Father Geek here with another mid-week report on the whole world of Anime and Manga from our man in the scene Scott Green... lots of info this week including a preview of Manga & Anime at the big San Diego Comic Convention in Southern California, soooooo here's Scott's report...

Anime Spotlight: King of Bandit King Volume 1

Released by ADV

King of Bandit Jing is a treasure hunt, caper-adventure set in a world gleefully bereft of logic. Tattooed surly ostriches overlook wasteland, piggy bank men run ghost ship casinos, and a young man named Jing, with his woman-loving, talking albatross Kir (a mischievous looking hawk-like bird) travel the pockets of civilization, liberating the world's precious oddities from their current owners.

The world of King of Bandit Jing is brilliantly strange. There are unexplained oddities like tooth cavity imps, zombies with Tellatubby head appendages, or a hot tub populated by a bandaged dinosaur, an aged punk, a snow man, and an armored knight. Others have a Rube Goldberg half-logical complexity, such as a time obsessed city, fueled by sand falling into a giant open topped hour glass that grows time grapes (grape with small clock faces that ring when they reach 12 o'clock).

The ingredient missing from making this an excellent collection of surreal heists is the colorful characters. They all look interesting. They have bizarre physical features, or some unusual hair configuration, but they're dull. There're no interesting conversations save for a few clues to the workings of the world. No noteworthy personality quirks or history.

The character Jing is meant to cool under pressure, but often he just comes off any cold. Given that this is anime, at some point the series is bound to turn him on his head, or reveal some hidden depth, or inflict some Job-level challenge, but over the course of the first volume, he's a rather dull character. He's competent, confident, good natured, and destined for greatest. An episode also points out he has the perfect mix of ambition, and restraint. In other works, he has no flaws, no vices, and so far no need to develop his talent. Nor does it have any quirks, or so far, history. There's some connection made based on his expressions when he's getting beat or challenged or his relationship with Kir. He doesn't present something to root for, just a count down to the next oddity.

The first episodes are on par with the openings of other well regarded adventures, but Jing it is missing part of the equation. King of Bandit Jing can easily develop into something very entertaining. It has great strength in its situation and presentation. What is lacks is some incentive to care about what the character say, or look forward to seeing what they do.

Anime Soundtrack Spotlight: Fiction by Yuki Kajiura

Released by Pioneer

Composer Yuki Kajiura is THE rising star in anime music. Her music is a constant highlight of series she lends it to. It is versatile, but distinctive build block that sets the atmosphere to what appears on top of it. Blending with story, but immediately attention grabbing.

Fiction is a collection of songs that stand well on their own, outside the context of their host anime series. It includes 12 English renditions of vocal songs from anime series .hack//SIGN, and Noir (also Aquarian Age, which currently has not been translated).

The sound is pop, but not j-pop. Celtic music and opera with plenty of strings are blended with techno beats and paces. The sounds are haunting and memorable, the type you're humming days later. A few are to wale-y, and the lyrics aren't more substantial than most anime songs, Kajiura's music is inventive, and pleasing.

Fiction is an essential anime soundtrack. If you've seen Noir or .hack, the quality of Yuki Kajiura's work is evident.

In a side note, the English version of Fiction released before the Japanese release, (but the Japanese had three bonus tracks).

Manga Preview: Berserk Volume 1

Kentarou Miura

The first volume of Berserk will be released by Dark Horse comics on October 12th. This preview is based on the Japanese release.

Berserk starts off as a chilling medieval horror. If Poe drew up a nation's social structure, Lovecraft populated the upper echelons and Paul Verhoeven posted the rules of engagement it might look a bit like what is seem in Berserk.

Volume one opens with a scarred man rolling in the grass with a women. As they consummate their relationship hair becomes tendrils, arms become reptilian, and she becomes a beast. Before she can consume the man, he throws his metal arm into her mouth, and unleashes a cannon blast. The man then resumes his hunt of the Apostles of God's Hand.

