Father Geek (of the blistered Finger Tips) here with another of our great Manga/Anime reports for your mid-work-week enjoyment and information. As usual we are covering anything and everything having to do with the wonderful worlds of Anime and Manga, not just the comics and videos, but the toys, games, theater releases, company politics... EVERYTHING your little animated heart desires... Buuuuut first, before Scott's regular report Father Geek has some good news for you that came directly to Geek Headquarters in Austin from Japan...

I live in Japan and I saw a TV special for the opening of the new Studio Ghibli animated feature "Neko no Ongaeshi" (Gratitude of the Cat), not directed by Miyazaki. Anyway, it was announced on the special (I think for the first time) that Miyazaki will be directing a new feature that starts production in February of 2003. Even though I'm pretty sure he said that "Sen to Chihiro no Kamikakushi" (Spirited Away) would be his last film (as he also did with Princess Mononoke). Nothing is yet known of what the film will be about. But the staff at Studio Ghibli would be taking vacation (after finishing "Neko no Ongaeshi") and would be asked to come back refreshed in February of next year to start on the new production.

Other than that, there was a special mentioned that Miyazaki was currently working on building a town. It looks like a kind of utopian village from his ever active imagination. The broadcast mentioned that a daycare center would be in the best part of the town (showing Miyazaki's love for children). There would also be a hospice near to that. It said that this wasn't just a dream of Miyazaki's. Well, that's about all.

Jayman

Father Geek back, WOW!!! A Miyazaki-land. I want to go there NOW! Well, instead I'll just have to settle for this week's...

AICN Anime Report...

by Scott Green...

Special Anime Preview: Evangelion Death and Rebirth

Released by Manga Entertainment

For a while it looks like all anime would be categorized as pre or post Neon Genesis Evangelion. It looks like the medium in increasing escaping its pull, but the series flooded Japanese television with its children. It brought or introduced back giant robots, weekly attacking monsters, skin tight suits, and flashy symbolism.

The series followed Shinj Ikari, the withdrawn son of the founder of Nerve, a secret organization which used giant robots, piloted by children to combat invading creatures known as angels. It is giant robots done exceptionally well, packed with interesting sci-fi battle, creative battles and secret histories. And there may be some religion may be thrown in. And it may be able damaged people living in a damaged world, or perception and self determination, or none of these thing. And this created controversy when the series concluded its television run.

The Evangelion movies came about as a replacement for the television series final two episodes. When you cap off a 26 episodes series that was full off amazing fights between giant robots and other worldly invaders, in a world full of Byzantine networks of secret agencies, and heavy handed Judeo-Christians symbolism with a two episode challenge to viewer to re-evaluate the series, the medium, and themselves, you are going to evoke a strong love or hate reaction. The episodes here an ink blot test. Some say the studio, Gainax ran out of budget and couldn't bring the series to its Apocalyptic conclusion, others said it was a parable about the making of the series, other said that it was forwarding the message the series was making all along. The viewers who preferred Evangelion as a story rather than as a statement, or a question strongly objected to the new purpose the episodes imposed on the series, and whether they liked it or not, the movies "Death and Rebirth", and "End of Evangelion" gave them what they wanted.

The first half of the movie retells the series leading up to is finally, most in Gainax's text interspersed rapid cuts style. It is probably the most intense clip show you'll see. The scenes are sorted by character, and event to a lesser degree. Though years have passed since many first saw Evangelion, and the prominent memory is Shinj's whining, it doesn't take long before the show becomes fresh again, and you before entranced in its excitement, and details. The arrangement lends insight to those who have already seen the series, and it is probably an adequate introduction to those who have not.

The second half is the first part of Evangelion's alternate ending. It is Evangelion without television's constraints of budget, or taste. It opens up with one of the most shocking displays of helplessness put on film, and gets more gut wrenching from there. If people are correct about Evangelion being a parable about anime production, and public reaction, "Death and Rebirth" sure isn't a love letter.

In response to Gendo Ikari's gambit, Nerve's parent organization SEELE decides to exterminate its child. After defeating the mysterious monster, NERV is shattered by special ops soldier, helicopters and bombing. It isn't fun action, it's people bleeding, and screaming.

