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Anime Spotlight: Patlabor - The Movie

Released by Bandai Visual and Image Entertainment

As a franchise, Patlabor is the anti-mecha, mecha series. Its creators demonstrate their fascination with machinery by demystifying it. In moments of arrested development, its characters dream of their robots flying, with Mazinger like abilities and disregard for the laws of physics, but these moments of fancy are squashed it the way a construction equipment operator might regard of a memory of Mike Mulligan and his Steam Shovel. In reality, piloting the machines is duller and less romantic than they could have hoped for.

The movie takes the time to explain the world of Patlabor. Tokyo Bay is being filled in a complex land-reclamation process, a key factor in which is robotic construction machines known as labors.

In response to the use of labors in the commission of crimes, and instances of hazardously malfunctioning labors, the police instituted their own patrol-labor (Patlabor) division. This Patlabor team is viewed as an albatross, grudgingly needed, but generally staff with misfits and the people the police organization would rather keep on the outskirts of operations. Not to mention a) labor-crimes appears to be rather infrequent b) Patlabor technology isn't particularly mature. This latter factors leads to a kludgy use system that's fascinating to watch in the anime. Behind the few team, there is a large hardware and software support crew making sure that the temperamental machines work, generally needed after every action. In the field, the Patlabor's pilot is accompanied by a second in a support vehicle to guide, transport, and supply the labor. Though the characters have their quirks, they are able to handle these problems with trained professionalism. Consequently, the limitations are a minor factor in moving the plot. It comes more into play as something to capture the imaginations of mecha fans. For example, the movie features a clever scene in which one of the pilots is separated from her support. After running out of ammunition in the giant revolvers the patlabor's are armed with, she ejects the spent shells, exits her mech, and begins, round by round, lugging new shells from their storage behind the mech's shield, to the gun.

Written the in late 80's and set in the late 90's, the future of the series is now our past. As a work of hard sci-fi, it is dated both in the projected technology hasn't been actually realized and real technical developments not imagined in the anime. Because the rational of the labor and patlabors makes sense, it isn't too dissimilar to modern life, with exception of the more physically large technology (the robots there) and less small technology (mobile devices here). Some of the aesthetics look old, hard ware OS's are less of an issue since those systems tend to use older, more tried technology, but CGI graphics on newscasts and such can't help but look dated.

Though characters are a key element of Patlabor, the movie isn't as accomidating with their introduction as it is the scenario. If you jump into the movie without having seen other Patlabor (ideally, the original OVA), it is a good idea to read a bit about the characters, such as the Wikipedia entry http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patlabor before watching the movie.

Patlabor was created by a group calling themselves Headgear that included Masami Yuki (creator and manga artist behind Assemble Insert, Birdy the Mighty ), Yutaka Izubuchi (mechanical designer for this and Gasaraki, creator of Rahxephon) Kazunori Ito (screenplay for this, the first Ghost in the Shell and much of the .Hack anime), Akemi Takada (character designer for this Fancy Lala and the anime versions of Kimagure Orange Road and Maison Ikkoku) and Mamoru Oshii. While Oshii was a late addition to the team, he has been a proponent of the vision of a director as controlling mind of a project and the Patlabor entries that Oshii directed, particularly the movies, are very representative of the hallmarks of an Oshii work. In fact Patlabor, in its transition from initial direct to video OVA series to the movie were where Oshii established this style. It bridged his work from the fantasy comedy of Rumiko Takahashi manga adaptation Urusei Yatsura and abstract Angel's Egg to the literate sci-fi with which he's associated.

Oshii's best known work Ghost in the Shell was one of the spark points at the ignition of the anime explosion, but it has been a movie that is more respected than loved. A tech, guns and hot chick dynamo that was promoted with pictures of a busty terminator, and opened with a well formed woman in a tight outfit unloading round into her targets before acrobatically leaping off a building in pre-Matrix glory, the movie may not have soured when it turned introspective and metaphysical, but when its conclusion cast off the coil of a visceral thriller, it earned a tendency to be seen as something unapproachable.

By contrast Patlabor is a techno-thriller, more tightly, directly script and lighter on the metaphysical than Ghost in the Shell. It’s quotations are less intellectually evocative than those in a movie like Se7en. Judeo-Christian allusions aside, hints of social ideology aside, more than anything else, the Patlabor movie is a smart techno-thriller. There's a threat. The heroes track the source, and ultimately, they physically and violently remove. The franchise even name checks Tom Clancy in the form of NYPD via Hawaii visiting officer Kanuka Clancy.

The first distinction is that, unlike many anime movies, the script efficiently manages the pase of a movie. Other than notably exceptions, such Ghibli's or Satoshi Kon's films, few anime creators script or direct well to space of an hour+ movie. Perhaps that there aren't more anime movies this good is a sign of a the difficulty working in the medium, both technically and commercially. Then again, there are enough anime series that fall apart in their serial story telling that one might suspect that the scene is the specialty of most anime directors.

