Manga Preview
Death Note volume 1
written by Tsugumi Ohba
Illustrated by Takeshi Obata
To be Released by Viz October 4, 2005
Death Note is the anti-Elfen Lied. While the anime hit grabbed an audience with gushers of blood and outburst of emotions, the manga Death Note with captive you with unseen death and scheming puppet masters. With thinking characters, and a plot that treats its readers like thinking, engaged people, it's hard to find a teen thriller smarter than Death Note. If there's one hang up to the interplay of strategy and counter strategy its that the reader has to accept the conceit that in a world following the reality of our own, a genius could deduce and correctly identify something everyone would accept to be impossible is happening given remote clues. Aside from that, it's a step by chess match between characters whose genius, for the most part, isn't a function of plot cheats. It shares more with a heist movie or Mamet con story than a mystery, consistently impressing the reader with the innovations and planned turns, leaving them to ponder the implications.
Death Note starts with a walking, thinking device from which events are moved along. Illustrator Takeshi Obata (Hiraku no Go) puts a concrete real world look intto the series, but there is also an unmistakably unnatural element in the series, a Shinigami who follows the protagonist, looking like Gwar band member with leather, silver crosses, a black mane on his collar, clown lips that extent to his ears, andgoldfish eyes. Death Note's Shinigami (a number of manga fans don't like the frequent translation of Japan's mythical "Shinigami" to "Death Gods", well here, there're called "Shinigami") live a shiftless existence, sitting around in their dimension, maybe gambling if it strikes them, bored of trying to change human affairs. They are able to extend their lives indefinitely by taking human lives and adding the remainder of what would have been the human's life span to their own, but some have begun allowing themselves to die of apathy. One particular Shinigami, Ryuk is bored of his people's realm, so he "accidentally" drops his Death Note in the human world (he actually, against the rules, has two, but the significance of a second isn't explored in this volume)
The notebook is found by Light Yagami, a disaffected 17 year old genius, who ranks second in Japan's national pre-college testing. When he opens the book, rules appear written in its opening pages. If the possessor pictures a person and writes their name in the book, the person will die. If the cause of death is written within 40 seconds, it will happen. If no cause of death is specified, the person will die of a heart attack. After writing the cause of death, details can be written within the next 6 minutes and 40 seconds... Not you're typical power fantasy.
Ryuk soon appears in front of Light, revealing that any human who touches a Death Note may see Shinigami. The two begin testing each other. Ryuk informs light that if he uses the book, the consequence is that when the user dies, the former owner Shinigami will collect the soul of the user, and like other Shinigami reaped souls, it will neither go to heaven or hell.
After testing the book on a man holding a nursery school hostage, Light begins having grand ideas about changing the world using the book. His killing of criminals comes to the attention of media, who dubs him "Killer" or more often "Kira", and the attention of Interpol, whose mysterious ace analyst "L" (a wild haired young man who sits on the floor a room, completely empty except for a Mac tower, flat monitor, mouse, keyboard, speakers and microphone) takes up the case.
This kicks of a multi-front mind game, marked by intelligent people acting like intelligent people. The whether its Light's ability to kill or L's connections, these are powerful individuals at work, but the game is kept interesting in its restrictions. Light's requirement to know the true name and face of his target keeps him hunting, while though L can pick up on these factors, he must a find a pattern to narrow down the responsible party.
Not only are Light/Kira and L trying to draw each other out and ascertain each other's identities, but Light and Ryuk aren't of one mind either in their own relationship that while civil and not antagonistic, is built on without any direct interest in the well being of the other. Ryuk is looking for entertainment, which for the time being means following Light. He's no dummy, and has mastered dripping information, revealing extras clauses in the use of the Death Notes, and withholding information until it amuses him to revel the details. When Light is troubled by L's pursuit, Ryuk tempts Light with the information that a Death Note possessor may exchange half their remaining light span for a Shinigami's ability to see a human's name, and life span from a glance
Manga preview: Naoki Urasawa's Monster
To be Released by Viz October 4, 2005
If New Line goes through with their live action adaptation of the manga series Monster, there's a very good chance you're going to want to be able to claim that you read it years before the film opened. They've got their hands on material for an Oscar winner, or at least material for another Memento or Usual Suspects thanks to a plot that is a smarter Fugitive, solid character work, and a real depth of moral discourse, scrutinizing what most people would think of The Right Thing to Do.
The thought inspiring thriller works in the Hitchcock tradition of Vertigo, North By North West or Rear Window, mixing memorable personalities, places and conundrums. In this case a doctor before and after the unification of Germany who may have saved the wrong life.
As opposed to moving along a constellation of plot points, the story of Monster is a function of decisions and their consequences. Upon finding that he's worked himself into an ethical quagmire, a brilliant young doctor rights his course by saving the life of a child rather than political valuable mayor, thoroughly derailing the prestige track of his career. Nine years later, a series of deaths return what was taken way, but it begins to look like his act of mercy unleashed a monster on the world.
All this happens over the course of a magnificent first volume, and if it were an open ended short work, it would still require a recommendation. Here's manga that isn't disposable entertainment, that you can have an intelligent conversation about without spiraling into genre-isms, that you can force on any intelligent reader regardless of medium tastes have them return captivated
As a writer and as an illustrator, Naoki Urasawa distinguishes himself in the arena of manga. He's one of the great manga creators criminally under exposed in English. That Naoki Urasawa considered Monster a markedly earlier stage in his evolution than 20th Century Boys (leading to a delay in the English release of the later work) has to build expectations of the later work to staggering proportions.
The look of Urasawa's illustration is not the typical manga aesthetic. While his characters are abstracted, they more human than cute or pretty. He doesn't accentuate irregularities like Taiyo Matsumoto. There's just enough focus on imperfections and oddities that is characters aren't overtly ugly as a rule, but they never look like perfect forms. Every shots of a character highlights and builds on their personality.
