News

Discotek Adds Babel II OVA Series

Discotek Media announced on Thursday that it has licensed the 1992 original video anime (OVA) series Babel II and will release it on DVD in April. The release will include Japanese audio and the English dub from Streamline Pictures.

The four-episode Babel II OVA adapts Mitsuteru Yokoyama's manga of the same name, but with an alternate ending based on Yokoyama's sequel manga Sono Na wa 101 (His Name is 101). Streamline Pictures and Image Entertainment previously released the OVA.

The original 1971 Babel II manga followed the exploits of Kōichi, a seemingly ordinary Japanese middle school boy who is actually a descendant of a space alien. Eons ago, an alien named Babel was stranded on Earth after making an emergency landing. Not only did Babel leave behind the mythical Tower of Babel, but his lineage remains in Kōichi — a.k.a. Babel II — as the boy uses his supernatural powers to defend Earth from Emperor Yomi.

The manga also inspired a 1973-1974 television anime series and the 2001 Babel II - Beyond Infinity television sequel anime. Media Blasters' Anime Works label released Babel II - Beyond Infinity in North America.

Takashi Noguchi launched the Babel II: The Returner spinoff manga in 2010.

Thanks to jlaking and Rachel Lietzke for the news tip.