You have no idea how much effort went into posting this week's Anime/Manga Column. First ol'Father Geek awoke this morning to discover a pesky virus had attacked his Geek Headquarter's PC. I immediately set about erasing the offending bugger and repairing infected files, only to discover a second different virius was present also. Soooooo Father Geek here had to go through the whole process again.

After that pain in the ass couple of hours I began all the coding necessary to post this column. About 2/3 of the way through that everything froze up, I had to reboot the computer, losing all the work so far... Well, if your reading this, Father Geek was eventually successful in the effort. Soooooooooo you damn well better read ALL of this. All things considered it took me over 4 hours to post this one story today...

Here's Scott...

The AICN Anime Report

By Scott Green

Spotlight: CLAMP Manga Part I, Clover

CLAMP is the name for a team of four women manga artists, namely Nanase Ohkawa who provides story, script and design, Mokona Apapa, the primary artist who provides character design, page layout, backgrounds, and zip-tone art, Mick Nekoi, art director and assistant illustrator, and Satsuki Igarashi, production coordinator and assistant illustrator.

CLAMP's strength is taking an over used idea, and adding their own spin to it. Anime and manga is generally known for its large saucer eyes, and shapely bodies. Anime and manga artists don't always use these conventions, but CLAMP does, and uses them in a why that is instantly recognizable. Eyebrows that are visible under long bangs, a point to the eyes and long faces are some of the clues that make CLAMP character design very recognizable. Their female characters tend to be delicate, and their males tend to be bishonen (beautiful).

Their stories are also often new twists on familiar genres such as the school girls getting transported to a mystical land, the young girl entrusted with magical powers to track down monsters, the swords and sorcery fantasy, ect. The spin they add to the story is often that they change the rules on what the reader expects. Something as simple as save the princess from the evil wizard, isn't. They also complicate stories with complex, and often unorthodox webs of relationships.

CLAMP Manga currently translated into English include Clover, Card Captor Sakura, and Magic Knights Rayearth from TOKYOPOP. X/1999 was being released by Viz, but a licensing problem stopped further volumes from being released after the sixth.

Clover stands alone. Clover is a very visually unique work. It starts with the cover. It's the original Japanese cover, text and all. The first cover is Sue, the titular clover, a lithe girl with white hair wearing a pine green mesh dress. She is barefoot with her shoes by her hands. She also has tiny wings with feathers made of what look like white metallic plates. She is framed by the tendrils of a clover plant. The cover the second volumes features a man in a black uniform with one arm raised as if to strike or block, with his other arm holding what looks like a shield of claw like plates that seem to the be the same material as Clover's wings. A flow blue robotic birds flying across him. An English cover printed on a silver translucent paper fits over the Japanese cover. Silver English text fits over the original Japanese text, and silver silhouettes fit over the tendrils on the first cover and birds on the second cover. Text of the lyrics of a song that f! low throughout the story are printed in English and Japanese on the inside flaps.

After a color splash page of the characters, the contents start with a series of words in phrases in what looks like a stream of consciousness poem. They turn out to be chapter labels, but the stream of consciousness feel stays with the story. The story starts with Kazuhiko, a thin, but well built man, spikey hair, controlled by manga standards, thin braid, glasses with no ear pieces, but a wire leading to his back, dressed in black, with black gloves. He has left the military after his sixth court-martial, but an old woman, a general in the army, convinces and threatens him to undertake another mission. He must deliver a package. The package he finds, which is guarded by the late model Killer Dolls (animal such as a rabbit, a parrot a cat and a dog dress in courtly attire) is Sue. Sue is a clover. Ten years ago the government searched out psychically endowed children. They labeled their power by clover leafs. There were many one leaf clovers, and two leaves. There ! were three three-leafs, one died. There was one four leaf, Sue.

Clover has a dream or memory like feel to it. The lyrics to a song keep on running through the series, along with the images of a woman with butterfly wings singing. Most of the character shots are of their faces, with time appears to slow as in moments of important action. The result is at times all that is present is emotion, and at times the smallest action is recorded.

The design of the books help to create the feel. Few pages are layout in standard comic panel grids. CLAMP manga seldom follow comic layout orthodoxy. In Clover panels often float in white or black space, or occasionally across an image such as wires, spiral, or a wing. Action sequences are wide establishing shots followed by close ups of faces and points of impact. Sue and Kazuhiko use items that expand, and materialize outward (Sue's wings, Kazuhiko's military medallion on his hand which forms shields and weapons). Use of these are emphasized, either in sudden appearance, or time lapse like growth.

In CLAMP fashion there is a tremendous visual flare to the series. Some of the great effects include a cage link transports devise that unravels the characters, and bends in on itself. There is a neat bit of synchronicity in the second volume looks a great deal like AI, an abandoned amassment park with a fairy-esque statue that arrived at by flying over a city.

The background and mechanical design is at a design not often seen is works by CLAMP or any else. There is a mesh of modern elements, with art deco, and cyber punk. A transition starts with a two page spread of raining falling what look like a housing project, connected by a spider's web of wires, then rain following on the windows of a brick building with a classical feel, and two characters inside talking, then Kazuhiko in a bed with an art deco back and window, and what looks like a part tv-part iMac.