Oshii’s direction expresses a creativity more inspired by a study of live action cinema than animation. Few of the notable scenes look carry when is generally pointed to as the character traits of anime. Even in the mecha on mecha fights, the freedom that animation affords is leverage more in the positioning and movements of the camera than the physical representations depicted. The work gets showy and experimental in a few scenes, but even then he’s able to hold together his tight narrative. He tries his signature fish eye lens once to capture anger inspired tunnel vision. Another takes a car’s drive through a complex, a mundane placeholder meant to establish the size of a construct and turn it into a thrilling moment as quick turns as taken based on the limited illumination of the car’s headlights.

The movie takes an interesting approach to this style of thriller. There is an antagonist, and there is an actively operating threat, once the mechanism is set in motion, the threat operates independent of its architect. It's as if through the media of the software and hardware building this booming city, growing as the bay is readied to be filled, the intension of antagonist's madness left an impression within the context the greed and indifference operating in the building process.

Creating the movie, the stated intension was to craft a realistic and entertaining film. Unlike Ghost in the Shell, it wasn't designed to be a meditation on an idea. Yet the context it sprung from was the minds Oshii and Headgear. So, the intension filling a movie with mechanical curiosities, engaging characters and a bit of action found a home within the context of Oshii's view of his time.

From the movie's early airborne mecha deployment, there is a fetishistic attention to machinery. However, unlike many giant robot or police/military works that exhibit this trait, Patlabor is concrete and left leaning, rather than authoritarian or utopian. The movie itself was created during a building boom, during the late 80's, as Japan's economy swelled. Unsurprisingly, the director who build a new visual language into anime based on his observation of cinema, but a thriller based on his observations of his time.

The movie is less a reaction to the building process, since reaction would imply a stated position, than a thought inspired by it. Most of the characters are caught up in the process of fixing problems and the haze of life, but the subtext is a wary eye cast towards the complete impact and prioritization accompanying the building.

It is clear that Oshii indemnifies with and more than likely speak through, the Patlabor team's droopy,sad-sack faced commanding officer Gotoh. Despite being taciturn and seemingly oblivious, Gotoh is the guy who knows too much and has his ear everywhere. The movie is more directly demonstrative about his forceful technique of nudging people into acting on his behalf than he introduction in the original Patlabor OVA may have been.

This character, seen in the offices of an anti-bay construction protest group on the eve of the movie's climax, exhibits Oshii's contradictory allegiance to authority and anti-establishment movements.
Oshii's work is informed by a fascination with the structure of both the police and the protesters; with his mind engaged by the technology and methods of the police and the causes and ideology of the counter culture. Though Gotoh is immersed and leverages the force of authority, with full access to the law's mechanized tools, there are layers in his agenda, and beyond solving the immediate problem at hand he seems to be advancing an agenda contrary to the police establishment.

If Gotoh is the cognitive center, the movie utilizes Detective Matsui a minor character in the Patlabor mythos, as the vision to look into the center of the city. The movie deploys the Patlabor teams around and even into the bay, when not they aren't killing time in pastoral hobbies such as fishing and raising tomatoes. Gotoh is almost strictly situated in one operations center or another. Matsui and his partner walk into the heart of the city in their investigation and are immersed in the urban ecology of decaying neighborhoods and sprouting towers.

Oshii takes great care in these scenes, and while his lens and lighting utilization are what are generally remembered. Part of their walk serves as a parallel to immersion moments of the stroll in the first Ghost in the Shell in which the Major walks past the puddle long a street and glances a figure that looks like herself through a window or the street carnival of the Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence. The haze and vertigo of these Matsui and his partner's attempt to piece together a history from a sequence of abandoned apartments is pure Oshii.

FUNimation Licenses Origin

FUNimation announced at the AnimeNext convention that they licensed Gonzo's theatrical figure "Origin - Spirits of the Past" (Gin-iro no Kami no Agito), tenatively schedule for early 2007.

Death Note Notes

The first part of a live action adaptation of Death Note opened at the top position of Japan's box office.

Irresponsible Pictures points out that blogger Idolizing St. Anna has a review here.

Mainichi Daily News looks at the title here

Twitch collects links to the movie's trailers here

Merchandise News

Yamato USA has announced three Summer convention exclusives: SIF EX: EXCEL SAGA – Nishiki Ropponmatsu San Diego Comic Con International / Wonder Festival Limited Edition PVC Statue, SIF EX: IKKITOUSEN – Kanu in Red School Girl Uniform San Diego Comic Con International Exclusive PVC Statue, and SIF EX: IKKITOUSEN – Ryomou Shimei San Diego Comic Con International / Anime Expo Special Edition PVC Statue.

