscellaneous

References

  1. ↑ "Right Stuf Removes Urban Vision Titles From Catalog". Anime News Network. Retrieved 19 November 2012.
  2. ↑ "Urban Vision Release Statement About Company Status". Anime News Network. Retrieved 19 November 2012.
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