Fans of FUNimation Entertainment have a great deal to look forward to in 2010. The company has just acquired the home entertainment, broadcast, digital, and merchandise rights to Kadokawa Pictures’ Full Metal Panic! and its sequel, Full Metal Panic? Fumoffu. And on top of that, FUNimation has also acquired the home entertainment, broadcast, and digital rights to Sekirei and to Tetsuwan Birdy Decode, from Aniplex.

In a way, the Full Metal Panic series are being released in reverse order, because FUNimation had already released season three of this series, Full Metal Panic! The Second Raid. But fans of the main characters, seventeen-year old Sousuke Sagara and Kaname Chidori, will enjoy the chance to acquire the full set at last. The story is based on several novels by Gatoh Shoji, with the twenty four episodes of season one covering the first three. Fumoffu, on the other hand, a twelve episode series, is based on several short stories.

In season one, Sousuke is a military specialist who is assigned to protect Miss Chidori, posing as a fellow high school student. As well as having difficulties adjusting to ordinary life in a high school, he also has to face enemies from his military past, all without breaking his cover. In Fumoffu, he has to add the job of protecting his superior officer when she pays a visit, and he takes the disguise of the Fumoffu mascot.

These two new series are going to start streaming on FUNimation’s video site in December, and shortly afterward will also stream on the company’s partner sites. Fans can look forward to the chance to buy the series on DVD and Blu-ray in 2010.

In the Aniplex series, Sekirei, Minato Sahashi, an intelligent young man with difficulties coping under pressure, finds himself paired with Musubi, one of the members of the large female group called the Sekirei. Unknown to Minato, he is really an Ashikabi master, which is what qualifies him for this partnership. It is through this pairing with Musubi that he begins to attain his real strength and learn his true capabilities. The series is based on a manga series by the same name, which is only available in Japan, and is directed by Keizou Kusakawa.

The second Aniplex series, Tetsuwan Birdy Decode, is based on both a manga and a four episode OVA series, and is directed by Kazuki Akane and animated by A-1 Pictures Inc. The main character, Birdy, is an interstellar agent on a mission to earth, disguised as a popular idol. As a schoolboy, Tsutomu, is caught in her line of fire, the only way she can save his life is to merge his consciousness into her body through a special technology, while his own body heals. This means he must tag along while she continues her mission.

The entire twelve episode Sekirei series will be released on DVD in 2010, while the twenty six episode Tetsuwan Birdy Decode will appear in half season sets. Between these two series and the Full Metal Panic series, FUNimation already promises to get the new year underway with a bang.

Source: FUNimation Full Metal Panic press release; FUNimation Sekirei press release; FUNimation Tetsuwan Birdy Decode press release