Father Geek here with Scott and our regular mid-work-week edition of our AICN Anime Report, that fact stuffed, fun filled column that covers the whole wide world of Manga & Anime... everything from Games to Toys to Videos & DVDs to comics to theaterial releases. It all right here in one simple to find location, sooooooo scroll on down thru this weeks mountain of news...
Manga Spotlight: Upcoming Manga Anthologies Part II
Shonen Jump
Shonen Jump offers an array of adventure titles for an adolescent male audience, capitalizing on existing interest in Dragon Ball, and Yu-Gi-Oh. The stories are nearly universally flavors of young heroes making their way in the world. Expect plenty of speed-line infused action, progressive threats, and fighting tournaments. This isn't to say the titles will not appeal to other demographics. One Piece, and Shaman King have an inventiveness that have earned them an older audience, and Naruto, and YuYu Hakusho's sense humor and romance have likewise earned a female audience.
Shonen Jump will be released in 250 page monthly issues starting this November. Subscription rates are $29.95 a year in the US, and $41.95 a year in Canada, but a $19.95 US/$31.95 Canada special is currently running. See www.shonenjump.com
>Shonen Jump No. 0: The 52 page sample issue of Shonen Jump features four to ten page sample action sequences from all of the anthology's titles. They are presented as samples to the degree that the title logos partially obscure the first panel of the sequences.
At this point, pretty much everyone has had some experience with Dragon Ball Z, even if its only seeing its energy ball tossing, muscle bound, super hero martial artists on a child's t-shirt. It is a good gateway series for younger readers. It's huge. Huge explosions, huge story lines, huge heroes, huge villains, and action/violence on a scope and caliber not currently found in most entertainment for younger audiences. This is coupled with an illusion of complexity an illusion of complexity created by shifting alliances, death, and character evolution, that fans will find more fully actualized in other manga series. For older readers, it can be an empty calorie, professional wrestling guilty pleasure, a breezy read, or at worst ignorable.
If anything helps the anthology succeed with will be the decision to move Dragon Ball Z from the monthly format to Shonen Jump; and better yet, launched at one of the most popular points in the series, with the introduction of Trunks, the sword wielding warrior from the future.
Sand Land is a short adventure by Dragon Ball's Akira Toriyama. In a post apocalyptic desert world Sheriff Rao enlists the help of Beelzebub, son of the demon king to free up a supply of water.
In the preview sequence Rao, Beelzebub, and Beelzebub's demon attendant try to outrun a sand worm-like dragon. It has the strange creatures of the early Dragon Ball, rendered by a more experienced Toriyama. Toriyama's brilliance with action and oddity shine when freed from the confines of the Dragon Ball Z formula. It feels like he's bursting out after the repetitive punches and explosions of Dragon Ball Z.
Naruto is the name of an orphan wanna-be ninja, who possesses the soul of the nine tailed fox who decimated his ninja clan. The brash pariah adolescent is paired with a cold, rival, and an intelligent girl in his training.
In the preview is an introduction to a training exercise in which the three students must use throwing daggers to take bells from their masters. It looks fast, looks stylish, looks precise and looks exotic, all of the potentially plain cool aspects of using ninjas without getting for the pit falls, short cuts, and played out bits that pretty much every action fan has seen too often. The illustration also successes in imbuing the characters with a lot of personality in the brief sequence, and not just in their design, but their expressions, gestures and postures.
Despite following a potentially tiresome format where its protagonist must fight spirit wielding foes for the title of Shaman King, the same named series has a charm and innovativeness that may make it a surprise hit.
Yoh Asakura is a rare shaman, able to communicate with the spirit world, and invite the spirits into his body. Chief among the spirits he deals with is Amidamaru, a 600 year gone samurai with an evil reputation. The Shaman King scene has an interesting flow and motion perspective, but it is more non-descript than the title's reputation. It is a quick action scheme in which Yoh uses his samurai ghost ally to the skill to dispatch with two thugs. The strength of the scene is in the way it captures the force of the collision, but it is too short to get a good sense of what the series has to offer.
