Well its Wednesday sooooo ol' Father Geek is back again with another great column from Scott on all things Manga and/or Anime. As is usual with our mid-work-week edition we're covering all the new releases were ever they may pop up, weather they're DVD, Video, Comics, Motion pictures, magazines, games, or other merchandise related to the industry. Its one-stop-shopping for you here, everything you need to know about the wide-world of Anime in one easy to find location. Now, just dig in and experience...

The AICN Anime Report...

by Scott Green

Anime Spotlight: Rahxephon Orchestration 1: Threshold

Released by ADV Films

RahXephpn does many things right, and different, but it's the mix of surreal, alien constructs, with believable speculative, technological constructs that gives the series the edge in the latest crop of more-mature post Evangelion giant robot series. Both sides capture the imagination, and the eye.

Few creative teams could accomplish this as well as Yutaka Izubuchi of the Gasaraki, a series which combined an intelligent look at the military and social application of battlesuit technology with a critique of Japanese society, and Studio BONES of the Cowboy Bebop movie.

The first hook to the series is an early Matrix-caliber twist to the status quo that it had been developing. It is a head fake that you don't see coming, but comes an answers to questions raised by close examination. A very gratifying aspect of the series is that when something looks wrong, or doesn't logically mesh with its surroundings, then it is often a clue. Something that may look like a weakness in the animation, or rational of the story may turn out to be indicating something more significant.

The initial setup of RahXephon is similar to Evangelion, it even teases a similarity with lines like "All's Well in the World". In the year 2015, a mysterious invasion has reduced the human population to around 23 million. Despite this, Kamina Ayato lived a relatively normal life, or did until he drew the attention of a mysterious woman, and a squad of men in black. Predictably the end result is that Ayato ends up in an organization to fight the invaders, with a giant robot that only he can pilot. There are analogues to Evangelion's Misato, an energetic young woman protective of the protagonist (though this one this capable of some jaw dropping martial arts), Rei, a mysterious female contemporary, and many of the other Evangelion cast members. However apart from these, and other structural, and superficial similarities, Rahxephon is very much its own series.

The opening episodes are a flood of new characters, and situations with Ayato used an anchor. He's more a middle class raised version of Akira's Kaneda than Evangelion's Shinji. While little has be developed from it, he's also an artist, which could prove to be a new and interesting angle.

The animation, and design in Rahxephon establish it as one of the preeminent anime series of the year. Most of the really interesting world building in the series has been done a non-verbal level. Rahxephon's giant robots are monuments of surreal design, the opposite end of the spectrum from Giant Robo's rivets and bolts. Their ulta-sleek appearance, captures an other-worldliness in its design.

From military application like super-aircraft carriers to methods of energy, there is a sense of a new generation of technology that has change the way people live in the same way our lives have changed with technology in the last ten or twenty years. No Shizima Drives, or anything radically new, just creative, and logical extensions on what exists, or is development today. The state of world affairs inducing guilt in marveling at the military technology showcased can be often by the impressive and positive array of more day to day advancement.

After five episodes Rahxephon looks like the kind of anime series to make release dates on your calendar. Few television series can compete with its visual achievements. Given it's creators, and the progression of Gasaraki in particular, Rahxephon will likely be more than visual treat. Once it probably expect of development story that makes some statement, or possess some theme, but appears to be is without what some labeled as pretentiousness in Evangelion.

Giant robot series are like Beatles songs, they really should put a 5 year moratorium on them so they don't get completely killed from over use, but having said that, even a viewer tired or execited by the genre can thrill at Rahxephon.

Anime Spotlight: The Guyver:Bio-Booster Armor volume 1

Released by Manga Video

Manga Video has recently released the 12 episode Guyver series on two DVDs. The series follows a teenager who acquires the titular bio-suit Guyver, and his battle through the levels of a giant, monster spawning corporation. It's a bit like Power Rangers if Power Rangers didn't have giant machines, the heroes were allowed to rip limbs off their adversaries, crush their chests, or stick a ringer through their heads.

The appeal of the Guyer is watch brilliantly strange creations rip each other apart in an exciting manner.for when you're having a bad day, and want to see monster sgruesomely eviscerated, 'cause they're very evil, and very much deserved it. Its kindof like old fashion zombie killing, only the targets are bigger, bloodier, and less maggot ridden targets.