Comic Preview: I Luv Halloween
Illustrated by Benjamin Roman
Story by Keith Giffen
To be Released by TOKYOPOP October 31, 2005
Based on first 150 pages of 192 pages of volume 1
I Luv Halloween is one of the deliciously wrong works waiting in the wings for the upcoming season. Little more needs to be said about I Luv Halloween than that it breaks the ultimate modern American taboo, it depicts a kid with a gun. Either Keith Giffen and Benjamin Roman are very disturbed individuals or they been have saving up some really nasty ideas for decades, demonically waiting to put them into comics. Their trick-or-treating expedition has all the morality of Dusk Til Dawn, along with massive head wounds, ball stomping, breast exposure induced head explosions.
With their parents rotting dead in the dinning room, young Moochie, dressed like a tooth fairy, complete with extracted teeth and her skull mask wearing brother leave for trick or treating. On their way out the door, the brother points of that Moochie should stop ripping out their parent teeth, they might need them if they come back as zombies. The pair hooks up with a group of friends and between gathering sweets, begin lay down retribution on apple distributors, bullies and randy teenagers.
The keystone of I Luv Halloween is how far what's acceptable it is willing to go. The cartoon antics of a group of kids blithely maiming and traumatizing everyone in their path offers a frog baseball juvenile mentality that's mean enough and bloody enough to either offend or amuse any reader. The ratio of cute to gory is not quite Happy Tree Friends, more a Cartoon Network neighbor kids show meets Johnny the Homicidal Maniac
Though Keith Giffen is a favorite for some among the comic world, through his warm, humorous take on DC's Justice League or originals like Trencher, he's become a controversial figure in manga circles during his work at TOKYOPOP. His liberal localizations of Battle Vixens (Ikkitousen) and Battle Royale were called to task by some fans for radically altering and arguably detracting from some of the qualities of the original works.
Because of how key the visual elements are in I Luv Halloween, dividing credit/blame between the writer and illustrator is a challenge, but Giffen's dialog is a clear contributor to the tone of the comic. The paced banter of statement, question, misunderstanding loops has a propensity towards to gibberish, but it also makes a nice marching beat to mayhem.
Anime Spotlight: Kodocha
Volume 1
Released by FUNimation
Kodacha is a compelling human comedy and drama that happens to star 11 year olds. On one hand you have a character in constant motion, a little girl who talks faster than the protagonists of manic, outright comedies like Excel Saga, raps, and jumps around in pure ADHD buzz. No kids' going to resist her. On the other hand the her half smarts youth misconceptions abut the world will have adults rolling in laughter, while her problems seem all too familiar. Director Akitaro Daichi aces all age material like few recent creators outside Pixar have. There's some heart squeezing moments in the anime, but it's heard to watch a few through an opening and a few minutes without having you spirits lifted.
Now that everyone's anime eyes have become adjusted to digital animation, a series that's almost 10 years old like Kodocha tends to look dated, but Daichi is moving the series along to fast for the differences to sink in.
The long running (a little over 100 episodes) series opens with the classroom battles between the precocious child actress Sana and the manipulative trouble maker Hayama. Living a life of mild fame, with an eccentric, prestigious novelist mother and a handsome and zen young man acting as her manager, or "pimp" as she calls him, Sana isn't spoiled in a material sense, but she's very used to thinking of herself as on par with adults and in control of her environment.
From an audience perspective, she's too indomitable to be obnoxious. Matching such a cheerful characters with a very tangible, claustrophobic threat of school bullying quickly illustrates that the series is going to be more that a funny exercise in eccentricities. The emotional impact of the psychological boxing match starts hitting early.
Given the younger audience appeal of the series, a high quality English dub was required and delivered upon. Laura Bailey is amazing in the role of Sana. Not only does she keep up with Sana's non-stop mouth and make it look natural, but when the characters does her memorable raps or songs, Bailey pulls it off with hilarious results. It works because she invests in the character rather than just ripping through the performance. It's clear that she understands the drama and nature of the character rather than just seeing the role as a comedy obstacle course.
Colleen Clinkenbeard is similarly great in the role of Sana's mother, with the perfect dry humor dead pan for a woman who wears a formal kimono, and writes award winning works, but also a sports continuing rotating roster of over done hats that house her pet squirrel. When Mama drops in for a few words of wisdom and doom Clinkenbeard gets plenty of mileage out of a few words.
The problem voice is the series' forth wall smacking bat/rabbit mascot/director self insertion Babbit. It's a bit of an older, irritating. uninvolved know-it all voice. Not unlike the wise owl in the old Tootsie Pop advertisements, which is rather amusing if you think about it. If you don't the first reaction is that it's a bit too abrasive for a role that's supposed to be a mood lightening gag.
Anime Spotlight:
New Getter Robo
Volume 3: The Hell on Earth
Released by Geneon
Getter Robo has been suffering from diminishing returns, but it is still a raucous take on grim and gritty giant robots, with thugs, savages and terrorists as its heroes and a mad scientist running the show. The original vehicle combining giant robot grinds through more semi-mythical beasts and in this volume actually recombines into the robot's different iterations.
Thanks to the DVD-episodes divides the pre-samurai Heian all star team seemly get shuffled off the stage quickly. If the second half of the climax of that mini-arc hadn?t been the first episode of this disc, it probably wouldn't have left that impression. A great all out, everything on the line assault is weakened by the between volume gap, and more troublingly a bad villain. Famed mystic Abe Seimei should be a great adversary, given the distinctive look and history of the yin-yang practitioner. However, harping on how he's holding back waiting for the heroes present an entertaining challenge gets very old very fast.
The next story arc to be introduced runs into more problems with motivations. As the characters return to their own time, and then make disjoint leaps into a future where mechanically warped people fight over machine parts, the series takes more circuitous steps drawing out plot of the robot creator's agenda. It's hard to imagine that the reveal is going to be especially interesting. The explosive series is at its best when it?s anything but vague. Constant momentum rather than mystery is what it needs.
