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Urban Vision Entertainment Inc. was an American-based production/distribution company created in
Los Angeles Los Angeles, often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, most populous city in the U.S. state of California, and the commercial, Financial District, Los Angeles, financial, and Culture of Los Angeles, ...
,
California California () is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States that lies on the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. It borders Oregon to the north, Nevada and Arizona to the east, and shares Mexico–United States border, an ...
formed in July 1996 by Mataichiro Yamamoto to help introduce the animation medium known as
anime is a Traditional animation, hand-drawn and computer animation, computer-generated animation originating from Japan. Outside Japan and in English, ''anime'' refers specifically to animation produced in Japan. However, , in Japan and in Ja ...
to the American mainstream.


History

Urban Vision Entertainment was formed in July 1996 by Mataichiro Yamamoto to help introduce the alternative animation genre known as
anime is a Traditional animation, hand-drawn and computer animation, computer-generated animation originating from Japan. Outside Japan and in English, ''anime'' refers specifically to animation produced in Japan. However, , in Japan and in Ja ...
to mainstream media. The company primarily produced and acquired Japanese animation for direct-to-home video release. Urban Vision founder Mataichiro Yamamoto helped pioneer the anime genre in the US with the computer-generated theatrical release, Golgo 13: The Professional in 1983. Urban Vision worked closely with the world-renowned Studio Madhouse animation studio in Tokyo, Japan ( Wicked City,
Ninja Scroll is a 1993 Japanese animated ''jidaigeki''- ''chanbara'' film written and directed by Yoshiaki Kawajiri, starring the voices of Kōichi Yamadera, Emi Shinohara, Takeshi Aono, Daisuke Gōri, Toshihiko Seki and Shūichirō Moriyama. The film ...
,
Vampire Hunter D is a series of novels written by Japanese author Hideyuki Kikuchi and illustrated by Yoshitaka Amano since 1983. As of January 2025, 56 novels have been published in the main series, with some novels comprising as many as four volumes. They h ...
). The company's initial release, another Madhouse project, was
Bio Hunter is a Japanese manga series authored by Fujihiko Hosono. It tells the story about two molecular biologists, Koshigaya and Komada who take on humans with strange viruses that make them less human and more demonic. It was serialized in the Sco ...
, released on home video in July 1997. Additional Urban Vision releases included
Gatchaman is a Japanese animated media franchise about a five-member superhero ninja team created by Tatsuo Yoshida and produced by Tatsunoko Productions. The original anime series, which debuted in 1972, was eponymously entitled ''Kagaku Ninja-tai Gat ...
,
Twilight of the Dark Master is a Japanese manga by Saki Okuse, and an OVA adaptation. The OVA was produced by Masao Maruyama, directed by Akiyuki Shinbo, and the screenplay was written by Duane Dell'Amico and Tatsuhiko Urahata. It was distributed and licensed in 1997 ...
,
Dragon Slayer A dragonslayer is a person who slays dragons in mythology and fantasy. Dragonslayer or Dragon Slayer may also refer to: Books *'' The Dragonslayer'', a book in the ''Bone'' series *'' Dragon Slayers' Academy'', a series of books * ''Dragonsla ...
, Psycho Diver: Soul Siren and Final Fantasy: Legend of the Crystals. In the mid-2000s Urban Vision shifted its focus from anime to live-action movies with the launch of two sub-labels, Ciudad for
Spanish Spanish might refer to: * Items from or related to Spain: **Spaniards are a nation and ethnic group indigenous to Spain **Spanish language, spoken in Spain and many countries in the Americas **Spanish cuisine **Spanish history **Spanish culture ...
-language films and AsiaVision for Japanese-language films.


Decline

Urban Vision became inactive since the late 00's, not acquiring any more titles. On September 7, 2010, the online retailer
Right Stuf Right Stuf Inc. (formerly known as The Right Stuf International Inc.) was an American video publisher and distributor of video programming that specialized in Asian entertainment (anime and live action films). It had several divisions includin ...
removed all of their Urban Vision catalog due to the distributor not shipping out orders to them. The following day, Urban Vision released a statement saying that the company had been restructuring itself and were halting their home video production unit and focusing on digital distribution. In November 2016, the company was shut down. Currently, a majority of their titles have since been re-licensed and re-released by
Discotek Media Discotek Media is an American entertainment company based in Altamonte Springs, Florida, focused on distribution and licensing Japanese anime, films, and television series. History Formed in 2005, Discotek primarily focuses on licensing retr ...
and
Sentai Filmworks Sentai Filmworks, LLC (or simply Sentai) is an American entertainment company. Located in Houston, the company specializes in the dubbing and distribution of Japanese animation and Asian cinema. Its post-production arm is Sentai Studios. The ...
.


