Father Geek here with Scott's latest on the wide worlds of Manga & Anime...
AnimAICN...
by Scott Green
Manga Spotlight: Ghost in the Shell: Man - Machine Interface By Shirow Masamune
Released by Dark Horse Manga
Man-Machine Interface is Shirow Masamune in his full glory. For the most part, in full, color, with a digital color system that he's dazzlingly mastered. Techie design, and slickly coated, beautiful women from the geek virtuoso who was responsible for what was probably the first real hit manga in English. It is what fans of his original Ghost in the Shell, particularly those disappointed with or ambivalent towards Oshii's anime adaptation, have been waiting for. It is also a billboard of the more questionable aspects of Shirow's work.
As Shirow Masamume's style has ossified, he's become a polarizing figure. From his work, his head seems to brimming with ideas, in descending order: contorted female figures, detailed technical design, and technology theory of religious magnitude. All of which is a sizable asset and detriment. Blowing out these traits, he's almost become pin-up artist (some of his between manga work) who's overly pleased by his own intelligence, with a compulsion to show himself as the smartest pervert in the room. All of which is exacerbate by the honoring the reader with his presence mystique of his pseudonym, and absence from manga work.
Lack of ambition is not one of Shirow's faults. Man-Machine Interface goes about a different kind of story in a non-traditional way. He carries through with what he set up in the first Ghost in the Shell, with a character in a new branch of evolution. Rather than another brand of on the sci-fi street law enforcement, he gives control to a character with a bird's eye view of events, able to gather information in parallel physical happenings, and the able to grab a body and interact when necessary. He then goes a step beyond the emergent intelligence in technology and begins constructing emergent divinities.
Man-Machine Interface has less personality than the original, and less sci-fi extensions to the Tom Clancy operations, but more larger implications and ambitions. Not everything is completely original, in some ways it echoes Gibson's Neuromancer follow-up Counter Zero. Still, a number of the ideas are of the caliber that gets one accused of being a genius, and yet, for better or worse, he goes about them in very Shirow fashion.
Shirow has plenty of fans of his design style, and they will love this collection. The labor in every panel is evident. The slick complexity is still in full force. He's worked with color before in his cover, pinup and art book work, but it has really paid off in Man-Machine Interface. He's figured out how to apply it to create the look of form and texture that heightens his design. The vibrancy here, particular in the cyberspace scenes are amazing.
The chief problem with his design is that he mixes sex into everything. When you count on one hand the number of non-sexual suggestive females, human, artificial, or something in-between, it is distracting, especially if you aren't a dedicated fan. Some times there is story logic, or he explains why the woman's attire leaves nothing to the imagination in foot notes, but men have logically designed outfits but when always have something showing their complete form, generally something skin tight, a nano-skirt if lucky, there are problems.
These seem to be two conflict values at work in Shirow's mind that unfortunately, don't appear to be warring. He wants to get things down right, and insist of how real his strategy is, crowding pages with foot notes on the role of a capable trailing from a machine, or pointing out though he illustrated it, a visible laser line would require dust or smoke. A different, probably more dominant part of his brain is thinking "cheesecake". He loves women with that fully extend straight legged, up past the should high kick, and he's going to put in no matter how much it doesn't belong in a notion of serious combat.
There is content that was in and out, and ultimately out of the planned released that took sexual material to the next level. The original Ghost in the Shell lost a harmless lesbian romp that added something to the characters, but Shirow may have actually shown some restraint by truncating a gratuitous rape from an assault.
The design and depictions are beyond stylized or idealized. It's one thing to put Barbie doll women who frequently put their knees to their ears into a flashy exploitation work, but they don't belong in a mentally challenging exploration of where technology can go. Intelligence and sexuality aren't mutually exclusive, but Shirow shows no restraint or logic in their mix.
Anime Spotlight: Requiem from the Darkness Volumes 2 and 3
Released by Geneon
Requiem For Darkness takes the step of digital animation as a launching point for new way of thinking in stylizing animation. It utilizes the characteristics to put together animation in a minor, full of twisted shapes, and harsh, solid, but unnatural colors. The linked anthology is based on an award winning prose collection, but the dream logic in the look of Requiem sets it apart as horror animation at its most hypnotic.
