Father Geek here with Scott Green's great Anime/Manga report for this week's regular AICN Anime column. Buuuuuut first these items that found their way to Father Geek's Geek Headquarters PC yesterday...
The Barbican in London is showing a Comprehensive retrospective of Studio Ghibli's work with multiple showings of the films running from mid October to mid November. Tickets are on sale now.
Films include:
Details can be found here by Just Clicking Right Here, Right Now!
ToffeeCrisp
Then there was this bit...
I was just at smashingpumpkins.com and after clicking on the "glass and the machines of god" line I was led to screenblast.com where there was a trailer for a Smashing Pumpkins animated series/movie. The story is "glass and the machines of god" they are the mythical alter egos of the smashing pumpkins.... of course pumpkin fans know the story of GLASS, its about a man who hears the voice of god, decides to form a band (the machines of god) to help save music and tthe world. LOts of love storys are thrown in there, some people die.
Its a very cool story and i am glad to hear that sony pictures is deciding to turn it into a feature. it looks cool, i don't know about a soundtrack, but the pumpkins last album was called "machina the machines of god" and was the final chapter in the story, so maybe thats the soundtrack. the pictures of the characters look really really cool. and the idea of it being set in the near future when phoney pop music dominates the minds and souls of the youth is awsome. Anyway, i assume this is a "scoop" its movie/pop culture related news. hope you plan on reporting it..
LUVS/HUGS
dmitrios andreakos
Father Geek back again with one more note of interest...
As a Miyazaki fan, I thought you'd like to know this.
I sit here looking at my brand new Chinese 6-disc boxed set of the entire Studio Ghibli repertoire. All-region, widescreen, subtitled. There are 11 movies and a music video here, including "Nausicaa of the Valley of Wind", "Porco Rosso", "Princess Mononoke", "Totoro", "Kiki's Delivery Service",and "Laputa"...THE CLASSICS.
There are a few downsides, of course: The set being Chinese means that the menus are unreadable to us ignorant Americans, but a little experimentation works that out. Also, there are a few little flubs in the subtitles. There's also an annoying little logo that appears and hangs around in the upper corner, but it stays in the black bars, so it's not too distracting.
On the plus side: IT'S MIYAZAKI! ON DVD! SUBTITLED!
I don't know exactly where most people can find it; here in Seattle, I picked mine up at Scarecrow Video, the center of my world. It may take some looking, but damn if it ain't worth the search.
St. Buggering
And remember: no one has the right to touch you in your bathing suit area.
Now on to Scott's overflowing report for AICN Anime this week...
The summer anime convention season ended this summer with two conventions, Anime Weekend Atlanta 7 (AWA), and Nan Desu Kan (NDK). Anime News Network posted an AWA report by Mikhail Koulikov, and Anime on DVDposted reports on AWA and NDK by "Shiro" and Sean Broestl respectively.
This Week's Anime and Manga Releases:
More, or Less...
Anime
Manga:
Ceres, Celestial Legend is Yu Watase's (Fushigi Yuugi) shoujo (girl's) series about a girl who learns that she is the descendant of a celestial maiden on her sixteenth birthday when her family tries to kill her. According to legend a celestial maiden was capture by a fisherman when her stole her robe. The girl's family tries to kill her before she can become an instrument of the celestial maiden's revenge.
Gasaraki is a science fiction series that has garnered many fans with its deliberate pacing, and attention to ideas. The science and tactics behind the combat, and the philosophy and history being the characters are slowly, and intricately fleshed out. The Japanese Gowa family, which runs a corporation and city by the same name. has developed a power armor, called a TA which they are testing out in a Middle East conflict. At the same time, the family's youngest son is trying to harness a power using the traditional Noh dance.
Rurouni Kenshin tells the story of a wandering swordsman who was once the feared assassin known as the Hitokiri Battousai in the conflict that ended the reign of the shogun and lead up to Japanese's Meiji period. After years of wandering his settled down with a young defense instructor, a student, and a former gangster. Kenshin's relatively peaceful life is altered when the person who replaced him when he left his role as an assassin returns with an army throw Japan into chaos. The volumes being released are part of the series "Kyoto Arc", a 30 episode storyline in the TV series that is considered its highlight. It provides a number of great swordfights, and a host of interesting characters.
