Father Geek here. Scott wrote me yesterday and asked for a day's delay in posting the Anime Report out of respect for the victims of the attacks in New York and Washington on Tuesday, so we're posting this on Thursday morning instead of it's regular Wednesday morning publishing time slot. I'll state once again that all of us with AICN here in Austin and around the world at our various offices have channeled our thoughts toward the survivors, and families & friends of all the victims of the tragic affair of Tuesday morning. Hopefully reports such as Scott's will help you to move on toward some sort of normalcy...
Hi, Scott here, I would like to relay my extreme condolences to all those effected by the recent tragedies.
If you can, please donate blood or money to the Red Cross.
Matrix Revised with Anime
Matrix Revised with Anime
Warner Brothers has announced a November 20th release of "the Matrix Revised" with a sneak peek of behind-the-scenes footage from The Matrix's upcoming sequels and a preview of The Matrix anime project including a first look at sketches, storyboards, interviews and footage with the animators. The release is a 2 1/2 hour companion to the movie with behind the scenes footage from the film and the upcoming sequels.
The Matrix Revisited will be available on DVD for $19.98 SRP and on VHS for $14.95 SRP. Street date is November 20. Also available will be a 2-pack containing The Matrix Revisited and The Matrix for $39.98 SRP on DVD and $29.97 SRP on VHS.
Gundam Ratings Problems
Saiyanz Rage has reported that starting October first Gundam: 08th MS Team will be replacing Mobile Suit Gundam in Toonami's 5:00 to 5:30 spot starting October 1st. There are suggestion that the change is being made due to low rating, making Gundam Toomani's first show to be take off the air before completion. 8th MS Team for late July/early August were strong, but according to a weekly report covering Aug. 20-24, 2001, MOBILE SUIT GUNDAM (5:00 to 5:30 p.m.) averaged a 1.1 household rating. The time period's average during August last year was a 1.9, so it is currently running -42% behind last year's performance. UNDAM: 8TH MS TEAM (12:00 to 12:30 a.m.) averaged a 1.2 household rating. It's average during August was a 1.2, and compared to last year's 1.0 average, the show is performing +9% better than last year's programming.
Ranma DVD Release Info
Viz will be releasing the first season on the martial arts comedy, Ranma 1/2 on 11/20. The 450 minute feature, entitled "Ranma ½ Digital Dojo" will retail for $99.98. Ranma ½ is about a young martial artist who is cursed to become a girl whenever he is doused with cold water. Other member of the cast are cursed to become various animals when they are doused.
ADV Cancellations
According to Right Stuf ADV has announced a number of cancellations.
- A.D. Police 3 VHS
- A.D. Police 4 VHS
- Princess Nine VHS
- Slayers vol. 4 VHS
- Gasaraki - ALL subtitled VHS
- New Cutey Honey Collection 1 VHS
- New Cutey Honey Collection 2 VHS
- City Hunter #2 TV Vol. 1
- City Hunter #2 TV Vol. 2
- Lost Universe 7 DVD
- Lost Universe 8 VHS
- Lost Universe 9 VHS
- Lost Universe 10 VHS
- Lost Universe 11 VHS
- Lost Universe 12 VHS
ADV stated that they do no consider the releases canceled, they new formally announced them, and they want businesses to stop trying to order them.
Sundance Looks at Anime
On October 19th at 11:00 p.m Sundance Channel will be running "Sonic Cinema: Animators", a look at the state of animated music films that will run from computer animation to anime.
BZ New Episode Status
The Cartoon Network schedule reports that all 96 episodes of Dragon Ball Z will air on Toonami. The new episodes have started on September 10th. The new episodes include the King Kai and Majin Buu stories.
Urban Vision Announces Tekkaman Blade II DVD Collection
All three stages and six episodes of the Tekkaman Blade II DVD will be released on one DVD disc. Audio will be remastered in 5.1, and special features include a fan art gallery, and Urban Vision trailers. The disc will be released on 10/30.
"Ten years have passed since the original series (Teknoman to fans of the US TV series) as a new generation of Tekkaman must confront a powerful enemy while rebuilding their forces. In Stage 1 The New Generation, Yumi Francois, a young mechanic, is the unlikely candidate for the elite Tekkaman fighting team. Thrust into the midst of battle, she must overcome her fear and gain her teammates' confidence and trust to survive. In Stage 2 The Alien Intruder, the Tekkaman team discovers a new enemy planning to destroy them. Faced with adversaries everywhere and conflict within the team, the Tekkaman must overcome all odds to survive. In Stage 3 Final Encounter, ultimate destruction is at hand! The past has caught up to the present can the team come together in the face of the truth to avert utter disaster?"
