Father Geek here with Scott's latest weekly trip thru the worlds of Manga & Anime, soooooo pack a lunch and prepare to surf down into all the info you need to know about Anime and Manga in...
AnimAICN...
by Scott Green
Manga Spotlight:
Planetes
Volume 4(Part 1)
By Makoto Yukimura
Released by TOKYOPOP
by Scott Green
Manga Spotlight:
Planetes
Volume 4(Part 1)
By Makoto Yukimura
Released by TOKYOPOP
Released by TOKYOPOP
Planetes 4/1, the first half of the series lengthy fourth phase departs from the series' forte, but it is still smart manga, both thought provoking and entertaining. It's with the human drama and distinctive stories that manga fans will remember, and non-readers must try.
The volumes turns a waiting "meanwhile..." into a second front for its march towards a conclusion. While the series' ostensible hero Hachimaki travels on the first manned mission to Jupiter the narrative turns backs to orbital garbage collectors that started it. The return of Fee, the rough, independent and intelligent woman who emblemized the physically and mentally challenge work, Yuri, older, calm veteran and traveler, and to a lesser extent the emotionally open rookie Tanabe, is what many devoted readers have been hoping for. However, while the science and humanity remain fascinating, it doesn't always play to the series strengths.
These workers, who make space travel safe by scouring Earth orbit for everything from screws to derelict satellites server as standard bearers of bearers of their time, but heads in their own lives, outside the limelight, is when then the series had its most resonance. The narrative has been able to work with some large concepts concerning exploration and development by propelling them to the forefront. The shift comes at the cost of taking the work from its unique brand of working-person's sci-fi with under the radar people doing exceptional work to more familiar Right Stuff/explorer hero grounds.
The volume returns to the concept of the Kessler Syndrome, exponential fragmentation of the debris around Earth halting travel through its obit. The threat, brought on by military action challenges Fee's love of space and rebelliousness, which she reacts to with her own brand of cigarette puffing civil disobedience. More complex than a mouthpiece agitator, the volume plots the trajectory of Fee's brushes with activism from her intently underachieving uncle to her dealings with her young son.
The media turns Fee's protest into a 60's style civil rights or anti-war movement but, the machinations are a bit underwhelming, including an appearance by Japan's favorite fast food pop icon, Colonel Sanders (military officer with the name and trademark features of KFC's animation resurrected spokesperson). Planetes has a perfect lock on the heart and head when it does personal characters perspectives. Even when the character is plain odd, like the unsocialized man who claims to be an alien punished with a human body for teasing the race with crop circles and cattle mutilations, or nearly antagonistic, scientific advancement at all cost head of the Jupiter mission, there's the depth of full humanity. When it zooms out to a macro-societal level, it loses some human context and becomes interesting rather than amazingly moving.
Fee in the role of pinion of world events may not have been what those who loved her in the early volumes were looking for in her return, but the examination of the character is still compelling. The aspect that stands out is the concurrent forceful certainty of her convictions and internal struggles to understand the non-conformity in her life. Plenty of points of science and philosophy are well conveyed in Planetes' dialog, but being a comic, the best moments are examination without yelling and kicking, where facial expression carry the discussion. There are moments, such as Fee's face as a child, realizing that she doesn't understand the adult world and what it values, that do more than endear the reader to the characters, they establish a connection and a clear window to the subject's world view.
The presentation of TOKYOPOP's release of Planetes can be contentious. It gets to the line where the $10 graphic novel manga release goes from inexpensive to cheap. Plenty of what gets released is worth reading, or worth reading twice, or worth reading a number of times, but there is a level above the good reading material. In a likable series you gripe when something isn't how you'd like it. In something more lasting, you feel a sense of loss when it isn't how it should be.
When you to cull a collection there a few favorites, some classic, the Tezuka's, the CLAMP's, the definitive creators from Masamune Shirow to Moyoco Anno depending on taste. Planetes is that caliber work. Once you read it, you will not want to get rid of it. In those cases you want at least a good edition of the work. TOKYOPOP's Planete's is an OK edition.
Those who have seen the original Japanese release have commented that TOKYOPOP's release of Planetes lacks clarity compared to its breathtaking original. With the series' attractive illustration it's hard to figure the discrepancy without seeing the original, but there are notable candidates for tone issues. Going down the check list: after the controversy in an earlier chapter, poetry is translated, as is other text such as chapter titles, though the placement sometimes requires search; sound effect illustrations are untranslated, but in this series they're self explanatory. However, in adherence to "no good deed goes unpunished" adage... manga, not uncommonly, features several color pages opening a chapter, some of volume four, part one's color pages are printed in color, yet, doing so invites complaint due to the washed out tones, and still other originally colored pages remained uncolor. There's nothing to halt readability, to plenty to remind that the output is sub-optimal.