Urusei Yatsura is Rumiko Takahashi's (Ranma) romantic comedy about a lecherous boy who must save earth by beating Lum, an alien oni, with green hair, small horn, and a tiger stripped bikini, in a game of tag,
Cowboy Bebop Returns to Adult Swim
Cowoy Bebop returned to Cartoon Network's adult swim last Sunday with episodes 5 and 7. Episodes 6 Sympathy for the Devil, and 8 Waltz for Venus were skipped. "Sympathy for the Devil" features a boy music prodigy who may be more than he seems. The episode may have been cut due to Unfortunately, it also featured the classic scene o Faye's unusual manner for teaching the dog Ein a lesson. Waltz for Venus is about a small time criminal who gets involved with larger matters in hopes of curing his blind sister. It was likely cut due to a humorous scene of Spike, and Faye foiling a trio of sky-jackers. Episode 5, Ballad of Fallen Angel is considered on of the series, and anime in general's high points. The episodes are likely to be shown again on Thursday.
Ghibli Museum Page Opens
The web page for the news Ghibli Museum has opened at www.ghibli-museum.jp. Studio Ghibli is best known for the works of Hayao Miyazaki include Princess Mononoke, and Kiki's Delivery Service.
English Cowboy Bebop Site Online
The makers of Cowboy Bebop have put their English site online at www.cowboybebop.com/english. The site has translated an interview with director Shinichiro Watanabe at here. It also features descriptions of the series and movie, and a translation of the Cowboy Bebop UT story.
New Viz Manga Series
The October issue of Diamond Distributor's Previews indicates that Viz will be releasing two new manga series this December: Vagabond, and Chicago.
Vagabond by Takehiko Inoue is fictionalized biography of the famous samurai Miyamoto Musashi. "Tokugawa Era Japan: a new government has taken power and the land is in disarray. Amidst the turmoil, a young man sets out on a journey seeking spiritual enlightenment by the way of the sword, prepared to slay anyone who might get in his way!"
Part one will be released in December with in 88 page volumes for $4.95. Though the series is popular in Japan, and it has been reported to be a quality series, it has not received much notice in the US, and Viz appears to be promoting Bastard as their chief December release. Several images can be seen at here Takehiko Inoue is probably best known in the US for the basketball series Slam Dunk.
Shoujo manga artist Yumi Tamura's new Chicago will be appearing in the pages of the manga anthology Animerica Extra. It will be serialized starting in volume 5 issue 1. Yumi Tamura is best known for the post apocalyptic adventure Basara.
New English AIC Page
Anime producers AIC has moved their English language page to www.aicanime.com/. To inaugurate the page they posted a new interview with character designer Ryuichi Makino.
The site includes real media trailers of Magical Witchland, a new CGI magic girl series, Devadasy,Blue Gender, the scifi humans vs bugs drama coming to the US through FUNimation and Now and Then, Here and There, the story of a strong willed boy transported to a military control world, coming to the US from CPM.
Evangelion Movie News
Anime on DVD's Sean Broestl sent them a report of Manga Entertainment's panel at Na Desu Kan. Manga screen a short premiere of the Envangelion movie dub. The current expected release dates are January 2002 for the VHS version and March 2002 for the DVD. DVD features will include dub outtakes, character bios, and some dub outtakes, (not all) of the info from the red cross booklet). A double disc case will be used to accommodate the large booklet. Audio will be 5.1 for the English, and they are trying to get 5.1 for the Japanese track. The price will be $29.95.
Reports from the convention indicate the dub compares favorably to the TV series dub, and those who have seen the movie will get a kick out the scene between Shinji, and Asaka at the beginning of End of Evangelion.
Manga is trying to arrange an interview with director Hideaki Anno, it will be done 3rd week in October.