Visual effects drive Clover. Story and characterization are present, and strong at times, but they are not the feature attraction. They look like the glue that holds together a sophisticated string of visual ideas. Fans of comic medium should be sure to see these books. TOKYOPOP's presentation of the series is a real treat.

This Week's Anime and Manga Releases

Anime:

• Ceres, Celestial Legend - Progenitor (Vol. 5)
• Crest Of The Stars - Into The Unknown (Vol. 4)
• Getter Robo Armageddon - Salvation (Vol. 4)
• Mobile Suit Gundam - Desert Of Despair (Vol. 4)
• Mobile Suit Gundam - In Love And War (Vol. 5)
• Pokemon - Mewtwo Returns
• Sakura Diaries - Complete Series Collector's Edition
• Video Girl Ai

Manga:

• Blade Of The Immortal #62 Stigmata (Mr)
• Lodoss War Chronicles Heroic Knight #14
• Maxion Book 2 Tp (Mr)
• Pokemon Advs Part 5 #5 (Of 5)

Getter Robo is a recent entry in the mech series based on the works of the ever disturbing Go Nagai (Cutey Honey, Devil Man, Violence Jack, ect).

The two disc Sakura Diaries Collectors Edition features all 12 episodes of the series. 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.

Video Girl Ai is a romantic comedy about a boy who finds love when he puts a video in his broken VCR.

Toonami Schedule and Online Changes

Toonami was schedule to re-air Big O, and Tenchi Universe this week, but went with an alternative schedule. Zoids is being repeated, and Outlaw Star has replace Gundam 08th MS team in the Midnught Run.

The current Schedule for Toonami shows the following shows on Monday:

Afternoon Run:

• 5PM - Zoids
• 5:30PM - Dragonball Z
• 6PM - Dragonball Z
• 6:30PM - Batman Beyond

Midnight Run:

• Midnight - Dragonball Z
• 12:30AM - Outlaw Star

Anime News Network has a schedule posted at here

The Toonami Reactor web site has posted streaming audio of the Harlock Saga, along with a history of the space pirate. The web site also features the first two episodes of the fantasy series Record of Lodoss War, and an interview with Daft Punk, the band whose videos where recently animated by Harlock creator Leiji Matsumoto here

Hong Kong Ghibli DVD with English Subtitles

www.asiandvdguide.com is reporting that IVL is planning on releasing "My Neighbor Totoro" and "Kiki's Delivery Service" on December 11th with Chinese/English subtitles. A number of other films are planned for release in "June 2002"

Unlike the bootlegged versions from "Anime Cartoon International, these DVDs are coded for region 3. Watch this space as we try and confirm the legitimacy of the discs.

Nausicaa.net has confirmed with Studio Ghibli that the region 3 Hong Kong dvd's of Totoro and Kiki are legitimite releases, and not bootlegs.

Production IG Website Updates

According to Anime News Network Production IG has also launched a page for it's North American label "IG Video / IG Label", which is involved in the production of FLCL and Love Hina with Synch Point and Bandai respectively here.

Production IG has updated their English herewebsite for their latest OVA production. Kaidomaru will be released in Japan by SME Visual Works on December 19th

Production IG has updated its here with the titles of the three episodes, "Cry of the Revolver Cannon!", "Ah, the Glory of the '98 AV!" and "The Secret of the Special Vehicle 2". Mini Pato episode 1 will show with the theatrical release of "WXIII Mobile Police Patlabor," the full series will be theatrically released in Spring 2002.

The website also includes images from the first two episodes and a list of the production staff and cast.

FLCL Dub Update

Synch-Point's website reports that the FLCL dub has been completed and they are now working on the subtitle script.

FLCL is a very off-beat series from Gainax (of Evangelion fame) about a boy, his absent brother's girl friend, and a very unusual girl on a motor-scooter.

Amazon featuring Castle in The sky

The Nausicaa.net mailing list reports Amazon.com has opened pre-order pages for the Castle in the Sky (Laputa) VHS and DVD. Disney has yet to announce a release for this title, however they have announced that they intend to release it. In the past, Amazon has also done the same with My Neighbor Totoro, however Disney has never announced a planned release for Totoro.

Castle in the Sky, also known as Laputa: Castle in the Sky is a movie by Hayao Miyazaki about a girl being held on a hot balloon by a group of secret police who escapes during a pirate attack. Her pendant allows to float to earth, where she meets a young miner who helps her flee. The movie uses some idea's from Jonathan Swift and Jules Verne.

December Online Periodicals

The December issue of AnimeFringe features a look at Noir.

"A pair of lovely, ruthless assassins at odds with an ambiguous and seemingly ubiquitous organization. What mysteries are locked within the name, Noir? A fast-paced and violent ride through the present offers some insights into the past and glimpses of the future. In a manner all it's own, Noir grabs on to your mind and just won't let go. With a star-studded cast of seiyuu and a spectacular soundtrack to boot, Noir is a beautiful story that is masterfully executed in the anime medium. "

Reviews include The Irresponsible Captain Tylor: The OVA Collection (DVD), Vampire Princess Miyu Vol.2: Haunting (DVD), ard Captor Sakura Vol.6: Friends and Family (DVD), Flesh-Colored Horror: The Junji Ito Horror Comic Collection 3 (Manga), Cardcaptors: Music from the Hit TV Series (CD) and Rurouni Kenshin OVA Soundtrack (CD).

