Father Geek here posting another of our weekly mid-week Anime & Manga reports from Scott Green, and as usual there is one hell-of-alot of info on everything related to the world of Japanese style Comics and Animation. But before I turn you over to Scott, ol' Father Geek has a bit that came directly to Geek Headquarters here in Austin, Texas...
Anime, comics and film sums up a project I am currently involved in.
I have written a film script based on the life of a comic book editor/writer I was friends with who seven, or so, years ago killed himself by throwing himself off the top floor of the Marriott Marquee Hotel in New York.
I had done a little comics writing for him, something which I liked to dabble in from time to time, and had just left New York that Monday to find two days later he was spread over half a dozen floors of this hotel.
I kind of harknen it to a dark "Walter Mitty" style of story, except this guy wasn't so well received by all he met (he was 6' 4" - 350 pounds and a loud Texanesque exterior that he used as protection (he was in truth one of the nicest and most sincere people I knew).
So after several drafts, I was happy that I had a very interesting story on my hands. I found a backer that put up two and half million dollars (I needed 4 to 5), got it into the hands of Phillip Seymor Hoffman and then...
This is where things take on a life of their own.
To understand where it's going now, I need to explain that there are several sequences in it that needed to be animated. Through a friend I got it into the hands of an animation house in Japan so they could quote on it. They came back to me saying they had shown it to two very prominent anime directors. Shoji Kawamori (Macross/Robotech) and Kazuki Akane (Escaflowne). They loved it and wanted to do the entire film animated.
It took me about two hours to realize how perfect it would be to tell his story like this. So that is what we are doing! An Anime film, based on an American script and a more or less true story. I am also working with an artist who worked closely with the editor/writer to illustrate the script as a comic book which we will release as a six issue series later this year (I'm not sure whether to go with a company like Image or just be damned and publish it myself).
It is a dark story, but when you look at what was done with films like "Blood: The Last Vampire" this could look really cool. The Japanese certainly feel that way.
And yes, I have realized I haven't told you the name of the writer who died, or the title of the project. Must stay alittle mysterious for right now...
Best,
Ray
Father Geek back again... Well, what do you think, sounds promising, we'll see...
Now, here's Scott and his regular fact filled Wednesday Report...
Berserk Release Date Set
Media Blasters will be releasing the five episode first volume of Berserk on April 30th, 2002.
The series opens with a man known as the Black Swordsman entering the outskirts of a settlement ruled by a duke whose depravity has gone past acts to enrich himself into horrors such as cannibalism. The Black Swordsman looks like a man who has seen the worst. He is scarred. He's lost an eye and an arm. The back of his neck is market by a brand that occasionally still bleeds. His is haunted by mysterious forces. He carries a rage that lies barely below the surface.
The man who became the black swordsman was named Guts. He was found as an infant under the corpse of this mother. At age 15 he was serving as a mercenary when he killed a notorious warrior serving a rival band known as the Hawks. After the battle he rejects a lucrative offer to stay with the group he was serving in favor of a path that will provide more experience. He does not know what path he wishes his life to take, but he knows he wishes to hone his skills. He stumbles upon a several of the Hawk's commanding officers. Griffith, their charismatic leader, forces Gutts to join to the band after a duel, and sets Guts on the path of working towards Griffith's ambition of winning his own kingdom..
The series has been universally praised for the depth of its characters. Even jaded anime fans have called Berserk a reason to get excited about anime again.
Anime Spotlight: Maetal Legend
Released by Central Park Media
Leiji Matsumoto has formed a modern day mythology with his body of work. He is probably best known in the English speaking world for Battle Ship Yamamato (Star Blazers). Each piece works as an independent story, but they fit together to paint a larger universe. Like ancient mythologies the pieces do not always match perfectly, but the contradictions and breaks in logic add to the legendary nature of the stories' inhabitants.
Maetel Legend is the history of Queen Andromeda Promethium's two daughters, Maetal, who inherits her mother's kindness and strength, and Emeraldas who inherits her courage and conviction. All three are bound to tragic destinies. Maetel will travel the Galexy Express 999 from planet to planet in her black mourning gown. Esmeraldas will become Pirate Queen and fight along sides the likes Captain Harlocke. Queen Promethium will become the cruel mechanical ruler of their home planet La Maetal.
