FUNimation Entertainment, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Navarre Corporation, announced the development of FUNimation Films with The Bigger Picture, a subsidiary of Sabella Dern Entertainment. FUNimation Films is another phase in FUNimation's strategy to grow the anime community and bring quality anime to entertainment audiences throughout the United States.

FUNimation Films is a monthly initiative that will bring top-rated anime features and series premiers to movie theatres across the nation. The program will launch on March 17, 2006 in select Landmark theatres. Moviegoers will be treated to a special showing of the Dragon Ball Z feature The Return of Cooler, followed by the main event: the U.S. premiere of the Dragon Ball Z movie Fusion Reborn.

"Anime is a growing entertainment segment in the United States and we want to give anime fans a place they can go each month to see the top anime titles in the United States on the big screen," explained Gen Fukunaga, president of FUNimation Entertainment. "The Bigger Picture's digital distribution network provides access to theatres throughout the country and is a great fit for FUNimation Films."

"Our partnership with FUNimation for new anime in theatres will help bring anime even more into the mainstream," adds Jonathan Dern, co-CEO of The Bigger Picture, "while the communal nature of the in-theatre experience is much like that of a fan convention."

The Bigger Picture is a theatrical distribution company specializing in the digital distribution of films targeted to underserved audiences during "off-peak" hours. The Bigger Picture's release program provides fans with an opportunity to enjoy new movies on the big screen on a regular basis.

"The theatrical exhibition community has embraced the Bigger Picture's slate of targeted content, as it provides them with a guaranteed supply of films with a built-in fan base," says Greg Rutkowski, co-CEO of The Bigger Picture.

FUNimation also announced the titles that will be featured during April and May. In April, FUNimation Films will give fans a chance to preview the upcoming Basilisk series. Basilisk is a beautifully crafted ninja-horror- action series from the acclaimed Studio GONZO. In May, FUNimation Films will be previewing another GONZO creation known as Trinity Blood. Trinity Blood is a post-apocalyptic vampire action and conspiracy series that creates a unique visual palette by combining futuristic fantasy and gothic fashion.

FUNimation Films will be available in Landmark theatres nationwide in the Atlanta, Austin, Chicago, Dallas, Minneapolis, Seattle, San Diego, San Francisco, and Washington, D.C. markets. More theatre chains and theatres will be added each week and fans can find out where they can watch FUNimation Films in their area on the FUNimation Films website ( http://www.funimationfilms.com/ ). A database is being created and fans can search by zip code for the nearest theatre featuring FUNimation Films.