SIF EX: EXCEL SAGA – Nishiki Ropponmatsu Limited Edition PVC Statue
San Diego Comic Con International / Wonder Festival
Inspired by the hilariously over-the-top manga / anime Excel Saga, Yamato proudly presents Nishiki Roppanmatsu as part of its Story! Image! Figure! EX collection! This 1/8 scale PVC statue based on the sculpture by Japan's renowned 'garage kit' artist Toji Tanaka and painted by Shelby (FINE'S GARDEN) charmingly captures the spunk and perky personality of young, cat-girl robot Ropponmatsu. Packaged in a collector's style window box, this pudgy, little cherub comes complete with detachable booster pack and clear blue display base... and with Menchi in tow there is sure to be a disaster close behind. This limited edition features a special 'see through' paint application with only 800 pieces available worldwide, 300 at San Diego Comic Con. MSRP: $40.00

SIF EX: IKKITOUSEN – Kanu in Red School Girl Uniform Exclusive PVC Statue
San Diego Comic Con International
The most requested paint styling of one of Yamato's most popular Story! Image! Figure EX collectible figures will now be available stateside at the San Diego Comic Con – Kanu in Red School Girl Uniform! Previously only available in Japan, this amazing pre-posed PVC statue inspired by Geneon / TokyoPop's "fan service" anime / manga hit Ikki Tousen (aka Battle Vixens) perfectly captures the enormous talents of this lovely lady. Approximately 8.5" in height, Kanu in Red School Girl Uniform comes packaged in a window box with display base and is limited to less than 1,000 pieces. MSRP: $35.00.

SIF EX: IKKITOUSEN – Ryomou Shimei Special Edition PVC Statue by Reflect
Anime Expo / San Diego Comic Con International
Get ready to rumble as Yamato continues its most popular line of Story! Image! Figure! EX collectibles from the anime/manga phenomena Ikki Tousen (a.k.a. Battle Vixens)! Offered here is Japan's master garage-kit artist Mitsumasa Yoshizawa (REFLECT)'s take on the eye-patched lovely Ryomou Shimei decked out in a special pink maid's outfit. This impressive 1/6 scale PVC statue measures in at over 10.25" and comes complete with a pair of handcuffs, set of nekomimi cat ears and tail (adhesive required), and specially designed display base all packaged in a collector's style window box. This highly coveted pink styling is limited to 500 pieces in the US, with 100 available at Anime Expo through AAA Anime and 400 at San Diego Comic Con. MSRP: $55.00

Toynami has begun shipping the following merchandise:

SIF: Ultimate Muscle, the Kinnikuman Legacy Trading Figures
From the original anime / manga Kinnikuman (a.k.a. Ultimate Muscle), Yamato presents a unique collection of trading figures. This nostalgic collection features six of the most popular Chiyojin from the anime / manga series displaying their most deadly wrestling moves. Included in the assortment are Kinnikuman demonstrating his Kinniku Buster, Terryman his Calf Branding, Robin Mask his Tower Bridge, Brocken, Jr. his Blood Rain of Berlin, Warsman his Paro Special, and Ramenman his Leg Larat move. Making this collection all the more special, each figure comes in both the manga and anime colors, individually sealed within a mystery box!

SIF: Ike! Inachuu Takkyuubu (a.k.a. Ping Pong Club) Trading Figures
What the ****?!? Its Ike! Inachuu Takkyuubu (a.k.a. Ping Pong Club)! Likened to a Japanese South Park, lowering itself to a sublime depth of crass, offensive and disgusting humor, Ike! Inachuu Takkyuubu is a carnival of freaks, abnormalities and challenges to good taste and cultured sensibilities... and perhaps the funniest anime/manga you will ever lay eyes on! And priced for an impulse buy, this six piece assortment of trading figures from Yamato's Story! Image! Figure! collection is destined to be a collector's classic.

SIF: Excel Saga Trading Figures <
Here Menchi, Menchi, Menchi, Yamato's got a special treat for you… an assortment of 4" scale trading figures inspired by one of the most hilarious, over-the-top manga / anime of all time, Excel Saga. Join the hyperactive Excel, her best friend Hyatt, and the rest of the gang as they travel the world doing anything and everything in their power to please her Lord, Ilpalazzo. Part of Yamato's Story! Image! Figure! collection, the assortment includes Excel, Hyatt, Elgara, Ropponmatsu 1, Ropponmatsu 2, and Misaki Matsuya. Each comes with a display base and an adorably torturable Menchi all wrapped up in a closed, mystery box!

SIF EX: Hellsing – Arucard Bust & Walter Busts
Inspired by the best-selling Hellsing manga by Kouta Hirano, these stylish busts capture the gothic terror of the undead vampire Arucard and of old and young Walter standing back to back. Each comes with an equally stylish polystone base into which the busts seemingly melt. The bases feature a faux black marble paint application, as well as a cross logo on front and Hellsing logo on back. Bases included, the busts measure between 6.5" - 7.0" and come packaged in an artfully designed collector's style window box. Items sold separately.