The December issue of Sequential Tart features a look at Initial D, anime reviews of Generator Gawl, Martian Successor Nadesico, Spriggan, Boogiepop Phantom, Soul Hunter, Arc the Lad, Battle of the Planets, Saint Tail: The Thief of Hearts, Starship Girl: Yamamoto Yohko: The Perfect Collection, Princess Nine: First Inning, and manga reviews of Akira volume 3, Harlem Beat, Peach Girl, Shadow Star, Cardcaptor Sakura, Island, Neon Genesis Evangelion, Imadoki, and Alice 19th.

Hideaki Anno Returns to Anime

According a report by Sany on rec.arts.anime.misc Neon Genesis Evangelion creator and directory is back in Hideaki Anno Gainax's animation department. Anno will supervise a short opening animation. The new work will be based on "AnimeTenchou" (Anime Shop Manager), about a crazy anime fan shop manager. It was illustrated by Samurai Spirits´ creator Kazuhiko Shimamoto. Storyboard and animation direction are by FLCL´s Hiroyuki Ishi.

February TOKYOPOP Releases

GTO: Great Teacher Onizuka Vol. 1 will be released on 3/19 with a 120 run time. This will feature episodes 1-4. Episode 1 is 60 minutes. Volume 2 will feature 5 episodes. The fourth volume of Saint Tail will ship on 3/12 with 4 episodes, and Vampire princess Miyu TV will ship on 3/26 with five episodes. GTO is an offer beat series about a young man who becomes a teacher. His resume includes being a former juvenile delinquent biker gang member, and currently being be a letch and leach on society. Being unemployed, bored, and desperate to meet attractive girl he decides that he will become the world's greatest teacher. After a convoluted series of events involving blackmail, water torture, assault of a vice-principal, attempted murder and attempted suicide he lands a job as teacher. To his dismay the job is teacher junior high students from the troubled "O" class. The series manga series was incredible popular in Japan, spawning a anime TV, live action TV series, and live action movie.

7th EVA Manga Japanese Release Date

Gainax released the 7th EVANGELION manga December 1st. A cover design has also been published on the studio's homepage here The seventh collection of reprinted manga from Shonen Ace Magazine went on sale in Japan on December 1st. Two different limited Christmas editions will be released on December 14th. The Christmas edition will retail for 660 yen more than the 540 yen standard edition and include an alternate cover of Rei and Asuka in Christmas attire. One version will include a bonus action figure of Asuka wearing a Santa suit, and the other version will come with a bonus Rei in Santa suit figure.

WoWoW posts loss

According to Anime News Service frequent Anime broadcaster, Japanese TV station WoWoW, has announced a significant loss for the first half of its fiscal year preceding September 30th.

The satellite broadcaster, which is well known for exclusive Anime broadcasts such as NieA_7, Gatekeepers and Vandread, announced that a net loss of 2.32 billion yen (US$18.9 million) has put it officially into debt.

The network, which posted a 536 million yen profit in 2000, saw its profit decimated by increasing costs in the competitive digital broadcasting market.

CPM Licenses Yami no Matsuei of "Descendants Darkness"

According to Anime on DVD Central Park Media has licenesed Yami no Matsuei, literally "Descendants of Darkness". The series is being planned for a 3 disc release (5/4/4).

The series is a dark and occasionally violent supernatural detective story with a significant yaoi (male homosexual) theme. According to this web site After death, the souls of the deceased must be judged in order to be sent to the appropriate place for punishment or reward. In Japan, the land of the dead is called Meifu and the organization that handles the processing of souls is JuOhCho, under which are ten separate governmental bureaus. The story mainly revolves around Tsuzuki Asato who has been working as a common employee of the EnmaCho's Shoka Division. This division is made up of eighteen people who are in charge of collecting dead people to bring to trial (judgment of their life's deeds). However, since they are often called upon to bring in people who haven't died yet, they're unofficially called "Shinigami", Gods of Death.

These Shinigami are assigned to one of nine sections of Japan and always work in pairs. This is a precautionary measure to keep them in line and on track with their duties. Those who become Shinigami do so because of their own selfish reasons for wanting to travel to the living world. Because of their special privilige of freely traveling between Meifu and the living world, they are the highest ranking employees of JuChoOh, answering directly to EnmaDaiOh, but also among the lowest paid.

Saturday Morning Cartoons Update

According to a article on Yahoo faced with increasingly stiff competition for young TV viewers, Fox and NBC are seeking to lease out their Saturday morning time slots to outside programmers for a flat fee, officials at both companies said Thursday.

NBC, which currently airs three hours of teen programming Saturday mornings, is negotiating to sell that time block for roughly $6 million, industry sources told Reuters. The main contenders in the NBC talks are children's TV leader and rival cable outlet Nickelodeon, as well as Discovery Communications and Warner Bros., the home of Bugs Bunny, the sources said.