The first ending caused either love, or hate, this one may invoking love or hate, but in many cases, it is going to stun the viewer (and count the delays to the released of the second half in "End of Evangelion"). It has everything that people disappointed with the television series ending wanted: relentless action, resolutions to the series' plot, amazing animation, cool technology, and fierce giant robot battles, but it probably isn't how they imagined it would be. Regardless of your reaction to the first ending, you may not enjoy "End of Evangelion", but you know you have to see if, because if nothing else, Evangelion is as invocative as anime comes, and you know will not see anything like it again. There is some real debate and thought that can be put into this movie, and like the series, there may not be an answer.

The DVD features encyclopedia of background information about the series, running links to information, and a great commentary track by voice actors, voice directors, and an overly knowledgeable fan.

Death and Rebirth is due to be released July 30th.

Anime Spotlight: His and Her Circumstances Volume 1 (episodes 1-6)

Released by Right Stuf

So what does one do after creating and directing Neon Genesis Evangelion? Well, in the case of Hideaki Anno, direct a shoujo (girl's) high school drama/comedy. His and Her Circumstances is the story of the people that just about everyone loathes to some degree in high school; the perfect people who are attractive, excel at scholastics and sports, and worst of all have great personalities. Like Evangelion the series examines extreme cases of a certain personality model, with an eye to its implications.

Yukino Miyazawa is one of those people; a deviant praise junkie who puts herself through the wringer for attention and admiration of the faceless masses. Though she is a lazy, selfish slob when at home with her middle class, mildly dysfunctional family at home, at school she is eternally helpful, intelligent, and highly successful. Her only competition is Souichiriou Arima, a boy from a rich family who seems naturally and effortless perfect. The two enter into a whirl wind relationship, a bit like Friends on speed, with character depth. Despite its high every level, it is an introspective series. After meeting Arima, Miyazawa because very self aware, and alternates between periods of instinctual spontaneity, and examination or planning.

His and Her Circumstances could have easily been very bland visually. A large potion of it is characters in school uniforms talking to each other, or thinking to themselves. Instead, it plays with the standard tools of the genre (ie "super deforming" the character by adjusting their body proportions to humorous effect), along with visual symbolism both blatant and innovative. Then creates a new visual vocabulary, often in ways that soften the boundary between still mediums and animation. For example, integrating pages of the manga (comic) into the action, or use of onscreen text that resembles still (magazine/sign/add) graphic layout over moving animation. The result gives the series its own flavor.

Right Stuf's release of the series is nothing short of amazing. Their statements about record the amount of code that went into the DVD was clearly not an idol boast. The amount to text the screen must have presented an a staggering challenge, and it is one that Right Stuf met with outstanding success. The DVD allows the use the choice of language track, subtitles, and whether to translate screen text. Their translation not only matches the color of the text and position of the text, but in some case its motion in an attractive and natural way.

His and Her Circumstances is wittier and deeper than most sitcoms, and its focus on the mechanics of personalities gives it an appeal to viewers who aren't necessarily interested in a high school drama.

Anime Spotlight: GTO Great Teacher Onizuka (volumes 2 and 3)

Released by TOKYOPOP

After the first volume of Great Teacher Onizuka, its biker thug turned teacher protagonist has established himself on firm ground at a school where he will be teaching. Without the first volume's burden of defining the character is a small amount of space, the show's spacing become more natural, and what was annoying in the first volume becomes enjoyable. The most noticeable difference between the animated and manga (comic) versions of GTO is the pacing. The increase in speed helps later volumes, but proved too much too soon in the first volume. Onizuka's insane antics and fantasies become fun when they aren't inundating you.

When Onizuka reaches his new school, a consistent cast of teachers (full of perverts, stalkers, and thugs) and students (a group of misfits, schemers and deadbeats) enter the story. The new sense of continuity helps the series immensely. The paradox of Great Teacher Onizuka is that the two things that make the series work are that it is some fresh, and unseen, and an emotion empathy with the characters built from familiarity. Though it settles into a familiar pattern it retains its ability to shock, and though its emotional, it doesn't cross into sentimentality.

In its first volume GTO was something new, and novel, in its second and third, it becomes addicting, one of the few shows you mark your calendar in preparing for the released of the next volume. The whole "he changed one life at a time" thing is pat, played out, and insulting preachy. However, when the protagonist is a headstrong earnest nutcase, and the lives charge are a spoiled girl who lives for making adults lick her feet, it obtains a level of interest, and off qualities of sweetness and believability. Even if its often predictable.