Yu Yu Hakusho begins as a supernatural adventure, but evolves into a tournament style fight series. Yusuke Urameshi was a rough delinquent, until he died saving the life of a young child. In return for a second chance, and not having his soul devoured Yusuke becomes a supernatural trouble shooter.
The Yu Yu Hakusho sample features a charming, novel take on the journey to the underworld. Recently deceased junior high delinquent Yusuke is ferried by a cute death goddess to an underworld where souls are traded like stock under the CEO-like guidance of the child mythic lord of the underworld Enma. It is the least action driven of the sample, focusing more of settings, characters and humor.
Yu-Gi-Oh is Shonen Jump's other attempt to latch onto an existing fanbase, and like Dragon Ball Z, it will probably succeed. Yu-Gi-Oh initially gained distinction has the merchandising property that up seated Pokemon in Japan. Like Pokemon, the series' hero is playing a game which its readers have the opportunity to purchase and play themselves.
The manga seems like a video game projected onto a comic. Two combatants duels with cards that summon, and modify the effects of dragon monsters. There appears to be a defined system at work, things don't look like they are being made up as it goes along. The images are big, and bold, and the dragons are well rendered. The eye popping visuals will not disappoint fans of Yu Gi Oh the anime and card game.
One Piece is the pirate adventures of Monkey D. Luffy a wide eyed youth, cursed with stretching powers by the Gum-Gum fruit, and his strange crew of the Straw Hat Pirate Fleet, a thief/navigator, three sword wielding pirate hunter, a ugly lying rifleman and a kung fu cook among others. The series knows no rival in energy, and unabashed oddness.
Like Shaman King, the One Piece sample belies the title's reputation. It is a simple exchange/super power demonstration in which Monkey D. Luffy, the elastic would-be pirate king happily takes a cannon ball in the best from a clown faced pirate. It isn't really doing anything new, but there is a promising edge of insanity in the character's expressions has a promising look.
Anime Spotlight: Super Atragon
Released by ADV Films
Super Atragon mixes plausible, updated Jules Verne military sci-fi with more wild H.G. Wells style elements. The two episode, open ended series depicts the opening skirmishes in a war between human civilization, and a secret race of subterranean humans who invades the surface from poles.
The years leading up to World War II, humanity with samples of this secret race's technology, and an accompanying representative. Independently the United States, and Japan develop the technology into submarine warships. The two ship meet in the wake of the Hiroshima bombing. Both are sunk in the confrontation.
In preparation for their benefactor's return, the sole survivor of the Japanese battle ship recovers his vessel, and refits it with a crew independent of any nation or organization. In the present day, the grandson of the ship's captain is part of a UN force dispatched to investigate odd disturbances at the south pole.
Super Atragon succeeds in presenting a new race with its own thought processes and politics, and a strange, but intriguing and logical array of technology, and weapons. The weapons are the star of the series. Its shoots high, and though creators both stunning and new, or stunningly silly, but in both cases, the inventiveness is rule by a semi-scientific logic. The explanations for the technologic can often be explained by the viewer, but they are explaining by cast. Super Atragon is not something that everyone will enjoy, but fans of odd sci-fi ideas will take great joy in the series.
This Week' Anime and Manga Releases
Anime
- Babel II - Call To The Gods
- Excel Saga (Vol. 2)
- Knight Hunters Vol. #4
- Nadia The Secret Of Blue Water - The Motion Picture
- Red Hawk - Weapon Of Death
- Rurouni Kenshin - A Shinobi's Love (Episodes 87-90)
- Steel Angel Kurumi - Where Angels Fear To Tread (Vol.
