Father Geek here with another issue of...
AnimAICN...
and Scott Green
To celebrate the holidays, Geneon will be giving away
three of their hot new releases:
and Scott Green
To celebrate the holidays, Geneon will be giving away
three of their hot new releases:
They will be two excellent examples of how far CGI effects in anime have progressed, from the days the days of kludgy models to beautiful and dynamic action sequences in Submarine 707 Revolution: The Movie, and eX-Driver: The Movie and the first volume of revolutionary director Satoshi Kon's first television series, Paranoia Agent.
One grand price winner will receive a DVD player along with these three title. Four runners up will receive the set of DVDs.
To enter, send an e-mail with the subject line "Geneon Holiday Drawing" to contest@skuldo.com. Entries will be taken until midnight GMT -5:00 time one week after the post date of this column.
Winners will be randomly drawn from eligible e-mails.
Paranoia Agent
Paranoia Agent is the mind consuming anime of the year. The introduction sequence is enough to chew on for days. Cyber thriller Serial Experiments Lain was released almost five years ago and people still talking and thinking about. Expect no less from Paranoia Agent. The first volume alone is worth numerous re-watchings.
What's more exciting than the prospect of a long work by a brilliant creator? Few anime creators have been able to paint using the minds of believable characters with the richness of Satoshi Kon, whose works include the theatrical psychological thriller Perfect Blue, tribute to Japanese cinema Millennium Actress, and holiday feel good Tokyo Godfathers.
The trademark qualities evident in all of his works emanate from a skill in capturing the true quality of people in his animated works. His character look, act and often to a disturbing degree, think like us. With a slighter abstraction than the standard his people look more recognizable. They have distinctive features that easily place them among people seen in day to day life. From evolving depictions of the internet to skinned knees, Kon's works are steeped in the small details often lost in story telling.
As a 13 episode television series Paranoia Agent affords Satoshi Kon the ability to greatly magnify the complexity, in this case by at least 11 principal characters including an aged maestro, a trollish investigative reporter, a pair of police investigators, a toy designer, a popular politician or sociopath in training middle schooler and his, with an effort, affable overweight classmate, bag lady, and an academic young woman at war with her prostitute Tyler Durden.
Paranoia Agent with an introductory theme/animation shames the output of most series' as a wasted opportunity. Against a soaring techno incantation, the characters smiles and chuckle with complete abandon as the background transitions in context (the blur of urban life) and out (flooded city to peaceful underwater).At first glance it seems up beat whimsical, but quickly it shifts from disturbingly joyously to joyously disturbing as a backdrop of fatality begins to peak from behind the laughter. Pick it apart or take it face value, the animation and music of this simple concept, brilliantly executed is bound to get stuck in your head.
The series then opens with a new depiction of the increasingly familiar theme of modern isolation. In the bustle of the morning commute everyone is on their cell phones and in particular making excuses to each other. Cut to an old man in a hospital issue outfit, sweating as he chalks out an impossibly complex equation on the pavement of a parking lot. He looks up and sees a departing bus, noticing a young woman with half opened eyes. Both have a moment of recognition as the bus leaves.
The young woman is a prominent toy designer, frequently lost behind her eyes and under great pressure to create a follow-up to last merchandising "cash dog". After an unfruitful day at the office she returns home, and while avoiding a bag lady she is attacked with a baseball bat by an adolescent on inline skates.
The attacker, dubbed "Lil' Slugger" becomes of the obscured epicenter of the series' episode to episode shifts of focus. Sub sets of the focal characters interact as pieces the story are revealed, and seemingly, each is forced to confront the breaking points in their compartmentalized lives.
From its inception, the psychological phantasmagoria's characters provoke thought. The recognizability of each character, combined with aspects of exceptionality make each a fascinating study. These episodes don't go far in tipping the hand of the series full picture, but what they depict of its full scheme is highly promising.
The criticism from some camps on Satoshi Kon's work is that there is no reason for it to be animated. More often than not the movie or in the case series is working towards mundane look, where people and settings don't deviate from what their physical counterparts. Beyond the simple answer that it is his chosen medium, it does possess properties that lend themselves perfectly to the stories he tells. In the intersection of the mind and reality, animation hides disconnects. The inherit disjoint of animation masks deviations of perception leaving more of an ambiguity of what is meant to be taken literal. Less cinematic trickery or cutesiness is needed to challenge what seem is real.
