Well, it's Wednesday and time for Father Geek to post another of Scott Green's AICN Anime Reports with all the latest info from the world of Anime and Manga... everything from DVDs and videos to comics and games to theatrical releases, cards, and toys... all in one convenient one-stop location here at Ain't It Cool... annnnnnd, here it is...

The AICN Anime Report...

by Scott Green

Manga Spotlight:Phoenix: Dawn By Osamu Tezuka

Released by Viz

It is difficult to imagine what manga or anime would be like without Osuma Tezuka. Or maybe not.. To make a gross simplification, without his working to expand the scope and impact of the mediums, they may have evolved into something similar to American comics and cartoons.

The 12 volume "Phoenix" cycle is his self described life's work. The Phoenix examines the human condition through the ages, from early civilization through the far future. Each volume is a separate story, linked by a set of reincarnated characters, and the pipe dream of gaining immortality from the blood the mythical Phoenix.

"Dawn" is set in 240-270 AD, on volcanic island which is home to the Phoenix, and a primitive civilization, and in the more advanced kingdom of Yamatai, ruled by the cult of Queen Himiko, which historical accounts point to as the first unified Japan. The story's inhabitants hold tenacious grip of life through destruction, both man made, and natural. The lives of its many characters follow a karmic cycle where the conquered become the conquered, masters becomes slaves.

Great deeds and great crimes are depicts as being committed for the same motivation, surviving into the future (personal, of a blood line, of a society) with its off shoots such as loyalty, procreation, conquest or defense.

There are very few comic artists who can tell visually tell a story as well as Tezuka. His vision, and capability for his medium is comparable to a Kubrick or Coppela. He has a unique cinematic sense of framing action, and an epic of Homeric, or old testament caliber like Dawn brings out the depth of this style.

Early in the story there a single, wordless panel with a couple on a beach looking into the sea that perfectly captures the natural seclusion of the moment, the isolation, and the insignificance of the pair. Soon afterwards there is a scene of a tourch bearing fleet approaching the beach that Tezuka renders is a manner to that make it almost as staggering to the reader as it would to an account observer.

Tezuka's host of narrative breaking attempts at humor are present in full force for Dawn. There are moments of levity in Dawn that fit into the narrative, which are genuinely humorous, but there are also asides, small sequences, or scenes that break the fourth wall, and interrupt it. For example, for example a man trying to save his wife from a pool of water as it is heated by a volcano, during the frantic rush, three panels are decided to the character bumping into the author, drawn into the scene and steam bathing, or Tezuka's little puffing pig caricatures popping up at random times such as an otherwise gripping stare-down. They present bumps in the narrative that diminish the story. In a serious story, Tezuka's cartoonishness is something you adapt to, but these little deviations are like adapting your eyes to the dark only to have someone shine a flashlight in your face. These artistic ticks are charming in a work like Astro Boy, but they can't help but diminish a work like Phoenix.

Any comic collection tends to get labeled a graphic novel, but the standalone 340 page story of Phoenix: Dawn is a novel in the truest sense of the term.

Manga Spotlight: Cowboy Bebop: Shooting Star Volume 1 by Cain Kuga

Released by TOKYOPOP's Authentic Manga Line

There is a theory (can't find the original proponent) that Cowboy Bebop is about the end of an era. New technologies allowed the colonization of the solar system, but, by the end of the series the more traditional forces of governments agencies and corporations had supplanted the wild west rule of gangs and bounty hunters. The short, punchy stories added to the sense that people had to clear up their unfinished business before their time ended. This made the series complete, and it made other formats seem off. You can only break down the wall once, and even the movie felt extraneous and ill fitting.

As with anything wildly successful, more will come along, and this isn't always a bad thing. Shooting Star succeed at being more Cowboy Bebop. It takes the characters, technology, and settings of the anime, drops the genre hopping, drops the character backgrounds, and structures its as a building mega-caper (something rare in the anime, really only in the mid series two-parter and the movie) told in episodic bursts as it building towards a confrontation with the Dragon Syndicate. It's a bit "what if Cowboy Bebop was told in a more conventional anime/manga format".