SIF EX: Okusama wa Mahou Shoujo – Ureshiko Asaba (Agnes Belle) PVC Statue
Meet Ureshiko Asaba or, as she is better known in our "Realm", Agnes Belle. Ureshiko is a Magical Girl; but don't tell her husband... or, for that matter, her new found infatuation, Tatsumi. But sorry boys, Ureshiko is not the kind of girl to give out kisses easily... or at all. If she does, she is sure to lose her magical powers, which she'll need if she is going to save her town from being wiped from existence. Not to worry, though, as Yamato brings Ureshiko to three dimensional life in this wonderfully charming 1/7 scale PVC statue as part of its Story! Image! Figure! EX collection. Sculpted by Hiroman, Ureshiko stands at over 9" and comes with an elaborately designed base all packaged in a collector's style window box.

SIF EX: Excel Saga – Nishiki Ropponmatsu Special Edition PVC Statue
Inspired by the hilariously over-the-top manga / anime Excel Saga, Yamato proudly presents Nishiki Roppanmatsu as part of its Story! Image! Figure! EX collection! This 1/8 scale PVC statue based on the sculpture by Japan's renowned 'garage kit' artist Toji Tanaka and painted by Shelby (FINE'S GARDEN) charmingly captures the spunk and perky personality of young, cat-girl robot Ropponmatsu. Packaged in a collector's style window box, this pudgy, little cherub comes complete with detachable booster pack and clear blue display base... and with Menchi in tow there is sure to be a disaster close behind. This special color edition featuring pearl white costume comes at the request of mangaka Koshi Rikdo!

From ICV2

Great Eastern Entertainment will be releasing 8" plushes of Kaoru from Kenshin this month for $12.99 A Kenshin plush is currently available, and a figure of Sanosuke will be released in August.

ICV2 reports Toynami's Bleach merchandise release will start will repackaged 4" Bleach figures. 4 figures have tenatively been scheduled for September with another four in November. Action figures and sculptures are planned for Spring 2007. Merchandise plans include including small PVC figures, 11" PVC figures, resin figurines with diorama bases, limited edition statues, bookends and deluxe 1/4-scale maquettes, which will come with authentic cloth costumes.

The Beat has pictures of upcoming Bleach merchandise in their 2006 Licensing Show photos here

WildStorm Ninja Scroll's Comic

DC Comic's WildStorm will be releasing a Ninja Scroll comic written by J. Torres and illustrated by Michael Chang, starting with issue 1 on September 13th. An alternate cover will be from Jim Lee.

The international anime sensation Ninja Scroll finally comes to comics in this unique new series! Follow the adventures of wandering ronin Jubei as he scours feudal Japan, fighting all forms of villains and monsters in search of the one thing he truly desires: a decent night's sleep! Jubei comes upon a nearly abandoned village on a foggy mountaintop. After drinking some tea from a kind old woman, he falls into a deep sleep and awakens to the greatest nightmare of all: the long-thought dead villains from the Ninja Scroll film - Mushizo, Benisato and Tessai - have returned and will stop at nothing to destroy Jubei!

DC's October CMX manga releases include
DENSHA OTOKO VOL. 1
Written by Hitori Nakano
Art by Wataru Watanabe
CMX. The Japanese mega-hit that weaved a tale of love in cyberspace on both television and as a motion picture finally arrives in the U.S. for the first time. Perpetual geek, social basket case and obsessive fan - needless to say, the guy called "Train Man" has never had a girlfriend. Most of his days are spent immersed in electronics and waiting for the box set DVD of his favorite anime series. But fate takes a turn for Train one ordinary night on an ordinary train ride. He falls in love at first sight with Hermess, a gorgeous fellow passenger. When a drunken rider tries to harass her, Train surprises himself by coming to her rescue. But when Hermess later contacts Train with a thank you give and the possibility of further contact, that's one situation he can't handle. He immediately goes online to a popular chat room to solicit advice. To his horror, he's encouraged to ask her out. Soon he is bombarded with advice regarding how, when and where he should do it. Will Train Man find true love, or will all this pressure to come out of his shell be too much for him to take?
Based on a supposedly true story, the tale of DENSHA OTOKO (The Train Man) was a phenomenon in Japan.
on sale October 11

PENGUIN REVOLUTION VOL. 1
Written and illustrated by Sakura Tsukuba
CMX. High school student Yukari Fujimaru knows a potential star when she sees one…because she sees the special "aura" they give off, in the form of angelic wings. Yukari's fellow student, the beautiful Ryoko Katsuragi, has a small pair of wings herself, and is one of these aspiring talents. She's so talented, in fact, that no one even knows that "she" is actually a boy in disguise. Now, to make her own down-to-earth dream come true, Yukari must help her new friend become a star.
on sale October 25

THE RECIPE FOR GERTRUDE VOL. 2
Written and illustrated by Nari Kusakawa
on sale October 18

CIPHER VOL. 5
Written and illustrated by Minako Narita
October 4

KIKAIDER CODE 02 VOL. 5
Written by Shotaro Ishinomori
Art by MEIMU
on sale October 18

SWAN VOL. 8
Written and illustrated by Kyoko Ariyoshi
on sale October 25

TENJHO TENGE VOL. 10
Written and illustrated by Oh! great
Featuring the infamous and sure to edited torture scene
on sale October 11

VS. VOL. 3
Written and illustrated by Keiko Yamada
on sale October 4

Game News

From The Magic Box

Battle Stadium D.O.N., a fight game with character from Dragon Ball Z, One Piece and Narut can be seen here.