Submarine 707 Revolution: The Movie
In its Japanese release, Submarine 707 Revolution was two fifty minute direct to video OAV episodes adapted from a manga series rather than a movie. The format of abbreviated OAV adaptations, as opposed to longer television series has become rare since the end of the 90's, but the format has a tradition of producing high quality, often experimental animation. The feature original gained notoriety thanks to a graceful, nostalgic opening sequence from Evangelion creator/director Hideaki Anno, but it is the CGI effect driven sequences of submersibles battling each other and the ocean's currents that really mark the work.
This brand of OAV entails a more focused animation budget, but an abridged story. As an OAV its animation is a length beyond what is seen in televised series but a number of plot points that don't go anywhere. The greater portion of what is introduced isn't resolved or even utilized. In fact, little of the core conflict is explained. Within the bounds of the feature the plotting is seamless, but it is treated as a transposed chapter of a larger work. Foundations are laid for revelations and developments are never intended to be realized in the anime. A Japanese audience may have been familiar with the with the detail of the series, while a newcomer can follow the general the plot, the mysteries stretch for the foundational, what the antagonist's vendetta against the world is motivated by, to the minor, why one of the young point of view characters wears an odd collar. Still, its ia work of stunning visuals, and a testimony to how far the integration of 3D models and two dimension cell character animation has come.
The movie follows the naval conflict between a united task force of the world's navies and a revolutionary admiral's renegade fleet. Compared to advanced technology nuclear submarines with AI guides and city sized air crafter carries from America, European nation,s India, China and like, the underdog is Japan's contribution, the small, diesel powered Submarine 707 stands out, at first as a token gesture. Still, the 707's Hayami, a small, round man, rooted with a rooted intellect becomes the nemesis for the renegade fleet's Admiral Red.
This style of animation is probably the prefect medium for this brand of submarine animation. New effects could realize it in live action, but for the exterior shots, it is easier to suspend disbelief in regards to lack of darkness to be found in the oceans' depths in animation. The scale of the objects, the sense that they are moving through a liquid and moving in three dimensions sets the movie apart as the real spectacle in naval anime.
ex-Driver: The Movie
Based on a concept by Kosuke Fujishima, of Ah! My Godess/You're Under Arrest, eX-Driver finds a successful formula for bringing auto racing to anime, not just Fujishima's brilliant touch with cute girls and attractive, functional looking mechanics, but going a route to that's boisterous rather than grounded.
Auto racing fiction has the trouble of working with something that is both familiar and alien. Generally people have driven, but their experience is more often stop and go than fast and free. Racing automboles is prohibitively expensive to get involved in, and unlike most sports/competition type stories it isn't something most people have experienced or imagine themselves experiencing outside video games. eX-Driver solves the problem by re-casting the endeavor as a Bubblegum Crisis-like action.
In ex-Driver motor vehicle transportation has taken the form electrically powered cars driven by an artificial intelligence, there are a number of interesting scenes of every car on the road directing itself to a position along the side to make way for emergency vehicles. The exceptions are eX-Drivers, a skilled force who drive traditional petroleum fuel cars in order to protect the populous from rogue AI cars (via blocking their censors with firearms launched adhesive cartridges).
The volume contains a 64 minute feature in which the Japanese ex-Drivers travel to America for an international race, and a 25 minute, TV episode length short from director Shinichi Watanabe (Nabeshin of Excel Saga fame, who also makes a cameo).
The stories are crime based works that find ways to integrate plenty of fast paced car races and chases. The main feature is marked by its outrageous stereotypes, from its torrentially emotional, blonde couple as the American eX-Drivers to a pasta-eating and kung partitioning rival set of Italian and Chinese supermarket magnates. It is absurd enough to work as comedy, and applies to a plot that doesn't distract from the visuals, which are really the work's cornerstone. Shinichi Watanabe characteristically starts with an instantly odd plot, a pair of young woman eX-Drivers tracking an invisible rogue AI car, only the have the chase spiral out in an almost associative trajectory.