3)
- Tokyo Revelation
Manga
- Angelic Layer Vol 2 Gn
- Ceres Celestial Legend Part 3 #3 (Of 4)
- Corrector Yui Vol 5 Pkt Tp
- Gto Vol 5 Gn
- Island Vol 5 Gn
- Lone Wolf & Cub Vol 24 In These Small Hands Tp (Mr)
- Love Hina Vol 5 Gn
- Mars Vol 4 Gn
- Medabots Part 3 #2 (Of 4)
- Pokemon Advs Part 7 #5 (Of 5)
- Ragnarok Vol 3 Gn
- Zoids #7
Spirited Away's Release
Nausicaa.net
reports Spirited Away will open as a limited release in
10 North American cities. On September 28th the film
will hit wide release within these same 10 cities:
- Boston
- Chicago
- Los Angeles
- Minneapolis
- New York
- Philadelphia
- San Francisco
- Seattle
- Toronto, Canada
- Washington D.C.
Spirited Away will then open nationwide across North
America on October 4th in cities including:
- Atlanta
- Dallas
- Denver
- Detroit
- Houston
- Phoenix
- San Diego
- Vancouver, Canada
- Montreal, Canada
- Babel II - Call To The Gods
- Excel Saga (Vol. 2)
- Knight Hunters Vol. #4
- Nadia The Secret Of Blue Water - The Motion Picture
- Red Hawk - Weapon Of Death
- Rurouni Kenshin - A Shinobi's Love (Episodes 87-90)
- Steel Angel Kurumi - Where Angels Fear To Tread (Vol. 3)
- Tokyo Revelation
Manga
- Angelic Layer Vol 2 Gn
- Ceres Celestial Legend Part 3 #3 (Of 4)
- Corrector Yui Vol 5 Pkt Tp
- Gto Vol 5 Gn
- Island Vol 5 Gn
- Lone Wolf & Cub Vol 24 In These Small Hands Tp (Mr)
- Love Hina Vol 5 Gn
- Mars Vol 4 Gn
- Medabots Part 3 #2 (Of 4)
- Pokemon Advs Part 7 #5 (Of 5)
- Ragnarok Vol 3 Gn
- Zoids #7
Spirited Away's Release
Nausicaa.net
reports Spirited Away will open as a limited release in
10 North American cities. On September 28th the film
will hit wide release within these same 10 cities:
- Boston
- Chicago
- Los Angeles
- Minneapolis
- New York
- Philadelphia
- San Francisco
- Seattle
- Toronto, Canada
- Washington D.C.
Spirited Away will then open nationwide across North
America on October 4th in cities including:
- Atlanta
- Dallas
- Denver
- Detroit
- Houston
- Phoenix
- San Diego
- Vancouver, Canada
- Montreal, Canada
Nausicaa.net
reports Spirited Away will open as a limited release in
10 North American cities. On September 28th the film
will hit wide release within these same 10 cities:
- Boston
- Chicago
- Los Angeles
- Minneapolis
- New York
- Philadelphia
- San Francisco
- Seattle
- Toronto, Canada
- Washington D.C.
Spirited Away will then open nationwide across North
America on October 4th in cities including:
- Atlanta
- Dallas
- Denver
- Detroit
- Houston
- Phoenix
- San Diego
- Vancouver, Canada
- Montreal, Canada
- Atlanta
- Dallas
- Denver
- Detroit
- Houston
- Phoenix
- San Diego
- Vancouver, Canada
- Montreal, Canada
According to information reported from a recent advance screening held in Dallas, Texas, the American theatrical print does not have the "red tint" associated with the Japanese home video version of the film. The dialogue in the American trailer during the scene with Chihiro and Haku is not the same as in the movie. And there is still no word about theatrical distribution of a subtitled version.
