Ol' Father Geek here with our regular Wednesday edition of the AICN Anime Report, the one-stop-shopping-space for anyone interested in the wide-world of Manga & Anime... We've got it all here every mid-work-week so you don't have to waste time bouncing around all over the web to locate that info you want sooooo bad... So, here's our man Scott Green and this week's column...

THE AICN ANIME REPORT...

Manga Spotlight: Lupin III Volume 1 By Monkey Punch

Released by TOKYOPOP

Lupin III is one of the classic characters of Japanese pop culture. The master thief, and freelance spy is part James Bond, part Austin Powers, and part Spike Spiegel. With his sidekick/gun Gigen, the samurai Goemon, his lover/rival Fugiko, and Zenigata, the international police office relentlessly pursuing, and sometimes aiding him, Lupin plays a deadly game with some of the world's most sadistic criminals (character's names have been spelled as they appear in the volume). It's a highly addictive mix of camp, action, humor and style, that has already hooked many, and will likely gain notable momentum as TOKYOPOP continues the manga, and it's anime spawn beings appearing on domestic television (see below).

The first volume consists of a number of capers featuring Lupin, a criminal entity, and usually Zenigata, and or Fugiko, with all present parties playing with or against the others parties towards their own ends. From the start Monkey Punch got the right mix of con job, chase and shootout in his stories, and early on he figures out how to make the villains quirky and interesting. All the pieces of a Monkey Punch classic are present, but it is still very rough around the edges. Gigen appears in one of the later chapters, and while it may just be a coincidental development in Monkey Punch's skill, Lupin just doesn't look right, or have as much flair without Gigen sulking, or running by his side. The dialogue and illustration likewise improve rapidly, but start pretty dire.

The manga has a carton-ish classic EC Horror/Mad Magazine look. It gives the series a unique flavor, but it needs to mature a little. Monkey Punch has his style down well, but his early mechanics are pretty weak. Characters look to similar, mostly because distinguishing features are too often repeated in different characters. Gawkiness, and awkward appearance is part of the appeal of the series, but in the early chapters, he look like he is having some real trouble with drawing hands, and poses.

The chief problem with the release is the dialogue, both in its flow, and style. The road the dialogue paves is too bumpy to enjoy the scenery. It is probably because it's an earlier work by Monkey Punch, and may be it may be because of what looks like a rapid procedure for Authentic Manga titles, but it's too punchy, unnatural, and force. The effect, either from the initial penning, or the translation is too visible. Consequently, it doesn't flow like a well written comic should. In this sort of fact paced action, too much parsing kills the flow.

There i also a bit on vulgarity that doesn't fit the characters. Lupin III is supposed to be suave and sophisticated, he might be not be, but he thinks he is, and the description of the series would like to paint him as such. An example of something that doesn't sound right for Lupin, and something that just doesn't read well is: "Rest in peace... Payback's a bitch. No, you won't... Shithead". Zenigata may be quick to anger, but it looks wrong to see him say "shut up, you piece-of-shit hippies." Like the illustration, there is a general improvement over the course of the volume.

Lupin III will be presented in TOKYOPOP's authentic manga format, which presents in the series in the original Japanese right to left page order, original, and often translated sound effect illustration, and priced at $10.00 for an approximately 200 page volume.

Anime Spotlight: Dragon Half

Dragon Half invented or at least popularized the turbo-charged brand of anime comedy, with it's fast talking characters, and rapid fire jokes. From the mind of Kadokawa Haruki, whose subsequent arrest on cocaine charges has cause no end of false speculation in the US on the series' brevity, some a series that still moves much faster than an attention span fostered by MTV clips and sound bytes. It has been a bit overshadowed, and a bit over rated, but not much.

Mink, the cute, hot tempered half dragon girl, fights for the heart, and concert tickets of warrior/pop singer Dick Saucer. The tangle additional characters, relationships, and agendas is fairly complex for two episode series, but it is carried out well, and all things considered, coherently. The secondary characters like Vina, beautiful evil half-princess are well thought out distinct, and some of anime's most amusing. Their personalities, design, and interplay make Dragon Half something you can't think about without at least smirking.

