REDWOOD SHORES, Calif. -- BioWare, a division of video game publisher Electronic Arts and FUNimation Entertainment, announced today that they have reached an agreement to create an anime feature length film based on the hit video game franchise, Mass Effect. Despite making the announcement today, production is already underway, with release dates scheduled for Summer 2012.

T.O Entertainment, Inc. (known for Baka to Test) will serve as a co-producer on the project. The film will tell the tale of "an epic science fiction adventure set in a vast universe filled with dangerous alien life and mysterious, uncharted planets."

"Over the last few years, we have revealed different pieces of the Mass Effect world through different media. Extending the story through an anime medium is another amazing opportunity for us,” said Casey Hudson, Executive Producer for the Mass Effect series. "Partnering with FUNimation ensures that we will bring this rich universe to life with the utmost quality and the same attention to detail that the Mass Effect games are known for.”

"It is thanks to the enormous and passionate Mass Effect fan base that this movie is made possible," said Gen Fukunaga, President & CEO of FUNimation. “With production underway on the Dragon Age video, we are excited to team up with another BioWare team to add an exciting new chapter to this vast sci-fi world.”