Films licensed by Urban Vision Entertainment


Anime

* ''
Bio Hunter is a Japanese manga series authored by Fujihiko Hosono. It tells the story about two molecular biologists, Koshigaya and Komada who take on humans with strange viruses that make them less human and more demonic. It was serialized in the Sco ...
'' * '' Dragon Slayer: The Legend of Heroes'' * ''
DNA Sights 999.9 Deoxyribonucleic acid (; DNA) is a polymer composed of two polynucleotide chains that coil around each other to form a double helix. The polymer carries genetic instructions for the development, functioning, growth and reproduction of al ...
'' * '' Final Fantasy: Legend of the Crystals'' * ''
Gatchaman is a Japanese animated media franchise about a five-member superhero ninja team created by Tatsuo Yoshida and produced by Tatsunoko Productions. The original anime series, which debuted in 1972, was eponymously entitled ''Kagaku Ninja-tai Gat ...
'' (1994) (now licensed by
Sentai Filmworks Sentai Filmworks, LLC (or simply Sentai) is an American entertainment company. Located in Houston, the company specializes in the dubbing and distribution of Japanese animation and Asian cinema. Its post-production arm is Sentai Studios. The ...
) * '' Golgo 13: Queen Bee'' * ''
Hurricane Polymar is a Japanese anime and OVA series produced by Tatsunoko Productions. The show was created by Tatsuo Yoshida, who had produced many of Tatsunoko's series. Other romanizations of the name include ''Hurricane Polymer'' and ''Hariken Polyma ...
'' (now licensed by
Discotek Media Discotek Media is an American entertainment company based in Altamonte Springs, Florida, focused on distribution and licensing Japanese anime, films, and television series. History Formed in 2005, Discotek primarily focuses on licensing retr ...
) * '' Ninja Scroll: The Series'' (now licensed by
Discotek Media Discotek Media is an American entertainment company based in Altamonte Springs, Florida, focused on distribution and licensing Japanese anime, films, and television series. History Formed in 2005, Discotek primarily focuses on licensing retr ...
) * ''
Pet Shop of Horrors ''Pet Shop of Horrors'' is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Matsuri Akino. It was serialized in Ohzora Publishing's ''Apple Mystery'', and later in 's '' Horror M'' from 1994 to 1998, with its chapters collected in ten ...
'' (now licensed by
Sentai Filmworks Sentai Filmworks, LLC (or simply Sentai) is an American entertainment company. Located in Houston, the company specializes in the dubbing and distribution of Japanese animation and Asian cinema. Its post-production arm is Sentai Studios. The ...
) * '' The Professional: Golgo 13'' (from
Streamline Pictures Streamline Pictures was an American media company. Founded by screenwriter Carl Macek and animation historian Jerry Beck, it was one of the earliest distributors of English-dubbed Japanese animation. History Founding Founded in Los Angeles, ...
, now licensed by
Discotek Media Discotek Media is an American entertainment company based in Altamonte Springs, Florida, focused on distribution and licensing Japanese anime, films, and television series. History Formed in 2005, Discotek primarily focuses on licensing retr ...
) * '' Psycho Diver: Soul Siren'' * '' Strange Dawn'' (Lil' Vision) * ''
Space Adventure Cobra is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Buichi Terasawa. Set in the far future, the series tells the story of Cobra, who lives an adventurous life until his enemies begin to hunt him down. Cobra surgically alters his fa ...
'' (from
Streamline Pictures Streamline Pictures was an American media company. Founded by screenwriter Carl Macek and animation historian Jerry Beck, it was one of the earliest distributors of English-dubbed Japanese animation. History Founding Founded in Los Angeles, ...
, now licensed by
Discotek Media Discotek Media is an American entertainment company based in Altamonte Springs, Florida, focused on distribution and licensing Japanese anime, films, and television series. History Formed in 2005, Discotek primarily focuses on licensing retr ...
) * ''
Tekkaman Blade II is a 1992 Japanese anime television series produced by Tatsunoko Production and Sotsu Agency. The series was directed by Hiroshi Negishi and written by Mayori Sekijima and Satoru Akahori. The story follows an organization called the S ...
'' (now licensed by
Discotek Media Discotek Media is an American entertainment company based in Altamonte Springs, Florida, focused on distribution and licensing Japanese anime, films, and television series. History Formed in 2005, Discotek primarily focuses on licensing retr ...
) * ''
Twilight of the Dark Master is a Japanese manga by Saki Okuse, and an OVA adaptation. The OVA was produced by Masao Maruyama, directed by Akiyuki Shinbo, and the screenplay was written by Duane Dell'Amico and Tatsuhiko Urahata. It was distributed and licensed in 1997 ...
'' * ''
Goku Midnight Eye is a manga series by Buichi Terasawa about a detective named who gains a cybernetic eye implant that can control any computer system on the planet. The manga has been published in English by ComicsOne and DrMaster. Reception Helen McCar ...
'' (now licensed by
Discotek Media Discotek Media is an American entertainment company based in Altamonte Springs, Florida, focused on distribution and licensing Japanese anime, films, and television series. History Formed in 2005, Discotek primarily focuses on licensing retr ...
) * ''
The Cockpit The Cockpit can refer to: * Cockpit Theatre, a 17th-century theatre in London (also known as the Phoenix) that opened in 1616 * The Cockpit, a theatre in London, England that opened in 1970 * ''The Cockpit'' (OVA), a three-part anime series made ...
'' * ''
Wild 7 is a Japanese manga series by creator Mikiya Mochizuki that debuted on 1969 on '' Weekly Shōnen King'' where it ran until 1979. The creation of the manga had been based on the condition that Japan and other non-communist countries were f ...
'' (from
Enoki Films is a Japanese studio based in the Enoki Building in Shinjuku, Tokyo, Shinjuku, Tokyo.Company Profile
...
) * ''
Vampire Hunter D is a series of novels written by Japanese author Hideyuki Kikuchi and illustrated by Yoshitaka Amano since 1983. As of January 2025, 56 novels have been published in the main series, with some novels comprising as many as four volumes. They h ...
'' (from
Streamline Pictures Streamline Pictures was an American media company. Founded by screenwriter Carl Macek and animation historian Jerry Beck, it was one of the earliest distributors of English-dubbed Japanese animation. History Founding Founded in Los Angeles, ...
, now licensed by
Sentai Filmworks Sentai Filmworks, LLC (or simply Sentai) is an American entertainment company. Located in Houston, the company specializes in the dubbing and distribution of Japanese animation and Asian cinema. Its post-production arm is Sentai Studios. The ...
) * '' Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust'' (now licensed by
Discotek Media Discotek Media is an American entertainment company based in Altamonte Springs, Florida, focused on distribution and licensing Japanese anime, films, and television series. History Formed in 2005, Discotek primarily focuses on licensing retr ...
) * '' Wicked City'' (from
Streamline Pictures Streamline Pictures was an American media company. Founded by screenwriter Carl Macek and animation historian Jerry Beck, it was one of the earliest distributors of English-dubbed Japanese animation. History Founding Founded in Los Angeles, ...
, now licensed by
Discotek Media Discotek Media is an American entertainment company based in Altamonte Springs, Florida, focused on distribution and licensing Japanese anime, films, and television series. History Formed in 2005, Discotek primarily focuses on licensing retr ...
)


