SinTheMovie.com

	Source: INTERNAL July  2000 NEWS

OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE! ADV FILMS SET TO RELEASE SIN: THE MOVIE HOUSTON – ADV Films is proud to announce the release of Sin: The Movie, the widely anticipated animated feature based on the hit game from Ritual Entertainment. Enter the world of SIN.  In the 21st century, the city of Freeport teeters on the verge of collapse.  The twin tides of rampant crime and ruinous graft face but a single barrier, an elite strike force labeled HARDCORPS.  Lead by Colonel John Blade, they have become a fierce fighting force for justice in Freeport.Blade must now unravel a mysterious series of unexplained kidnappings.  An elaborate puzzle unfolds as he delves into the decadence of the city, and at its heart is SinTEK, one of the most powerful companies in the world.  Elexis Sinclaire's genius, ruthlessness, and determination built an empire that, on the surface, seems to be giving society everything it wants and needs – drugs that prolong health and, perhaps, even life.  But within the company's well-guarded walls, Elexis' secret experimentations yield considerably darker results that may bring about mankind's greatest evolutionary leap – or its extermination. Sin: The Movie is sure to get your heart racing and keep you on the edge of your seat!!  This October, ADV Films will bring this exciting title to home video.  Sin: The Moviewill be available on both VHS (English dubbed) and DVD. Not only will the DVD contain both the English-dubbed version and the original Japanese version with sub-titles, but it will also contain a feature not heard of in the DVD world.  There will be 2 story lines.  That's right, the DVD will contain 2 completely different subtitle scripts for the same animation.  It will be like watching two movies in one, and nobody will want to pass this up!!!  Sin: The Movie is also one of many DVD films that will be compatible with the soon-to-be-released Playstation® 2.

	Source: INTERNAL  July  2000 NEWS
		"Yes, it was a computer game. Now ADV Films shows a Japanese anime version at Comic-Con." - Straight from IGN
				The printing presses are done!  Promo goodies for SIN the Movie are popping up all over! Check out these two images of the "sell-sheet"!
	Source: INTERNAL April 27th 2000 NEWS
	Keep on SiNNING! We got some new experimental desktops via Jason "The Rat" for your viewing pleasure.

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		Curious about the availabilty of the Sin the Movie T-Shirts and Posters? Fear not, they will grace this Web site soon, and you too will be able to order them for your Sin collection of goodies. Check out these latest pictures of the t-shirts!
		But wait theres more!  We've got new screenshots of the film in the Gallery Section, be sure to surf on by and check it out! More E3 details are coming.  Sinners hold on to those game demos I will be taking them soon.
	Source: INTERNAL February 2000 NEWS
		"108,000 hits in 4 hours!" Yes you heard correct.  Since the launch of the SIN:THE MOVIE Web site, we've been flooded with fans trying to get a sneak peek at the film.  Just when you think you've seen it all, we've updated the sight with MORE characters, cool vehicels,  MORE behind the scenes footage, and MORE desktop images for your computer! Get a sneak peek at the movie soundtrack in the BTS section and for all you anime fans, we've posted the Japanese voice cast.  You'll be amazed at all the talent we've rounded up for this film! ADV would like to thank all the cool support we have received from the guys over at Ritual Entertainment.  You guys are the best! As for the film, it looks awesome!  We actually had a small screening session with a few members of the ADV production staff and the consensus was unanimous!   Final production is currently in the works over in Japan and we have begun selecting the main cast for the much anticipated AMERICAN VERSION!!!  BTW... Want to sneak a peek at the teaser poster?  How about the FINISHED THEATRICAL STYLE POSTER?!!! There's a limited run on these posters, especially the teaser poster, so if you manage to get your hands on one... TAKE CARE OF IT!!!
			Get involved!  Help us with the buzz!  If you have a SIN related site; snag the banner, give us a holler and let us know what's up!
					For ideas, questions, comments, advertising and more send US email today!!!  Get ready to SIN again!

