Saber Rider and the Star Sheriffs - EXCLUSIVE! WEP Signs Deal With VCI Ent. for Saber Rider Retail DVDs: Announcing Tomorrow at Otakon

Almost a month ago we let you know that the Voltron.com website, run by World Events Productions ("WEP"), was giving some cryptic-sounding hints about a possible release of Saber Rider and the Star Sheriffs - The Complete Series on DVD. The formal announcement is coming this weekend, at the Otakon convention in Baltimore. However, we've got the early scoop on some of the information. We can't be there ourselves, but we encourage fans of WEP's Saber Rider to try to make it to the convention if you're in the Baltimore area, and get all the details.

If you can make it, be sure to look for the folks from VCI Entertainment. VCI started life as "United Films," a company that, from their beginnings in the '60s, specialized in getting big-screen films seen in places other than a cinema. If you saw a theatrical release on a projector in the auditorium of your high school or college, at a church or camp, or even on an oil rig or a non-passenger ship at sea, then it's possible - even probable - that this is the company which provided it. When home video came along via videotape, VCI was formed as a division of United Films, and was among the first to get into that business. VCI's proud history notes that they were "named in Variety and (The) Hollywood Reporter as the first company to produce and release motion pictures directly to the home marketplace." They've been a steady supplier of DVD releases since the format came along, and have gotten more and more into the TV-on-DVD category lately with recent releases of the classic series Burke's Law and the '60s cartoon series Space Angel, and an upcoming release of Burke spin-off Honey West.

VCI is now expanding into classic '80s animation by striking a deal with WEP to release Saber Rider and the Star Sheriffs in stores. The ink is pretty much just getting dry on that agreement, and some aspects of it are still being worked out. The great news is that all 52 episodes will be released on DVD. They are still working out the details of how these will get onto DVD, but the plan seems to have shifted a bit: rather than asking fans to "break the bank" buying a complete series release all at once, they have decided to divide the episodes up into 3 or 4 releases with 15 or so episodes per set (similar to how WEP and Media Blasters have been releasing Voltron). They are still in the process of working out what kind of cases to use ("regular" cases? "tins" like Voltron? or something else?), and so they naturally don't have cover art available yet for the first release.

However, VCI has started a MySpace page to talk about the Saber Rider DVD releases, so keep an eye there for updates. And at Voltron.com's "Know" section, too, of course. And stay tuned here, because we'll be bugging those companies for those details, too...and for that cover art, too!

In the meantime we have a look for you at VCI and WEP's formal announcement of their pact, and their invitation for everyone to go to Otakon tomorrow morning (Friday at 9AM Eastern, at "Panel 3") and meet my good friends Christopher Rowe of VCI and Jeremy Corray of WEP (be sure to give Jeremy congrats; he's a new dad!), where they'll be giving more info about this release. And giving stuff away, too! Jeremy will also chat about Voltron, too; another great reason to try to make it. And, while they won't have the Saber Rider DVD cover art for you there at the show, they will have a cool-looking promo poster for the series. We've got a look at that for you, below the announcement. And, at the bottom, is a Saber Rider video that VCI invited us to include in our report; it's also found at their MySpace page for the show's DVD releases. Enjoy!

SABER RIDER
and the STAR SHERIFFS

VCI Entertainment and WEP are proud to announce the DVD release of Saber Rider and the Star Sheriffs, coming to DVD in the fall of 2008. You will be able to own all 52 episodes of this iconic classic anime series.

Saber Rider and the Star Sheriffs was an animated TV series that aired from 1986 to 1989. The writer, Marc Handler, was also behind Voltron: Defender of the Universe. Originally it was a 1984 anime series known as Star Musketeer Bismarck (Sei Jushi Bismarck) created by Studio Pierrot.

The series is set in the future, when humankind has reached the stars. There are many outposts and settlement worlds in the galaxy with Old West influenced names, such as "Planet Uma" and "Planet Durango". There are also outlaws, bounty hunters...and sheriffs. Saber Rider is the leader of the Star Sheriffs. The Star Sheriffs are the special operatives of Cavalry Command, their main assignment is to protect the Galaxy from the growing threat of the Outriders.

The Outriders are beings from the Vapor Zone Dimension, led by the powerful Nemisis, who have the ability to travel between dimensions. The growing threat of giant enemy Renegade Units forced the Cavalry Command to create RAMROD, designed and constructed by Commander Eagle, and his daughter, April Eagle. Ramrod Equalizer Unit is mostly used as a large spaceship (Vehicle Mode), but it can transform into a shape of 250' high robot (Challenge Phase).

CAST LIST - VOICE ACTORS
Rob Paulsen - Saber Rider, Jesse Blue
Pat Fraley - Fireball
Pat Musick - April Eagle
Peter Cullen - Narrator, Commander Eagle, Nemesis, Ramrod
B.J. Ward -Emily Wyeth Sincia
Cam Clarke - Philip
Lennie Weinrib - Colonel Wyatt
Neil Ross - Buck Grimmer


***SPECIAL ANNOUNCMENT***
VCI will be at OTAKON in Baltimore August 8 - 10
come by and see them (www.otakon.com)

Chris Rowe PR Director for VCI Entertainment and Jeremy Corray Creative Director World Events Productions will be giving out prizes as they discuss the past and future of the two classic 1980's robot series Voltron: Defender of the Universe and Saber Rider and the Star Sheriffs. Recently released on DVD from Media Blasters, Voltron now has a live action movie in development with producer Mark Gordon (Saving Private Ryan, Day After Tomorrow). VCI has a big announcement to make so don't miss it!

Come by and see them Friday morning, August 8th, from 9-10am in Panel 3; the room seats 600 people so hurry and get your spot!

Also make sure to visit the official MySpace page and join today!