Many of the assets of the original are present in Shooting Star. It is an adept genre adventure, with a crediblely threatening villain, some slick kung fu and flight action curtsey of Spike (though he seems more grim, and without his charismatic, practiced irreverence), and cute oddness from child hacker Ed, and dog Ein (gambling feme fatal Faye shows up at the end of the volume to do her thing with a good approximation of her half detached attitude; scarred veteran Jet Black mostly plays support on this outing). Nothing classic, or memorable, but a good read.

In addition to the structural shift Shooting Star adds a shoujo trappings to Cowboy Bebop: big block of shirtless Spike, lots of super deformed expressions of emotion. Cain Kuga self describes the design as "macho men", but their eyes give them a feminine look.

Though the characters and the world of Cowbop Bebop are rife for re-use, Cowboy Bebop: Shooting Star is further evidence that putting the two together again isn't going to be recaptured the spark. From hints of a revisit, it seems like the original creators recognize this. There are some blunders in Shooting Star (ie outfitting Spike's aircraft, the Swordfish, with a giant spring loaded boxing glove), but the principal problem with Shooting Star is that while it's more Cowboy Bebop, it doesn't have the urgent energy of the original.

Manga Spotlight: Happy Mania: Volume 1 By Moyoco Anno

Released by TOKYOPOP's Authentic Manga Line

Happy Mania is deconstruction of the romance, a thumb in the eye to shoujo comics, that works just as well as an antidote to western romantic comedies without being a crass sex-fest. It is to twenty-something, every-person single scene what Rules of Attraction was to affluent, college age aimlessness. Its heroine is a young woman who makes her choices in order to leverage herself into a position to get a boyfriend, and ends up losing her job, alienating or hurting anyone in contact, and literally walking into traffic.

Shingeta's life is an ode to tunnel vision, the life and destructive pursuit of an ideal. Her life isn't too unfamiliar from live or from fiction. She's an attractive 24 year old, working at a bookstore, where she hopes to meet men, and living with a charismatically blunt, sleepy-eyed friend/roommate. Every where she looks she sees couple, and which only affirms the fact that needs a boyfriend. She wants someone to hold her, walk down the street with her, and say that they love her, but all she's finding is people who will sleep with her (which often happens), and a clingy co-worker who is too young, and not good looking enough.

Shingeta's life is a cynical parody of the dating story. She does awful things, knowing that they are awful things. When things look like the they're going her way, she degenerates even further, becoming a chip munching couch potato slob. Happy Mania doesn't pass Roger Ebert test of containing a likable character you'd want to eat lunch with (except maybe her roommate, who is a sort of slightly flawed perfect). Even the understanding and supportive character that the lead is supposed to eventually hook up with recognizes that he has to be out of mind to continue pursuing a woman who has yet to demonstrate an appealing virtue other than physical attractiveness.

Moyoco Anno's illustration is part of the game that the series plays. Shingeta is thin, attractive, and fashion conscious, with big empathy drawing eyes, constantly displaying "like me" emotions. The vibrancy and attractiveness of the design buoys the series, and prevents it from becomeing dour (which might be part of parody, it is likable because its good looking), but with a flip of a switch it can go shoujo hearts and flowers, or hit with full force of how low things are for Shigeta.

There is dark humor to be found in Happy Mania. It is like watching someone an addict put too much money down on scratch tickets, and keep on trading the winnings in for more tickets. Watching the process is a combination of fascination at the pathetic clockwork, self righteousness, empathy, and a bit of self-rebuke to finding amusement in the process. It may be mean spirited to find the behavior of a romance heroine resulting in misery, and debasement amusing.

Outside the hentai (pornographic) titles, and Viz's Pulp line, there isn't that much manga getting released with graphically adult content. Happy Mania has a bit of nudity and sez, that's all well used, and not gratuitous. It doesn't really warrant the release's plastic wrap, except for the fact that stores tend to put all manga from Card Captor Sakura to Bastard!! in one location.

Cowboy Bebop: Shooting Star, and Happy Mania are both part of TOKYOPOP's authentic manga line which presents manga in it's original right to left orientation, collected in 150-200 page volumes for $9.99. The format has really caught on, and is now being used by just about everyone.