Anime Spotlight: Tenjho TengeVolumes 1 and 2
Released by Geneon
It's a shame that Toei botched their release of Air Master, because the real example of a teen fighting anime done well. Director Toshifumi Kawase (Beyblade to TenTen) is no Daisuke Nishio (Dragon Ball to Air Master), and while Tenjho Tenge is certainly sexier than the amusingly ugly Air Master, TenTen is more middle of the pack teen action, on par with Ikki Tousen.
Former hentai (pornographic material) creator "Oh! great" put together a real guy trap with concrete cracking action and mammoth chested manga babes that never looked so naughty or stylish. The series has had big trouble its adaptation. The localization of the manga was strategically shredded by DC Comic's CMX line to make the series young teen material.
The Tenjho Tenge anime is more disappointing than disastrous. It's a striking case of not figuring out how to adapted material from one medium to another. The pieces are carried over: the long haired, large chested Natsume sisters in their hot kimonos or school uniforms, the interesting adversaries such as the knife throwing chick with a unique method of hiding her blades (mind out of the gutter), action that's varied and dynamic in terms different settings, abilities, and configurations.
The trouble is that the anime staff didn't determine how to translate the qualities well. Simplification isn't kind to Oh! great's design, and with the reduction in detail leaves the characters recognizable, but looking plastic.
Oh! great's ebb and flow of set-up meeting and explosive confrontations didn't lend themselves well to pacing 25 minute episodes. Consequently, the down time doesn't build to the battles, instead spotlight the weaknesses in the characters' motivations. The battles themselves, despite the right visuals, don't have the cadence and momentum to be exciting.
While not as hot as it might have been in hands of better animators, for viewers bored of Dragon Ball, Tenjho Tenge is a good next step.
Animation Preview: Count Duckula
Based on Episodes 1 and 2
Count Duckula: The Complete First Season To be released by Capital Entertainment October 4, 2005.
In terms of style, animation and unfortunately, media preservation, Count Duckula looks its age, but it is still a welcome addition to the animation available on DVD. With its mix irreverent character humor vaudevillian banter, low budget charm and even 80's synth-pop theme music, the Danger Mouse spin-off has more to bank on than nostalgia for its Nickelodeon airing. Fans of British humor, either animated or not, should be certain to track the series down.
The shows anthropomorphic cast centers around Duckula, the latest descendant of an evil lineage, who through a resurrection mishap, ends up with a personality more in line with n dabbling, rich dilettante, with an unfashionable background. Accompanied by his proper, but sardonic and evil advocating butler Igor and massive, dull sling-armed maid-servant Nanny in a teleporting castle, he's mostly looking for a little fame and a good life.
The audience is somewhere between Carton Network's original shows that sneak in adult references, and outright mature oriented Adult Swim. With episode titles like "No Sax Please; We're Egyptian" its is clearly aiming over the heads of its younger viewers, though they still might enjoy funny animal-people acting a bit batty.
This isn't a remaster collection, or even a well mastered collection. The Thames logo in particular looks one step better preserved than movie theatre exit location reels. While watchable, the picture quality is not much better than VHS. There are plenty of artifacts in the image.
Comic Spotlight: War on Flesh
Story by Justin Boring and Greg Hildebrandt
Art by Tim Smith 3
Released by TOKYOPOP
If your zombie appetite hasn't been sated by the general prominence of walking corpses in popular media these days, be sure to make room for War on Flesh. This course will be a welcome addition to the offering, especially in that it excels both in separating people from their organs and tapping into Afro-Caribbean mysticism. It's not generic living dead material, tending more towards The Serpent and the Rainbow than Romero.
The significance to the origin of the zombies gives it an edge, but the chief attraction is watching very bad things happen to the human body and the series is not pretty in more ways than one. The volume offers enough nasty rituals to satisfy your genre cravings.
Some readers might be turned off by the comic's illustration. While inarguably effective, with story telling that can construct the layout a scene well and convey all the necessary ideas, it looks rougher than most commercial comics.
Manga Spotlight: Oh My Goddess!
Volume 21
By Kosuke Fujishima
Released by Dark Horse Manga
21 volumes in, the king of magic girlfriend manga shifts to the release format that has become associated with manga: right to left, 5" x 7", a little more than $10 ($10.95). In some ways it's both a lousy starting point for new readers (there's considerable mythology at work in this volume, including the return of fourth goddess Peorth, Velsper, a demon with a complicated history who is now a cat, and the parentage of Urd), and a fine one There's a lot to enjoy about Kosuke Fujihima's illustrating and cartooning even if the plot isn't familiar. His works has gone from good to excellent over the course of the series, and by this point, every panel, whether its conveying humor, elegance or action, is worth a gaze.
The core story of Oh My Goddess! is that of Keiichi, a college student in technology oriented school who's short on height and confidence. He gets left alone to mind the house while his residence-mates go do what randy, car-enthusiast college students do. While trying to order some food delivery, Keiichi accidentally calls the Helper Goddess Hotline. Belldandy, a beautiful young woman with flowing hair and an air of elegance floats through the wall, and offers to grant Keiichi a wish. Thinking that it's a put-on, Keiichi wishes that she'll be his girlfriend. The house-mates return to find Keiichi with a woman, breaking the house rules, and promptly throw him out. From there, relationship comedy ensues. A distinguishing feature from early on, versus other similar comedies is that Keiichi falls in love with Belldandy, and Belldandy falls in love with Keiichi. Sure, plenty of other interesting women are introduced, but this series is sweet in that is clear and never wavering that these two care about each other.
To keep it going, in what's approaching its thirtieth volume in its Japanese release, plenty of convolutions are introduced, chief among them, older and younger sisters for Belldandy: Urd, the older, mischievous, alcohol fueled, self-styled love witch, and Skuld, the young, stubborn, techie-inventor. Significant to this volume, a fourth, rival goddess Peorth, who's kindof an amaglum of the original three is introduced. Here Peorth shows up again at the group's doorstep, reduced in physical form to that of a child. The goddesses try to help her with explosive pills and stretching machines, until they finally decide to summon a new character to the series, the CEO of the Infernal Realm, Hild.
