Father Geek here taking time out from our busy SXSW Festival comings and goings to post this Wednesday edition of Scott's regular weekly report on ALL things Manga and Anime. First, I have this info that came into Geek Headquarters last night...

It's Jason reporting. I recently found out that 20th Century Fox has acquired the rights to make a live-action film version of the international hit anime Dragon Ball Z. For those not familiar with this series, it was created by Akira Toriyama and currently airs on Cartoon Network's Toonami programming block. It features Goku, a Saiyan of great power, who along with his friends affectionately dubbed the Z Warriors, vanquish evil using elaborate, radical powers. I don't really think this is a good idea because if you watch the series the things that are done here cannot be ported over to live-action. Also, most of the characters don't really look like anyone in Hollywood. Anime was made to be immortalized in animated form not real life for it is an form of art expression. If I were Akira Toriyama, I'd bitch slap every executive at the company for even thinking of doing such a thing as turning a well respected and well loved anime franchise into a live-action movie that will probably have so much studio meddling a sequel to Battlefield Earth would seem like a more valuable option. I mean, this is the company that is marketing Episode fucking II for Christ's sake!!!!!

Jason

Father Geek back... on a simular note, this just crossed my desk about a half hour ago... check it out...

Hey guys, Just over at coming soon and they have this posted:

Threshold Entertainment has purchased all the remake rights to the 1994 Japanese anime mega-hit "Ninja Scroll" from the Japanese anime studio Madhouse, according to "Daily Variety".

The company plans to turn "Ninja Scroll" into an huge f/x-driven live-action pic, with a big budget in the neighborhood of $60 million. In addition, Threshold plans to extend the "Ninja Scroll" brandname through television, live performance tours, videogames and even music.

As critically acclaimed as Kawajiri Yoshiaki's masterwork was, "Ninja Scroll" is still basically a samurai sword-and-sorcery story/epic in which a wandering masterless ninja for hire joins forces with a powerful female ninja after her team is destroyed by an all powerful man-monster. They then create a uber tragic love story that culminates with the overthrow of the powerful, corrupt Shogun government.

What's the beef on this and the reputation of Threshold. Are we looking at the possible mangling of a masterpiece on the commercial machine?

Stilleto

Well, that's it for ol' Father Geek this Wednesday... Here's...

The AICN Anime Report...

By Scott Green

Manga Spotlight: Cowboy Bebop issue 2

By Yutaka Nanten; Released by TOKYOPOP

The Cowboy Bebop manga continues with a new short adventure featuring the quartet of planet hopping bounty hunters Spike Spiegel, an easy going martial artist, Faye Valentine, a self styled gypsy, Jet Black, an ex-cop, and Ed, a young eccentric hacker.

The crew of the Cowboy Bebop find a bounty worth a stunning 30 million Woolong. The easy part is that he has surgically alerted his appearance, but the rub is that he is in jail on a shop lifting charge. The solution is to have Spike arrested, Ed insure he is transferred to the same prison as the bounty, and Faye smuggle in the implements needed to escape. To further complicate the plans, it turns out the bounty is love sick, has made itself into a made masculine approximation of Marilyn Monroe, and has an ogre for a prison boyfriend.

The second issue does not suffer from some of the problems that plagued the first. It feels more substantial, like an episode of the anime series rather than just the introduction to one. This is helped is no small part by the fact that though the second issue retails for the same price as the first, its twice as long.

The treats for fans of the anime series come from the art, namely its ability to capture the quirkiness, and likeability in Ed and Faye's characters. Ed shines in her chainsaw maniac Halloween costume in a random group shot in the book's opening pages, and late in the issue the issue there is a fun sequence that captures her oddball impulsiveness. Faye's smug disaffectedness also carries over well to the comic medium. Spike's character doesn't make this transition well. He comes off as stiff and slow, which should are two qualities that shouldn't be associated with the character.

It is a fix for fans of the television series who need more of the characters, but it feels dry, and suffers in comparison to the vividness, sizzle, or sprinkling of humanity of the animated version.