In the broken record department... sound effects play a significant role in many manga series, and TOKYOPOP doesn't translate them. Nine out of ten you can pick it up the meaning from the context, but 10th will have hair pulling from the ambiguity. A slamming door, or a ringing phone is clear, but sound is make when you extend a finger towards someone to give them a reminder? When you say "What the deal with her?" is the sound next to your face a "huff" or a "chuckle"? The untranslated sound effects have been part of effort to keep things authentic, but they're perceived by many as a cost savings measure to avoid new art to incorporate the translation into the image. Footnoting or end noting a translation seems a logical compromise, but, as it stands, there's missing, if not essential information.

This Week's Releases:

Anime:

• Ai Yori Aoshi - My Dearest (Vol. 2)
• Arjuna - Understanding (Vol. 4)
• Dragon Ball Z:World Tournament Set
• Great Dangaioh - Volume 3
• Inu-Yasha - The Thunder Brothers (Vol. 4)
• Inu-Yasha - Secret of the New Moon (Vol. 5)
• Mobile Fighter Gundam:Round 7
• Mobile Fighter G Gundam - Round 8
• Mobile Fighter G Gundam - Round 9
• Mobile Fighter G Gundam Boxed Set - Rounds 7-9
• Orphen: The Collection
• Project Arms Vol. 04
• The Samurai
• Speed Racer - Limited Edition
• Trouble Chocolate Volume 4
• Transformers Season Two Boxed Set, Part 2

Manga:

• Big O Vol 2 Tp
• Dance Till Tomorrow Vol 6 Tp
• Fushigi Yugi Vol 8 Friend Gn
• Ranma 1/2 Tp Vol 1 2Nd Ed
• Ranma 1/2 Tp Vol 2 2Nd Ed
• Ranma 1/2 Vol 22 Tp

Anime Network Expansion

Following a successful launch on Comcast's ON DEMAND service in the greater Philadelphia area, leadership at the Anime Network(tm) today announced that the network, first in North America dedicated to Japanese animation (anime) and anime-related programming, is expanding its reach. The Anime Network will be available in Monmouth, Ocean and Union Counties as part of Comcast's recent rollout of ON DEMAND in those areas. Leadership at the Anime Network(tm) is pleased with the expansion of network availability. "The Anime Network has been one of the most popular offerings on Comcast's ON DEMAND service in Philadelphia," said John Ledford, President and CEO of A.D. Vision, Inc., parent company of the Anime Network(tm) and ADV Films. "Obviously the convenience and control of Comcast ON DEMAND have made it a good fit for us, and we're excited to be part of its expansion."

Content The Anime Network(tm) on Comcast ON DEMAND is structured around four categorized content areas: Action, Sci-Fi, Comedy, and Martial Arts. The network makes available approximately 25 hours of anime content per month, with regularly scheduled "refreshes" to replace older content with new films and series episodes.

The Anime Network(tm) broadcasts programs including both feature films and episodes from series. Content will include selections from titles such as "Spriggan," "Neon Genesis Evangelion," "Excel Saga," "Martian Successor Nadesico," "Gasaraki," "Noir," "Dai-Guard," "Bubblegum Crisis Tokyo 2040," "Orphen," "Golden Boy," "Steel Angel Kurumi," "Sorcerer Hunters," "Burn Up Excess," "Ninja Resurrection," "RahXephon," "Those Who Hunt Elves," "Gunsmith Cats," "Rune Soldier," "Samurai X," "Blue Seed" and more. Viewers wishing to confirm availability of the Anime Network in their specific areas can do so by visiting http://www.comcast.com.

Pioneer Licensed Macross Zero?

Anime on DVD's report on Manga Entertainment's panel at the Anime Boston panel conveys that Manga's representative stated that they would not be licensing the recent Macross Zero OAV, because Pioneer had. He then backtracked.

Manga Entertainment News

From Anime on DVD's report on Manga Entertainment's panel at the Anime Boston.

Scheduled releases include a box set of the Evangelion movies on October 28th, Orguss 02, and a Macross Plus box set Sepetember 30th, abd Gunbyster of November 15th, They wouldn't even make an estimate on a new release date for the long delayed Giant Robo.

The Ghost Sweep Mikami TV series has been optioned. Kadaimoruh was described as a period piece that begins in black and white. As the film progresses it moves to pastels. Finally, the film ends in color. A booklet will be included that gives the watcher a heads up into what happens before the movie takes place.

