Father Geek here with all the anime/manga related news your heart desire, annnnd you don't have to surf all over the net to find it either. Yep, ol' Scott has put together another great report on Comics, gaming, DVD, VHS, whatever your interest he's got it here for you the middle of each work-week. Sooooo, prepare to dig in to...

THE AICN ANIME REPORT

Anime Spotlight FLCL "Fooly Cooly" Volume 1

Released by Synch-Point

FLCL is the 70's David Bowie glam rock of anime, an explosion of pop creative energy, hormones, and melding of artistic influences. FLCL is a six episode OAV (direct to video) series supposedly named for an onomatopoeia term for groping from the psychology, sex and robot filled minds of Evangelion creators GAINAX, and digital eyes of Ghost in the Shell and Blood: The Last Vampire animators Production I.G. It's planned genius, or an animated brainstorming session from the meetings of two groups of very talented individuals. It's odd, its very odd, and it may be the video poetry, or it may be a bunch of geeks throwing around ideas and playing with their new digital toys, but it's definitely something fresh and unique that must be seen.

Beginning with the opening double entendre, FLCL is a pretty blatant adolescence tale. Naoto's older brother and mentor leaves him to play baseball in America, and he discovers sex, except he doesn't discover sex, his brother's troubled girl friend hangs on him, and an insane young woman riding a scooter hits him of the head with a bass guitar. Symptoms from the incident include loss of brain, and a horn shaped lump on his forehead that sprouts battling robots. It is thoroughly insane, but it is light on the Evangelion damaged person psychology, It's mostly a huge Freud-gasm. Any doubt of this vanishes in the second episode with Naoto's transformation into an in-control alter-ego, that's certainly noteworthy to say the least.

FLCL's animation looks like a wild experimentation in getting the most out of digital animation. Production I.G. looks absolutely adept in digital 2D. Instead of the typical bouts of awkwardness they are hitting the effects. It chains KaraKano style animated manga (an on screen comic, like moves like a person reading), with anime's best implementation of the bullet time effect, top notch Evangelion style robot on robot brutality, with hyper-simple cat trying to make love to surrounds, in an constant maelstrom of changing effect. Frequent GAINAX collaborator Sadamoto Yoshiyuki's character design is constantly being shifted, and deformed, not in the safe big head/small body "super-deformed" standard, but in more insidious and subtle manners. It works because these are people who know how to make things eye catching. From background, to character to effect and motion, it demands visual attention.

Like its animation, the music in FLCL stands alone. Rather than j-pop, or orchestral, or any of the standbys, it's "the pillows" a drum and guitar band with a heavy western, indi-rock feel. GAINAX got carte blanche with the band's library, and the series is packed with their vocal and instrumentals.

While odd and interminable is more digestible in video form than other mediums, especially when it is coated in eye-popping visuals, humor, and action, the flow and experimentation of series has earned it some vocal detractors, and turned off some viewers. It has a noticeable absurdist edge, and while it's not the End of Evangelion shot gun blast to the brain, it comes close at times. FLCL It doesn't require the effort of Grateful Dead "space", and not to belittle those who don't take it, but it does demand some cognitive with work on the part of the viewer not to get lost in the jazz riffs of insanity; not deep analyst, but willingness to the follow rapid change, and catalogue events.

FLCL looks like the vanguard of something new, its own idiom that, barring a digital camera-like revolution coming to the animation world, will continue to be exceptionally rare. Only the commercial reputations of Production I.G. and a post-Evangelion GAINAX made this outing possible. It is anime for pop rather a vehicle for story, or comedy, or action, or sex, or music, or selling product. Not only is it a rarely seen unleashing of creative force, its one that looks great, and sounds great.

Synch-Point put together a very nice package with the release of the first FLCL, with some nice features that don't seem to advertising on the packaging. The disc includes an interview style director's commentary by Kazuya Tsurumaki and a booklet with translation notes, listings of background music titles, essays from the creators, and a hard copy of the manga animated in the first episode.