Anime Spotlight:

Gundam Mobile Suit: The 08th MS Team: Miller's Report

The One Year War between Earth the succeeding colony of Zeon. During a battle with the Zeon's experimental weapon, the Apsolus, 08th MS Team commander Shiro Amada was seen clinging to the machine with his Gundam mobile suit as it crashed. When he is found in the company of a female Zeon pilot. With his Gundam gone the Federation assigns Alice Miller of the intelligence division to investigate. She is another example of 08th MS Team's outstanding character design; an interesting detective; a blonde with sharp blue eyes smoking thing cigars. She is first introduced climbing through the wrecking of a Zeon Zaku. When her man in black subordinate leads Shiro to her in handoffs, her response to the insult to Shiro, is a piece of machinery hurled at the subordinate.

Miller's report is a double sized (55 minute) focused clip show/recap of the events of the 08th MS Team leading to the series' final shown down. Like the rest of the 08th MS Team it is marked by interesting ideas, outstanding visual execution, and marginally weak execution of the initial ideas. Its opening sets the feature up almost as a detective story. Even though the detective, Miller, was questioning a completely honest source, Shiro, it would have been interesting if it shaded the event through Shiro's perception, or made Miller dig deeper. In the end it comes across as a gilded chip. Shiro is too fancifully idealistic, and Miller to too tightly wound.

To its credit the show does an outstanding job sampling some of the series best action, character design and other visually from Shiro's harrowing remembrance of a Zeon gas attack on his colony, to the unique designs of the supporting soldiers and jungle guerilla, to the complex first battle with the Apsolus. It is worth the investment for those who enjoyed the series. It is not a release for completists only.

The DVD also features 25 minutes of cut scene footage from the Playstation 2 game "Gundam: Journey to Jaburo". To Bandai's credit this time was not tacked onto the packages listed run time. The footage include reanimated scenes from the first third of the original Gundam series, an opening with characters from the One Year War Gundam series (the original one, 08th MS Team, and War in the Pocket), and end of level animation. The Federation congratulation from the female cast, or cast of Zeon villains were humorous in their excess.

This Week's Releases...

Anime...

• Cardcaptor Sakura volume 8
• Gatekeepers volume 4
• Maetel Legend
• Nadia Vol. #07
• Now & Then,Here & There volume 2
• Saint Tail volume 4
• Vandread Vol. volume 2

Manga...

• Bastard #4 Ninja (2 Of 3
• Blade Of The Immortal #65 Skin (2 Of 2)
• Dirty Pair Run From The Future Tp
• No 5 Tp $
• Oh My Goddess Childhoods End Tp
• Oh My Goddess Part Xi #8 Mystery Child (Part 6 Of 8)
• Redmoon Gn #6
• Slayers Special #4
• Vagabond Part 1 #5 (Mr)
• Vagabond Vol 1 Tp
• Wild 7 Gn #3
• Wounded Man Gn #6

There is a review of Maetel Legend here and the first five episodes of Now and Then, Here and There here

Vagabond is the manga adaptation of Eiju Yoshikawa's "Musahi", the fictional account of the life of Miyamoto Mushashi, the self taught swordsman who would seek to master the Art of War, and eventually write the "Book of Five Rings". There is a review of the first two issues here.

No. 5., the latest work from the acclaimed creator of the Black and White comic series, Taiyo Matsumoto.

"In a world that has become 70% harsh desert, the Rainbow Council of The International Peace Keeping Force, a race of super-powered global security guardians that work for Supreme Headquarters, have a growing crisis on their hands. Guardian No. 5, one of their own, and known within the council as their top warrior and marksman, has left his post with a female and gone rogue. It's up to the other guardians, in the tradition of their ancient code of honor, to track him down. But No. 5, with his mysterious companion Matroshka, refuses to go down without a fight."

New Detail on Cowboy Bebop Movie Dub Revealed

Anime News Service reports that the official Japanese Cowboy Bebop web site is starting that the cast that Bandai used for the English Cowboy Bebop dub will be used by Columbia Pictures for the American release of the movie, Knockin' On Heaven's Door.

As a sign of Japan's waning interest in the series, the site will be closed at the end of the month.