Momosuke, an Edo era scholar with family background in both the merchant and samurai classes leaves his job as a riddle writer to travel, collecting tales of the supernatural for a book of "100 Stories". His experiences with the spirit world begin small balling when he meets a trio of travelers, a beautiful woman named Ogin, a squat, leering priest named Mataichi, and a hulking vender named Nagamimi. Momosuke, who, acting on an unknown agent, are frequently present and involved in situations were guilt and the supernatural world bleeds into the mundane. Momosuke begins following them, gathering their stories and participating in their karmic hastenings.
The stories have remained largely self contained, resolutions to the lives of people damned by past crimes, but it has almost built a progression in the relationship between its wanderers. Momosuke hasn't become a lost, damned soul himself, but instead, an expert and investigator. His innocence has slightly faded, but he's able to use his knowledge and intellect rather than being a stunned or simply observing outsider.
Manga Spotlight: Vagabond
Volume 18
B Takehiko Inoue
Released by Viz
Volume 18 of Vagabond spits into the wind of bad fiction constructs and deftly dodges the blow back. Names, it endangers the natural rhyme of its narrative with something that flirts with one of the small-world coincidences that are too tempting when dealing with the life stories of legend. Fortunately, in this case, a premature meeting of future rivals works as an interesting, non-contrived, character moment.
Several volumes back, the series diverted from the fictionalized biography of the great sword fighter Miyamoto Musashi to tell the life of his rival Sasaki Kojiro, for whom Inoue has constructed a unique back story where, other than a sword school of which he supposedly had obtained a high degree, no substantial pre-rivalry details had previously existing. Behind the handsome, cocky legend, Inoue's Kojiro grew up deaf orphan, raised by disgraced former swordmaster whose was previously dwelling in a hermitage of his own fogged self evaluation.
Volume 18 takes Sasaki Kojiro to the Battle of Sekigahara, a pivotal point in the institution of Japan's shogunate, and an early, failed attempt by the man who would take the name Miyamoto Musashi to prove himself. Inoue inserts Kojiro for a brief but dramatic meeting with Musashi during the battle's closing rout.
The meeting works, because Inoue uses it to make a point without dwelling on the coincidence as a story point. The events aren't Inoue's Kojiro story riding on the familiarly of the Musashi legend, or Inoue boosting his addition to the legend. It's the two characters in the unrefined incarnations of their genius. Shinmen Takezo, later to be Miyamoto Musashi is a mud and blood spattered animal, cracking skulls with anything available implement, heedlessly, literally leaping in battle. Kojiro is detached, almost a spirit that only manifest itself to strike. Seeing an early version of the two aggressively competitive individuals together, not viewing each other as stepping stones in their respective ascensions adds a dimension to their relationship.
As always, Inoue puts together perspectives, action, and amazing illustrations for astounding effect. He can balance extraordinary people with human emotions and expressions, shattering events with detailed natural beauty. Musashi in his pre-Musashi days and Kojiro in battle are among most impressive sights in non-fanciful samurai manga,
Anime Spotlight: Captain Herlock Volumes 3 & 4
The latest Captain Herlock series is genius match-up of iconic character ideas: Herlock vs Cthulhu; the indomitable resolution of the fearless pirate of space operas against a primordial force of fear and madness(no really Chulhu, but one of the better implementations of a Lovecraftian ideal lurching threat, waiting outside time with unfathomable malice).
Set in the twilight of the Leiji-verse (from the creator Leiji Matsumoto: works with shared characters and history, if not a rigid continuity), the most of the heroes are dead like the genius Tochiro, or missing like Pirate Queen Esmeraldas. There are no towering threats of plagues or invasion, but a slowing down and spreading out of humanity. The empire's control is receding and while population is expanding into frontiers areas. While the legendary Herlock has vanished, his crew has either gone or ground or been rounded up and imprisoned. At the same time, the Fata Morgana, a ship sent to the reaches of space has returned, infected by the Noo, an evil from the begins of time.
Obligated towards his former crew, and by oath, to Earth, Herlock returns to action, and along the way picks up resolute, but reckless young man who chases the Noo following the death of his father.
The series is a return to classic, pure templates, rather than water downed, reiterated champion of light against resurrected evil. There's nothing generic here.
