ABOUT MIAMI GUNS VOLUME 4 Loose ends (and a scantily clad Yao) get tied up when the revenge seeking Nagisa Tojo springs her ultimate trap on her unsuspecting arch rival. It's a battle of Yao's ignorance versus Nagisa's bloodlust in a story of loyalty, trust, betrayal and friendship that tears the Miami Guns apart. But the duty bound Lu Amano and the vengeance seeking vigilante Yao Sakurakouji find themselves working together again when a vicious terrorist organization takes the Miami Police and Yao and Lu's fathers hostage, threatening to destroy all of Miami City. The Organization had better be prepared, because two violence prone police ladies, a mysterious lone gunman, a pair of gay lovers and a hyper intelligent alligator are a force to be reckoned with! The fourth Miami Guns DVD will be criminally packed with three bilingual episodes featuring optional English subtitles and English language dubbing provided by the internationally respected Phoenix Post Sound studio, extensive liner and translation notes, a gallery of original production art, an exclusive Japanese promotional Miami Guns anime music video, and an amazing 20 minute long video interview with Miami Guns director Yoshitaka Koyama and original voice actresses Megumi Toyoguchi and Yukari Tamura!

Miami Guns DVD Volume 4 Street Date - 10/26/04 Pre-book Date - 9/28/04 SRP: $29.95 Catalog #: AN-MG04 UPC: 828311121067 ISBN: 0-9741545-6-3

The Tokyo Showcase will shine a light on the very latest hardware prototypes supporting the format, including HD DVD players and PC ROM drives. It will include demonstrations of film clips from major studios authored and recorded on to HD DVD discs for technical evaluation purposes, and also deliver an update on disc manufacturing status, all in preparation for the volume launch of HD DVD hardware and discs when they are commercialized in 2005.

Japan's Largest DVD Distributor Announces Support for HD DVD On the eve of the Tokyo event, Pony Canyon Inc., Japan's largest distributor of DVD titles, became the first company in the world to announce its clear support for HD DVD. "HD DVD is a promising format that will secure continuous growth of the DVD industry as well as bringing about fresh innovation to the consumer experience," said Hideki Oyagi, General Manager, Visual Entertainment Headquarters, Pony Canyon. "We very much look forward to launching HD DVD titles at an early stage of 2005, in line with the expected launch of HD DVD players and recorders." The initial titles for release include "Moonlight Jellyfish," a Japanese Hi-Vision movie.

Commenting on Pony Canyon's decision, Mr. Yoshihide Fujii, Corporate Senior Vice President and President and CEO of Toshiba's Digital Media Network Company, noted: "We are pleased by this formal announcement of support for the HD DVD format by Japan's largest supplier of DVD titles. This is a clear sign of recognition of the benefits and potential this advanced format offers the entertainment industry as the most affordable, the most realistic package media for inheriting and building on the legacy and success of the DVD industry. We are confident we will see a number of major studios and software companies launch titles to coincide with our release of HD DVD products in 2005."

Continuity: Extending the Successes of Today's DVD Industry DVD burst on to the market in November 1997. Toshiba introduced the world's first DVD player in Japan, while a number of international movie studios launched a handful of DVD titles. The rest is history, as the DVD market has grown explosively, to embrace and change the entertainment, consumer electronics and computing industries.

More than 60 million DVD players and recorders were produced worldwide in 2003 alone, and an estimated 800 DVD disc production lines manufacture now produce more than 240 million discs a month. Digital Entertainment Group of the US reports that 649 million DVD titles were shipped to retailers in the first six months of 2004 in the United States, a huge 52 percent increase over the same period a year earlier. In the US and Japan, DVD revenues exceeded movie theater ticket sales in 2003.

By adopting the same, fully backward compatible design concept as current DVD, HD DVD is the only practical medium that can secure seamless continuity and the sustained success of the current DVD industry. The new HD DVD format also assures maximization of business opportunities offered by the appearance of high-definition programming and content that is accompanying the transition to digital broadcasting in the United States and Japan and the exponential market growth in large-sized flat panel screens.

