Father Geek here fresh from a multi day battle with "THE WORM." We here at Geek Headquarters weren't infected by this worldwide headache, buuuuuuut we WERE affected by its massive side-effects, namely 10s of thousands (probably 100,000+) spam E-mails many with 100 meg plus files that I have been trying to delete for 3 days now without losing the mail we NEED to get like Scott's regular weekly report on the world of Anime & Manga. Sooooo this is a little late, sorry, but I did get it up finally. Its a good one so dig in and enjoy...

AnimAICN...

by Scott Green

Anime Spotlight: Brigadoon Volume 2 Friends & Enemies

Released by TOKYOPOP

Neil Gaiman observed in the "A Game For You" chapter of his comic series Sandman that all children imagine that they are more than they really are, but girls and boys frame these fantasies differently. Boys imagine that they are super-heroes who have assumed lesser identites. Girls imagine that that their parents aren't their real parents. Instead they're secretly princesses living with their assumed parents until their real ones come to retrieve them.

At least in recently years, and what is known to western audiences, girl's anime in this vein has tended more to the super-hero motif (ie the transforming magic girl), than the fairy princess. Brigadoon is a princess story, complete with knight, and castle in the sky, but despite visual candy coating, it easily as dark as Grimm's, and as subversive to the original ideal as a CLAMP work.

Marin is a spunky young orphan living with an old woman who raised Marin in an odd tenement community with her now deceased husband. Despite hardship, Marin is loved and happy. When the strange city of Brigadoon appears in the sky Marin finds Melan, a blue robot Monomakia protector, who theoretically should whisk her off to a new home is the sky. Instead they stay on the ground where they are attacked by other Monomakia ranging from pink sniper snails to massive industrial beasts that look to have been designed by Wonka. The implication is that Marin's fate on Brigadoon wouldn't a happy one, and that Melan thinks all parties would be better served by going down another course. The appearance of Brigadoon and discovery of Melan launch Marin into a Dickensian weaving of good and awful luck, and a Roald Dahl strangeness that is sometimes wonderful, and sometimes sadistic. Like the works of those authors, it is a high caliber heartstring yanker. Marin is a cute, lovable girl with problems, both mundane and magical, that would easily faze adults. It walks the line of emotional manipulated, but more often than not, it stays a compelling story with a character you can't help but feel for.

Volume two of Brigadoon seems to be shifting gears, or at least accelerating. Battle lines are being drawn, and ties are being severed. The human cruelty of the first volume is being supplanted by shadows of an unseen conflict on Brigadoon. Human characters in Marin's support network are being replaced, so far one to one, by Monomakia allies.

There is some question as to who is the audience of this series. As far as the upper bounds goes, anyone who doesn't mind their stories a little fantastic will love Brigadoon. For younger audiences there is some question. TOKYOPOP marks it "Teen 13+", which makes sense since there is material that parents tend to find objectionable, ie nudity. This volume in particular has a bathhouse episode with a large quantity of partially obscured nudity. Brigadoon is a visually cute adventure that may appear to younger audiences, but it has an emotional intensity that makes it a judgment call. There isn't a great quantity of violence, less than many animated shows on television, but the violence has more immediate and harsh consequences than many or most R rated movies.

Anime Spotlight: Full Metal Manic! Mission 0.2

Released by ADV Films

It may seem like Tom Clancy/Metal Gear military suspense and high school sitcom comedy mix like oil and water. Full Metal Panic uses both elements, but so far the threads have remained fairly distinct. Perhaps that is the best way to utilize the two together, because that's what is working in Full Metal Manic. The military personas are fuel for the jokes in the sitcom, and the sitcom relationships impact the military suspense.

Kaname is a high school girl with a type A personality, and a hammy streak, who is secretly a Whispered, girls genetically engineered with special insight into technology. Sousuke is a feral teenager, raised by military units rather than wolves. His latest mission for Mithril, a pro-west Cold War non-national trouble shooting army, is to assume the identity of a Japanese schoolboy in order to protect Kaname.

Volume 2 leaps back into the second act of the terrorist hostage situation begun in the first volume, the story that cause the delay of the series air date in Japan after the events of 9-11. It is a well, constructed tense story, but it is hurt by the arbitrary volume break. Without haven't recently watch the build in the first volume it isn't well served by the jumping on point. The emotional tension of the characters stays understandably high but there is a slow down from a crisp state where actions must be taken too quick to think or feel to a more melodramic pace that seems to artificially stretch the emotions. Still, Studio Gonzo animates some brilliant military robot action scenes that should thrill fans.