The two significant Evangelion movies are "Death and Rebirth", and "End of Evangelion". There are other movies, but they amount to re-cut versions of these two. The first half of "Death and Rebirth" is a summary of the first twenty four episodes of the television series with new footage for transitions. The second half of the movie the beginning of its new conclusion. Nerv, the organization that employed the mech Evas to battle invading angels in the series is assaulted by the Civil Defense Force. The first part of "End of Evangelion" is the second part of "Death and Rebirth." The second part of end of Evangelion is the conclusion to the series.
Manga Plans From Anime on DVD's report on Na Desu Kan Tenative DVD Release dates
Guyver - being worked on now
Giant Robo - May 2002
Gunbuster - Sometime before Giant Robo is released. Will be sub-only
Rayearth OAV - Feb 2002
Fist of the North Star TV - Boxsets released next year They are working on DVDs for all of their catalog, even Astroboy.
Other Bits
Blood: The Last Vampire sold very well. Sequel is being worked on They have optioned the rights to Shadow Skill TV, a fighting show that features some interesting battle between Street Fighter type people and supernatural being.
They don't have Ghost in the Shell 2. Miramax has it Virus - will have an interview of some kind on the DVD Street Fighter Alpha 2 is in the works
ADV AWA News
ADV is negotiating for the Japanese track from the 1st two seasons of Sailor Moon.
They are trying to finalize negotiations for the rights to Noir, a series that they announced the rights to, but quickly retracted the statement. The series, which aired April 2001 combined the style of film noir and Hong Kong action. Its the tale of two young assassins, a girl who suffers from amnesia, and one who suffers from flashbacks of horrific events.
They have recently started dubbing Excel Saga. It was stated that they have great extras for the DVD version, but did not elaborate. Excel Saga is a manic parody anime that many have been clambering for.
They will be releasing "Miyuki-chan in Wonderland" on DVD, subbed only, with an MSRP of $9.98. The packaging will include the paper dolls of the characters that were included with the Japanese DVD release. Miyuki-chan in Wonderland is CLAMP's take on Alice in Wonderland. CLAMP is the team of women manga artists behind X, Card Captor Sakura, and Magic Knights Rayearth. They are known character design with distinctive lithe bodies, and large eyes, the anime stereotype, but a very recognizable take on it, as well as familiar stories with unique twists, and characters with odd relationships. Miyuki-Chan is one of their lighter works. Someone once put it that they created it because on of them likes drawing cute girls in panties.
There is a possibility of a new Golden Boy series, although no further information was immediately available. Golden Boy is a risqué comedy about a boy who leaves law school to see life for a while.
Plastic Little will also be getting released on DVD. One of the extras on the DVD is the "Jiggle Counter", which counts the number of times that any female cleavage bounces in the show .
Spriggan will go into theatrical release on 12 October.
No dates were New Series that they are working on for release over the next several years are:
- Aura Battler Dunbine
- Steel Angel Kurumi
- Eden's Bowy
- Goemon: Legend of the Mystical Ninja
- Saiyuki(To be renamed "Paradise Warriors" if I remember correctly)
- Rune Soldiers(Mahou Senshi Riui)
- Super Milk-chan
- Oh! Super Milk-chan
The number of episodes for the new Rurouni Kenshin OVA series has "not yet been determined".
ADV is now in the process of remastering Neon Genesis Evangelion DVD volume 1. It will be released as part of the Eva box sets, but those who already own the series will be able to buy the remastered disc and the box separately. "Premium" and "Normal" box sets will be offered. The distinction has not been announced.
One of the "top three" cable channels in the U.S. has licensed an as-of-yet unstated ADV series for broadcast. Details are expected shortly.
They're thinking of putting out the Boogiepop Phantom OST as their next soundtrack. Expect over 100 soundtrack releases next year.
Media Blasters
Media Blasters stated at AWA that the title that they will be pushing most heavily next year is Berserk. Weiss Kreuz, Kenshin, and Mahou Tsukaitai/Magic User's Club will also be seeing their attention. A fifth title will e announced at BAAF.