This Week's Anime and Manga Releases

Anime

• Cardcaptor Sakura - Trust (Vol. 11)
• Carried by the Wind - Tsukikage Ran - A Tale of Two Travelers (Vol. 1)
• Fancy Lala - Sharing the Spotlight (Vol. 2)
• Gate Keepers - The Shadow (Vol. 7)
• Hellsing - Blood Brothers (Vol. 2)
• Kimera
• Legend of Himiko - The Pendant (Vol. 2)
• M.D. Geist - Director's Cut and Death Force (Collector's Series Edition)
• Mecha Masters Explosive Anime Classics (M.D. Geist I & II Collector's Series/Cybernetics Guardian/Genocyber Collection & 2 Soundtracks)
• Outlaw Star - Perfect Collection Boxed Set

See first volume reviews of the horror action Hellsing, magic girl drama Fancy Lala

Manga

• Big O Part 2 #3 (Of 4)
• Cardcaptor Sakura #30
• Ceres Celestial Legend Vol 2 Yuhi Tp
• Dragonball Z Part 5 #9 (Of 12)
• Kodocha Vol 3 Sanas Stage Gn
• Marmalade Boy Vol 3 Gn
• Medabots Part 3 #3 (Of 4)
• Parasyte Vol 11 Pkt Gn
• Project Arms Part 1 #1
• Ranma 1/2 Part 11 #7 (Of 11)
• Vagabond #11
• Vagabond Vol 3 Tp

Blue Gender Movie

AIC is planning on a movie edit of the dramatic and brutal bug hunt sci-fi Blue Gender TV series with added footage that will be out in Japan on November 21st and in North America "around January, 2003".

Dragon Ball News

According to Saiyanz Rage Cartoon Network will only be broadcast 39 episodes of Dragon ball Z, rather the complete 54 remaining in the series for the new season, schedule to start September 16th. The remaining 15 episodes will be broadcast on the Cartoon Network next spring.

When FUNimation releases the unedited version of Dragon Ball Z, they will letter episodes that were combined for the edited version. For example unedited 25A, 25B, and 25C were combined to form the edited episode 25.

According to Viz representative Jason Thompson, monthly comic book issues of Dragon Ball Z will conclude at the end of the Frieza saga. The Dragonball Z manga story will then continue in the pages of Shonen Jump Magazine, three chapters a month (roughly 45 pages). Toei confirmed that a new St. Seiya OAV will premiere on a premium Japanese satellite network before its DVD release. The "Hades" OAV series will follow-up on the popular TV series.

New Toycom Berserk Merchandise

Toycom will release two new items based on the medievel drama Berserk this December. The hidious polystone (resin)"Befferit" pendant will retail for $11.95, and the cute 4.5" Kuri Puck statue will retail for $24.99. Figures.com has images of the items at here

Anime Gaming News

From The Magic Box

The as of yet unreleased Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex is being developed as a PS2 game by Sony.

Bandai Japan is working on a game based on RahXephon, an Anime that was recently aquired for North American release by ADV.

Bandai will be release volumes 12 and 13 of their PSone Simple Characters 2000 seris with G-Gundam The Battle, and Gundam Wing The Battle respectively. The games with feature a 2D Gundam fighting game with characters and machines from the featured Gundam series.

Beside traditional favorites like Gundam, pirate anime One Piece is spawning a considerable number of games. Badai's One Piece: Treasure Battle is schedule for Japanese release this fall for the GameCube. The series features Super Smash Bros.-like fighting. Screen shots for the GameBoy Advance RPG From TV Animation One Piece: Secret Treasure of Phantom Island can be seen here.

TK Mediaactive has release images of their mech-combat game Robotech: Battlecry, featuring transforming Veritech fighter jets in missions, deathmatch play.

Banpresto announced Super Robot Taisen Original Generation, featuring a collage of giant robots from anime, for GameBoy Advance, this will be a remake of the first Super Robot Taisen title.

Nintendo announced they will co-operate with Bandai to develop GameCube software. Nintendo will be marketing and publishing Bandai's GameCube software in Japan, include Kinniku Man 2nd Generations, From TV Animation One Piece Treasure Battle and the newly announced Mobile Suit Gundam title for GameCube, which is scheduled for a spring 2003 release.