The planet La Maetel travels in an orbit that brings it into contact with Earth once every thousand years. At that time La Maetel experiences spring, and its queen travels to Earth to rule it. (This story is told in Queen Millenium). Perhaps because of past aggression towards Earth, La Maetel's orbit has changed, leading the planet on a course towards never ending winter. Food is running out, and the people are becoming desperate. The queen's robotic advisor Hard Gear offers a solution. He injects a machine into the queen's brain that will eventually transform her body into a machine one. He offers to save the people of La Maetel through the same procedure.
Maetel Legend was original a two episode OAV (direct to video series). The first episode focuses on macro view of La Maetal's society. Given Matsumoto's historic interest in World War II, the episode seems to be an analogue of Germany's rise of Nazi power. As the people turn to robots for protection, the mechanization infects them with a desire to destroy humans, and embrace the mechanical race. When they run out of metal, they must conquer other humans for more. The mechanization fosters a new morality. As machines they are immortal, they can't feel pain, and thus don't empathize with humans. While claiming the banner of logic, they spout rhetoric with gaping holes.
The second episode focuses of the relationship between Queen Promethium, Maetel, and Emeraldas. Like many of Matsumoto's works the message is that even in the bleakest moments the only option to struggle and a fight for improvement.
Matsumoto's distinctive character design is very evident in the series. The female characters have his trade mark, thin, willowy look, with hair that runs to their feet. Maetel and Emeraldas appear as prototypes of their later, more familiar forms. Maetel wears white, donning her black fur coat and pill box hat at the conclusion. Emeraldas has wears an early version of her pirate out fit, without the cloak, or skull and cross bones on her tunic or gloves. She still wears one in her hair. Matsumoto has said that his use of the skull and cross bones symbolizes a determination to stay with a cause until all that is left are bones. As EX's review points out Maetel and Emeraldas' eyes are wider in this series, presumably before they took on the narrow, world weary look of their later lives.
Maetel Legend continues Matsumoto's tradition of highly melodramtic story telling. The executions ranges from maudlin moments, such as introduction sequence of the incredibly cute puppy succumming to the cold, to the soul crushing in such crushing as a beautiful and notable queen pot marked with read compass compass like circle writhinh as she thinks of her people's fate.
Manga Spotlight: Vagabond (Issues 1 &2)
by Takehiko Inoue Publish by Viz
Miyamoto Musashi was the paragon of samurai. The "sword saint" broke rigid tradition by creating a fighting style that used a long sword (katana) in the right hand and short sword (wakizashi) in the left. He was a philospher (author of the Book of Five Rings), and an artist. Previously the wakizashi was only a sign of rank. Vagabound is Takehiko Inoue's manga adaptation of "Musashi", Eiji Yoshikawa's fictitious account of Miyamoto Musashi's life.
The Battle of Sekigahara reshaped Japan's power structure. In the battle the Tokugawa faction challenged the ruling Toyotomi for control a Japan that was in the process of unification. Tokugawa won a resounding victory. Shinmen Takezo and Honiden Matahachi were survivors from the battle's losing side. Now they are being hunted. The childhood friends started out from the small village of Miyamoto to make names for themselves "maybe take down a general or two". They were given machetes and the task of making roads for the army.
The two are entirely dissimilar. Matahachi wishes to return to Miyamoto, but Takezo has embraced the life of a vagabond. Taizo constantly stands erect. He eyes never lose their piercing determined look. Matachi wears and uncertain look, and slouches.
Takezo embodies a savage determination. He doesn't rely of swords. He's confident enough to take on heavily armed adversaries with a branches and rocks. His prowess comes from throwing his entire being into the attack, without doubt or hesitation.
Takehiko Inoue's art has a distinctive look to it. His character design is less abstract than most. They have more distinguishing features. This makes the individual characters more distinctive, and it means they appear more as how he intends, and less how you image. For example, compare one of his characters to an average drawing of Bruce Wayne from a Batman comic. Looking at the image you see a man with a well-built face and square jaw. You can either fill in the details mentally, or let the image stand as a symbol. The same isn't true with Vagabond. Takezo has a very specific appearance from his wild hair to his slightly pointed ears, his face has a very specific and detailed shape.