Apart from a few notable candidates, it would be hard to find someone to disagree with the assertion that the $10 graphic novel has made the domestic manga market. But some works, Planetes being a chief example, warrant and probably could sustain a few dollars more on the price tag so that the release can be done right.
Manga Spotlight
Tactics
By Sakura Kinoshita
and Kazuko Higashiyama
Volume 1
Released by ADV Manga
Tactics is a second mythology based mystery from the creators of Mythical Detective Loki Ragnorok. Young folklorist and exorcist Kantaro Ichinomiya, with the help of his bound goblins, Yoko, in the form of a young woman and Haruka, the famed Demon Eating Goblin Haruka, in the form of a comely man, finds and explains irregularities in his world.
The series is one of the Blade Comic anthology's shoujo-ish (female demographic) aesthetic variants on shonen (male demographics) adventure stories. The concepts sounds Pokemon-ish, but the stories feature little competition, and more thinking through experiences. If there is a theme to the stories, it is the series ambivalence to it's own concept. It struggles with the fact that the goblin's service isn't completely voluntary. An effort is made to work to paint him a good master with Haruka and Yoko as a near amicable as cool butler and slightly frazzled maid. It doesn't outright challenge the idea of a wandering goblin tamer, the stories have had elements of forced servitude, trickery or some aspect of co-opted control.
The look is similar to the prior Mythical Detective Loki, and a bit like Saiyuki: puffy cute younger characters and creatures, older female characters that aren't chest heavy, and handsome bishonen older male characters. Besides a general thin elegance to these males, and a innocent roundness to the other characters, the design is a face with elaborate hair, and a body whose attention is brought to its clothing rather than its shape. The illustration is a too focused on one panel at time to excel at storytelling, but faults in sequential arts are more than compensated for in costume design. The detail in depicting billowing robes and their painstaking patterns can't help but impress.
The large majority of manga is written for anthologies, meaning that there is some thought to reader accessibility in every chapter. There are plenty of examples of series that in retrospect, readers/viewers could agree skipping some of the build wouldn't be missed, but skipping an opening creates problems. The first volume of Tactics highlights the flaw in the Mystical Detective Loki Ragnorok release, which started at volume seven volumes into the series. Though more readers are familiar Norse mythology than Japanese, introductory chapters, even ones that run though the concept at a dash like Tactics' are written to familiarize the reader to what the series is about, and build ties to the character, which are lost jumping in part way through.
Anime Spotlight Mezzo: Danger Service Agency
Volume 2
Released by ADV Films
In terms of pop energy fizzling out, the second volume of Mezzo DSA is a dropped and punctured soda bottle. The series still has the most hummable anime opening, and an eye drawing color palette and character glamour, making it far more a disappointment than what in the spectrum of releases would be called a bad anime, but designer/director Yasuomi Umetsu's inspiration runs shockingly dry in his second set of episodes. After the explosive, Kite, Mezzo Forte and early Mezzo DSA, sluggish action and straight forward scenarios are unexpected output, lacking . The best thing that can be said of it is that given the episodic nature of the series, it doesn't detractive from the bubblegum spectacle of the first volume.
It's a mental exercise to remember what happened in the volume's episodes. The fact that the cover image reflects an episode that wasn't a member of the set doesn't help. There is a history episode for the private problem solver trio's punk-techie, and some history for its amusingly uncool, middle aged ex-cop, and off course plenty of time for the series' pink hair and orange body suit, Bruce Lee kung fu with John Woo gun play heroine, but once you recall the actual content of the disc, it's the disappointments that stand out.
Being charitable and accounting for the animation budget of a 13 episode TV series, it can't compete with what was achieved in the Itchy and Scratchy meet Luc Besson thrillers of the original Kite or Mezzo Forte OAVs, or even the series' opening episode, but some Yasuomi Umetsu's sadistic juxtaposition of eye-magnet slick design and cruelty seemed liked a reasonable expectation. Given his style, then to see him barely single on two episodes that should have been entertainment junk food home runs is getting a misshapen hunk of plastic in your Cracker Jack box in place of the temporary tattoos.
The point of a virtual reality episode in a series like Mezzo DSA is to put the characters into different genre settings/outfits, but if the episode is going to use auto-pilot design, it is hardly worth the space.
Similarly, it would be expected given the sadism and frankly perverted edge of Yasuomi Umetsu's body of works, that he's produce something amazingly offensive for an execution obsessed serial killer/stalker. To dangle the heroine from a rope and call it a day is less than a half measure.