Pixar Animation Studios on a rare occasion will open it's doors to the public, hosting a Gala preview of Studio Ghibli's Sprited Away on Sunday September 15th, 2002, 12:00-5.00 PM at Pixar Animation Studios, Emeryville California. Cost will be $200-$1000 with all proceeds benefiting the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) (http://www.jdf-sfbay.org). A sneak peek of the new Disney/Pixar short film, Mike's New Car will also be shown, enjoy a cocktail reception and silent auction. Guests will have the choice of viewing the movie in Pixar's state-of-the-art digital theater before or after the reception. Celebrity guests will include:
John Lasseter - Academy Award-winning director at Pixar Animation Studios
Hayao Miyazaki - World-renowned director of Spirited Away from Studio Ghibli
John Ratzenberger - Well-known actor from "Cheers" and
character voices in Disney/Pixar's Toy Story, Toy Story
2, A Bug's Life, Monsters, Inc., & Walt Disney Studios'
Spirited Away.
OPPORTUNITIES FOR PARTICIPATION
$1,000 - Director's Circle (limited to 50 people)
12pm or 5pm: Viewing of Spirited Away
3pm: Private VIP tour with celebrity guests
4pm: Exclusive cocktail reception with celebrity guests
$200 - Friend of JDRF
12pm or 5pm: Viewing of Spirited Away
3pm: Cocktail reception and silent auction
For more information goto
http://www.jdf-sfbay.org/event.php?eid=12
Anime and Manga In Japan
From Natsume Maya
The Ghost in the Shell TV series, Stand Alone Complex will be broadcast ona Japanese pay-ver-view station starting October 1st. All 26 episodes will be shown over the course of a year. ZDNet Japan reports that the TV series will take place in a "parallel world" where Kusanagi Motoko doesn't encounter the Puppet Master.
Ariga Hitoshi has mentioned in his diary that his Big O manga will re-commence serialisation in the 25 September 2002 issue of Kodansha's monthly Magazine Z.
Episode 2 onwards of the web anime Blame! Ver.0.11 will not be free, it has been announced. However, those who purchase Blame! goods, such as a T-shirt or poster, will be entitled to watch the anime free.
According to the Otomo Katsuhiro database site Apple Paradise, the live action movie So What, based on Akira creator's short manga of the same name, will make its DVD debut on 25 October 2002, having previously been released on VHS and LD. <
a href="http://www.seaple.icc.ne.jp/~ndo/">C Place, a fansite for composer Kawai Kenji, states that Kawai will be working on two more Oshii Mamoru (Jin-Roh, Ghost in the Shell) movies, one being an anime to be released in about two years' time (title undetermined) and the other being GRM, a "digital movie" where a pilot film has already been created but production has been suspended for now. Kawai composed the music for Ghost in the Shell.
TV series based on the novel Platonic Chain, by Watanabe Kouji and serialised in Weekly Famitsu, is to be animated using full 3D CG by the company ACiD, with character designs by Okazaki Takeshi. This will comprise five short stories about three girls Hitomi, Rika and Kanae and will be set in the Shibuya district of Tokyo in the future when mobile telephones have expanded functions. The anime is also planned to be distributed online. Source: TA Group BBS and Eizo Shimbun.
Watanabe Kouji and Okazaki Takeshi have worked together to produce the colour sci-fi manga @Run city, previously serialised in Shogakukan's manga magazine Ikki. That story is also being turned into a TV series.
The popular drama CD Piano will be adapted into an anime series starting this November. Character design will by Ah! My Goddess' Fujishima Kosuke. A manga series by Terao Naomi, and internet radio play called Kawasumi Ayako's Piano are also in the works.
This coming winter, animate.tv will also release it's first production Vie Durant, an eight episode web anime about seven vampires.
Toei Animation will be distributing the new Ginga Tetsudo 999 (Galaxy Express 999) anime from a Yahoo site starting at 9am 9 September 2002.
The TV anime version of the manga Nanaka 6/17 (Nanaka Junana Bun no Roku) by Yagami Ken (serialised in Monthly Shonen Champion) will commence broadcast in 2003. On the other hand, Magazine Special magazine has announced that the TV anime version of the manga Asobot Zenki Gokuu will commence broadcast on TV Tokyo on 1 October 2002.