Both use CGI cars, rather than the 2D animated objects of the earlier eX-Driver OAV series. Because it is easy to fail in the effect, it is easy to mark what the action isn't. It doesn't have a block, overlaid effect look, nor does it look to much like a super imposed video game. There is a sense of speed and spontaneous action as car that balance are a pop brightness with real-world recognizable details of the cars as they hurl themselves through the streets.
Manga Spotlight: Hyper Police
Volume 1
by MEE
To be Released by TOKYOPOP 1/11/05
Hyper Police is a little rough in its execution, but it is a fun twist on some familiar genre situations. Loose plotting and illustration are amply compensated for with a pair of memorable, fun to watch characters.
In a post apocalyptic world the remnants of humanity are living side by side with a host of supernatural creatures, mythical beasts, were-creatures, mutations, demons, even anthropomorphic fungus in some facsimile of recognizable society normalcy. Natsuki and Sakura are buddy cops in at the Police Company, a not-so-successful private police agency/bounty hunter cadre. Natsuki is a young naive half-human/half catspirit, who can wield a knife like a ninja and throws lightning thanks for a pair of symbiotic hamster creatures, Sakura is kindof a kyubi (nine tailed fox), with an inferiority complex about not actually being born with nine tails, who joins the force to eat Natsuki to grow the final one.
The action comedy plays with the environment that has a distinctive character that sets it parts from most swords and sorcery fantasy or monster populated wastelands. It isn't bound or constructed with a pure logical cohesion, but the community of individuals, some recognizable extensions of mythology, some odd creatures, but it does provide an intriguing take on how do you build a society one the swarms of supernatural beings start crowding the Earth.
Anime Spotlight Popotan
Volume 1
Released by Geneon
Popotan is adapted from an entry in a genre of choice driven pornographic/hentai computer games that present dialog panels below scene and characters images. In the case of Popotan, or at least its anime adaptations it that it is more cutesy heart felt material, with more nudity, than sexually explicit, or explicitly sexual material.
The snap shot plots follow a trio of dandelion spirit sisters who, along with their Christmas shop/house, robot maid and ferret pet, appear on a random plot of land and interact with those around them until they fulfill some so-far undefined criteria, then disappear.
The stories are generally tranquil, with a light element of the supernatural. They are simplistic and familiar by design, almost sketched scenery to place behind the characters. It is odd to have youth oriented stories types, such as an adolescent girl coming to terms with frequent moves and new sets of friends/acquaintances or a younger girl dressing up in a frilly SailorMoon/Card Caputor Sakura magic girl outfit and running around the city to save the hearts of its populous, aimed at an older, male audience, but Popotan does it in such as way as to narrow the focus more on aesthetic than emotions. The after image from a given episode is the three day-glo, jello-y look and feel of the three sisters. They're puffy, bright images that are far more enduring than their personalities or circumstances.
An integral aspect of the look is lots of clothing details, and lots of lack of clothing. There is plenty of skin in the series, every episode has some subset of the sisters, their maid, and maybe some new acquaintance naked, and their house is equipped with a large bath to facilitate this, but it isn't aggressively sexual, or even romantic. The attraction factor is the series has a "moe" bend, an almost fetishistic attention to cute-innocence
Though Popotan is bright and perky enough to dissuade most from finding it disagreeable, there is a select appeal for a series like Popotan, but for what it, it does well.
March Geneon releases...
Anime
3/8
3/15/05
3/22/04
Sound Tracks
3/8
Airmaster
Within the back alleys of Tokyo in the cover of night, people meet to hold witness to the sport of street fighting. Among the best and most talented of all street fighters is Maki Aikawa who along with her arsenal of aerial techniques is called "AirMaster." Having never experienced defeat, Maki proves true valor to a "kogal" group and is soon initiated into its ranks. Beautiful and seductive, her newfound friends provide their support as she battles against men and women who will show no mercy during a fight. What is her true reason to streeet fight and is there anyone who can defeat her?
* Created by the famous Yokusaru Shibata, Airmaster first appeared as a comic series in Hakusensha's well known comic magazine titled "Young Animal.