Fighting Beauty Wulong, recently an anime, can be seen here

Jojo's Bizarre Adventure: Phantom Blood can be seen here

The new Melty Lancer, with characters from can be seen here.

More on the Theme Cafes

Alt Japan braves a visit to a moe cafe and writes about it here.

Shakespeare Manga-Style

Publisher's Weekly reports John Wiley & Sons has signed a deal with five comics artists to produce a line of manga-style adaptations of four Shakespearean plays that will be published in 2008. Scheduled OEL projects Hamlet, Romeo & Julie, Macbeth and Julius Caesar. The plays will be adapted by writer Adam Sexton and the artists include Tintin Pantoja (Hamlet), Yali Lin (Romeo & Juliet), Eve Grandt and Candice Chou (Macbeth) and Hyeondo Park (Julius Caesar). Three of the five artists (Pantoja, Lin and Park) are recent graduates of the cartooning program at New York City's School of Visual Arts.

Bandai Museum To Moving

Gunota reports Bandai Museum has announced it will close its Matsudo, Chiba Prefecture on August 31st. Bandai will open a brand new cultural facility, "Toytown Bandai Museum", next year at Mibu, Tochigi Prefecture. Meanwhile, part of the Gundam Museum exhibit will relocate to Bandai Hobby Center in Shizuoka.

The website of Hachiya Kazuhiko, one of the artists involved in the touring Gundam art exhibit (which includes a 1/1 scale core fighter), has a page devoted to the Newtype Technology Lab portion

Wachowski Speed Racer?

IGN reports that the Wachowski Brothers will write the live action adaptation of Speed Racer, set to star Vince Vaughn as Racer X.

Turner to Produce Anime

According to ICV2, Variety reports Japan Entertainment Network (JEN), a joint venture of Turner Entertainment Network and the Itochu trading company, plan on producing two anime series a year, aimed to 6-11 year-olds demographics. JEN also hopes to be able to produce two anime series for the U.S. market per year. Ms. Yun introduced Japanese rock music to Western audiences, helping listeners make the connection between anime tunes on their television sets to the wider world of edgy, talented, and highly visual rock groups from Asia.

Stonebridge Book Featured on BBC

Stonebridge Press, who publishes a number of anime reference books, announced that the June 21, 2006 edition of "The World" aired its interview with Josephine Yun, author of "jrock, ink.: a concise report on 40 of the biggest rock acts in japan." Information on the book can be seen here.

Tsutomu Nihei at Phoenix Anime Festival

Anime News Network reports that the Phoenix Anime Festival has announced that Tsutomu Nihei, creator of Blame! and the author/writer of Marvel's Wolverine: Snikt, will attend the December event as a guest of honor. Nihei will join guests C.B. Cebulski, Scott Bennett & Kate Higgins.

Densha Otoko From Del Rey (Too)

Del Rey has announced that they will be releasing the one-volume shoujo telling of Densha Otoko, also known as Train Man, about a geek who remakes himself with online help in order to win a girl. Other versions of the story will be released by Viz and CMX.

Project Blue Chikyuu SOS Trailer Online

AnimeNation points out that Mangazoo hosts a Flash trailer for the first episode of the six episode retro futuristic sci-fi action anime OVA series Project Blue ~ Earth SOS

(Project Blue Chikyuu SOS).

Lawyer Game Becomes Manga

Akadot reports Game Boy Advanced game Gyakuten Saiban aka Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney, will be adapted into a manga and serialized in Young Magazine. The first chapter will be published in August of this year.

Yaoi Discourse

The Beat points out this rather level discussion about youth reading yaoi (homosexual mail romance) on a Christian parent forum.

I just looked it up and they describe themselves just as sweetgirl did. The target is girls. They deny it is gay porn because it's target is straight girls. It's basically gay porn for straight girls to watch. sick.

Elicited the response

I encourage parents to get themselves educated on the topic and understand WHAT anime and manga are - simply a storytelling medium. figmentPez is correct - individual series can be targeted towards any specific audience.

Yaoi is "hot" right now and getting a lot of press, but it's only one subset of a bigger picture. I think if you look at the self-imposed rating system on the yaoi titles, you're likely to find 16-up or 18-up on the covers. So...I think part of what is involved in this issue parental responsibility. You're not likely to allow your 12/13 year old to browse the bookstore unsupervised in the romance section or the new age section or even general fiction...don't let them browse in the manga section unsupervised.

Images P 156970936X.01. Pe20 .Our-Kingdom-Volume-1-Yaoi. Sclzzzzzzz There are a number of mangas targeted towards young teens that don't have yaoi or other objectionable content. Some of the major anime/manga review sites will note the age rating in their reviews. The folks on the Christian Anime Alliance boards have had threads on what manga is suitable for this age group...last I looked a thread each for boys and girls.

