Well, Here's ol' Father Geek with Scott Green's AICN Anime Report for this week, and like always there is a ton of useful info in its contents. Sooooooo, Father Geek will step aside at let you at it... Enjoy!
Gatekeepers Licensed?
A post on Anime on DVD's forum by an E3 attendee indicated that a Pioneer rep at E3 (the Electronics Entertainment Expo held just last week) gave notice that they've licensed Gatekeepers and intend to have it out in September.
Gatekeepers is a new series from members of the Gonzo Team, best known for work on the CGI Waterworld-esque Blue Submarine no. 6. Character design was done by Keiji Gotoh of Nadesico fame.
The series is set in the 60's, and has a lot of 60's Japan atmosphere. After World War II "Invaders" starting appearing on earth (men with off suits, cowboy hats, and mirrored shades). A group called AEGIS is formed to combat the Invaders. People known as Gatekeepers, with the power to help people or destroy begin to ally themselves with the Invaders or AEGIS. Canadian Anime magazine Protoculture Addicts described the series as ".truly one of the best TV shows we have seen in 2000. Its in-between Evangelion and Thunderbirds, and offers lots of humor and some great action."
Sherlock Hound
Diamond Distributor's Preview Magazine, a source of information that should be taken with a grain of salt is listing a DVD version of Sherlock Hound as shipping this August.. As one can easily guess from the title Sherlock Hound is Sherlock Homes series where the characters are depicted as dogs. The series is noteworthy because Hayao Miyazaki (Kiki's Delivery Series, Princess Mononoke) directed six episodes of the series, and wrote some of the six before the series was put on hiatus due to copyright issues. For more information on the series and Miyazaki's involvement see Nausicaa.net
Animeigo News
Animeigo is in the process of buying the rights to Spirit of Wonder again, and they say that should happen by next summer.
Otaku no Video is expected to go to authoring this fall. Otaku no Video is a parody documentary about Japanese anime fans. Crusher Joe is on their 'want to make happen' list. Crusher Joe is a movie set in the same universe as Dirty Pair (who make a cameo), but with a more series tone. Crusher Joe is space police officer who works on counter terrorism missions. They say they've worked out all their bugs and learned the authoring process with their first discs, and expect that future releases will come out much faster. Oh! My Goddess disc, which we saw a preview of, has great extras, including a slide show, a commentary track, and a dub your own track (music and effects only)."
Urusei Yatsura TV Box 2 is in replication and shipment date is expected to be about 2-3 weeks from now. Urusei Yatsura TV Box 3 is in production and is quickly approaching replication as well, with a tentative 45 days before AnimEigo thinks they'll send it off to be replicated. The first Oh! My Goddess disc (which has a release date with many retailers) is looking to be replicated in about 45 days as well. Disc 2 of Oh! My Goddess is expected to contain a few music videos as well. Vampire Princess Miyu Vol. #2 is still in the authoring stages and is looking at a late summer release (though a date has been announced to retailers). Baoh is also still in the authoring stages and is expected for late summer release.
New Anime in July
AniHabara has posted the following list of anime shows debuting this July in Japan:
Fruit Basket (TV TOKYO) Stories about a girl, and strange family which transform into animals when they hold a woman. Directed by Daichi, Akitaro. Cosmo Warrior Zero (AT-X)
Matumoto Reiji's new work. In the end of 30th century, human being is accepting the coexistence with mechanized people. However, Captain Harlock rebelled against them and went to the space. Warrior Zero is appointed to exterminator of him....
Shaman King (TV TOKYO)
Shaman has a supernatural power which make ghosts haunt on his body, and use ghost's power or special ability. I-MY-ME Strawberry Egg (WOWOW[free])
Amawa Hibiki is a teacher, and she is a hot-blooded woman, but she is loved by girl students? Directed by Yamaguchi, Yuuji. Mahou Shoujo Neko Taruto [Magic Cat Girl Taruto] Stories of a cat ear girl who studies magic.