His and Her Circumstances

Right Stuf has announced a 5/28 release date for the first volume of His and Her Circumstances (Kare Kano) From there website From Gainax, with production by Toshimichi Otsuki (EVANGELION, SLAYERS, NADESICO), chief direction and story by Hideaki Anno (EVANGELION) and character design by Tadashi Hiramatsu (EVANGELION) comes Right Stuf's latest release: His and Her Circumstances (Kare Kano)!

His and Her Circumstances (Kare Kano) DVD 1 has now been slated for release on 5/28/02! This DVD only series will continue to be released over the next year for complete 5 Disc Set. Each dual-language (English and Japanese with English Subtitles) DVD will be packed full of goodies like Production Notes, Translator Notes, Storyboards, image Galleries, Cast Interviews, Promotional Spots, and more!

Can't wait for the entire series and you already know you really want the Collector's Art Box? Save yourself the headache (and the money) of waiting for months on end and order DVD Volume 1 PLUS the series Art Box right now! here

The Story is that Pressure is high for Yukino Miyazawa to succeed, to be loved by all, and to be simply. the best. After working so hard to become the top student at her school, a new competitor has arrived to tumble her from her self made pedestal: Arima Souichirou. The instant she met him, she hated him. He topped her every effort without even trying. Now Yukino is putting her hard work into plotting her revenge, but was love part of the plan?

Upcoming Media Blasters Releases (Berserk Delay)

From Anime on DVD's compilation of Media Blaster's press releases:

• Gokudo, Swordsman Extraordinaire Vol. 2 100 min03/26/2002
• Knight Hunters, Weiss Kreuz Vol. 2 125 min. 03/26/2002
• Rurouni Kenshin Vol. #16 100 min. 03/26/2002
• De:vadasy 75 min04/30/2002
• Magic Users Club Vol. #7 75 min. 04/30/2002
• Rurouni Kenshin Vol. #17: Holy War 125 min. 29.99 04/30/2002
• Berserk Vol. #1 125 min. 05/28/2002
• Berserk Vol. #1 W/Box 125 min05/28/2002
• Gokudo, Swordsman Extraordinaire Vol. #3 100 min05/28/2002
• Rurouni Kenshin Vol. #18: Fall From Grace 100 min. 05/28/2002
• Gundress 82 min. 06/25/2002
• Knight Hunters Vol. #3 125 min. 06/25/2002
• Rurouni Kenshin Vol. #19: Dreams of Youth 100 min. 06/25/20

As the list indicates, the highly anticipated release of Berserk has been delayed. The dark, medieval series follows a swordsman who enter the service of an ambitious young man who plans to use his band of mercenaries to become a king.

Knight Hunters (also known as Weiss Kreuz) is the story of four bishonen (pretty men) who are follow shop workers by day, an assassins by night.

Gundress is a 30 minute girl in battle armor movie from Ghost in the Shell creator Masamune Shirow.

ICV Looks at Unflipped Manga, and Sales Exposition

ICV2 has posted converstion with companies that release manga about TOKYOPOP's decisions to print manga in the original right to left format here.

They also have an article about the outstanding sales numbers of recent manga releases here

Triple digit growth rates for manga trade books were the norm last year, with Viz reporting that sales tripled in 2001 vs. 2000 (excluding Pokemon), Dark Horse reporting 2001 sales 2.3 times its 2000 numbers, and Tokyopop a doubling of sales in 2001. Among the top sales numbers we heard: Dragon Ball Z trade paperbacks shipping 30,000 copies in the first wave of shipments, and the higher-priced Akira trades shipping 22-25,000 copies in the first wave.

Harvey Award Nominees Announced

Comic's Harvey Awards announced their nominees for 2001.

Manga nominees include Akira, Dark Horse Comics, and Lone Wolf and Cub, Dark Horse Comics for "Best Graphic Album of Previously Published Work", Digital Chameleon -Akira for "Best Letterer", and Akira, Dark Horse Comics, Lone Wolf and Cub, Dark Horse Comics, and Super Manga Blast, Dark Horse Comics for "Best American Edition of Foreign Material".

