Well. ol' Father Geek's back with another of our great regular weekly reports on all that is Manga & Anime. Yep, Scott's put together another of his comprehensive columns for you that like always covers every aspect of the mega entertainment businesses that are Anime and Manga. Once again his report is a little lengthy, sooooo you better fillup that cup with some fresh hot Java, get comfortable first, annnnd then start scrolling down through this week's informative edition of...

AnimAICN...

by Scott Green

Anime Spotlight: Neon Genesis Evangelion Director's Cut: Resurrection

Released by ADV Films

Evangelion originally ended with a spurt of existential self creation ultra-malleability that in many what impugned the qualities that had made the series popular. The last episodes were almost as if the anime had gotten fed up with being a giant robot show, raged against its limitations, and left the absurd tool of pitting bright monstrosities against the abstract creatures falling from the heavens, to turn its gaze inwards on its creators.

As the series sped towards its conclusion, a battle for control between the creators and the series' television network began to heat up, causing its creators to opt for a philosophical conclusion which the guiding statements while leaving the plot open. Fans were not pleased. They felt mislead. Here was a brilliant update and deconstruction of the child pilot defending Earth against invaders, populated by fascinating characters, with intriguing histories. Fans wanted to know the full history of the organization Nerve, and its founders. They wanted to know what The Instrumentality of Man Project was, and what the angels were doing.

When the final two episodes were replaced by movies which brought the series' plot its conclusion, the counter-anger against the fan reaction bleed torrents. It has been said 'replace the name "Shinji" with "GAINAX", and replace "Eva" or "piloting Eva" with "the making of Evangelion"', which puts the movies' violent purges in a disturbing light.

To some degree the series final episodes were a thumb in the eyes of the television network, and the movies where a thumb in the eyes of the fans. While this us against the world approach may be disagreeable, the results were hypnotic and challenging.

Ironically the "Director's Cut" is more of a fan pleaser, a strange concept in a series which though wildly popular, and wildly commercial was ultimately introspective. Compare the appealing aesthetic of the director cut cover, to the twisted surrealism of End of Evangelion's, and the series' dichotomy becomes apparent. The giant machine, in its demonic red shine, Babylonian god's face , holding forward its knife. The vibrancy here alone is almost enough to breath life into the teetering genre. As a fan pleaser, there is a reason why the series' gravitational pull warped so much that followed.

The Director's Cut is a worthy addition for fans of the series, and not just completists. In an ideal world, this is the material Gainax would have had time to put into the series before completing its television run. Part of the difference between the original ending, and its replacement is that the original ending the directed attention back at the series' creators and its viewers. The replacements delves deeper into itself.

The additions here, in episodes 21-23 chiefly serve two purposes, bolstering the back-story, and the connections between the series and the movies. The links in both directions become less fractured. There is more back story, more religious and technical babble to untangle, and more explicit information about the characters' psychology. Certain names like Kiel Lorenz are bandied about with a new frequency. The movie's crack down on Nerve members, and many of the more human points of its narrative become less arbitrary.

The prior generation was one of Evangelion's tantalizing subjects, partially because hints were dropped but never fully painted out, and partially because architects of the series' technological and psychological landscape beg attention. Resurrection open with "archival" footage of Evangelion's seminal event, Second Impact, then takes a longer look at the characters' past. The new footage shows the elder advisor Fuyutsuki in a new light, or at least sheds more light on him, and widens the views on the younger life of the series' chief architect Gendo, Ritsuko and the elder doctor Akagi, and even a taste of Shinji's mother's personality.

The strange thing about the first glance back at Evangelion, is that it invokes nostalgia, especially if you were collecting it in two episode per volume VHS tapes starting back in 96/97. Today's WI-FI, instant messaging and cell phones make the day to day technology in series look a little quaint. As "Resurrection" shifts its gaze from the series' past, to its present, nostalgia hardens into remembered trauma. The experience of Evangelion's final phase is unforgettable. It is hard not to have a gut reaction to witness these characters' physical, emotional and psychological collapse, particularly the implosion of the pilot's Asuka consciously constructed passion filled personality of confidence, self reliance, and superiority.