Produced by Tatsunoko Productions; Executive Producer Ippei Kuri; Directed by Hideki Tonokatsu; Art Director Yoshimi Unno; Character Design Hirotoshi Sano; Music by Takashi Kudo; English Language Version Written and Directed by Jack Fletcher. Special Thanks to Goodhill Vision and SOFTCAPITAL Anime Project.
Soul Taker Pushed Back
Due to a delay in receiving the original material Pioneer will be delaying the release of Soul Taker to Spring 2002.
Sakura Diaries Collectors Edition Information
ADV has announced that a two disc Sakura Diaries Collectors Edition, with all 12 episodes of the series will be released on 12/04/01. The discs will contain the version of the series released on the laser disc in Japan, which is more explicit the version that ADV has already released. The Collectors Edition will only have a Japanese language track, not an English dub. Sakura Diaries (Sakura Tsuushin) is an ecchi (risque) romantic comedy about a love triangle that requires the protagonist to lie about getting into a prestigious university.
New Anime in October
Anihabara lists the following anime titles as airing this October in Japan.
- Vandread -The Second Stage (Oct.5, 18:30, WOWOW) The sequel of Vandread. Directed by Mori Takeshi.
- X (Oct.3 18:30, WOWOW) Original work by CLAMP, Directed by Kawajiri Yoshiaki
- Chitchana Yukitsukai Sugar[Small Snowmaster Sugar] (Oct.2 26:20, TBS) Character Design by Koge-Domb
- Najica Dengeki Sakusen (Oct.5 24:00, CTV, TVS, TVK, Kids Station) Directed by Nishijima Katsuhiko
- Babiru II (Oct 23:30, TV TOKYO) Detail is unknown
- Final Fantasy Unlimited (Oct.2 18:30, TV TOKYO) Directed by Yonetani Yoshitomo
- Captain Tsubara - Road to 2002 (Oct.7 17:20, TV TOKYO) New series of Captain Tsubasa.
- Cyborg 009 (Oct.14 18:30, TV TOKYO) Original work by Ishinomori Shotaro
- Kuru Kuru Amy (Oct.1 6:40-6:45, TV TOKYO) Detail is unknown
- Shiawase-sou no Okojo-san (Oct.2 18:00, TV TOKYO) Original work by Uno Ayumi, Directed by Negishi Hiroshi
- Full-metal Panic (Oct.2 18:30, WOWOW) Directed by Chiaki Kouichi, Animation by Gonzo
- Otogi Story - Tenshi no Shippo[Fairy Tale - Angel Tail] (Oct.4 18:30, WOWOW) Directed by Ochi Kazuhiro
- Kokoro Toshokan[Heart Library] (Oct.4 25:15, TV TOKYO) Original Work by Takagi Nobutaka, Kuroda Yousuke
- i-wish you were here (Oct.4 25:30, Kids Station) Original Work by Gonzo
- Mahoromatic (Oct.5 26:00, BS-i) Original Work by Nakayama Bunjuro, Ditama Bow.
- Hoshi no Kirby (Oct.6 7:30, TBS) Directed by Kusakabe Mitsuo
- Geisters (Oct.6 7:30, TV TOKYO) Directed by Watanabe Sumio
- Gekito! Crush Gear Turbo (Oct.7 7:00, TV ASAHI) Directed by Iuchi Hideharu
- Tennis no Ouji-sama [Prince of Tennis] (Oct.10 19:00, TV TOKYO) Directed by Hamana Takayuki
- Hikaru no Go (Oct.10 19:27, TV TOKYO) Original Work by Hotta Yumi, Obata Ken, Directed by Nishizawa Shin
- RAVE (Oct.13 17:30, TBS) Original Work by Majima Hiro, Directed by Iida Umanosuke, Watanabe Takashi
- Vampire Kids (Oct.13 18:30, FUJI-TV) Ditail is unknown
- Hellsing (Oct.17 26:40, FUJI-TV) Original work by Hirano Kouta, Directed by Iida Umanosuke, Urata Yasunori, Scenario by Konaka Chiaki
- The Legend of Condor Hero (Oct, BS-FUJI) Directed by Annou Masami
Special Edition Utena Movie Sells Out
According to a post on Anime on DVD's forum, the limited edition version of Revolutionary Girl Utena: The Movie has now sold out on the wholesale level. The special edition of DVD release of the Utena movie has been limited to 10,000 copies and features an AnimeZone sampler DVD and a translucent pink case.
