Urban Vision
Urban Vision was an American production and distribution company that helped bring Japanese anime to mainstream U.S. home video audiences.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
Urban Vision, formally known as Urban Vision Entertainment Inc., was an American production and distribution company based in Los Angeles, California. Founded in July 1996 by Mataichiro Yamamoto, the company was established to introduce Japanese anime more broadly to American mainstream audiences. Its business centered on acquiring, producing, licensing, packaging, and distributing animation, particularly Japanese titles, for the U.S. home-video market. The company emerged from a period when anime was gaining visibility in North America but remained comparatively specialized outside enthusiast communities. Yamamoto had earlier participated in the development of the U.S. anime market and was associated with the 1983 computer-generated theatrical release Golgo 13: The Professional. Urban Vision built on that background by assembling a catalog of Japanese animation for direct-to-video distribution. It worked closely with Madhouse, the Tokyo animation studio known for works including Wicked City, Ninja Scroll, and Vampire Hunter D. Urban Vision's first release was Bio Hunter, issued on home video in July 1997. During its principal operating period, Urban Vision released or licensed a range of anime properties spanning action, science fiction, horror, fantasy, and television animation. Its catalog included Gatchaman, Twilight of the Dark Master, Dragon Slayer: The Legend of Heroes, Psycho Diver: Soul Siren, Final Fantasy: Legend of the Crystals, Golgo 13 titles, Vampire Hunter D, Wicked City, Space Adventure Cobra, Ninja Scroll: The Series, Pet Shop of Horrors, and other Japanese productions. Some titles had previously circulated through other American distributors, while others were introduced or reintroduced to the U.S. market through Urban Vision's releases. In the mid-2000s, the company broadened its scope beyond anime. It introduced Ciudad, a label associated with Spanish-language live-action films, and AsiaVision, a label focused on Japanese-language live-action films. The associated catalog included films such as Azumi, Azumi 2: Death or Love, Kokkuri, Curse, Death & Spirit, and several Spanish-language or Latin American productions. Urban Vision also used the Lil' Vision name for selected material, including Strange Dawn and the animated sports biography Slammin' Sammy: The Sammy Sosa Story. By the late 2000s, Urban Vision had stopped acquiring additional titles and was described as inactive. In September 2010, the online retailer Right Stuf removed Urban Vision products from its catalog after reporting that the distributor was not shipping orders. Urban Vision subsequently stated that it was restructuring, halting its home-video production unit, and concentrating on digital distribution. The company ultimately shut down in November 2016. After its closure, many titles associated with its catalog were relicensed and reissued by other distributors, including Discotek Media and Sentai Filmworks. Urban Vision's historical importance therefore rests less on its current operations than on its role in the early expansion and commercial circulation of anime and selected Asian and Spanish-language films in the United States.
History
Urban Vision Entertainment Inc. was established in Los Angeles in July 1996 by Mataichiro Yamamoto. Its founding objective was to make Japanese anime more accessible to mainstream American audiences through professional acquisition, localization, and home-video distribution. The company developed during a period when anime in the United States was moving beyond a niche import market, although many Japanese titles still required specialist distributors to reach consumers. Yamamoto brought prior experience in the American anime field. He had helped pioneer anime distribution in the United States and was associated with the 1983 computer-generated theatrical film Golgo 13: The Professional. Urban Vision used that experience to build a catalog that combined new acquisitions with titles sourced from earlier distribution activity. Its first home-video release was Bio Hunter, a Madhouse-related production released in July 1997. A major part of Urban Vision's identity came from its relationship with Madhouse, the Japanese animation studio behind titles such as Wicked City, Ninja Scroll, and Vampire Hunter D. Urban Vision's releases covered a broad range of genres, including action, horror, science fiction, fantasy, adventure, and television animation. Among the titles connected with the company were Gatchaman, Twilight of the Dark Master, Dragon Slayer: The Legend of Heroes, Psycho Diver: Soul Siren, Final Fantasy: Legend of the Crystals, Golgo 13: Queen Bee, The Professional: Golgo 13, Goku Midnight Eye, Space Adventure Cobra, Tekkaman Blade II, The Cockpit, Wild 7, Vampire Hunter D, Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust, Wicked City, Pet Shop of Horrors, and Ninja Scroll: The Series. Urban Vision's role was not limited to first-run Japanese animation. Its catalog also included titles that had previously been handled by other American companies, allowing the brand to preserve or renew access to properties that might otherwise have become difficult to obtain. The company therefore functioned both as an original licensing outlet and as a catalog distributor within the U.S. anime market. In the mid-2000s, Urban Vision diversified into live-action material. It created the Ciudad label for Spanish-language films and the AsiaVision label for Japanese-language films. The AsiaVision group included titles such as Azumi, Azumi 2: Death or Love, Curse, Death & Spirit, Kill Devil, and Kokkuri. Ciudad's listed films included Black Wind, By My Side Again, Doña Bárbara, Espaldas Mojadas, Fugitives, Glue Sniffer, Oro Diablo, Siciaro, Survive, and The Hidden One. A Lil' Vision label was also associated with selected youth-oriented or otherwise separate catalog material, including Strange Dawn and Slammin' Sammy: The Sammy Sosa Story. The company declined during the late 2000s. It stopped acquiring additional titles and became increasingly inactive. In September 2010, the online retailer Right Stuf removed Urban Vision products after the distributor failed to ship orders. Urban Vision responded that it was restructuring, ending its home-video production unit, and concentrating on digital distribution. The announcement indicated an attempted change in business model rather than a return to conventional physical-media expansion. Urban Vision eventually shut down in November 2016. Afterward, many titles formerly associated with the company were relicensed and reissued by other specialists, notably Discotek Media and Sentai Filmworks. The company's legacy is consequently tied to the early U.S. commercialization of anime and to the circulation of Japanese and Spanish-language films through specialized home-video labels.