This Week's Releases

Anime

• Dragon Ball Z - Fusion - Losing Battle
• Dragon Ball Z - Fusion - Play for Time
• Nadia, The Secret of Blue Water - The Prophecy
• Fulfilled (Vol. 10)
• Steel Angel Kurumi - The Trouble With Angels (Vol. 2)
• Yu Yu Hakusho - A New Apprentice (Edited, Vol. 3)
• Yu Yu Hakusho - A New Apprentice (Uncut, Vol. 3)

Manga

• All New Tenchi Muyo Part 1 #3 (Of 5)
• Bastard Vol 1 Tp
• Dragonball Part 5 #2 (Of 7)
• Dragonball Z Vol 9 Tp
• Inu Yasha Part 6 #15 (Of 15)
• Lodoss War Deedlits Tale Vol 1 Tp Choices
• Whats Michael A Hard Days Life Tp

Bastard Influenced by swords and sorcery, and full of metal music puns, the comedy adventure features the wizard Dark Shneider against his former lieutenants who are trying to conquer the world.

Lodoss War Deedlit's Tale is shoujo version of the swords and sorcery tale Lodoss War, focusing on the relationship between the elf women Deedlit, and the knight Parn.

Steel Angel Kurumi is a 15 minute episode series an alternate history version of Japan in the 1920's with a young boy, and his military robot in a French maid outfit.

Info On New Gundam

From Anime News Service:

The next new Gundam series is Mobile Suite Gundam Seed, scheduled for Japanese TV this October. The stand alone story follows the forces of an Earth orbiting colony who steal five prototype Gundams.

This new series seeks to capture the generation approximately 10 years of age and up (including junior high and high school students). 2 protagonists (aged round about 16) and 10 Gundam types will be featured and it's the hope that this new work will have it's inspiration on the current generation of fans as the original MS Gundma had when it was debuted over 20 years ago.

The official site can be seen at www.gundam-seed.net

The animation production staff includes supervisor Mitsuo Fukuda (Gear Fighter Dendoh, Cyber Formula), Kunio Okawara (MS Gundam, Gaogaiger) & Kimitoshi Yamane (Cowboy Bebop, Ryvius) as mecha designers, and Hisashi Hirai (Ryvius, Gulkeever) as character designer.

GameSpot confirms that a Playstation 2 game based on Gundam Seed will be released in Japan in December.

The August 2002 issue of Newtype Magazine, to be released this month in Japan, will feature an article on Sunrise's latest Gundam series titled New Mobile Suit Gundam Seed.

According to Game Spot Bandai announced PlayStation 2 titles based on upcoming animated series Gundam Seed and Dragon Drive in Japan.

Ghibli Closes Down...

Ghibli Completes "Neko",and then Breaks For six Months. According to Japanese Newspapers the production of Ghibli's (Princess Mononoke, Kiki's Delivery Service) upcoming title Neko no Ongaeshi has been completed and the movie will be released in theatres on July 20th in Japan. The movie is based on the cat Baron from "Whispers of the Heart", a great movie about young artists

Toshio Suzuki, studio manager and producer, announced that Studio Ghibli will be closed until February 1st, 2003, when the production of Miyazaki's next film will begin.

G-Gundam on Toonami Press Release

Official Press Release:

New Gundam Series Joins Toonami August 5 at 5:30pm (ET, PT)

Cartoon Network will premiere G Gundam on Monday, August 5, during Toonami, the network's top-rated afternoon action-adventure franchise. The 49 episode series will air Monday - Friday at 5:30 p.m. (ET, PT).

G Gundam occurs at the beginning of the thirteenth Gundam Fight in the year Future Century 0060. The elite of humankind have immigrated to various space colonies, leaving the poor behind on Earth. In an attempt to eliminate war, the nations developed the Gundam Fight, a tournament held every four years to determine the ruler of the Earth Sphere. For the tournament, each nation sends a Gundam and a pilot to Earth where they engage in battles with Gundams of the other nations. The winner is bestowed with honor and glory while his nation obtains the right to rule the world until the next tournament.

This time, more is at stake than a simple battle for power. Neo Japan's Gundam Fighter, Domon Kasshu, is on a mission to find his brother. Domon's brother fled to Earth after stealing a prototype Gundam called the Dark Gundam and for this crime, Domon's father has been sentenced to a state of suspended animation. Only by winning the tournament and tracking down the Dark Gundam can Domon clear the family name and save his father.

