NBC-owned US cablenet Sci Fi is running a two-hour weekly animé programming block on Monday nights from next month.

Ani-Monday, which will air from 23.00 (ET/PT), will feature a collection of movies, series and shorts from Starz Media’s Japanese animation distribution arm, Manga. The network says the new block is Sci Fi’s first foray into original late-night programming.

Dave Howe, executive VP and general manager of Sci Fi, said the block skews to a distinct viewing group. “It speaks to the young, tech-savvy, video game-playing consumer and it is quickly becoming a mainstream phenomenon. Sci Fi has the unique opportunity to own the animé category.”

Ani-Monday will premiere new titles such as Ghost in the Shell: Solid State Society and classics such as Ninja Scroll, Blood, The Last Vampire, Read or Die and Blackjack. It will also be home to series premieres such as Tokko, Noein and older series such as Street Fighter II V.

There will also be a digital complement to the new block, with viewers being given the option to navigate their own animé experience, interacting with online and mobile content.