Mezzo Forte, the follow-up to Kite, will be released starting in November using the same release scheme as Kite itself. A "less adult"/significantly cut version will be put out under the Media Blasters label proper, while a less-cut one will be released under Kitty Media.
The Berserk anime series adapts the early part of a currently running manga (comic) series by Miura Kentaro. It's a medieval tale of a man named Gatsu (Gatts or Guts) who has lived a rough live since birthday. He is found under the dead body of his mother by the wife of the mercenary. As tragedy continues to hound him he grows into an adapt swordsman with little desire other than to hone his skills. He joins a group of mercenaries known as the Hawks, lead by pale, elfin looking man named Griffith, whose skill and charisma is matched by his iron desire to become a king. The series starts by showing what Gatts has become from his experience with the Hawk, then shows his life in with the Hawks in one continuous story. It is told in a serial method rather than the episodic nature of most anime series. The depth of the characters and story make for an engrossing series that had earned by many fans in the US who talk about the series and debate it, rather than! simply watch it.
Weiss Kreuz is the story of four beutiful men who are flower shop workers by day and assassins by night. Despite its descriptions the character are angst filled, and its not a comedy.
Maho Tsukai Tai (which has been translated to "Magic Users Club") is cute, but slightly ecchi (risqué) comedy. An alien ships invaded earth, but though the fighters, and battleships that tried to intercept it were disintegrated, their crew were unharmed. Years pasted and people became used to the site of the probes that the alien ship periodically sent through the streets. One of the alien's goals is research magic, which brings them into conflict with the series heroine, the seemingly inept Sae, and her friends in the Magic Users Club. Much of the story revolves around Sae's battle with self-doubt, and the romances between the characters. There is a six episode OAV (direct to video release), and a thirteen episode television series.
Soul Hunter
Janice Williams of ADV Films mentioned on ADV's forum the first disc for Houshin Engi Senkaiden Houshin Engi , loosely based on a Chinese myth about a young warrior named Taikoubou charged with sealing 365 demons:
"First, the credits. The actual first episode doesn't have an opening sequence per se. The credits were laid in during the beginning of the episode. Unfortunately, the Japanese company did not have a clean version of this footage, so we had to add the English credits around the Japanese. For all other episodes, the opening sequences are indeed slightly different, as are the ending sequences. Both are slightly different for each and EVERY episode. We have maintained the differences. Each episode will have its original animation sequences. The only difference between the Japanese and the English being the credits will be in English, not Japanese.
The original Japanese logo is still present in the opening animation. It gives way to the English logo rather than being replaced by it. Episode titles have not been changed.
With the exception of the episode title slates and "Next Episode" slates, there are no hard subs in this series. Everything else will be DVD subs.
Songs will also be DVD subs, alternating English and Romaji as is our practice.
We have some very nice extras for these discs too. All discs will have character bios, voice actor bios, a relationship tree (to help you keep track of who's who because there are a LOT of characters in this show), a glossary of terms, and translator notes. There will be other extras specific to the individual discs in the series. IIRC, this first disc has the clean opening animation for episode 2 and Historical Background notes.
There will be six discs in the series: 5 / 4 / 4 / 4 / 4 / 5. Priced at $29.98 MSRP. English 2.0 and Japanese 2.0 audio with English subtitles, as well as a separate "Songs Only" subtitle track for those who watch the dub."
AnimEigo AWA News
AnimEigo has recieved a new master for the DVD version of anime mockumentary Otaku no Video. They hope to release it by Christmas. Extras will include the original Japanese trailers.
The second half of Oh My Goddess on DVD should shouio in three week. They hope to have Kimagure Orange Road ready in November. A pre-order page should be up soon. 90% of the dub cast will be returning for the show but the VA for Miyuki wasn't available and will instead be replaced by Juliet Cesario, the VA that dubbed Belldandy.
Animeigo is currently still working on converting their back catalog to DVD, premiering a remastered episode of Macross and two of You're Under Arrest at the convention.
