OK, Anime & Manga geeks... Ol' Father Geek here, and Scott has really out-done himself this week with a huge monster edition of our regular weekly column dealing with all the world of Manga and Anime. There's tons of uber coolness below... TONS! Soooo grap your fave munchies and drink, get comfortable, and prepare to spend a little extended time in the wide wide world of...

AnimAICN...

by Scott Green

Anime Preview: Marmalade Boy Based on English Dub of First two episodes

To be released by TOKYOPOP

A 3 DVD 19 episode collection will be released April 27th

Marmalade Boy was a cult favorite back in the day when the release of a lengthy shoujo (dominantly female audience) series seemed a very remote possibility. After the initial Maison Ikkuku and Kimugure Orange Road, it was one of the early inroads of anime drama into the fan consciousness. In the intervening years, the greater exposure of shoujo has dulled some the series' novelty (which speaks to the wildness of the genre). For all of the popularity of shoujo manga (comics), shoujo anime constitutes a small minority of the domestically released anime, and is still largely viewed as an experiment. Fans of the shoujo manga are likely to find Marmalade Boy a welcome edition to the market. Despite some animation and fashion design that show signs of 10 years of aging, Marmalade Boy is still an engaging drama.

Miki was an average teenage girl, with interests (tennis), friends, and a boy who she shared a friend/maybe something more relationship with. Her parents always displayed a liberal disregard for society's expectations, but this didn't prepare her for a spouse swap. After returning home from a romantic vacation they announce that they met another couple on the trip, and each fell in love with a member of the opposite couple more than they were in love with their current spouse. Consequently both couples would be getting divorced and after a law prescribed waiting period, marrying their new partner from the other previous marriage. Because everyone gets along well, and wants to continue to raise their children, Miki, her parents, her parents' new spouses, and Yuu, the other couple son who is about her age will be sharing a house.

Beyond being incredibly unsettled by her ultra-unorthodox new family, Miki's life is complicated by having to live with and soon attend school with an attractive and popular new step brother, who launches her into a relationship maelstrom that redefines love triangle (polygon more accurately) complexity.

The immediate selling point to Marmalade Boy is the intrigue of the situations and how the characters to react than any great degree of attachment to the characters themselves. From the start, it more complexity and less contrived than most relationship comedies. It doesn't feel like a setup to wait countless episode for characters to finally just admit the feeling that the audience could have guess in episode one.

For all the wildness of the premise Miki is fairly generic, mildly likable, and excitable. She seems more the average teen than a protagonist who is made to too lovable or too bland. Yuu is fairly generic mildly, unlikable and moody (though this might make him an appealing romantic interesting depending on the viewer). Clearly, there are some simmering issue with this one. The title refers to Miki's metaphor for Yuu, sweet on the outside with a hidden bitter edge (to which he responds by labeling her mustard girl because she's "hot and spicy"). There are some interesting perspectives introduced from the secondary peers, such as Miki's best friend whose view relationship based on her parents' unhappy marriage rules out commitment, or her male friend who is a typical teen who doesn't know what he wants or how to handle making decisions. Ironically for all her frazzled bewilderment, Miki appears in the first two episodes as one of the more well adjusted characters.

The premise sounds like material for a bad sitcom, or one of the recent spate of manic domestic life anime series, but it plays like a not-so trashy prime time soap (which might be a disappointment if you're looking for Love Hina insanity or trashy soap). Rather than Brady Bunch, think Shakespeare of Wagner. You'd be greatly overestimating Marmalade Boy, but you'd that there is some timelessness to the series' exceptional yet somewhat plausible circumstances. It handles the premise in a mostly matter of fact way, acknowledging the strangeness without exaggerating it into hysterics or forced comedy. There are enough circumstances thanks to history and personalities to sustain a nice long soap opera. The first episode don't introduce that many characters, but they are impressively dense, bodes well for the long series being an interesting experience.

One notable, and debatable point in TOKYOPOP's translation of the series, at least in the demo disk is that they, throw in an opening animation with screams "hey, we're in America" (actually used later in the series). Its probably for added localization, but it seems more likely to cause a little confusion given a few references of Japanese culture in the first several episodes (some different divorce laws, and censuses).

In a strange note in the history of buzz, for some reason the now legendary Kodomo No Omocha (aka Child's Toy aka Kodocha) for a while was almost universally described as "Marmalade Boy on acid". When Kodocha became better known, no one, or almost no one called Marmalade Boy "Kodomo No Omocha straight", and some still referred to Kodocha as "Marmalade Boy on acid". Oddly, other than that they were two shoujo series gaining popularity that happened to have some stylistic likenesses (shared with numerous others), the two series were never that similar. There really wasn't any overlap in production staff, the characters weren't the same age. The fact that a Akitaroh Daichi series like Kodocha was labeled control substance inspired isn't as noteworthy as the fact that for some reason, everyone chose to use Marmalade Boy as the yard to measure the new series.

Anime Spotlight: Samurai X/Ruruoni Kenshin: Reflection

Released by ADV Films

(Available separately or as part of the a collection with "Trust" and "Betrayal")

The story of a formerly revolutionary whose inability to give up the life of an activist leaves his supporting wife terribly burdened, and his genius son alienated and unable to live in the shadow of his father is believable, and has many true life parallels, but it a story that few Kenshin fans would like to see as the latter days of the character. The catch 22 is that Reflection is an interesting study of the lead characters of Ruruoni Kenshin, one that requires an existing familiarity with the characters to appreciate, but one that rejects many of the qualities that are generally associated Ruonini Kenshin. The insight into the characters comes at the cost watching an uncomfortable extrapolation of their lives, told without the entertaining dressings of their previous depictions.

The character Kenshin's life was depicted in layered phases: he was an orphan, he was taken by slavers, he was saved, raised and trained by a hermit, he rejected the hermit's teacher of political non-involvement to serve as an assassin in Meiji revolution, he rejected the life of a killer and wandered for then years, he settle in Tokyo went through the events depicted in the manga and anime television series, and finally, having faced the demons of his past and worn out his body beyond the ability to use a sword, he settled down. While the animated television series leaves Kenshin's story with a day in the life, the manga and its supplements rewards Kenshin with the opportunity to leave the warrior's life, and settle with his wife to raise a happy child, and though he decides not to pass on the skills of his lethal style of swordsman, he does pass his reversed blade sword to his young companion and successor Yahiko. Reflection supplies a new final phase to Kenshin's life, but it is a sour one. Sometimes fans want harsh realities for characters, but more often they feel the character deserves something more satisfying, happily ever after, or glorious death in battle. The action hero who can no longer fight, has never forgiven himself, and whose continued struggle has crippled no only himself, but other characters that both he and the audience have grown to care about is not a story that is going to appeal to many fans of the dramatic adventures of the Kenshin television series and manga, or even the harsh violence of the first direct to video OAV series. Reflection has little of the fast action, or exotic history, politics and characters that build the title's monumental popularity.