Patlabor 2 Movie Release

Image Entertainment, In and Bandai Visual USA Inc.announced that the 1993 anime masterpiece "Patlabor 2 The Movie" will be released on DVD July 11.

"Patlabor 2" was directed by acclaimed director Mamoru Oshii ("Patlabor The Movie," "Ghost In The Shell," "Jin-Roh," "Avalon"), written by Kazunori Ito (".hack//," "Avalon"), with music by Kenji Kawai ("Ghost in the Shell," "Avalon," "Ringu").

Set three years after the first film, "Patlabor 2" draws police commanders Ki'ichi Gotoh and Shinobu Nagumo into the hunt for Tsuge, a rogue officer of the Japan Self-Defense Forces connected with an escalating wave of terrorist attacks. But the investigation into the plot is guarded by secrets both personal and political, as the awakening fear of terror in Tokyo is slowly answered by the dream-like fade of democracy into martial law. Tokyo, rush hour: the dead of winter. A terror strike from the air shatters the Bay Bridge. When news footage shows an unidentified F-16 fighter jet in the vicinity, the investigation takes a darker turn as the outlines of the shadowy military and political coalition behind the incident are traced. But the conspiracy itself is out of control, and what began as a gesture is becoming a game where the peace, the freedom, and the very lives of the people of Tokyo are at stake!

The DVD will be released in both a single disc edition ($29.99) and a limited collector's edition ($89.99). The limited collector's edition is numbered with a limited run of only 10,000 units. The cover art was illustrated especially for the DVD release by noted illustrator Yutaka Izubuchi (mechanical designer of the "Patlabor" movies). The limited edition set includes:

Disc 1: The full-length animated film in Japanese and newly dubbed English voiceover with optional English subtitles, newly remastered anamorphic transfer (first U.S. release), new authentic 5.1 channel sound (first U.S. release) as well as Japanese trailers and television commercials.

Disc 2: "The Making of 'Patlabor 2 The Movie'" in Japanese with English subtitles.

Book 1: Archives (144 pages) containing exposition and criticism of the film, interviews with the director, a Tokyo location map, key animation drawing samples with explanatory notes and additional information about the film.

Book 2: The director's storyboard (300 pages with English translation).

Los Angeles Public Library and Manga Leader TOKYOPOP Announce Teen Reading Initiative

The Los Angeles Public Library and TOKYOPOP announced the all-new "Manga Madness Summer Reading Club," a first-of-its-kind collaboration designed to encourage teens to read. Teens, ages 11 to 18, who join the "Manga Madness Summer Reading Club" at their local branch library will receive a free folder, book bag, reading log, and bookmarks. Every branch will have special scheduled teen programs as part of the reading club. Also, each reading club participant will receive a certificate at the end of the summer reading program.

At the Los Angeles Public Library's Central Library and its 71 branches, librarians have doubled and in some cases tripled the number manga series ordered for their young adult collections because of high demand from teen readers.

FUNimation Entertainment Announces the Launch of the FUNimation Channel in Los Angeles

FUNimation Entertainment announced that the FUNimation Channel is now live in Los Angeles. Available via digital broadcast on LA 18.3, the FUNimation Channel provides 24-hour digital programming featuring top anime brands in the United States to over five million households in the Los Angeles area.

The FUNimation Channel is a 24-hour digital network featuring programming from top anime brands in the United States. It is available in the Los Angeles area via digital broadcast on LA 18's digital channel LA 18.3. FUNimation is working with OlympuSAT, a leading distributor of independent digital programming networks, for the distribution of the FUNimation Channel. OlympuSAT is the exclusive distributor of the FUNimation Channel, which is now available to video service providers across the nation.

For more information on the FUNimation Channel and how to get it in your area, log on to www.funimationchannel.com.

Latest on Anime Expo Lead-In

For the first time ever, fans across the globe can experience the action live from the Main Events Hall with Stickam. The live feed from Anime Expo will be available completely free on www.AXBackstage.org and Stickam.com to fans everywhere.

Hosted by the Society for Promotion of Japanese Animation (SPJA), some of the highlights to be broadcast from the Main Events Hall include:

* Opening and Closing ceremonies
* The famous "Masquerade" featuring cos-players (costume players/live impersonators stars from Anime and Manga)
* AX Idol
* The SPJA Charity Auction
* And much more

Manga superstars CLAMP announced last month that they would be making their first-ever U.S. public appearance at Anime Expo held in Anaheim, California, July 1 to July 4. For manga and anime fans in the United States and throughout the world, this is a once in a lifetime opportunity to see this influential group. The visit is being co-sponsored by Anime Expo, Del Rey Manga and Funimation Entertainment. Details on CLAMP's two autographing sessions at Anime Expo are as follows:

Attendees at CLAMP's panel on 2 PM Saturday will be selected at random to attend one of two autographing sessions. The autographing sessions will be held on Sunday, July 2. CLAMP will be signing exclusive pre-printed paper boards (also known as in Japan as shikishi) featuring CLAMP characters that will be provided to the winners.