The Macross movie release is currently still held up because of licensing problems. The extras on the Macross DVD's will be interviews with the production staff and "extensive" liner notes. They could not confirm or deny the possibility releasing the second TV season of You're Under Arrest.
You're Under Arrest follows the mostly humorous, but sometimes-dramatic lives of two Japanese policewomen, the rational, and mechanically inclined Kobayakawa Miyuki, and the impulsive and strong Tsujimoto Natsumi. The manga (comic) series by Fujishima Kosuke's (best known for Oh! My Goddess) has already spawned has been an OAV (direct to video release), theatrical movie and one season of a television. The movie, which veered more to the more towards intense drama and action than the normally light hearted OAV and television series will debut on Japanese television December 30th.
The dubbing will be done by Coastal Carolina Studios, whose work on the OAV is regarded as one of the finest English dubbing of an anime series. ADV Films has acquired the domestic rights to the You're Under Arrest movie, and plan to release it on VHS, DVD, and possibly theatrically, but have not commented on the movie since its acquisition.
Kimagure (Whimsical) Orange Road is classic romance about a young man with psychic powers, who must hide his powers while being part of a love triangle with the beautiful and mysterious girl he loves, and the sweet and kind girl who loves him.
Saint Tail DVD Info
The producer for TOKYOPOP's release of Saint Tail (having taken over with Vol. #2) has finally been given the OK to talk about the changes that are being made to the series.
Changed were outlined in a message from the producer:"
4 Episodes: # 4-7 On a DVD 9 - MAXIMUM BIT-RATE BABY!! DVD Menus by... NIGHTJAR! Oooh Yeah! DVD Authoring by... It's a secret (One of the BEST Houses I've ever run across; you'll see). The amount of extra work we've done to make sure the picture in Saint Tail 2 is PERFECT in DVD compression is impressive. Our compressionist has spent nearly a week straight working on this (it's beautiful compared to our crappy source material).
Saint Tail DVD Illustration Gallery # 2.
Outtakes # 1 - These are hilarious!!
- Full Opening and Ending Sequence w/ Restored Music (see NOTE 1)
- All Songs DVD Soft-Subbed. Alternating Subs in English, Japanese, English, Japanese. (see NOTE 2)
- Uncut Title Sequences w/ Full Kanji
- NO Overlays - All Signs via DVD Soft Subs.
- NOTHING is LOCKED. EVER.
- NO Macrovision.
- NO Edge Enhancements.
- Company Logo stays on screen for less than 4 seconds
NOTE 1: Just a brief history on this - Our Masters from Japan had NO SONGS on there. They felt it was better for the international market to remove such things. WRONG. Of course, they actually lost the vocals for the End Song(!), and I had to carefully *restore* (and properly rebuild) the TV Edit Version of the Vocal Song from their master CD instead!
NOTE 2: Not only were there no songs, there were no lyrics. We had to go back in, buy the OST CD, and find the original lyrics from the CD booklet, and then properly sub it.
The Bit-Rate hits between 9.0 - 10 in most places, and stays near the top throughout.
ALL my DVDs with 4 - 6 episodes will be on DVD 9's. Enjoy.
Overall, I want to thank all of you for your patience. I hope you enjoy this work we've put out at TOKYOPOP, and we hope to continue to deliver the best Anime DVDs on the market!
Well, there's certainly enough in there that I'm going to be really interested to see how this disc plays out on my gear. And it looks like we'll be running some contests with TokyoPop next month as well with this title, so keep your eyes open... "
Elektra and Wolverine Size Increase
Marvel has announced that Elektra & Wolverine: The Redeemer #1 by Greg Rucka and Yositaka Amano (character designer of Final Fantasy and Vampire Hunter D) will increase in size from 48 pages to 56, but will retail the $5.95 cover prince.
"Night on the Galactic Railroad DVD"
From a Central Park Media representative on Anime on DVD's forum
SInce I haven't seen any buzz about this so far, I guess I'll bring it up. October 10 is the street date for Night on the Galactic Railroad. This is my all-time favorite movie, and it was an absolute honor to be a part of the production of this disc. The DVD (and brand new English dub) was recently produced by us in the hopes that this show will find a bigger audience.