It's an interesting study is a character who resolution towards freedom knows no bounds, but how is merliclessly driven by his principles and code of ethics. There shouldn't be a conflicted Herlock, and this isn't one, but it is a Herlock whose Camelot days have passed, and who The finale presents some excellent twists to resolve battle with the Noo, and matter of Herlock's successor, the latter case masterfully manipulating expectations, and taking a unforgiving look at Herlock's brand of morality and oaths, which doesn't go easy on the character.
From Osamu Tezuka to CLAMP, director Taro Rin has established himself as a great adapter of characters and style, always hitting the impact points of large spectacle and emotional resonance. He put Matsumoto's Herlock into a tense, Homeric epic. It doesn't race along, but instead, the elements muster themselves into place with creeping madness against a man who stare down armies knowing his presence and side arm can change battle, who outfits his ship with a giant knife blade for ramming attacks.
Manga Spotlight: Ray: Volume 1 By Akihito Yoshitomi
In the flood of mediocre manga titles, or, throwing asside quality the ones that would interesting a given reader, currently making their way onto the market, the danger of missing out on the good ones in the blizards of unremarkable titles. Several manga publishers seem to have recently picked up on this and cancelled a large blocks of releases.
Ray is one of the worthy of notice titles in the indistinguishable masses. It updates the premise of Osuma Tezuka's outlaw doctor Black Jack, even putting the classic hero into Ray's origin story. An unlicensed, doctor for hire, the young woman known as Ray grew up in body farm which eventually sold her eyes for transplantation.
Ray's stories take Black Jack style medicine morality plays into an updated, urban crime world. Not unlike many horror anthologies, but with guns and scalpels rather than supernatural beings. Akihito Yoshitomi (whose other major works was Eat-man, a bizarre action series about a man who can consume any construct, then reproduce it out of his hand) is no Osamu Tezuka, but Ray has quickly constructed an intriguing mythology, and it is both punch and novel enough to create interest in further entries.
Miyazaki Puts off Retirement
Nausicaa.net reports that in an Studio Ghibli producer Toshio Suzuki, conducted by Mark Schilling, beloved director Hayao Miyazaki (Spirited Away, Kiki's Delivery Service) has once again put off his retirement.
Miyazaki is already busy with his next project, which is penciled in for a 2007 or 2008 release. 'He's good for another ten years at least,' insists Suzuki. 'He has no plans to retire.'
Ghibli is working on two thirty minute animated projects for a double bill that may be helmed by someone other than Miyazaki.
Suzuki does not intend to change Ghibli's release pattern of a new Miyazaki every 3 years.
CMX TenTen Edited
Beto "The Shape" Machado sends in a list of edits that DC's Comic's CMX manga release of popular manga release Tenjho Tenge from ListerX
- Cover - Tenjho Tenge title placed over Aya to obscure panty-shot
- Page 19/ Panel 2 - Smash used instead of kill
- Page 32-33/ Panel 4 - Zoom-in on Aya's upper body, bra added to cover exposed breasts
- Page 34/ Panel 1 - Zoom-in on Nagi to delete image of Aya's breasts
- Page 34 Panel 4 - Bra added
- Page 35/ Panel 3 - "Other trouble-maker" used instead of foreigner
- Page 36-37/ Panel 2 - Bra added
- Page 38/ Panel 3 - Bra and panties added
- Page 41 - Fight(Chapter) number moved to cover Nagi's middle finger
- Page 50/ Panel 4 - Large "LEAP" effect used to cover Aya's panty-shot
- Page 85/ Panel 2 - Bra added
- Page 85/ Panel 4 - Zoom-in on Chiaki's upper body, bra and extra shirt folds added
- Page 86-87 - Panties and extra shirt added to Chiaki
- Page 88/ Panel 1 - Zoom-in on Bob and Chiaki's faces to delete breasts
- Page88/ Panel 2 - Bra and panties added
- Page 93/ Panel 4 - Sexual reference played down
- Page 115/ Panel 1 - Extra shadows added to obscure Chiaki's Breast
- Page 115/ Panel 2 - Extra shirt added
- Page 115/ Panel 3 - Extra shirt added
- Page 115/ Panel 4 - Zoom-in on panties to delete butt cleavage
- Page 116/ Panel 1 - Zoom-in on Chiaki and Ryuzaki's faces to delete breasts and pubic area
- Page 117/ Panel 1 - Zoom-in to delete part of breast
- Page 117/ Panel 2 - Laundry added to cover breasts
- Page 117/ Panel 3 - Zoom-in and shadows added to obscure silhouettes
- Page 122 - Zoom-in to delete Chiaki's unclothed lower half, bra added
- Page 136-137/ Panel 4 - Bra added
- Page 149/ Panel 1 - Nagi's apology to Bob omitted
- Page 159/ Panel 1 - Zoom-in on movie screen to delete sexual content
- Page 166/ Panel 4 - Chiaki's sexual comments omitted
- Page 167/ Panel 3 - Chiaki's sexual comments omitted
- Page 172-173 - 4-koma omake omitted
- Page 174 - Omake image omitted
Fans have begun taking exception to the changes in light of CMX's mission statement of "And it's pure manga — 100% the way the original Japanese creators want you to see it. In English!"