The second half of the volume returns to the high school sitcom aspect of the show. The episodes are punchy and often dead on funny, with some classic line, such as Sousuke protesting that he is a "specialist, not a nerd".

Manga Spotlight: Basara Volume 1 by Yumi Tamura

Released by Viz's Shojo graphic novel line

Basara joins the many historical, and religious desert sagas , put in this case, it is a young woman leading her people to salvation.

In a post-apocalyptic future, Japan has been covered by desert, and its subjugated people divided into four realms under brother kings. A pair of twins was born to a prophesy stating "one who will grow up to lead the people and be the light in the sky of our nation's future."

Sarasa was a spirited child who grew in up the shadow of a brother who was assumed to the "boy of destiny", but as her brother was to ascend and receive the sword that symbolizes the protectorhip of his people, the land's Red King struck and killed her brother. In the confusion, Sarasa assumes her brother's identity and destiny.

Basara is more in tuned with relationships and politics than armies and battles. More is at stake with perception that with combat. It is a bit of potboiler, but it isn't simply a romance of hidden identities. An interesting configuration of motivations and multi-layered personalites is being build. There are already several characters pull with multiple identities who are pulled in different directions by their destiny and nature.

The illustration is effective, and very adept as capturing emotion and landscape but not incredibly eye catching. There is a distortion to the way figures are stylized that makes the panels that aren't highly rendered look rushed and sketchy, with odd proportions and poses. The work isn't necessarily rushed or sloppy, but the style doesn't add much to the effect. Instead it is a deficit that the other aspects of the tale more than compensate for.

This Week's Anime and Manga Releases

Anime:

• Ai Yori Aoshi - Truly Yours (Vol. 4)
• Banner of the Stars II - Hunters
• Junkers Come Here
• Najica Blitz Tactics (Vol. 1)
• Neo Ranga - A Nation Apart (Vol. 4)
• Project Gemini - A Bold Leap Forward
• Ranma 1/2 Ranma Forever:Someday Some
• Saber Marionette J Ultimate Collection
• Sakura Wars TV - Crescendo (Vol. 3)
• Virtua Fighter - Round 2
• Yu-Gi-Oh - Match of the Millennium

Manga:

• 3 X 3 Eyes Shadow Of The Kunlun Tp
• Cannon God Exaxxion #16
• City Hunter Vol 2 Tp
• Dragonball Vol 12 Tp Shonen J Ed
• First President Of Japan Vol 2 Tp
• Fist Of The Blue Sky Vol 2 Tp
• Raijin Comics #35
• Shaman King Vol 1 Tp Shaman In Tokyo
• Short Cuts Vol 2 Tp
• Slam Dunk Vol 2 Tp

Next Week on Television

Inu-Yasha returns to Cartoon Network's Midnight Adult Swim.

The lineup will be:

• 12:00 a.m. Inuyasha
• 12:30 a.m. Blue Gender
• 1:00 a.m. Trigun
• 1:30 a.m. Cowboy Bebop

Dragon Ball Re-Dubbing

Anime News Network reports the first 56 episodes of Dragonball Z are being redubbed and already in production. Chuck Huber will be the ADR Director for the project.

Official Sites and Trailers

English

The Knights of the Zodiac site features a trailer to the upcoming English adaptation of St. Seiya. Knights of the Zodiac will be coming to Cartoon Network.

Cartoon Network has a preview clip of the upcoming SD Gundam here.

Bandai has opened a site for Witch Hunter Robin at www.witchhunteronline.com. Directed by anime veteran Shukou Murase (Character Designer for Gundam Wing, Argentosoma) - This new gothic series is best described as a cross between 'La Femme Nikita' and 'X-Files' with its story setting in present-day Japan. In a world where witches abuse their supernatural powers, a special team is tasked with hunting this new threat to society.

ADV has opened a site for the "the racy, panty-riffic animated spy-fi series" Najica Blitz Tactics at http://www.najicablitztactics.com

Japanese

A preview of the upcoming Tenchi Muyo! Ryo-ohki 3rd OVA can be seen here A site for the Mezzo Forte TV series has opened at Mezzo-tv.net

The site for the anime adpation of Shibata Ami's Papuwa can be seen at www.papuwa.com/

Rave Master on Cartoon Network

Anime News Network reports that the fourth volume of TOKYOPOP's Rave Master manga includes an announcement that the anime adapation of the series will be shown on Cartoon Network in 2004. The English edition of the anime series was produced by Nelvana, whose work has included BeyBlade, Cardcaptors and Medabot.