Asuka’s collapse is a start reminder of how invocative Evangeion could be. Time and imitators haven’t dulled the series bite, and extending scenes only adds more combustible fuel to the mental explosion.

Manga Spotlight: Get Backers Volume 1 Art by Rando Ayamine Story By Yuya Aoki

Released by TOKYOPOP

Get Backers is a fun anti-establishment adventure/comedy about a pair of homeless 18 year old men who, rather than working their way up through the system, establish the Get Backers, a retrieval service dedicated to taking back what was taken: in this volume a lost daughter from the Yakuza, and a lucky ceramic cat from a giant office complex. The job is a bit easier for these two than it would be for most thank to a some super human abilities. Ban has the power of evil eye, and Ginji can generate large quantities of electricity .

The characters are appealing, with an entertaining irreverence, and despite some heavy violence, and large chested women, the series make a concerted effort to court a female audience. The pair have a notable bishounen (beautiful, slightly feminine men) quality to their design, and a noticeable yaoi air (male homosexuality for a female audience).

At the conceptual level, Get Backers seems like the perfect vehicle to capitalize on some of manga's anti-establishment tendencies with a pair of social avenger teens blazing their own trail. However, the first volume is not completely convincing. It opens well. Ban and Ginji are down on their luck, trying to brag, flatter or bluff their way into getting back their towed car, or at least get some free lunch. Instead, they are reduced to scrapping for spare change to make a meal out of vending machine juice, and to that end take a severe beating to earn the last coin by retrieving a video game.

The quick introduction has the right mix of spunk and mean spiritedness. The heroes were the perfect brash and resilient underdogs to root for, with super power play a minor role. The other stories went a bit too far into the realm of standard caper material. At times it isn't hard to imagine Lupin III in the place of the characters, maybe with only minor tinkering.

Get Backer's strength, but perhaps a greater weakness is that it isn't too bogged down in reality. There is hunger, and homeless people getting tossed but more humor and sentimentality than desperation. At the end of the day, everything is more or less alright.

The illustration is frequently warped, in a style similar to GTO: varying between cute super deformed, and grotesque exaggerations. It is not purely attractive or skillful, and often too crowded, but serves the spirit of the series.

The element of super power adds some interesting visual elements to the series, with a number of scenes such as Ginji lighting a fluorescent tube, or the effects of the evil eye, that maintain the high energy and extraordinary nature of the series. This comes at the expense of making the action too easy for the characters and for the creator, especially the solve all evil eye.

By opening the series with a difficult mission, then letting the characters cheat their way through to its conclusion with their powers, much of the drama of danger and failure is undercut. It appears that without them the characters would have to be more driven, and creators would have to more more creative. It also twists the logic of the series in a manner which could make the characters nobler, but by not being addressed stretches the logic. Though within the context of the story Ban and Ginji are the only character shown to have super-human abilities, there is never a great deal of surprise when they reveal their powers. Yet, the only presented opportunity for these character is a McDonalds job.

Get Backer's reception is also damaged by the tin ear translation of its dialogue. It doesn't have the squeezed in feel of a dialogue where the attempts to translate and localize are too visible, but it doesn't seem natural either. The slang is too dry. Without the profanity, creativity, and personality that makes real slang interesting, it doesn’t fit in. Despite the urban nature of Get Backers, there a number of instances where natural straight speech would have served a character better than self-conscious slang.

Anime Spotlight: Texhnolyze Volume 1 Inhumane and Beutiful

Released by Geneon/Pioneer

Texhnolyze reunites the staff of deservedly geek favorite cyber thriller Serial Experiments Lain, including character designer Yoshitoshi ABe, producer, Yasuyaku Ueda, and scriptwriter Chiaki J Konaka. Factoring in animation from the ever impressive studio Madhouse and it sounds like a real crowd pleaser. However with other as cyber-noir, Texhnoylze polarizes viewers between loving it, or hating it.

Starting an anime series from an inaccessible point isn't uncommon: begin with something viscerally engaging, then step back and explain the context. Texhnolyze goes a step further and starts at its most experimental, an almost dialogueless introduction to the facets of life in Lukuss starting with its most basic elements: eating, fighting, sex. Openning its industrial music video style credits, and continuing through scenes of ocular penetration, it is visual sledge hammer shot.