Capcom has confirmed they will be showing at least two new arcade titles at the AOU Show, including the sequel to Mobile Suit Gundam: Federation Vs Zion DX and Capcom All-Stars (tentative name).

Sega Rosso has confirmed they are developing Initial D: Arcade Stage 2, the sequel of the popular anime based racing game. The game will be exhibited at the AOU show.

CPM to Dub More Gall Force

Central Park Media's Justin Sevakis posted on Anime on DVD's forum that the company will be creating English language tracks for Gall Force 2: Destruction, Gall Force 3: Stardust War, and Rhea Gall Force. Tom Wayland indicated that the first installment, Gall Force: Eternal Story, may get a re-issue as well while undergoing some minor restoration and cleanup (but nowhere near as extensive as Project A-Ko).

Manga Entertainment Releases

Manga Entertainment announced several tentative DVD release dates at the recent Anime Expo New York:

Virus Buster Serge will premier before the end of the year. Rayearth OAV series - February Gunbuster & Kaidohmaru - March R.O.D. - April

Episodes 1-36 of the Fist of the North Star TV series and New Dominion Tank Police (Crusher Police Dominion) are at the top of Manga's list of catalog titles to convert to DVD.

There have been discussions with an un-named company regarding a possible American theatrical release of Jubei nin Pocho in connection with the upcoming live-action American Ninja Scroll movie.

Manga Entertainment has shipped more than 15,000 copies of the Evangelion: Death & Rebirth DVD so far.

Anime News Service reports Bio-Booster Armor Guyver has been removed from Manga Entertainment's list of titles scheduled for DVD release this year.

Anime Online

From Anime Nation e full CG sci-fi/action/horror OAV A.F Archetypes Forces is now available online from Fuji TV and Honda.

The attractive TV commercial for the Elementals Force Mistlarouge collectable card game is available from the official site in 15 and 30 second MPG versions.

Production IG website Address Change

Resent problems have prompted Production IG to move there web server and e-mail to the domain productionig.com (previously production-ig.com).

September Web Periodicals

The September issue of AnimeFringe features an interview with Asian American pop star Kristine Sa, looks at the gender-bender comedy Strawberry Eggs, the alternate history robot romance Steel Angel Kurumi, the Evangelion-esque hit mecha series Rahxephon, and the split personality comedy Seven of Seven.

The anime side of here includes an interview with Shonen Jump's Jason Thompson, and a focus on anime adapations of video games.

Guardians Of Order To Publish Slayers And Utena Ultimate Fan Guides

From the release:

Guardians Of Order, Inc., in association with Enoki Films USA, Inc., announced today that it will publish reference and role-playing books for the Slayers and Revolutionary Girl Utena anime series under its Ultimate Fan Guide line starting in spring 2003. Additionally, Guardians Of Order will release a Slayers d20 System role-playing game in summer 2003.

Both Slayers and Utena are exceptionally popular anime series that have garnered much critical acclaim from anime and role-playing fans everywhere. Slayers is a 78-episode fantasy series that follows the exploits of the beautiful teenage sorceress-supreme, Lina Inverse, and her mighty band of spell-casting, sword-wielding adventurers. Utena's 39 episodes detail the spiritual journey of high school student Utena Tenjo on her quest to find the mysterious boy she met when she was only six years old.

Noteworthy November Manga Releases

The following manga (comics) be released in the November time frame. For a full list, or to pre-order them visit your local comic shop.

COMICSONE

ComicsOne will be releasing the first volume of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, starting the story several years before the movie's story. Other Kung Fu releasing include Heaven Sword & Dragon Sabre Gn #3, Mega Dragon & Tiger Gn #2, Storm Riders Gn #8, and Weapons Of The Gods Gn #4.

CPM Manga

Dark Angel Volume Five: Legend Of The Sacred Beast II

Tp is the latest in Kia Asamiya's fantasy epic. The enigmatic angel, Dark has been sidetracked from his quest. He needs to rescue his fairy companion, Kyo and retrieve his sword from the ruthless and evil forces known as the Gairana. Dark will need to focus his strength and skills in order to overcome this deadly threat, but even if he succeeds, he still must come to grips with his ultimate destiny...in the far off realm of Oukoku!