The awards will be present at the 15th Annual Harvey Awards Banquet on Friday, April 26th at the Pittsburgh Comicon. Super Manga Blast is Dark Horse Comic's manga anthology, which features series such as Club 9, 3x3 Eyes, What's Michael, Shadow Star, and Seraphic Feature.

Riding Bean DVD for Sale

AnimEigo is currently selling the DVD version of Riding Bean on their web site at Riding Bean. The Riding Bean anime is the prototype to Kenichi Sonoda's later Gunsmith Cats. The cars and guns action follows the uber-tough Bean Bandit, a mercinary driver, and his partner Rally Vincent as they become involved in a kidnapping case.

Nickelodeon: Anime Not Planned For New Network

According to Anime News Service the recenly announced Nicktoons Digital TV Network has no plans to air any anime. Nickelodeon is aiming programming at children with featured animation from their stable of domestic toons such as Ren & Stimpy.

Bandai Metreon Showing in March

This March Bandai will be screeening anime at San Fansico's Metreon including Haunted Junction, Saber Marionette J Again, Don't Leave Me Alone Daisy, Love Hina, Pilot Candidate Cowboy Bebop Session , Ronin Warriors , Jubei-Chan the Ninja Girl and an advance screen of G Gundam. See www.metreon.com for more information.

ADV Open's Princess Nine Web Site

ADV Films has opened a web site for Princess Nine, the story of a girl's baseball team at here.

ADV Release Dates

ADV will be releasing City Hunter: Secret Service on 6/25 with English and Japanese with English subtitles, Japanese TV spots, a City Hunter Extra. City Hunter is the anime adaptation of a long running manga series about a hired trouble shooter who takes case bodyguarding women, with a Lupin III/Cowboy Bebop like cast.

Cartoon Network Breaks Rating Records in 2001

From the offical press release:

Cartoon Network ended 2001 with multiple new records for ratings and delivery of target audiences, along with best-ever performances of original series premieres and annual programming specials. Among Cartoon Network's ratings highlights for 2001:

Cartoon Network set new annual rating and delivery records-for both total day and prime time-with kids 2-11, kids 6-11 and adults 18-34.

The network posted the largest year-to-year net total day delivery increase of any ad-supported basic cable network with adults 18-34 (+52,000), tweens 9-14 (+57,000), kids 6-11 (+91,000), kids 2-11 (+127,000) and boys 9-14 (+45,000).

In prime time, Cartoon Network showed the largest prime time year-to-year net delivery gain of any ad-supported cable network with kids 6-11 (+114,000) and kids 2-11 (+163,000) and boys 9-14 (+38,000).

Cartoon Network was #1 for the year in prime time among ad-supported cable networks for kids 2-11 (4.1), kids 6-11 (3.8) and boys 9-14 (2.8) ratings.

Cartoon Network, with a 1.1 total day household rating, finished in third place among ad-supported cable networks for 2001.

In prime time, with a 1.7 household rating, Cartoon Network tied for second place (with TBS Superstation and USA) for the year among ad-supported cable networks.

In addition to its ratings highlights, Cartoon Network launched four new original series, created a new programming block that is boosting the network's appeal to adult audiences, and attracted record traffic to its Internet site, CartoonNetwork.com.

In September, Cartoon Network launched Adult Swim, a block of animation aimed at adults 18-34 airing two nights per week. Adult Swim features edgy comedies like Space Ghost Coast to Coast, Aqua Teen Hunger Force, Sealab 2021, The Brak Show , and Home Movies, as well as action programming like Cowboy Bebop.

With the help of Adult Swim, Cartoon Network jumped to #8 from last year's #10 ranking in total day delivery of adults 18-34 (178,000) among advertising supported basic cable services. Cartoon Network's performance with adults 18-34 out-delivers cable networks such as Comedy Central, FX, VH1, Sci-Fi Channel, the Discovery Channel, E! and TV Land. Since its September 2 launch, Adult Swim has contributed to the strong growth of the network's adult 18-34 rating by posting 67 percent growth in ratings and 84 percent growth in delivery compared to 2000.

