At the San Diego Comic-Con, Microsoft revealed plans to create an anime-style Halo mini series called Halo Legends. As reported by the LA Times, “Five production houses in Japan are handling the physical animation, but Microsoft’s creative staff is approving major visual and storytelling decisions.” Those five well-known anime studios are Bones, Casio Entertainment, Production I.G, Studio4 C, and Toei Animation. The seven-part series will be released on DVD and “digital platforms” in early 2010 through Warner Bros.

Microsoft’s Frank O’Connor(previous Bungie employee) discussed the project with the LA Times in his new position as creative director of 343 Industries, which is also Microsoft’s Halo division. “If you look at how George Lucas held on to ‘Star Wars,’ not just to make money from action figures but to control the direction the universe went in, you can see why we think it’s pretty vital,” O’Connor said of Microsoft’s interest in maintaining control of the Halo franchise. “Luckily, Microsoft has the resources to enable us to do that.”

[Via Joystiq]

[Source -- LA Times]
[Source -- LA Times Blog]