Fujishima is a character designer that knows how to make the complex look good. The intricacy in his characters' hair and clothes is amazing. Each character has straps, patterns and accessories on their clothes that always make sense. Their hair is as fancy as it gets in manga, but you can always see were its pulled, parted or curl for some logic. Put through a pace of expressions from physical humor to emotions, the characters are always something special to see. Which is why, despite being late in the series, and dependant on history, you can go clean into this volume, or go in with some dated familiarity, and thoroughly enjoy watching the character antics
News From Otakon
From Anime News Network and Anime on DVD
The Otakon anime convention in Baltimore the weekend of August 19th yielded little news from the larger anime distributors, but some from the smaller ones. The volume of announcements there and through the course of the summer convention season was taken by many as a sign of the weakness in the anime industry.
Viz and Bandai cancelled their panels, while FUNimation and Geneon has no announcements. Though FUNimation did hint on a new title they couldn't announce yet (widely speculated to be rock anime Beck), and mentioned that they're trying to make more Fruits Basket happen.
After the official panel ended, Geneon talked about their music releases, saying that with positive sales figures they will be looking to expand the line and the Japanese guests brought to North American convention.
Beyond ADV's announcement that Ghost Stories will be dubbed through improvisation (see a review here), ADV stated that the second volume of Princess Tutu will be released in November, along will a re-release of the first. Kaleido Star season 2 production is going quickly and it should begin being released around the end of the year.
GATV has posted clips of the Ghost Stories English dub.
AN Entertainment showed the first episode of anticipated comedy Guu, but indicated the delayed show will not be released until the fourth quarter of the year (December 27th has been forwarded as a tentative date). They had to replace the original ending theme music because of licensing issues, and received a needed new master from Japan with the music correction. The company's first two series Risky Safety and Miami Guns will be re-released.
TOKYOPOP spoke about GTO prequel Shonen Jumai Gumi, and original English language manga "My Cat Loki," a new series by Bettina Kurkoski, winner of the Rising Stars of Manga 2 competition, which will be released by Tokyopop in 2006.
TOKYOPOP is considering releasing Shonan Junai Gumi on 14 larger volumes rather than the 25 used in the original Japanese release. The price would be more than the standard $9.99, possibly $11.99.
The single volume manga Smuggler, by Shohei Manabe, the creator of Dead End, will be released in January.
Upcoming novel series will include Kino?s Journey, Gravitation, Gundam SEED and Scrapped Princess.
The "Blu" yaoi novel line will debut in November with Earthian, Shinobu Kokoro and Love Mode. Officially, Tokyopop doesn?t publish Blu, they only distribute it. Earthian will be published in a 400 page per volume deluxe format that will retail for $14.99
Media Blasters will be releasing UMD discs for the Sony Playstation Portable next year and getting into PC and Game Boy games.
Media Blaster's John Sirabella on Anime on DVD's refuted the impression some took away from their panel, that the company would be focusing on game localization rather than new anime.
Not going to do alot more new anime titles?? Who said that?? You guys have been going out of your way to try and prove how bad the anime companies and anime is doing in general....Is anime as good as it was last year?
...but please enuf with the "sky is falling crap". We have been releasing anime every month and will continue to in the future every month...we are adding games we will be porting over from Japan. Corrections are being made my each company and the companies who choose correctly will survive.
The Oh! My Goddess TV artbox will be a foil box that includes the phone strap mascot that was released in Japan. The company is certain that it will definitely make street date.
The Rurouni Kenshin arcs will be re-released in boxes, retailing somewhere between $60-70 each. Twelve Kingdoms will also be offered in a Digipak.
More merchandise is planned for Berserk including a Griffith plush.
The limited edition release of Grenadier was supposed to come with a pillowcase, but because of timing and the poor quality of the prototype, it was cancelled.
As far as other licensing tidbits are concerned, Sirabella said that Media Blasters will probably release the new Gunparade March series when it comes out.
When someone asked if Media Blasters would ever license the MPD Psycho manga series, it was revealed that another company has already acquired the rights for it.
Right Stuf announced that they will be releasing the anime versions of Osamu Tezuka's Astro Boy and Kimba the White Lion on DVD. Although Right Stuf is restoring and remastering the master copies of these series that they currently have, they are currently seeking anyone who might have better quality copies of the two shows. Boy shows will be released uncut with Japanese audio. Kimba is expected to be released in November 2005, Astro Boy in 2006.
Upcoming releases include Gravitation TV series and OVA, Piano, To Heart, Boys Be, and 2x2 Shinobuden aka Ninja Nonsense.
An interesting note on The Gravitation OAV includes Japanese previews with hard coded, incorrect English subtitles. Right Stuf could not remove these, so they will add correct subtitles on the top of the screen.
2x2: Shinobuden is currently being translated, and is scheduled for release sometime in 2006. Because the script is very heavy on puns, references, and accents, any information from fans that would help the translation team is appreciated.
From Anime On DVD's forum
Oh yes. We?ve made it a priority to always do liner notes for all of our titles. Ninja Nonsense (Ninin ga Shinobuden) is a bit tough because the scripts that we got from the Japanese would have something written, and then that would be crossed off, and then THAT would be crossed off, and then in the end the audio doesn?t match anything even in the scripts. There were also other locations where it was just the voice actors adlibbing. It?s been quite a challenge to translate. If any of the fans out there know some of the obscure references (because some of them are VERY obscure) we?d love to know about them. Ideally, we?d love to be able to explain all the references in the show if we can manage it.
An unusual extra on Piano will be a "visual monologue", showing certain scenes from the series with a voiceover from the point of view of the main character.
To Heart is being digitally restored for its 2006 release, and release of Boys Be is scheduled for spring of 2006 as well. TRSI will also release to DVD Weather Report Girl, a title from their back catalog.
The Irresponsible Captain Tylor Ultra Collection will include over five hours of extras, such as the first part of an exclusive Tylor novella and the original soundtrack. The second part of the novella will be included in the Tylor OVA Ultra Collection box.