- 2016
Urban Vision shuts down
[1]The company ceased operations in November 2016.
- 2010
Physical home-video operations are halted
[1]Urban Vision said it was restructuring and shifting from home-video production toward digital distribution.
- 2000
The company expands beyond anime
[1]During the mid-2000s, Urban Vision introduced Ciudad and AsiaVision, extending its business into Spanish-language and Japanese-language live-action films.
- 1997
Bio Hunter becomes the first Urban Vision release
[1]Urban Vision issued Bio Hunter on home video in July 1997, beginning its principal anime distribution program.
- 1996
Urban Vision Entertainment is founded
[1]Mataichiro Yamamoto established Urban Vision Entertainment in Los Angeles in July 1996 to promote Japanese anime to mainstream American audiences.
- 1983
Golgo 13 helps establish Yamamoto's anime credentials
[1]Before founding Urban Vision, Mataichiro Yamamoto was associated with the U.S. introduction of the computer-generated theatrical anime film Golgo 13: The Professional.
Products and positioning
A specialist U.S. distributor and production company focused initially on bringing Japanese anime to broader American audiences, later extending its catalog into Japanese live-action and Spanish-language cinema.
Anime distribution · 1997
Anime home-video catalog
Urban Vision's core offering was a catalog of licensed Japanese animation prepared for the American home-video market. The catalog covered feature films, original video animations, and television series across action, horror, fantasy, science fiction, and adventure. Representative titles included Bio Hunter, Gatchaman, Twilight of the Dark Master, Psycho Diver: Soul Siren, Final Fantasy: Legend of the Crystals, Pet Shop of Horrors, and Ninja Scroll: The Series.
Anime films
Golgo 13 titles
Urban Vision distributed Golgo 13-related animation including The Professional: Golgo 13 and Golgo 13: Queen Bee. These releases connected the company with the work most closely associated with founder Mataichiro Yamamoto's earlier role in introducing anime to American audiences.
Anime films
Vampire Hunter D and related catalog
The Urban Vision catalog included Vampire Hunter D and Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust, along with other influential genre titles such as Wicked City and Space Adventure Cobra. These releases helped position the company around mature, visually distinctive Japanese animation rather than only children's programming.
Japanese live-action films
AsiaVision
AsiaVision was a Urban Vision sub-label created during the company's diversification into live-action cinema. Its listed releases included Azumi, Azumi 2: Death or Love, Curse, Death & Spirit, Kill Devil, and Kokkuri, giving the company a separate identity for Japanese-language film distribution.
Spanish-language films
Ciudad
Ciudad served as Urban Vision's Spanish-language film label. Its associated catalog included Black Wind, By My Side Again, Doña Bárbara, Espaldas Mojadas, Fugitives, Glue Sniffer, Oro Diablo, Siciaro, Survive, and The Hidden One.
Brand decisions
2010
Shift from physical home video to digital distributionStrategyBackground
Urban Vision faced operational difficulties after an online retailer removed its titles and reported that the distributor was not shipping orders.
Action taken
The company announced a restructuring, halted its home-video production unit, and said it would focus on digital distribution.
Aftermath
Urban Vision did not resume substantial new-title acquisition and was later shut down in November 2016.
2005
Diversification into live-action filmStrategyBackground
After establishing itself as an anime distributor, Urban Vision broadened its business during the mid-2000s as the company created labels for Japanese-language and Spanish-language live-action films.
Action taken
The company launched AsiaVision for Japanese-language films and Ciudad for Spanish-language films.
Aftermath
The diversification expanded the catalog beyond anime, although the company later became inactive and ultimately closed.
Recent events
- 2016
Urban Vision shuts down[1]
Bankruptcy
Urban Vision was reported to have ceased operations in November 2016 after becoming inactive and no longer acquiring new titles.
- 2010
Urban Vision restructures and halts home-video production[1]
Other
After a retailer removed Urban Vision titles from its catalog because orders were reportedly not being shipped, the company said it was restructuring, stopping its home-video production unit, and shifting its focus toward digital distribution.
Urban Vision catalog titles are relicensed by other distributors[1]
Other
Following the company's shutdown, a substantial portion of its former catalog was relicensed and re-released by distributors including Discotek Media and Sentai Filmworks.
Sources2 sources
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