Ghost in the Shell 2 Theatrical Date

Japanese site Museum K is reporting that the second Ghost in the Shell Movie, Innocence will open in Japanese theatre in March 2004.

Drakuun Return

Manabe Johji's fantasy manga Drakuun return this month for its fifth and final volume after a six year break. Studio Proteus who translated the series into English has stated:

Our contract with Manabe for the publication of Drakuun is still in force, and so I will pick up the artwork from him in a couple of months and bring it to the US for scanning.

I think we will bring it out as a monthly mini-series first just to get Manabe's "name in the news" again, and then the entire five-volume series will be reissued in our new standard format. Look for the comic to begin next spring...or thereabouts.

Final Fantay: Unlimited and Other Upcoming ADV Titles

ADV Films will be releasing the following titles on October 28th:

-Final Fantasy: Unlimited--Phase 1

-Rahxephon 6: Aria

-City Hunter Tv: Season Two, Collection One

Final Fantasy: Unlimited-Phase 1

First Volume Of 25-Episode Videogame Tie-In

Final Fantasy: Unlimited is directed by Mahiro Maeda, one of the most acclaimed anime directors in Japan. Maeda was recently hand-picked to direct two of the animated shorts included in The Animatrix, the anime side project based on the hit feature film The Matrix.

Producers for the series are SQUARE, TV Tokyo (NOIR) and Dentsu (Princess Mononoke, Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex), with animation produced by Gonzo Digimation, animators of Hellsing, Full Metal Panic!, Zaion and several more of anime's most popular recent titles.

The Story: Welcome to Wonderland! The gateway to another world appears suddenly one day and with its coming awaken two mysterious beasts of astonishing power. The monsters appear to destroy each other and then vanish-leaving behind only the inexplicable pillar of darkness and the unanswered questions of the natural world.

Twelve years later, the twin children of two scientists who disappeared on this so-called Day of Conjunction go on a hazardous quest in search of their lost parents. Boarding a phantom subway, Ai and Yu travel to Wonderland, a chaotic world of amazing beauty and thrilling danger. Accompanied by Lisa, an enigmatic woman they meet on the train, and Kaze, a brooding stranger with a demon-summoning gun, the twins begin an incredible journey that will lead to the mysterious heart of Wonderland.

Rahxephon-Orchestration 6: Aria

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.

City Hunter Tv: Season 2, Collection 1

A Subtitled, Japanese-Language Release At 800+ Minutes

The Story: The City Hunter: a legendary name in the Japanese underworld, and with good reason. He's the best there is. He's Ryo Saeba-troubleshooter, expert marksman and inveterate womanizer. Ryo will take any case so long as the client is a pretty woman and she's willing to pay his price... a night of bliss at a local hotel. Unfortunately, his headstrong partner Kaori is always around to keep Ryo's overactive libido in check with a friendly tap from her 100-ton hammer. Still, no matter the odds, a woman in trouble can count on City Hunter for help. The bad guys might as well give up now!

City Hunter TV: Season Two, Collection One (SRP $89.98) is a DVD-only release, including 32 complete episodes on five DVDs.

Anime Merchandise News

Toycom Announces Transformable Escaflowne Figure After almost two years of delaying the figure to perfect it, Toycom is proud to announce that we are now starting to take pre-orders on this awesome figure.

"Escaflowne" follows Hitomi, a Japanese high school girl, who escapes her reverie of depression on Earth by traveling to the alternate world of Gaia. There, she meets Van, an enigmatic young King, who will determine the fate of countries with a mystical dragon armor named Escaflowne.

The combination of teenage romance, fantastic robot-suits ("guymelefs"), elaborate battles, histrionic villains, and a world-threatening challenge has made the anime a favorite among Anime and Robot fans... and this is the collector's item they have been waiting to get their hands on!

This figure features 13 points of articulation located in the neck, shoulders, elbows, wrists, hips, knees and ankles... and mystically TRANSFORMS from dragon armor suit to full fledged dragon.

In Guymelfe mode, the figures stands at approx; 8". In White Dragon mode, it measures 14" from nose to tail.

Packaged in a handsome window box, the figure comes with a suggested retail price of $59.99 and is scheduled to ship in November just in time for the holidays. MSRP:$59.99

The Escaflowne television series and movie are both currently available on DVD. Please visit www.escamovie.com for more information.

Raving Toy Maniac has pictures of some Evangelion merchandise that will be imported to the US by Diamond Distributors. The 400% Eva Unit-01 Kubrick can be seen here. The 10" version of the lego-man like figure will include a removable helmet, a progressive knife, a power cord, and pallet gun and retail for $49.99.

