HONG KONG, Sept. 20 /PRNewswire/ -- Imagi International Holdings (HKEx: 585), a leading producer of CG-animated feature films with studios in both Hong Kong and the U.S., today announced that it had finalized the Astro Boy premiere dates for Tokyo, Hong Kong and the U.S.

Imagi announced that Japan, where Tezuka Osamu created the legendary Astro Boy character in the 50s, will be the host of the world premiere of Astro Boy on 5th October. Hundreds of fans, along with the film's Director, David Bowers, and Producer, Maryann Garger, plus Japanese voice talents including Aya Ueto and Koji Yakusho, are expected to attend the world premiere.

The film's production base, Hong Kong, will host its own premiere on 17th October, with Astro Boy's Cantonese voice talents, including Aaron Kwok and Goum Ian Iskandar, expected to attend. Los Angeles will host its premiere on 19th October. Astro Boy voice talents including Freddie Highmore, Kristen Bell and Nicolas Cage are expected to attend the L.A. premiere. The premiere dates were carefully selected in each market to maximize the impact of the movie and attract large-scale public interest.

Astro Boy will be the first Hong Kong produced movie to be released across 4 continents and 20 markets in the same month. Imagi recently announced that it had secured financing for prints and advertising expenses associated with Astro Boy. Marketing and advertising for Astro Boy, including bill boards and TV advertisements, will ramp up in late September.

"All the financing and funding to ensure a successful release for Astro Boy is now in place. Now we wait for film audiences around the world sitting on the edge of their seats, to judge the film with their dollars as we had investors in Imagi over the past few months so judge," CK Phoon, executive deputy chairman at Imagi said.

"Imagi is a unique studio, our roots are in Asia but we are able to create films for global audiences. Audiences from Tokyo to Los Angeles, from Beijing to Sydney, will all be able to see Astro Boy fly in October together with all of us here in Hong Kong."

About Imagi

Imagi International Holdings Limited (Stock Code 585, OTCQX: IINHY) is a listed company on the main board of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. Imagi's principal business is the development and production of CG-animated theatrical feature films. Imagi's first theatrical movie TMNT was released in March 2007, opening #1 in U.S. box office revenue, the first time in history that an Asian animated film achieved that honor. Imagi has development and marketing operations in Los Angeles, California, and CG production studios at its Chai Wan (Hong Kong) corporate headquarters, as well as a Tokyo office involved in licensing. Imagi's Astro Boy is set for worldwide theatrical release in October 2009. For further information, please visit www.imagi.com.hk and www.astroboy-themovie.com

SOURCE Imagi International Holdings Limited

Soon-En Wong of Imagi Hong Kong, +852 3103 8912, soonenwong@imagi.com.hk, or Asia Ireton of Imagi Studios US, +1-818-808-4409, asiaireton@imagius.com; Susannah Beattie, sbeattie@kreabgavinanderson.com, or Michel Chau, mchau@kreabgavinanderson.com, both of Kreab Gavin Anderson, +852 2523 7189, for Imagi International Holdings Limited