Fox, once the dominant kids network with its ``Power Rangers'' franchise, is looking to sell its four-hour Saturday morning block for at least $10 million, network spokesman Scott Grogin said, confirming a story Thursday in the Los Angeles Times.

Fox is in talks with the same three programmers as NBC, plus several others, including Sony Pictures Entertainment and ''Pokemon'' producer 4 Kids Entertainment, Grogin said. Two other suitors, DIC Entertainment and Canadian-based Nelvana already produce children's shows on Fox.

Dragon Ball Z Red Ribbon VA News

According to Saiyanz Rage Kyle Hebert will be voicing General White (done with Russian accent) and Chris Sabat will be voicing General Silver (done with Austrailian accent).

The Reason for the Dark Horse Manga Delays

AnimeFringe reports the the reason for the delayies in the release of a number of Dark Horse manga issues, namely Blade of the Immortal, Oh My Goddess!, and the Gunsmith Cats Special, is that "Unfortunately we ran into some problems getting the necessary files from Kodansha (the Japanese company from whom we license our manga) and a few other production glitches. However, we're catching up! [December] should see the release of two issues of Blade of the Immortal and Oh My Goddess!"

Star Blazer Schedule

Voyager has announced the schedule for Star Blazer: Comet Empire will be

• Starblazers: Comet Empire Vol. #2 | 01/08/2002 | 29.99
• Starblazers: Comet Empire Vol. #3 | 03/05/2002 | 29.99
• Starblazers: Comet Empire Vol. #4 | 05/07/2002 | 29.99
• Starblazers: Comet Empire Vol. #5 | 07/09/2002 | 29.99
• Starblazers: Comet Empire Vol. #6 | 09/09/2002 | 29.99
• Starblazers: Comet Empire Box Set | 11/05/2002 | 149.99

Ronin Warriors Info

Bandai Entertainment has revealed that they will be distributing the long awaited American home video release of Yoroiden Samurai Troopers, broadcast on American television beginning in 1995 under the title Ronin Warriors. The series will be a DVD exclusive premier on April 23, 2002. Each disc will retail at $24.95 and include both the American "Ronin Warriors" episodes and the original, uncut Japanese language Yoroiden Samurai Troopers episodes.

First broadcast on Japanese television in 1988, the 39 episode Samurai Troopers TV series capitalized on the armor clad martial arts action popularized by St. Seiya, Dragonball and Shurato, developing a massive cult following in Japan and America.

Bandai's Charles McCarter posted on Anime on DVD's forum that Ronin Warriors won't be a true bilingual release, but both will be uncut. The original Japanese version will be properly subtitled and have its original uncut track while the US broadcast version will be as uncut as it ever was. There are apparently some differences between the two video sources that a synch-up cannot be done. But for fans of the dub, Bandai has gotten the original TV masters from the licensor, complete with the openings and endings and bumpers (and commercial blacks).

When asked about Bandai's expected release plans for Samurai Trooper, Jerry Chu replied, "We're looking at doing 4 episodes per DVD (total of 8 [episodes per DVD] including the Samurai Trooper episodes). Right now we're only talking about the 39 episode Ronin Warrior series."

Detailed Look at Synch-Point

Anime on DVD has posted a detailed look at Synch-Point at here and here.

Cardcaptors Returns To American TV

Toonzone.net reports Cardcaptors will begin reairing in America, tomorrow on 12/03/01 at 3:30pm on KidsWB. On November 5th ANS contacted Kids WB confirming the recent removal of the Cardcaptors TV seires from their weekend lineup. Cardcaptors was replaced by the X-Men Evolution TV series in it's respective slots. The episode of the show to air is indeed a new one listed by toonzone as: "#34 Sakura in Wonderland".

Inu Yasha Movie News

According to Anime News Service Sunrise has a December 15th release date for the here

Bandai has announced a Playstation RPG based on Inu-Yasha for a mid-December release. The game will feature cutscenes from the anime series.

Let's Love Hina Again

According to Anime News Service about one year and two months after the television series´ conclusion on TV Tokyo, Ken Akamatsu´s ever popular love comedy LOVE HINA is set to make the jump to the video format. Originally announced in the latest issue of the LOVE HINA manga, LOVE HINA AGAIN´s premier volume will street on January 26th, 2002 for 3800 Yen. There are hints that the video releas will be more explicit than the TV series, and that a new character that has a crush on the protagonist is one of his relatives

LOVE HINA AGAIN release dates:

OVA LOVE HINA AGAIN Vol.1 "Kanako" 2002, January 26th / DVD:KIBA-722,VC:KIVA-722 / 30 min / 3,800 Yen

OVA LOVE HINA AGAIN Vol.2 "Keitarou" 2002, February 28th / DVD:KIBA-723,VC:KIVA-723 / 30 min / 3,800 Yen

OVA LOVE HINA AGAIN Vol.2 "Naru" 2002, March 27th / DVD:KIBA-724,VC:KIVA-724 / 30 min / 3,800 Yen

OVA LOVE HINA AGAIN Original Soundtrack 2002, April 5th / CD / 30 min / 2,500 Yen / Music: Shinkichi Mitsumune (UTENA, FLCL)

