Anime and Manga
Hellsing Ultimate is an original video animation (OVA) series formerly animated by animation studio Satelight, now being animated by Madhouse (as of OVA V) and produced by Geneon. The first fifty minute episode was released to Region 2 DVD in Japan on February 10, 2006.[6] As of July 24, 2009, seven episodes have been released in Japan.[6] The seventh episode was released in Japan on December 23, 2009.[7] The ending of each episode uses various pieces of instrumental music composed by Hayato Matsuo and performed by the Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra. The OVA series is licensed for release in the United States by Geneon USA. In producing the English dub of the series, Geneon used much of the original cast from the dub of the anime series, which the company had also licensed. The first episode was released to Region 1 DVD on December 5, 2006,[8] after premiering the episode at the 2006 Anime Expo convention. Though Geneon USA stopped self-distribution of its titles in 2007,[9] it remains the licensor of the series and in 2008 the North American distribution was assumed by Funimation Entertainment.[10] Funimation released the fourth episode on September 23, 2008. Simultaneously, the company re-released the first three episodes. There have been no announcements for US release dates of volumes five, six or seven, mainly due to Geneon Entertainment's closing of its USA division.[11][12]