Tokyopop Open Letter regarding Initial D

TOKYOPOP has sent out an open letter to the anime and manga fan community about concerns regarding the translation of Initial D. Anime News Network has it posted here.

Excerpt from the letter:

First, we score Initial D, this kick-ass franchise property from Japan. We get the anime, the manga, the merchandising -- and we are thrilled! Then, we start making our plans. This is gonna be Speed Racer for the new millennium -- we're thinking lunch pails, videogames, t-shirts. you name it!

We also know that we have a responsibility to be true to the spirit of the original Japanese version of Initial D. So, we start having lots of late night sessions about how to present Initial D to the widest possible audience and yet still retain its core essence. Some of us insist on calling the car the 'Hachi-Roku,' others call that insane and say that the only way to present the car to an American audience is as the 'Eight-Six.' We talk to bigwig network execs who want all the kanji removed from the logo and the car, who want to change tofu delivery to pizza delivery, who are utterly mystified at our insistence on retaining the original Japanese sound effects and printing the manga right-to-left, and who want us to refer to Takumi as Jeffrey "because it would be easier to pronounce"!

Most of the time, amidst this onslaught, we stick to our guns. Tofu stays tofu - place names like Mount Akina, Myogi, Akagi, the names of the racing teams, the name of the very prefecture wherein the story unfolds, the Fujiwara Tofu Shop kanji on the side of the Eight-Six -- we keep them all. But, bless our pointy little heads, we decide to create nicknames for some of the character names in the books because we know that they will have to be changed when the show gets on television, anyway - and at least we can keep the nicknames close.

So, Takumi becomes Tak, and Itsuki becomes Iggy, and Bunta & Kenji become Bunta & Kenji (wait, those aren't good examples - gomen!), and Wataru Akiyama becomes Aki, and Keisuke Takahashi becomes K.T. It could've been worse - we could've been forced to go with Dirk, Patsy, Buffy, Andrea, Chelsea, Geoffrey, and Chandler . and, just FYI, the hot Sega Initial D arcade game due in a neighborhood near you soon will also feature the same names currently running in our manga.

So, why did we release the first volume of the manga with the original names? We simply screwed up - d'oh! - and went to press before our strategy was finalized. Just so you know, our next printing of Volume 1 will have the altered names. Also, in the spirit of full disclosure: there are a few sex scenes in the manga that we'll be altering -- one in the 1st volume, another later on in Vol. 8 or 9. These edits are necessary because we are positioning Initial D in the U.S. for a younger audience than it serves in Japan.

Convention News (including Cowboy Bebop Movie Dub Premiere)

The Big Apple Anime Festival has announced that they have locked in for the next four years. This year's convention will feature the US premiere of Millennium Actress, and the premiere of the English dub of the Cowboy Bebop movie.

Anime News Network reports, it looks as if Cowboy Bebop staff Shinichiro Watanabe (Director) and Toshihiro Kawamoto (Character Design, Animation director (movie)). While neither guest is listed in the BAAF Guest List the theatre schedule list a Q&A session with them following the premiere of the Cowboy Bebop dub.

Wendee Lee and David Lucas will be reprising their roles as Faye Valentine and Spike Spiegel in Cowboy Bebop: The Movie. John Billingslea also returns as Jett Black, however he is using his real name for the part, Beau Billingslea. At this time there is no mention of any other cast members.

Also noticeable is that the Press Release refers to the movie only as "Cowboy Bebop: The Movie", there is no mention of the "Knockin' on Heaven's Door" title.

Anime Expo Next York announced Atsushi Takeuchi and Noboru Ishiguro will be attending as guests of honor.

Ishiguro is best known as the director of such series as Macross, Space Cruiser Yamato, Legend of the Galactic Heroes and many more.

Takeuchi is Production IG's top mecha designer and has produced the mecha designs for Anime such as Ghost in the Shell, Sakura Taisen and Tenchi Muyo. Takeuchi has also directed a number of items including Yuki Kaze and has worked as production designer and key animator on a number of Anime.

For More information see Anime Expo

A new major anime convention has been announced for Chicago in 2003 named Anime Reactor.

From the announcement: For years, the Japanese Anime and American comic book cultures have lived in separate realms. Enter Anime Reactor, the newest fan-based anime convention, created to primarily promote understanding and education of these two cultures to provide both fan groups the opportunity to explore similarities and influences. See www.animereactor.org for more information.