STAFF: [Original Story] Ken Akamatsu (Serialized in Kodansha´s "Weekly Shounen Magazine") [Scenario] Kurou Hazuki [Chara Design] Akiyoshi Maeda [Props Design] Shin-ichi Yamaoka [Music] Shinkichi Mitsumune [Animation] XEBEC [Director] Yoshiaki Iwasaki

CAST: [Keitaro Urashima] Yuji Ueda [Kanako Urashima] Natsuko Kuwatani [Naru Narusegawa] Yui Horie [Shinobu Maehara] Masayo Kurata [Motoko Aoyama] Yu Asakawa [Kaolla Su] Reiko Takagi [Mitsune Konno] Junko Noda [Haruka Urashima] Megumi Hayashibara

February Manga Releases

The highlights of February manga releases include the final volume of Akira, and the first volume of the classic Astro Boy from Dark Horse, TOKYOPOP will be releasing the first two volumes of the four volume Cowboy Bebop manga series, and the first issue of the Ragnorok mini-series, and and Viz will starting releasing the Big O manga series..

Dark Horse

Dark Horse will be be release the trade paperback 3x3 Eyes: Blood of the Secred Demon, a collection of the series from uper Manga Blast! #8-11. The zombie teenager Yakumo has been searching for Pai, the girl he loves, for years. When he finds her, she's in big trouble. The amnesiac Pai has forgotten all about her inhuman heritage and mystical powers, and an evil group of supernatural Puppet People are on the hunt for her.

The sixth and final volume of Akira will weigh in at 440 pages, and retail for $29.95. Volumes 1 through 3 will be re-released.

Dark Horse will start releasing Osamu Tezuka's classis Astro Boy series in the same format as Lone Wolf and Cub. The 244 page, 7" x 4 1/2 collection woll retail for $9.95.

Lone Wolf and Cub volume 19 Moon in Our Hearts features the journey of Itto Ogami and Daigoro, the assassins and his son to Edo in order to face Retsudo, and the Yagyu clan, who betrayal started Itto on the path of the assassin. On their way the father and son face bounty hunters, the nation's most accomplished rifleman, and cannon-laden man of war. Volumes 1 through 12 will be re-released.

Oh My Goddess: Childhood's End collectes six issues of Oh My Goddess! Part VIII "Skuld, the youngest of the three goddesses living with college student Keiichi, may be a whiz at inventions, but her immaturity usually gets the better of her. Can she learn the simple joy of riding a bicycle and deal with her first crush on a boy? Campus queen Sayoko doesn't believe in goddesses, but when she's possessed by a demon, Belldandy and Urd have to convince her they have powers without blowing their secret. "

Individual issues shipping including:

Blade of the Immortal 65, Skin 2 of 2, looks at Rins decision on how to proceed in finding the renegade swordman who killed her parents. The cover features a great colored picture of the wild haired swordsman Magatsu, a fan favorite who not graced many covers.

Cannon God Exaxxion: Stage 1 4 of 8 continues Kenici Sonada's sci-fi tale. Aliens colonize Earth using nanotechnology and a giant robot. Worse yet, the only hope for Earth's survival is a teen boy with an attitude and his mad-scientist grandfather.

Oh My Goddess Part XI 6, Mystery Child part 4 of 8.

Manga anthology Super Manga Blast #19 features new entries in Seraphic Feather, Club 9, Shadow Star, 3x3 Eyes, and What's Michael.

Usagai Yojimbo 55 is not quit a manga series, but covers subject matter that should interest manga fans. Lord Yoshikawa is dying, and his final wish is to be reunited with his son Rokuo, a young samurai forced into hiding after killing the son of Lord Hojo in a duel. Unfortunately, Hojo's retainers are also searching for Rokuo. It's up to Usagi to find him, race him through a gauntlet of swords, and get him to Lord Yoshikawa's side before the old man draws his final breath. 24 pp.

ComicsOne.com

ComicsOne.com will be releasing more trade paper collection of manga including:

Redmoon (tpb) 6 "Sadad is a trained fighter and highly educated. After spending great amounts of time in the computer library researching the prophecy, he meets the scholar Kasham, who will change his life forever by showing him the truth of his past."

Storm Riders (tpb) 3 "Finally, Conquer seizes Mud Buddha. Mud Buddha tells him that Cloud and Wind will become a threat to his future. To prevent Cloud and Wind from taking over his power, Conquer starts spreading rumors to split them up.

Wild 7 (tpb) 3 and Wounded Man (tpb) 6

They will be re-releasing: Goku: Midnight Eye 1, a cyberpunk version of the Journey to the West, the legend behind man series including Dragon Ball.

Joan 1, the tale of a girl who assumes the role of a boy and follows Joan of Arc's example in uniting France under the divine rule of the King,

Offered 1, the story of a young genius, and athletic star who is kidnapped and forced into a quest to become the modern-day Gilgamesh.