From ape like creatures with bald spots of exposed muscle tissue, to something that looks like a fly crossed with a rhino, the monsters are memorable combination of Go Nagai quality memorable foulness, and Godzilla camp. The DVD features a narrated look at models of the creatures which alone is almost amusing enough to justify the DVD. The Guyver armor itself is a fun piece of phantasmagoria, with self-moving stalks set in its head, and powerful weapons that entails ripping open its own chest to emit a beam.

Guyver mixes up the monster design, and combat flow enough to stay fun over the duration. Good direction makes up for dated animation. It isn't art, but its great B-movie fun (it even spawned a Western live action remake Mark Hamill, and Jimmie Walker.)

Anime Preview: JoJo's Bizarre Adventure

Super Techno Arts is preparing to release anime version of JoJo's Bizarre Adventure. The original manga (comic) series follows the generational feud between the Joestar family, and Dio Brand, the son of the thief who is adopted by the patriarch of the Joestar clan in the mid 19th century.

The anime adaptations of the JoJo's Bizarre Adventure begin in the third phase of the series. The latest Joestar descendant to take up the feud against Dio is Jotaro Kujo. Unlike the Victorian collegiate, and chivalrous first JoJo(Jonathan Joestar), or the Indiana Jones/Man of Bronze good hearted tough guy second JoJo (Joseph Joestar), Jotaro is a haunted, violent street punk.

The third phase of the manga also introduces elements of super-human/super-hero action as characters are introduced with/or acquire Stands, tarot-like spirit manifestations.

The conflicts are more similar to a material arts story than a typical energy ball tossing action. Adversaries are forced to quickly react to their opponents, strategies, and rapidly develop counter measures. Every situation in the anime series is memorable, and bucks expectations, down to the gruesome, heart stopping city street duel/chase. One of the highlights, which is less action oriented, but as thrilling is an episode of the anime series in which Jotaro and his allies meet up with me with man in a Cairo cafe' who works for Dio, and whose Stand allows him to wager for souls.

Super Techno Arts will be releasing the anime in chronological order, but originally it was two series, with a lengthy stretch between the chronologically later help, then the early half. The first series begin introducing the characters, and conflicts rather than starting out mid-peril as the second one does.

The first threeepisode volume is schedule to be release on March 11th, but Anime News Network reports, i will only be available at "specialty stores" and not larger retailers.

See the official site at jojo-ova.com/

Japanese Spotlight: Wolf's Rain

Wolf's Rain has a justifiable reputation as the follow-up to Cowboy Bebop. It reunites many of the people behind the Bebop's TV series, movie, or both, including director Tensai Okamura, a script by Keiko Nobumoto, and music by Yoko Kanno.

Wolf's Rain is as different from Bebop, as Bebop was to all of its predecessors. It is a continuous story following four wolves searching for paradise in a post-Ragnarock-looking world where their species is believed to be extinct.

Wolf's Rain is a genre Peter and the Wolf. Instead of a different instrument for each character, there is a different story theme. From their accompanying background music to their visual design, each character carries there own genre with them: the Spike Spiegel like trickster wolf, the young wolf who's in a shoujo drama, the loner wolf who thinks and moves like someone out of a martial arts anime, the Mulder and Scully quirky but serious pair of ex-spouse scientist investigators, the grizzled wolf hunter who is out of a man with no name western. The themes meet, interact, and bend each other in a symphonic arrangement.

There is a great depth of humanity in each of the characters. Though they are archetypes in many ways, in the early episodes, each one, aside from a few who have only appeared so far only served as plot devices, have had moments of deep, empathy invoking emotion.

The music, and the unique manner of these wolves among men give Wolf's Rain a folklore feel. The catalytic that really creates this effect, and the others is incredible animation. From falling snow, to the running wolfs, to crows and rats that infest the cities, the series has a keen eye for capturing nature, and projecting its likeness into digital animation. Likewise it creates news majesty in unseen creations such as a giant ship hovering in the night's sky, or jeeps attacking a robot defended trains. Like Cowboy Bebop, the excellence in Wolf's Rain is in its ability to create new experiences.