The voice work, especially in the Japanese, is wonderfully cute, and demented. You can't help at least smirked at "Hu-way Hu-way...Diiiick Saucah".

The closing animation may be one of the funniest pieces of animation extra, an ode to omelet making set to Beethoven. The clean (text free) version is worth the upgrade to DVD.

In the nearly ten years since its release, Dragon Half has been out amphetamined by the likes of Akitaro Daichi (Elf Princess Rane, Kodomo No Omocha), and Shinichi Watanabe (Excel Saga), but Mink is still willing to roll up her sleeves, and lose her top for a good battle for your anime comedy insanity dollar.

Spotlight: Raijin Game & Anime

Released by Gutsoon! Entertainment

Raijin Game & Anime (RGA) is a weekly twenty page anime, video games, and culture supplement to Gutsoon!'s weekly Raijin manga anthology. The issues retail for $0.99 as a stand alone, or with a Raijin comics subscription. The coverage is similar to that of the high profile NewType USA, with articles about images and articles about latest Japanese releases. It doesn't have NewType's oversized highly glossy vibrancy, but the largest difference is articles that actually give you a good sense of what you're missing in Japan.

It is impressive how well RGA know the American anime fan audience, and how well it lays out the points of interest in Japanese releases, but some of the articles could be written a little better with an eye towards a more general audience. In some instances it does assume some knowledge some general anime/manga knowledge on the part of its read. For example, Mao Dante assumes know Go Nagai, and Devil Man. If you know who Nagai is, and some generalities about Devil Man, and it is a good introduction, but a quick explanation, more explicit of both would have helped.

So far, RGA is by far the best English language window into what's hot in Japan. The quality of Protoculture's description of unreleased Japanese series edges out RGA a little, but RGA's combination of timeliness, color graphic, and breath make it unbeatable.

This Week's Releases

Anime

• Akira (DRS)
• Arjuna - Journey (Vol. 2)
• Betterman - Inhuman Nature (Vol. 4)
• Hamtaro - Surprise Party (Vol. 3)
• Hamtaro - A Ham-Ham Christmas (Vol. 4)
• His And Her Circumstances (Vol. 2)
• My Neighbor Totoro
• Patlabor - The Mobile Police, The Tv Series (Vol. 3)
• The Ping Pong Club - Dvd Collection
• Ping Pong Club - Goes Too Far

Manga

• Bastard #12 Empress (Part 2 Of 4
• Five Star Stories Eng Lang Manga #1
• Five Star Stories Eng Lang Manga #2
• Iron Wok Jan Gn #1
• Mars Vol 7 Gn
• Masamune Shirow 2003 Calendar Dark Horse Ed
• Medabots Vol 3 Tp Medaforce
• Story Of Tao Gn #1
• Uncanny X-Men #416
• Uncanny X-Men Kia Asamiya Poster
• Weapons Of The Gods Gn #3
• Wish Vol 3 Gn

New Anime On Cartoon Network

Lupin the Third, Reign and Trigun have been announced for airing on Cartoon Network. Reign will be the first TokyoPop series to air on American television.

Starting January 11th Cartoon Network's schedule will be:

Monday Through Thursday

• 12:00AM - Lupin III
• 12:30AM - Inuyasha
• 1:00AM - Yu Yu Hakusho
• 1:30AM - Cowboy Bebop

Saturday

• 6:30PM - Dragonball
• 8:30PM - Zoids
• 9:00PM - Dragonball Z (full hour)

From the press release:

Lupin the Third, Reign and Trigun to Join Cartoon Network's Late Night Animation Block for Adults in 2003 Cartoon Network today announced the acquisition of three animé series that will air during Adult Swim, its highly-rated late night block of animation for adults 18-34. The three series are Lupin the Third, Reign and Trigun. Lupin the Third follows the adventures of the greatest thief in the world. Lupin is a globetrotting crook, as well as a suave gentleman. Aided by two partners, expert marksman Jigen and samurai master Goemon, Lupin's mad-capped adventures take him around the world stealing extraordinary treasures, helping damsels in distress, staying one step ahead of Inspector Zenigata and matching wits with rival thief, beautiful and dangerous Fujiko.