CMX Manga has stated that they have worked closely with the author and original publisher to prepare this American edition according to Oh! Great's (the creator's pseudonym) wishes. The author approved limited revisions in order to make his work more accessible to a wider American audience.
Oh! Great, an occasional hentai (pornographic material), included frequent nudity, and mature situations in Tenjho Tenge, and though it is a spirited fighting adventure, the series does include rape and torture.
FUNimation Register Negima
Anime on DVD reports that FUNimation has registered the domain Negima.tv, suggesting that the company may have licensed the anime incarnation of Love Hina creator Ken Akumatsu's Negima, a relationship comedy about a young British wizard who takes a job as teacher in Japan.
News Manga Listings
Anime on DVD reports that Amazon.com lists that TOKYOPOP will be releasing the manha versions of Blame!, Rizelmine and novel Duan Surk in August, and Viz will be releasing Wataru Yoshizumi's (Marmalade Boy) Ultra Maniac and Tokyo Boys & Girls for release from Viz in July.
Blame! is Tsutomu Nihei's (Wolverine: Snikt!) intense odsessy through a bio-mechanical labyrinth. The Blame web animation is being released domestically by Media Blaster's Anime Works line.
Zeta Gundam Movie Releases
Anime News Service reports the second movie in Sunrise's theatrical return to Gundam Zeta will appear in Japanese threatres in August 2005, and the third movie will be in Spring 2006.
Another ADV HD Release Canceled?
Anime News Network reports that ADV's March 8th release of Full Metal Panic High-Definition DVD has been pulled form their online schedule.
Oshii's Next Project
Anime News Service reports that Mamoru Oshii (the Ghost in the Shell films) will be directing a "paper cardboard cutout stick puppets" animated adapation of this novel. Tachiguishi Retsuden .
Game News
Bandai America has launched Bandai Games Inc, which may bring more Japanese released anime game adaptations in North America.
The official site for the game based on rock anime/manga Beck is online at here
From The Magic Box
Screen shots of Bandai / Namco's PS2 Gundam action game Mobile Suit Gundam 0079: One Year War, the first title in the Project Pegasus series can be seen here
Bandai's Saint Seiya: Chapter Sanctuary can be seen here
Naruto: Saikyo Ninja Daikesshu 3 for the Nintendo DS can be seen here
A new One Piece game called Dragon Dream will be released in Japan on April 28th.
ADV to Release Gatchaman
ADV will be releasing the first volume in a new collection of Gatchaman, the classic series that spawned the hit television classics Battle of the Planets and G-Force, on June 14th. The collection will feature new original art by comic book painter Alex Ross.
The original Japanese series Gatchaman inspired the creation and development of the hit animated American television series Battle of the Planets in the late 1970s and G-Force in the late 1980s. Gatchaman helped to launch the popularity of anime in both Japan and across the world and has served as the inspiration for countless anime in the years since.
Created by the award-winning Japanese animation house Tatsunoko Productions (Speed Racer, Robotech), the original Gatchaman series has never been aired or released on home video in North America in its original uncut form. ADV's brand new seven volume collector's series will contain all 105 episodes of the original uncut Japanese series with a brand new English dub, including 20 episodes never before seen in the U.S., along with newly released features and extras that any true fan of Gatchaman, Battle of the Planets, and G-Force cannot do without!