The other distinctive characteristic of the art is the real edge of the action. Not knowing the exact effect of a tree branch to the throat, or how easily a katana can sever a limb, the depiction seems highly plausible. The illustration also doesn't shy away from the brutality of the style of combat. It doesn't go out of its way to be gory, and the worst of it isn't flaunted, but it does leave an impression of the harshness.
Vagabond is a must for fans of the samurai genre. The series has the aura of self determinism that makes samurai stories and westerns so appealing. The laws of society have broken down, and a person will the skill and will to succeed can shape their destinies.
Manga Spotlight Marmalade Boy(issue 1 of 5)
by Wataru Yoshizumu, Published by TOKYOPOP
Miki's life become complicate when he parent's return from a vacation to Hawii, and over morning tea calmly announced that they would be divorcing each other, and swapping spouses with a couple that they met on the trip. They explain they still have a friendly love, like when they met, but not a romantic love. Her friend Meiko tries to comfort her. Meiko explains at least Miki's parents are still close, her parents' marriage is a mockery, both are having affairs, her mother just thinks about finances and her father just cares appearances. As she is recovering from her initial shock Miki learns the two couples will be living together, and meets her new step brother Yuu, a good looking boy her own age. He's eerily calm about the whole situation, but he soon begins antagonizing her. Her mother takes her aside ad instructs Miki not to fall in love with Yuu, the situation is complex enough as is.
Despite the outrageous situation, the emotions of ring true. There are a number of quiet and introspective moments that make the characters believable, such as when Meiko explains that her parents' marriage, and that she is determined never to marry.
The art has the cute, saucer-eyed look that many shoujo series employ. The style is good for the hyper emotional nature of the story. There is no doubt what Miki is feeling, the emotion is blazing like a neon sign across her face, with occasional deformed moments (larger head in comparison to body). For other characters, the emotion is slightly more subtly portrayed. They seem to wear masks more. There is at least one sense that hints Yuu's calm isn't genuine.
Besides the visual humor of Miki's display of emotions there are some genuinely amusing scenes in the comic, such as Miki visualizes which parent she would want to wind up with, or when Yuu gives her a gift of a wad of gum.
The series is aimed at a young audience, but complexity seems to be on par with a good sitcom. It has the cuteness and charm that made series like Card Captor Sakura a fun, guilty pleasure.
Manga Note:
Both Marmlade Boy, and Vagabond are published in the original right to left format. The pages, and panels, and content of the panels are meant to be read right to left. Unless you are predisposed to having difficulty reading lift to right it takes about one reading right to left comic before you can easily follow the dialogue, and a second or third before you become accustomed to the nuanced difference in the way the action flows.
This Week's Anime and Manga Releases
Anime
Manga
Escaflowne Theater Listings - Opening January 25th, 2002
More to be announced
For Escaflowne opening suggestions in your city, please contact support@bandai-ent.com
NY Post Talks Theatrical Anime In US
A New York post article had discussed the the possible future of the Hayao Miyazaki's Spirited Away, and Metropolis receiving releases in the US.
The article states that Disney and Dreamworks are currently competing for spirited away. "A new generation of blockbuster anime imports has captured the imagination of American studios, prompting speculation that what has worked so well in Tokyo might finally metamorphose into Hollywood gold. Despite financial flops like "Princess Mononoke," optimism for anime is sky high. Two new films, "Metropolis" and "Spirited Away," are already sparking great expectations."
"Disney and DreamWorks, in fact, have locked horns over the rights to "Spirited Away," Japan's all-time No. 1 box-office champ. The film, with a modest budget of $19.2 million, steamrolled even "Titanic" at the Japanese box office, earning $205 million. Some industry insiders have speculated that the film could do another $250 million in the States."
The article also talks about the January 25th release of Metropolis, and quotes James Cameron describing the movie with "It has beauty, power, mystery and, above all, heart".
Cartoon Network News
Toonzone.net reports Cartoon Network's Adult Swim lineup will be changing substancially starting Saturday, February 23. It will begin airing on Saturday nights, and feature Yu Yu Hakusho, Pilot Candidate (Candidate for Goddess), and Mobile Suit Gundam 0083: Stardust Memory.