Slayers Super-Explosive Demon Story Volume 2: Legacy Of The Dragon God Tp

Through painstaking research, Lina Inverse has found the root of all evil in the world... and it all has to do with the mysterious metal known as Orihalcon. Thieves, bandits, and mages from everywhere want to get their hands on this mystical element, and only Lina and her swordsman companion Gourry stand between the powerful substance and the certain destruction of the world. Can our heroes find out all of the secrets of Orihalcon - before they are destroyed by the greedy forces which surround them? And who... or what... is the mysterious blue-skinned sorcerer known only as Zelgadis?

Dark Horse

Dark Horse will be releasing the first collected volume of Gunsmith Cats creator Kenichi Sonoda's Cannon God Exaxxion, a sci-fi take on his two obessions, weapons and cute girls. Cannon God Exaxxion: Stage 1 collects the first eight issues of the series.

Blade of the Immortal: Beasts collects one of the most brutal chapters in the violent samurai tale as members of the Itto-ryu sword school take their revenge on the beautiful assassin Hyakurin.

Ghost In The Shell 2: Man-Machine Interface #2 March 6, 2035 - four and half years since cyber-cop Matoko Kusanagi joined with an artifical intelligence and quit the 9th Police Squad. Now, a hyper-advanced cyborg called Motoko Aramaki - a fusion of multiple entities and identities - heads the investigative department of the giant multi-national, Poseidon Industrial, deploying remotely controlled humanoid surrogates around the globe as on-the-ground agents. When a herd of specially-bred pigs used to clone human organs for transplant are slaughtered, Motoko dispatches herself through cyberspace and utilizing surrogate cyborgs at far-flung locales to do the heavy lifting, Matoko hunts down the attackers, battling online and on the ground, but there may be more to the mystery than meets the eye.even the all-seeing eye of artificial intelligence.

Lone Wolf And Cub Vol. 28: Falling Tree concludes the samurai revenge epic.

Dark Horse will also be releasing Cowboy Bebop mini-busts of Spike Siegel & Faye Valentine for $45.00 each.

IRONCAT

Dark Dimension Zero Volume 1 Tp From acclaimed horror manga artist [Name not given] comes a tale of love and death, demons and gods. Dark Dimension Zero is the story of young Zero, a half-devil/half-god who has been given the duty of claiming the souls of the living once their time has come. In the first tales included in this collection, Zero comes for a young girl who has plunged off the side of a building going after the most precious possession in her life. a book; we learn about Zero's past; Zero encounters a young man who refuses to let go of his previous life because of a woman he loved; and Zero's half sister, Lucia, comes to the human world takes the life energy of a young boy in return for granting a man the health of his daughter.

Marvel

Marvel comics will be releasing the first issue of Marvel Double-Shot #1, with a Thor story with by Kia Asamiya.

Vampire Princess Yui Volume 1 Tp will be re-released.

TOKYOPOP

Graphic Novels

Releases from the popular manga team CLAMP include Cardcaptor Sakura: Master Of The Clow Volume 2 Tp, Cardcaptor Sakura Anime Book Volume 10 Tp, and Wish Volume 3 Gn. Re-releasing include Cardcaptors Anime Book Volume 4 Tp, and Angelic Layer Volume 1 Gn.

Lupin III Volume 1 Gn

From TOKYOPOP's description: by Monkey Punch

James Bond meets The Thomas Crown Affair, manga-style! This is the first time Monkey Punch's original, classic series has been published in the U.S.! A little smug and extremely suave, daring, debonair and, above all, flashy, international master thief Lupin III comes from a long line of high-stakes bandits, all committed to stealing from the rich and giving to themselves! Fortunately, he tends to avoid robbing society's virtuous and, instead, targets some pretty shady characters. But still, Interpol is hot on his trail! Lupin III includes a cast of unforgettable characters: Daisuke Jigen-an ex-mafia hit man with a somber demeanor and a trademark black fedora; Goemon Ishikawa-a swordsman of samurai heritage who mysteriously fades in and out of Lupin's exploits; Fujiko Mine-master thief, she's the object of Lupin's affections and his greatest competition for the big scores; and Inspector Zenigata of Interpol, who longs to capture Lupin and his crew. Follow Lupin, his friends, his foes, and lovers through these highly entertaining, daring, and often times hilarious, capers!

