Free streaming anime

Anime Network’s (A subsidiary of A.D. Vision) First Look officially opened Thursday. After a soft launch, they added new show Gurren Lagann to the eleven titles already available, with more on the way.

Requiring only Flash Player 9 for American residents, it’s a free (and legal!) anime streaming site, supported by advertisements that run before, after, and during episodes. ADV hopes to increase interest in shows before they’re released on DVD, and then subsequently sales. In the case of Gurren Lagann the whole show will eventually be available for streaming, with the first episode going online two months before the DVD's street date.

ADV President and CEO John Ledford said, "Of course we're going to be watching the reaction to First Look very closely. The success of this program will no doubt guide our future programming."