Guts, or "The Black Swordsman" is a man with no name in the vein of a Leone movie Clint Eastwood, or Lone Wolf and Cub's Ogami Itto. He arrives, and accomplishes his goal at any cost, allowing himself to be captured and tortured to meet his adversary. He's scarred, branded, missing an eye and an arm, hounded by creatures intent of devouring him, but in a world and a time whose population has been driven into complete subservience, or basest instincts, Guts thrives. In the heat of combat or pain, a smile crosses his face, and he goes forward.

He's a man living in a Goya painting whose been pushed to edge in a world where politicians facilitate a demon's diet of children, and he pushes back. He nearly gets crushed while making small dents, and almost gets crushed in the process.

Berserk is a graphically grotesque work. The results of getting punched in the face with a metal hand, or sliced in half aren't clean, and Kentarou Miura certainly portrays them in a gruesome light. It is graphic iron age combat, and life Guts its thrives in the blood letting. Beyond scenes of the blood of a spike infant being drunk, or eyes popping out of the sockets of horse trampled men, there's a good five pages of Guts pumping arrows into, and information out of an adversary, and a fifteen page interplay involving a severed head. It doesn't dwell too long on any particular moment of carnage, or make them stomach churning, but when it does depict them it drains the moments for all it's worth.

They are few manga series that have been translated into English with the intensity or tone of Berserk. The development of Gut's character, and the complexity of his world have kept Berserk going strong for over 25 volumes.

This Week's Anime and Manga Releases

Anime

• Aura Battler Dunbine - Tales of Byston Well (Vol. 1)
• Brigadoon - Friends and Enemies (Vol. 2)
• Dragon Ball - Piccolo Jr. Saga Set Part 1
• Dragon Ball GT - Baby - Preparation
• Dragon Ball GT - Baby - Ramifications
• Eden's Bowy - Hot Pursuit (Vol. 2)
• Geneshaft - Halo (Vol. 2)
• GTO - Field Trips (Vol. 9)
• .hack//SIGN - Gestalt (Vol. 3)
• Jubei-Chan the Ninja Girl - Complete Set
• Sailor Moon - Season One - Complete and Uncut
• S-Cry-Ed - The Lost Ground (Vol. 1)
• Star Blazers:Bolar Wars Series 3 Pt 4

Manga

• All New Tenchi Muyo Vol 2 Tp Doom Time
• Angels Wing #2
• Cannon God Exaxxion #15
• Flame Of Recca Vol 1 Tp
• Gundam The Origin #6
• One Piece Vol 1 Tp Romance Dawn
• Raijin Comics #31
• Super Manga Blast #33
• Wedding Peach Vol 1 Tp
• X 1999 Vol 10 Tp Fugue

Last Week's Manga (Diamond's list was not available)

• Animerica Extra Vol 6 #8
• Battle Angel Alita Last Order Tpb Angel Reborn
• Battle Royale Gn Vol 2 (Of 5)
• Blade Of The Immortal #80
• Blade Of The Immortal #80
• Chronicles Of The Cursed Sword Gn Vol 1 (Of 10)
• City Hunter Tpb Vol 1
• Erica Sakurazawa's Angel Gn
• Fake Gn Vol 2 (Of 7)
• First President Of Japan Tpb Vol 1
• Kodocha Gn Vol 8 (Of 10)
• Lupin Iii Gn Vol 5 (Of 14)
• Manga University Background Collection Vol 2
• Mars Gn Vol 12 (Of 15)
• Peach Girl Change Of Heart Gn Vol 3 (Of 7)
• Ragnarok Gn Vol 7 (Of 10)
• Raijin Comics #29 & 30
• Saber Marionette J Gn Vol 1 (Of 3)
• Scryed Gn Vol 3 (Of 5)
• Slam Dunk Tpb Vol 1
• Wolverine Snikt #3 (Of 6)
• Zodiac Pi Gn Vol 1 (Of 3)