Trigun takes place in the distant future on a deserted planet. Vash the Stampede is a gunfighter with a legend so ruthless he has a $60,000,000,000 bounty on his head. Entire towns evacuate at the rumor of his arrival. But the real Vash the Stampede, the enigmatic and conflicted lead character in Trigun, is more heroic, even though he usually acts like a complete idiot.

Alexander the Great was the world's most powerful warrior. Reign is a 21st century science-fiction retelling of the legend of this Macedonian king. A visual masterpiece, Reign tells the story of Alexander's's triumphs through engaging characters, intricate plots and glorious battle sequences.

Cartoon Network's successful block of late night animation for adults, Adult Swim, will air five times per week beginning Sunday, January 12, 2003. Airing from 11 p.m.-2 a.m. (ET, PT) Sunday-Thursday, the block will offer the hit series FUTURAMA, quirky original animated series including Home Movies, Aqua Teen Hunger Force and Harvey Birdman, Attorney at Law, and stunning action/animé series such as Cowboy Bebop and InuYasha.

Lupin the Third will air Monday-Thursday at 12 midnight (ET, PT), beginning Monday, January 13. Programming information for both Reign and Trigun will be announced at a later date.

Bandai Entertainment announced the broadcast of Mobile Suit Gundam - Char's Counterattack theatrical feature on Cartoon Network's Adult Swim block on December 28, 2002 at 11 pm (ET, PT). The feature-length Char's Counterattack brings Yoshiyuki Tomino's epic tale of humanity's journey to the stars draws to an epic conclusion exploring issues like honor, revenge and the quest for peace. Spiked with thrilling space battles between massive Mobile Suit Gundam fighting machines piloted by passionate warriors.

Char's Counterattack takes place in Universal Century 0093, 13 years after the events of the original Mobile Suit Gundam series. A new Neo Zeon army led by the infamous Char Aznable once again threatens the foundations of peace. The ultimate goal of Neo Zeon is to initiate a nuclear winter upon Earth, ushering a new age of mankind in space. Armed with the state of the art Nu Gundam mobile suit, Amuro Ray and the Federation forces are all that stand against Neo Zeon. Torn between vengeance, duty, and love -the final battle between rivals Char Aznable and Amuro Ray is finally at hand.

Tech TV Anime Block Details

From Anime News Network

On Thanksgiving TechTV started airing commercials for their new anime block which they are calling "Anime Unleashed." The commecrial features Serial Expierments Lain, Crest of the Stars and Betterman. While the commercial says "Coming Soon," it was announced on "The Screen Savers" a week ago that Anime would come to TechTV as of December 30th.

TOKYOPOP Announced 5 CLAMP Titles

From the press release:

TOKYOPOP, the leading and most prolific U.S. graphic novel publisher, is about to publish five new properties from the "rock stars of manga," CLAMP: CLAMP School Detectives, The Man of Many Faces, Duklyon: CLAMP School Defenders, Miyuki Chan in Wonderland and Shirahime-syo: Snow Goddess Tales. The most popular manga creators in America, CLAMP sells millions of graphic novels every year. Other great TOKYOPOP series to CLAMP's credit include Angelic Layer, Cardcaptor Sakura, Chobits, Clover and Magic Knight Rayearth, each followed passionately by readers. This quartet of fabulous females never fails to create best-selling manga, and the following five short series are no exception.

Three of the five new stories take place in the fictional "CLAMP School Universe," an elite, self-contained city within Tokyo that is divided by educational levels and has its own banks, hospital and transportation system:

CLAMP School Detectives

This story follows the antics of a trio of pre-teen sleuths whose unique abilities allow them to help girls in distress around their school campus. The team is made up of Student Body President and resident brainiac, Nokoru Imonoyama, who is able to detect a woman crying from 2 km away; Student Body Secretary Suoh Takamura, a fifth grade master martial artist; and fourth grader Akira Ijyuin, a debonair master thief, who is also known as the "Man of 20 Faces."

