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The Halo universe is all set to go anime. Yes, fans of the popular Halo franchise and die-hard fans of ‘Anime’ will be in for a double treat thanks to this distinct affair! A recent announcement from Microsoft reveals that the company has partnered with top anime studios to develop a collection of original short films for the Halo series of games. Called as the Halo Legends, this new offering should take the Halo franchise to elevated heights.

Microsoft has roped in a renowned set of storytellers from some of the world’s leading anime studios in Japan. Studios involved include Bones Inc., Casio Entertainment Inc., Production I.G, STUDIO4˚C and Toei Animation. The teams are now working on taking one of the most iconic franchises in science fiction and video games to a new level. Collaborating with these acclaimed anime creators, the new Halo Legends project offers to deport the sweeping sci-fi saga to an entirely new medium. Gamers can get ready for several original anime short films.

“The opportunity to work with talents such as Shinji Aramaki, Mamoru Oshii and others from some of the greatest anime studios is a very rare opportunity for Microsoft,” shared Frank O’Connor, Halo franchise development director and provider of story and creative direction for 343 Industries. “We’ve seen the world through Master Chief’s eyes, and we’ve experienced facets of the universe through a variety of literary prisms, but now we get to watch new tales unfold in really rich, visually dynamic ways. I think anime fans and ‘Halo’ fans alike are in for a real treat.”

“Halo and its characters are a very natural fit for anime,” mentioned Aramaki, creative director for the Halo Legends project. “As a fan of the ‘Halo’ universe, it is an honor to work with Microsoft and my very talented peers from other studios to create this collection.”

The Halo titles and novels are set hundreds of years in the future and chronicle mankind’s struggles against the alien collective – the Covenant. Ransacking the universe for relics, the Covenant assumes that these will lead it to a new life and destroys civilizations and planets throughout its journey. This marks the entry of the most prolific hero from the fiction Spartan. Also known as Master Chief, this super soldier is the chief protagonist in the original trilogy of Xbox and Xbox 360 Halo titles.

The trilogy comprises of Master Chief unearthing the intent of the Covenant. He discovers his plans of activating a series of mysterious ring worlds called Halos to ultimately put an end to life throughout the universe. Attaining the title of mankind’s champion, he is in a race against an unrelenting enemy in its most desperate hour. Since then the Halo universe has expanded and tales of other heroes have emerged all through the New York Times novels, comics and Xbox 360 games like Halo Wars and the forthcoming Halo 3: ODST.

“As a leading entertainment distributor and a company identified with premier anime content, we’re very pleased to be working with Microsoft on Halo Legends,” remarked Amit Desai, vice president, Family, Animation and Partner Brands Marketing, Warner Home Video. “The combination of the talent involved and the ‘Halo’ brand ensure the collection is something consumers are really going to enjoy.”

Also a preview of select Halo Legends episodes will first mark their presence on Xbox Live starting this fall. In a new experience called Halo Waypoint, this new feature is designed to be the latest destination for Halo fans on Xbox Live around the world. Informing fans of the latest happenings and activities in the Halo universe, it will also permit access to an array of exclusive content. This includes podcasts, trailers, screenshots and unique video footage.

In addition to this, Waypoint will also offer gamers with a new challenge through a new career system. Player rankings tied to both in-game and out-of-game accomplishments related to Halo will be part of it. Besides the limited, early episode premieres; it will also unveil many behind-the-scenes videos that narrate the making of the Halo Legends.

Halo legends officially debuted yesterday at a panel presentation at Comic-Con International in San Diego. The compilation was expected to be bundled with a series of short stories that explore different periods, themes and characters from the Halo universe. The entire Halo Legends collection is slated for distribution through Microsoft partner Warner Home Video.