ADV Anime over Sprint
ICv2 reports ADV is one of five content providers for CellToons, a new multimedia channel available to Sprint PCS Vision customers for $4.95 per month.
Anime Network on Hawii's Oceanic Time Warner Cable
With the new year, Anime Network will new be Channel 332 on Hawii's Oceanic Time Warner Cable as part of Oceanic's Video On Demand (VOD) package.
Anime Network is now available in 55 cities nationwide, and available on a 24/7 basis in select U.S. markets.
Navarre Corporation Acquires FUNimation
Navarre Corporation announced a $150 million deal to acquire 100% of 100% FUNimation Productions, Ltd. and FUNimation Store, Ltd.Navarre Corporation, distrubotor of anime included Dragon Ball, Full Metal Alchmestic, Fruits Baskets and more.
Navarre anticipates that this transaction will close before May 15, 2005. Navarre Corporation provides distribution and related services to
leading developers and retailers of home entertainment content.
Howl's Moving Castle in June?
Nausicaa.net points out that a
June date is being tentatively attached to the domestic release of Hayao
Miaski's
latest feature, Howl's Moving Castle.
Bandai Collection Production Ends
Anime on DVD reports that Bandai has stopped their limited holiday production of their collected releases Banner of the Stars Complete Collection,Ronin Warriors Complete Collection, Betterman Complete Collection, Love Hina Perfect Collection, Geneshaft Complete Collection, Tsukikage Ran: Carried by the Wind Collection and the Fancy Lala Complete Collection.
Trouble for MPD Pyscho?
Twitch Film reports that the UK release of Takashi Miike;s(Ichi the Killer, Audition) live action adapation of Eiji Otsuka & drawn by Sho-u Tajima's graphically grotesque manga thriller maybe be having troubling. The series, earlier listed for a late January release has not been listed on the BBFC. When Twitch inquired, they recieved the response:
"Unfortunately, MPD Psycho has not yet been classified by the BBFC. However, works are classified daily and you may find it useful to check the database on our website (www.bbfc.co.uk) every now and again."
Whether this is an indication that the series will be cut for an English language release remains to be seen.
Dark Horse to Release Vampire Hunter D Novels
Dark Horse Comics will be releasing the first of the thirteen novel Vampire Hunter D series, that inspired two anime features on May 4th.
The 300 page novel, written by Hideyuki Kikuchi with cover art and illustrations by Yoshitaka Amano will retail for $8.95.
12,090 A.D. It is a dark time for the world. Humanity is just crawling out from under three hundred years of domination by the race of vampires known as the Nobility. The war against the vampires has taken its toll; cities lie in ruin, the countryside is fragmented into small villages and fiefdoms that still struggle against nightly raids by the fallen vampires-and the remnants of their genetically manufactured demons and werewolves.
Every village wants a Hunter-one of the warriors who have pledged their laser guns and their swords to the eradication of the Nobility. But some Hunters are better than others, and some bring their own kind of danger with them...
ADV Halts Re-Priced Releases
Anime on DVD reports that ADV has put their planned February re-prised re-released on indefinite delay.
Planned titles included:
- 801 TTS Airbats: First Flight
- AD Police TV series volume 1
- Black Lion
- Dirty Pair Flash volume 1
- Medabots volumes 1 & 2
- Orphen volume 1
- Princess Minerva
- Sorcerer on the Rocks
- Tekken
- Those Who Hunt Elves volume 1
- You're Under Arrest motion picture
- Zone of the Enders: Idolo
New Anno Project?
AnimeNewsNetwork reports that Gainax diary states that Evangelion creator Hideaki Anno has moved on from "the year of Honey" (referring to the Cuty Honey live action movie and anime OAV) to a new project, currently in development.
Funimation Registers Beckanime.com
Anime News Network reports that FUNimation has registered the domain beckanime.com, indicating that the anime distributor has at least taken in interest in the anime adaptation of shonen rock manga Beck.