The schedule will be:
- Yu Yu Hakusho (11:00pm - 11:30pm)
- Cowboy Bebop (11:30pm - Midnight)
- Pilot Candidates (Midnight - 12:30am)
- Gundam 0083 (12:30am - 1:00am)
- Outlaw Star (1:00am - 1:30am)
- Tenchi Muyo (1:30am - 2:00am)
Toon Zone has confirmed that this block will be an "Adult Swim" block. According to Toon Zone: "No word on how Tenchi Muyo and Outlaw Star will be edited, but the other shows will enjoy the standards you have known AS [Adult Swim] for."
Jin Roh DVD Feature Information
Bandai's Charles McCarter posted the break down of the Jin Roh DVD's special features on Anime on DVD's forum.
Special Edition
Disc 1: The Feature Complete (unedited) film Anamorphic Dolby Digital 5.1 Japanese and English audio DTS Japanese audio English Subtitles Disc 2: Extras
"Speculate About Jin-Roh"
Interviews with Mamoru Oshii (creator, screenwriter) Hiroyuki Okiura (director) Hiromasa Ogura (background designer)
Trailer Collection (Japanese trailers, English-version Trailer) Production Art Gallery (approximately 100 pages of production art) Disc 3: CD Soundtrack 16 page all-color booklet
Regular Edition
Disc 1: The Feature Complete (unedited) film Anamorphic Dolby Digital 5.1 Japanese and English audio DTS Japanese audio English Subtitles
AnimEigo Release Information
AnimEigo's release DVDs of the fan parody Otaku no Video, and the sci fi Baoh are now entering replication. Kimagure Orange Road will enter replication as soon as the liner notes are finished printing. Kimagure Orangle Road is about a love triangle between a boy with ESP, who has fallen in love with a mysterious girl, who in turn is loved by a sweet childhood friend.
The ESP aspect of the story is handled very well, with attention paid to the implications of a boy with physic powers in the Japanese culture. The comedy is considered a classic by many fans.
April Central Park Media Releases
On April 9th Central Park Media will be releasing the DVD versions of Battle Skipper: The Movie and the remastered Roujin Z. Roujin Z is a sci-fi social commentary about dealing with the increasing elderly population. A machine is tested in hopes of producing an automated solutions to the physical and social needs of caring for the elderly.
Synch Point FLCL and I'm Gonna Be An Angel Delays
Synch-Point's release schedule has been updated. FLCL has been pushed to March for a commentary track. I'm Gonna Be an Angel volume was has been pushed to February 26th.
FLCL (pronounced Furi Kuri) is a strange, humorous sci-fi OAV about a boy, the flirtatious girlfriend of his brother who is abroad, and a crazy girl on a motor scooter, from Gainax of Evangelion fame I'm Going to Be an Angel is a cute, bubbly comedy about a boy who accident wed into an Adams Family like group of monsters who move into his house, and repel attacks by a strange witch. The series is very surreal and amusing even if you are not a fan of hyper cute anime.
Media Blaster Release Dates
Media Blasters has announced that the first volume of Berserk, Magic Users Club - "Should I Do?" and Rurouni Kenshin - "Holy War" will be released on April 30th.
Jojo's Bizarre Adventure For PS2
Capcom announced that Jojo's Bizarre Adventure Chapter 5 for PlayStation 2 will have network support, up to 8 players can battle online over the internet, and of course the game can be played offline in single player mode. Jojo's Bizarre Adventure Chapter 5 is scheduled for a spring release in Japan, for 6800 yen.
During the combats, you can switch between Main Body Mode and Stand Mode. The basic strategy is first move your main body to an advantageous location, then call our your stand to attack the enemies. There is psychic gauge in the game, the gauge fills up as you hit the enemies; when it is full, the offensive power of the stand will greatly increase. Lastly, there is a Stand Shot system, when the enemy stand shows up, you can locate its weakness and give it a critical blow.
Screen shots can be seen at here
Lone Wolf 2100 Preview
Newsarama has posted a preview of the Dark Horse's upcoming Lone Wolf 2100 comic series, an update to the class Lone Wolf and Cub manga series here. The article features the design for Itto and Daisy by Francisco Ruiz.
The series has been approved by Lone Wolf and Cub creator and Kazou Koike, and will be the first extension of the Lone Wolf and Cub series.