The Man of Many Faces

The debonair Akira Ijyuin reappears in this shoujo romantic comedy that follows the master thief and the girl who loves him from grade school into adulthood. The story begins with Akira as a CLAMP School third grader, who lives with his two mothers and is ordered to steal bizarre items at their whim. When he's forced to hide from the police one night, he takes refuge in the room of a young girl, who falls in love with him in spite of their four-year age difference.

Duklyon: CLAMP School Defenders

This is CLAMP at their most wacky! High school freshmen Kentaro and Takeshi are members of an elite police force that protects the CLAMP School from otherworldly invaders. The "Defenders" take their orders from beautiful but merciless Elli Chusonji, who keeps the boys in line with threats (they're more afraid of her than their villains). When they hear a certain song play over the intercom, they don their armor, grab their weapons and set off on the next adventure. Their nemesis: Sinister Kotobuki, an alien who leads a secret organization hoping to take over the Earth.

Miyuki Chan in Wonderland

In this story (which has also been released as an anime), CLAMP has created a loose, sexy retelling of Alice in Wonderland and its sequel, Through the Looking Glass. Things get a little bizarre as young Miyuki-Chan encounters scantily clad female equivalents of the famous fairy tale's cast, all of whom make a pass at her. The book features over a dozen full-color art pages, including character designs from the cult classic anime.

Shirahime-syo: Snow Goddess Tales

A unique, stand-alone volume, this is an anthology of folktales about the "Snow Goddess," whose tears create snow. The art style is a departure from typical CLAMP artwork, being made up of brushstrokes and naturalistic backgrounds. TOKYOPOP plans to release Shirahime-syo: Snow Goddess Tales as a special edition hardback before the book debuts in paperback form.

Anime Creator Mice Avilable Internationally

From the Anime News Service mailing list two innovative animation artists each have designed a limited-edition computer mouse. Masamune Shiro, best known to American audiences as the writer and artist of "Ghost in the Shell," came up with a gracefully angular design. Hajime Katoki, the most popular designer for the "Gundam" series, went for a chunkier, more industrial look. Elecom Co. Ltd. is producing the devices in small, fixed production runs. It's calling them the MAPP series (mechanical designer-accelerated peripheral products). Each optical mouse is available in the customer's choice of black, white or silver. The packaging includes an interview with the designer. The mouses went on sale Friday in Japan. Online retailer Shinza.com will export them internationally at a price of about $60 each.

Manga to with Co-Produce Production IG

Anime on DVD is pointing out Production IG's site for and OAV called Dead Leaves which appears to be co-produced by Manga Entertainment.

Tokyopop Manga Contest

From the press release:

TOKYOPOP®, the leading U.S. publisher of graphic novels, has a message for America: You still have time to SHOW US YOUR MANGA! The company's Rising Stars of MangaT Competition ends on December 16, 2002. Launched on August 15th of this year, this national, one-of-its-kind Contest is giving aspiring U.S. artists the opportunity of a lifetime: to submit their original stories (written in English) for the chance to win cash prizes and get their work published worldwide. With just a few short weeks left, TOKYOPOP wants to remind artists to finish drawing. and here's a little incentive:

The Contest's grand prizewinner will receive $2,500 and the chance to pitch a full-length manga series to TOKYOPOP's top brass. The second place winner will earn a cash prize of $1,000. Eight runner-ups will each receive a cash prize of $500. All ten prizewinners will be eligible to be published in a TOKYOPOP manga anthology (The Rising Stars of MangaT) scheduled for publication in Spring 2003.

The Entry Form, Official Rules, FAQ and some helpful hints are available on the TOKYOPOP® website (www.TOKYOPOP.com)

Anthology Bytes

DragonBall/Sandland creator Akira Toriyama will be present at the launch of Shonen Jump on December 6 in New York City. The all-day event features other Dragon Ball related guests, such as voice actors Chris Sabat and Laura Bailey. There will be a DBZ card game tournament as well.

Toriyama will appear at 3:00 for a ninety-minute presentation "to the youth of New York City", as well as a question and answer session. This marks his first appearance at a US anime festival or convention as a guest.