New Weiss Kreuz Series
Anime News Service relays that the official "Weiss Kreuz" site at Marine Entertainment is reporting that a new TV series is currently in the works about the four bishonen (beautiful men) who are flower shop workers and idols of local girls by day, and assassins by night. Media Blasters is scheduled to release the previous Weiss Kreuz TV series in October.
7th Eva Manga
After a year's wait the seventh volume of the Evangelion manga is nearing release in Japan from Kadokawa Shoten Pushblishing. Two limited "first-printed" runs with be packaged with figures of Rei and Asuka. The Evangelion manga is a take on the story that differs from the anime version. It is created by Yoshiyuki Sadamoto, the character designer of the Evangelion anime series, and other Gainax works such as Nadia.
Viz has been releasing the manga domestically in a standard edition and a non-flipped edition. Because Japanese is read right to left the images in comics are meant to be viewed in that direction. Often in the English language version of manga the image is mirror so that is can be followed left to right. Dark Horse/Studio Proteus' release of Blade of the Immortal went so far as to cut out the panels and reorder then with the help of the series' creator Hiroaki Samura for a more precise visual translation. Viz's special edition release of the Evangelion manga leaves the panels as they appear in the Japanese release.
Viz's fifth collection of the manga will be released next Tuesday (September 18th).
Inu Yasha Movie Trailer Online
A trailer for the upcoming Inu Yasha movie is online at here
Kenshin(Samurai X) Figures Release
Kenshin(Samurai X) action figures are being released this year by Toycom for $12.99 each. The four figures based on the wandering swordman Kenshin, his rival [Saitoh] Hajime, his assistant and former gangster Sanosuke and his friend, the young dojo teacher Karou.
More on Final Fantasy TV series
According to The GIA TV Tokyo has revealed more about the upcoming final Fantasy TV series, which will be named Final Fantasy: Ulimited. The series will start October 2nd in Japan. Like the movie Final Fantasy: The Sprit Within the show will be set on Earth. The hero and heroine, Wind and Lisa, pursue "The Cloud" as it destroys their home town.
It is unknown it the series will use cel or computer animation.
ADV Site Goof Reveals Sorcerer on the Rocks Plan
A news post on ADV's site stated that the first volume of Sorcerer on the Rocks will be released on November 20th for $24.98. A post on Anime on DVD's forum by an ADV employee stated that the information should not have been posted, the November date is an in-house date only. A December release is more lilely.
Preliminary list of theaters for Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust
Theatre dates are subject to change, and they are always adding more locations
- 9/21 Cinema Village confirmed 22 East 12th St. New York, NY 10118
- 9/21 Empire 25 (AMC on 42nd) confirmed 234 West 42nd St. @ 8th Ave. New York, NY
- 9/21 Cinemark confirmed 10603 Metropolitan Ave. Forest Hills, NY 11375
- 9/21 The Pavilion at Park Slope confirmed 188 Prospect Park West Brooklyn, NY 11215
- 9/21 Clearview Cinemas possibility 110th St. next to Columbia, Long Island, New Jersey
- 9/21 Olympia Twin possibility 2770 Broadway New York, NY
- 9/21 Nu Roc 18 confirmed 33 Lecount Place New Rochelle, NY 10801
- 9/21 Commerce Center 18 confirmed 2399 Rte. 1 South New Brunswick, NJ 08902
- 9/28 The Music Box confirmed Chicago, IL
- 10/5 The Showcase confirmed 614 N. La Brea Los Angeles, CA
- 10/5 The Irvine Spectrum/Edwards/Irvine Place possibility Irvine/Costa Mesa, CA
- 10/5 Cinemark possibility Lancaster, CA
- 10/12 Camera 3 confirmed South Second Ave. San Jose, CA
- 10/12 Universal Citywalk possibility Universal City, CA
- 10/12 Shattuck possibility Bay Area, CA
- 10/12 The Metreon or The Kabuki possibility San Francisco, CA
- 11/2 Hawaii Int'l. Film Festival possibility All six islands, Hawaii
- 11/9 Honolulu Academy of Art Theatre possibility Honolulu, HA
- 11/30 The Varsity Theatre confirmed Seattle, WA
- 11/30 The Dobie Theatre confirmed Austin,TX
- 11/30 The Ken Theatre confirmed San Diego, CA
- 11/30 The Brattle confirmed Boston/Cambridge, MA
- 11/30 The Cinefest confirmed Atlanta, GA
www.vampirehunterdbloodlust.com has updated with the official rating for the movie: R for violence. Thnaks to Daniel for the submission.