"When Phoenix was interviewed recently on SIN and asked what the story was about, the Producer replied that it was a fusion of RoboCop meets Bio Hazard (Resident Evil)." "Loved this when it was just a game! Now I'm really psyched to see how this plays out on the big screen. Go, Sin, go and can't wait for the sequel, which we already suspect is in the works. Love Sin!" - Larry Nokret   Source: WIRED.COM  PRESS RELEASE     A Sin-ful Movie Andy Patrizio 3:00 a.m.  8.Oct.99.PDT For years there has been talk of a movie based on id Software's game Doom. At one point, Arnold Schwarzeneggar's name was attached to the project. But the Doom project never got off the ground and another Dallas game developer will be the first to release a film based on a first-person shooter. ADV Films, a Houston, Texas-based film and anime studio, is creating an animated film based on Sin, a first-person shooter from Ritual Entertainment, of Dallas,Texas. Sin could have been done as a live-action film, but as an anime film it was cheaper to produce. Rather than develop an expensive live-action film that could cost US$50 million or more, ADV worked with a Japanese animation studio to develop a one-hour film for less than $1 million. "Any game that's converted to a movie is going to need a tremendous effects budget," said Mark Dochtermann, a programmer and co-founder of Ritual. "Drawing it as a cartoon certainly simplifies that process." That also means the content can be a little more violent, and the action more explosive. "There's obvious limitations of what stunt men and special effects can do, so anime allows the story to be a little more fantastic," said Dochtermann. ADV Films first approached Ritual in 1998 at the Electronics Entertainment Expo in Atlanta to discuss adapting Sin to animation. "We chose them because Sin has a story and characters behind it," said Andy Orjuela, special projects coordinator for ADV Films. "They went in-depth with their characters. There's such a nice, intricate story that could be developed. It seemed much better to go after that than anything else at the time." The movie, tentatively planned for an April 2000 release, follows most of the Sin storyline. The game's story revolves around Colonel John Blade, the owner of a private police force called the Hardcorps, which investigates why human mutations and monsters are popping up around town. He traces the phenomenon back to a brilliant biochemist, Elexis Sinclaire. The object of the game is to wipe out the mutants, Sinclaire, and anything else with a gun or mutated body. Some changes were made to make the story more appealing to both the American and Japanese markets. A few more female characters were added, and Blade is half-man, half-machine, a popular theme in Japanese anime. Ritual was busy with other projects, so its involvement was rather passive. It provided ADV Films with its design documentation, which ADV used as the basis of the film. Ritual's staff just saw a trailer of the film and was very happy with what it saw, Dochtermann said. ADV Films would have liked to release the movie when the game came out last year, but that didn't happen. The script went through seven rewrites in Japan, and had to be translated between English and Japanese each time, which delayed the process, said Orjuela. Having missed the game release, ADV now is taking its time. "We felt we weren't extremely rushed, since we already missed the Sin game release, so we felt, 'let's do a quality release,'" he said. When released, the movie will be on VHS and DVD. The DVD version will come with a full copy of the Sin game.

More Background on SinTheMovie.com

 

SinTheMovie.com was the official promotional website for the animated film Sin: The Movie, a cyberpunk anime feature released in 2000. The website served as the central online hub for fans interested in the film, offering news updates, promotional materials, screenshots, trailers, downloadable media, and background information about the production. At a time when the internet was becoming a major tool for film marketing, SinTheMovie.com represented an early example of how studios used dedicated websites to promote niche entertainment projects and engage directly with audiences.

Although the website itself is no longer active today, archived versions preserved online reveal how it functioned during the height of its activity around 1999 and 2000. Through these archives, SinTheMovie.com provides insight not only into the marketing campaign for the film but also into broader trends in anime distribution, video game adaptations, and online fandom at the turn of the millennium.

The site was closely connected to the film’s distributor and producer, ADV Films, a Houston-based company that played a major role in introducing Japanese anime to Western audiences throughout the 1990s and early 2000s. By promoting Sin: The Movie through a dedicated domain, ADV Films was able to target fans of both anime and the original video game while building buzz around the film’s release on VHS and DVD.

Origins of Sin: The Movie

To understand the significance of SinTheMovie.com, it is necessary to examine the origins of the film it promoted. Sin: The Movie was based on the 1998 video game SiN, a first-person shooter developed by Ritual Entertainment and published by Activision. The game gained attention for its cinematic storytelling, futuristic setting, and complex characters, making it an appealing candidate for adaptation into another medium.

ADV Films recognized the narrative potential of the game and approached Ritual Entertainment to discuss adapting it into an animated film. Rather than producing a live-action version, which would have required a large budget for visual effects and action sequences, the producers decided to create the story as an anime feature. This decision allowed the filmmakers to maintain the explosive action and futuristic visuals of the original game while keeping production costs relatively low.

