• Supernatural action anime series Shakugan no Shana II to premiere 1 July 2009, airing weekdays 6.30pm (WIB) / 7.30pm (SEA/PH) on Animax.

• Shakugan no Shana II follows schoolboy Yuji Sakai, with his classmate and spirit guardian Shana in seemingly normal lives, and their fight in the war to keep balance in the spirit realm

• On-air, Animax Asia will for the first time, turn its blue channel logo and graphics package red to match the Shakugan no Shana II theme, and debut FHM-supported ‘Vote for your favourite Shana-look-alike Contest’ to have viewers vote on nine FHM models dressed as Shana

• Off-air, Animax will hold ‘The Animax Shana Cosplay Contest’ on 4 July 2009, Hall 404 of Suntec Singapore at The Games Xpo, where the best Shana cosplayer stands to win S$1,000 cash, and the best cosplayer of any other Animax anime character gets to take home S$500 cash.

23 June 2009, Singapore – Red is the colour this summer as Shana – a babe with big fiery-red eyes and crimson flowing hair, as well as a temperament and fighting skills to match – paints the town flaming red in brand new anime series Shakugan no Shana II on Animax!

Premiering 1 July 2009 and airing weekdays 6.30pm (WIB) / 7.30pm (SEA/PH) on Animax, supernatural action series Shakugan no Shana II follows schoolboy Yuji Sakai, along with his companion and otherworldly guardian Shana. Leading seemingly normal lives as high school classmates, both fight a perpetual war to keep the balance in the spirit realm, as their feelings for each other grow…

Starting in the first Shakugan no Shana anime series, Yuji is plunged suddenly into an alternate reality where he sees human souls being consumed by monsters. Just as he is attacked, the katana(Japanese sword)-wielding Shana intervenes and destroys the monsters known as ‘Denizens of the Crimson Realm’. Identifying herself as a ‘Flame Haze’, an enforcer of balance in the spirit realm, Shana reveals Yuji possesses a ‘Mystes’, a special soul that holds a powerful treasure sought by the monsters to throw the spirit world off balance. From then, Shana vows to protect Yuji as his guardian and becomes his companion in school.

Continuing from where the first series left off, Shakugan no Shana II dives straight into the action where Yuji and the extremely powerful Shana – with her deadly ability to wield flames as weapons and as wings to fly with – continue to battle ‘Denizens’ of all forms; while Fumina Konoe, a schoolgirl with a dubious background and questionable intentions enters the fold…

Produced by JC Staff, the studio behind hit romantic comedies Nodame Cantabile and Honey & Clover, both Shakugan no Shana anime series were adapted from the ‘Shakugan no Shana’ manga and light novel series. Directed by Takashi Watanabe (Slayers), Shakugan no Shana II stars Rie Kugimiya, voice-actor of Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood protagonist Alphonse Elric, as the voice of Shana. The franchise’s popularity also saw an animated feature titled Shakugan no Shana – The Movie debut theatrically in 2007, and video games released for the Sony PlayStation 2 and Nintendo DS consoles. And just on 1 June 2009, the widely-anticipated third Shakugan no Shana anime TV series has been confirmed and is currently in development, to the joy of the franchise’s many fans across Asia.

Heralding the arrival of Shana on 1 July, red hot promotional events are set to roll out on- and off-air across the region on Animax. On-air, Animax Asia will for the first time, turn its signature blue channel logo and graphics package RED to match the Shakugan no Shana II theme, as well as debut a ‘Vote for your favourite Shana-look-alike Contest’ with a sexy spin!

Supported by men’s lifestyle magazine FHM, the ‘Vote for your favourite Shana-look-alike Contest’ features nine models – three each from FHM Singapore, FHM Malaysia and FHM Philippines – all dressed as Shana and shown on Animax channel, to be voted on by viewers at http://shana.animax-asia.com. With each Shana-dressed model to appear in special pictorials in August issues of FHM in the respective countries, Animax will also air exclusive ‘behind-the-scenes’ video footage of the Shana-dressed models at their FHM photo-shoots. Contest and ‘behind-the-scenes’ broadcast details are available at www.animax-asia.com.

In Singapore, Animax Asia is set to raise the red alert with ‘The Animax Shana Cosplay Contest’, to be held at the inaugural The Games Xpo (TGX) gaming fair, where the channel serves as the Official Regional Cable TV Partner. Taking place Saturday 4 July 2009 at Hall 404 of Suntec Singapore where TGX is held over the weekend, ‘The Animax Shana Cosplay Contest’ is open to all TGX visitors, with the best Shana cosplayer to win S$1,000 cash; and the best cosplayer of any other Animax anime characters to take home S$500 cash.

With contest details available at www.thegamesxpo.com, participants must register by 1 July 2009 via email at AnimaxShana@imsg.sg with their name, identification number, age, mobile phone number and email address, and turn up in their best Shana, or anime character outfit at TGX for a chance to win the attractive cash prizes in the respective categories.

Hang tight to your seats as the wave of red sweeps across Asia on- and off-air with Shakugan no Shana II coming your way this July exclusively on Animax!

Shakugan no Shana II premieres 1 July 2009
Airs weekdays 6.30pm (WIB) / 7.30pm (SEA/PH) exclusively on Animax

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About Animax Asia
Launched 1 January 2004, ANIMAX is Asia’s first youth brand specialising in the fastest growing youth entertainment genre – anime; along with youth programming including exclusive original productions, music, technology, gaming and lifestyle shows.

ANIMAX offers youth and young adults a place to escape to. An extraordinary world where anything is possible. A world where they can express their thoughts, communicate their passion and exercise their creativity. A world which celebrates the joy of youth and recognises them for who they are; a world of fun, happiness and excitement… In short, A World Less Ordinary.

Reaching 40 million viewers in 23 million homes across 20 countries, ANIMAX is wholly-owned by Sony Pictures Entertainment and managed by SPE Networks – Asia which also operates AXN, AXN BEYOND and SONY ENTERTAINMENT TELEVISION. Visit www.animax-asia.com for more.

For more information, please contact:

SPE Networks - Asia Pte. Ltd.
Priscilla Yip
Direct: (65) 6622 4200
Priscilla_Yip@spe.sony.com

Calvin Wong
Direct: (65) 6622 4203
Calvin_Wong@spe.sony.com