Father Geek here with the New Year's issue of Asia-AICN from Darius25 and his crew of reporters/editors. We've got news reports from India and Japan this week, plus Scott Green's Anime column. I wish all our Asia staff, as well as this column's readers a very happy New Year from all of us at Geek World Headquarters here in Austin, Texas. Now here's Darius with the news...

Asia-AICN

Happy New Year everybody! Hope you all had a fine Christmas and took in a lot of joyous festivities. There's not much news this week due to the holidays but we still managed to deliver some interesting news from India and Japan. Now here's the latest from Asia.

INDIA

- Abhishek Bachchan will star in a new film directed by Priyadarshan in which Sunil Shetty will be the main villain. The action film also stars Kareena Kapoor and is being produced by Columbia Tristar. It will be filmed in the English language but there's no word on whether it will be receiving a wide release here in North America.

- Salman Khan has been thrown out of director David Dhawan's upcoming remake of "Analyze This". The producers are hoping to replace Salman with Ajay Devgan, who has never really made an out and out comedy film nor has he ever worked with Dhawan. The film, titled Hum Kisise Kum Nahin (We Are More Than Enough), stars Amitabh Bachchan, Sanjay Dutt, and Aishwarya Rai.

- Director Kundan Shah's next film will be Kasam Se (Promise). The comedy stars Sunil Shetty as a gardener who accepts a bet to win 40 million rupees if he can become a major gangster. The film will be out sometime next year.

- Karisma Kapoor has been replaced by Amisha Patel for the film Rahen Na Rahen Hum ( Life or Death), to be directed by Kamal. The film stars Ajay Devgan in the lead.

- Tabu has replaced Sushmita Sen for actor Anupam Kher's directorial debut, Om Jai Jagdish. The film stars Anil Kapoor, Abhishek Bachchan, and Fardeen Khan in the titular roles.

- Abhishek Bachchan will also star in Shararat (Mischief), produced by Gurudev Bhalla. The comedy is about a spoilt brat ordered to perform community service by working at a retirement home. The film also stars new actress Hrishita Bhatt, Amrish Puri, and Tinnu Anand. It is expected to release next summer.

- Writer-director Aditya Chopra (Mohabbatein - Love Affairs) is currently at work on a new script to be filmed by another director, Kunal Kohli. The film will star Hrithik Roshan and Uday Chopra in the leading roles. The film has yet to be titled.

- There were two new releases last Friday. The first one is the much-delayed film Champion, directed by Padam Kumar and produced by actor Sujeet Kumar. Sunny Deol stars as a low-ranking cop who wants to move up in the world. Naturally, he's pissed off when he's assigned to protect a child instead of solving a high profile case. Things get complicated when the killer of the kid's parents comes after the child aswell. Much action follows until Sunny finally saves the kid. The acting is pretty good for an action film. Sunny Deol is good at action roles and he doesn't disappoint here. Manisha Koirala is adequate as Sunny's love interest and newcomer Abhishek Sharma is not too annoying as the child being stalked. But it is really Rahul Dev, as the BAD ASS killer, who really shines here. This is his first film, and he's proved that he's a much worthy opponent to Sunny Deol. The songs are all very good and the action scenes are top notch. The film is just pure popcorn entertainment. Director Padam Kumar has succeeded in making an intense action film and its intended audience will not be disappointed. If you're looking for a good action film, be sure to check out Champion.

- The second release from last week is the film Raja Ko Rani Se Pyar Ho Gaya (Raja fell in love with Rani), directed by T. K. Rajeev Kumar. The children's film stars as Arvind Swamy as a villager who comes to Bombay in search of a missing elephant statuette. He doesn't find the statue but instead hooks up with a few children (his nephews and nieces), a model (Manisha Koirala) and a baby elephant. Boring troubles and inane situations follow until the predictably happy ending. The film is a complete waste of time. Manisha Koirala looks like she's acting in a whole different movie and the kids don't have a clue either. The direction is way too sloppy and the editing is completely out of place. The jokes aren't funny and even the childish humour is just too boring for the normal 5 year old. Oh, and don't even get me started on the elephant!! Let's just say that he should retire and live a healthy life in the jungle (or a zoo). Avoid this film at all costs.

- This week's recommendation is 1991's Pathar Ke Phool (Flowers of Stone), directed by Ramesh Sippy. Salman Khan stars as a cop's son who falls in love with the daughter of a gangster. He doesn't agree with his father's idealistic values and leaves the house when suddenly the gangster gets the cop killed. Salman then feels guilty for his father's death and becomes a cop himself in order to get revenge. The acting is decent for a typical Bollywood blockbuster. This was Salman Khan's third film and he does not disappoint. He was pretty convincing as the comedic hero who turns into a hard-boiled cop in order to avenge his father's death. Raveena Tandon gives a decent performance as Salman's girlfriend while the rest of the cast is adequate. The director, Ramesh Sippy, is successful in using a clever mix of light romantic comedy and over-the-top action to create a very enjoyable film. There is nothing really special about Pathar Ke Phool, but I thought it was entertaining and you might too.