The event is on Friday, December 6th from 2:00 P.M. until 9:00 P.M. at the Main Tent on Chelsea Piers in New York City. .

Japanese periodical Asahi Shimbum is reporting: The first monthly edition of the North American release of Shonen Jump has had 250 000 copies issued to retailers. The Manga anthology was made available in stores as of November 26th for US$4.95.

Bookstore Barnes and Noble had Shonen Jump on sale at 800 of its 900 retail stores.

The book cover is on the right side and the magazine reads right to left, like the original Jump.

Shueisha and Viz Communication agreed to form a new 50-50 joint company VIZ LLC to make and publish U.S. Jump. It will begin operation as of Jan 1, 2003.

Newsarama reported with the debut issue of Viz's Shonen Jump being heavily allocated in some retail outlets when it reached them last week (a week earlier than Viz's originally announced ship date), the first issue of the manga anthology series passed under many readers' radar last week, especially if they didn't make it to the shop until Thursday - or later.

According to Viz's Dallas Middaugh, the shortage was due to a number of factors, but is being addressed immediately.

"Demand for Shonen Jump number one was incredibly high," Middaugh said. "We'll soon be sharing the initial distribution numbers, and they were massive. Although we were forced to allocate to some accounts, we've since reprinted, and Diamond will be receiving their full order next week. Retailers should have no problem ordering the magazine, and all orders will be filled. If Diamond needs more, we've got 'em."

Gutsoon! Publishing has launched the website for their new publication RAIJIN Game&Anime(RGA) here.

Zoids Make Dirty Dozen

Anime/merchandising entity Zoids has made this years Lion and Lamb Dirty Dozen list of violent toys.

Zoids, "Gun Sniper" (Hasbro)

Description: A "posable action figure" of a creature called Sniper, wielding a gun in each hand.

Why: This toy takes the dinosaur concept and gratuitously adds a sniper element. The Gun Sniper includes "missile-launching side cannons!" The packaging promotes other Zoids, which children can "customize for battle!" They include the Liger Zero with a "Hel Digunner cannon" and Raynos, with "turret and launching cannons." The Zoids line melds two traditional toy categories-construction toys and animals - and adds violent themes, which are then marketed to pre-schoolers.

See here

Astronomers pay tribute to Miyazaki

From Anime News Network

On November 28th, the Japanese National Astronomical Observatory announced that two asteroids had been named Totoro and Miyazakihayao.

Whenever an asteroid is found it is assigned a numerical designation based on its orbit, but the disoverer also has the right to name it and apply to International Astronomy Union (IAU) for official recognition of that name.

An amateur astronomer, Takao Kobayash, in O-izumi, Gunma Prefecture, Japan discovered two asteroids, 10160 and 8883, in 1994. 10160 can read "toh-o (10) roku (6)" and 8883 can as "mittsu (3) yattsu (8) san (3)" in Japanese (the latter contains three '8') . So he decided to name them Totoro and Miyazakihayao.

There is already an asteroid named Reiji, after animation great - Leiji Matsumoto.

Pioneer Swaps Lupin III Order

Pioneer has swapped out the third episode of Lupin III from its release of the television series. "Hitler's Legacy" will be released in a later volume so as to not risk the acceptence of the series.

Spirited Away "NOT" in competition for Best Foreign Film!!!

The Anime News Service mailing list points out an Acdemy Awards press release here states that Japan has submited "Out," Hideyuki Hirayama, director for Best Foreign Film at the Academy Awards rather than Spirited Away.

ADV Launches Noir Page

ADV has launched a page for the upcoming Noir at www.whatisnoir.com, features a trailer, and "code name generator".

Disney Sued over "Red" Spirited Away

According to IMDB The Walt Disney company has been slapped with the equivalent of a class action suit in Japan by buyers of the DVD version of the animated film Sen to Chihiro no Kamikakushi (known as Spirited Away in the U.S.) who claim that a heavy red tone that infuses the picture ruins it, the Mainichi Shimbun reorted today (Tuesday). the lawsuit demands that Disney's Buena Vista Home Entertainment, which has sold three million copies of the film since July, replace the faulty copies. The company has posted a message on its Japanese site denying that the DVD is defective.