Sarai volume 1 #4

Weed volume 1 "Weed is a courageous little dog who believes he is the son of the legendary Boss Dog, Ginga. After his mother dies, Weed begins an adventurous journey to find his father in the Okubo Mountains. "

Central Park Manga:

Central Park Manga will be releasing the first issue of a new shoujo (girl's) series, Let's Stay Together Forever by Tomoko Taniguchi. "A young high school girl, shy and lovely, falls for the glittery, glamorous rock-and-roll type boy. Will she be able to overcome her shyness and talk to him? "

The eighth and final issue of Astra features Astra and her hero Yosuke are finally going to get some revenge on the evil Ministry henchmen, and Astra will end her quest successfully, with Yosuke's help

Lodoss War: Chronicles of the Heroic Knight book 2 features Spark and his comrdes' battle against the Dark Elf, and search for new allies.

Indiviual issues being released include Geobreeders 36, Lodoss War Deedlits Tale 7, Lodoss War: Chronicles Heroic Knight 18 and Slayers Super-Explosive Demon Story 5 .

They will be re-releasing volume 3 of Kia Asamiya's Dark Angel. "he beautiful Leen has undertaken a quest to recover the golden orb that was the rightful possession of her ancestors of the House of the Blue Dragon. But the gorgeous and deadly Nie, the Black Dragon, was secretly consumed with jealousy when Leen became Phantom Saint, and has conspired to murder Leen and take her kingdom. Asamiya brings in fascinating characters from Greek mythology, including and evil shifting-goddess who nearly defeats Leen and her friends."

IronCat will be releasing Futaba-Kun Change Vol. 8 1."It seems that all Futaba's personal woes have finally caught up with him at school. His grades are slipping and there are still the growing difficulties of his complicated love life." and Vampire Yui Vol. 4 1 "Nagi and Shiki have finally determined that Yui's been sent to the human world. However, before they can leave the spirit realm to locate their little vampires, Shiki and his forces appear."

TOKYOPOP

In Cardcaptor Sakura 25 despite being warned that she could become lost in the void of the Clow Card Dark forever, Sakura attempts to seal the card while lost in its endless night.

In February TOKYOPOP will be releasing issues 1 and 2 of the four issues Cowboy Bebop mini series by Yukata Nanten. Issues 1 is described as "Whenever Spike Spiegel, Jet Black, and Faye Valentine get together, trouble is sure to follow. But what's 5 million woolongs between friends, right? A lot. When the three unexpectedly meet at a restaurant, each chasing after a different bounty, the egos and bullets start flying. Printed in the original right-to-left format, the way the creator intended it." Issues 2 is described as " When Jet Black finds a bounty of 30 billion woolongs on a man named Cidne, he thinks it's strange that Cidne's been put in jail for shoplifting. But what's even stranger is Cidne changes his appearance more times than Madonna changes outfits."

TOKYOPOP will also be releasing Cowboy Bebop Complete Anime Guide 1, featuring character bios, technical guides, behind-the-scenes photos, and story details, this is a guide that no fan should be without. Covers the episodes Asteroid Blues, Stray Dog Strut, Honky Tonk Women, Gateway Shuffle, and Ballad of Fallen Angels.

Kodocha 2 "Sana gets a part in a TV movie, costarring with a hot new actress, but she'll never get to the studio if she can't survive the bullies at school." Printed in the original right-to-left format.

Marmalade Boy 3 of 5 " There's a crisis in Miki's house. It's only been a month since Miki's and Yuu's parents switched partners, now they're saying they're ready to call it quits and go back to their old marriages."

In Ragnarok 1 by Myung Jin Lee "The winds of change are blowing in Midgard. After a 1,000-year slumber, Fenris the wolf has been reincarnated in the body of a beautiful sorceress. As Fenris searches the land for the reincarnation of the god Balder, Sara Irene, leader of the fearsome Valkyries, hunts her."

Other individual issues being released include Dragon Knights 5 of 6, Gundam Wing: Battlefield of Pacifists 5 of 5 , Miracle Girls 17, Saint Tail 16 and Skull Man 4.

Collections being released include Harlem Beat Vol. 9 Pocket Mixx, Island Vol. 2 Pocket Mixx, Juline Vol. 3 Pocket Mixx Manga (tpb), Parasyte Vol. 9 Pocket Mixx, Sorcerer Hunters Vol. 8 Pocket Mixx.

Shoujo manga anthology Smile volume 4 #3 features new entries in Mars, Peach Girl, Planet Ladder, and Paradise Kiss.

Viz Communications

Viz will be releasing the delayed Anime Art Gallery: Art of Ceres Celestial Legend, feauring art by Yû Watase.Includes detailed charts on every relationship (and love triangle) within this storyline.

Manga anthology Animerica Extra Vol. 5 #3 features new entries in Revolutionary Girl Utena, Steam Detectives, Video Girl Ai, and Marionette Generation, with a special Utena short story.

Mature manga anthology Pulp volume 6 #3 "Includes an interview with Dance Till Tomorrow's Naoki Yamamoto. Bakune Young. It takes a big man like Bakune to possess an even bigger man like Purima - but that's what it's going to take to break Bakune's comatose mass out of the Osaka Police Hospital. Banana Fish. Ash abandons his preppie disguise and descends back into the New York underworld on a train to Times Square and 42nd. Cinderalla. Cinderalla always believed that some day her Prince would come; but she didn't expect him to plummet onto her during his long-awaited stage show. Dance Till Tomorrow. Aya and Suekichi play underwater rhymes in his new pad, while Aya's ex-husband Munakata stalks the lovers. Even a Monkey Can Draw Manga. The Professor dares to suggest that anime characters look alike. Short Cuts. What's more bizarre: a Tokyo girl in an Egyptian middle kingdom dress or a Tokyo boy in a waistcoat and plus-fours? Uzumaki. In the wake of the second hurricane, a batte! red Kurôzu-Cho has become cut off from the outside world, and when a TV news reporter drives into the disaster site, what she discovers may make her wish she had never come."