Toonami: Lockdown, a five-day interactive event airing September 17-21 on Cartoon Network, rocketed Toonami and CartoonNetwork.com to some of their best numbers to date, earning huge ratings and online traffic increases compared to last year. During the week-long event, the Toonami action-adventure programming franchise (5-7 p.m., ET, PT) earned a 2.5 overall household rating and averaged 1.9 million homes, representing the highest weekly rating and delivery ever for the Toonami programming block and network history. Nearly one million registrants participated in the online Lockdown game - CartoonNetwork.com's first ever multi-player, multi-level, role playing game. Users posted a record 72,034,659 page views for the week, a 186 percent increase vs. 2000's Total Immersion Event, Toonami: The Intruder.

Battle of the Planets Comic Rumor

From the comics rumor column "All the Rage":

Top Cow is having trouble with the Battle Of The Planets. It seems that every page, every panel must be approved by owners Rhino Records, including the covers. The sticking point? It all has to look like the cartoon exactly and none of the guys they have under contract can do it, so they've had to go outside. Top Cow were using Snakebite, of Red Star fame, to colour the book in an animated style but were quoted $20,000 a book to do the job. So Top Cow have looked elsewhere"

I understand that when Top Cow approached Red Star initially, they didn't tell them that Rhino had approval, just that Alex Ross wanted to duplicate the acclaimed Red Star look, and learn how to replicate the Red Star production process ­ hence the high quote.

Snakebite told me, "Every situation is different in the freelance world when it comes to billing. I have invested interest in The Red Star, I'm a partner. With Top Cow all they wanted was to milk the love of Team Red Star and they wanted to pay me a crap rate to suck on my nipples. For me to take away time from The Red Star as well as my other ventures for a job that is paying me crap would've been a stupid decision and the thing that is getting me the attention in the first place would've suffered for a crap rate. How would professionals and fans alike look at me?

"Besides, they approached me, I wasn't looking for handouts or favors and that's how they sold the job to me, as a hand out and favor. Fooey, I say."

For additional stuff on Top Cow and Battle Of The Planets see recent Newsarama articles.

Top Cow did not respond to enquiries.

This Has A Rumour Value Of 5 Out Of 10

Cartoon Network Picks Up Hamtaro (and More Dragon Ball)

Comics Continuum reports recent announcements from Cartoon Network include:

* Cartoon Network presents the U.S. television debut of Hamtaro. Fifty-two episodes of the Japanese show will premiere in July.

* Fifty-four new episodes of Dragon Ball Z starting in September. Dragon Ball Z airs exclusively on Toonami, Cartoon Network's action-adventure franchise.

* Thirty-eight new episodes of Dragonball will air on Toonami this year.

ADULT SWIM

* Thirteen new half-hour episodes of Home Movies, created for Cartoon Network, will debut in fall.

* Twenty new episodes of Harvey Birdman, Attorney-at-Law will debut starting in July.

* Thirteen new episodes each of current series Aqua Teen Hunger Force, Sealab 2021 and The Brak Show.

* Thirteen half-hour episodes of Mission Hill will premiere in May.

* Thirteen episodes of The Oblongs, a half-hour series that will premiere in July.

* The launch of the new Saturday night action edition of Adult Swim with premieres of animé series Yu Yu Hakusho, Gundam 0083 and Pilot Candidate.

* New half-hour specials including Saddle Rash, Finkel Files, Penguins Behind Bars and Party Wagon.

ALL NEW EPISODES OF TOP-RATED ORIGINALS:

* Twenty new half-hours of The Powerpuff Girls, including a Christmas special.

* Twenty-six new half-hour episodes of Samurai Jack.

* Thirteen new episodes of Grim & Evil.

* A Johnny Bravo Valentine's Day special is in production and is scheduled for a 2003 premiere.

ANIMATED TELEVISION PROGRAMMING

* Whatever Happened to Robot Jones?, a new Cartoon Cartoon original series that will launch in July.

* Codename: Kids Next Door, a new Cartoon Cartoon original series, which will premiere in November.