Synch Point News

From Anime on DVD's report on Synch Point's panel at the Anime Boston.

The third volume of FLCL is expected to be released July 22nd, and the five episode second volume of Tenshi ni Narumon is expected 1-2 months later.

The 30 minute Digi Charat movie Movie,and the six episode Leave It to Piyoko have been licened.

Central Park Media

From Anime on DVD's report on Central Park Media's panel at the Anime Boston.

CPM has been focusing on Alien 9, which will be appearing in manga in May, and anime in July. Alien 9 features an "only in anime/manga" plot where a girl is assigned to take charge of an alien that attaches itself to her head (looking like a hat).

Descendants of Darkness in volume 3 will have a pop up type video extra and an interactive Tarot Card Reading. The boxset of Descendants of Darkness will also include Tarot Cards, and will be exclusive to the boxset.

A DVD release of dorm drama Here is Greenwood is in licensing hell.

Bandai News

From Anime on DVD's report on Bandai's panel at the Anime Boston.

Bandai's titlte that will be coming to television include Kikaider, will be appearing on Cartoon Network this June. The first season of the Big O will be rebroadcast sometime in the Fall or Winter, which will lead into the Big O 2.

June releases will include the last volumes of Mobile Fighter G Gundam, and collections of Angel Links and Crest of the Star. Thhe first volume of Scryed, and a collection of Jubei-chan will be released in July. Kikaider, Junkers Come Home, Saber Marionette J Ultimate Collection (SMJ, SMJ Again, and SMJ->X) and Banner of the Stars 2, will be released in August.

2002 was a great year for Bandai, so to start off 2003 they did the .hack//SIGN limited edition box. At E3, Bandai will be showing the second .hack game, Mutation.

In addition to confirming the license of the new Spirit of Wonder OAV, Bandai announced that they have licensed Witch Hunter Robin.

ADV Films News

From Anime on DVD's report on ADV Film's panel at the Anime Boston.

ADV announced that they have licensed Final Fantasy Unlimited, Azumanga Daioh, Magical Shopping District Abenobashi and the director cut episodes of Evangelion.

Azumanga Daioh is a popular (with a love it or hate it reputation) highschool comedy that follows the recent manic energy trend.

Final Fantasy Unlimited takes the commonalities of the Final Fantasy video game series into anime (the Chocobo horse-like birds, fantasy with sci-fi elements) for a younger audience.

Magical Shopping District Abenobashi is a series from Evangelion, FLCL and Kare Kano's Studio Gainax. It's a pop culture critique/parody about the extremely odd expereinces of two friends on durring the summer vacation in a run down district. The series is said to have some of FLCL's vibrant insanity.

The director cuts of Evangelion will be released on two DVDs. Each DVD will come with the old version and the new version. Episodes 25 and 26 remain the same. ADV could not confirm whether they have the new remastered Revival episodes. For Voices of a Distant Star, ADV obtained the original hard drive that contains the rendered version of the show in order to produce a master that rivals the Japanese release. Dubbing for the Nadeisco movie should probably be started in a couple of week.

The Anime Channel will be coming to New Jersey Comcast systems very soon. ADV Music has around 3 CDs on the production schedule starting soon. A Go Nagai collection will be coming out at the end of the year that will include three titles.

Pioneer News

From Anime on DVD's report on Pioneer's panel at the Anime Boston.

Pioneer will be releasing the Lupin III movie, Mystery of Mamo.

Heat Guy will be released on seven volumes or two box sets.

Pioneer officially confirmed Haibane Renmei, the series based on a doujinshi (fan comic) from Seriel Experiments Lain character designer Yoshitoshi ABe. It will be released on 4 DVDs. Gainax's robotic made relationship comedy Mahoromatic Season 2 was also announced, and they are trying to get a box but Gainax is proving to be difficult. L/R (Licensed by Royal in the US) will be released in November.

On the theatrical side, Sakura Wars the Movie will get a limited print run as well as the live action Omiyoji. Omiyoji will start in LA and NY, and then move to San Francisco and Chicago. For its DVD release, there will be a regular and special edition.

Evangelion Figure Makers Goes Bankrupt

Reds, who made the Evangelion figures distributed by Kaiyoko has declared bankruptcy. Consiquently Kaiyodo has distributed much of their line.

