BURBANK, CA (November 5, 2009) – Go deeper into the Halo universe than ever before with Halo Legends, an all-new, CG and traditional anime PG-13 experience that presents enthralling new stories from one of the world’s most popular video game franchises. Produced by 343 Industries, a part of Microsoft Game Studios, the exciting tales-beyond-the-games will be distributed February 9, 2010 by Warner Home Video as a Special Edition 2-disc version on DVD and Blu-Ray™ for $29.98 (SRP) and $34.99 (SRP), respectively, as well as single disc DVD for $19.98 (SRP) due date for all versions is January 5, 2010.  The chapters will also be available On Demand and Digital Download.Halo Legends is a seven-story anthology – told across eight spectacular episodes – that explores the origin and historical events of the Halo universe and its intriguing characters. Halo Legends has been created in the same breakthrough format as The Animatrix and Batman Gotham Knight with each individual episode imagined by a cutting-edge, renowned Japanese anime director/animator, including Shinji Aramaki, Mamoru Oshii, Hideki Futamura, Tomoki Kyoda and Yasushi Muraki. The stories are inspired and produced by the creative minds of 343 Industries, including Halo franchise development director Frank O’Connor and managing editor Kevin Grace.

The individual episodes fall within Halo’s 26^th Century mythology as the battle between humanity and aliens rages on in an attempt to protect Earth and mankind’s expansive number of space colonies. The dramatic, action-packed stories feature characters and locales familiar to Halo fans, and episodes range in length between 10 and 17 minutes –  resulting in nearly two hours of animated adventures.

The episodes are animated by some of the world’s most respected studios and directors in anime today. The studios range from Production I.G. (Ghost in the Shell, Batman Gotham Knight), Bones (Cowboy Bebop, Fell Metal Alchemist) and Toei Animation (Dragonball Z, Digimon) to Studio 4^oC (The Animatrix, Batman Gotham Knight) and Casio Entertainment. The stellar roster of animation talent on Halo Legends is highlighted by creative supervisors Shinji Aramaki (Appleseed) and Mamoru Oshii (Ghost in the Shell); directors Shinji Aramaki (Appleseed), Hideki Futamura (The Animatrix), Daisuke Nishio (Dragonball Z), Hiroshi Yamazaki (Karas), Toshiyuki Kanno (Black Lagoon), Koichi Mashimo (Blade of the Immortal) and Koji Sawai (Patlabor); directors/action designers Tomoki Kyoda (Eureka Seven, Evangelion 1.0) and Yasushi Muraki (Macross Plus, Vampire Hunter D); and writer Dai Sato (Cowboy Bebop).

Halo is a centerpiece in the world of video games, selling more than 27 million units to a devoted legion of fans – including the latest hit Halo 3:ODST. The Halo franchise has driven more than $1 billion in revenue from its award winning Xbox games, New York Times best-selling novels and comics and a wide variety of other merchandise.

Halo Legends – 2 Disc Special Edition version will have several hours of incredible bonus features, including:

• The Making of Halo Legends – An introduction to Halo Legends followed by a making-of segment for each episode.
• Halo:  Gaming Evolved – Explaining the Halo phenomenon from its inception as an Xbox video game to a present day entertainment franchise.
• Audio Commentary with directors Frank O’Connor and Joseph Chou
• Widescreen (1.78:1)

Halo Legends Blu-Ray versions will be loaded with bonus materials, including all the great extras from the 2-disc Special Edition as well as Halo: The Story so Far, an overview of the Halo universe up until the end of Halo 3

“Halo Legends offers fans stunning, new creative visions of the popular video game’s expansive universe, providing added depth and perspective to these beloved characters and thrilling environments,” said Halo franchise development director Frank O’Connor. “Halo Legends is a perfect complement to the game’s growing canon of ancillary entertainment options.”

“Warner Home Video is proud to partner with Microsoft to bring this video game phenomenon to fans in an altogether different entertainment medium,” said Amit Desai, WHV Vice President of Family, Animation & Partner Brands Marketing. “The great storytelling, memorable characters and truly astounding CG/Anime make Halo Legends a must-have for the fans.”

Exclusive previews of Halo Legends will be available on the new Xbox LIVE experience, Halo Waypoint, starting November 7, 2009.

BASICS

HALO LEGENDS - Single Disc

Street Date: February 9, 2010

Order Due Date: January 5, 2010

Languages: English and Spanish

Audio: Dolby Surround Stereo

Rating:  PG-13

Runtime:  Estimated 119 min.

Price: $19.98 SRP / No MAP

UPC: 883929099245

HALO LEGENDS – 2 Disc Special Edition

Street Date: February 9, 2010

Order Due Date: January 5, 2010

Languages: English and Spanish

Audio: Dolby Surround Stereo

Rating:  PG-13

Runtimes:  Disc 1 – Estimated 119 min.

Disc 2 – Estimated 89 minutes

Price: $29.98 SRP / No MAP

UPC: 883929099207

HALO LEGENDS – Blu-Ray™ Hi-Def

Street Date: February 9, 2010

Order Due Date: January 5, 2010

Languages: English and Spanish

Audio: Dolby Surround Stereo

Rating:  PG-13

Runtimes:  Estimated 223 min.

Price: $34.99 SRP / No MAP

UPC: 883929099023

Three of the creative directors are Frank O’Connor of Microsoft’s 343 Industries, Shinji Aramaki (Appleseed), and Mamoru Oshii (Ghost in the Shell, The Sky Crawlers). J-Spec Pictures’ Joseph Chou (Appleseed) is producing.

Aramaki’s short will cover the history of the Spartan warrior class from the games. Studio 4°C will animate two 30-minute shorts about “the entire 100,000 year history of the Halo universe.” Toei’s short “is outside of the official canon and pokes fun at some of the game’s characters.”

Trailer

[See post to watch Flash video]

So there you go! Now you know and knowing is half the battle, until you finish the fight. etc.