CLAMP consists of four female artists, Satsuki Igarashi, Ageha Ohkawa, Tsubaki Nekoi and Mokona, who have created their own original story and characters in the Japanese graphic novel form known as "manga". They made their debut as manga artists in Japan in 1989. Since then have become bestselling authors, and animation films based on their work have been prominent on both TV and the cinema screen. CLAMP has also been at the spearhead of the current flux and rise in popularity of Japanese anime and manga in the U.S., with titles such as Magic Knight Rayearth, Cardcaptor Sakura, and Chobits available from Tokyopop. Among the manga and anime audience, CLAMP is one of the single most recognized names. The two series that they are currently writing in Japan, Tsubasa and xxxHOLiC, are both being published in English by Del Rey Manga.

Anime Expo and FUNimation Entertainment announced that the U.S. premiere of Fullmetal Alchemist: The Movie - Conqueror of Shamballa will be held at Anime Expo in the Main Events hall in the Anahiem Convention Center on Monday, July 3rd from 12:00 noon to 2:00 p.m. The event will be hosted by Anime Expo 2006 official Guests of Honor Japanese Movie Director Seiji Mizushima, Japanese Voice Actor for Edward Elric, Romi Paku, U.S. Voice Actor for Edward Elric, Vic Mignogna, FUNimation Guest U.S. English Dub Director, Mike McFarland and Special Guest Masahiko Minami, President of Studio Bones. Following the movie, a question and answer session with the audience will be held.

Shamballa takes place in Munich in 1923. Two years have passed since Edward Elric's sacrifice ripped him out of his world and into ours, separating him from his younger brother, Alphonse. In that time, Ed's continued research into rocketry has allied him with Alphons Heiderich, a fellow researcher who oddly resembles Ed's brother. Progress has been slow, however, and Ed has become discouraged. But when he saves a quiet Gypsy girl with the power to read minds, Ed is quickly pulled into a plot by the Thule Society and the burgeoning Nazi Party that could drag both worlds into a terrible war.

Fullmetal Alchemist: The Movie - Conqueror of Shamballa is also part of the programming for FUNimation's theatrical initiative, FUNimation Films. Fullmetal Alchemist: The Movie - Conqueror of Shamballa is scheduled to hit theatres nationwide on September 8, 2006. For more information go to www.funimationfilms or www.fullmetalalchemist.com.

Crispin Freeman has Anime Expo 2006 as a Guest of Honor at the nations largest Anime/Manga convention's 15th year anniversary at the Anaheim Convention Center July 1-4, 2006.

Mr. Freeman has been a voice actor in animation and video games for over 8 years. He got his start playing Zelgadis in the anime series The Slayers and since then has portrayed many popular roles including Alucard in Hellsing, Amon in Witch Hunter Robin, Fuma in X, Tsume in Wolf's Rain, Togusa in Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex, and Prince Turnip in the Miyazaki film Howl's Moving Castle. Most recently, he portrayed Rude in Final Fantasy: Advent Children.

In addition, Crispin has directed and starred in I, My, Me, Strawberry Eggs and Scrapped Princess. He's also worked as a script adaptor on many shows including Pokemon, Witch Hunter Robin, Assemble Insert, and Boogie Pop Phantom. He's also done a number of video game roles including Albedo in Xenosaga and playing Disney's Will Turner as well as Final Fantasy's Setzer in Kingdom Hearts II.

Celebrated and immensely popular voice actor Toru Furuya joins Anime Expo 2006 as a Guest of Honor at the nations largest Anime/Manga convention's 15th year anniversary at the Anaheim Convention Center July 1-4, 2006.

Fans will recognize his voice as the dashing Chiba Mamoru and Tuxedo Kamen (Tuxedo Mask) in the ever-popular SailorMoon series, top pilot, Amuro Ray in the original Mobile Suit Gundam TVanime and movie adaptations, the forever-fickle, Kyosuke Kusaga of Kimagure Orange Road and the desert bandit-turned-ally, Yamcha from the original Dragon Ball TV series/spin-offs.

He could also be heard in several other well-known titles such as, Saint Seiya, Marmalade Boy, Space Battleship Yamato (TV series and movies), One Pound Gospel (OVA), Queen Millennia (TV and movie), Dr. Slump (TV and movie), and Ultimate Girls just to name a few.

Animation Director Noboru Ishiguro joined Anime Expo 2006 as a Guests of Honor at the nations largest Anime/Manga convention's 15th year anniversary at the Anaheim Convention Center July 1-4, 2006.

Mana, the central figure of the popular j-rock band, Malice Mizer, is renowned for his beauty and stylish attire. He is also deemed as the creator and front man of Japan's Gothic Lolita fashion Movement.

At a very young age, Mana was introduced to classical music by his parents, though it was in highschool where he decided to pursue music. Fast-forward to 1992 and the Japanese goth-rock band, Malice Mizer was born. Mana, one of it's founding members conceived the band name from the term "Malicious Misery". His band became on the most influencial j-rock bands to rise to fame in Japan.