* What sets AirMaster apart from the other anime action series, is its unique blend of action (that includes well choreographed street fighting scenes) along with a humorous side (that highlights a "Kogal" group) and its cast of seductive, sexy characters.
* The talented anime director Daisuke Nishio, well known for his famous "Dragon Ball Z" series, takes his battle scenes to new heights with the action filled AirMaster series.
* AirMaster also features the talent of Kenfu Denki Berserk" as animation director who helped popularize the hit series Street Fighter Zero.
Slam Dunk
Sakuragi, Hanamichi, the high school student who was refused girls about 100 times in his junior hi school. He met a dentiny girl at the beginning of the high school named Haruko. He has fallen love her. She said [Do you like Vasketball?] Immidiately Hanamichi said, [Yes, I love it.] Course, he did not know what basketball is, but he start the unknown sport for her. That's was the start of * Slam Dunk was the brainchild of legendary manga creator Takehiko Inoue who continues to set high sales records with "Vagabond" and "Real."
Koi Kaze
Koshiro and Nanoka are brother and sister separated since Nanoka was a baby. When the time comes for her to enter high school, it is decided that the two will live together. This is easier said than done. The two had already been on a date! Although they will try to have a platonic relationship, it becomes increasingly tense. Will the two hold off, or will the temptation prove too difficult?
New Getter Robo Rude
Huge monsters stalk the earth! Resembling the ancient legends of Oni, the monsters begin attacking the laboratory where Prof. Saotome developing the Getter Robo, a robot so powerful it overwhelms ordinary pilots! Prof. Saotome then locates three of the most dangerous men on the planet to draft as pilots: Ryoma the fighter, Hayato the bezerker and Benkei the giant!
April Bandai Releases
Bandai will be releasing the second volumes of Overman King Gainer and Magical Meow Meow Taruto on April 12th, and the first volume of Scrapped Princess, along with the 7th of Dragon Dive on April 26th. From Bandai's description of Studio Bones's (Cowboy Bebop, Wolf's Rain, The Vision of Escaflowne) Scrapped Princess Pacifica Cassul is known as the "Scrapped Princess." According to prophecy, she is the poison that will destroy the world on her 16th birthday. In order to avoid being killed, she must secretly wander the lands along with her two siblings who vow to protect the princess every step of the way. But being the Scrapped Princess means you must stay one step ahead of your enemy. Just how long will they journey before time runs out?
Appleseed Theatrical Locations
Twitch points out that the
official site for the domestic release of Appleseed has been updated
with the planned locations for the film's theatrical run here
Trailers
Trailers for Disney's release of their next set of Ghibli movie, Nausicaa, Porco Rosso and the Cat Return, can be seen at here. The videos will be released February 22nd.
The American release trailer for Katsuhiro Otomo's (Akira) Steamboy can be seen here.
Blue Sky, the Korean CGI film orignally released as Wonderful Days will be released in select markets December 31st.
Trailers can be seen in low res Quicktime high res quicktime and Windows Media. A trailer for the Japanese release of air can be seen here.
Kino's Journey News
Anime Nation reports that the official Japanese Kino no Tabi (Kino's Journey) site lists the new theatrical feature will debut February 19, 2005.
MTV Licenses Tokyo Tribes Anime
Animation Insider Magazine reports that MTV has licensed Madhouse Studio's upcoming anime adaptation of Santa Inoue's manga series Tokyo Tribes. The manga is released domestically by TOKYOPOP.
New ADV Manga Licenses?
Anime on DVD reports that Amazon lists the following non-announced titles from ADV Manga Yotsubato!, Maburaho, Full Metal Panic: OVERLOAD!, Lilith in Wonderland, Line and Igazukin: The Littlest Ninja.
Yotsubato is Azumanga Daioh creator Azuma Kiyohiko's latest series, which is a full page formated comic rather than four panel strips.
Maburaho is a fanservice oriented series about a boy's adventure with three attractive girls at a high school for wizards.
Gantz Game?
Screenshots of a video game version of Gantz can be seen here.
Animerica Extra Formally Cancelled
As expected from its absence in release solicitations, Viz has formally announced the cancellation of their shoujo manga anthology Animerica Extra as of volume 7 issue 12. Fushigi Yuugi and Banana Fish will continue as straight to graphic novel collection releases.