CHINA

Sorry but there is no Chinese news this week as "AccSpy" is on his well-deserved vacation. He'll back soon, so just sit tight and enjoy the news from our other countries.

JAPAN

The following was reported by "Pigmon":

- The shooting of Shohei Imamura ("Eel", "Dr. Kanzo")'s new film, "Akai Hashi No Shita No Nurui Mizu"(Warm Water under the Red Bridge), is nearing completion. The film stars Kouji Yakusho ("Shall We Dance?") who visits a small town after losing his job in the city. He then meet a strange woman who is magically able to disperse water from parts of her body. The film is expected to release sometime next year.

- Naoto Takenaka , the director of "Munou No Hito", has just finished the principle photography for his new film, "Rendan". It will be opening this March in Japan.

- Toei has just announced the completion of "D: Third Stage", a fully digitally animated film. The film is based on a popular comic book and TV series and Toei hopes it to be the next "Evangelion". It will be in Japanese theaters on January 13, 2001.

- Here is a list of the best and worst Japanese films I have seen in this year:

BEST

1. Avalon

2. Bullet Ballet (This could be from 1999, but it was shown here this year.)

3. Jin-roh

4. Blister

5. Shikijitsu

WORST

1. Gojoe

2. Uzumaki

3. Senrigan

4. Sakuya

5. Kamen Gakuen

ANIME

by Scott Green...

More on Earth Girl Ajuna

Further details have been released about "Earth Girl Ajuna", the Bandai anime series written and directed by Shoji Kawamori with music by Yoko Yanno (who worked together on Macross Plu and Vision of Escaflowne. The animation for Ajuna is being touted as start of the art, seemingly bucking the recent trend of lower animation budgets for Japansese anime series. The series is about a young girl who starts receiving dreams about the future after an accident. In her visions humans have achieved a higher level of awareness by becoming attuned to the "Aura of the Earth", however some are using their new power to manipulate others for their own gain. There will also be a mecha aspect to the series with the introduction of "Aura Suit". Earth Girl Ajuna premieres in Japan on TV Tokyo Channel 12 on January 9th 18:00 - 18:30.

More on Earth Defense Family

A press conference for the upcoming TV series, Earth Defense Family was held in Tokyo Dec. 22nd where full production details of Earth Defense were announced. The series will be directed by Satoshi Kimura (directory of the second Tenchi Muyo Movie and Tenchi OAV's), who has been working on the series' planning for three years. Like Earth Girl Ajuna the series is not succumbing to the recent trend to animate the series cheaply. Rather than use the less expensive method of computer animation it will be animated in the traditional cell method. The press conference pointed out that at this point in the development of digital animation, there are some special effects that can only be properly accomplished using the human hand, ink and cells. The quality of animation per episode in EDF is said to be extremely high, with the number of animation cells used in the first episode alone exceeding 9500 pieces. It was added that the concept of "family" would play a key role throughout! and the series was meant to appeal to both children and adults. Macross Creastor Shoji Kawamori will be supervising EDF with character designs being provided by Kazuaki Mouri. Animation Production is by Group Tatsuku. ROLLY, who performs the opening theme song, "SAMURAI" and insertion song "MIRROR-MIRROR" were also at the event. EDF will air in Japan on BS Channel 5 WoWoW starting January 9th.

Spring and Chaos on DVD

Spring and Chaos ("Vision of Ihatov: Kenji's Spring" in Japan will be release on DVD in the US on February 14th. The feature is the semi-autobiographical story of the Japanese children's writer, and poet Miyazawa Kenji. Prior to Spring and Choas the only real introduction Western audiences had to his work as Central Park Media's release of the anime feature Night on the Galactic Railroad, based on his 1927 book about a poor boys who encounters a galactic train while staring at the stars. Spring and Chaos was release to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Miyazama's birth. It brings together work by Group TAC (the studio who animated Nights on the Galactic Railroad), direction, and writing by Kawamori Shouji (Macross Plus, Vision of Escflowne), and character design and animation direction by Kishida Takahiro (Peacock King, Tenchi Muyo in love). The feature is known for its excellent use of computer animation to portray the surreal side of Miyazawa' writings. The DVD wi! ll feature Japanese and English language tracks with Spanish, French, German, Korean, and Chinese subtitles, and interview with director Shouji Kawamori and an introduction of Kenji Mayazawa.

Escaflowne Announcements

The last DVD volume of the 26 episode Vision of Escaflowne was schedule to be released in the US by Bandai in December 2001, but a new schedule has brought in that date considerably. Discs 3 & 4, entitled "Angel and Demons" and "Past and Present" will be released on 2/6, discs 5 & 6 on 4/3 and discs 7 & 8 on 6/5.The bilingual DVD version, dubbed VHS version, and Fox Kids' edited dubbed vhs versions are still in the process of being released. The subtitled VHS version of the series, and abridged subtitles VHS version, entitled "Escaflowne Best Collection" have been completely released. Many have speculated that the accelerated schedule is due to Escaflowne being put on hiatus from Fox Kids' due to low ratings, though the most recent press release from Bandai claim that the show is currently on air on Fox, and that its "ratings have continued its impressive climb upwards."