Crayon Shinshan: Not For Children

From Natsume Maya The Japanese National PTA Conference has named Crayon Shinchan the number one show that should not be watched by children. The result was obtained through a questionnaire in November 2002 for 5,000 parents of fifth-grade primary school students and second year high school students. Crayon Shin-chan came first with 201 responses. As for the reason why the program should not be watched, 37% said the content of the show was stupid, 20% referred to the lack of common sense and morals, 17% to the language and 10% to the many scenes which promoted bullying and prejudice.

The Lost Dragon Ball Figures

DragonBallToys.com has posted an article with pictures and descriptions of the Dragon Ball figures that Irwin was planning before their bankruptcy.

News From Japan

From Natsume Maya The website for Chojushin Gravion Zwei feature pictures of new characters and mecha for the series.

JVC Music has a website up for the TV anime D.N.Angel, however it won't officially open until the end of April.

the manga Papa Told Me by Haruno Nanae

The official website for the upcoming TV anime Narutaru is now up.

Onegai Twins, the sequel to Please Teacher!, will air on the WOWOW sattelite network this June.

A number of anime and manga series are being adapted into live action, including (serialised in Shueisha's monthly shoujo Young You magazine) has been adapted into an live action that began broadcast this month, the manga Dr. Kotoh - Shinryousho (Dr. Kotoh - Clinic) by Yamada Takatoshi, which will be appearing as a live action TV drama in July, anime series Ojamajo Dorem which will become a musical

In addition to an international press, and a new anime series, Astro Boy's birthday has been marked by a picture constructed to 100,000 tulips.

ComicsOne Slows Down

Jagged Team has pointed out a post on ComicsOne's stated with lower than expected sales, and the slow summer seaon coming, they will be slowing their release schedule. They hope to make releases more accessable by adding more time between a title's collections.

Tree of Palme

Anime News Network has confirmed that Digital Manga will be presenting the recent anime movie A Tree of Palme at the Egyptian Theatre on behalf of its Japanese license holders, and its working on licensing it to a North America company

Wolverine Skift Preview

Newsarama has post preview pages of Marvel's Wolverine: Skikt, illustrated by Blane manga artist Tsutomu Nihei here. There have been conflicting statements about how much of the mini series will be written by Tsutomu Nihei, and how much will be done by the other credited writer, Daniel Way.

Manga Harvey Award Nominees

The nominee's for comics' Harvey Awards, named for Harvey Kurtzman, have been announced. For the first time since the award's 1988 inception, the winners will be announced in a press release rather than a banquet ceremony.

Manga nominees include Astro Boy and Lone Wolf And Cub for Best Presentation Of Foreign Material.

Comic Company Trades One Manga Format For Another

The comic publisher CrossGen will be canceling their monthly manga-like Compendia monthly anthologies in favor focusing of another manga-influenced inexpensive collections called "Travelers".

Steam Boy Releases

Bandai Visual has stated that Akira creator Katsuhiro Otomo's Steam Boy will recieve a simultaneous release in the US and Japan.

BAAF To Host Initial D Third Stage Movie World Premiere

The NYC's very own Big Apple Anime Fest has announced the event will host the world premiere of the theatrical English dubbed version of " Initial D: Third Stage The Movie " on August 29th, 7:00pm at Loews State Theater (Virgin Megastore) in New York City's Times Square. The Initial D series is already a big hit among US fans; yet, the fans will be amazed by this new film with the original English-language voices they have come to know and love. Based on the original manga by Shuichi Shigeno, the "Initial D: Third Stage The Movie" was created as a continual story following the "Second Stage" TV series. The movie uses enormous amounts of computer graphics in order to enhance the reality of street racing. In addition to the outstanding graphics, the soundtrack by avex Inc. adds aural excitement to the car racing.

Initial D tells the story of a 17-year-old tofu delivery boy named Tak who suddenly finds himself caught up in the heart-stopping world of street racing. Tak drives an "Eighty-Six," a street term for the Toyota Trueno AE86. When chance puts him up against street racing's most notorious driver and he actually wins the race, the lure is too much-he is hooked. Word quickly spreads about the famous "Eighty-Six of Mount Akina," and more and more rival racers appear to challenge Tak and his friends in a series of white-knuckle contests.