Starting with the second episode, dialogue creeps in, and begins Texhnolyze forming a complex, but comprehensible narrative. It is set in the underground city of Lukuss. This isn't distopian, but it is powerfully bleak in the post industrial revolution or cyber punk sense of technology that has gotten far ahead of society's ability to process the changes. Lukuss takes on a significance as the source for the rare material Rafia, used to createTexhnolyze, a new generation of artificial limb helping to drive a new technological revolution.

Among the satellites to the path of events are Ichise, a prize fighter whose path of self destruction leads him loosing an arm and leg after angering the wrong people, Ran, a flower girl in a fox traditional mask who receives visions of possible futures, Onishi, a gangster at crest of the city's clash of factions, and Yoshii, a traveller from the surface. Factoring in a few other characters, all the classic noir persona, in the tradition of Philip Marlowe, China Town or anime's Big O, are present. The hero abiding by principles that don't complement his time, the feme fatale who helps the hero to her own end, the adversary at the head of the winds of change.

Texhnolyze manages to capture grit in digital animation. Cityscapes look fade, and worn. Distilled personalities shine through in scenes such as Ichise post mutilation wondering. A scene of this nihilistic, yet defiant man, wounds bound and self tunicated, holding a makeshift crutch, with an ant crawling over him isn’t easily forgettable.

It remains to be seen how much depth there is depth below its considerable visual wizardry. The pieces for a heady discussion are present, but so are pieces for a well executed, but conventional sci-fi noir. One can easily imagine the elements and themes of early 20th century European literature being overwhelmed by the plot. Much hinges on what the series projects the implication of technology, social unrest and future sign onto.

Fans of Serial Experiments Lain will find many of the earlier creations strengths and frustrations present here. Texhnolyze shares Lain sense of sense of mystery, and its jealously parceled out information, interlaced with info dumps

ABe's design is noticeable, his mind for apparel and fashion shines through, but he was only the conceptual character designer, and his work is filter through/realized by another designer, Siego Akahori. Consequently it isn't quite the showcase Lain was.

Anime in this vein is often classified as pretentious, and Texhnolyze probably too many ants and eyes Dali references to escape the criticism here. Yet grand notions aren't evident. It has aspects of the avant-garde and the philosophical, but there are also elements of the traditional anime plot. It doesn't give its secret up without a fight, but it isn't obtuse either. After the first episode, a little attention and patience establishes a firm foothold in the series hard to get lost.

Manga Spotlight: Blade of the Immortal Volume 12: Autumn Frost by Hirioki Samura Translated by Studio Proteus

Released by Dark Horse Manga

There aren't many manga series like Blade of the Immortal being released. Mostly because there aren't many like it in existence. It's samurai action that is a must read for anyone looking to travel a long and scenic road: a twisting path of revenge, alliance, politics and love, told in Hiroaki Samura's unique pencil work. The illustration ignores the manga-anime feedback loop to brings artistry to illustration with uncannily true anatomy, poses and motion. Mixed with brushes and pens detailed inking, and occasionally other media, Samura's illustration is unique in comics.

In many ways, Blade of the Immortal is one of the last vestiges of the pre-manga boom style of releases. Since 96 it has been released in monthly issues, then collections in intervals between four months and a year (the later being the case between the case two most recent volumes).

A year's wait for the 232 page volume priced at $16.96 is really bucking the trend, but this it is a work of Studio Proteus, and the series seems to be Toren Smith's baby, which will be release in the method he deems appropriate.

Smith's ego and public statements make his positions more difficult to support, but Proteus' reputation for quality is well earned, and it is also hard to argue with results. This is the pure no short cut route. Beyond the inside baseball task of re-arranging panels rather than mirror entire pages (noticeable but requiring an eye), Proteus' work incorporating translated sound effect into the illustration, and attention to detail in the dialogue makes a world of difference. Subtleties of sound are captured in their translations. It helps to get engrossed in an exotic sword on sword action when you see in English the sound a raking across a wooden wall, or getting stuck in a floor board, and not to mention the sounds made by some of the series' really bizarre weapons, such as a blade on a handcuff style swing arm mounted on a chain. It helps even more than Studio Proteus takes the effort to integrate the sound effects in the illustration in the style of their original appears.