"Reflection", also known as "Seisouhen", which is the second set of direct to video OAVs series that book end Kenshin's life (in this case create partially in response to the series international popularity), takes a true to life look at Kenshin and Karou's marriage.

Like the previous set of OAVs "Trust" and "Betrayal", in animation and story it is far less stylized look at the characters' lives. More than in the earlier set, many fan pleasers are shaved off, almost as if to avoid distractions. Popular secondary characters are seen, but never as much as a fan would want, in some cases only as cameos and tantalizing background blurs. There are some of the title's trademark sword fights, often well rendered and constructed (the adult Yahiko's integration of Karou's Kenshin's and more traditional samurai style in particular is interesting to watch), but never as whole or satisfying as might be desired. Inside the focus is narrowly set to Kenshin and Karou. Villains appear, supporting characters appear, but it is an examination of how these two characters work. It's mostly told through Karou's perspective (which could be used as an explanation for divergences with other depictions of events), and sometime Kenshin's, though at times it passes the narrative to scene neither could observe.

Though Kenshin in no longer physically able to wield a sword, because he has never been able to forgiven himself for his past, and because he has never been satisfied to his contribution to society he continues to leave Karou to travels to outbreaks of plague and social woe to lend support and social guidance. Karou waits and raises their son. His latest mission, partially at the request of his allies in the Japanese government has taken him to China, but by this point Keshin has worn himself into almost nothing rubbing against the world, and Karou has by flattened to almost nothing under the weight of supporting Kenshin.

Previous conflicts explored the macro issues that faced the characters, their role in survival of the fittest versus compassion, the spirit of an age, Kenshin's struggle not to return to assassin persona when the need arose, or Karou's reaction to Kenshin leaving her to pursue his conflict in Kyoto, but the inner mechanics of the pair remained alien. Reflection takes away the masks the characters wear, and explores their motivations. If you're not put off my the harsh twist in their lives (or the politics and future of Japan's invasion of China), it is an a rewarding view that illuminates the more subtle pieces that made up the personalities of these characters.

Issues such what were Karou's feelings to her father, left her in character of unmarketable sword school, or how she reacted to his death and her mothers; what Karou felt about Kenshin's manufactured light heart personality; how Kenshin weight Karou against his past and how he measured his own redemption. Reflection is the first real look at the unlikable side of kenshin's personality. Even when depicted as a killer, it was always Kenshin the stone cold bad-ass rather than Kenshin the confuse and dangerous sociopath. Here, stripped of the glamour of tragedy, and his upbeat facade, there are a number of real unpleasant facets to his personality with go a long way to explaining the character.

To some degree it also the animated version of the manga series "Jinchu" or "Revenge" (with human orchestrated connotations) story. Because production schedules of the anime and manga series fell far out of synch after the series' epic Kyoto story line the two series diverged, the anime setting Kenshin and his allies against a progression of ever more outlandish antagonists, while the manga immediately followed up Kyoto with a Jinchu, an arc of similar scope in which Kenshin faces the ghosts of his past, culminating with Einishi the brother of Kenshin's former wife.

Nearly all of Reflection's fights are flashbacks (many of the key fights are appear, re-animated, but it isn't a reconstruct fight highlight film), of which the Jinchu material is a pivotal part of the Reflection's flashbacks, and like the other flashbacks paired down, bother in its excesses (in Jinchu's case no giant puppets, zeplins, cannon arms, false corpses, the stapled return of Sano's zanbato), and scope (for Jinchu, only the material with just Karou and Kenshin is include).

Anime Spotlight: Galaxy Angel Volume 1

Released by Bandai

Galaxy Angel is an unexpected treat. Even for the pastel hair and saucer eye-avoidant, Galaxy Angel's infectiously manic, whit is bound to win some converted. Marketing cute to an older, male audience is one of anime's peculiarities. Generally you don't expect a "13 up" rating to go with smiling angelic faces on the DVD's cover. The resulting large chested bubble gum girls can be between screechy and annoying, can be rather creepy or in the case of Galaxy Angel it can provide a very amusing distraction. Even if the blinding hair colors, and frilly meets military uniforms are a turn off, there's something about the manic quality of Galaxy Angel's 12 minute episodes that's strangely addictive.

Galaxy Angel follows the adventures of the five woman Angel Brigade, a crack team made up of perky luck gifted newcomer Milfeulle Sakuraba, flirtatious blonde Ranpha Franboise (a bit in the vein of anime Chinese stereotype), small and proper, but a little snarky fuzzy eared Mint Blancmanche, monocle wearing gun nut amazon Forte Stollen, and silent and sallow Vanilla H (in the Evangelion Rei mold). The Angel Brigade is ostensibly tasked with seeking out the Lost Technology hidden throughout the galaxy, but more often serve as contract trouble shooters.

Galaxy Angel takes the anime excess charm in some imaginative directions. There's of plenty logic free space weirdness ie wealthy blonde family in a neon parody of feudal Japanese attire, and quirky character interaction such the Mint sweetly speculating about what would happen if Vanilla's composure cracked, or Vanilla's vague religious references.(God gets mentions quite a bit in Galaxy Angel). A good sense of comedic timing prevents keeps the strange jokes afloat and gets carried into some energetic action scenes, typically with Ranpha and or Forte doing the heavy lifting, and Milfeulle almost always the slap stick third.

By far, the highlight of the volume is the episode dedicated to the discovery of a missile with artificial intelligences. The Angels take the missile in, where upon it ruminates on the meaning of its existence, how times have changed, how only Vanilla upholds its time standards of womanhood, before almost self destructing, and ultimately getting transplanted into an inanimate stuff animal.

Despite some very recognizable traits, the characters aren't assembly line rollouts, and better yet, though many of the gags follow a predictable path, the series doesn't go for the standard gag routines (a laundry list including, bickering, over eating, chest size comparison; debauchery and degenerate gambling ending in a meteor crash veers a bit into Dirty Pair style mass destruction territory but the cause is nicely played), nor (at least so far) has it over hammer any jokes. Best of all, considering the capacity of the material, Galaxy Angel is rarely shrill, rarely over sexualized, and never dull. Even with the sometimes grating 12 per episode format, its easy to watch a complete volume and want more.

Galaxy Angel is a series with little ambition or pretense other than being a fun distraction, and succeeds wildly (though to be honest, merchandise tie in seems to be somewhere on the agenda too). As mental escapes go you can do far worse than trying Galaxy Angel

Manga Spotlight: Galaxy Angel Volume 1 By Kanan Original Concept by Broccoli

Released by Broccoli Books

The Galaxy Angel manga is good supplementary material for fans of the anime. It adds some depth to the characters and setting, even explaining the odd jar that gets carried around in the opening animation. However, by being a small degree (comparatively) more serious, the appeal narrows. There are some scenes where the characters mug as only a cute manga character can, and reasonably well constructed slap stick, but other than its tie to likable franchise there isn't too much to distinguish it from a typical, silly genre action comedy. Though the off beat humor of the anime is present, the chief appeal is almost cuteness rather than manic inspiration. Structurally the stories are continuous rather than quick hits, and augmented by several manga only characters who drive the stories. Galaxy Angel as a concept that doesn't benefit from a coherent plot, not matter how off beat and oversized space cow inclusive it is.