ADV Opens Getter Robo Site
ADV has opened a site dedicate to the retro giant robot series Getter Robo here. The site features news, series and episodes information, images, and videos of the opening.
ADV Confirm Upcoming Golden Boy DVD Release
ADV's David Williams confirmed on Anime on DVD's forum that Golden Boy will soon be coming o DVD.
Next Round of Kids (Merchandising) Anime
Digimon and most of the Fox Kid's Saturday line up will be moving weekday mornings on ABC starting on March 2nd.
According to Animation Magazine 4Kids Entertainment, of Pokemon fame, have acquired the American television rights to Kinnikuman. The Kinnikuman anime series started by in 1983. The plot of the Manga/Anime revolved around Kinnikuman, the prince of an alien race, and his attempts to become a hero and prove himself to his family. His family accidently mistook a pig for poor Kinnikuman and he was lost until Meat, a servant bred to serve the prince, found him. He must compete in some of the greatest tournaments in the universe to show off his fighting skills and prove his worth.
Nelvana, who release CardCaptors in the US, has acquired the television and video right to Beyblade in North America, South America, most of Europe (excluding Italy, Greece, Turkey and Arabic speaking countries) and Oceania. The merchandise influenced series follows an international cast of hero who compete in Beyblade (spinning top) competitions. The series ran for 51 episodes.
Anime in Japan
Hellsing creator Gonzo has posted an official wallpaper at here
According to Sugoi Abenobashi Maho Shotengai<(roughly translated Abenobashi Magic Bookstore) is a Gainax series being animated by Madhouse Studio. The official Abenobashi Maho Shotengai website has posted two pieces of artwork that appeared in the magazine Kodancha. The series will begin airing on the CS Broadcast Kids Station from April through July. The series consists of 13 episodes. No announcement of a DVD or US release as of yet. The official page can be seen here
Anime on DVD reports Pioneer will be releasing the Black Jack OVA Regin 2 DVD on March 22nd, 2002 for ¥25,000. The set contains 10 OVAs and a theatrical feature with contains an English track.
Anime News Network reports Kinnikuman II: The Second Generation(also known as Meatman) has begun airing on TV-Tokyo as of January 9th. In conjunction with the release they opened the website on December 27th. You can view the website here
Vampiyan, a comedy series from Production I.G. about a family of vampires has started airing on TV. The show which bears a resemblance to the "I wanna be an Angel" series aired on Saturday January 12th.
The series is scheduled to run every Saturday on Fuji TV. There are showings planned for this fall on a number of other networks.
Yu Yu Hakusho u News
FUNimation has informed retailers that they have pushed back the date for the release of Yu Yu Hakusho, The Sprit Detective 1: Yusuke Lost, Yusuku Found (DUB/ DVD) until 4/16.
FUNimation has opened their official Yu Yu Hakusho Website with a series FAQ, character information, and preview of the series. The series is a fighting anime about super powered characters in a martial artists tournament. Many compare the series to Dragon Ball Z, but with slightly more romance and comedy.
ADV Acquisitions
Right Stuf reports ADV films has acquired the rights to Medabots and Steel Angel Kurumi.
Medabots (as seen on Fox Kids'Saturday morning line up) follows the adventures of ten year-old Ikki and his high performance the fighting 'bot Metabee! You can learn more about Medabots at the Nelvana's official Medabot Website!
Steel Angel Kurumi follows the energetic robot Kurumi possessing almost humanlike flesh and an introverted priest-in-training Nakahito.
More Anime From Images Entertainment
According to Anime on DVD Image Entertainment will be releasing more anime in 2002. Pyshic Force will be released on March 19th. The 64 minute feature will only have a Japanese audio track.
"Rapid changes in the new century have brought forth a dangerous power capable of good or evil. Harnessing the psychic abilities of its residents, the government has turned its most gifted citizens into New Age guinea pigs, drained of their essence and discarded after serving their purpose. Loaded with action-packed excitement, startling cutting edge visuals, and memorable characters, "Psychic Force" propels you into a dynamic and exciting new world where one human's mind in the wrong hands can be explosive. Witness this new classic of anime that's sweeping up sci-fi fans in its rich mixture of stunning visual action and tense storytelling! "