* More than 100 new episodes of original programs are in currently in production for 2002-2003, including 26 episodes each of Courage the Cowardly Dog and Ed, Edd n Eddy.

* Eight new series pilots scheduled will premiere throughout the summer.

* The 10th June Bugs marathon will air May 31-June 2, featuring more than 175 Bugs Bunny cartoons.

* The 1st 13th Annual Fancy Anvil Award Show Program Live!... In Stereo, an animated awards show parody, will air Saturday, March 23.

The Justice League animated series has been picked up for a second season, Cartoon Network announced on Thursday.

The network has ordered 26 more half-hour episodes.

The first season of Justice League also consisted of 26 half-hour episodes. The first season might stretch as late as September

Top Televised Anime in Japan

Anihabara has posted its Anime Rankings for February. The monthly ranking, from an open ballot limited to Anime fans in the Kanto region, has proven to be very accurate in terms of the overall popularity of currently televised Anime in all of Japan.

This Month's Top 3 were Chitchana Yukitsukai Sugar, Onegai Teacher and Fruits Basket. Chitchana Yukitsukai Sugar (Tiny Snow Fairy Sugar) Premiered back in October. Sugar is about an apprentice Snow Fairy and a young Girl Saga, who happens to be the only person that can see Sugar.

Onegai Teacher (Please, Teacher), is a Romantic comedy about an under cover galactic operative who is observing the earth in the guise of a teacher, first aired on Japanese TV in January. Fruits Basket first aired in Japan in July and ahs been licensed for North American distribution by FUNimation. The story is about a young Orphan girl Tooru Honda who is permitted to stay with a very strange family in return for some housework. What's so strange about the family she's stating with? They change into animals from the Chinese Zodiac whenever they are hugged by a member of the opposite sex.

The full top twenty List is as Follows:

• 1 Chitchana Yukitsukai Sugar
• 2 Onegai Teacher
• 3 Fruits Basket
• 4 Comet-san
• 5 Figure 17
• 6 Scryed
• 7 Moootto! Oja-Majo Doremi
• 8 Kokoro Toshokan
• 9 Rahxephon
• 10 Shichinin no Nana
• 11 Full Metal Panic
• 12 (tie) Hellsing
• 12 (tie) Kasumin
• 14 Hikaru no Go
• 15 Vandread the 2nd Stage
• 16 Kanon
• 17 Najica Dengeki Sakusen
• 18 Gakuen Senki Muryou
• 19 FinalFantasy: Uunlimited
• 20 Hajime no Ippo

Live Action DBZ Rights Acquired

From http://www.animenewsservice.com According to the Hollywood Reporter 20th Century Fox has acquired the film rights to develop a franchise based on Akira Toriyama's Dragonball series.

Start Blazer: Series 2 Release Information

Parts three and four of Star Blazers: The Comet Empire Series 2 will be released on March 5th, and May 7th respectively

Part III As We Rush And Heed Our Fate The Comet Empire Awaits

Description: Prince Zordar, the greatest tyrant in the universe, has decided on his next target,... and he is moving with all the power at his command to conquer Planet Earth! A warning call has gone out from Planet Telezart, and the Star Force rushes to answer it. Ahead of them are arrayed Zordar's mighty warships, ready to stop the Argo cold. But an even more determined enemy stands at their side with a personal score to settle: Desslok of Gamilon!

Star Blazers: The Comet Empire Series 2 - Part Iv We'll Fight The Comet Empire Battle Through The Raging Fire

Description: Fighting their way through the warfleets of the Comet Empire and their arch enemy Desslok of Gamilon, the Star Force has finally arrived at Telezart, from which have come cries of warning. At last, they meet the mysterious Trelaina, who knows the true nature of their enemy and the danger that lies ahead. But no one is prepared for the truth about Trelaina herself, who may indeed be more powerful than the entire Comet Empire!

Special Features: The fortress of the Comet Empire Trelaina and Plant Telezart - and for the first time anywhere, an exclusive interview with Tom Tweedy and Amy Howard Wilson, the voice actors for Mark Venture and Nova!

Future releases include: July 2 - Part V; Sep. 3 - Part Vi; Nov. 5 - 6-Pack

Mahoromatic Season 2?