TenTen OAV
Natsume Maya reports that the TV anime adpatation of teen fighting manga Tenjou Tenge will be followed by a Tenjou Tenge Ultimate Fight direct to video OAV on March 16th. The Tenjou Tenge TV series was co-produced by domestic anime distributor Geneon. The manga will be released domestically by DC's CMX.
Upcoming Viz Releases
Shonen:
Viz has announced two new manga titles to be released early next year by the company's SHONEN JUMP division. LEGENDZ will hit store shelves in March of 2005 and is rated "A" for all ages, while DR. SLUMP will debut in May 2005 and is rated "T" for teens.
LEGENDZ, Volume 1 . MSRP: $7.99 . Available March 2005
LEGENDZ is one of the latest Japanese graphic novel series to blend the manga format with fantasy monsters and role-playing games. The story presents a world where mythical creatures like mermaids, dragons and werewolves, called Legendz, actually exist. Better yet, they can be raised and trained to play the ultimate role-playing game. Master trainer Ken Kazaki and his loyal Windragon, named Shiron, are the main characters in LEGENDZ and action abounds when the duo takes on other skilled Legendz players who will stop at nothing to win. Unlike most players, Ken knows that taking care of his Legendz will increase Shiron's power and skill level. In the debut volume of the series, readers will meet Ken and his friends, and the fabulous creatures they seek to train. The plot thickens when Ken must take on a school bully who is plotting to rig the school's Legendz tournament to win the coveted Golden Soul Figure.
DR. SLUMP, Volume 1 . MSRP: $7.99 . Available May 2005
DR. SLUMP is a madcap series about a blustering inventor, who creates the "perfect" android girl, only to discover that he may have created a monster instead! Volume 1 introduces the precocious Arale to Penguin Village, where she wreaks havoc with her superhuman strength and oddball ways. Each volume of the series focuses on Arale's childlike misunderstandings of humanity and Senbei's inventions, rivalries and romantic misadventures. Aside from its episodic storyline, DR. SLUMP is also notable for its puns, scatological jokes and parodies of both Western and Japanese pop culture. A manga classic by Akira Toriyama, the creator of DRAGON BALL and DRAGON BALL Z.
Shojo:
Four new shôjo manga are set to debut in March of 2005. These will include TIMES TWO, HAPPY HUSTLE HIGH, SOS and DOUBT!!
The following VIZ titles are rated T for Teens:
TIMES TWO
Rated for Teens; MSRP: $9.99
Release date: March 2005
TIMES TWO is a collection of five manga short stories about budding high school romance by Shouko Akira. The stories each explore the exhilaration and confusion of falling hard for a new flame - because when you're in love, life feels like it's multiplied Times Two! The stories include "Frequency," in which an accidental knock on the head gives a loudmouthed high school smart-aleck girl named Kaori the ability to hear the private thoughts of the school's model student, a young boy named Morihiro. Along the way, Kaori learns that Morihiro may not be so perfect after all, but that he might be just perfect for her.
The following VIZ titles are rated T+ for Older Teens:
HAPPY HUSTLE HIGH
Rated for Older Teens; MSRP: $9.99
Release date: March 2005
HAPPY HUSTLE HIGH is a captivating story about a 16-year old tomboy named Hanabi Ozora, who is always happy to stick up for her friends - as long as they buy her lunch. Things change dramatically when her all-girl high school is integrated with an all-boy school and young Hanabi falls hard for Yasuaki Garaku, the hunky, but aloof Student Council Vice President. The problem is that Yasuaki maintains he isn't interested in girls, but when the council becomes integrated, its male members start to take a romantic interest in Hanabi. Readers will delight in seeing what spunky Hanabei does to remedy the dilemma and make her own feelings known. HAPPY HUSTLE HIGH is a lighthearted romantic comedy with a strong willed and tough heroine that will bring laughs and smiles to readers of all ages.