Next Week on TV

Sunday July 20th

• 12:00 Am Cartoon Network .Hack//Sign
• 7:00 Am Family Channel Medabots (through Saturday)
• 7:30 am Family Channel Beyblade (through Saturday)
• 9:00 am Family Channel Beyblade
• 9:30 am Family Channel Medabots
• 10:00 am UPM Digimon: Digital Monsters
• 6:00PM Cartoon Network Hamtaro
• 10:30PM International Channel Dragonball GT
• 11:00PM Internal Channel Slayers

Monday-Friday

• 12:00 AM Cartoon Network Big O (Tuesday - Friday)
• 12:00 AM Tech TV Anime Unleashed (not Monday, through Saturday)
• 12:30 AM Cartoon Network Lupin III (Tuesday - Friday)
• 12:30 AM Tech TV Anime Unleashed (not Monday, through Saturday)
• 1:00 AM Cartoon Network Kikaider
• 1:30 AM Cartoon Network Trigun
• 3:00 AM Tech TV Anime Unleashed (not Monday, through Saturday)
• 3:30 AM Tech TV Anime Unleashed (not Monday, through Saturday)
• 6:00 AM Cartoon Network Zoids
• 7:00 AM Cartoon Network Hamtaro
• 7:30 AM UPN Digimon: Digital Monsters
• 9:00 AM Cartoon Network Pokemon
• 2:00 PM Cartoon Network Hamtaro
• 4:00 PM Digimon: Digital Monsters
• 4:00 PM WB Pokemon
• 4:30 PM WB Yu-Gi-Oh
• 4:30 PM Tech TV Anime Unleashed
• 5:30 PM Cartoon Network Dragon Ball Z
• 6:00 PM Cartoon Network Cyborg 009
• 6:30 PM Cartoon Network Yuyu Hakusho
• 9:00 PM Cartoon Network Pokemon
• 11:00 PM International Channel Lost Universe (Monday)
• 11:00 PM International Channel Fushigi Yugi (Tuesday)
• 11:00 PM El Hazard - The Wanderers (Wednesday)

Saturday July 26th

• 2:00 AM Tech TV Anime Unleashed (not Monday, through Saturday)
• 2:30 AM Tech TV Anime Unleashed (not Monday, through Saturday)
• 8:30 AM WB Yu-Gi-Oh
• 9:30 AM Fox Kirby: Right Back at Ya!
• 9:30 AM Fox MegaMan: NT Warrior
• 10:00 AM Fox ltimate Muscle: The Kinnikuman Legacy
• 10:00 AM WB Pokemon
• 11:00 AM WB Yu-Gi-Oh!
• 11:00 AM Family Channel Tokyo Pig
• 12:30 PM Cartoon Network Transfomers Armada
• 1:00 PM Cartoon Network Hamtaro
• 8:30 PM Cartoon Network Transformers Armada
• 9:30 PM Cartoon Network Rurouni Kenshin
• 10:30 Cartoon Network G Gundam
• 11:00 PM Cartoon Network Pokemon

AnimEigo Home Video Goes Mainstream

Anime Nation reports AnimEigo will be distributing their anime and samurai titles in mainstream outlets through KOCH Entertainment Distribution. AnimEigo titles include Macross, Urusei Yatsura, Orange Road, Bubblegum Crisis, Oh My Goddess!.

Official Websites

English:

ADV has launched a Kino' Journey site at kinosjourney.com and a King of Bandit Jing site at kingofbanditjingdvd.com

Japanese:

From Natsume Maya. The following series will air on Japanese TV this October.

There's a new Heat Guy J site at here. A seven and a half minute trailer can be viewed by clicking on the "Play" button.

Site for the upcoming anime show Hagane no Renkinjutsushi (Full Metal Alchemist) include Sony's, Square-Enix's manga site here, and MBS's here.

The oficial site for Planetes is online at www.planet-es.net. TOKYOPOP will be releasing the English edition of the manga.

The site for mecha anime Godanner is online at www.godanner.com/

Sakamoto Maaya News

Sakamoto Maaya, singer and voice actress best known for Escalowne will be releasing her fourth album this December.