The project involved collaboration between American producers and Japanese animation studios. Director Yasunori Urata oversaw the animation work, while ADV Films managed the English-language distribution and marketing. The resulting film blended Western cyberpunk themes with Japanese anime aesthetics, creating a hybrid style that appealed to fans of both mediums.

Storyline and Setting

The narrative of Sin: The Movie takes place in the fictional city of Freeport in the near future. Freeport is portrayed as a dystopian metropolis plagued by corruption, crime, and corporate power. Amid this chaos operates an elite private police force known as HARDCORPS.

The protagonist, Colonel John Blade, leads this organization. Blade is a highly trained operative who finds himself investigating a series of mysterious kidnappings and biological anomalies occurring throughout the city. His investigation eventually leads him to SinTEK Industries, a powerful corporation run by the brilliant and dangerous scientist Elexis Sinclaire.

Sinclaire’s company appears to be developing groundbreaking pharmaceutical technology capable of extending human life. However, as Blade digs deeper, he discovers that SinTEK is secretly conducting experiments that could transform humanity—or destroy it entirely. The conflict between Blade and Sinclaire drives the film’s action, combining elements of cyberpunk, science fiction, and horror.

The story reflects many themes common in late-1990s cyberpunk media, including corporate corruption, biotechnology ethics, and the tension between technological progress and human morality.

The Launch of SinTheMovie.com

SinTheMovie.com was launched as the official online portal for the film during the final stages of its production. The site was designed to build anticipation among fans and provide regular updates about the project. At the time, dedicated movie websites were becoming an increasingly important marketing strategy, particularly for genre films targeting internet-savvy audiences.

The site’s homepage featured bold graphics inspired by the cyberpunk aesthetic of the film. Promotional posters, character art, and screenshots from the animation helped establish the visual identity of the project. The design reflected the web style of the late 1990s, including dark backgrounds, stylized typography, and animated graphics.

Visitors to the site were greeted with updates about the film’s development, including announcements about production milestones, previews of the DVD release, and information about upcoming promotional events.

One notable early announcement celebrated the site’s rapid popularity shortly after launch. Within hours of going live, the site reportedly received an enormous surge of visitors eager to learn more about the film adaptation. This response highlighted the strong interest among fans of the original video game.

Content and Features of the Website

SinTheMovie.com included a variety of sections designed to engage visitors and promote the film.

News Updates

The website maintained a frequently updated news section where the producers shared announcements about the film’s progress. These updates included information about production developments, DVD features, promotional materials, and convention appearances.

News posts often adopted an enthusiastic tone, addressing fans directly and encouraging them to spread the word about the film.

Gallery and Visual Media

A major portion of the website was dedicated to visual content. The gallery featured screenshots from the film, promotional artwork, character designs, and teaser posters. These images allowed fans to preview the anime’s visual style and get a sense of the film’s action sequences and futuristic environments.

In addition to still images, the site also provided video clips from the film. These short previews allowed viewers to watch scenes from the animation, helping generate excitement before the official release.

Downloads and Wallpapers

The site offered downloadable desktop wallpapers and promotional graphics. These images were designed for fans to use on their computers, turning their desktops into promotional spaces for the film.

At the time, downloadable wallpapers were a common feature of entertainment websites, helping fans personalize their devices while spreading awareness of the project.

DVD Preview and Features

SinTheMovie.com also highlighted the features included in the film’s DVD release. These features were promoted as a major selling point, particularly for collectors and anime enthusiasts.

The DVD version included both the English dubbed version and the original Japanese audio track with subtitles. In addition, the DVD offered bonus materials such as character profiles, behind-the-scenes interviews, trailers, and a portfolio of artwork related to the film.

One especially unusual feature involved the inclusion of two different subtitle scripts, effectively presenting two alternate narrative interpretations of the same animation. This innovation was marketed as a way for viewers to experience the story from different perspectives.

Merchandise and Promotional Items

The site also teased merchandise related to the film, including T-shirts, posters, and other collectibles. These items were intended to appeal to dedicated fans who wanted to display their enthusiasm for the franchise.

Limited-edition posters were especially emphasized, with the website encouraging visitors to obtain them while supplies lasted.

ADV Films and Its Role

The company behind the project, ADV Films, was a significant force in the North American anime market during the 1990s and early 2000s. Based in Houston, Texas, the company specialized in licensing, dubbing, and distributing Japanese animated content for Western audiences.

ADV Films was responsible for releasing many well-known anime titles outside Japan, including Neon Genesis Evangelion, Martian Successor Nadesico, and Azumanga Daioh. The company also experimented with original productions and cross-media collaborations.