Monsters, Inc. Volume 1 Gn:

From TOKYOPOP's description: The Disney/Pixar hit is now available as Manga! Based on the worldwide blockbuster movie, the Monsters, Inc. manga follows scare-master Sculley and his assistant Mike on their duty of scaring the human children of the world to power their monster city. But when one small girl ends up giving them a big scare back, it becomes their job to return her to her bedroom - and the Monsters, Inc. factory back to normal! Plus: A page of collectible Monsters, Inc. stickers!

Viz Communications

Shonen Jump Volume 1 #1

Shonen Jump is the official English-language edition of the popular Japanese magazine. Printed in the original right-to-left Japanese format, but completely translated. In this volume: Yu-Gi-Oh! (by Kazuki Takahashi): The never-before-seen origin behind the anime and trading card game! A loner, a wimp, a kid always with his head in some game - that's what they called Yugi Mutoh. Dragonball Z (by Akira Toriyama): Planet Namek has been destroyed, and Goku is feared dead. But the diabolical Freeza survived the blast, and rushes towards Earth yearning to destroy it. Yu Yu Hakusho (by Yoshihiro Togashi): Yusuke Urameshi was a teen delinquent with a string of fights under his belt, until an unpredictable accident changed his life... by ending it! When he died trying to rescue a little kid from a speeding car, the afterlife didn't know what to do with him! One Piece (by Eiichiro Oda): In a world of pirates, one man wants to become the greatest of them all: Monkey D. Luffy, who gained strange powers from eating the cursed Gum-Gum Fruit! One Piece is like Sergio Aragones meets Akira Toriyama meets Yellow Submarine! SandLand (by Akira Toriyama): In search of a way to end the drought, Sheriff Rao asked the King of the Demons for his help. Squarebound. Monthly. SC, 7x10, 256pg, PC $4.95

Hamtaro releases, featuring the cute hamster from the anime series now airing on Cartoon Network include The Adventures Of Hamtaro Volume 1: A Home For Hamtaro Tp, the puzle book Hamtaro, Let's Play! Volume 1 Tp, and Hamtaro Postcard Book.

Magical Pokémon Journey Volume 7: From The Heart Tp by Yumi Tsukirino

Shôjo (girls') comic artist Yumi Tsukirino takes on the Pokémon universe and centers it around the tragi-comic romantic adventures of a new Pokémon trainer, love-struck Hazel! Clefairy thought it would be a shoe-in for an art contest at the fairgrounds. until the painter Pokémon, Smeargle, upstaged everybody! Can Clefairy's friends help the distraught Pokémon get out of its funk? Then, Almond's trip to the Cave of Slumbers results in his being put into a deep sleep! Can Hazel, Coconut, and their Pokémon friends save him?

Banana Fish Volume 7 Tp by Akimi Yoshida

The smell of gunsmoke still clings to Eiji and Ash from their violent breakout of Papa Dino's compound in New Jersey. Ash arranges for a shipment of small arms, even while hacking into Dino's money laundering network to enrich himself and make Dino appear to be embezzling from his partners in crime! Can Ash and Eiji ever be anything more than comrades-in-arms, or are they lost somewhere among the schemes for power surrounding the frightful mind-control drug code-named "Banana Fish?"

The Big O Part 3 #1

a new chapter in the giant robot noir detective tale, The master criminal Beck is broken out of prison by his accomplices and his girlfriend - driving a robot looking almost exactly like the Big O itself! Soon, the pseudo-O is implicated in a number of high-profile crimes and embarrassing incidents, designed to destroy the real Big O's reputation. And the true goal of Beck's scheme is to expose Roger Smith's secret... that he is the pilot of the Big O!