More Anime Coming to the International Channel

Beginning Monday, December 30, the International Channel will broadcast Soul Hunter (Senkaiden Houshin Engi) and Fushigi Yugi on Monday and Tuesday nights at 11 p.m. ET respectively.

Irwin Files For Bankruptcy

Irwin Toys, makers of a number of anime related merchandise including DragonBall and Sailor Moon figures, as well as classic Slinky, Etch-a-Sketch, has filed for bankruptcy protection, and laid off 135 of its 308 employees .

Japanese Links

From Natsume Maya A trailer for the third Tenchi Muyo OAV series can be seen here

An trailer for Macross Zero can be downloaded from Bandai's website here

Animate.tv has announced that a revised final (13th) episode of the TV anime G-on Riders will be distributed freely over the internet, for a limited time from 12 December 2002. See here

Sony's website for the upcoming OVA series Submarine 707R (707 Revolution) is also now up jrtr. This OVA series, based on the manga by Ozawa Satoru, who also wrote the manga Ao no Rokugo (Blue Submarine No. 6), will comprise two volumes to be released in the northern (summer) of 2003.

RahXephon Movie Given Title

The title of this spring's RahXephon movie RahXephon Tagen Hensoukyoku (Pluralistic Variation)

Sony Seeks Lessees At Metreon

Sony is making moves to jump-start the Metreon, says the San Francisco Business Times.

In the last 18 months Sony's Metreon shopping center has lost several tenants, among them Microsoft's only retail store in 2001 and the ADV Action Zone this past October.

To make the center more attractive to potential vendors, Sony has begun to open new stores under other companies' brands. To replace the lost Microsoft store, Sony opened its own computer store. A Bandai America Inc. store has also been opened, also under Sony control. Jerry Chu says "by having the store we can brand that entire franchise to the public."

Some point to the six month to one year agreements as a sign of uncertainty on the side of the vendors.

Gundam SEED Music Sales Stun Industry Watchers

From Anime News Service

"Gundam series" from which broadcast began on the 5th of the last month -- the ending theme music "was so together" (VICTOR) of the 10th work "Mobile Suit Gundam SEED" (TBS system) broke through 100,000 units in about one month after sale of 28th of the last month They are sales exceptional as theme music of a cartoon program.

Sales ranking is also always ranked as the 12th place and the higher rank from the 5th place. What is sung is a debut 9 year female 2 person group "See-Saw." Chiaki Ishikawa deals with vocal and the lyrics and charge and Yuki Kajiura deal with composition and a keyboard. Ishikawa is saying, "It is glad if the person to whom this music is a cause and leans an ear to our world has you increase."

Bandai America Gets U.S. Kinnikuman License

4Kids Entertainment, the TV-show packager responsible for the U.S. versions of both Pokemon and Yu-Gi-Oh, has designated Bandai America Inc. as the master toy licensee for the U.S. for the animated series Ultimate Muscle: The Kinnikuman Legacy. The Kinnikuman anime series is a staple of the Fox Box, Saturday morning kids block that 4Kids programs on the Fox Network (see "4Kids Gets Fox Box"). The designation of Bandai America makes perfect sense since B.A.'s parent company created most of the classic Kinnikuman toys in Japan. 4Kids, which recently set up its own video division (see "4Kids To Do Home Videos"), will handle the video releases.

Since the Kinnikuman anime series debuted on the Fox Box just this fall, retailers can't expect much merchandise right away, although a series of Kinnikuman 1.5" Micro Wrestlers Action Figures should be out by the end of this year -- and trading cards or, more likely, a trading card game shouldn't be far behind. Still 2003 should be the year in which the Kinnikuman toy line really expands -- especially if the series continues to capture new viewers in its Saturday morning timeslot. Don't underestimate the ability of anime series to move toys and card games -- witness the current success of Yu-Gi-Oh, Beyblades, Transformers and Zoids, all of which benefit from major TV exposure.