The first guest announced for Anime Reactor is manga artist Kia Asamiya.He is internationally known for his work on the popular series Silent Mobius, Dark Angel and Steam Detectives.

Bandai has announced Takehito Ito (Outlaw Star and Angel Links) and Hiroyuki Morioka (Crest of the Stars) at this year's Otakon 2002 Convention in Baltimore, Maryland from July 26th through July 28th.

With the huge success of Bandai's anime series, Outlaw Star, on Cartoon Network's Adult Swim block - fans of Japanese animation will get a chance to interact with Mr. Takehito Ito throughout Otakon weekend at various scheduled panels and autograph sessions. Mr. Ito is a well known manga artist and art director who began his career as an animation and merchandising illustrator. He studied planning and editing at Shindosha, a design office known for their designs of the popular Zeta Gundam anime series. In his late 20s, he founded Morning Star Inc. and has since been involved with animation and videogame character designs.

Based on the best selling science fiction novels by Hiroyuki Morioka, the Crest of the Stars series helped introduce the epic saga of the Abh Empire and the dramatic story between the Abh Princess Lafiel and young human Jinto. In 1996, "Seikai no Monsho - Crest of the Stars" was published. This popular story was well received gaining much popularity and reputation as the cutting edge of sci-fi space saga, and received the 28th Seiun Awards in Japan. Soon after, the Crest of the Stars story would be animated by Sunrise studios with release here in North America.

Otakon announced that director Tatsuo Sato will be attending the convention as a guest of honor. His major projects include Chibi Maruko (animation director), Akazukin Cha Cha (animation director), and His and Her Circumstances (script). Branching out, he took the helm as full director for the first time in 1995 on a show called Tobe! Isami (Fly! Isami), followed by Martian Successor Nadesico. He was also directed the Nadesico movie, Nadesico: The Prince of Darkness, in 1998. His recent works include Gakuen Senki Muryo and Nekojiru Sou.

Inu-Yasha English Voices

Rumic World has obtained a detailed list of voice cast for Viz's English dub of Inu-Yasha from Toshifumi Yoshida of Viz.

English Shonen Jump Site Opens

Viz has opened a official web site for the upcoming Shonen Jump manga anthology at www.shonenjump.com

Puchi Puri*Yuushi Website

Gainax has launched a website (in Japanese) for their upcoming TV series Puchi Puri*Yuushi. According to the website the TV series will run for 26 episodes (2 seasons) and air on Thursdays this fall here.

Pokemon 4Ever To be Released October 11th

According to Yahoo Movies, Pokemon 4ever will premiere in North American theatres on October 11th, 2002. The trailer can be seen here

Fist of the Blue Sky Anime

According to AnimeNation the promotional issue 0 of Raijin Comics given away at Anime Expo, an Anime adaptation of Fist of the Blue Sky (Souten no Ken) will premiere on Japanese television this coming October. Fist of the Blue Sky is a prequel to the famous exploding headings martial arts epic Fist of the North Star and will be available to North American readers in the weekly Raijin Comics.

Gutsoon! will be publishing trade paperback collections of a "remastered" and full color edition of Fist of the North Star in the near future.

A DVD will be offered with a one year subscription that will feature the first episodes of Fist of the Blue Sky, and Baki the Grappler.

Weiss Kreuz Gluhen Updates

From Anime News Service

Weißkreuz Gluhen (known as Knight Hunters in Media Blasters domestic release) was delayed earlier this year after copyright issues arrose with the character desings. A new character design will be announced in Japan on July 7th in relation to the broadcast to commence in September 2002. The new desongs have been uploaded to the website of voice actor Koyasu Takehito at here

Also see here and here

Weiss Kreuz is the story of four angst filled attractive men who are florists by day, and assassins by night.

Columbia Tristar Releases in UK

reports Columbia Tristar plans to release Appleseed, based on Ghost in the Shell creator Masamune Shirow on DVD on 7/27.

A Metropolis screen conformed that they will be releasing the Cowboy Bebop movie in the UK.

For information on their Metropolis release see www.metropolisdvd.co.uk

Dreamwave to Adapt More Japanese Titles?

Comics rumor column Lying in the Gutters, who has just handled the ultra-successful re-launch of the Transformer comic, has caught the attention of a number of Japanese publishers, talking about licensing their properties for the North American market. Dreamwave's reputation is growing and we can expect to see a fair few newly reimagined versions of Japanese classics.

