Boy, is it a good time for anime in July! Not only will we see anime from Marvel with Iron Man and Wolverine but the anime of the CW’s Supernatural will hit shelves stateside, too! Supernatural: The Anime is also from the animation studio of Madhouse and consists of twenty-two episodes, adapting the first two seasons of the show as Sam and Dean Winchester search for their father while hunting supernatural baddies. There are some supplemental storylines as well, so it’s not a strict translation.

Jared Padalecki provides his own voice for Sam Winchester in all 22 episodes while co-star Jensen Ackles lent his voice to Dean Winchester in select episodes. Special features on the set include: featurettes on turning the live-action series into anime, live-action introductions to each episode, and interviews with Padalecki, Ackles, and series creator Eric Kripke.

Check out the press release below for all the details!

World Renowned Anime Studio Madhouse Recreates
Popular Warner Bros. TV Series in Japanese Animation Style Coming to Blu-ray™ & DVD from Warner Home Video

BURBANK, CA (APRIL 4, 2010) – Warner Bros. Television’s popular series SUPERNATURAL makes history this summer as SUPERNATURAL: THE ANIME SERIES is released in the United States as the first-ever live-action series to be re-imagined in Japanese anime style. The all-new, 22-episode animated series will be distributed July 26, 2011 by Warner Home Video on Blu-ray™ for $54.97 (SRP) and DVD for $49.98 (SRP), as well as On Demand and for Download. Order due date is June 21, 2011.

SUPERNATURAL, noted for its creative storytelling of the occult during its first six seasons on The CW Network, has also achieved great popularity across the planet – particularly in Japan. Inspired by its sensational following overseas, Warner Home Video Japan and renowned animation studio Madhouse combined forces to envision SUPERNATURAL as an anime series – first released in Japan and now translated for American audiences.

SUPERNATURAL: THE ANIME SERIES revisits the Winchester brothers’ journey down the backroads of America as they search for clues to their father’s disappearance, hunt down the supernatural in all its unearthly forms, and enter into the unexpected mystery of their destinies. The SUPERNATURAL anime episodes mirror the story arc of the series’ first two seasons, providing supplemental stories ranging from prequels and spin-offs to untold tales that fit within the SUPERNATURAL mythology.

To maintain continuity with the live-action series, the characters of Sam and Dean Winchester in SUPERNATURAL: THE ANIME SERIES reflect the look of the SUPERNATURAL actors – in vibrant, exciting anime and, presented in full 16×9 widescreen format.

Enhancing the connection to the live-action series, SUPERNATURAL star Jared Padalecki reprises his role as Sam Winchester for all 22 episodes. Padalecki’s SUPERNATURAL co-star Jensen Ackles also provides the voice of Dean Winchester in select anime episodes.

Padalecki and Ackles are also ever-present in the Blu-ray™ and DVD enhanced content. The SUPERNATURAL co-stars provide a video introduction to each of the 22 anime episodes, and are also featured in a series of interviews that include conversations with live-action series creator Eric Kripke, and SUPERNATURAL: THE ANIME SERIES directors Shigeyuki Miya and Atsuko Ishizuka.

Special features on the Blu-ray™ and DVD also include a two-part featurette, “The Making of Supernatural: The Anime Series,” an intriguing behind-the-scenes revelation of how the live-action series was actually re-imagined into its new art form.

Madhouse, working with full approval of Kripke, produced the series in full high-definition animation utilizing both American and Japanese creative teams. The Madhouse production team is headed by executive supervisor Masao Maruyama and directors Miya and Ishizuka. Takahiro Yoshimatsu and Kenichi Takefuji are in charge of character and art design.

As the 2010 People’s Choice Award winner for Favorite Sci-Fi/Fantasy Show, SUPERNATURAL continues to increase in popularity in the US and abroad. In addition to its three nominations for both Emmy® Awards and Teen Choice Awards, SUPERNATURAL has spawned 10 books, a bi-monthly magazine, a comic book series, and now an anime series.

“The worldwide popularity of SUPERNATURAL is undeniable, eclipsing cultural and language barriers to easily fit into the unique artistic approach and alternative style of storytelling offered in anime,” said Rosemary Markson, Vice President, TV and Special Interest Marketing. “This groundbreaking vision of the popular series will give SUPERNATURAL fans an altogether new experience, mixing familiar themes and characters with intriguing new stories from within the series’ haunting mythology. Fans of the anime genre will enjoy this high quality, one-of-a-kind production as well.”

To generate buzz and excitement, select episodes will be screened to fans at anime and entertainment conventions leading up to the July release date. In addition, the release will be supported with an online and print media campaign, targeting both SUPERNATURAL fans and fans of the anime genre.

BASICS
Street Date: July 26, 2011
Order Due Date: June 21, 2011
Languages: English (5.1) and Japanese
SD Subtitles: ESDH, French, Chinese, Spanish, Thai
BD Subtitles: ESDH, French, German, Norwegian, Swedish, Finnish, Chinese, Spanish,

Audio: Dolby Surround Stereo
Format: 16×9 widescreen
Color / Closed Captioned
MPAA Rating: PG-13

Supernatural: The Anime Series
SD 3-Disc – $49.98 SRP
Blu-ray 2-Disc – $54.97 SRP
UPC: SD 3-Disc: 1000181951/ 883929173587
UPC: BD 2-Disc: 1000198928/ 883929186549

About Warner Premiere:
Warner Premiere is a Warner Bros. Entertainment production company focused on the development, production and marketing of feature-length-DVD and short-form digital content for this growing space. Warner Premiere is committed to being at the creative forefront in the evolution of quality product in the direct-to-consumer business, creating material that exemplifies the commitment to story, production and brand equity for which Warner Bros. is known.

About Warner Home Video:
With operations in 90 international territories, Warner Home Video, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company, a division of the Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Group, commands the largest distribution infrastructure in the global video marketplace. Warner Home Video’s film library is the largest of any studio, offering top quality new and vintage titles from the repertoires of Warner Bros. Pictures, Turner Entertainment, Castle Rock Entertainment, HBO Video and New Line Home Entertainment.

About Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Group:
Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Group brings together Warner Bros. Entertainment’s home video, digital distribution, interactive entertainment/videogames, direct-to-DVD production, technical operations and anti-piracy businesses in order to maximize current and next-generation distribution scenarios. WBHEG is responsible for the global distribution of content through DVD, electronic sell-through and VOD, and delivery of theatrical content to wireless and online channels, and is also a significant worldwide publisher for both internal and third party videogame titles.

Supernatural: The Anime on DVD and Blu-ray hits shelves on July 26th, 2011.