The translation of dialog is equally impressive. It reads with a natural air the captures differences in the speech patterns and expressions of the characters, as well the nuances of what is being said.

Blade of the Immortal had long departed from its original revenge or redemption motifs, but started with the titular immortal ronin Manji.

After killing his lord, Manji killed one hundred men who tried to bring him to justice, culminating in a duel with his brother in law, an act which drove his sister insane. Without purpose, and paralyzed by guilt, Manji was slipped a cup of kessen-chu blood worms by Yaobikuni, the "Nun of Eight Hundred Years", who will live on until she saves all of Japan's sinners. The blood worms stitch together their hosts' wounds, granting immortality. Manji then bargains with Yaobikuni to find death after repenting for the 100 good men he killed by killing a thousand bad men.

Yaobikuni arranges for Manji to serve as the yojimbo body guard of Rin, a young woman who seeking revenge against the renegade Itto Ryu sword school who killed her parents

The man who actually killed Rin's parents has been killed, as has the man who raped her mother, and several other members of the attacking party. Her relationship with the Itto Ryu's leader Anotsu has become a complex matter that neither could define. Manji isn't keeping notches or every evil man he as killed, nor is it clear what constitutes an evil man, nor is he beyond mortal danger. The focal the characters and content of the previous two volumes where even greater divergence, as the stories of Itto Ryu and third parties are explored.

The main thrust of volume 10, "Secrets" was an examination of the game of politics Anotsu found himself embroiled in after proving his sword school and his own skills were among Japan's greatest, testing him by merging renegade school with an established one, as well illuminating the links between factors and character's that have appeared independent. High order character drama and politics, but light on action.

Volume 11, "Beasts" deals with the conflict's fallout in an extended blisteringly intense torture scene. Despite involving female nudity, Samura handled the events in a non-titillating or prurient manner. (Though Samura's non-Blade of the Immortal work suggests he has a strange taste for this material, often with more blatant sexual overtones).

Autumn Frost in a return to the action that makes Blade of the Immortal mandatory for samurai action fans. The volume brings pure sword against sword mortal combat and spaghetti western character drama with a duel between popular secondary anti-hero and a vile heavy. The undiluted punk Magatsu against the series most vile character, the sadistic serial killer Shira.

Afters a brief and amusing "It's a Small World" meeting between Magatsu, and one of Manji's acquaintances from early in the series, Manji, Magatsu and Shira meet in a complex weave that could be called Shakespearean, or soap opera. Magatsu has parted ways with the increasingly political Itto Ryu, but is still bound by friendship and loyalty to Anatsu. Manji is still violently at odds with the Itto Ryu, but he is more interested in finding Rin than hunting them. Magatsu and Manji aren't quite working together, but they've become friends. Manji and Shira have worked together in the past, but the alliance ended with Manji talking one of Shira's hand, an act for which Shira is currently seeking vengeance. Magatsu is currently hunting Shira because Shira tortured and killed his prostitute lover.

The Magatsu Shira duel is one of the series' most prolonged fights, and probably one of the best since Manji's duel with the killer geisha Makie.

The weapons are exotic, but seen before: Magstsu's customized grand turk, against Shira's serrated sword. The new twist is Shira's compensation for his lost: a bizarre construct that you'd expect for Samura's wonderfully warped mind.

The characters are larger than life. For the most part, a real fight wouldn't happen with the mechanics of one of Samura. The weapons are slightly implausible, yet never does he challenge suspension of disbelieve as a fight happens, it makes perfect sense.

In this fight in particular, Samura utilizes the flexibility of comics to expand the context and complexity of a battle. The choreography of this fight would be stunning in any media, but in comic he is able to play with angles, perspective, and close quarters, freezing the right moments to incredible effect.