If you're a fan of the Galaxy Angel anime, and it is an series that grabs many fans, the manga is worth a look for more character material, or if you enjoy manga comedy adventure (ie something like Slayers) it is worth trying. Casual viewers who found the anime an amusing distraction may find that the shift in focus weakens the series' draw.

Broccoli Books hasn't built a huge translated manga library (Galaxy Angel, Aquarian Age, Di Gi Charat and her associates), but they seemed to have settled on a format for their collections: about 200 pages on stiff paper for $9.99, with supplementary material, and trailing advertisements for other series and merchandise (many of their series are heavily merchandised having originated from the Gamers store). The best aspect of their manga releases is the localization. They do an excellent job translating the sound effects (English translation next to the Japanese originals), and including cultural end notes. It is an excellent model for how manga should be localized, and in comparison emphasized how slip shot some other releases are. The sound effects were incorporated into the page with an expectation that the reader should know what they say. There is a lot of general "rumble" effects, but beyond that the translations help pick out the granularity, especially in the ambiguous effects that accompany facial expressions, or appear in odd location in a panel. Likewise, there aren't that many cultural points to illuminate in galaxy angel, and long time manga readers will be familiar with most, but they are still informative as to explaining cultural differences, and how they apply to the series' characters and events.

Anime Spotlight: Last Exile Volume 2: Positional Play

Released by Geneon Pioneer

Last Exile is one of the large scale, plot driven adventures where studio and creative team go all out to provide an immersive experience in a unique world, rendered beautifully, bulstered by emotion shaping music. It is one of the well constructed circa 26 episode works such as Escaflowne (as opposed to the on going shonen manga adaptations), that provide the full blown anime original experience.

The series follows Claus and Lavie, respectively the pilot and engineer of a two person vanship, small, quick and maneuverable crafts that can used for racing, courier mission, or outfitted for dogfights. The young and dreamingly ambitious pair find themselves playing a role in their world's conflict between the nobility driven war of states, the Guild who parcels out and control aerial technology, and the independent mercenary manned battleship Silvana.

Set in steampunk world of aerial Napoleonic warfare (parallels to the navy and infantry, with the addition of fight plane combat), Studio Gonzo applies their considerable CGI skills (and the impitous to create a real spectacle to commemorate their 10th anniversary) a functioning, eye grabbing environment. Given what most viewers have seen in live action movies, video games, and other animated words, it is easy not to be impressed by visuals. There is real sense of velocity as small ships speed through the g speeds easily competes with higher budget movies and direct to video OAVs in effect. With a step back, the details emerge: sound editing that makes the technology believable, the depth design on the uniforms down to metals. Character design by Range Murata, an artist whose only exposure is Last Exile and Gonzo's Blue Sub No. 6 adds invaluable texture and style to the world, from the 18th century style national uniforms, to the arc deco design of the guide, to the more twentieth century look of the Silvana's crew, aesthetics and world building function go hand and hand.

The end the of the second volume, it seems that most of the series major players have been introduce, though the rational and motivations are still oblique. It is a rich plot, filled with factions and agendas, interesting and often likable characters (Claus and Lavie in particular are endearing enough to defuse the seemingly undeserving amount of attention that they receive) that functions like a machine with many pieces worth watching, and noting their interaction, where upcoming evens are often predictable even if the overriding function is obscured.

The social grit paving the series (the life of front line soldier, the physical and sociological impact on the ever-day person) appears to be in service of the story rather vice versa. As this volume moves into the main current of the series it is established the series as story rather than commentary (as some of the earlier episodes may have suggested). The tract does provide texture and gravity to the series. Though the depth of its thoughtfulness comes into doubt, Last Exile is certainly an amazing ride, well worth experiencing.

This Week's Releases

Anime

Arcade Gamer Fubuki

Birdy the Mighty - Double Trouble

Boys Over Flowers - Hana Yori Dango (Vol. 4)

Chobits - Chat Room (Vol. 7)

Cyber City - Time Bomb

Dragon Ball - Fortune Teller Baba Saga

Gate Keepers:New Fighters Vol 2

Kimagure Orange Road TV Series Vol. 6

Knights of the Zodiac - Fight for Gold (Vol. 2)

Macross Volume 4

Magical Shopping Arcade Vol 3

Neon Genesis Evangelion - Genesis Reborn (Director's Cut, Episodes 24-26)

Sailor Moon S - TV Series, Vol. 2 (Geneon Signature Series)

Serial Experiments - Lain: Knights (Layers 5-7) (Genoen Signature Series)

Someday's Dreamers - Precious Feelings (Vol. 3)

Tenchi Muyo Ova Vol 2

Trigun - Lost Past (Vol. 2) (Geneon Signature Series)

Urusei Yatsura - TV Series 10

Urusei Yatsura - TV Series 11

You're Under Arrest TV 4

Manga

• Angel Sanctuary Vol 1
• Basara Vol 5 Tp
• Boys Over Flowers Vol 5 Tp
• Dark Side Blues Manga Vol 1 Tp
• Flame Of Recca Vol 5 Tp
• Louie The Rune Soldier Manga Vol 1 Tp
• Neon Genesis Evangelion Vol 1 Tp 2Nd Ed
• Oh My Goddess #106 $3.50
• Sensual Phrase Vol 1 Gn
• Seven Of Seven Manga Vol 3 Tp
• Shadow Star Vol 5 Flowers Fragrance Tp
• Steel Angel Kurumi Manga Vol 3 Tp
• Super Manga Blast #40
• Tuxedo Gin Vol 5 Tp
• Wedding Peach Vol 5 Tp
• X 1999 Vol 9 Tp 2Nd Ed Requiem
• Transformers Season 3 Part 2/Season 4 Boxed Set

Last Week's Releases

Anime

• .Hack//Sign - Terminus (Vol. 6) (Limited Edition)
• Argentosoma - Annihilation (Vol. 6)
• Final Fantasy - Unlimited (Phase 4)
• Galaxy Angel - What's Cooking (Vol. 1)
• Kikaider-01 - Another Journey
• Nuku Nuku Tv - Keep The Peace On Earth
• Orphen 2:Revenge Vol 3
• Super Gals:It's Okay To Have A Change
• Witch Hunter Robin - Belief (Vol. 2)