Fans of Lain will absolutely appreciate the quiet, ethereal feel of the film, which is based on the book by Kenji Miyazawa, whose life story you saw in Mixx's "Spring & Chaos". It's produced by the same studio, Group TAC, but predates that OAV by 13 years.
The story is about a young boy (er, cat) named Giovanni, who leads a very lonely existence -- he has to work after school to care for his sick mother, while his father is missing on a hunting expedition. Ridiculed by his classmates, his only friend is Campanella, whom he's known for years. But tonight is the night of the festival of stars, and Giovanni's life is about to change forever, as the two of them embark on a journey across the galaxy which is much more than it seems. The people they meet and the things they see are simply beyond anything that could ever happen on Earth.
The story's influence on Japanese culture is quite obvious, especially to anyone familiar with the works of Leiji Matsumoto (Galaxy Express 999 bears more than a striking resemblance) or After Life director Hirokazu Kore-eda. It's filled with metaphors and symbolism, and so although this is originally intended as a children's story, I think only an adult can truly enjoy it fully. (It is absolutely G-rated, however.) The music is haunting, and the film is filled with moments that are beautiful to the point of moving.
Now, some words of caution about the disc itself... we had very little to work with, since the show is so old. The master was in pretty rough shape, and so the disc is not anamorphic or progressive. We didn't have access to a Japanese cast list, and we couldn't read the tiny blurry credits on the show itself, so we couldn't list them in the credits. But that aside, this is still one of the true anime classics that shouldn't be missed.
I hope you'll all give this special film a place in your collections.
Upcoming Viz Release Highlights
In a series of press releases, Viz has highlighted several of their upcoming releases,
Viz will be altering the design of their anime magazine Animerica starting with a double sized November issue (Volume 9, No. 10/11). The issue will sport a new logo, a square-bound treatment, and a more "user-friendly" design.
The second collection of Yukito Kishiro's (Battle Angel Alita) Aqua Knight will be released this November. From the press release: " Enter a new world of fantasy and adventure: the oceans of Marmundo, where orca-riding Aqua Knights bring justice to the island kingdoms of the vast sea and ships really can fall off the face of the planet! When one such Aqua Knight, Ruliya of Perla, washes ashore at Lighthouse Island near the edge of the world, little did she realize the awesome events that would unfold around her or the resulting quest that would take her across the vast ocean to save the world!
In This Volume: Ashika has begun his dismal life as a slave aboard mad genius Alcantara's fully automated fortress Zyfort. Can a boy who's know nothing but absolute freedom adjust to life aboard this formalized vessel? Can he even be toilet trained? Then, Ruliya is rushing to the aid of Ashika, but on the way she is abducted by the Demon Knight Basso! With his enchanted castle under a thick mystical haze that clouds the mind, can Ruliya muster the will to defeat the dreaded Basso? Can she even remember her own name? "
Aqua Knight is cartoonish compared to Battle Angel. The art work, plot and characters lack the detail that Yutiko Kishiro's previous work had, but it does have some of the charm, and excitement. Its not a classic like Battle Angel, but it is a fun and entertaining series.
The first 72 page release of the Bastard manga is due out this December. Subsiquent issues will be 64 pages. The black and white Viz release of Bastard!! is based on the retouched Bastard!! Perfect Edition, recently released in Japan, rather than the original, older graphic novels. The American edition of Bastard!! will retail for $3.95 and will be the first of several Viz titles that will be released in the 60+ page format. Bastard is an over the top swords and sorcery series about the wizard,Dark Schneider, who once nearly conquered the world before being sealed away. When the kingdom of Metallicana (many of the series' names are puns of metal groups and singers) is attacked by Dark Schneider's former lieutenants a ceremony unseals him from the body of a young boy.
The fourth compilation of Eagle: The Making of an Asian American President will feature 512 pages of the story for $22.95. The political drama has been nominated for four of comics' Eisner Awards, more than any other manga series. The series follows Japanese-American Senator Kenneth Yamaoka's run for the US presideancy, and the Japanese journalist sent to cover the campaign who soon learns that he's Yamaoka's son out of wedlock.