"HD DVD, the successor of DVD, will further encourage the convergence of PC and audio visual products, as it realizes crystal-clear picture quality in the personal computing environment," commented Mr. Hiroshi Gokan, Executive General Manager, NEC's Computers Storage Products Operations Unit.

ROM: Key for Momentum in the Next-Generation Format "The success of today's DVD industry clearly indicates that the timely release of movie and audio titles on read-only memory discs will be key to triggering the take-off of the next-generation DVD format," predicts Mr. Shiroharu Kawasaki, President and CEO of Memory-Tech Corporation, Japan's leading disc replicator. "We are working with almost every major studio in the United States and Japan to establish the HD DVD format through extensive joint evaluation, and already getting strong, positive feedback from many of these companies."

Memory-Tech installed HD DVD disc mass production line at its Tsukuba plant in Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan in May 2004. The facility has a capacity of 1.4 million discs a month, and an authoring and mastering system that is already available for comprehensive disc creation. Production yields have already reached 90 percent, a level practical for volume production of commercial discs and comparable with the 95 percent yield rate of current DVD discs. The flexible convertible line can switch between standard DVD and HD DVD production in five minutes. Memory-Tech's Kofu Plant in Yamanashi Prefecture will also be ready for HD DVD production this August, doubling the company's total capacity to 2.8 million discs a month. In order to support and expedite the early diffusion of this promising format, Memory-Tech and Toshiba are preparing to disclose and provide expertise on disc manufacture to major disc replicators around the world, starting in late August.

Background What Is HD DVD? Why It Is Gaining Real, Worldwide Support HD DVD, or high-definition DVD, is the next-generation DVD format that allows recording of more than eight hours of high-resolution movies on a single ROM disc (in case of 30-gigabyte (GB), double-layer ROM disc), using a blue-laser diode and advanced video compression technology. Today's DVD ROM discs contain 8.5GB on a singe-sided, double-layer disc.

HD DVD has made steady progress over the last six months as the only official format authorized and approved by the DVD Forum, the international association that brings together some 220 consumer electronics, entertainment, software and other related companies around the world. In November, 2003, the DVD Forum approved version 0.9 of the physical specifications for the HD DVD ROM format, followed by the release of the specifications Book version 1.0 in June, 2004. This February, the Forum approved version 0.9 of the HD DVD rewritable, with final approval expected this autumn. Technical studies have been also completed for HD DVD-R, a one-time recordable version of the format, and disk evaluation tests are being conducted by the DVD Forum in preparation for possible adoption of version 0.9 this September. MPEG4 AVC (H.264) and VC-9 were selected as the mandatory video compression schemes by the DVD Forum in June 2004. Both achieve three times the compression efficiency of MPEG-2, the video compression technology used in current DVDs.

In the area of copy protection, a key concern of film studios, a major step was taken this July, when the Advanced Access Content System License Administrator, comprising eight major US and Japanese firms in the entertainment, IT and CE industries, was formed to define and promote a highly advanced copy protection system for next-generation optical discs.

Same Disc Structure as Today's DVD With 0.6-millimeter thick discs bonded back to back, HD DVD discs adopt completely the same disc structure as current DVD discs. Because of that, disc manufacturers will be able to utilize their current disc manufacturing lines with only minimum upgrades. To cover the anticipated global demand for next-generation, high-capacity optical discs, building new plants to produce discs with a completely different disc structure that adopts a 0.1 millimeter-thick cover layer, for example, is estimated to require a gross new investment in excess of 400 billion yen worldwide. Meeting the same capacity with HD DVD will require far less investment, as currently operational DVD plants around the world can be fully utilized with minor modifications, while additional capacity can be filled with brand-new convertible lines built from scratch.

About Koge-Donbo Koge-Donbo is one of the most talented and revered illustrators in the world, mostly due to the popularity of Di Gi Charat. She is also active as a character designer; these projects include A Little Snow Fairy Sugar and Princess Concerto. Her newest work is a manga series Kamichama Karin, currently running in the Japanese monthly magazine Nakayoshi.