Manga

• Alice 19Th Vol 3 Gn
• Battle Royale Vol 6 Gn (Of 10)
• Btx Vol 2 Gn (Of 16)
• Cyborg 009 Vol 4 Gn (Of 8)
• Demon Diary Vol 6 Gn (Of 7)
• Erica Sakurazawas The Aromatic Bitters Gn
• Escaflowne Vol 5 Gn (Of 8)
• Forbidden Dance Vol 4 Gn (Of 4)
• Fushigi Yugi Vol 10 Gn Enemy
• Fushigi Yugi Vol 2 Tp 2Nd Ed Oracle (Res)
• Girl Got Game Vol 2 Gn (Of 6)
• Hot Gimmick Vol 3 Tp
• Kare Kano Vol 8 Gn (Of 13)
• Lupin Iii Vol 12 Gn (Of 14)
• One Piece Vol 3 Tp
• Peach Girl Change Of Heart Vol 7 Tp (Of 11)
• Pet Shop Of Horrors Vol 5 Gn (Of 10)
• Psychic Academy Vol 1 Gn (Of 10)
• Raijin Comics #43
• Shonen Jump Vol 2 #4 Apr 2004
• Slayers Return Tp
• Snow Drop Vol 2 Gn (Of 6)
• Viz Inu Yasha Anime Manga Boxed Set
• Yu Gi Oh Vol 4 Tp

Domestic Release of New Appleseed Movie

Anime News Network points out a Yahoo Japan article which reveals that the new CGI movie adapation of Ghost in the Shell creator Masamune Shirow's Appleseed has been licensed by Geneon Entertainment. The movie will be released in Japan on April 17th, in North America this summer and in Europe and Asia at a later (undisclosed) time. The latest trailer for the movie can be seen he re

Wizard World Los Angeles to Premiere 'Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex'

Bandai has announced that Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex will have its American premiere at Wizard World Los Angeles will be held at the Long Beach Convention Center, March 19-21, 2004.

From the press release: The series, produced by Bandai Entertainment and Manga Entertainment, will be released June 22 on DVD, but fans will be able to attend a special screening of Stand Alone Complex on March 20 at the convention from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m, presented by Wizard Entertainment's newest publication, Anime Insider. In addition, the first 500 fans seated for the screening will receive a complimentary "Ghosts in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex" theatrical poster. An autograph session with the voice actors/actresses from the Stand Alone Complex series will be on hand immediately following the premiere for signings at the Bandai Entertainment booth. The following voice actors/actresses are scheduled to appear: Mary Elizabeth McGlynn (Motoko), Richard Epcar (Batou), Crispin Freeman (Togusa), and Mary Claypool (English Adaptation Writer).

Agatha Christie to be Anime-ed

Natsume Maya reports NHK has announced that starting in July an anime series based on the mystery novels of Agatha Christie will run on Japanese TV. There's reference to a 39 "book" series being planned.

Tezuka's Phoenix Animated

According to Natsume Maya an anime series based on Osamu Tezaka's Phoenix will be air on Japanese TV starting in April, and has been licensed for international distribution.

The official site can be seen here

The Phoenix is an epic manga series about the story of humanity and its cycles of reincarnation from its begins to the far future.

Ghilbi Movie Release Information

Anime on DVD picked up the following from the Porco Rosso screening at the the New York International Children's Film Festival concerning Disney's release plans for Hayao Miyazaki/Studio Ghibli movies

Howl's Moving Castle is due in July in Japan, and should make the release date but nothing was certain.

Princess Mononoke will get a second domestic theatrical release here in Japanese.

Every Ghibli feature film should be released in the US by the end of next year. Sveral will get theatrical releases, some straight to video. Nausicaa is next, but there is uncertainty as whether it will be video or a theatrical release

How and when Porco would be released would be announced at months end.

A new English dub is almost complete for Totoro (which has been released by Fox)

Viz Manga Sale

Viz is running a spring cleaning sale for their manga on their site, which is an element opportunity to pick up some of their older titles at reduced prices.

Hard to find titles worth noting include

Osamu Tezuka's Adolf, one of his most serious works about how World War II shaped the lives of a half German boy and a Jewish boy who grew up in Japan, and his medic drama Black Jack.

Thoughtful sci-fi 2001 Nights

Political drama Eagle

Manga instruction/deconstruction/parody Even A Monkey Can Draw Manga

Rumiko Takahashi's (Inu Yasha/Ranma) classic comedy Lum, and horror Mermaid's Saga

Mai The Psyhic Girl, which at one point as in development for an American live action adaptation from Larry Wilson, with Tim Burton, Johnny Depp, and Tsui Hark's name attached at various points

Political/gangster saga Sanctuary

Taiyo Matsumoto's (No. 5) strange urban tale Black & White

Love Hina Raises Eyebrowes

The Worlds within Worlds blog points on an article from the North Carolina Shelby Star about how a county sheriff's captain is warning parents to be careful about their teens reading the "sexually suggestive" Love Hina manga.

Cutie Honey Date

GAiNAX's Cutie Honey site reports that the live action adapation of Go Nagai's manga will be released in Japanese theatres May 29th.

New ADV Licenses

From Anime on DVD ADV announced at the Kamikaze Con anime convention that they have licensed the GetBackers anime, Mezzo DSA tv series and Hello Kitty Sanrio World.

New manga licenses include:

• 50 Rules for Teenagers
• Aria
• Biscuit
• Blue Inferior
• Change Guy
• Demon Hunter (new one)
• Demon Prince Yoshida-kun
• Desert Coral
• Dream Gold
• Enmusu
• Fantasy Land
• First King Adventures
• Gadirok
• Gadjet
• Gamers Heaven
• Gate
• Gun Parade March
• Jinki Entend
• Kids Joker
• Lineage
• Love Blossoms
• Mythical Detective LOKI RAGNAROK
• Pastel Green Spell
• Peace Maker Kurogane
• Pretty
• Princess Tutu
• R2
• Ray
• Ruler of the Land
• Saint Marie
• Sky Blade Sword of the Heavens
• Sweet & Sensitive Tactics
• Taimashin MASHIN
• Tengai Retrogical
• The Boss
• The Ruler of the Land
• To Heart
• Vaizard
• Yo-u
• Your & My Secret

ADV has entered into a relationship with the Mag Garden, who published many of these titles including "R^2 rise R to the second power", Tactics, Aria, Matantei Loki Ragnarok, Peacemaker Kurogane and Jinki Extend. ADV will also be funding the production of new anime adaptations of Mag Garden series, starting with Erementar Gerad (by Azuma Mayumi), which is planned for simultaneous broadcast in Japan and the US in April 2005.

On the Anime Network side, they announced they'll be showing Comic Party and City Hunter 3 and City Hunter 91. The City Hunters will be shown subtitled.

New Bandai Series in May

Bandai announced that thy will be releasing the fir volume of Dragon Dive on May 11th, the first .hack//Legend of the Twilight (a less esoteric look at the .hack fantasy game universe) on May 25th.