SOS Rated for Older Teens; MSRP: $9.99 Release date: March 2005
Will anyone answer love's urgent distress call? Find out in SOS, a funny and poignant collection of three romantic short stories by Hinako Ashihara. In the title story, a group of students launch a secret dating agency at their school, but things quickly take a turn for the worse when one of their clients needs rescuing from a date gone dangerously wrong. Problems compound when a teacher finds out about the adolescent matchmaking service, putting the Junior Cupids in very hot water.
DOUBT!! Rated for Older Teens; MSRP: $9.99 Release date: March 2005
The classic story about the ugly duckling that transforms into a beautiful swan receives a shôjo manga treatment in DOUBT!!, by Kaneyoshi Izumi. In volume 1 of this 6-volume series, readers are introduced to Ai Maekawa, an unremarkable junior high school student. Life for Ai goes on in relative anonymity until the day she gets "pantsed" by a bitchy girl named Yumi, right in front of the boy Ai has a crush on. Utterly humiliated, Ai transforms herself into a stunning beauty and transfers to a new high school where no one knows about her former persona as a homely loser. Immediately, she attracts the attention of Sô, the most handsome boy in the entire school. But Ai's exterior beauty cannot compensate for the shy and self-doubting girl that still remains within. Ai works hard to live down her embarrassing past, but rumors persist and she must also find a way to deal with the other jealous girls in her class. Ai's problems only increase when her old nemesis, Yumi, shows up and threatens to reveal everything.
Anime:
First quater 2005 Viz anime releases include action titles like INUYASHA and FLAME OF RECCA, kid favorites like POKéMON and MEGAMAN NT WARRIOR and the latest volumes in the shôjo series, BOYS OVER FLOWERS.
INUYASHA Volume 26, Curse of Generations and Volume 27, Brothers in Arms
Available on DVD February 2005 ($24.98 each MSRP) Each feature the latest episode from the hit anime series about everyone's favorite half-demon dog boy and his evil-battling sidekicks that currently airs on Cartoon Network's Adult Swim.
FLAME OF RECCA Volume 2, Secrets of the Hokage Available on DVD January 2005 ($24.98 each MSRP)
The story of Recca Hanabishi, an average teenager with the not so average goal to become a ninja. He also has a special power - the ability to produce and control fire. But power like that doesn't come neatly wrapped in a gift box. The hotheaded teenager must first prove he is mature enough to handle such an awesome responsibility. Graphic novels also available from VIZ.
PROJECT ARMS 2ND CHAPTER Volume 3, Survival of the Fittest Available on DVD January 2005 ($24.98 MSRP) Volume 4, A Soldier's Pride Volume 4 Available on DVD March 2005 ($24.98 MSRP)
Ryo Takatsuki is a typical Japanese high school student, whose seemingly nondescript way of life starts to unravel with the arrival of Hayato Shingu and Takeshi Tomoe, two new transfer students with a history of disciplinary problems. An unexpected chain of events that follows will change Ryo's life and those of his childhood friend Katsumi, the brash Hayato and the enigmatic Takeshi, who all may yet turn out to be friends or foes. With his new found comrades, Ryo sets out to discover the secret of the mysterious A.R.M.S., which will reveal an unexpected destiny for each of them.
POKéMON ADVANCED Volume 7, Abandon Ship and Volume 8, Jump for Joy
Available on DVD January 2005 ($14.98 MSRP) and VHS ($9.98 MSRP) The final exciting episodes. Ash and Pikachu explore new lands and discover new Pokémon in these brand new releases.
POKéMON MASTER QUEST, QUEST 2 BOX SET
Available on DVD February 2005 ($39.98 MSRP) A special box set containing the final 32 episodes of the Pokémon Master Quest series on three DVDs.
MEGAMAN: NT WARRIOR Volume 4, Download
Available on DVD February 2005 ($14.98 MSRP) and VHS ($9.98 MSRP) Young hero Lan and his robotic alter ego MegaMan continue to try to thwart the evil World Three's never-ending quest to take over the world. Volume 4 contains a special free MEGAMAN NT WARRIOR graphic novel sampler book from VIZ (DVD only).
ZOIDS CHAOTIC CENTURY Volumes 6, Beast and Volume 7, United
Available on DVD January 2005 and Volume 7 available March 2005 ($14.98 MSRP)
BOYS OVER FLOWERS Volume 9, Lovers on the Run!?