She will also be staring in the short movie "03+", which will likewise be releasing in December.

Live Action Cutey Honey Pictures

Sankei Sports has pictures of Sato Eriko in custome for Hideaki Anno's (of Evangelion) live action Cutey Honey movie here.

Legend of Galactic Heroes Update

From Anime News Network's Anime Expo panel report

Tokuma Executive Producer Tokio Kikakuwa and Director Noburo Ishiguro spoke at the Anime Expo about a English-language version of Legend of Galactic Heroes. The price on the online survey ($1925) was simply a conversion of the Japanese price, an American release will be competitively priced. (Home video releases are considerably less expensive in the US than in Japan).

The survey has currently received 570 of the 1500 responses that they are for in order to make way for an English only release. There are plans to stream a sample episode online.

They are rejects offers from American anime distributors to license a subsets of the series episode.

Mr. Ishiguro is currently working on two projects, an unnamed series set to begin airing in the spring of 2004 and a title called "Titania".

"Titania" is a space drama about a soldier who flees his empire and seeks refuge with a rebellion force. Based on the novel by the same name by Yoshiki Tanaka, and with mecha designs by Kazutaka Miyatake, this aims to be a high-quality production.

Box Set News

From Anime on DVD FUNimation will be releasing a box set of Blue Gender for $119.98.

Right Stuf will be releasing a box set re-release of the Captain Tylor TV and OAV series.

Detective Conan Licensing

FUNimation licensed the first 104 episode of Detective Conan, and the two movies.

Manga Entertainment Release Plans

From Anime on DVD Manga Entertainment will release a 3 disc DVD boxed set of Macross Plus, containing the 2 OAV series DVDs and the movie, on October 28th at a retail price of $89.95.

Manga's long delayed Evangelion movies DVD boxed set will retail at $49.95 beginning on November 18th.

Japanese Nausicaa DVD Release

Accoding to Nausicaa.net Hayao Miyazaki's Kaze no Tani no Nausicaa (Nausicaa of the Valley of Wind) has been scheduled for DVD release in Japan this winter.

Planetes Manga From TOKYOPOP

This September TOKYOPOP will be releasing the first of the three volume Planetes manga by Makoto Yukimura. Haunted by a space flight accident that claimed the life of his beloved wife, Yuri finds himself six years later as part of a team of debris cleaners charged with clearing space junk from space flight paths. The team consists of Hachimaki, a hot shot debris-man with a sailor's affinity for the orbital ocean; Fee, a tomboy beauty with an abrasive edge and a penchant for smoking; and Pops, a veteran orbital mechanic whose avuncular presence sooths the stress of the job. Planetes follows the lives of Yuri and his fellow debris-men as they work and ruminate at the edge of the great empyrean sea.

Upcoming ADV Releases

Original Dirty Pair: Project Eden, comedy sci-fi from anime's most destructive duo, Rahxephon: Synaesthesia (volume 5), and Yokai Monsters: Along With Ghosts, the third Yokai Monsters movie will be released September 9th.

RahXephon was created and directed by Yutaka Izubuchi (Gasaraki, the Gundam franchise), and produced by Bones (Angelic Layer), Victor Entertainment (Noir) and Fuji TV (Astro Boy, Battle of the Planets). The RahXephon series debuted on Japanese TV in 2002 and became an immediate sensation, with fierce action and the multilayered complexity of the plot and characters drawing in viewers by the tens of thousands.

Monsters: Along with Ghosts, the last of three breathtaking and delightfully strange 1960s Yokai Monsters theatrical features slated for release on ADV Films' Rubbersuit Pictures imprint.

For release September 16th

Noir: Cloaks And Daggers (volume 6)

The series, which premiered in Japan in 2001, was directed by Koichi Mashimo (Dirty Pair, Dominion). Viewers praise NOIR's spectacular animation, the use of music, its exotic settings (largely in western Europe) and an enduringly complex storyline, based on a relationship between a duo of female assassins who cannot trust one another, but who need each other to survive. Critics have favorably compared NOIR to such genre-defining live-action suspense films as The Professional and La Femme Nikita; Phantasmagoria Online raves, "NOIR is a series that grips you tightly and doesn't let go."