Dragon Dive

Reiji Oozora is a completely lazy bum. He's the 'tardy champion' at school, a terrible student and he gives up on everything! Unable to stand seeing her childhood friend waste away his youth, Maiko Yukino introduces Reiji to a virtual-reality game called 'Dragon Drive', a fighting game in which players are partnered with dragons and then fight each other in a virtual-reality city. Will Reiji's underachieving personality and a less than spectacular looking dragon be enough to take on the strongest players and dragons in the world? Chances are likely he'll fail miserably... But maybe this time, Reiji's finally found something he won't give up on!

.hack//Legend

It has been four years since the incident that has come to be known as the Twilight. Many of those who witnessed it no longer come to "The World." It is a different place. A safer place. Shugo and his twin sister Rena are two of the newest players to join "The World." And they've won a very special prize in a contest-they get to use the character likenesses of the legendary Kite and Black Rose. Such a prize is very rare indeed, and it makes them the center of a lot of attention. The pair will encounter friends and allies, but it soon becomes very clear that they are not ordinary players. Unusual things keep happening around them, but they're too busy having fun to really worry. It's probably nothing. Probably.

Other upcoming releases include

4/27

• Kaze no Yojimbo - A New Face in Town
• SD Gundam - Heroes United
• SD Gundam - Unknown Dangers
• Witch Hunter Robin - Fugitive
• Infinite Ryvius - Change of Command
• Arjuna - Complete Collection
• .hack//Legend of the Twilight Original CD

5/11

• Dragon Drive - Amazing Transformation
• Dragon Drive - Limited Edition
• The Big O II - Enemy Attacks
• Wolf's Rain Original CD Soundtrack (Yokho Kanno Music)

5/25

• .hack//Legend of the Twilight-A New World
• .hack//Legend of the Twilight - Limited Edit.
• Galaxy Angel - Angels a la Carte
• s-CRY-ed - Final Fight

Trailers

Bandai has posted three trailers of the Playstaion 2 RPG Inu Yasha: Juso no Kamen, which will be released March 18 in Japan, here , here and here

Toei Animation's St. Seiya Hades Chapter can be seen in real media and Windows Media, and the fifth One Piece Movie, real media and windows.

A new Ghost in the Shell trailer can be seen in small, medium and large windows media resolutions.

IGn has has new trailer for the CGI Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children h ere

FUNimation has launched a media player with trailers of Blue Gender, Dragon Ball Z, Fruits Basket, Kiddy Grade and Yu Yu Hakusho here

FUNimation's trailer for the March 9th release of Tenchi Muyo! GXP: Tenchi Muyo! GXP Extended Trailer small medium large

Tenchi Muyo! GXP - Volume 1 - Out of this World sm all me dium la rge

From their description: My name is Seina Yamada, and I'm from Earth. It wasn't too long ago that I thought everyone was from Earth. But that was before my bad luck showed me a life I never knew possible and worlds I never knew existed. And it nearly got me killed...again. I was minding my own business when this huge spaceship nearly crash lands right on my head! That's when Amane rescued me. Before I knew what hit me...or what almost hit me...I woke up flying through the stars on my way to new adventures, new challenges, and a new life. Galaxy Police Academy here I come!

The March 23 release of Kiddy Grade - Volume 2 - Pieces of the Past small medium large

From their description: As ES Force Members, Éclair and Lumiere are used to tracking and arresting the intergalactic criminal element. Their latest assignments are no exception. A high speed reactor capable of turning an ordinary human into a super being has been stolen. To make matters worse, the two heroes get caught up in a terrible battle for supremacy between rival gangs that threaten the lives of innocent children. The only chance for survival may be through help of their greatest rivals...and fellow ES Force comrades.

Cartoon Network Replaces Weekday Toonami

Cartoon Network has announced the "Miguzi" action block, which will air weekdays 5-7PM starting April 19. The block will feature Totally Spies, Code LYOKO, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and Teen Titans.

The premiere of Mizugi displaces Cartoon Network's Toonami block after six years in the weekday afternoon slot. Starting Saturday, April 17, Toonami will move to Saturday evenings, airing from 7pm-midnight EST. The SVES programming block that currently occupies Saturday nights will end after April 9th.

Toonami will move to Saturday nights from 7:00pm -12:00am,

From the press release: Miguzi will be positioned the network's afternoon destination for the best action entertainment for kids 6-11. The new block will be built around a fantastic new undersea environment, where kids will find compelling action-adventure programming. Miguzi will also feature live-action segments profiling entertainers, athletes and everyday heroes who are inspirational, unique and talented. These lifestyle pieces will further bridge the gap between real life action-adventure and animation.

Miguzi is set on an abandoned spaceship buried in the ocean. Each day, The Leviathan, a giant sea monster, transports Erin, the franchise's CG host, to the submersed ship. Once inside the spaceship, Erin and the sea creatures all settle in to watch the shows, when the fun begins.

The Saturday night version of Toonami will continue to be hosted by TOM and feature series such as Dragonball Z, Yu Yu Hakusho and Transformers: Energon. Other series to air exclusively as part of Toonami's new Saturday lineup include Rave Masters and Gundam Seed.

Toonami will also be the home to Megas XLR, Cartoon Network's newest original series, which will premiere on Saturday, May 1, at 9 p.m. (ET, PT). When a video-game playing, wrestling fanatic named Coop finds a giant robot in his local New Jersey dump, he does what any other gear-head slacker would do: he soups up the eighty-foot tall robot into a mechanical hot-rod monstrosity named Megas XLR. What he doesn't count on is being asked to save the Earth from a race of evil aliens from the future.

Case Closed Air Date

FUNimation announced that Case Closed (known as Detective Conan in Japan) will air on Cartoon Network starting June 7th. This crime solving, mystery adventure series is extremely popular in Japan and it appeals to audiences both young and old. Case Closed will air Monday through Thursday on Cartoon Network's Adult Swim block at 12:00 midnight (E/P).

Check www.caseclosed.com for more information and you can sign up for email updates.

New Geneon Series

Geneon will be releasing the first volumes of the following anime series in June and July

June 22

• Gad Guard

June 29

• R.O.D. (Read or Die) the TV

July 6th

• Ai Yori Aoshi Enishi
• Gungrave
• Fighting Spirit (Hajime no Ippo)

ADV Manga Library

ADV has posted a catalogue of their manga titles here

TOKYOPOP to Release CLAMP and Slayers as Part of New Novel Line TOKYOPOP has announced that they will be releasing a new line of illustrated novels including D.J. Milky, Karma Club, joins already popular manga series Slayers and CLAMP School Case Files: Paranormal Investigators.