In the 21st century, the evil organization Galactor has its sights set on global conquest. Their use of tyrannical terrorism and high-tech mayhem has the world in the clutches of fear! The only thing standing in the way of complete global dominance is the International Science Organization (ISO) and its chief scientist, Professor Kozaburou Nambu. Dr. Nambu's primary weapon in the fight for freedom is his top secret experiment: the five kids who make up the Science Ninja Team. Bird, go!
Gatchaman: Collector's Box Vol. 1 ($44.98 SRP) is a three disc DVD-only release containing the first two volumes (The Legend Begins, Meteors and Monsters) with ten complete episodes presented in English 2.0 and Japanese 2.0 with English subtitles along with a bonus DVD jam-packed with extra features and special behind the scenes looks at the series. Volume one and two extras include: clean opening and closing animation, episode commentary, Gatchaman Karaoke, and ADV previews. The bonus extras DVD includes: Ken, the Eagle profile, character sketches: Ken, episode sketches, interviews with the English staff and cast, and audition footage.
Each volume of five episodes is also available separately at an SRP of $14.98.
Anime Convention Guests
Anime Expo has announced that the convention will host adult PC game character designer Kazue Yamamoto, Hiroshi Osaka, character design for Wolf's Rain and Cowboy Bebop, and vocalist/voice actress Maaya Sakatamoto.
Lupin III creator Monkey Punch will be appearing at Metrocon 3 in Tampa Bay, Florida.
The Pillows, best known for providing the songs for the sound track to FLCL, will be appearing at the Anime Central. Anime News Network reports that the Pillows will also be touring with the Japan Girls Nite US Tour 2005. They will be performing March 17th & 18th in Austin Texas, March 21st in New York City and March 27th in San Francisco.
Bonnie Pink, who anime fans will be familiar with through the Ruruoinui Kenshin ending "It's Gonna Rain", will be perfomring at Austin Texas's SXSW music festival.
Tokyo's Yuricon (dedicated to yuri, lesbian, anime and manga) will host novelist and essayist Mori Natsuko, scholar and lecturer Mizoguchi Akiko and yuri manga artists Tadeno Eriko and Rica Takashima.
New Fist of the North Star Anime
Little Harlock Newslog and Anime News Network report three movies and two direct to video OAVs of Hokuto no Ken - Shin Kyûseishu Densetsu (Fist of the North Star - New Savior Legend are in production from WayNorth Star Pictures .
One movie will be released each spring from 2006 throuogh 2008. The first movie, Hokuto no Ken - Raoh Gaiden Junai-hen, will be theatrically released nationwide by Toho in the spring of 2006. In fall 2006, the first OAV, Hokuto no Ken - Raoh Gaiden Gekitô-hen, will be released.
The second movie, Hokuto no Ken - Urea Densetsu, will be released theatrically in the spring of 2007. The second OAV, Hokuto no Ken - Toki Densetsu, will be released in fall 2007.
And the final movie, Hokuto no Ken - Kenshirô Densetsu, will be released in the spring of 2008.
Tsukasa Hojo will work on character designs for the new characters, while Hiroshi Abe will voice the lead role.
Fafner Licensed by Geneon?
Anime on DVD reports that Geneon has registered, as of 02/21/2005, the site www.fafnerdvd.com, suggesting that they may have licensed sc-fi giant robot anime Soukyuu no Fafner: Dead Aggressor.
Upcoming Geneon Premieres
Geneon will be releasing the first volumes of Jubei Chan 2: The Counterattack of Siberia Yagyu, and the first volume of Mermaid Forest on July 5th.
Mermaid Forest is Rumiko Takahashi's (Inu-Yasha, Ranma 1/2) horror series about the ecology of immortality granting mermaid flesh.
Jubei Chan 2 is the action comedy follow-up to Akitaroh Daichi (Kodocha, Now and Then, Here and There) about a girl who descended from legendary swordsman Jubei Jagyu who inherits a magic eye patch that transforms her into a swordswoman.
Anime on TV
ImaginAsianTV will be airing Gravitation and World of Narue starting March 28th.
Canadian TV will be airing .hack//SIGN starting April 1st.
Upcoming DR Master Manga
DR Master, who will be taking over ComicsOne's manga releases will releasing new series 888, Category Freak, and Tori Koro all due in May, Tsukihime due in June, and Stellvia, Hinado Girl, Mani Girls past June.