The column also reports Wildstorm stealing the "Robotech" license from under Dreamwave's noses, with the connection to Tommy Yune who drew WildStorm's "Speed Racer" and "Danger-Girl: Kamikaze" mini-series', and left to draw Robotech. His art on classic characters like Minmay is at www.Robotech.com

From the column:

So Jim Lee already has an agent working the gears from the inside - and it's just a matter of time before the WildStorm-Robotech deal is announced. Early plans call for Yune to draw the covers, ad's and vignette stories. Stories are to be authored by Carl Macek (the original writer of the "Robotech" animated series) with a bunch of Wildstorm favourites on art.

ICV Interviews

ICV2 interviewd Gutsoon! (the company that will be producing weekly manha anthology Raijin) Consulting Editor Sam Humphries, and Nobu Horie, Chairman of Gutsoon parent Coamix Inc. here,

Tokyopop VP--Information Services Mike Kiley was interviewed here.

Cartoon Network Cowboy Bebop Marathon

Jazz Messanger re[prts next Saturday Cartoon Network will be airing a Cowboy Bebop marathon with "6 of the best episodes of Cowboy Bebop back to back." There is speculation that these will be the episodes on the special edition DVD.

Ken Lee leaves Tokyopop

Ken Lee has announced that he will be leaving Tokyopop in order to rejoin the video game industry where he worked before.

Upcoming Anime Releases

From Media Blasters:

• Dragon Rider - 29.95 - 60 minutes
• Knight Hunters Vol. #5 - 29.95 - 125 minutes - Final Volume
• Space Pirate Mito Vol. #1 - 24.95 - 100 minutes

From Pioneer:

• Fushigi Yugi: Eikoden - 29.98/39.98 - 120 minutes - 11/12/2002
• Sailor Moon Super S TV Vol. #5 - 29.98 - 140 minutes - 11/19/2002
• Vandread Second Stage Vol. #2 - 29.98 - 75 minutes - 11/19/2002
• X Vol. #2 - 29.98 - 75 minutes - 11/19/2002
• Tenchi Muyo! : Magical Project S: Volume 1 - 44.95 - 325 minutes - 11/19/2002
• Tenchi Muyo! : Magical Project S: Volume 2 - 44.95 - 325 minutes - 11/19/2002
• Sherlock Hound Casefile 6 - 29.98 - 100 minutes - 12/12/2002
• Strawberry Eggs Vol. #3 - 29.98 - 75 minutes - 12/12/2002
• Zoids Vol. #4 - 19.98 - 88 minutes - 12/12/2002

The original Armitage III OAV series is now scheduled for domestic DVD release in November.

Hand Maid May will be released as a boxed set early next year. The Tenchi Muyo OAV series will be re-released on DVD in America in mid-spring of next year.

Pioneer has confirmed for Anime on DVD that the Tenchi Muyo Pretty Sammy TV series, known in America as "Magical Project S," will hit domestic DVD in two 2-disc DVD sets containing episodes 1-13 & 14-26.

Pioneer has launched a website dedicated to Mihoshi and Pretty Sammy from Tenchi Muyo! at here.

ADV announced tha Dai-Guard volume 1 will be released on September 17th at $29.98 for 5 episodes. Dragon Half will be released on the 24th.

Super Atragon DVD Release

ADV Films has set the street date of August 20, 2002 for the DVD premiere of Super Atragon, the popular OAV produced by Toho International, the legendary producers of the Godzilla movie franchise, and co-producers of Akira and Spriggan. Super Atragon is based on Kaitei Gunkan, the 1900 Japanese science fiction novel by Shunro Oshikawa. Previously available on VHS, this release marks the DVD premiere of Super Atragon.

The Story: Moments after an atomic bomb falls over Hiroshima, a secret Japanese submarine sails into battle against its American counterpart, and both are lost to history. Some fifty years later, the long-lost sub astonishingly reappears, as a mysterious black cylinder threatens a special UN task force sent to investigate unusual phenomena in Antarctica. However, the incident in the Antarctic is only the first round in a cataclysmic battle of wills between two descendants of an ancient race dwelling within the Earth. Standing against them is a single, amazing ship - the RA, a Yamato-class battle sub secretly rebuilt after its supposed destruction in World War II. A science fiction masterpiece with a brilliant story and stunning animation, Super Atragon is a classic no one should miss!