From the press release, this volume covers:
"When Cuban immigrant Maria Estefano steps forward with allegations of an affair with Senator Yamaoka, will his campaign lose all of its steam? Then, all the cards are on the table. The Democratic National Convention is in full swing, the presidential nomination is in the air, and now is the true test of whether or not Yamaoka and his staff have succeeded in their goal of winning over the hearts and minds of the nation. With the support of Mayor Blackburn and the First Lady, Yamaoka will certainly give Vice President Albert Noah a run for his money--but will it be enough? Plus, the Republicans' nominee, General Grant, shows himself; Yamaoka angers his military coffers; and Seattle erupts into scandal!
Blood The Last Vampire Nominated For Annie / Tops Billboard Charts
The 29th Annual Annie Awards nominates Blood: The Last Vampire, competing against major Hollywood movies see here Blood deduted at #14 on Billboard's DVD chart.
Toei Expansion Plans
According to an article published by Nikkei Biztech here TOEI Animation is planning to expand into the US.
TOEI president Tsutomu Tomari´s "Contents Business Seminar 2001" states that though their first overseas shows like "UFO Grandizer" debuted in Europe with success the market itself has been in decline in recent years, while the American market has turned out to be a great investition field, especially since "Sailor Moon", "Dragonball", "Pokemon" and "Digimon" have proven that US TV networks were not impregnable for Japanese animation series. Therefore, TOEI has worked out a 3-steps plan for their international expansion. The first one being the establishment in the European market, the second one sees the same process in the US, while the
Two projects are considered by TOEI to become their "business card" in the US, "Kin-nikuman" (aka "M.U.S.C.L.E Man") and "One Piece". Though no distributor is named for the latter one, it´s assumed that it´s the same company which has already acquired "Kin-nikuman", 4Kids Entertainment.
One Piece is a fun pirate series about Monkey D. Lufi, a boy with a stretching rubber body, and dreams to be the Pirate King.
Upcoming Anime in Japan
Acccording to Anime News Service
Housuke Nojiri´s SF novel series "ROCKET GIRL" will be adapted into a 26-episode series directed by Hiroshi Aoyama ("Anpan-man", "Azuki-chan") with character design by Kyuuma Kinoshita. Pictures of the Pilot can be seen at here
This October Fuji Television network will debut a anime series based on Sony's robotic Aibo dog. The two new robots in the series, named "Latte" and "Macaron" are designed by well-known graphic artist Moshino Katsura.
Other notable new entries to TV-Tokyo October line-up include the Japanese-South Korean co-production "GEISTERS" (German for "ghosts" see here), the soccer drama "CAPTAIN TSUBASA - Road to 2002" see here, which seems to take over "Angelic Layer"´s Sunday afternoon slot, "BABEL II - BEYOND INFINITY" the sequel to Mitsuteru Yokoyama´s 70s series and Studio Orphee´s ultra cute take on female librarians, "KOKORO TOSHOKAN" (Heart Library) see here.
Due to the unsatisfied fan reactions after the TV series´ unfulfilled conclusion in March, Marvelous Entertainment has now decided to continue the adventures of Gon and friends in form of an OVA series.The first volume (of 8) is set to hit the Japanese stores in December, the second one to be followed in January 2002. Hunter X Hunter was created by Yu Yu Hakusho's (a fight anime series to be released by FUNimation of Dragon Ball Z fan) Yoshiro Togashi. The series takes place in a world where people can only get ahead with the strength of their bodies and minds. A boy named Gon learns that his missing father was a Hunter, a group of elites who collect rare things. To meet his father Gon inbarks on the rigorous series of tests needed to become a Hunter.