KARMA CLUB: ATTACK OF THE GREEN GOO

(Sci-Fi/Action/Adventure/Comedy, Volume 1 Release: 9/7/04) Heading TOKYOPOP's trailblazing trio of manga novels is D.J. Milky's latest project Karma Club. From the creator of Princess Ai and Juror 13 comes this original series that takes place in a future where karma is the new currency, so good deeds really do pay off! However, evil never gives up, and a criminal organization known as the Tunnel is out to give peace no chance. When slithering green goo mysteriously begins appearing at crime scenes, five teen heroes--the Karma Club--try to shine a light on the darkness of the sinister Tunnel!

SLAYERS

(Fantasy/Comedy, Volume 1 Release: 9/7/04) Slayers, created by the team of Rui Araizumi and Hajime Kanzaka (Lost Universe), inspired the hit manga and one of the strongest anime titles in the genre. With a story that has entertained fans in the U.S. for more than ten years, this manga novel follows the laugh-out-loud misadventures of legendary warrior and sorceress babe Lina Inverse. When she comes across some stolen loot, she figures the thieves won't mind sharing. However, it turns out that Lina also snagged a secret hidden in the booty...and now everyone's out to see if she's got the goods.

CLAMP SCHOOL CASE FILES: PARANORMAL INVESTIGATORS

(Action/Adventure/Comedy, Volume 1 Release: 9/7/04) Fan-favorite CLAMP, the best-selling manga studio in the world, presents the first text novel set in the well-known CLAMP universe and a perfect complement to TOKYOPOP's already successful CLAMP School manga. Join the genius Takayuki, master swordsman Mifuyu, spiritual savant Rion, ninja descendant Kouji, and their leader, the teleporting, cross-dressing Yuki, as they investigate alien abduction, possessed subway cars, and countless clues and conundrums. Featuring a bonus stand-alone CLAMP manga short, this debut manga novel series is sure to have everyone wondering "whodunit" until the very end!

Upcomings Kids' WB Schedule

Kids's WB has announced that their 2004-5 schedule will feature new shows "Da Boom Crew" and "The Batman" on Saturday mornings, and new episodes of "Yu-Gi-Oh!," "Pokémon," "Xiaolin Showdown," "Jackie Chan Adventures," "Teen Titans" "¡Mucha Lucha!" And "What's New Scooby-Doo?"

"¡Mucha Lucha!" will air six days a week and join "Jackie Chan Adventures," "Pokémon" And "Yu-Gi-Oh!" in the weekday lineup.

MegaMan NT Warriors will continue airing through the spring.

Fall Schedule

Saturday

• 8:00 A.M. Jackie Chan Adventures
• 8:30 A.M. Xiaolin Showdown
• 9:00 A.M. ¡Mucha Lucha!
• 9:30 A.M. Da Boom Crew * (New Series)
• 10:00 A.M. Pokémon
• 10:30 A.M. The Batman * (New Series)
• 11:00 A.M. Yu-Gi-Oh!
• 11:30 A.M. Teen Titans

Monday-Friday

• 3:00 P.M. ¡Mucha Lucha!
• 3:30 P.M. Jackie Chan Adventures
• 4:00 P.M. Pokémon
• 4:30 P.M. Yu-Gi-Oh!

* Da Boom Crew (working title), a new fascinating sci-fi animated series, introduces four kids living in an orphanage who have created a hip-hop flavored video game beyond the depths of their wildest dreams, greatest fears and grandest wishes. Fantasy becomes reality when the kids are mysteriously transported into the parallel universe of space, aliens and intergalactic adventure that strangely resembles the world they've conjured up. Now they face the task of collecting every lost game cartridge before they fall into the hands of villains Scortch, Hedlok, and Jerome - the treacherous trio of this newly discovered galaxy. Da Boom Crew (working title) is produced by Jambalaya Studio/BFC Berliner Film Companie and created by Bruce Smith and John Patrick White & Stiles White based on a concept by Serge Michaels.

* The Batman picks up Batman's story in year three: in his mid-twenties, just finding his way as protector, defender and Caped Crusader, while balancing his public persona as billionaire bachelor Bruce Wayne. Living in Gotham, a metropolis where shadows run long and deep, beneath elevated train tracks, this younger Batman will confront updated takes of familiar foes - meeting each member of his classic Rogue's Gallery for the first time. From the likes of Joker, Penguin, Catwoman, Mr. Freeze, Riddler and Man-Bat, among others, the war on crime jumps to the next level with a new arsenal at the Dark Knight's disposal, all operated and linked by an advanced remote-controlled invention he dubs the "Bat-Wave." Accentuating the original take on The Batman, The Edge from multi-Grammy Award-winning sensation U2 will perform the series' theme song. The Batman is produced by Warner Bros. Animation for Kids' WB! and Cartoon Network.

Rising Stars of Manga Winner Recieves Multivolume Book Deal

TOKYOPOP has announced M. Alice "Marty" LeGrow, the latest prizewinner of TOKYOPOP's Rising Stars of Manga competition has signed multivolume book deal.

Other winners will appear in Rising Stars of Manga Volume 3, which will be released in July 2004.

From the press release: "We seek to nurture new, talented artists and writers who will be the future stars of the publishing world," said Mark Paniccia, editor of TOKYOPOP's Rising Stars of Manga anthologies. "We are truly awed by Marty's passion and artistic abilities, and we couldn't be happier to have signed up Bizenghast."

Marty LeGrow's Bizenghast is a wonderfully inventive combination of hypnotic plot and intricate artwork featuring Dinah, a waiflike hydrophobe who lives with her aunt in the small, gloomy town of Bizenghast. They reside in a former care home for the mentally ill, where Dinah teeters precariously on the brink of sanity. Bizenghast's array of unsettling characters and elaborate clothing designs will make this debut series an unforgettable gothic masterpiece! LeGrow lives in New England and works as a freelance comic artist. Her work can be seen at www.bizenghast.com.

Anime Creators on Sega Capcom Collaboration

Sega and Capcom have announced that they will be collaberating on a Japanese PC video game entitled Steel Fang. Production staff include Kazutaka Miyatake of Rahxephon, and Yutaka Minowa of Vampire Hunter D.

June/July Dark Horse Manga

Berserk Volume 4 Tpb Kentaro Miura (W/A)

On sale July 14, SC, 240pg, b&w, 5" x 7", $13.95

Now that the evil Count has been killed and dragged to Hell by the demon lords of the Godhand, Guts, the Black Swordsman, hooks up with his former benefactor, the mercenary Gambino. But it's a deadly reunion, one that nearly takes Guts' life. The following years see Guts wandering from battlefield to battlefield, where his awesome skills as a slayer catch the eye of both warring parties, including the legendary Griffith, warrior leader of the Band of the Hawk, who is eager to test his combat skills against those of the Black Swordsman. Co-published with Digital Manga.