Most exciting for those who need to be “in the know” will be a sneak peak of Bandai’s newest entertainment property, D.I.C.E., set to debut in 2005. Bandai Entertainment will host a panel session featuring the creators of the animated series and unveil the details of the show that has, until now, been shrouded in mystery. An exclusive foil cover D.I.C.E. comic will be distributed throughout the convention.

“D.I.C.E. is unique in that it was created entirely by Bandai’s in-house talent, and it’s rare for one company to produce both the show and toys based on that property,” said Ken Iyadomi, executive vice president for Bandai Entertainment Inc. “It’s very important for us to offer the first sneak peek of D.I.C.E. to the Comic-Con audience. Their feedback and support will be integral to making a property like this a success next year.” Bandai will be highlighting Gundam Seed, the latest incarnation of the 25-year old Japanese property that can currently be seen on Cartoon Network. Gundam Seed toys will be on display and the home entertainment division will be screening preview clips from their upcoming DVD release of the series. Bandai also hopes Rear Admiral Buskin Alexander (B.A.) Avatar, Director of Enrollment, will be on hand to speak to potential cadets for the Gundam Pilot Academy (www.GundamPilotAcademy.com).

“The response to Gundam Seed has been phenomenal,” said Jerry Chu, marketing manager for Bandai Entertainment Inc. “As the latest and most dynamic series in the history of the franchise, Seed broke ratings records when it first aired in Japan last year, and the fan response in the U.S. has been the most enthusiastic we’ve seen since Gundam Wing first appeared here six years ago. I think people will be very pleased with the DVDs we have planned for later this year.” Bandai’s new Cards and Collectible Games division will make its Comic-Con debut with demonstrations of the game that has been building tremendous buzz on the summer convention circuit, Navia Dratp. In addition, a revamped version of the Digimon CCG will be on display, allowing gamers to get a taste of the new game mechanics.

“Our presence with Navia Dratp has mostly been at game oriented conventions so far this year,” said Danny Satyapan, head of Bandai’s cards and collectibles division. “This will be the first time such an expansive audience sees just how eye-catching this game is to display, and how easy – yet challenging – it is to play.” On the video game front, Bandai (www.BandaiGames.com) will be showcasing some of its most anticipated titles, including Ghost In The Shell, Gundam Seed Battle Assault, SD Gundam Force – Showdown!, Galactic Wrestling featuring Ultimate Muscle, and Inuyasha – all for PlayStation®2. Panels and events currently scheduled for Comic-Con are:

Friday, July 23rd 12:30-1:30PM (Room #9) – What is D.I.C.E.? – As the premier distributor of Japanese animation, Bandai Entertainment is proud to unveil its upcoming animated feature, D.I.C.E. Come check out all the details surrounding this new 2D/3D CG series and toy line coming to North America in 2005. An exclusive foil cover D.I.C.E comic will be given away to those in attendance. 1:00-3:00PM (Bandai Booth #3629) – Teen Titans Celebration & Autograph Signing: Bandai America invites you to meet the creative talent behind the hit animated show on Cartoon Network and Kids! WB. Legendary producer Glen Murakami, writer David Slack, actor Ron Perlman (the voice of “Slade”), actor Greg Cipes (voice of "Beast Boy") and story editors Rob Hoegee and Amy Wolfram will be on hand to sign autographs for fans and celebrate the successful launch of Bandai's Teen Titans toy line. A limited number of exclusive Bandai 1.5" Robin (as "Red X") figures and Teen Titans Go! comic books will be given away.

Saturday, July 24th 10:30-11:30AM (Room #2) – Bandai Entertainment Panel: Executive VP Ken Iyadomi and marketing manager Jerry Chu will be on hand to answer questions on such favorite anime titles as Witch Hunter Robin, Wolf’s Rain, Gundam Seed, and Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex. Check out the next wave of cutting-edge anime coming to North America from BEI, as well as score exclusive DVD and T-shirt giveaways.