Available on DVD January 2005 ($24.98 MSRP) Volume 10, Love Triangle from Hell! Available March 2005 ($24.98 MSRP)
Shonen Jump Advanced Line
Viz has announced the launch of SHONEN JUMP ADVANCED, a new imprint under the company's SHONEN JUMP brand with titles for older teens and young adults.
The first three titles to be offered by SHONEN JUMP ADVANCED will include EYESHIELD 21, HUNTER X HUNTER, and I''S. The trio of titles are each rated "T+" for older teens and will hit store shelves in April of 2005 with an MSRP of $7.99.
EYESHIELD 21, Volume 1 " MSRP: $7.99 " Available April 2005
The growing success of sports-based manga stories continues with EYESHIELD 21, the first American football graphic novel to appear in North America. The manga, by creator Riichiro Inagaki and artist Yusuke Murata, tells the story of Sena Kobayakawa, a high school freshman who has been bullied all his life. The sadistic captain of the football team discovers Sena and his lightning fast speed and forces him to join the team. A wacky cast of characters rounds out this bone-crushing and ridiculously silly slapstick comedy about a young man's struggle to overcome obstacles and develop self respect.
HUNTER X HUNTER, Volume 1 " MSRP: $7.99 " Available April 2005
A highly anticipated release from Yoshihiro Togashi, the creator of YUYU HAKUSHO (also published under the SHONEN JUMP brand and serialized in SHONEN JUMP Magazine), HUNTER X HUNTER focuses on the fantastic adventures of Gon, the son of a famous Hunter. Wanting to follow in his father's footsteps, young Gon works hard to learn how to track down monsters, seek treasure and cast magical spells. But in order to truly become like his father and become a licensed Hunter, Gon must also pass the arduous and dangerous Hunter Exam. Gon quickly befriends two other Hunters-in-training that include Kurapika, who is motivated by vengeance for his murdered family, and Leorio, who simply wants to get rich. Action begins quickly in Volume 1 of HUNTER X HUNTER when the trio must survive in a forest infested with dangerous animals, and even more dangerous rivals that want to kill off any competition.
I''S, Volume 1 " MSRP: $7.99 " Available April 2005
Sixteen-year-old Ichitaka Seto is a completely normal Japanese boy who has a crush on Iori Ishizuki, a girl in his class who has become so popular since she posed for a swimsuit layout in a magazine that she now has her own fan club at school. Ichitaka is afraid to make his feelings known, lest Iori think he is just another sleazy creep hitting on her, but when he's randomly selected to work with her on the two-person Freshman Committee, he sees an opportunity. Things grow more complicated when Ichitaka's childhood "girlfriend," Itsuki, returns from the U.S., and ends up living in his house! Itsuki is no longer the shy young girl Ichitaka remembers. Now he must reconcile his feelings for each and work hard to make sure that his angst-riddled high school life doesn't get any more dramatic.
ICV2 reports that Viz will release the Full Metal Alchemist manga series beginning in June 2005.
CPM Anime on International Channel
Continuing to expand programming content for its growing Asian American audience, International Channel has signed licensing agreements with Mirovision for nine Korean films and Central Park Media for seven anime titles. Both the films and anime will air during "Asia Street," International Channel's primetime block of programming that is scheduled specifically for a young, English-speaking, Asian American audience. The programs will also be part of the channel's On Demand package.
"The Mirovision deal is very important for us, as it will allow International Channel Networks to capitalize on the growing popularity of Korean cinema and be one of the few outlets in the US to feature Korean movies," said Steve Smith, Managing Director, International Channel Networks. "In addition, anime continues to be one of the top genres on International Channel, and the new titles from Central Park Media will greatly expand our product offering in this category."
The agreement with Mirovision gives International Channel nine Korean films: "Byul" (2003), "The Show" (2003), "The Hidden Princess" (2002), "Family" (2002), "Siren" (2000), "Love Bakery" (2000), "Secret Tears" (2000), "The Spy" (1999) and "Ghost in Love" (1999). The films will be subtitled in English. Mirovision is a major distributor of Korean Films.