This Week's Releases

Anime

• Angelic Layer:Faith Hope Love Vol
• Hello Kitty Plays Pretend ~ Hello Kitty
• Hello Kitty Tells Fairy Tales ~ Hello Kitty
• Ninja Scroll:Series Vol 2
• Pretear - Vol. 3
• Slayers:Gorgeous
• Speed Racer - Episodes 1-11 ~
• Witch Hunter Robin - Inquisition (Vol. 3)
• Yu Yu Hakusho - The Seven
• Yukikaze - Danger Zone (Vol. 1)

Manga

• Crayon Shinchan Gn #7
• Excel Saga Vol 5 Tp
• Firefighter Daigo Of Fire Company M Vol 6
• Fist Of North Star Master Ed Vol 8 Gn
• Four Constables Vol 1 Tp
• Please Save My Earth Vol 3 Tp
• Red Prowling Devil Gn #7
• Revenge Of Mouflon Vol 1 Tp
• Revolutionary Girl Utena Vol 3 Tp 2Nd Ed
• Revolutionary Girl Utena Vol 5 Tp To Blossom
• Saint Legend Gn #8
• Sister Red Vol 1 Tp
• Story Of Tao Gn #7

Also

• Tomie: Replay (live action manga adapatation)

Hellboy Anime?

CountingDown.com has an interview with Hellboy director Guillermo del Toro, which mentions that talks are underway with a Japanese company to produce a Hellboy anime series.

The Hellboy comic series has already gained a following in Japan.

First Epsidoe of Kon's TV Debut Online

Natsume Maya points of that the first episode of Satoshi Kon (Perfect Blue, Tokyo Godfathers) first television series has been posted by the WoWow network here

TOKYOPOP CEO Interview

Japan Today has an interview with TOKYOPOP's CEO and COO, and one time fan lightning rod Stuart Levy here

Voice of Totoro Passes Away

AnimeNewsNetwork poirts out that Hitoshi Takagi, who anime work included the voice of the forest spirit Totor on Hayao Miyazki's "My Neighbor Totoro" died on 2/11.

Also of note, JaggedTeam points out Troma Pictures is selling one sheet posters of My Neighbor Totoro's 1993 domestic limited theatrical release.

Live Action Trailers

Natsume Maya A new trailer for the upcoming live action Devilman can be seen at www.devilmanthemovie.jp/, and one for Casshern can be seen at www.casshern.com/

Oshii Mamoru Site

Bandai has posted a site dedicated to the works of anime director Oshii Mamoru here

Studio 4°C Feature

Studio 4°C, best known for their work on the Animatrix anthology will be releasing Yuasa Masaaki's anime adaptation (Crayon Shin-chan, My Neighbors the Yamadas) Robin Nishi' Mind Game theatrically in Japan this summer.

Naruto Movie Trailer

A trailer for the upcoming Naruto movie can be see here

Macross: Do You Remember Love Figures

Harmony Gold is sellin g figures of the VF-1 Super Valkyrie Battroids to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the Macross Movie Do You Remember Love.

June Media Blasters Releases

From Media Blaster's AnimeWorks Line

Mouse Vol.2 Lusty Ambitions (Eps.7-12)

With Woof sniffing around, Sortata’s days are numbered! The days may be numbered for Sorata, the infamous thief known only as Mouse. He's being pursued by Woof, an operative for a super-secret organization called the Force. Woof is doing everything in his power to apprehend and eliminate this obnoxious criminal who revels in the theft of the most legendary treasures on Earth. Fortunately, Mouse is backed up by an exotic squad of women to die for. Without their prowess and cunning, Sorata might not survive living his double life - schoolteacher by day, thief by night.

Sadamitsu the Destroyer 3- Showdown (Eps. 8-10)

12 Kingdoms - Oppression (Vol 6. Eps 23-26)

Gunparade March - Operation Three (9-12)

Media Blaster's Tokyo Shock line will also be releasing the Sonny Chiba version of Samurai Reincarnation - Makai Tensho, with Sonny Chiba as samurai Jubei Yagu in a retelling of the 1638 Shimabara Christian Revolt.