After putting their manga on hiatus and focusing on DVD re-releases, CPM is getting more ambitious again.
Fall Releases include:
VOTOMS
Animation Runner Kuromi 2
Munto 2
Outlanders
Classic mecha war series VOTOMS will be released in a single, massive boxset. Details on whether it will be remastered and dubbed are in the work.
Animation Runner Kuromi 2 is Akitaro Daichi's Tokyo Anime Fair winning follow up his original Animation Runner. Animation Runner Kuromi 2 finds Kuromi, juggling multiple productions and facing deadlines that mean sacrificing quality, perhaps losing the fiery otaku spark within her soul.
Munto 2 is Kyoto Animation's second entry into its Munto OAV series. Kyoto Animation is a small husband and wife run anime studio in Kyoto. After completing the original Munto, they asked fans of the title to help finance a sequel. Japanese fans donated an overwhelming amount of capital toward the project. Munto 2 (and the original Munto) are simply stunning. If you're unfamiliar, take a look at the Munto trailer on the PSP page located in my signature. You don't need a PSP to view it.
Outlanders is an ancient, classic title that was all the rage long ago before the intention of the internet and DVDs. It's a risque comedy about world domination. There've been questions about if the DVD will have the original dub or a new dub or both.
Upcoming anime releases include
Kakurenbo
Hammerboy
Shadow Star Narutaru
Black Jack
Patlabor
Shoot Fighter Tekken
The Boy Who Wanted to Be a Bear
Prices for the box sets of Patlabor will be set at $30 for the two OVA boxes and the third TV series box, and $40 for the first two TV boxes.
Upcoming manwha (Korean comics) releases include
Angel Shop
Kung Fu Jungle Boy
Angel Shop's about a boy who finds out a girl in his class built a robot that looks just like him. He locks the robot in his room and goes to speak with the bot's inventor, but to infiltrate her house, he must pretend to be the bot. It can only get indecent from here.
Kung Fu Jungle Boy is a martial arts comedy spiritually similar to the original DragonBall.
From Anime on DVD's forum
Please, please, please don't think CPM threw out books like "Duck Prince," "Couple," "Narue," and "Nambul." They're still coming. The manga market is very tight and CPM took 2005 off to better observe it. More educated, we're heading back in in 2006, and we're going to try to continue all our existing titles. They may come out more slowly, but you'll be seeing them.
CPM mentioned the relaunch of its Anime University anime fanclub program. The driving engine of CPM's new Anime U is called Kogai Kogai. Simply, it's an industry fanzine co-written by CPM staff and fans. Note, you don't have to be part of a club to receive the zine.
Anime News Network reports according to a report by Baltimore area TV station WJZ-TV, Baltimore would lose $22 million if Otakon moved out of the city. The report is about a controversial idea to build a new hotel attached to the Baltimore Convention Center. In the report, vice con chair Jim Vowles states that they don't want to move but are looking at alternate venues.
Go Comi introduced themselves as a new company. New series Her Majesty?s Dog, Cantarella, Crossroad, and Tenshi Ja Nai! (I?m No Angel). will start October 19. Her Majesty's Dog will be exclusive to Borders and Waldenbooks chains, and will receive a wide release in the spring.
Fruits Basket Card Game
ICv2 reports Score Entertainment announced the acquisition of the rights to create a Fruits Basket Card Game for release in first quater 2006. Rather than a Yu-Gi-Oh/Magic: The Gather collectable card game, complete 121 card sets will retail for $9.99. Fifty-four of the cards will feature standard playing card markings. Based on the isolation centric comedy/drama about an orphened girl who becomes entangled with members of a family who turn into animals from the Chinese zodiac when embraced by members of the oppisde sex, the game is played with cards for two of the series' main characters, Kyo and Tohru, surrounded by card representing the Chinese Zodiac. The object of the game is to make the most friends and friends are gained by building memories, which players can create by matching fruit.
Advent Children Delay?
EGM has reported that the North American release of the CGI movie based on the Final Fantasy VII Playstation game has been delayed from September to the holiday season.
ADV Talks G4 Televised Shows
G4 - videogame tv has acquired three fan-favorite anime series, RahXephon, Cromartie High School and Colorful, from ADV Films. The futuristic action-packed series RahXephon premieres first as part of G4?s all-new late-night TV block Barbed Wire Biscuit on Friday, September 2 at 12:00 AM ET/9:00 PM PT.
The first series to debut on G4 this fall is RahXephon, which follows the adventures of Kamina Ayato in the near future of 2012. After awakening RahXephon, a giant mecha with awe-inspiring abilities, Ayato battles mysterious alien invaders and struggles to discover what is real, what is not, and what his place is in the events unfurling before him. RahXephon premieres on Friday, September 2 at 12:00 AM ET/9:00 PM PT.
Both Cromartie High and Colorful are slated to premiere on G4 in December 2005. Cromartie High tracks the not-so-everyday existence of Kamiyama and his delinquent classmates. Colorful is a strange and deranged series with a warped sense of humor.
All three anime series will be part of G4?s all-new late-night block, Barbed Wire Biscuit, which is a one-hour branded programming strip airing Monday through Friday at 12:00 AM ET/PT. The block features both live-action and animated series, including Happy Tree Friends & Friends, Brainiac, Anime Unleashed and Cinematch: Nocturnal Emissions.
Anime on Adult Swim
New of Samurai Champloo and Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex (2nd GIG) will start on Cartoon Network starting November 19th.
Date Set for Tomy Takara Merger
Directors of toymakers Tomy and Takara have signed an agreement to merge on March 1, 2006, subject to shareholder approval in September 6th.The new company will be known as Kabushiki Kaisha Takara TOMY or simply TOMY COMPANY, LTD in English.
Fall/Winter Yamato Releases
Yamata has posted preview images of their fall and window releases
Trading Figures
Artsits Collection
* Range Murata PSE Solid Collection, Ver. 2
Capcom Figure Collection
* Kinu Nishimura Collection
* MegaMan X
Story! Image! Figure!