In a separate deal with Central Park Media, International Channel acquired the rights to eight anime titles: "Record of Lodoss War" OVA, "Record of Lodoss War: Chronicles of the Heroic Knight", "Black Jack", "Now and Then, Here and There", "Patlabor The Mobile Police: The Original Series", "Patlabor The Mobile Police: The TV Series", "Project A-Ko", and "Descendants of Darkness". These programs will be presented in English. Central Park Media is a leading supplier of anime in the United States.
Pokemon Movie 7 Release
JaggedTeam reports Buena Vista has scheduled the domestic DVD release of Pokemon movie 7 "Destiny Deoxys" for February 15, 2005.
Upcoming Infinity Studio Manga Releases
Anime on DVD lists that the first Infinity Studios will be bi-monthly releases of Animal Paradise starting January 15th, BamBi starting January 15th, Cafe Occult starting February 15th, Missing White Dragon starting January 15th, Nananana starting February 15th, Popo Can starting February 15th, Traveler of the Moon starting February 15th and Witch Class starting Janurary 15th.
The second round will be Fighting!! Guidance starting on April 15th, Hurrah! Sailor starting May 15th, and Zippy Ziggy starting April 15th.
Galaxy Angel Musical
Anime News Network reports that from March 16th to 22nd, a Galaxy Angel Musical will be performed at the Kinokuniya southern theater in Japan. The official Galaxy Angel Musical website is here and pictures of the cast can be seen here.
Kia Asamiya Contributes to X-Men Comic
Manga artist Kia Asamiya will be contributing to Marvel's March release of X-Men: Age Of Apocalypse, an anthology 10th anniversary tribute to the comic series alternate world event.
American Final Fantasy Music Tour
The "Dear Friends" American tour of orchestral music from the Final Fantasy games will start February 15th in Chicago, Illinois.
The 2-hour program produced by Nobuo Uematsu, will be conducted by Grammy award winning Arnie Roth, music director and principal conductor of the Chicagoland Pops. This concert is presented by the orchestra in association with Jason Michael Paul Productions.
Transformer Producer Interview
The producer of the in-development Transformers movie is interviewed here
Berserk Anime Follow-up Hints
Anime News Service has interviewed Susumu Hirasawa, composer for the Berserk anime series here. On the subject of a second series based on the ongoing manga he stated:
I have no idea whether the new Berserk anime is produced. Also I have no plan to join new anime project at the moment. But I have a vague prediction that one project will start next year. However, I do not always accept all offer to compose music.
Yamato's 1/12 Scale ATM-09-ST Scopedog Nominated for Toy of the Year Yamato USA has annnounced that its 1/12 Scale ATM-09-ST Scopedog Action Figure from classic mech war anime VOTOMS has been nominated for 2004Toy of the Year at ToyboxDX (http://toyboxdx.com/).
Yu-Gi-Oh Card Auctioned for $23K
The English Yu-Gi-Oh card game's "Cyber-Stein" recently sold for $23,000 on an ebay auction. It is one of two given at the GenCon SoCal convention. Another will be award at the Shonen Jump Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG Championship in Las Vegas.
Cartoon Network Updates
Cartoon Network has also order 26 new episodes of the French Code LYOKO series, which FUNimation will be releasing on DVD.
Anime News Network points out Cartoon Network has announced the following: InuYasha premieres will resume three days a week starting January 10 at 12:30 a.m.
On February 12, Fullmetal Alchemist will move up a half hour to 11:30 p.m., taking Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex to a new time slot at midnight.
Also on February 12, The Super Milk-Chan Show will migrate to Saturdays for repeats at 1:30 a.m.
New Anime Network Site
Anime Network, the 24 hour linear cable network for anime has launched a new site at www.theanimenetwork.com which includes schedules for Anime Network's 24 hour/linear and Anime Network On Demand programming, a new and improved interface, programming block pages, trailers and information about what the future holds in store.
Convention News
Harmony Gold has announced Robocon 20, a convention to commemorate the 20th anniversary of Robotech at the Anaheim Convention Center on July 1-4, 2005
Yuricon, a convention dedicated to yuri (lesbian relationship) anime and manga will be held in Tokyo this Spring.