Blade Of The Immortal #90: Last Blood Part 1 (Of 5)

Hiroaki Samura (W/A)

On sale June 9, b&w, 32pg, (1 of 5), $2.99

Sporting one of the most heart-wrenching covers Blade fans will ever see, this issue delivers both the emotional impact of Manji and Rin's much-anticipated reunion and the harrowing beginning of another Samura-style sword fight. The surviving members of the Shingyötö-ryü clan have also caught up with Rin and her strange companion, Anotsu. Will Rin finally turn against Anotsu, giving him up to Iriya? The only certainty is that, if he has to, Manji will cut his way through these revenge-hungry swordsmen to get to his dear "little sister!"

Oh My Goddess! #109 Sora Unchained Part 5 (Of 8) Kosuke Fujishima (W/A)

On sale June 2, b&w, 32pg, (5 of 8), $2.99

Samurai Executioner Volume 1 Tpb

Kazuo Koike (W) And Goseki Kojima (A)

On sale July 14, SC, 328pg, b&w, 4" x 6", $9.95

From the creators of Lone Wolf and Cub comes Samurai Executioner. It's true! Before Koike and Kojima created Itto Ogami, they created Kubikiri Asa, better known to Lone Wolf readers as Decapitator Asaemon. He was the equal to Itto, bearer of the sword Onibocho, the man charged with the duty of testing the swords for the shogun. Samurai Executioner is based on the decapitator himself, in life before his fatal duel with Lone Wolf.

Dead Leaves To be Dubbed Soon

Anime News Network points out according to Gaijin Production's website, Manga Entertainment's Dead Leaves is to be their next project.

"Evangelion" Killer Sentenced...

Anime News Network reports Hiroyuki Tsuchida, the 23 year old killer who sited Neon Genesis Evangelion as the inspiration for murdering his mother with a baseball bat, was found guilty of murder by the Yamagata district court, and sentenced to 14 years in prison. Tsuchida believed that human beings are unnecessary beings, responsible for the destruction of the environment.

Anime and Manga Demographic Expansion

From Anime News Network Toei Animation, producer of many of the most popular anime series including Dragon Ball, Sailor Moon, Yu Gi Oh, and One Piece, has announced that it will launch two new labeles anime at middle age demographics.

Animaister will release four to five titles a year for middle aged viewers starting in March 2004.

Ganime will produce illustrated documentaries starting with a film about legendary singer Yutaka Ozaki.

Futabasha will be releasing the "Comic High",manga anthology aimed a the boys (shoujo typically means series marketed to a young female demographic)

According to a report in Animaxis, many individuals in the manga industry predict this new magazine will cause a growth in the popularity of this style of male-oriented "girls' comics".

Some of the titles that will be serialized in Comic High include:

Gakuen Houtei ("School Court")

Iinchou O-te wo Douzo ("Class President, Give Me Your Hand") Joshi Kousei - Baka Gundan ("High School Girls - Army of Idiots") Kodomo no Jikan ("Kids' Time") Kogyarukan Ningen wa Tobu Koto ga Dekinai ("Humans Can't Fly")

Image Entertainment to Release Galerians With English Music Image Entertainment has announced that they will release the 3D animated "Galerians: Rion" oav (direct to video series) on April 6th. The DVD features an alternate score and soundtrack with industrial rock artists such as Slipknot, Fear Factory, The Ataris, and Sevendust.

The series is described: In "GALERIANS: RION," Earth's population has been enslaved by Dorothy, a genocidal computer. Only a viral program developed by her creator can emancipate the human race, and only one of Dorothy's own super-powered Galerians holds the key to unlocking the code and destroying the human who carries it. Rion is dispatched to find his childhood friend, Lilia, daughter of Dorothy's creator. As he uncovers the truth about himself and his origins, he is forced to battle not only the Galerians but himself!

DH Publishing to Release Hideshi Hino Horror Manga

DH Publishing's Cocoro Books imprint as announced that they will release English language versions of Hideshi Hino's horror manga starting with "The Red Snake" and "The Bug Boy".

Tenjou Tenge in April

Madhouse has confirmed that the anime adapatation of popular fighting action manga will air on Japan TV in April.

New JoJo's Bizarre Adventure Anime

A recent issue of the Japanese edition of the Shonen Jump manga anthology announced that a new JoJo's Bizarre Adventure will be animated. Manga creator Araki Hirohiko has begun a new series called Steel Ball Run.

March ADV Manga Releases

3/23/04

Louie The Rune Soldier Volume 1

Known for his antics in the DVD release by ADV Films called Rune Solider, Louie is nothing if not an unlikely sorcerer-after all, what sort of sorcerer spends his time tossing back beers and picking fights with local street thugs? Nonetheless, the gorgeous adventurers Melissa, Merrill and Genie have just learned that Louie, by will of the gods, is actually a prophesized hero to whom they must pledge themselves to serve! Louie has to prove that he has what it takes to be a hero as he embarks on adventures that range from the harrowing to the bizarre.

Steel Angel Kurumi Volume 3

When young Nakahito placed a single, innocent kiss on the lips of a sleeping girl, he got much more than he expected-the Steel Angel Kurumi, a lovely and very devoted robot companion who just happens to be a lethal warrior as well. Dr. X of the Academy for Advanced Sciences has thrown down the gauntlet, challenging the countries of the world to a "Steel Fight" tournament to find out who the strongest Steel Angel is! To coax wary leaders into revealing their highly classified Steel Angel designs, an irresistible prize has been offered - the untold wealth of technological secrets that the Academy possesses! Don't miss the anime DVD series by ADV Films on this popular series.

Seven Of Seven Volume 3

The seven Nanas have enough to deal with just trying to live with each other, but with high school entrance exams looming and a new rival for their collective crush Yuichi Kamichika's affections, the Nanas have to come up with their most cunning tricks yet to pull off a successful end to their middle school career. The hilarity continues in this heartwarming conclusion of Seven of Seven. This time, the Nanas are playing hardball against their most fearsome rival ever-the beautiful and brilliant Tsukie!

3/30/04

Darkside Blues

The evil Persona Century Corporation has brought all but a sliver of the world under its domination. There are just a few isolated pockets of resistance, where freedom seekers can find the safety of anonymity-one such refuge is Shinjuku, a lawless city home to both rebels and terrorists, but what happens when a mysterious, charismatic stranger who calls himself Darkside arrives in the city? (352 pages for $14.98 rather than $9.95 for 200+- pages)

2004 Yu Gi Oh Figures

Figures.com has a run down of the 2004 Yu Gi Oh figure releases here.

Broccoli Books Site Online

Broccoli Books has opened their manga site at www.broccolibooks.com/

June CPM Manga Releases

Central Park Media announced that their firs two Korean Manhwa releases Hard Boiled Angel Book 1 and Couple Volume 1 with be released June 9th. Manga releases Slayers: City of Lost Souls, and Nadesico Book 3 will be released June 2nd. All will be priced $9.99.