Being in such high demand, He is the producer of band Schwarz Stein and of his own current project, Moi dix Mois. Aside from music, he owns the Gothic Lolita line known as Moi-même-Moitié, which he formed near the end of 2000.

Mr. Ishiguro has worked on some of the most important works of anime history. He was the animation director for the first two SPACE BATTLESHIP YAMATO movies, he also directed the second anime for ATOM BOY (Tetsuwan Atom). He was also the Chief Director for MACROSS, and the series director for LEGEND OF GALACTIC HEROES.

Mr. Ishiguro continues to contribute to the anime industry through his studio, Artland. He latest work includes MUSHISHI which is based upon the popular manga. This 26 episode series about the supernatural has received the "Outstanding work of TV Animation" award at the Tokyo Animation Fair in 2006.

Go! Comi will be holding a panel at Anime Expo on Sunday, July 2nd, at 5:00 PM in Live Programming Room #2. Mick Takeuchi, the creator of our best-selling series "Her Majesty's Dog" will be participating. At the panel they will announce several new series. Go! Comill also do an extensive presentation, and discuss "Her Majesty's Dog" with Takeuchi-sensei.

In addition, Go! Comi is running a "Wear & Win" contest throughout the con. They'll be giving away thousands of "Her Majesty's Dog" dog-tags during the events they 're sponsoring their well as at our booth. Members of the Go! Prize Patrol will be constantly scouring the convention, giving free manga, T-shirts and other goodies to wearers of the dog-tags at hourly intervals.

Geneon Talks Shana Premiere

For high school student Yuji Sakai, normal girls would have a tough act to follow once Shana, the mysterious sword-wielding warrior from the Crimson Realm arrives in his world. It's a good thing they won't have to measure up at all, thanks to the fact that Yuji's apparently killed by an inadvertent blow from the blade of Flame Haze in Shana Volume One, coming to DVD September 5 from Geneon Entertainment. Instead of leading him to a white light, though, death takes Yuji back to Shana's Crimson Realm, where the two unlikely comrades must fight against the otherworldly invaders that have become a plague upon the land. Fighting side by side with a fiery warrior, Yuji learns things he never would have been taught in school… about honor, love and personal strengths. Featuring thrilling action and sweeping romance set against a lush and colorful backdrop of vibrant animation, the Shana Volume One DVD additionally showcases the beautiful series design with a full color art gallery. Shana Volume One DVD is available for a suggested retail price of $29.98 U.S. Prebook is August 1.

Shana Volume One Synopsis Yuji Sakai is about to learn that there is more to the world than going to school and finding a girl friend when he meets a sword-wielding girl with fiery red eyes and flame colored hair. Denizens of the Crimson Realm are invading our world and its up to the Flame Haze, Shana to slay them. However, when Yuji gets in the way of her sword, he learns that death is much more different than he imagined it would be. Follow their harrowing adventure as Yuji and Shana work together to defeat the Denizens of the Crimson World and learn more about each other and the worlds they are from.

DVD Features Shana Volume One DVD is presented in anamorphic widescreen and features Japanese and English 2.0 audio with optional English subtitles.

Giant Robot Qee Design Competition

Giant Robot Magazine has announced a competition open to designers between the ages of 18 and 25 to design a look for the qee bear figures. The entry form can be downloaded from here

Geneon Box Sets

Melody Of Oblivion: Complete DVD Box Set, Volume 1-6 will be released September 19th for $119.98 A GAINAX (Neon Genesis Evangelion, Fooly Cooly) and J.C. STAFF (Ai Yori Aoshi, Ikki Tousen) collaboration During the 20th century, the world experienced a large-scale war. A war between humans and monsters. Words could never describe the violent bloodshed of the war that the monsters had won. Time has passed and a new century has begun. Have the people forgotten that Melody? Life continued on as normal except for a mysterious sacrifice here and there. However, Bocca felt that this was wrong and when he heard of the Warriors of Melos, people who still rallied to defeat the monsters, he decided to become one as well. But this isn't an easy path and there is still much to be learned about the Melody of Oblivion.

Ultra Maniac: Complete DVD Box Set, Volume 1-7 will be released September 19th for $119.98 From the Creator of Marmalade Boy comes a new magical romantic comedy

Ayu Tateishi is in her second year of junior high school and is known as the cool popular tennis club girl that all the other girls idolize. To tell the truth, Ayu only acts cool in order to impress Tetsushi Kaji of the school baseball club. Then, one day, Ayu meets Nina Sakura, a transfer student who had found Ayu's missing purse. Nina's strange personality had left Ayu a little perplexed. Furthermore, Ayu finds out that Nina is a witch that came from the kingdom of magic to study abroad. This is a story of one girl's hope of love and another girl's study of magic and their friendship to overcome the challenges set before them. Get ready for the ultra-cool, ultra-funny, ultra-romantic .