* Excel Saga
* Genshiken
* Kujibiki Unbalance
* Monkey Punch Girls Collection
* Samurai Champloo
Action Figures
Bubblegum Crisis
* Linna Yamazaki in Hard Suit
* Nene Romanova in Hard Suit
* Priscilla S. (Priss) Asagiri in Hard Suit
* Sylia Stingray in Hard Suit
Votoms
* 1/12 Scale Melquiya Scopedog
* Weapon Accessory Set, No. 1
* Parachute Zac Accessory Set
PVC Statues
Artists Collection
* Range Murata PSE Pro #1 - Skipper
Story! Image! Figure! EX
* Cutie Honey - Hurricane Honey
* Cutie Honey - Sister Jill
* Genshiken - Kanako Oono
* G-taste, Vol. 3 - Yui Jogasaki
* G-taste, Vol. 3 - Yuki Shihoudou
* G-taste, Vol. 3 - Yuna Shingyouji
* Hellsing - Seras Victoria
* Ikki Tousen - Sonsaku Hakufu in China Dress
* Ikki Tousen - Sonsaku Hakufu in School Uniform
* Please Teacher - Mizuho Kazami in Wedding Dress
* Please Twins - Karen Onodera
* Please Twins - Miina Miyafuji
* Stellvia - Shima Katase
Resin Statues
Capcom Girls Collection
* Chun-Li
Yamato USA is currently accepting pre-orders for these and other items. For complete details, click on the above product names or visit us at www.yamatotoysusa.com.
UY Anime Preview
The Magic box has screen shots of Urusei Yatsura: Endless Summer , a dating sim based on Rumiko Takahashi's relationship comedy for Nintendo DS in Japan on October 20 here
Elfen Lied Cover Art
Anime on DVD reports that ADV has confirmed that they are using original art for their DVD releases of Elfen Lied that were comissioned for Seiji Kishimoto. See an example here
Zeta Gundam Voice Actress Controversy
Gunota reports that Japanese Gundam fans have been expressing disappointment that voice actress Saeko Shimazu was replaced in the Zeta Gundam movie revival for the role of Four Murasame.
Rumors like "she retired" or "she was dropped after the audition" surfaced after Yukana (Card Captor Sakurai Meiling, Chobits Kotoko) was announced as the new voice of Four. After that, Shimazu herself quickly refuted them by saying she is still active and never got invited for a Zeta audition. So fans settled with the decision that Gundam forefather Yoshiyuki Tomino wanted change. However, an article from the September issue of Comic Gum and now Shimazu's site have changed things.
For a summry of the different sides of the story see here
Steamboy DVD a Top Seller
Anime News Network reports, according to Nielson Vidscan, Katsuhiro Otomo's Steamboy was the 23rd top selling DVD in the week of it's release (week ending July 30). The only anime release of 2005 that has sold more copies in its first week was Miyazaki's Nausicaa, which was the 14th best selling DVD when it was released in March.
Naruto News
From Anime News Network
With rumor about the English dub cast of series floating around, the official list has been revealed to be:
Kate Higgins as Sakura
Maile Flanagan as Naruto
Yuri Lowenthal as Sasuke
Dave Wittenberg as Kakashi
Stephanie Sheh as Hinata Hyuuga
Cindy Robinson as Tsunami
Colleen O'Shaughnessey as Ino Yamanaka and Konohamaru
Doug Ehrholtz as Asuma
Fred Tatasciore as Gato
Kirk Thornton as Tazuna
Quinton Flynn as Iruka
Robbie Rist as Choji
Steve Kramer as Hokage
Steven Blum as Zabuza
Tom Gibbas as Shikamaru
The popular ninja action anime Naruto has appeared in Lycos' top first search list for the first time, at #50. The Lycos 50 press release asks "Could ... Naruto be the next Dragonball?"
Fullmetal Alchemist director Seiji Mizushima at PMX
Anime News Network reports the director of Fullmetal Alchemist and Shaman King, Seiji Mizushima, has been announced as a guest of honor at this year's Pacific Media Expo. PMX takes place September 3-5th in Long Beach, California.
Manga Talks Street Fighter Alpha: Generations
Manga Entertainment has announced that the co-producted Street Fighter Alpha: Generations will be released October 25th alongside a host of new action figures, trading cards, and games which will be released by a score of different companies in conjunction with national Street Fighter month
In this thrilling prequel to Street Fighter Alpha, Ryu returns to pay homage to his deceased mentor, but is tormented by disturbing memories of his master?s killer. In a quest to become a true martial arts master, Ryu sets out to hone his street fighting skills and to deliver himself from the haunting legacy of the Dark Hadou. But the ultimate test of his new power can only be accomplished through one last fateful confrontation with his arch-nemesis, Gouki.
"Generations was created to give an insight to some of the answers to why the most intriguing and arcane character, Akuma (Gouki), became who he is. It also explores the history behind some of the Street Fighter characters and how the main character Ryu, is inadvertently linked to his arch nemesis Akuma (Gouki)" states co-producer, Kaoru Mfaume (Dead Leaves, Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex). For more information, please visit: www.streetfighteralpha.com
Street Fighter Alpha: Generations constitutes the directorial debut of Ikuo Kuwana - a veteran animator for such ground-breaking anime works as Steam Boy, Neon Genesis Evangelion, Blood: The Last Vampire and Dead Leaves. He is joined by acclaimed anime producer Kazufumi Nomura (Robot Carnival, Jo Jo's Bizarre Adventure), cinematographer Hideo Okazaki (Roujin Z) and veteran sound director Yasunori Honda (X, Ninja Scroll, Urotsukidoji, Macross).
Street Fighter Alpha: Generations DVD Bonus Features include: Behind the Scenes Interview with Cast & Directors, Production Report, Audio options of: English & Japanese Languages; English & Japanese 5.1 Dolby Digital Surround Sound and Motion Menus. The soundtrack was created by legendary musician and record producer, Bill Laswell.