This Week's Releases

Anime

• Ai Yori Aoshi - Faithfully Yours (Vol. 1)
• Babel II - Leon's Mirage (Vol. 3)
• Beyblade - Let It Rip (Vol. 1)
• Cosmo Warrior Zero - Journey's End (Vol. 4)
• Dragon Ball Z:Red Ribbon Army Box Set
• Excel Saga - Secrets and Lies (Vol. 5)
• FLCL (Fooly Cooly) - Vol. 2
• Gasaraki - Perfect Collection
• The Guyver - Bio-Booster Armor, Vol. 1
• The Guyver - Bio-Booster Armor, Vol. 2
• Hyper Police - Episodes 13-16
• Idol Project:Starland Festival
• Reign - The Conqueror - Ascension (Vol. 1)
• Virus - Virus Buster Serge Volume 2

Manga

• Astro Boy Vol 12 Tp
• Bastard #15 Undead Part 1 (Of 5)
• Battle Angel Alita Last Order Part 1 #6
• Cardcaptor Sakura #33
• Dragonball Part 6 #2 (Of 8)
• Ghost In The Shell 2 Man Machine Holo #1
• Gundam Wing Last Outpost #4 (Of 12)
• Raijin Comics #12
• Rga Magazine #12

Cowboy Bebop Movie Release

NewType USA's latest information on the theatrical release of the Cowboy Bebop movie is that it will be release in the US on April 4th.

A placeholder site has gone up at www.cowboybebopthemovie.com

Renewal of Evangelion to be Televised in Japan

The latest issue of the Japanese version of NewType reports that the Renewel of Neon Genesis Evangelion will be televised in Japan start in April.

In case you missed last week's column, Gainax has released specific details of the "Renewal of Evangelion" Japanese home video release. All of the Evangelion animation will be re-released in a 10 disc DVD boxed set that contains the entire 26 episode TV series broadcast on Japanese television 7 years ago, the extended "director's cut" versions of episodes 21-24, and the final edits of the Death and End of Evangelion movies The new DVD set will also include 1 bonus disc of supplemental material featuring non-credit opening and ending, trailers, and a never before released "live action version of the film."

Cartoon Network Picks Up Low Brow

Cartoon Network will be developing a series based on fuzzy dice./muscle car giant robot short Low Brow, by George Krstic and Jody Schaeffer, and animated by the anime studio Madhouse, who work ranges from Card Captor Sakura to Ninja Scroll

US Home Release of Spirited Away Without Red Tint

nausicaa.net is report the screeners of the home video release of Spirited Away do not have the controversial red tint seen in he Asian and French releases.

ADV Talks CN Robot Week Edits

ADV has released the following statement, amending previous ones which indicated that Cartoon Network's showing on their anime on Giant Robot Week would be unedited:

Cartoon Network is currently airing episodes from Neon Genesis Evangelion, Dai-Guard, Martian Successor Nadesico and the Harmony Gold production Robotech during the afternoon Toonami block as part of Giant Robot Week (Feb 24-28, 2003).

While recognizing the value and significance of the anime titles they were granted permission to broadcast, Cartoon Network is also bound by the exigencies of daytime broadcast-including the requirement that the content they broadcast be, per FCC regulations, suitable for children. Cartoon Network's edits, which were minor, were in accordance with FCC broadcast requirements.

ADV Films is very pleased that Cartoon Network requested episodes of these titles in their week-long celebration of the "giant robot" genre of anime, and we hope that their enthusiasm for the broadcast of anime will continue and grow.

Gundam TV Updates

Cartoon Network's upcoming Gundam Superior Defender TV series is not the classic 1993 SD (big head, small body) Gundam, but an entirely new series.

Altered States Magazine is reporting that Bandai has announced that Gundam F-91 will be shown on Cartoon Network at an undisclosed time.

Cartoon Network also plans to shows Zeta Gundam edited in their Toonami block, and unedited on adult swim.

Anime Merchandise Licenses

JAKKS Pacific, who took over the Dragon Ball license since the bankruptcy of Irwin has signed has signed a new Master Toy License with FUNimation Productions, Ltd., for one of for Yu Yu Hakusho figures.

JAKKS Pacific will manufacture action figures, accessories and playsets based on Yu Yu Hakusho®, the popular series from Japan that follows the adventures of fourteen-year-old Yusuke Urameshi. JAKKS received the master toy license for Yu Yu Hakusho® for North America from FUNimation, and expects to have product hit retail shelves by Q4 2003, in time for the Christmas season.

Score, the published of the Dragon Ball Z card game has likewise acquired the licenese for Yu Yu Hakusho cards

Diamond Select is set to produce a number of figures and statues based on the main characters of the show.

