ADV Films has just announced the signing of the licensing agreement with Harmony Gold to release the 85-episode Japanese animated Robotech series on home video and DVD. The deal was inked at Anime Expo 2000 in Anaheim, California, last Friday. The Robotech series is credited by many as being responsible for raising the awareness of the Japanese anime phenomenon in America, beginning with the animated series that aired in early 1985. The series was re-aired in 1994 on Sci Fi Channel and once again on The Cartoon Network in 1999. Currently, Robotech is licensed for broadcast in over 60 countries.

The continued popularity of the show has created a crossover phenomenon spilling over into other mediums. Mattel Interactive announced last month their acquisition of the license to publish games based on the popular anime series. Comico has created a series of Robotech comic books, 3-D comic books, and graphic novels. Additionally, Robotech’s active Internet presence rivals that of any other top sci-fi or animation property today.