Running Time: 50 minutes plus extras SRP: $24.98
Robotech Honored at Science Fiction Museum and Hall of Fame
The Science Fiction Museum and Hall of Fame in Seattle will present Robotech will be honored with a special award for its contributions to the sci-fi genre on August 31 at 7pmCoraline Movie Adaptations
Twitch points out an entry in Neil Gaiman's (Sandman, American Gods) blog that Henry Selick will be adapting his children's prose story into a stop-motion animated film, and that a stage-musical adaptation in the works set to premiere in Brooklyn, NY in the fall of 2006
Korean Animation preview
Twitch has posted a run-down of upcoming projects in Korean Animation here. The Korean market has picked up 25%, the films are winning awards at important festivals, and the new projects seem to be a little more varied and business-oriented (at least in terms of production. Lots of popular manhwa adaptations).
Cowboy Bebop Crosses Anime Milestone And Prepares For A Special Remix
Bandai Entertainment announced that home video sales for Shinichiro Watanabe?s ?Cowboy Bebop? has sold more than a million units in North America since its original home video debut, again raising the bar for anime series released on DVD. In addition, Bandai Entertainment is also set to release a definitive special edition titled, ?Cowboy Bebop REMIX? on September 13, 2005.
Directed by Shinichiro Watanabe (Samurai Champloo), ?Cowboy Bebop? took its edgy and action packed story and helped introduce a whole generation of television viewers to anime during its broadcast on Cartoon Network?s Adult Swim block. With its jazzy music soundtrack provided by legendary composer, Yoko Kanno (Escaflowne, Wolf?s Rain), and character designs by Toshihiro Kawamoto (Wolf?s Rain), ?Cowboy Bebop? continues to garner top ratings on Adult Swim and continues to represent the very best in Japanese animation.
Chronicling the adventures of the bounty hunting crew of the Bebop, ?Cowboy Bebop? introduces a colorful cast including Spike Spiegel, the ex-gangster and the epitome of cool, Jet Black, the gruff ex-cop, the mysterious femme fatale, Faye Valentine, the genius hacker Ed, and the quirky data dog, Ein. Together they delve into a journey towards their past and all the while, cleaning up space, one bounty at a time.
?Cowboy Bebop REMIX? is slated to bow on DVD home video September 13, 2005. The first volume of this definitive release will feature an entirely remixed Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround soundtrack for both English and Japanese language tracks. REMIX also promises fans of Cowboy Bebop a wealth of DVD supplementary materials including commentary tracks, interviews, and more. ?Cowboy Bebop? will also be making its way onto PSP? Universal Media Disc with the first volume of this format scheduled for release on November 8, 2005.
Cowboy Bebop REMIX
Volume 1
* Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound
* English/Japanese Language
* English Subtitle option
* DVD Extras: Commentary by the Japanese Voice Cast (Spike and Jet), Commentary by Yutaka Maseba (ADR English Director) and Wendee Lee (English Voice Faye Valentine), and Interview with Wendee Lee, Cartoon Network Promo Collection, and Trailer Collection including Cowboy Bebop the Movie
* SRP: $29.98
STA Announced JoJo's Vol. 5, Mention Other Titles
Super Techno Arts is pleased to announced the release of JoJo?s Bizarre Adventure Volume 5 is now schedule for Tuesday, September 20 at a retail price of $24.99. This volume contains the following two episodes:
Adventure 10 - D'Arby the Gambler
Seeking information on Dio's whereabouts, the companions encounter a gambler named D'Arby who claims to have the information they need. The catch is, they have to beat him in the ultimate wager-one where their very souls are at stake! Can the Joestar party outwit a master gambler at his own game?
Adventure 11 - Dio's "The World" - The Warrior of the Void - Iced
Jotaro and his companions finally arrive at Dio's lair and find their way to the room where his coffin resides. Just as they prepare to strike the fatal blow, Dio's mysterious Stand powers, coupled with that of his finest assassin, Iced, slay one of the party before the group's horrified eyes. But even that doesn't quench Dio's thirst for blood...
Fans of the series may recognize these as part of the original OVA series created with traditional hand-inked and painted cel animation. The first three volumes of the English release were created with digital techniques.
DVD Extras include an exclusive "JoJo Timeline" featurette that illustrates the history of Dio and the Joestars, a full-length, storyboard-enhanced version of Adventure 10, line art gallery, interviews with the director of the anime and the original creator of the manga, translator?s notes and a trailer for Volume 6.
The company also mentioned that their upcoming releases include Robot Carnival, Sci-Fi Harry and Shadow.
Geneon Launches PSP Content and Site
Geneon Entertainment signals its ongoing commitment to consumer technology with the announcement of an all-new PSP dedicated site, a portal designed by Nightjar, LLC. to allow owners of the PlayStation Portable to access multimedia content directly over any wi-fi network. Supporting Sony?s release of the second generation PSP firmware that is introducing Internet capability for the handheld device, Geneon has developed a PSP dedicated version of their own anime homepage... one of the first official sites designed strictly for handheld browsing. The Geneon Entertainment PSP dedicated site can be found at http://www.geneonanimation.com.
Customized for the PlayStation Portable?s small screen size and lack of conventional keyboard, the PSP dedicated site will have entirely different formatting and navigation requirements and capabilities than a standard website. Geneon?s PSP dedicated site will be graphic-oriented and will feature navigation shortcuts easily compatible with the PSP?s controls. Users can download wallpapers and trailers from Geneon?s hottest anime titles, as well as virtual anime trading cards, which will rotate availability and which can be swapped between PSP devices.
Among the first of Geneon Entertainment?s anime titles to be featured on the new PSP dedicated site is Gankutsuou: The Count Of Monte Cristo, a lush retelling of the classic tale of revenge by Alexandre Dumas. Geneon?s first day-and-date DVD and UMD debut - with both formats available on October 25th - Gankutsuou: The Count Of Monte Cristo features exquisite animation and thrilling episodic storylines perfectly suited to the PSP. Other anime titles also available on UMD from Geneon Entertainment are Appleseed, Samurai Champloo, Gungrave, and Hellsing.