El Hazard Volume 3 Tp by Hidetomo Tsubura

The forces of Roshtaria are not faring well in the battle for the Eye of God as a war on two fronts develops: on one side the Bugrom, the other, the Shadow Tribe and their two powerful demon gods. The Phantom Tribe have kidnapped Princess Rune Venus, but then Jinnai and the Bugrom snatch the Princess right back. Meanwhile, Ifurita must defeat her own demons before Jinnai forces her to kill Makoto! Will Ifurita obey orders as she is programmed to do or will she believe in herself and act out of her own consciousness?

Even A Monkey Can Draw Manga Volume 1 Tp by Koji Aihara & Kentaro Takekum

This Viz graphic novel is the English-language translation of the notorious best-selling series that blew the lid off the comic-book industry in Japan. This volume includes material formerly serialized in the alternative manga anthology PULP, plus pages of entirely new goodies! Now you too can learn the secrets! This mock-instructional tome is actually a hilarious parody in graphic-novel form of those books that seek to advise one on "how to draw manga." Now even a completely untalented, artistically uninclined novice such as yourself can learn what it takes to properly use a pen, create characters, license ancillary rights for anime and toy manufacturing, and become rich, famous, and sexually potent beyond one's wildest dreams!

Firefighter!: Daigo Of Fire Company M Volume 1 Gn by Masato Soda

In the sleepy town of Medaka-ga-hama, Daigo has just passed the near-impossible exam to enter the brotherhood of firefighters, and his beautiful former-teacher, Ms. Ochiai, will certainly be impressed by his new uniform! Even in the quietest section of Tokyo, disaster can strike! When a fire breaks out in the high school, 18-year-old Daigo must face the flames and his fears to make certain that his favorite teacher makes it out alive. Of course, he'll first have do is get over his childhood fear of fire! Also available in a special Collectors' Edition, which is printed in the original right-to-left Japanese format.

Mobile Suit Gundam 0079 Volume 5 Tp by Kazuhisa Kondo

The official manga adaptation of the classic mecha anime! Operation Odessa, the Federal Force's campaign to take back the mineral-rich regions of Eastern Europe, has begun. The Federation and Zeon clash in a titanic struggle for supremacy, and the crew of White Base find themselves struggling for victory - and their own survival - amid the chaos. Then, when White Base puts in to port in Belfast, Amuro and the crew receive a most unwelcome visitor!

RANMA ½: FEMALE RANMA FIGURINE

This little devil is sure to look great in any fan's collection! Representing the girl-Ranma version from the hit anime, you'll want to be the first to snag this hot item! Male Ranma, Akane, and other friends are coming soon! This pre-painted, 1/8th scale statue comes complete with base and is ready to display right out of the box. (CAUT: 4) Figurine $69.95

Silent Möbius Volume 9: Turnabout Tp by Kia Asamiya

The supernatural science-fiction thriller by Kia Asamiya! In this volume, with Yuki in the hospital and Katsumi now an agent of Nemesis, the A.M.P.'s numbers are dwindling. But Rally, determined not to let mankind's last hope fade away, recruits a new member to the cause - sorceress Lum Cheng, wielder of Gesso, King of Blades. Then, Lum Cheng is attacked in her own apartment and Lebia must face down a Lucifer Hawk in the A.M.P.'s computer core! Volumes 1 through 5 will be re-released.

Spirited Away Volume 5 Tp Original story by Hayao Miyazaki

In this last volume, No-Face reveals his true nature, Sen escapes from his wrath and, with two new friends, makes for Swamp Bottom in search of Yu-baba's sister. Meanwhile, Haku revives and goes off in search of Sen. After they are reunited, Sen learns Haku's true identity. Now, to save her parents, all she has to do is identify the right pigs!

Collector File 002: Junko Mizuno's Illustration Book by Junko Mizuno

How to keep up with those up-to-the-minute trend-setting designs and fashions from the fast-moving streets of Neo-Tokyo? Get the stuff straight up with Viz's new Collector File series, featuring the latest in cutting-edge art and design from Japan! This second volume in the series focuses on the works of one of the fastest-rising young artists in Japan, Junko Mizuno, whose instantly recognizable "cute-but-deadly" art-style was featured in the recently published Junko Mizuno's Cinderalla graphic novel, also published by Viz.