Anime News Service reportst he popular soccer comics under series "the hungry heart" are animation-ized by the "weekly boy champion"(Syukan shonen champion) in the title of "hungry heart-WILD STRIKER", and are broadcast by the Fuji Television system from October 9. AC Milan of Italy Serie A cooperates in this animation. It is due for use of the uniform of the AC Milan team to be attained and to be broadcast also on the commercial broadcasting "a media set" of Italy in autumn next year. At the interview held in the city of Tokyo on August 8, the original author's Yoichi Takahashi and a voice actor's Natsuki Kato were present. Kids Alive which sings the theme song "2nd STAGE" (Avex) of this work also announced the song. Prior to a ground wave broadcast, it is broadcast also by the animation channel "Animax" of SKYPerfecTV! ! from September 11.
Takahashi Shin's new manga Kimi no Kakera commenced serialization in yesterday's issue of Weekly Shonen Sunday magazine. A little Flash introduction to the manga can be found on Takahashi's website here.
Anime Game News
From Magic Box
Branpresto will be release a Gameboy Advance RPG base on the pirate anime/manga series One Piece, entitled "Secret Treasure of Nanaji Island. Screen shots of this game can be seen here. Bandai will also be releasing One Piece Grand Battle for the Gamecube on September 26th.
Asmik Ace Entertainment will be releasing Lupin the 3rd: Lost Treasure from Sea for GameCube, a dramatic 2D anime adventure game based the classic crime adventure series. The game is scheduled for a December release in Japan, feature over 15000 frames of animation and full voice like the cartoon series. Screen shots can be seen here
Bandai will be releasing simulator RPG SD Gundam G Generation Neo for the Playstation 2. Cute, super deform (big head, small body) Gundams from Gundam 0080, Gundam 0083, Gundam 08MS, Gundam ZZ, Gundam F91 and many mor will battle in out in 3d on various field maps. Screen shots can be seen here.
The manga series GetBackers, soon to be adapted into an anime series, will also be adapted into a "command battle" RPG by Konami. "GetBackers: The Deprived Infinite Castle" will be released September 26th in Japan. Screen shots can be seen here.
Konami's GameCube soccer simulation game Captain Tsubusa: Golden Generation Challenge is scheduled for a September 12 release in Japan screen shots can be seen here.
SaiyanZ Rage reports Infogrames announced plans to release the strategy card-fighting game Dragon Ball Z: Legendary Super Warriors, and adaptation of the Japanese Dragonball Z: Densetsu no Chousenshi Tachi, for the Game Boy Color in November. The games features characters from 10 Dragon Ball saga, through the Majin Buu story.
Upcoming Releases
ADV Films will be releasing Dai Guard volume 2 on November 12th.
The volumes 11 and 12 of the dub only Sailor Moon on November 26th. final two volumes on January 28th.
Right Stuf will be releasing Dangaizer 3 from Bubblegum
Crisis director Masami Obari on November 26th.
Anime on DVD
has learned of the following release dates.
Viz Addresses Ranma DVD Problems
Viz has remedied a defect in the fifth disc of their Ranma Hard Battle DVD set. Episodes 22 & 23 on disc 5 of the set do not include the Japanese language track.
Viz has acknowledged the manufacturing defect and requests that the defective disc 5 only be sent to:
Ranma Hard Battle Disc
- Viz Communications
- P.O. Box 77010
- San Francisco, CA 94107
Along with return name, full mailing address and e-mail address. Viz will furnish a free replacement disc along with a "small gift for your trouble."
Anime Merchandise News
From Figures.com
Viz and Kotobukiya will team up to produce Ranma 1/2 resign statues. Female Ranma can be seen here.