Pioneer explains CCS 4
CLAMP's tale of a girl chasing down and capturing cute mystic creature known as Clow Cards is being released in an edited Japanese language version as Cardcaptor Sakura, and in an edited English language version as Card Capotrs. Cardcaptor Sakura Vol. #4 will have a Jan 15 2002 release date while Cardcaptor SakuraVol. #5 will have a 9/11/2001 release date. Both retail for 29.99$.
The Right Stuf site has given an explanation via Pioneer about why Cardcaptor Sakura #4 is due out in January 2002:
Pioneer Entertainment regrets to announce that Cardcaptor Sakura 4: Sakura Fight! has been postponed to January 2002 in accordance to our Licensor's request. This request does not affect other Cardcaptor Sakura volumes, so Cardcaptor Sakura 5: Vacation Daze will still be released on 9/11/01. Pioneer Entertainment appreciates your patience and your understanding regarding this unexpected and unfortunate delay and we will attempt to compensate you, our loyal consumers, for the delay through an additional limited edition bonus available with the release of Volume 4. We will announce more details later this year as they become finalized. Thank you for your continuing support.
Tokyo Pop Release Date
Due out on 8/28 is the first volume of Vampire Princess Miyu TV and Saint Tail. Both discs have a running time of 75 minutes and a retail price of 29.99$. Both discs are bilingual releases, though it's worth noting that there will be a dub VHS released alongside them, but not subtitled VHS.
Manga Entertainment Dates
Blood being moved from 7/31 to 8/28, and X slated for a 9/25 release. Blood is a movie about a mysterious girl who enters a US air force base to exterminate a group of vampire like creatures. The movie was created by Mamoru Oshii (Ghost in the Shell), and directed by Hiroyuki Kitakubo (Roujin Z, Jojo's Bizarre Adventure). X is based on the CLAMP manga series, but differs from the series due to that fact it was made before the manga concluded. The movie is about a young man who is haunted by visions of the death of his love who must chose to join a group that with save the world, or a group that will save humity, ut doom those he cares about with either chose. They are only listing solid dates through September, but Giant Robo 1 & 2 and the two Evangelion movies are scheduled for October.
Cosmo Warrior Zero TV Additions
Update on Leiji Matsumoto's upcoming Cosmo Warrior Zero Anime TV series, as previously reported a press event was held in Tokyo on May 10th where cast and staff were on hand to discuss and officially launch the new project. The series will be completely supervised by Matsumoto and air on TV Tokyo Channel 12 and TV Ch. 729 Animation Theater X (AT-X) in 13 30 minute episodes.
DBZ Air Date for Season Five
FUNimation has announced that the fifth season of Dragon Ball Z will begin to air on Cartoon Network September 3rd. "This is a testament to just how well-loved the characters of Dragon Ball Z have become," said Gen Fukunaga, president of FUNimation, which introduced the Japanese TV series to America. "No other series has ever been allowed that amount of time during Toonami, so this obviously is a very exciting time - not only for FUNimation, but for all Dragon Ball Z fans." In addition, the Cartoon Network has designated May 25 as Z Day, which means that the entire Toonami will be dedicated to airing Dragon Ball Z episodes. Viewers have been and can cast votes online for their top 2 DBZ episodes, which will be included in the May 25 broadcast.
And starting June 25th, be sure to tune into Cartoon Network to watch the Dragon Ball series that will begin airing in the time slot immediately following DBZ.
Billboard Rankings
According to Billboard.com, Bandai's Escaflowne Vol. 5 : Paradise and Pain is ranked 7th for VHS sales nationally.
Escaflowne follows Hitomi from a track practice to Gaia, a feudal world where Earth appears as a moon, were armies battle with mecha. The series presents interesting science fiction and ethical issues that are not present in similar entries in the school girl in mystical land genre. Its music by Yoko Kanno, and animation by Sunrise are similarly top notch.
Cowboy Bebop Box Set
Bandai has stated that they will not be selling the box or any other extras they use with their upcoming DVD box set of Cowboy Bebop Seperately. Concerning the Cowboy Bebop boxed set, Bandai has said that they will not offer the case or any extras separately.
Fushigi Yugi VHS Box Set 2
A VHS box set of the second season of Fushigi Yugo will be released on 8/21.