Doraemon Renewal
Anime News Network reports that TV Asahi announced on February 21st that it will soon release details about the new voice actor for Doraemon. Nobuyo Oyama, the voice of Doraemon since 1979, will bow out with the March 18th 1-hour Doraemon special, with the new voice actor starting on the next episode.
Upcoming ADV Releases
March 15
- Cromartie High School: Cromartian Rhapsody Volume: 1 Of 4
- Neon Genesis Evangelion Platinum: 06 (of 7)
- Petite Princess Yucie: Love & Light (volume 3 of 6)
- The Five Star Stories
- Wandaba Style: Warp Speed (volume 2 of 3)
March 22
- Wedding Peach: Dx (volume 10 of 10)
March 29th
- Peacemaker: A Path To Destruction (volume 4 of 7)
- Sorcerer Hunters, Essential Anime Collection: Volume 3 (of 3)
Wandaba Style is manic comedy about a manufacture group of idol singers who get signed on for a moon launch.
Petite Princess is Gainax's (Evangelion, FLCL) cute fantasy romance.
Cromartie High School Produced by Production I.G. (Blue Seed, Ghost in the Shell) and TV Tokyo (Final Fantasy: Unlimited) and based on the wildly popular manga by Eiji Nonaka, Cromartie High School ventures forth into the deranged and wacked-out world of the infamous school for delinquents. Packed to the brim with crazy humor, pithy puns, political satire, and characters you'll love to despise, Cromatrie High School will leave your brain fried and your funny bone sore.
Poor Kamiyama! Somehow he has been enrolled in Cromartie High School, the infamous school for delinquents. When your classmates are the meanest, toughest (and often dumbest) students around, you do what you can to fit in. But when you add a 400-pound gorilla, a robot with an attitude, and a macho brute that bears a striking resemblance to a world famous celebrity, it makes blending much more difficult. So put on your best tough-guy swagger and get a lesson in insanity from the hilarious losers of Cromartie High.
The Five Star Stories Based on the long-running manga by Mamoru Nagano (mecha and character design work in Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam and Brain Powered), Five Star Stories chronicles the endless war for dominance of the four solar systems that make up the Joker System. This epic sci-fi / fantasy OVA is perfect for fans of Robotech and RahXephon.
Across the galaxy's four solar systems, countless kingdoms vie for ascendancy with mortar headds, war machines of godlike capacities. Only select pilots known as headdliners can exercise control over these titans, and then only with the aid of the Fatima, beautiful female androids created to serve their masters without question. But in the secretive confines of his lab, the skilled craftsman Duke Ballanche works to subvert the oppressive system under which Fatima are pressed into service. His latest creations possess two volatile new features: emotion and free will. The fate that lies before them will change the course of history forever.
Anime on UK Top 100 Poll
Anime News Network reports the UK's Channel 4 post the results of a top 100 cartoon of all time survey, Anime titles included 72. Legend of the Overfiend, 62. Battle of the Planets, 45. Pokemon, 37. Transformers, 21. Princess Mononoke, 16. Akira, and 8. Spirited Away.
Yu-Gi-Oh Season 3 DVD Release
4Kids Video will be releasing Yu-Gi-Oh! Vol. 3.1: Back To Battle City on March 8, 2005
In addition, on April 5, 2005, 4Kids Home Video will release a limited edition YU-GI-OH! Enter the Shadow Realm Collector's Starter Box. Found exclusively at Target stores nationwide, the starter box includes Volume 3.1 and a bonus YU-GI-OH! yo-yo.