Geneon Announces Hot Topic Merchandise
Geneon Entertainment announced that is has entered into an agreement to provide licensed merchandise for three of its hottest anime properties in an exclusive 90-day window to specialty retailer Hot Topic. Beginning September 1, 2005, t-shirts, stickers and buttons for the wildly popular Gankutsuou: The Count Of Monte Cristo, Fafner, Jubei Chan 2 and R.O.D. The TV will be placed on special anime islands or boutiques within the chain?s 670 stores.
InuYasha Movie 3 Release Info
VIZ Media, LLC. (VIZ Media), announced the upcoming release of the third and latest Inuyasha feature film to hit North American stores. INUYASHA THE MOVIE 3: SWORDS OF AN HONORABLE RULER will debut on DVD on September 6 and retail for $24.98. The first 100,000 copies of the DVD will include a free, exclusive limited edition trading card from Score Entertainment. In addition, the launch will be supported with a national TV advertising campaign and a 15-market mobile theatre roadshow. Additional information on the movie can be found on the INUYASHA movie website at www.Inuyashamovie.net.
New Look at KoF Anime
AnimeNation points out Game Watch has published new cel art character models and samples of background art from Production I.G.'s currently in-production King of Fighters "short" anime. The official length, format, title and release date for the anime are still undetermined.
Nodame Cantabile Image Album
Manganews.net points out that an image album (sound tracks of music inspired by, or collected inspired by) of manga Nodame Cantabile, released domestically by Del Ray, has been releasing in Japan with Brahms' 1st Symphony in C minor conducted by Shinichi Chiaki.
Seven Seas Shift Logo
Love Manga points out that original English language manga company Seven Seas subtly shifted their logo. see here.
Samurai 7 Manga
Manganews.net reports the anime, sci-fi retelling of Akira Kurosawa' Seven Samuai, Samurai 7 will be serialized in Magazine GREAT.
Prince of Tennis Live Action
Manganews.net reports sports manga Prince of Tennis will be adapted into a live action movie. Also, its anime will come back as an OVA and an art book will be released.
Samurai Champloo Game
Anime News Nework reports Bandai Japan has announced that a Samurai Champloo "HipHop Samurai Action" game will be released for the PS2 this winter.
Aquarian Age Collected Release
ADV Films announced the low-priced Aquarian Age Complete Collection will be released for $39.98 on October 4th.
Kyouta has a dream of making his band, T.L. Signal a big success. But strange events soon draw him in to a world he didn?t even know exists - and a psychic battleground where he will be a key player! Originally adapted from a popular collectible trading card game, Aquarian Age features stunning animation from the renowned studio MADHOUSE (Chobits, X).
For centuries, five supernatural factions have waged war for supremacy over mankind, with legend prophesying that one day the Aquarian Age will begin, and only one group will reign supreme! Now Kyouta?s dreams of becoming a pop idol must take a backseat to his destiny when he and his girlfriend Yoriko unwillingly become embroiled in the conflict, as both may hold the power to turn the tides of war in favor of whichever faction can control them! Can love conquer all?
Zatch Bell in Canda
Viz announced that Canadian YTV will air Zatch Bell! starting September 0th at 8:00PM.
Brief Look At Kaiju Big Battel
Fans of giant, suited monsters should be sure to check out the fun, iconic event/DVD/merchandise phenominon Kaiju Big Battel.
Kaiju Big Battel is a live event series that revolves around tournament-style performances, which are a tongue-in-cheek hybrid of American pro-wrestling, Japanese-monster-movie mayhem, and lowbrow pop-culture.
About Kaiju Big Battel:
Where do giant city-crushing monsters, super-sized freedom fighting
plantains, intergalactic insects, and a diabolical mad doctor do Battel
for control of the Universe? KAIJU BIG BATTEL, a top-secret monster
fighting tournament where the most powerful forces in the galaxy meet to
wage war in a tournament-style spectacle held in a steel cage lined with
miniature cityscapes, oversized Japanese monster-movie props and other
surprises.
What is Kaiju Big Battel? To understand Kaiju, you must understand one thing-Monsters are real. They?re real, and they are huge. Today, the planet Earth is under attack from giant, city-crushing monsters. Don?t be alarmed-Earth has always been under attack from monsters. Mankind has always found itself squarely in the crossfire of Kaiju monsters. Cities have been leveled, civilizations destroyed. Now, however, there is now a way for man and monsters to peacefully coexist. Enter Kaiju Big Battel.
Kaiju Big Battel is the arena in which giant city crushing monsters wage war and settle scores. At the center of the Kaiju Big Battel is the Kaiju Regulatory Commission, a shadowy extra-governemntal body established on earth to protect mankind from its imminent doom.
The second Kaiju Big Battel DVD, Shocking Truth, was released in April 2005.
Shocking Truth features include:
* What Is Kaiju? - The definitive Kaiju primer answers all your burning questions, and reveals the origins of the Kaiju conflicts that threaten your very existence.
* The Secrets of Dino Kang Jr.'s Cave - Kaiju's MC Louden Noxious takes you deep inside the cavernous abode of Dr. Cube's evilest and cutest henchman, Dino Kang, Jr., for an exclusive interview. But will a surprise visitor make Louden mince meat?
* The Neo Teppen Show - When Dr. Cube takes Kaiju Hero Slo Feng hostage, it's up to Neo Teppen to infiltrate Dr. Cube's secret lab, and put his 27 secret powers to work defeating a mob of zombie Minions and one putrid trash monster.
* The Rise and Fall of Silver Potato - Track the meteoric rise of break dancing, aluminum-clad tuber Hero Silver Potato to the top of Kaiju Big Battel... and his subsequent destruction at the hands of Cube's Posse.
* The Swarm - When Dr. Cube's Posse and Team Space Bug meet in the Scottish highlands, the balance of power in Kaiju Big Battel is at stake!
* Bonus Features - Full live event Battels; Famous Battel highlights; Hello Kaiju Video Bios; Event Trailers; Kaiju Trivia; and more!