ADV Films Announces Release Date For Second Volume Of Remastered Robotech

Excerpeted from press release" ADV Films, announced a March 23, 2004 street date for Robotech® Remastered: Extended Edition, Macross Collection 2, the second DVD volume of the company’s complete remastering of all three acts of Harmony Gold’s classic Robotech, the series that introduced generations of Americans to the art form and cultural phenomenon that is anime. The volume will include twelve episodes on two discs, an art box fitting both discs, and an exclusive, limited edition Super Veritech Morpher collectible which transforms from robot to spacecraft plus offers a power-packed pull back motor.

This newest release from ADV Films features a fresh, clean digital transfer of Robotech from the original film stock, returning the series to a lovely and near-pristine state without compromising the character of the original animation. New footage featuring scenes cut from the original broadcast version of Robotech as well as new opening and closing credits and eye catches have been added, creating a never-before-seen version of this seminal adventure series.

Additionally, the audio has been restored and remixed to create the highest-quality sound experience available. Robotech Remastered: Extended Edition, Macross Collection 2 ($29.98 SRP) will feature two new audio tracks: the original, classic English-language dub in glorious digital 5.1 sound and a Spanish-language digital 5.1 track.

The Story: After battling their way back to Earth, Rick Hunter, Lisa Hayes and the crew of the SDF-1 must learn to cope with a new set of rules imposed by a bureaucracy with little understanding of the grave threat that faces the entire world. Unfortunately, the horrors of war hit close to home as heroes are forced to make the ultimate sacrifice... And the survivors must face the bitter realities of the conflict in the most personal of ways. But as the battle to save their planet seems out of their reach, a series of lucky breaks give these besieged heroes of the massive space battle fortress a small glimmer of hope.

Katsucon FUNimation News

From Anime on DVD's report from the Katsucon convention, FUNimation will be releasing painted Resin figures of Kiddy Grade's Eclair and Lumiere, limited to 500 of each

High demand for the Kiddy Grade box has forced a second production run.

Fruits Basket has some plushies coming in the next few months.

Starting around May/June, Funimation will be selling convention exclusive Kyo and Yuki, neko and rat fleece hats with ears, plus a Kyo black skull cap with tension headache.

Media Blasters Katsucon News

From Anime on DVD's report from the Katsucon convention, a "Zim House" box is planned, possibly with a CD.

Media Blasters has also licensed Knights Hunters (Weiz Kruez): Eternity, Saber Marionette R and Yakumo Tatsu. Manga licenses include Skyscrapers of Oz.

Anime News Network clarifies the Saber Marionette license, reporting that though Bandai released the series on VHS, Media Blasters has since picked up the rights to Saber Marionette R, as well as the English translation used by Bandai for their VHS release. Media Blasters has informed ANN that they plan to use the original dub, and that they will only re-translate for the subtitles if they are unhappy with the existing script. As for when it will be released, Media Blasters plans to release it on July 13th 2004.

A 12 Kingdoms remaster has been completed to fix the mono-audio problem. A trade in program will soon indicated from their web site.

Bandi Katsucon News

From Anime on DVD's report from the Katsucon convention, Bandai licensed Zentrix, and Eatman, Haunted Junction and Dark Soldier D have been discontinued. Gundam F91 theatrical release end of May. 3 discs for .hack//Twilight, more .hack news possible at E3.

Upcoming Gundam Releases

Anime on DVD reports Zeta Gundam will be released as a boxed set on September 7th.

In a press release Bandai announced that Gundam Seed will be released on video this fall.

The Gundam Seed series begins a year after the outbreak of war between the Earth Alliance and the rebel space colonists known as Zaft. Radical new technologies, including advanced weapons called mobile suits, gave Zaft the edge over the Earth Alliance. With much of Earth now under the space colonist’s control, the Alliance begins a desperate secret program to develop its own state-of-the-art mobile suits. Thus, Gundam Seed is born.

Gundam Seed will air Saturday evenings on Cartoon Network beginning in April 2004.

For information on Gundam Seed, visit the official Gundam website at www.gundamofficial.com.

Samurai 7 Teaser to Debut at Cannes

Anime News Network reports Variety has an article about Gonzo's Samurai 7 which notes the first Samurai 7 teasers will be shown at the MipTV mart in Cannes this spring.

