Funimation licenses Shikabane Hime: Aka + Kodomo no Jikan News

Funimation has officially licensed the 13-episode horror and action anime Shikabane Hime: Aka and will start to offer English subtitled episodes, which was produced by Gainax, through YouTube, Joost and Hulu as well as their own website starting October 24. Downloads will cost only $1.99 an episode and are not DRM-free. According to AnimeNation there will be another 13 episode series based on the Shikabane Hime universe, but it's unknown whether or not Funimation has the rights to that as well.



Shikabane Hime: Aka is based on Akahito Yoshiichi's manga, Shikabane Hime, which is about a girl named Makina who is a corpse princess who must kill 108 corpses or undead beings before she can rest. The anime is currently being broadcast by Japan's AT-X television with the first episode shown on October 2.

Sources: Market Watch | AnimeNation | Giapet

Moetron reports that the limited edition sixth volume of Kodomo no Jikan will be bundled with a 25-minute OAD based on the relationship between the Kagami Kuro (Kuro-chan) and Shirai-sensei (Shiro-chan) storyline and will be part of the Kodomo no Jikan Second Term series. It will be released on January 21 and cost 3,980 yen. Volume 1 of the OVA series, Kodomo no Jikan Second Term, will be released on February 20 and focus on the fourth grade.



According to Moetron:
Volume I Extras inlude:

1. Special CD “Outa no Jikan”
   
2. Rin’s Very Secret Diary - 8 pages
   
3. Box illustration by original author Kaworu Watashiya
   
4. Credit-less OP/ED
   
5. CM collection
   
6. Audio Commentary

OVA Release Schedule:

1. Volume 1 - February 20th, 2009 (55 minutes - 6,300 yen)
   
2. Volume 2 - April 24th, 2009
   
3. Volume 3 - June 26th, 2009

The Kodomo no Jikan anime series was broadcast from October to December 2007 for a total of 12 episodes and were highly censored. The anime was based on the comedic seinen manga by Kaworu Watashiya about a 23-year-old school teacher, Daisuke, who is in charge of a third grade class. The story focuses on one of the students, Rin Kokonoe, and her two best friends.

Sources: Moetron | Otaku News Notes