With Sin: The Movie, ADV Films attempted to expand its reach by adapting a Western video game into an anime feature. This strategy allowed the company to attract both gamers and anime fans while exploring the potential for cross-media storytelling.

Relationship to the Original Video Game

The original SiN video game was released in 1998 and quickly gained a reputation for its cinematic storytelling and mature themes. Developed by Ritual Entertainment in Dallas, Texas, the game competed with other popular first-person shooters of the era such as Half-Life and Quake.

Although the game’s commercial success was somewhat overshadowed by technical issues at launch, it developed a dedicated fan base that appreciated its complex narrative and memorable characters.

The anime film adaptation sought to expand on the game’s storyline while introducing new characters and themes. Certain changes were made during production to better suit the anime format and appeal to international audiences.

For example, the character of Colonel John Blade was redesigned with elements that reflected popular anime tropes, including cybernetic enhancements and exaggerated action sequences.

Convention Appearances and Fan Outreach

SinTheMovie.com also promoted the film’s presence at major fan conventions. Events such as Comic-Con and anime conventions provided opportunities for ADV Films to showcase trailers, distribute promotional materials, and interact directly with fans.

These events played a crucial role in building buzz around the film, particularly within the anime and gaming communities.

Convention panels often included previews of the animation and discussions about the adaptation process. Attendees could see early footage of the film and learn about the collaboration between American producers and Japanese animators.

Reception of Sin: The Movie

Upon its release in 2000, Sin: The Movie received mixed reactions from critics and audiences. Some viewers praised the film’s energetic action sequences and stylish cyberpunk visuals. Fans of the original game appreciated seeing familiar characters and settings brought to life through animation.

However, critics often noted that the film’s narrative felt somewhat condensed due to its relatively short runtime. Some reviewers felt that the story lacked the depth and character development found in longer anime productions.

Despite these criticisms, the film gained a following among fans of cyberpunk anime and video game adaptations. Over time, it has become a curious artifact of early cross-media experimentation between the gaming and anime industries.

Cultural Context of the Film and Website

The release of Sin: The Movie occurred during a period when anime was rapidly gaining popularity outside Japan. The late 1990s and early 2000s saw an explosion of interest in Japanese animation among Western audiences, fueled by television broadcasts, home video releases, and online communities.

Websites like SinTheMovie.com played an important role in this cultural shift. They allowed studios to reach global audiences directly, bypassing traditional marketing channels.

The site also reflected the early internet culture of fandom. Message boards, downloadable media, and direct communication with producers helped create a sense of community around the project.

Legacy of SinTheMovie.com

Although the website itself eventually disappeared as the film’s promotional campaign ended, its archived pages remain valuable historical documents. They illustrate how entertainment companies used the internet to market niche projects during the early days of digital media.

SinTheMovie.com also represents an early attempt to bridge the gap between video games and anime. Today, cross-media adaptations are far more common, with many games being adapted into animated series, films, and streaming productions.

In this sense, Sin: The Movie can be seen as part of the early experimentation that helped shape the modern entertainment landscape.

The Evolution of Movie Marketing Online

When SinTheMovie.com launched, the internet was still relatively new as a marketing platform. Many studios were experimenting with dedicated websites for individual films, offering content that could not easily be distributed through traditional media.

These sites often included downloadable media, interactive features, and behind-the-scenes information that helped build anticipation among fans.

Over time, social media platforms and streaming services replaced many of these early promotional websites. However, the influence of these pioneering sites remains visible in today’s digital marketing strategies.

~~~

SinTheMovie.com served as an important promotional platform for Sin: The Movie, helping introduce the anime adaptation of the SiN video game to audiences around the world. Through news updates, galleries, downloadable content, and previews of the DVD release, the site created a digital gathering place for fans interested in the project.

Although the film itself received mixed reviews, it remains notable for its ambitious attempt to adapt a Western video game into an anime feature. The collaboration between ADV Films and Japanese animation studios demonstrated the growing globalization of entertainment during the late 1990s and early 2000s.

Today, SinTheMovie.com stands as a reminder of the early days of online film marketing and the evolving relationship between video games, anime, and internet fandom. By examining the site and the film it promoted, it becomes clear how rapidly the entertainment industry was changing at the turn of the millennium—and how projects like Sin: The Movie helped pave the way for the multimedia franchises that dominate popular culture today.

SinTheMovie.com