According to Kyoko Kiriyama at Media International (Samurai 7 co-producers), several US companies have expressed interest in the show but Media International is taking it to MipTV because they believe that it is "well suited for TV networks."

According to the article, the TV series is being filmed in high definition at a cost of roughly $300 000 per episode, more that twice the average cost per episode for anime TV series.

Samurai 7 is a futuristic remake of Akira Kurosawa's world renowned 1954 film, Seven Samurai, and is being produced with a target audience of 12 to 40 in mind, with an emphasis on older teenagers.

Animated Shows "NOT" To Receive Closed Caption Funding

Animation Blast and Neil Gaiman's web journal spotlights a bizarre list constructed by the US Department of Education is declaring nearly 200 TV programs inappropriate for close-caption funding and denying federal grant requests to make them accessible to the hearing-impaired.

The list, which can be seen here includes the animated shows:

• All Growed Up - Nickelodeon
• Archie's Weird Mysteries
• Classic Cartoons
• Cubix
• Dexter's Laboratory
• Digimon
• Ed, Edd 'n Eddy
• Fairly Odd Parents
• Jimmy Neutron, Boy Genius - Nickelodeon
• Justice League
• Kinnikuman Ultimate Muscle
• Miscellaneous original cartoons
• Mucha Lucha!
• Ozzy & Drix
• Pokemon
• Popeye, VCI Entertainment
• Powerpuff Girls
• Proud Family - Disney Channel
• Rocket Power - Nickelodeon
• Sabrina, The Animated Series
• Samurai Jack
• Sheep in the Big City
• Sherlock in the 22nd Century
• Spiderman and his Amazing Friends - ABC Family Channel
• Teen Titans
• Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
• Teenage Robot
• The Simpsons - FOX
• Time Squad
• Transformer Armada
• X-Men Evolution
• What's New Scooby-Doo?
• Yu-gi-oh!

May FUNimation Releases

5/4

Kiddy Grade Vol. #3

Yu Yu Hakusho Vol. #23: Dangerous Games

5/11

Dragon Ball GT Vol. #15: Generations

5/18

Dragonball Z TV #64: Cell Games: The Games Begin

Memories Page Online

Sony Pictures has posted a site for the feature anthology Memories here.

Anime Merchandise at Toy Fair

Figures.com has converage of the 2004 Toy Fair her e, and Raving Toy Maniac has their's here

Bandai figures, including Astro Boy, Gundam Seed, Knights of the Zodiac, SD Gundam and Teen Titans can be seen her e

Toynami's including various series of I-Men, InuYash, Macross, Robotech, and Voltron can be seen her e Toynami will also be releasing Chobits merchandise in the coming year.

Upcoming lines of Jakks Pacific's Dragon Ball figures can be seen at DragonBallToys.com

Upcoming CPM Releases

From Anime on DVD Central Park Media has posted their 2004 catalogue at here

CPM has acquired the rights to Ichi the Killer: The Animation Episode 0 OAV, and Kentoushi which will be released as Shootfighter Tekken.

Classic military sci-fi Armored Trooper VOTOMS will be released in a series of "stages" box sets starting with 325 minute The Uoodo City Collection this fall. The series will recieve a new English dub. Urusei Yatsura: Beautiful Dreamer will be re-released this spring. Gall Force: New Era will be released this summer. The 11th and final volume of Patalabor TV will be released in the fall.

CPM Manga's yaoi (homosexual male romance for a female audience) label Be Beautiful. Titles expected under this banner include Golden Cain, Kizuna (3 volumes) and Selfish Love (3 volumes). Expected smaller print runs is likely the reason for the $14.95 price tag.

Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex Release Explained

Last week's joint announcement between Bandai and Manga Entertainment concerning the release and distribution of the Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone television series. AnimeOnDVD and Anime News Network have clarified the situation. Bandai, who had originally announced the license will be coordinating the marketing activities for this title and manage the series' American television broadcast in association with the Cartoon Network. Manga Entertainment will be handling the distribution for this title in North America, a relationship similar to how Pioneer once distributed Bandai's releases.