Marvel Elaborates of Manga Style Comments
Asked about his recent comments to Newsarama's Mike Sangiacomo about publishing 'Japanese-style comics that would appeal to teenage girls, Bill Jemas responded, "Joe [Quesada] and I spent some time on this one. We are going to do comic books that focus on the teen girl market. We haven't figured out yet what attracts teenagers first - the storytelling approach, or the artistic approach.
"Our initial reaction is that it's the way the story is told, not the particular art style.
"We do have a top notch to-be-announced creative team working on a teen soap opera kind of book."
Marvel's forray into what they described as a manga style release began this week. The black and white "US War Machine" will ship weekly for three months at $1.50 per issue with a collected edition shipping soon after its release.
Princess Nine Release Info
According to ADV's web page the shoujo (baseball) series Princess Nine will be released across six DVD startin on October 23rd for $19.98 each.
Daft Punk Video #4 Now Online
The fourth Daft Punk anime video, "Harder, Better, Faster, Strong" is now online at Toonami Reactor
Patlabor 3 Details
According to Anime News Service, years after it was announced a third Patlabor movie has been given the go ahead for a Spring 2002 release. The movie will be based on the Haikibutsu 13-go jiken" ("The waste no.13 incident") story from the manga. Patlabor is a relatively realistic science fiction drama about a police force who uses mecha to regulate advanced robotic units known as Labors. The third movie will deal with a conflict between the police force and a genetically engineer monster.
A preview version is said to have been shown at the Imagica studio, but the movie itself still has to find a distributor to make it to the big screen. Originally filled by Mamoru Oshii the director job has been handed over to Fumihiko Takayama, best known for his works on mecha-oriented animes like "Orguss", "Gundam 0800: A War in the Pocket", "Macross Plus" and the "Bubblegum Crisis" OVA. The script will be delivered by Miki Tori.
Eagle Awards Voting Now On
Voting for the Eagle comic awards is now being taken. Manga nominations include Akira, Blade of the Immortal and Lone Wold and Cub for "Favorite Manga Comic" and Lone Wolf and Cub for "Favorite Reprint Compilation".
Dirty Pair Flash DVD Release
ADV has announced that Dirty Pair! Dirty Pair Flash : Angel's at World's End will be released on 12/11/01 with the 5 episode Dirty Pair Flash: Mission 2.
FUNimation Talks Lupin
According to Dragon Ball Z.com: "FUNimation has acquired yet another smash hit anime called Lupin III. Lupin III is a classic Japanese series and is one of the most popular series of all time in Japan. In fact a popular Japanese magazine recently performed a major poll to determine the "Best 100 Anime" ever made. Lupin III came in second place! FUNimation is proud to have been chosen to bring this exemplary series into the English speaking world. Gen Fukunaga, President of FUNimation, had this to say about the series, "With movies produced since the 1970's and new movies (over 90 minutes each) being created every year for the last 13 years, we are in awe of the longevity of this terrific brand.""
Image Back in the Game
After sub licensing serveral titles from Central Park Media with mixed results, which are running out, Image Entertainment will be releasing some new anime titles. The first title was releasing is Hermes: Winds of Love on 8/28. There have been rumors that they have acquired a titles that has been heavily fansubbed ,which some suggest is Wedding Peach, a magical girl series in the Sailor Moon vein.
As their name implies, fansubs are anime titles that have been subtitled by fans rather than businesses who have licensed the title. Usually fansubs are made of unlicensed titles and distribution ceases once a domestic company has announced acquisition of the license.