Sorcerer Hunters: Complete Collection (The Entire Racy, Hilarious Series In A Value-Priced Collection!)

Sorcerer Hunters: The Complete Collection, a compilation of all 26 zany episodes of the fan-favorite fantasy series on four DVDs. The Sorcerer Hunters series is based on a manga by Rei Omisha and Satoru Akahori, the scriptwriter of Magical Shopping Street Abenobashi.

In the magical Spooner Continent, five would-be heroes are sent by a powerful goddess to keep sorcerers in line. Named for various pastries, these gorgeous girls and handsome guys may be sweet, but they pack a seriously nasty punch.

Sorcerer Hunters ($59.98 SRP) is a DVD-only release on four discs, containing all 26 episodes of the series. It includes both English- and Japanese-language versions, and English subtitles. DVD extras include: character biographies, original trailers, and ADV previews.

Supergals!: Gals Gotta Have Heart (First Volume Of The Series; Collector's Edition Available)

The first volume of the popular shoujo anime series SuperGALS! Without losing any time for shopping, high-school gossip, and teen romance, the SuperGALS!-the three hippest girls in Shibuya-keep their eyes out for adventure in the first five episodes of the initial volume, GALS Gotta Have Heart.

Sailor Moon: Season Two Uncut (Second Season Of The Original, Uncensored Series)

A huge DVD collection of the uncensored original source for the breakout U.S. children's hit Sailor Moon. In this English-subtitled, Japanese-language release, ADV Films has returned to the original masters, which include mature content that was excised from the U.S. children's release, and the original graphic title treatment. The result is a far more sophisticated series, with significantly broadened appeal for mature anime fans. The release (1000 minutes total running time) is on eight DVDs in two cases, which are in turn packaged in a handsome, high-quality ("hard") foil-stamped custom art box.

The second season of Sailor Moon was directed by noted anime fantasy creator Junichi Sato (creator of the forthcoming ADV co-production Kaleido Star), with character designs by Kazuko Tadano (Wedding Peach).

For release September 23rd

Blue Seed: Beyond (The Action Moves To California)

Blue Seed: Beyond, the OVA sequel to the Blue Seed television series, based on the popular manga by Yozu Takada (3x3 Eyes). Blue Seed: Beyond brings the television series' characters to this side of the Pacific for a thrilling, action-packed battle against a new form of the evil shape-shifting monsters, the Aragami.

The Story: A renegade scientist in San Francisco has found a way to create a new creature known as a Neo-Aragami without the power of Susanoo. When these monsters start to terrorize California, the U.S. turns to the old members of the Terrestrial Administration Center (TAC) for help. All your favorites from the original series are here: Matsudaira, Kome, Yaegashi and Takeuchi. And now a mysterious new girl has appeared on the scene-Valencia, an American, who like Kusanagi, has the power of Mitama-and she may have eyes for Momiji's boyfriend.

Rune Soldier: Monsters And Mayhem (That Louie... Vol 4 Of The Series) Fourth volume of the anime adventure tale, combining fantasy, magic, comedy and epic quests in one irreverent package. Rune Soldier was created by Ryo Mizuno, the mind behind the acclaimed Record of Lodoss War anime.

September 30th

Doomed Megalopolis Special Edition (Includes Japanese Audio + Subtitles--First Time Ever!)

Produced by one of Japan's premiere animation houses, Madhouse Studios (Ninja Scroll), this special edition will also include the English-language adaptation by Carl Macek (Robotech, Lady Death) and an interview with supervising director RinTaro (Metropolis, Captain Harlock).

A classic struggle between good and evil, Doomed Megalopolis takes place in the context of a devastating earthquake that destroyed much of Tokyo in 1923. The tale posits an alternate cause for that destruction, putting a supernatural spin on the actual event.