Bastard!! 3 of 3 Out of the shadows steps the first of the bastard's four former allies, Ninja Master Gara, the commander of an army of hidden warriors. He kidnaps Tia Noto Yoko, thus eliminating the one person who can bring the power of Dark Schneider from 14-year-old Lucien's body.

Big O Part 1 1 of 5 Paradigm City is the city of amnesia, 40 years ago, something happened that wiped out the memories of the residents, forcing them to recreate their culture from scattered fragments. Roger Smith is a negotiator, a go-between for police, citizens and criminals in high-risk diplomatic situations. But something else survives from the forgotten past. They are the MegaDeus, giant robots created by the city's former inhabitants, or perhaps by the forgetful citizens themselves. When crime and madness strike, Roger Smith brings the guilty to justice with the giant robot called The Big O.

Other invidual issues include Ceres Celestial Legend Part 2 3, Dragon Ball Z Part 5 2 of 12, Ceres Celestial Legend Part 2 3, Inu-Yasha Part 6 10, Magical Pokemon Journey Part 6 4, No Need for Tenchi! Part 12 6, Pokemon Adventures Part 6 3 and Ranma 1/2 Part 10 11, Silent Mobius Turnabout 2 and Vagabond Part 1 4.

Collections include:

Aqua Knight Vol. 3 Mad scientist Alcantara reaches his destination at last, only to find Aqua Knight Ruliya, who demands a duel to free young Ashika from Alcantara's clutches. But Alcantara is no mere villain.

Fushigi Yugi Vol. 6: Summoner "Distraught over the apparent loss of Tamahome and the trouble she's caused Suzaku's warriors, Miaka attempts to drown herself only to have Hotohori come to her rescue. Meanwhile, Tamahome returns to Hong-Nan to complete his original mission, kill the priestess of Suzaku."

Marionette Generation Vol. 2 "One morning, illustrator Izumi Morino awakens to find himself in bed with a curious rag doll named Lunch who has special powers. Is she really alive, or just a schism of space/time? The mystery behind the origin of Lunch and her powers keep Izumi awake all night."

Mobile Suit Gundam 0079 Vol. 3 "In the future, overpopulation drives the inhabitants of Earth to live in colonies in outer space. But when the Duchy of Zeon, a militant colonial group, declares independence from Earth, war breaks out with Zeon's army of Zaku mobile suits, until Amuro Ray, a young electronics wizard, inherits his father's top-secret invention, Mobile Suit Gundam. No longer able to handle the pressure of piloting the Gundam prototype, Amuro deserts the White Base and sets out on his own."

Ranma 1/2 Vol. 19 "Ranma and Genma are fighting about food (again), but this time it gets serious when Genma kicks Ranma out of the house. Then, Sakura-mochi has the power to indicate the true love of the maker of this sweet, and Akane's cooked up a batch."

Video Girl Ai Vol. 4: Offline "Ai is back but she doesn't remember Yota. Thinking that Ai is gone forever, Yota turns his attentions to a freshman named Nobuko, who decides to spend the night. Ai wants to believe that she's human but finds it difficult once she learns the true nature of her existence."

Volumes 1 to 9 of Battle Angel Alita will be re-released, as will Fushigi Yugi Vol. 5 Rival, Neon Genesis Evangelion Book 5 Collection ed. and No Need for Tenchi Vol. 10 Mother Planet.

British Ghibli Film Screenings in December and January

Anime News Service has posted the following list of currently known locations where Studio Ghibli Films will screen throughout the United Kingdom, The British Film Institute is helping organize the countrywide screenings:

• 01/02 (3) Glasgow University Laputa Castle in the Sky
• 01/02 (3) Glasgow University Defenders of the Forest
• 01/02 (3) Glasgow University Princess Mononoke - Dubbed
• 02/02 (1) Glasgow University My Neighbour Totoro - Dubbed
• 16/02 (1) Exeter Picture House My Neighbour Totoro - Dubbed
• 17/02 (1) Exeter Picture House KiKi's Delivery Service - Dubbed
• 23/02 (1) Exeter Picture House Princess Mononoke - Subtitled
• 04/01 (7) Chapter Cardiff Princess Mononoke - Subtitled
• 06/01 (2) Chapter Cardiff Grave of Fireflies
• 20/01 (2) Chapter Cardiff My Neighbors the Yamadas + On Your Mark
• 13/01 (3) Chapter Cardiff My Neighbour Tortero - Dubbed
• 27/01 (2) Chapter Cardiff The Crimson Pig
• 02/02 (2) Chapter Cardiff Whispers of the Heart
• 17/02 (2) Chapter Cardiff Defenders of the Forest
• 10/02 (2) Chapter Cardiff Laputa: Castle in the Sky
• 24/02 (2) Chapter Cardiff Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind
• 26/01 (1) Chapter Cardiff Kiki's Delivery Service
• 11/01 (7) Sheffield Showroom Princess Mononoke - Subtitled
• 18/01 (3) Phoenix Oxford The Crimson Pig
• 28/01 (3) Phoenix Oxford Luputa:Castle in the sky
• 01/02 (3) Phoenix Oxford Kiki's Delivery Service
• 08/02 (3) Phoenix Oxford Princess Mononoke - Subtitled
• 09/02 (1) Phoenix Oxford Princess Mononoke - Dubbed
• 16/02 (2) Phoenix Oxford Grave of Fireflies
• 23/02 (3) Phoenix Oxford My Neighbour Tortero - Dubbed
• 10/01 (1) Metro Derby Princess Mononoke - Dubbed
• 17/01 (1) Metro Derby Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind
• 24/01 (1) Metro Derby Grave of Fireflies
• 31/01 (1) Metro Derby My Neighbour Totoro - Subtitled
• 05/01 (1) Cornerhouse Manchester Kiki's Delivery Service
• 06/01 (2) Cornerhouse Manchester Laputa: Castle in the Sky
• 10/01 (1) Cornerhouse Manchester Whispers of the Heart
• 12/01 (2) Cornerhouse Manchester Grave of Fireflies
• 12/01 (2) Cornerhouse Manchester On Your Mark - short
• 19/01 (2) Cornerhouse Manchester Defenders of the Forest
• 25/01 (3) Cornerhouse Manchester Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind
• 01/02 (7) Cornerhouse Manchester Princess Mononoke - Subtitled
• 03/02 (2) Cornerhouse Manchester My Neighbour Totoro - Subtitled
• 10/02 (2) Cornerhouse Manchester The Crimson Pig
• 11/01 (3) Filmhouse Edinburgh Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind
• 18/01 (7) Filmhouse Edinburgh Princess Mononoke - Subtitled
• 20/01 (2) Filmhouse Edinburgh Grave of Fireflies
• 24/01 (3) Filmhouse Edinburgh My Neighbour Totoro - Dubbed
• 28/01 (3) Filmhouse Edinburgh Defenders of the Forest
• 05/02 (2) Filmhouse Edinburgh Laputa: Castle in the Sky
• 07/02 (3) Filmhouse Edinburgh Kiki's Delivery Service
• 12/02 (2) Filmhouse Edinburgh Only Yesterday
• 15/02 (2) Filmhouse Edinburgh Crimson Pig
• 19/02 (2) Filmhouse Edinburgh Whispers of the Heart
• 22/02 (2) Filmhouse Edinburgh My Neighbors The Yamadas + On Your Mark
• 15/02 (3) Queens Theatre Belfast Princess Mononoke - Subtitled
• 18/02 (1) Queens Theatre Belfast Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind
• 22/02 (1) Queens Theatre Belfast Kiki's Delivery Service
• /02 (1) Queens Theatre Belfast The Crimson Pig
• 24/02 (1) Queens Theatre Belfast Only Yesterday
• 25/02 (1) Queens Theatre Belfast My Neighbour Totoro - Subtitled
• 05/01 (1) Glasgow Film Theatre The Crimson Pig
• 08/01 (1) Glasgow Film Theatre Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind
• 12/01 (1) Glasgow Film Theatre Kiki's Delivery Service
• 15/01 (1) Glasgow Film Theatre Grave of Fireflies
• 19/01 (1) Glasgow Film Theatre My Neighbor Totoro - Dubbed
• 22/01 (1) Glasgow Film Theatre Only Yesterday
• 25/01 (7) Glasgow Film Theatre Princess Mononoke - Subtitled (tbc)
• 26/01 (1) Glasgow Film Theatre Princess Mononoke - Dubbed
• 29/01 (1) Glasgow Film Theatre My Neighbor the Yamadas + On your Mark
• 05/01 (1) Arts Picture House Cambridge My Neighbour Totoro - Dubbed
• 18/01 (2) Arts Picture House Cambridge Laputa: Castle in the Sky
• 20/01 (1) Arts Picture House Cambridge Kiki's Delivery service
• 22/01 (1) Arts Picture House Cambridge Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind
• 22/01 (1) Arts Picture House Cambridge The Crimson Pig
• 25/01 (2) Arts Picture House Cambridge My Neighbor Totoro - subtitled
• 27/01 (1) Arts Picture House Cambridge Princess Mononoke - subtitled
• 03/02 (1) Watershed Bristol Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind
• 10/02 (1) Watershed Bristol My Neighbour Totoro - Dubbed
• 17/02 (1) Watershed Bristol Laputa: Castle in the Sky
• 23/02 (2) Watershed Bristol Princess Mononoke - Dubbed
• 18/01 (4) Electric Birmingham My Neighbor Totoro - subtitled
• 18/01 (7) Electric Birmingham Princess Mononoke - subtitled
• 22/01 (3) Electric Birmingham Whispers of the Heart
• 25/01 (4) Electric Birmingham Only Yesterday
• 15/02 (2) Warwick Arts Coventry Princess Mononoke - Dubbed

I'm Thru for this week... Scott