Live action (AsiaVision)

* ''
Azumi is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Yū Koyama. It was serialized in Shogakukan's manga magazine ''Big Comic Superior'' from 1994 to 2008, with its chapters collected in 48 volumes. A sequel series with the same title ...
'' * '' Azumi 2: Death or Love'' * '' Curse, Death & Spirit'' * '' Kill Devil'' * ''
Kokkuri or is a Japanese game popular during the Meiji era that is also a form of divination, partially based on Western table-turning. The name ''kokkuri'' is an onomatopoeia meaning "to nod up and down", and refers to the movement of the actual ''kok ...
''


Live action (Ciudad)

* '' Black Wind'' * ''
By My Side Again ''By My Side Again'' () is a 1999 film directed by Gracia Querejeta, who also co-wrote the screenplay. It was nominated for seven Goya Awards. Cast Production ''By My Side Again'' is a Spanish-Italian-French co-production by Sogetel, Elías Q ...
'' * ''
Doña Bárbara ''Doña Bárbara (Lady Bárbara)'' is a novel by Venezuelan author Rómulo Gallegos, first published in 1929. It was described in 1974 as "possibly the most widely known Latin American novel".Shaw, Donald, "Gallegos' Revision of Doña Bárbara 1 ...
'' * ''Espaldas Mojadas'' * ''Fugitives'' * '' Glue Sniffer'' * '' Oro Diablo'' * '' Siciaro'' * ''
Survive Survival or survivorship, the act of surviving, is the propensity of something to continue existing, particularly when this is done despite conditions that might kill or destroy it. The concept can be applied to humans and other living things ...
'' * ''
The Hidden One ''The Hidden One'' () is a 1956 Mexican drama film directed by Roberto Gavaldón. It was entered into the 1956 Cannes Film Festival. Cast * María Félix - Gabriela * Pedro Armendáriz - Felipe Rojano * Andrés Soler - General Nemesio Garza ...
''


Miscellaneous

* ''Slammin' Sammy: The Sammy Sosa Story'' (American animation; Lil' Vision)


References


External links

* {{Authority control Anime companies Defunct film and television production companies of the United States Entertainment companies based in California Companies based in Los Angeles Mass media companies established in 1996 Mass media companies disestablished in 2016 1996 establishments in California 2016 disestablishments in California Defunct companies based in Greater Los Angeles