The figure line includes a limited edition, fully painted 6" bust of Lupin himself.

There is a also a set of 12" action figures, seen here. Fujiko, Jigen, Goemon, Lupin and Zenigata all come fully poseable, with outfits made of real cloth.

Finally, a line of 2.5" kubricks (small, blocky figures) will come with each figure packaged individually. The popular figures can be disassembled into their component, modular parts.

Upcoming on Cartoon Network

Cartoon Network's latest iteration of an anime block will be the Saturday night Saturday Video Entertainment System, which will feature the following.

• 7:00 PM - Pokemon
• 7:30 PM - Yu-Gi-Oh
• 8:00 PM - He-Man (New Episodes)
• 8:30 PM - Transformers Armada (New Episodes)
• 9:00 PM - Pokemon
• 9:30 PM - Yu-Gi-Oh
• 10:00 PM - Justice League
• 11:00 PM - Dragon Ball
• 11:30 PM - Zoids Zero
• 12:00 AM - .hack//SIGN
• 12:30 AM - Gundam 0080
• 1:00 AM - GI Joe
• 1:30 AM - Super Friends

Forthcoming 2003 programming includes 15 new Dragon Ball Z episodes which air starting in March, and 53 episodes of the original Dragon Ball.

The second season of Big O will feature 13 new episodes.

52 new episode of Hamtaro will be shown.

New series include .hack//SIGN, Rurouni Kenshin, Blue Gender, Kikaider, and Trigun.

Blue Gender is emotional, and unflinchingly brutal story of a teenager frozen in the modern era, and brought back in a future where the human race has nearly been whiped out by giant insect like creatures.

New Zoids Series Coming

Hasbro has anounced a new 26 episode series that cartoon network picked up and will be airing it this fall. Excerpted from the release: In 2003, Hasbro will bring kids and fans even more new and unique ways to challenge themselves while they build, customize and mobilize their team of ZOIDS beasts into battle, with approximately 80 new line items, including: an all new Z-BUILDER MODEL KIT collectable segment; an expanded core model kit segment with new looks, action features, figure sizes and characters; and new ways to build and customize ZOIDS action figures to recreate the ZOIDS battles to be showcased in 26 new episodes of the hit Cartoon Network animated series slated for fall 2003.

Dragon Ball News

SaiyanZ Rage reports FUNimation has reportedly confirmed that they will be re-dubbing and releasing the first two seasons of Dragonball Z when Pioneer's rights to the seasons expire. The new English dub will be produced at Ocean Studios.

Banda Japan announced today that international sales of the Dragonball Z Budokai PS2 game outside of Japan, have exceeded 1.9 million copies in 20 different counrties. Source: Aniota

Japanese Trailers

TV Tokeyo's Website includes trailers for their current new Anime TV series, including Pokemon Advanced Generastion, Transformers, Full Moon, Fortune Dogs and Naruto.

New Upcoming Japanese Release

From Natsume Maya

Serveral children's series/franchise anime movies are set to be released this spring in JApan. The new One Piece movie, "Dead End no Bouken", will be released theatrically on 1 March 2003.

Then the 24th Doraemon movie "Nobita to Fushigi Tsukai" will be released on 8 March 2003.

This will be followed by the new Crayon Shin-chan movie "Arashi o Yobu ~ Eikou no Yakiniku Road" and the new Detective Conan movie "Meikyuu no Jyuujiro (Crossroad in the Ancient Capital)", both on 19 April 2003.

In manga news, internationally propular shoujo manga creator Watase (Fushigi Yuugi) Yuu will be completing series series "Alice 19th" with its final chapter in Issue 7 of the manga magazine Shoujo Comic (on sale 5 March 2003).

Urushihara Satoshi's sci-fi manga Chirality is to be re-released by Gakken, in two volumes. Furthermore, this re-release will contain a new "episode" and each volume will come with a 30 minute drama CD with a pretty impressive cast. Both volumes are to be released 1 March 2003 and will be B5 in size, price 1,800 yen (excluding tax) each.

Several new anime series, developed from manga series are about to be released.

The store Paper Moon that an OVA is to be produced of the vampire manga Hitsuji no Uta by Toume Kei (previously serialised in Monthly Comic Birz). The manga was previously adapted into a live action movie.