An interesting site for information about upcoming Japanese releases, as well as planned and rumored ones can be found at www.animedaisuki.com
Sakura Wars Motion Picture Trailer
Gamespot Japan has posted the trailer to the upcoming Sakura Wars movie at here
Studio Ironcat AWA News
Studio Ironcat has officially announced that it is accepting artwork and story submissions from established and amateur artists and will be publishing original works in addition to its current line of manga titles. All art styles will be considered - i.e. works sent in for consideration need not be manga - and all questions should be directed to the Ironcat website (www.ironcat.com)
Beginning in December the rest of the beginning in December, the rest of the original Vampire Princess Miyu manga series (following the six volumes released by Antarctic Press in the mid-1990's) will be released as eight unflipped graphic novels.
All three Groundworks of Evangelion artbooks are currently being translated; there is also a possibility of release of the Vampire Princess Miyu artbooks
The Spectral Force graphic novel has been completed and will be released as part of a package with ADV that will also include the Spectral Force anime and videogame
As flagship title Futaba-kun Change nears the completion of its run, the manga title "You and Me", also done by Hiroshi Aro, has been acquired.
Finally, Ironcat has asked that fans wishing to help in the negotiation/acquisition process for the shoujo title Hana Yori Dango continue sending in e-mails, petitions, and especially personal letters to the company asking that the title be brought over, explaining why they like it, and why Ironcat should be the company to translate and publish it in the West.
Manga Spotlight: Domu: A Child's Dream
By Katsuhiro Otomo;
Published by Dark Horse Comics
With the recent notice that Akira has received from its re-release in movie and manga form, Dark Horse Comics has released a new edition of its older, less recognized sibling, Domu: A Child's Dream. It is a predecessor to Akira in terms of theme and style.
In an expansive housing project a man dons his prize cap, walks to the roof , and dies under mysterious circumstances. This is the twenty fifth mysterious death in less than three years in the complex.
Among the lost souls that the police suspect are woman who wheals around an empty baby carriage, a giant of a man with the mind of a child, an out of work alcoholic, and an old man whose mind is gone with age. Joking suggestions of poltergeist are bandied about. As the chief inspector sits outside, contemplating the case his radio bursts. Following voices that are laughing and challenging him to a case and enters the building. He follows the stairs to voice challenging all the failures in his life. On the roof he sees Old Man Cho hovering in the air in a suit decked out with small, random personal items, pins, medals, charms, key chains, stuffed animals, ect.
Later, a young girl hears Old Man Cho will a small boy off a high ledge, thinking "You'll be like a nice, ripe, tomato." To the old man's shock the boy's fall is stopped. A young girl named Etsuko marches over to him and states, hands on hips "What do you mean, 'ripe tomato'..?! You could have KILLED that baby!" as she marches away "what an AWFUL little brat you are!" Those words start an escalating war between two powerful, psychically endowed children.
Part of what makes the story work so well as is the familiarity with the characters. As a adult who does not regularly deal with children, you don't often think about how they act, but when see a particularly good portrayal of it, it is easy to recall like situation situations from your own past. When you see Cho taunting Etsuko it easy to recall a classroom or school yard where you are stuck in a place you can not leave, with another child you hate to the core, and adults can't or wouldn't get invokes. When the story captures that feeling, then ups the ante, Cho controlling an adult with a knife or gun, or turns on the building's gas lines, it becomes horror that you can emotionally connect to.
Otomo's graphical talent truly excels to two places. making architecture believable and emotional impacting, and making faces that register the person's character and emotion.
As much as Neo Tokyo is a character in Akira, the housing project is a character is Domu. The height and arrangements of the buildings wall in the residents. Exterior shots always show people surround by a concave curve of buildings that covers the range of vision.
Fans of Akira, who have not read the manga version should, if for not other reason than to see show the characters are dawn. Some of Otomo's skill with faces is lost in the animated version. He can have a character appear once in a background, and you can tell what that character is about. She's a mother tired of her role. He's a life long administrator. Principle character benefit from his portrayal of emotion, which aren't often subtle. His characters wear their hearts on their faces. Always know their emotions help his stories resonate emotionally with the reader.
At one volume, Domu is considerablely more terse than the six volume Akira. It works well, as a classic horror story, or character story, or example of who to tell a story in comic medium well.