AWN says of Hermes: "Movies based on ancient tales of the gods like Disney's Hercules are usually considered as mythology, distinct from such as DreamWorks' The Prince of Egypt, which is based on a living religion's true history. Hermes is superficially like any other movie version of a Greek heroic legend, but it was commissioned by the Institute for Research in Human Happiness (Kofuku no Kagaku), a modern Japanese evangelical church which considers itself the direct successor through reincarnation to the events in Greek mythology."
The release appeares to be the original theatrical 1.85:1 format, and only have a Japanese language track.
Interesting Online Articles
EX has an interview with Terada Katsuya, the character designer of Blood, the Last Vampire, and reviews of Maetel Legend, Cybernetics Guardian , Golgo 13: Queen Bea, and Cardcaptors.
Akadot has detailed look at FUNimation's upcoming scifi action/drama Blue Gender at
The new "Dub Track" by Ryan Mathews has brief reviews of the English dubs of "Tenchi Muyo," "Escaflowne," "Irresponsible Captain Tylor," "Trigun," "Parallel Dual!," "Martian Successor Nadesico," "Magic Knight Rayearth," and "Jubei-chan, the Ninja Girl" at here Tenchi Muyo is a science fiction comedy about a Luke Skywalker like boy who ends up living with a strange groups of women that includes a space pirate, an alien princess, who cute young sister, a mad scientist, and an absent minded galactic police officer.
Escaflowne is about a school girl who is transported to a feudal world where knights fight with giant mecha. The series is known for the high quality of its music by Yokho Yanno, animation, and its tight story with many interesting dramatic and science fiction ideas.
Trigun is a post Apocalyptic western about the feared Vash the Stampede, a strange gunfighter who leaves momentous destruction in his wake who travels a strange desert world. Parallel Dual has been described as a Tenchi Muyo like comedy with an Evangelion like plot.
Martian Successor Nadesico is a science fiction series about the strange crew of a cooperated battleship used by the military to fight "Jovean Lizards". Magic Knights Rayearth is CLAMP's (creators of Card Captor Sakura, X, ect) take on the school girls who travel to mystical land genre, with the requisite CLAMP humor and plot twists.
Ninja Girl Jubei-Chan is an action/comedy about a school girl who finds that when she puts on a magic eye path can channel the sword skill of legendary samurai Jubei Yagyu.
Right Stuf Delays
Due to air traffic delays Right Stuf will be delaying a number of their releases two weeks from 9/25 to 10/9
VHS titles will be released on time, and they expect our October releases scheduled for 10/30 will be shipped on schedule.
Effected titles include:
- Tylor, Irresponsible Captain OVA DVD 3: From Here to Eternity
- Tylor, Irresponsible Captain OVA DVD Set 1-3
- Boogiepop Phantom Evolution 1 DVD
- Yamamoto Yohko, Starship Girl DVD (1-3)
Irresponsible Captain Tylor and Yamamoto Yohko are science fiction comedies. Tylor is about an extremely laid back and extremely lucky young man who joins the military in hopes of finding an easily life, but after defusing a hostage situation is given command of a run down battle ship on the front lines of a war with an alien race. Yamamoto Yohko is about a girl who is good at everything, especially video games who is recruited by people from the future. Boogiepop Phantom is a horror series based on a novels about an ordinary girl who may be a death god charged with bringing people to the next world when they become "too ugly".
Di Gi Charat Commercial Captures
Synch Point has posted screen captures of the Digi Charat commercial that will be airing in the LA area at here Well if you don't live in LA and you didn't get to see the commercial at the Otakon Con, Synch Point has kindly posted screen captures from it on their website. Unfortunately, there's no full movie clip of it (yet) just pictures.
Animated Lenore
Comics 2 Film has reported that Roman Dirge's comic Lenore has made its animated debut on http://www.comicbookresources.com
Roman Dirge's Lenore made her animated debut last week on Sony's Screenblast .The cute little dead girl can be found by clicking the Sci-Fi/Horror button on the Screenblast front page.
The animated short features the gruesome, black humor that is the hallmark of the comic strip. In this episode, the undead youngster searches for a new toy, with comically macabre results.
Last year Sony picked up the option Lenore for development as a feature film. Caroline Thompson (A Nightmare Before Christmas) and Larry Wilson (Beetlejuice) were tapped to write a screenplay for the movie. No word on how that development effort is progressing.