An article in the Japanese Newtype magazine has raised questions about a possible second season of Gainax's Mahoromatic. of the upcoming announcement of a seiyuu for a character Minawa at a Mahoromatic event in April 2002.

New Shirow Masamune Gun Dancing Manga Release

From Anime News Service: Shirow Masamune's (creator of Ghost in the Shell) manga Gun Dancing, previously distributed by Kodansha over the internet on its service E-Manga (fees apply), will be released in hardcopy on 22 March 2002. Price 2,200 yen. The manga will also be released with a T-shirt on the same day for the higher price of 3,000 yen. here

Detail on Di-Gi-Charat Movie DVD Release

From Anime News Service Broccoli has announced that the 20 minute long Di-Gi-Charat movie, released to Japanese theaters last December, will premier on Japanese DVD on July 12th in standard and special edition versions. The film's home video version will include new footage focusing on Piyoko and her "family"- Rik, Ky and Coo. The DVD only version will retail for 5800 yen.

AD Vision Announces First City Hunter DVD

AD Vision has confirmed for Anime on DVD that the 1996 City Hunter TV movie "Secret Service" will premier on domestic DVD on June 25th. The bilingual DVD will be the first ever official American release of the subtitled, Japanese language version of the film.

Harmony Gold Addresses Japanese Macross Ruling

Harmony Gold has issued an official statement in response to the recent Japanese legal ruling that ownership of the Macross license belongs to Big West and Studio Nue, not Tatsunoko. According to Harmony Gold representative Alan Letz, the recent Japanese ruling applies only to Japan and has no effect on the American distribution of either Macross or Robotech.

There is no way to tell at the present time if this Japanese ruling will effect the possibility of future Macross anime releases in America.

Real About High School Release Information

From the Press Release:

What do you get when you mix a popular high school girl with martial arts, boys and alternate dimensions? The answer: a mere taste of the action-fantasy-adventure found in TOKYOPOP's Real Bout High School anime, and only one part of a multi-platform release that also includes a graphic novel series and CD soundtrack.

In stores May 21st, the Real Bout High School anime is a wildly fun, high-energy series directed by Shinichi Toukairin (Street Fighter II). Its stunning animation comes from the famed Studio Gonzo, whose works also include Blue Sub No. 6, Final Fantasy Unlimited, Gatekeepers and Vandread. The story introduces the capers of high school samurai girl Ryoko, who must defeat a slew of evil adversaries when she is somehow transported to the strange netherworld of Solvania.

The DVD features several hot bonuses, including special "Making Of." featurettes, outtakes, translator's notes, advanced motion menus, previews and limited edition premium DVD packaging. For those who can't get enough of the music, TOKYOPOP releases the CD soundtrack on the same day. With a moving score composed by Takeshi Yasuda of Ah My Goddess! fame, the soundtrack virtually takes you right into Ryoko's adventures.

The Real Bout High School graphic novel series will release as part of TOKYOPOP's "Authentic Manga" (right-to-left) launch on April 23rd. With a storyline that takes place one year before the anime, the manga is still loaded with epic fight sequences, but has more of a real-life, earthbound story.

Tokyo Wonderfest 2002 Pictures

Figures.com has posted images of the Wonderfest 2002 Japanese Toy expo here.

Viz Announces Final Ranma Season

Viz has announced that the first volume of "Ranma Forever," titled "Initiation Nite" will debut on bilingual DVD and dubbed VHS on June 10th at $24.98 and $19.98 respectively.

New Naoko Takeuchi Manga Debuts

After several years in semi-retirement following the completion of the Sailormoon manga series, Naoko Takeuchi is back at work. The April cover dated issue of Nakayoshi Magazine includes the 44 page premier installment of Takeuchi's new manga serial Love Witch. The debut chapter of this new magical girl series introduces 13 year old Ai Anjyu, her family and friends,and ends with Ai's transformation into the "Love Witch."