Early April Geneon Releases
Anime
April 5
Soundtracks
4/5
Ultramaniac
Ayu Tetsushi is in her second year of junior high school and is known as the cool popular tennis club girl that all the other girls idolize. To tell the truth, Ayu only acts cool in order to impress Tetsushi Kaji of the school baseball club. Then, one day, Ayu meets Nina Sakura, a transfer student who had found Ayu's missing purse. Nina's strange personality had left Ayu a little perplexed. Furthermore, Ayu finds out that Nina is a witch that came from the kingdom of magic to study abroad. This is a story of one girl's hope of love and another girl's study of magic and their friendship to overcome the challenges set before them. Get ready for the ultra-cool, ultra-funny, ultra-romantic Ultramaniac! Based on the original manga by Wataru Yoshizumi (Marmalade Boy)
Azumanga Daioh Original Soundtrack CD
Move up to the head of the class, pass the 10-year-old genius students and hand-biting kittens with Azumanga Daioh Original Soundtrack Vol. 1,' offering 36 tracks of endearing music box-like instrumentals from composer Masaki Kurihara. More enjoyable than taking the SAT, this CD includes the TV size versions of the opening vocal song, "Soramimi no Cake" and the closing theme, 'Raspberry Heaven' by the group, Oranges & Lemons (Fushigi Yugi Eikoden, .hack//Legend of the Twilight).
Bastard!! Best of Bastard!! OST CD
By anime composers, Kohei Tanaka (One Piece, Gad Guard, Gate Keepers, Sakura Wars TV, OVA and Movie, Gunbuster). This 30-track CD compiles all the essential music from the popular swords-and sorcerers adventure, including the song "Ancient Lullaby," as well as both the original Japanese and English language versions of the rockin' ending theme song, "Monochrome Trouble.
Daphne in the Brilliant Blue Original Soundtrack CD
Following the ethereal, soaring musical brilliance of 'Haibane Renmei,' composer Kou Otani rightfully steals the spotlight again with another marvelous, atmospheric soundtrack that takes listeners across ocean-surrounded cities, to the futuristic, all-purpose, crime-fighting agencies found in 'Daphne in the Brilliant Blue Original Soundtrack.' Flowing with 26 crisp and rich instrumentals, this CD also includes the TV size versions of the opening theme, 'Blue Wing of Tomorrow' and the ending song 'The time when I called your name.'
Descendants of Darkness Original Soundtrack CD
Features 28 tracks of sublime, exquisite music composed by Tsuneyoshi Saito (Tenchi Movie 2, Tenchi Forever) as well as the TV size versions of the poetic opening song, 'Eden' and the show's ending theme, 'Love Me.'
Paranoia Agent Original Soundtrack 1 CD
From the opening vocal song, "Dream Island Obsessional Park" to the eerie ending, "White Hill - Maromi's Theme," nothing on this 19-track CD is ordinary music. Music from the critically acclaimed TV thriller available on DVD from Geneon Entertainment Composed by Susumu Hirasawa (Berzerk, Millenium Actress, Detonator Orgun)
Shingu: Secret Of The Stellar Wars Release
Right Stuf will be releasing Shingu: Secret Of The Stellar Wars Dvd 1: Altered Perceptions on March 29th. Created by acclaimed director Tatsuo Sato (NADESICO / STELLVIA / AZUMANGA DAIOH), with planning by Masao Maruyama (GUNGRAVE / CARDCAPTOR SAKURA MOVIES / CHOBITS), production by Masao Morosawa (GUNGRAVE / JUBEI-CHAN / NINJA SCROLL TV) and character designs by Yuuji Ikeda (SAIYUKI / GUNGRAVE / X TV)
In the year 2070, life is rather quiet for Hajime Murata, a curious second-year student at Misumaru Middle School. Classes by day, fights with his little sister by night; nothing too exciting ever happens. Even when a strange alien ship appears over Tokyo, no one's really that shocked. After all, the government has been covering up aliens for years, right?
Then, a mysterious new transfer student arrives at Misumaru, wearing an ancient school uniform. Gentle and polite, everyone considers Muryou Subaru to be a pretty nice guy - everyone, that is, except for student council vice president Kyoichi Moriguchi. When Kyoichi challenges Muryou to a fight on the school roof, Hajime rushes over just in time to see the simple schoolyard brawl turn into a startling display of psychic powers!
With all these strange events unraveling around him, Hajime is determined to figure out the truth about the world he thought he already knew. This is his story; a tale of aliens and humans, starships and spies, and friends who are often more than they appear. Contains episodes 1-5.
Digital Manga Expands Diamond Coverage
ICV2 reports that Digital Manga has expanded its relationship with Diamond Book Distributors. In May, it announced a deal for DBD to handle book channel distribution of ten books, including four yaoi titles. This week, DBD announced that the relationship had been expanded to distribute more manga books (including more yaoi titles), a new line of non-fiction edu-manga, and the Let's Draw Manga series.
Shaman King TCG Exclusive to Blockbuster for Opening Weeks
ICV2 reports Upper Deck will ship its Shaman King TCG at the end of January. The company is giving Blockbuster Video exclusive rights to sell the game from January 28th to February 15th, after which all other channels will ship. Upper Deck had originally announced that it would ship the hobby first and specialty retail later.