The Story: The powerful mystic Kato's obsession with conquering Tokyo awakens the long-dead spirit Masakato, the legendary guardian of Tokyo. Unable to stand alone against Masakato's power, the calculating Kato uses an innocent woman as an unsuspecting pawn in the hope of producing an offspring capable of challenging Tokyo's mystical protector. But Kato never counted on the effect that a team of unlikely heroes would have on his sinister plans. Nor could he anticipate the destruction his spells would cause to millions of innocent citizens.

Doomed Megalopolis: Special Edition (SRP $29.98) is a DVD-only release containing all four parts of the title: "The Haunting of Tokyo," "The Fall of Tokyo," "The Gods of Tokyo" and "The Battle for Tokyo." Includes both English- and Japanese-language versions, with English subtitles. Extras include: Interviews with Kyusaku Shimamuna and supervising director RinTaro; video history segments; and ADV Previews.

Upcoming Bandai Releases

The following will be released September 2nd:

Love Hina Again

The final chapter of Ken Akamatsu's best selling anime and manga series, Love Hina has arrived! Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the Hot Spring! Keitaro and Naru have finally begun college life at Tokyo University! After a long period of studying, bizarre happenings, random trips, and misunderstanding upon misunderstanding, their dream has finally come true! However, their feelings for each other are still a little.muddled. And with a newer, stricter, manager to run the Hinata Apartments - Will anyone survive Hinata Boot Camp? Love is in the air.Again. Welcome back.

Spirit of Wonder

Brand new adventures awaits those who seek a new 'Spirit of Wonder.' As young boys, Cooper, Gordon, and Shepherd were enchanted by the theories of life on Mars published by Percival Lowell.

By forming a group club called the "Scientific Boys Club," trio pursues their long-time dream of traveling to Mars. And while the town of Bristol may be small, its always exciting! What'll happen when the town's own Miss China is shrunken to the size of a pea and travels to Mars in two very special short stories "Shrinking of Miss China" and "Planet of Miss China."

s-CRY-ed -- The Alter Hunt (volume 2)

Directed by Goro Taniguchi - Infinite Ryvius. 'X-Men' type action meets anime stylings. After repeated attacks against HOLD and HOLY, Commander Zigmarl is forced to initiate an operation to capture all the Native Alters in the Lost Ground. Spread across the city, the forces of HOLD and HOLY begin arresting everyone in their path. Determined to protect what they have, Kimishima and Kazuma rally as many Native Alters they can find to fight back! An uneasy alliance and the beginning of an unparalled rivalry between Kazuma and Ryuho - The secret to victory rests with the mystery behind Alter powers.

Please Teacher --The Honeymoon's Over (volume 3)

.hack//SIGN --Omnipotence / Omnipotence Limited Edition

The following will be release September 19th.

The Big O - Complete Collection All 13 epsiodes of the original series.

Paradigm City. A City of Amnesia. Forty years ago everyone lost their memory...but humanity continues to survive. They've learned to operate machinery, produce electricity, and go on living each day at a time. Still, there's something missing in a town with no past, no history of what has come before. Roger Smith is a Negotiator, hired to negotiate disputes between parties. With the power of a wondrous piece of technology known as the Big O, Roger Smith keeps Paradigm City from the nightmare of memories.

Geneshaft --Orbit (volume 3)

Bandai will be releasing the first volume of Witch Hunter Robin on October 7th.

From the press release:

A runaway hit in Japan, Witch Hunter Robin, is a "Buffy the Vampire Slayer meets X-Files," and promises to be one of the biggest DVD releases of 2003. In the world of Witch Hunter Robin, where witches abuse their supernatural powers, a special team is tasked with hunting this new threat to society. This organization known as the "STN" is comprised of several highly skilled craft users and experts in covert operations; however, their most powerful craft-user is a young woman named Robin. Her mysterious gift to summon deadly flames will determine the fates of her colleagues and lead her into the dark world of mystique and witchcraft.