The current issue of Nakayoshi also includes regular monthly manga chapters of Musume Monogatari (based on the J-pop group Morning Musume), Tokyo Mew Mew, Ojamajo Doremi Dokkan, and over a dozen other manga series. Bonus free premium items with this month's issue include a plastic Tokyo Mew Mew clear file, stickers, a "Milk Shake" eraser, and a metal Musume Monogatari pencil box.

AnimeNation has a limited supply of copies of this historic issue available for purchase now here

Spirited Away American Premier Announced

According to Nausicaa.net t he San Francisco Film Society has announced that it will sponsor the North American premier of Hayao Miyazaki's Sen to Chihiro no Kamikakushi in a subtitled print to be screened at the Castro Theater in San Francisco, California on Saturday and Sunday April 20th and 21st. What is not made clear is whether or not this screening is a Disney sanctioned event or a print supplied by Buena Vista Entertainment. The Disney company owns the North American distribution rights to the film.

Upcoming Manga Enterainment Releases (Landlock, Macross Plus, Astro Boy)

The Landlock and MAcross Plus DVD Feature are currently schedule for release May 28th.

Landlock DVD (1-2)

The land of Zer'lue is in turmoil, ravaged by the technological might of Chairman Sana'ku and his evil, militaristic Zul'earth forces. In a rapidly unfolding story of treachery, deceit and betrayal, only one boy holds the power to defeat such overwhelming odds...a boy named Leu'der, who possess a mysterious red eye and the ability to control the power of the wind itself.

Macross Plus Feature DVD

In 2040 A.D. on the colonial planet Eden, the Ministry of Defense is testing a transforming super-stealth aircraft to counter alien attacks. Join in on the action when rival pilots Isamu and Guld battle for aerial supremacy and the affections of the beautiful Myung. This dramatic, visually superb and complex Japanese animated feature is certain to become a favorite with Manga fans everywhere.

The movie is a compilation of the four episode OAV series with new footage, and some changes to the story.

Manga Video will release the first 3 VHS volumes, each containing five 30-minute episodes of the series, on May 28, 2002. Volumes 4-6, each containing 6 episodes, will follow on August 27, while the final three volumes will have and November 26, 2002 street date. At a retail cost of $19.95 per volume, Manga's Astro Boy series will make all 51 eagerly sought-after color episodes available for the first time to US fans and new viewers alike in an affordable format. A multi-volume DVD series will be released in 2004.

Media Blasters Clarifies De:vadasy Release :

Sean Molyneaux of Media Blasters has clarified the confusion over the upcoming release of De:vadasy, mentioned on the AnimeNation news page yesterday.

The version of De:vadasy to be released by Media Blasters will be complete and uncut. There is no graphic sexual content in the OAV series, but enough implied "off-screen" sex for the series to be considered an adults-only release in Japan. The confusion over the content of the series lies in the fact that first edition copies of De:vadasy were released in Japan by production company AIC as an "all-ages" suitable title, however changes in Japanese pornography laws that occurred around the same time required AIC to re-package and re-release the OAVs with an "adults only" classification although there were no changes made to the animation content whatsoever.

There had been speculation that while Mediablasters has not edited the title, De:Vasasy, might have been edited before it was sold to them. Some Japanese websites list De:Vasasy as hentai (adult/pornographic), while the version being released by Mediablasters is not.

John Sirabella of Mediablasters has confirmed that their release is the same as the screener they received before licensing it.

Yu Yu Hakusho Release Dates

Anime on dVD Reports Vol. #3 and Yu Yu Hakusho Vol. #4 from Funimation will arrive on 07/16/2002 for 24.95 each and a running time of 82 minutes, which we'll presume means four episodes per disc.

June AnimeTrax Sound Tracl Releases :

• Lost Universe, Best of CD Soundtrack 14.98 05/28/2002
• Martian Successor Nadesico TV CD Soundtrack 14.98 05/28/2002
• Slayers Try VOX CD Soundtrack 14.98 05/28/2002
• Slayers Try BGM 1 CD Soundtrack 14.98 06/25/2002
• Slayers Try BGM 2 CD Soundtrack 14.98 06/25/2002
• Yamamoto Yohko, Starship Girl Vocals CD Soundtrack 14.98 06/25/2002