Takahashi to restart One Pound Gospel
A report from the AnimEigo Talk mailing list states that Rumiko Takahashi, the creator of a number of famous manga (comic) series including the martial arts comedy Ranma ½, the romantic drama Maison Ikkoku, and the horror series Mermaid Scar, has returned to series One Pound Gospel. The series was resumed in this week's Shonon Sunday issue 25. One Pound Gospel follows a 19 year old boxer named Kosaku who has trouble maintaining his weight who received motivated from a nun named Angela. A 50 minute OAV (direct to video release) based on the series was releases in 1988.
Trigun on Toonami, Reported Again, Denied Again
Recently, TokyoPop listed the soundtrack to the anime series Trigun with the statement "And that's how it should be for the intergalactic adventures of Vash the Stampede in Trigun, the hit anime seen on Cartoon Network..." Chad Kime, a representative of Pioneer, who releases the series in the US told Anime News Network "As far as I am aware, this is simply an error by Tokyo Pop. Trigun certainly has never aired on the Cartoon Network..." "Never say never, just say not yet."
The online edition of Viz's (who releases Ranma ½, and he Pokemon manga in the US) Animerica once described the series as airing on Toonami, but later corrected itself.
It is difficult to imagine that businesses continue to mistakenly say that the series is coming to Cartoon Network without some reason. The series is a sci-fi/western action/drama that starts with several light episodes which mask the series' more serious tone. Two insurance agents are sent to track down the outlaw known as Vash the Stampede, who leaves an enormous path of destruction in his wake, but very few injuries. They meet a man clad in red trench coat who is two quick to act silly or chase a woman, but shows signs of incredible speed and skill.
Kodocha and Marmalade Boy Manga Coming to US
TokyoPop (formerly known as Mixx) has licensed the manga (comic) Kodomo No Omocha(Kodocha for short, translated as Child's Toy) and Marmalade Boy for release in the US.
Here is how they are describing the series: Kodocha is a series about a hyperactive child actress who is the draughts of a renowned author. In school she is challenged by a sullen boy who has taken control of the classroom. An animate version of the series has following the US, but no company has announced an acquisition of the series. The series mixes series family issues with humor aimed both at adults and children. A bit like a very amusing afterschool special.
Marmalade Boy is a humorous romance about a girl whose parents return from a vacation and announce that they are divorcing and swapping spouses with a couple they met on the trip. She then developes a crush on her new step brother, but learns he's best friends with a boy she used to have a crush on, and now has a crush on her. Like Kodocha Marmalade Boy mixes at comedy with broader themes, but is more subdued them the hyper Kodocha. Also like Marmalade Boy it has been adapted into an anime series that has yet to be announced for domestic distribution.
More On Toonami's Future
The Official Toonami.com Site has updated their faq section after a long-long time. The FAQ spends some time stating what will not be seen (ie. more Big O, only 13 episode were made). The good news for Sailor fans is "Toonami will be airing all three of the Sailor Moon movies - Sailor Moon R, Sailor Moon S, and Sailor Moon Super S - this year." The FAQ can be read here
An Electronics Media Article she more light on the development relationship between Cartoon Network and Kids WB. Nintendo, working through media-buying agency Starcom, already have put their money behind the first-ever integrated Kids' WB and Cartoon Network upfront deals that include The WB's "Toonami" branded afternoon access offerings such as "Pokemon" and "The Adventures of Jackie Chan," also being carried on Turner's Cartoon Network. The WB will run the Cartoon Network's "Samurai Jack" in its Kids' WB Saturday morning schedule. Kids' WB will be promoted on The Cartoon Network in a weekly half-hour preview at 7:30 p.m. (ET) Fridays. AOL online kids-related extensions also are included in such pacts.
The article can be read at here
Gaiman Animation Project
Another non-anime entry.According to a report by Newsarama Neil Gaiman(creator of the comic series Sandman, writer of the English script to Princess Mononoke, and the soon to be released American Gods ect) is writing a script for The Ramayana. According to the writer, in a "moment of madness", he agreed to adapt The Ramayana - the 8,000-page Indian epic poem - into an 80-minute animated film for Dreamworks. He reports he's currently on the third draft of the treatment.