The Asuka PVC statue to be released on December can be seen here

Winter Box Sets

Viz will be releasing the second box sets of Yu Watase's Ceres, Celestil Legend and Rumiko Takahashi's soap opera Maison Ikkuku on November 18th for $49.98.

The first 9 episodes of Takahashi's Inuyasha will be collected in a 3 disc box set for $49.98 on December 9th.

TOKYOPOP will be releasing Aeon Flux creator Peter Chung's Alexander the Great retelling Reign the Conqueror in a box set collection for $69.99 on November 11th.

Shake Up on Live Action Akira

The Z Review reports that League of Extrodinary Gentle director Stephen Norrington is seeking to distance himself from Hollywood developments deals, including leaving Warner Brother's live action adapatation of Akira.

Fifth One Piece Movie

Toei will be releasing a fifth One Piece movie next March. A trailer can be seen here

Onegei Twins Location to Animation

Interesting samples of phot references being incorperated into new anime series Onegai Twins can be seen here.

More Naruto

A web site for next summer's Naruto movie is online here.

From The Magic Box has images of the PlayStation2 3d cel-shaded fight game Naruto: Narutimet Hero can be seen here and and Naruto: Konoha Senki, featuring an original story with more than 30 chapters and 20 playable character, for GameBoy Advance here.

New Gainax Work

From Natsume Maya Gainax, the studio best known for Evangelion, announced a new series from the team responsible for their robot maid comedy Mahoromatic. "Kono Miniku mo Utsukushii Sekai" (This Ugly and Beautiful World) will be combination sci-fi invasiation, and slighly risque (ethci) love store. Saeki Shouji will be directing the series, and Ditama will be doing character design. The series will air on Japanese television in 2004.

New Evangelion Manga

From Natsume Maya Manga anthology Monthly Shonen Ace publish an issue on August 29th with "Eva Ace", 94 pages of Neon Genesis Evangelion manga featuring Kaworu's introduction and Asuka's mind pollution, illustrations from Yoshizaki Mine (Keroro Gunso aka Sgt Frog), Obata Takeshi (Hikaru no Go) and others. It'll also come with large Ayanami Rei "stand panel" and clear Eva stickers illustrated by Sadamoto Yoshiyuki, author of the shonen manga.

Live Action Tuxedo Mask

A picture of the Shibue Jyoji, actor to play Tuxedo Mask, the love interest in the upcoming live action Sailor Moon can be seen here.

Manga Break Bookscan's Top Twenty

TOKYOPOP's release of the seventh volume of CLAMP's manga (Comic) Chobits has reached #17 in Bookscan's "adult fiction trade paperbacks" list. Love Hina volume 13 is #27 on the list.

ICV2 points out "With the passing of the Marvel movie effect, manga reclaimed nine of the top ten graphic novel slots and 46 of the top 50 for the week. Six of the top ten graphic novel titles were Tokyopop, and 30 of the top 50. Three of the top ten and 16 of the top 50 were Viz (with Naruto Volume 1 at #3 its top title)."

Super Flat Buddha

Murakami Takashi, the artist best known for his Super Flat work, which is influenced by anime, but parodies its cultural and commercial significance will be exhibiting a new Buddha like sculpture at New York's Rockefeller Centre from September 9th to October 12th. Yomiuri Online has an image here

Hellsing Manga

Dark Horse Comics will be releasing the first volume of Kohta Hirano' action horror manga Hellsing on December 3rd. The 208 page collection will retail for $13.95.

There's a secret organization somewhere in England created to defend the Queen and country from monsters of all sorts. Yes, it's hard to believe in this day and age..but really, isn't this the true age of monsters? Enter Hellsing, an agency, long in tooth, with the experience, know-how, and.er.equipment to handle the problems that arise when vampires, ghouls take on these dark forces. "What equipment?" you may say. How about another vampire, and a big pistol loaded with special silver bullets? That oughta do the trick.

Dark Horse will also be releasing the next collection of Blade of the Immortal on December 31st.

Gungrave Anime Air Date

The anime version of video game Gungrave is set to start on Japanese TV on October 6th.

Scary Godmother on DVD

In non-anime animation news, Comics Continuum Mainframe Entertainment's computer animated adaptation of Jill Thompson's is being listed on the Canadian version of Amazon here for a September 2nd release.

The Scary Godmother Halloween Spooktacular is scheduled to be broadcast on Canadian YTV on October 31st. Thompson said "Still no broadcast date for the U.S., but at least people can get a copy."