ADV's release of Super Atragon ($24.98 SRP) collects the two-part sci-fi anime in the English-language, as well as the Japanese language version with English subtitles.

One Piece Manga Surpasses Slam Dunk Distribution Record

Anime News Service The "ONE PIECE " is the first edition highest. The 24th volume of the book of popular comics "ONE PIECE " (Artist: Eiichiroh Oda, Publishing company: Shueisha) published the 2,520,000 parts highest ever by the first edition on the 4th. The second impression of 20,000 parts was decided after two weeks. "ONE PIECE" is under series in a weekly Shonen jump (company), and the TV program is also broadcast. Old record is 2,500,000 parts of 21 - 23-volume each first edition of a "slam dunk shot" (Takehiko Inoue ).

One Piece is a fun pirate series about Monkey D. Lufi, a boy with a stretching rubber body, and dreams to be the Pirate King. He's joined by an equally odd crew, and faces increasingly strange villains.

Anime Game News

From The Magic Box

Images of the Playstation game Puruu's Adventure from Groove Adventure Rave, featuring the anime/manga series' very odd mascot (a snow-man like dog with a cone nose) can be seen at here.

The world should prepare for a barrage of Sega's Sakura Taisen (Wars), the popular RPG games and anime series features an steam tech version of the 1920's were groups of young women with special energy protect nations with their steam tech robots.

Sega made their big announcement regarding the Sakura Taisen World Project yesterday in Japan which includes a new manga series, six Playstation 2 games, one game for Windows PC's, a musical event and two OVA series. The one shot OVA, Sakura Taisen: Kanzaki Sumire Intai Kinen, is scheduled for a December 2002 release. Another three volume OAV series: Sakura Taisen: Ecole de Paris is slated for release from spring-summe3 2003. Famitsu.com has added series editor Akahori Satoru mentioned a TV series and movie should also be produced.

Images from the upcoming X: The Chosen Fate fighting game, based on CLAMP's X can be seen here

Bandai has announced SD Gundam G-Generation Neo for PlayStation 2, the latest sequel of their popular robot war simulation game.

Banpresto has released update details on their GameBoy Color action card battle game Dragonball Z: Legendary Super Fighters, scheduled to release in Japan on August 9, for 4500 yen. Banpresto mentioned the game will be released in 5 different languages for the Europe and North America market. Screen shots can be seen here

Bandai has released new details on their upcoming WonderSwan Color / SwanCrystal fighting game From TV Animation One Piece Grand Battle Swan Colosseum, scheduled to release in Japan on July 12, for 4500 yen. The game is based on the hit TV anime series One Piece, featuring characters from the series. This time the theme is the battle between Luffy's pirate team and Mr. Crocodile's Baroque Works. Each character will have over 20 kinds of combo techniques and special attacks. Screenshots can be seen here

Bandai will release an action RPG for WonderSwan Color / SwanCrystal called Inu Yasha ~ Storm Scroll in Japan on July 27, for 4980 yen. Screen shots can be seen here

Konami announced a new Anime based GameCube soccer game called Captain Tsubusa: Golden Generation Challenge, scheduled to release in Japan in September. This time the game will be a 3D soccer game like Winning Eleven 6, in which you will start from a new soccer team, working your way to the soccer champion. Banpresto will release Super Robot Taisen R for GameBoy Advance in Japan on August 2, for 5800 yen. This is the second installment of the popular robot battle simulation game, feature characters from 17 different series + original characters, including Nadesico, Gear Dendoh, True Gettarobot, Neo Gettarrobot. Screen shots can be seen here.

Madman Cafe reports Capcom has made a Grand reopening of the site for their upcoming Playstation 2 adventure game here, "Jojo's Bizzare Adventure - Ougon no Kaze". The title adopts Part 5 of the Gothic horror series manga, with the main Character as the son of Jojo Part 3's last boss, Dio Brandeau.

Hamtaro Continues Ratings Success

"Hamtaro," Cartoon Network's newest half-hour animé import series from Japan, continued pouring in its performance with a fifth straight week of double-digit delivery and ratings gains for its Monday-Friday at 7:00 A.M. timeslot. The series marked its highest draw-in with boys 9-14, rising 146% in delivery (214,000) and 120% in ratings (2.2). Tweens 9-14 saw an impressive growth, up 64% in delivery (246,000) and 44% in ratings (1.3). And kids 6-11 were close behind with a 20% increase in delivery (313,000) and a 13% gain in ratings (1.7).