Upcoming CPM Releases

Slayers Special: Spellbound will be released October 22nd.

Story by Hajime Kanzaka, the creator of The Slayers and Lost Universe video series, and featuring the stunning artwork of Tommy Ohtsuka and Yoshihiro Komada, with character design by Rui Araizumi. They'll put a spell on you! The charming duo are back, and wherever they go, hilarity is sure to follow. Naga is missing and Lina could care less! Find out the mystery behind Naga's disappearance!

MegaTokyo Leaves IC Entertainment

Pulse reports that the print version of popular anime inspire web comic MegaTokyo will be releasing IC Entertainment. Fred Gallagher says the solicited book two will not releases from IC Entertaintment.

Gallagher commented, "First, I would like to apologize for the lack of information regarding the status of MegaTokyo book 2. The response to the publication of the first book far exceeded anyone's expectations, and I know that many of you are eagerly awaiting the publication of the second volume. I have an announcement to make regarding this and future print volumes of MegaTokyo."

The creator continued, "I.C. Entertainment (formerly known as Studio Ironcat) will not be publishing MegaTokyo volume 2 or any future volumes of MegaTokyo material. If you have pre-ordered MegaTokyo volume 2 from I.C. Entertainment, please contact them directly regarding the refunding of your preorder."

Warmth, the series that was being published in the AmeriManga anthology will likewise be leaving the publisher.

Gundam Seed Games Images

The Magic Box has images of Bandai's Gundam Seed game here

.hack//Integration

Bandai Japan will be relasing .hack//Integration, a collection of the four episodes released with Playstation games, .hack//SIGN episode 28, and the .hack//Tasogare no Udewa Densetsu drama CD on October 24th.

Yu Yu Hakusho Trading Card Game

Score, who makes the Dragon Ball Z collectable card game will be releasing a Yu Yu Hakusho Trading Card Game (TCG) September 15th . See www.YuYuHakushoTCG.com

Anime/Manga At San Diego Comic Con

Thursday-Sunday, July 17-20

Bandai will be previewing anime series The Big O II, s-CRY-ed, and Witch Hunter Robin, and toy properties Jagun Fighters and Superior Defender will be previewed, as well as Gundam figures at this year Comic Con.

Superior Defender

Bandai America and Bandai Entertainment presents "the next BIG thing in robots." Superior Defender (or "SD") is an intergalactic adventure of incredible proportions, featuring a variety of vertically challenged robots from three different worlds. The Mobile, Knight and Musha Defenders join forces to fight an enemy with a Napoleon complex of its own, the dreaded Dark Axis. Combining action and humor with a spunky look, the toy line from Bandai America consists of snap-together action figures, 5-inch action figures, 1.5-inch figures, deluxe vehicles and playsets. A brand new 3-D animation TV show inspired by the toys is set to debut in September 2003 on Cartoon Network (see the panel schedule following for a screening of the premiere episode), with an anticipated release on DVD home video 1st Quarter 2004.

Bandai America will host Gundam trivia contests at the Bandai Stage, and a display of unique action figure models straight from Japan. A massive six-foot Gundam statue, and replica uniforms of Mobile Suit Gundam characters Amuro Ray and Sayla Mass will also be on exhibit.

Angel's Wing creator Tetsuya Aoki, and Nozomi creator Nao Yazawa will be attending the Comicon, and presenting their manga series, which will be released by Fanboy Inc, at the Bandai booth.

TOKYOPOP will be hosting autograph sessions, game demos and other special attractions. Guests include comic pro Keith Giffen (Battle Royale English adaptation) and manga creators Kim Kang Won (I.N.V.U.), Min-Woo Hyung (Priest), Ahmed Hoke (@Large), Tavicat (Shutterbox) and Terrence Walker (World of Hartz), plus The Rising Stars of Manga contest winners. Attendees can also try a demo of the brand-new Initial D trading card game and test their racing skills with an arcade-style Initial D PS2 game.