Hard Boiled Angel Book 1

Story and Art by Hyun Se Lee. Four dark stories set in a city where the only thing tougher than a gun to the head is the woman pulling the trigger. The Autumn of Men : Jiran is stalked by a high-level executive with "friends in high places". School Ties That Bind : A high school friend asks Jiran to investigate her husband who she suspects of cheating. Master of Hell : A series of seemingly unrelated murders terrorize the city. At every murder scene the police find messages of " Ah Voh Puc ", the master of Hell. Kids of Fear : Jiran is asked by an old acquaintance, to find her missing son. Little does she know that Jiran already knows where he can be found.

Couple Volume 1

Story by Jae Sung Park and art by Sung Jae Park. After being evicted, YuMi must find a place to stay or she will be forced to return to her home in the sticks. Can she convince YoungHo to defy conventional boundaries and allow her to stay at his place, at least until she finishes college?

Slayers: City of Lost Souls

Story by Hajime Kanzaka and art by Shoko Kanzaka. Trouble seems to follow Lina Inverse and her team wherever they go. After being hired to find and capture a troublesome thief, Lina runs into a mysterious figure from her past. And if that wasn't bad enough, Gourry loses Lina's favorite sword and must fight in a series of highly unusual duels to get it back!

Nadesico Book 3

Story and art by Kia Asamiya. Captain Yurika has been captured by the Jupiterians, and the crew of the Space Battleship Nadesico must escape from captivity to rescue her. This time the mission is personal! Newly reformatted and re-priced!

Bandai Catalog Titles

Bandai Entertainment announced the remaining DVD catalog titles set for re-release during the month of April 2004. The re-release of DVD properties was deemed necessary in order to help facilitate and ease the establishment of Bandai Entertainment's own distribution network for the new year.

All titles listed below will be re-solicited for release on April 13, 2004:

Angel Links Complete Collection (repriced to 39.98) Betterman Vol. 1 - Vol. 6 DVD Brain Powered Vol. 1 - Vol. 3 DVD Cyber Formula DVD Box Set ($99.98 ) Gundam Movie DVD Box Set (repriced to 49.98) Meltylancer Vol. 1 - Vol. 2 DVD Mobile Suit Gundam 0080 Vol. 1 - Vol. 2 DVD (repriced to 14.98 each) Mobile Suit Gundam 0083 Vol. 1 - Vol. 4 DVD (priced to 14.98 each) Mobile Suit Gundam Vol. 1 - Vol. 10 DVD (priced to 14.98 each) Pilot Candidate Vol. 1 - Vol 4. DVD priced to 14.98 each) Ronin Warrior OVA Vol. 1 - V0l. 2 DVD (repriced to 14.98 each) Ronin Warrior Vol. 1 - Vol 10. DVD (repriced to 14.98 each) Saber Marionette J Again Vol. 1 DVD (2-disc set) (repriced to 19.98 each) Saber Marionette J Vol. 1 - Vol. 3 DVD (2 disc sets) (repriced to 19.98 each) Saber Marionette J-X Vol. 1 - Vol 6. DVD (repriced to 19.98 each) Silent Mobius Vol. 1 - Vol. 3 DVD (repriced to 14.98 each) Tenamonya Voyager DVD (repriced to 9.98) Tsukikage Ran Vol. 1 - Vol. 4 DVD (repriced to 9.98) Z-Mind Vol. 1 DVD (priced to 9.98)

May CPM Releases

Central Park Media announced the release of Birdy: the Mighty: Final Force and Cyber City: The Decoy from acclaimed director, Yoshiaki Kawajiri (Ninja Scroll and Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust). May also brings the conclusion to the Legend of the Dragon Kings series with the release of Legend of the Dragon Kings: Blue Dragon. The complete series will be available in the Legend of the Dragon Kings DVD Collection. And wrapping up May's DVD releases is, the fantasy action/adventure Mask of Zeguy. All DVDs will include audio tracks in English and Japanese with English subtitles, a pre-order date of April 12, 2004 and a street date of May 11, 2004.

Birdy the Mighty: Final Force

From the director of Ninja Scroll, The Animatrix episode Program, X: The TV Series, Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust, and Cyber City. Tsutomu's girlfriend begins to suspect his secret identity, but he and Birdy are about to unmask a mad scientist and can't risk telling the truth. "Terrific" - AnimeJump.com

Cyber City: The Decoy

From the director of Ninja Scroll, The Animatrix episode Program, X: The TV Series, Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust, and Birdy the Mighty. Goggles is a convict turned cop working off several life sentences. Obedience is ensured by a time bomb collared around his neck, but no one is sure of his loyalties. DVD includes director's commentary by Yoshiaki Kawajiri.

Panda Z Site Open

The site for Mazinger parody Panda-Z has opened at Tampa Florida's Metrocon announced that the convention will hold a "Cat Girls versus School Girls" human chess match.

Music from cancelled Toonami CD online

Anime News Network reports

Toonami Digital Arsenal has obtained the music from "Toonami Black Hole Megamix," originally planned to be the second Toonami CD release. The CD was cancelled back in 2002, but the music is now available publicly for the first time through TDA here.

Akamatsu's Thoughts on Negima

Anime News Network points out that creator of reports of manga creator Ken Akamatsu's reaction to Del Rey later retracted plans to edit some of the sexual content in his title Negima misinterpreted his statements. In his 2/26 diary entry, Akamatsu clarifies his position, saying "[I] am not mad. During the translation process to English, there was a misunderstanding. Rather, I am amused.".

Area 88 Subliminal Controversy

Anime News Network reports any considered to be subliminal in nature. The scene in question is a very brief image of a naked woman collapsing.

Area 88 was first broadcast last Thursday (February 19th) on TV Asahi. According to the broadcast standard of the Japanese private broadcast union, the insertion of images that can not be perceived with the naked eye is not acceptable in broadcast media. Although the image remained on the screen for less than a second, Asahi claims that it was not subliminal in nature because it could be perceived by the naked eye. However, they have removed the image from the opening of subsequent episodes in order to avoid misunderstanding.

A screenshot of the image can be seen h ere.

Aeon Flux Live Action

Anime News Network points out Variety reports that Karyn Kusama will direct a live action adaptation of Peter Chung's Aeon Flux. Charlize Theron will play the part of the main character. Filming will begin in Germany in July.

Gargoyles to Air on ABC Family

In non-anime series, ABC Familiy has announced that starting March 13th, their Jetix weekend lineup will include Gargoyles.

The schedule includes:

• 7:00 Beyblade
• 7:30 Beyblade
• 8:00 Best of Power Rangers
• 8:30 Power Rangers DinoThunder
• 9:00 Digimon
• 9:30 Digimon
• 10:00 Spider-Man
• 10:30 Spider-Man
• 11:00 Gargoyles
• 11:30 Gargoyles

Hana-Kimi Preview Online

Viz has posted a preview of their Borders/Waldenbook exclusiv