The 80 minute volumes features the first episode of the third broadcast season with episodes:
Episode 222 Back to Battle City – Part I
Episode 223 Back to Battle City – Part II
Episode 224 Back to Battle City – Part III
Episode 225 The Darkness Returns – Part I
Upcoming Del Rey Manga Releases
From Anime on DVD and Right Stuf
8/30
- Basilisk Vol. #02
- Love Roma Vol. #01
- Gundam SEED Vol. #05
9/27
- A Perfect Day for Love Letters (aka: Koifumi-biyori) Vol. #02
- Mahou Sensei Negima! Vol. #07
- XXXHolic Vol. #06
- Wallflower Vol. #05
- Othello Vol. #05
10/25
- Genshiken Vol. #03
- Nodame Cantabile Vol. #03
- Tsubasa Vol. #07
11/29
- Basilisk Vol. #03
- Gundam SEED Vol. #06
Upcoming Dr Master Manga Releases
From Anime on DVD and Right Stuf
3/31
- Infinite Ryvius Vol. #02
4/11
- Iron Wok Jan Vol. #13
5/13
- Pretty Maniacs (aka: Pretty Maniizu) Vol. #01
6/10
- Dark Edge Vol. #03
- High School Girls Vol. #04
- Iron Wok Jan Vol. #13
- RahXephon (novel) Vol. #01
- Tsukihime: Lunar Legend Vol. #01
7/11
- Hinado Girl (aka: Hinadori Girl) Vol. #01
8/12
- Dark Edge Vol. #04
- High School Girls Vol. #03
- Iron Wok Jan Vol. #14
- Pretty Maniacs (aka: Pretty Maniizu) Vol. #02
9/9
- Hinado Girl (aka: Hinadori Girl) Vol. #02
- RahXephon (novel) Vol. #02
- Tsukihime: Lunar Legend Vol. #02
Lain Box Set Discontinued
Geneon will be discontinuing the Lain Abe Box set on May 31st.
Upcoming Anime in Japan
Glass Mask is being adapted into a new series, to air on Japanese TV starting in April.
A second Naruto movie will run in Japanese theatres starting August 6th.
Shoji Kawamori and Yoko Kanno, whose work together has included Macross Plus, Escaflowne and Arjuna, will be cooperating on Sousei no Aquarion. A trailer can be seen here.
Junichi Sato's (Pretear, Princess Tutu, Sailor Moon) Fushigi Hoshi no Futago Hime
Studio Gonzo's Speed Grapher
A new trailer of Eureka 7 is online.
CLAMP's design remix tsubasa, the manga of which is released in English by Del Rey.
A trailer for Iriya no Sora, UFO no Natsu is online here
Production I.G. (FLCL) will be producting a new racing anime called Oval X Over.
The site for the anime adapation of football manga Eyeshield 21 can be seen here. The manga version of the series will be released domestically by Viz.
Studio Gonzo will be adapting popular sci-fi movel "Murdock Scramble" by To Ubukata.
ADV Re-Releases Pulled From Schedule
AnimeNation says that ADV has removed the following re-releases from their schedule:
March 1st
- Arc the Lad volume 1
- Samurai Showdown
March 5th
- Getter Robo DVD 1: Resurrection
March 8th
- Eden's Bowy volume 1
- Neo Ranga DVD 1
March 15th
- Steam Detectives volume 1
March 22nd
- Zone of Enders volume 1
- Burn Up Excess volume 2
March 29th
- Wild Arms volume 1
- Those Who Hunt Elves volume 2
- Generator Gawl volume 2
Broccoli Book Licenses Kamui
Broccoli Books has announced that they will be releasing the first volume of Kamui in summer 2005.
KAKamui is a fantasy-action shoujo manga series by Shingo Nanami and published by Square Enix in Japan. Kamui originally ran in Stencil magazine, the same magazine that ran Aquarian Age – Juvenile Orion. Kamui is currently running in Gan Gan Wing.
Spirits known as kamui are thrown into chaos when the sacred spirit Okikurumi is taken from Atsuma's village, and the imbalance threatens to destroy Earth. Infused with the spirit of an ancient sword, Atsuma must leave his village to reclaim Okikurumi.
He encounters NOA, an organization of youths who wield the power of the kamui, and who may hold the key to Okikurumi. Atsuma is recruited into NOA by Sumire, a young woman with an empty soul who yearns for a miracle. Atsuma and his new companions must work together to find Okikurumi before the world is destroyed.
Stand Alone Complex Tin
Anime on DVD reports that a limited edition Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex will be released with the final, seventh volume of the series' first season. The tin will hold the seven volumes of the season, and be packaged with a "Laughing Man" t-shirt.
English Overman King Gainer Site
Bandai has launched a site for Overman King Gainer here
HK Live Action Initial D Site Launched
Anime NEws Service reports the site for the live action adapation of street racing anime/manga Initial D is online at www.initialdthemovie.com Directors Andrew Lau and Alan Mak who were responsible for the hugely successful Infernal Affairs trilogy are heading the project