Starchild's webpage for the upcoming OVA Eiken (based on the manga by Matsuyama Seiji) is up.

The TV anime based on Yagami Hiroki's manga Dear Boys (serialised in Kodansha's Monthly Shonen Magazine) will commence broadcast in April 2003

Another anime and manga series spawned from the Gamers stores's manic green haired catgirl Di Gi Charat. "Di Gi Charat Nyo" will be air starting April 3rdm and the manga version of the same. commence serialisation in Shogakukan's monthly shoujo magazine Ciao, starting with the April 2003 issue on sale 3 March 2003. The manga will be drawn by Minase Itsuru. Viz has recently domestically released a collection of Digi Charat manga from various artists. Ghibli Invests in European Animation

Natsume Maya reports Studio Ghibli, renowned for the work of Hayao Miyazaki, has invested in France's "Kirikou and the Sorceress", directed by Michel Ocelot. Takahata Isao will oversee the Japanese subtitled version and Japanese dubbed version. Kirikou and the Sorceress was first released in France in 1999, where it became that country's most popular animation at the box office. Kirikou and the Sorceress tells the story of Kirikou, a new born baby in an African village, who sets out to free his village from the curse of the witch Karaba. While this is the first Western animation that Studio Ghibli has obtained rights in, it's not the first Western movie it's invested in - that being the Czech movie Dark Blue.

Ghost in the Shell 2 Sold Out

Studio Proteus, the translators of Ghost in the Shell 2: Man Machine Interface, is report that the first printing of issues 1 and 2 of Ghost in the Shell 2: Man Machine Interface is sold out (presumably they mean at the distributor level since copies are available at many comic shops, and book stores), despite the fact that they did a 30% over printing above initial orders. They will be reprinting the issues, likely with a different color border to distinguish between printings.

Another New TOKYOPOP Manga Series

TOKYOPOP will be releasing JUDAL's manga series Vampire Game, which follows the centuries long feud between a vampire and a wizard.

Yamato Creator To Head Literary / Animation Piracy Org.

Anime News Service reports In the press conference, the 11th term officer was introduced after the general meeting of ACCS (Association of Copyright for Computer Software) on February 14. The new officer of ACCS (Association of Copyright for Computer Software) will determine, and a cartoonist's Mr.Reiji Matsumoto will take office as one director. It was approved by the ordinary general meeting held in Tokyo on February 14.

The reason for having greeted Mr.Reiji Matsumoto as a director is that contents, such as comics and animation, are also digitized and it came to circulate as one of the computer software now. Although the measure has so far been taken against literary piracy acts, such as a pirate edition, focusing on business software in ACCS, activity towards literary piracy extermination is promoted also about digital contents, such as comics and animation, from now on.

Especially in ACCS, contents, such as animation, and game software besides comics, are also indicated that the pirate edition of Japanese products is circulating in large quantities in the Asian area.

ADV Announces Samurai X(Kenshin) Trust & Betrayal Director's Cut

From the press release: ADV Films today announced a May 20, 2003 release for Samurai X: Trust & Betrayal Director's Cut, combining the two episodes of the OVA Samurai X: Trust and the two episodes of Samurai X: Betrayal into one, feature-length title, including extra footage never before released in the U.S.

Samurai X (also known as Rurouni Kenshin) is an extraordinarily popular international franchise, including both a television series and four OVAs. The OVAs, which appeared after the television series, expand on and detail the background and history of the eponymous 19th-century samurai assassin.

The Story: Nineteenth century Japan: a land torn by rebellion and civil warfare; small bands of soldiers roam the land, seeking to overthrow the tyrannical Tokugawa Shogunate. Enter the young orphan Kenshin, trained as a fighter by the master swordsman Hiko. Kenshin's desire for peace is at odds with his brutal life, and the tension seems unreconcilable until he meets a mysterious woman named Tomoe. The enigmatic Tomoe's actions may show Kenshin that another life can exist for him, or may instead conceal a destructive secret. Samurai X: Trust & Betrayal Director's Cut follows the progress of the rebellion against the Shogunate and the complex evolution of Kenshin's and Tomoe's involvement, and reveals how Kenshin received the distinctive cross-shaped facial scar that gives the film its name.

Samurai X: Trust & Betrayal Director's Cut ($29.98 SRP) is a DVD-only release, including both English- and Japanese-language versions, and English subtitles.