Escaflowne takes place on a feudal world called Gaia where kingdoms are protected by knights piloting giant mech, anime-men live alongside humans, a lizards like dragons roam the lands. Hitomi, a highschool track athlete and tarot practitioner from our world is transported to Gaia, a world where earth can be seen in the night sky alongside the moon. There she begins to have visions of cloaking mecha burning kingdoms, which soon come to fruition. The series is known for its beautiful music and animation, as well as a dense and intricate plot.

3x3 Eyes on DVD

According to a number of retailers Pioneers release of the 3x3 Eyes 2 disc set has been delayed to February 6th. Due to some listing problems there was some initial confusion about whether the discs would be bilingual. They will be, despite the fact that the series' prevision release by Streamline was dub only. 3x3 is a supernatural story with horror, comedy, and action elements about a three eyed immortal that seeks to become human, the boy who she inadvertently makes her un-killable servant. The two disc set will feature all nine episodes of the OAV.

Street Fighter Alpha Anime Coming

Manga Entertainment will be releasing the Street Fighter Alpha: The Movie anime on DVD and VHS January 30th. The animation and fight scenes are considered better than the Street Fighter animated movie, or Street Fights II V series. The story deals with the murder of Ken and Ryu's master, Gouken, and possible involvement of Akuma, and Ryu's conflict with his inclination the Dark Hadou. Fans of the fighting game can expect to see Akuma, Dan, Chun Li, Sakura, Rose, Sagat, Adon, Vega, Zangief, Dhalsim, Guy, Sodom, and some new characters in the feature. The movie, which was originally a three episode OAV bilingual DVD, and dubbed and subtitled VHS. Bonus programs include: Interviews of voice actors and directors, original Japanese movie trailer, "The Making of Street Fighter Alpha" short film, character bios, photo gallery, and creative staff journal

Japanese Agency for Cultural Affairs announces Award Winning Media Works Anime News Network reports that n December 22nd the Japanese Agency for Cultural Affairs (ACA) announced the winning works in each of the four categories of the Media Arts Festival. In the Animation category the ACA awarded the Grand Prize to Blood: The Last Vampire. The movie which takes place on an American army base at the dawn of the Viet Nam war tells the story of a seemingly normal Japanese teenager girl on a mission to exterminate vampire like creators. The movie has break taking action and animation, but its short 48 minute runtime limited its story telling potential. Manga Entertainment has acquired the domestic rights to the movie. Runner up "Excellence Prizes" went to Luz, Tare Panda, S.O.S. and Hidamari No Ki. In the Manga category Vagabond was awarded the Grand Prize. Excellence Prizes went to Oudo No Inu, Paji, Massuguni-ikou and Like Shooting Stars in the Twilight. Also of interest, in the Digital Art (Interac! tive) category the Grand Prize was awarded to Dragon Quest VII and in the Digital Art (Non-Interactive) category, one of the Exellence Prizes went to Avalon. The full list of winners and an image from each winner can be seen at teh following website: http://www.cgarts.or.jp/festival2000e/index.html

AnimEigo News

DVDs of the sci-fi action Baoh (base on the manga by Araki Hirohiko, creator of Jo Jo's Bizarre Adventure), Lone Wolf & Cub (first 2 live action movies), Urusei Yatsura TV (a comedy by the creator of Ranma ½)Volumes 6-10 are being currently being authored, with Spirit of Wonder included in that batch. The next scheduled titles are the classic romantic comedy Oh My Goddess, Vampire Miyu, Bubblegum Crash, UY Movies and OVA's, and UY TV 26. They also say that, they'll "try to sneak Otaku no Video in there somewhere as well". Otaku no Video is a fake documentary about Japanese anime fans. (Otaku, with literally translated to "your house" means a die hard anime fan, not unlike the term "fanboy", some point out that word can apply to an aficionado of anything, and others don't like its use by American fans because of its negative connotations in Japan). Also "We also intend to release Kimagure Orange Road (Movie, OVA's and TV series) in the first half of 2001." Kimagure (Whim! sical) Orange Road is classic romance about a young man with psychic powers, who must hide his powers while being part of a love triangle with the beautiful and mysterious girl he loves, and the sweet and kind girl who loves him. Spirit of Wonder is now available for purchase on their web site www.animeigo.com for 22.45 plus shipping. There is no indication of whether it will available through standard retail.

AnimEigo's auctions of replicas of the famous high-heel "hardsuit" mecha from the classic OAV Bubblgum Crisis recently ended at $2,550.00 and $2,200 for Nene's red suit, and Linna's green suit respectively.

Darius25 back; That's about it for this week folks. Remember, if you have information regarding any film industry in Asia, please contact our Asia-AICN offices . See you all in the new millennium.

- Darius25