Anime Merchandise News

Figures.com has images of Battle of the Planets Series 2 from Wizard World here

Central Park Media had signed a three-year licensing agreement with Diamond Select Toys for the production of resin statues, die cast cars, and action figures based on Central Park Media's extensive line of popular anime properties.

The properties that Diamond Select will be turning into toy-and-collectible-related merchandise include Project A-ko, Anime Pin Up Beauties, Cybernetics Guardian, Geobreeders, Tokyo Babylon, Demon City Shinjuku, Cyber City OEDO 808, and MD Geist. An MD Geist statue can be seen at here

Toycom's Skeleton Knights from Berserk can be seen href="http://www.figures.com/databases/action.cgi?setup_file=fignews2.setup&category=actionfigures&topic=73&show_article=131">here. The figure will be released in October for $29.99

Toynami's Armitage and Lain dolls can be seen at href="http://www.figures.com/databases/action.cgi?setup_file=fignews2.setup&category=actionfigures&topic=125&show_article=24">here. The Lain dolls have been delayed to 7/30 for the Lain Schoolgirl Uniform Doll and 8/30 for Lain Bear Pajamas Doll .

Sailor Moon on Cartoon Network

Sailor Moon will leave Cartoon Network's schedule until August 5th, where they will start again with the season 2 episode "Cherry Blossom Time".

Dragonball GT not in production

Anime News Network reports Dave Moran of FUNimation marketing has contradicted reports from Anime Expo that FUNimation is working on a English adaption of Dragon Ball GT.

Speed Racer Site Opens

The official Speed Racer site at www.speedracer.com has been updated with a new flash interface.

UK SciFi Channel Anime Offerings

All these films are showing on Thursdays AFTER Blue Gender, Evangelion and Nadesico on the UK Sci-Fi channel

• 18th July - 1:40am Perfect Blue
• 25th July - 1:15am Akira
• 1st August - 1:35am Adventure Duo
• 8th August - 1:35am Gunbuster - Part 1 (P)
• 15th August - 1:20am Gunbuster - Part 2 (P)
• 22nd August - 1:10am Violence Jack
• 29th August - 1:45am Riding Bean

FLCL Keychains with DVD

Right Stuf is offering a dual sided keychain with the purchase of the first volume of FLCL.

Tokyopop Drops Harlem Beat

According to Right Stuf after publishing 9 graphic novels of Yuriko Nishiyama's Harlem Beat, Tokyopop has decided to drop the series. Production on Harlem Beat graphic novel 10 has been canceled until the company can decide what to do with the manga title.

Anime In Japan

From Anime News Service The August 2002 issue of Comic Dragon announced the recently started Mahou Tsukai ni Taisetsu na Koto manga will be animated. Kojita and Yamada Norie who produce the manga will work on the anime, with Kojita preparing the original character designs and Yamada working on the script. Kojita's website (including a gallery of artworks) can be found here

Starchild's webpages for the following anime TV series are now up: Samurai Deeper Kyo (http://www.starchild.co.jp/special/kyo/index.htm), Rikujyou Bouei Tai Mao-chan (http://www.starchild.co.jp/special/asagiri/index.htm) and Asagiri no Miko (http://www.starchild.co.jp/special/mao/index.htm).

Character designs on Pc-Moe'shttp://www.pc-moe.com/ Rizerumoin second series can be seen at Chara Ani here http://www2.chara-ani.com/titlebbs/T0053584/050166420020708.html. Some recapped details on the second Steel Angel Kurumi TV series which will run as part of Anime Complex NIGHT from October can be viewed here.http://www2.chara-ani.com/titlebbs/T0476215/076119820020708.html

Gonzo has updated its news page with an announcement that it is about to start production on a new TV anime series Gadguard. This sci-fi action drama is set in the city of Unit 74, where hero Sanada Hajiki meets the robotic Lightning. You'll see a few small design pics on the page. More details are in the August 2002 issues of Newtype, Animage and Animedia http://www.gonzo.co.jp/main/news/contents/news200207-main.html

The website for "Overman King-Gainer" has opened at www.king-gainer.net/. The series features designs by Capcom artists Kinu Nishikawa, and Akiman.