Epoch/Kaiyodo will be releasing a line of 6" figures of the romance comedy Love Hina. The lines include Sara MacDougal with Kaolla Su, Naru Narusegawa, Mitsune Konno, Shinobu Maehara, and Motoko Aoyama. The figures will ship in 2003 for $12.99 each. The figures can be seen here
Images of upcoming Battle of the planets releases can be seen here
Toynami is developing a Robotech "BattleCry" of transforming fighter planes based on the upmcing video game from TDK Interactive. The assortment, which includes Super VF-1S, Miriya's Super VF-1J, the Super VF-1A, Max's Super VF-1J, and the Super VF-1R, stars increased height and posing versatility, along with 18 points of articulation. Robotech: Battlecry super-poseable figures each come with a removable rifle and five interchangeable hands, allowing the Battloid to either firmly grip the rifle or be ready for hand-to-hand combat action. Scheduled to ship in December 2002 for a SRP of $13.99 each. Figures can be seen here
Kaiyodo will be releasing an 11" Gungrave figure, based on the character by Trigun's Yasuhiro Nightow. See here
Toycom has updated Figures.com on the status of the Escaflowne line they announced at the 2001 San Diego Comic Con. The "BIG" project involves an approximately 12" transforming (from robot to dragon mode for flying) "Ispano White" Guymelef action figure. While the collectible was originally slated for release this year, the piece didn't meet with Toycom or the designer's high quality standards and has since been totally overhauled and redesigned. Toycom assures fans that the final product, now being eyed for a 2003 launch, promises to be trully awesome. SDCC Coverage - DBZ I-Men
Toynami's third I-Men line will feature mini figures of Dragon Ball Z characters. The figures can be seen at here
Kaiyodo will be releasing Getter Robo figures, which can be seen here.
Asamiya At Marvel
Pulse has pictures of Kia Asamiya's upcoming Thor story, and a brief interview with the manga creator here
Live Action "You're Under Arrest"
MadMan Cafe reports anime/manga series "You're Under Arrest" has been adapted into a live action TV drom for Japan's "TV Asahi" network. The show will begin in August. The leads can be seen at here.
Ghost in the Shell II Anime
According to the Anime News Service mailing list, the fall issue of Anime Invasion mentions the following future projects: a)A Ghost in the Shell film based on Man-Made Interface, and directed by Oshii, b)An Orion anime in negotiation, c)Two videogame projects with one based on the upcoming GITS series. (A rumour also suggests that the Ghost in the Shell II: Man-Machine Interface anime could be in Japan around Spring 2003.)
FUNimation Get Unedited Dragon Ball Z
According to the Anime News Service mailing list, the fall issue of Anime Invasion FUNimation has gotten the rights to the first 50 Japanese unedited episodes of Dragon Ball Z, and plan to re-record the dubs using the current dub cast. Unfortunately, production won't start until later this year, and it might take as long as a year and a half for the new dvd's to come out.
Ninja Scroll Series on TV
According to the Anime News Service mailing list, the fall issue of Anime Invasion the Ninja Scoll TV series will come out summer of 2003 on American tv. Urban Vision rep Rhona Medina says, "We definitely want it on a channel not geared toward children."
Interviews
Anime Tourist has posted an interview with Gainax Studio co-founder Hiroyuki Yamaga from earlier this year. The extensive interview is extremely informative and enlightening and includes discussion of titles ranging from Secret of Blue Water to Puchipuri Yushi (the Princess Maker anime). See here.
Akadot has posted an interview with Trigun creator Yasuhiro Nightow here
Anime on DVD has posted the transcript of an interview with Hiroyuki Morioka here
Results of Latest Newtype Fan Poll
From Anime
News Network
Newtype Magazine has published the results of its
current fan polls in the new September issue of the
magazine. Shows without web links do not have official
series sites. Japanese names are spelled in Japanese
order.
Favorite Male Character
Favorite Female Character
Favorite Show
Arrest Manga Artist's Series Cancelled
Popular manga series Sekai Leader Den Takeshi, and the scheduled 25 volume have been cancelled after the arrest of its creator Hikaru Shimabukuro for paying a 16 year old girl 80,000 yen for sex.
