Father Geek here and its the middle of the work-week so that means its time for another of Scott's fact filled Manga/Anime columns. A report full of all your anime world needs and desires, annnnnnd all in one location, we've done all the web surfing for you so you can spend your time just absorbing all the coolness you can imagine... well, alot of it anyway. Before we get into the body of the main report here's some info that found its way directly to ol'Father Geek's rolltop desk here at Geek Headquarters in Austin...

Greetings from up North;

Just dropping you a short note to let you know about the Ottawa International Animation Festival that will be happening this year from October 2nd-6th. This is arguably the premiere animation festival in North America; and I thought that both yourself and your readers might appreciate the heads-up on this years festivities.

Here's the link to their site: Just Click to See It All

Us Ottawa geeks usually don't have a whole lot to look forward to in terms of big film events (unless were able to take time out to travel to Montreal or Toronto); so this is something a lot of us look forward to.

Take care; Randy

OK... Father Geek back just long enough to turn it all over to Scott Green and The AICN Anime Report...

Anime Spotlight: Armitage: Dual Matrix

Released By Pioneer

Dual Matrix is ostensibly an action movie with a science fiction backdrop that uses the same characters and backdrop Armitage III, or its movie edit Armitage: Polymatrix. The android cop in the hot pants, Naomi Armitage has returned to crack men-in-black skulls, rip apart military power suits, and engage in rooftop tussles with combat androids. If you've been jonesing for high grade robot on robot action since you first saw Armitage charge down a crane, deflecting bullets, you've fix is here. Unfortunately, if you're wondering about the continued implication, or progression of the ideas introduction in Dual Matrix's predecessor, you'll be more than disappointed.

The plot is enough to keep the movie moving. Its leads Naomi Armitage a former police officer, who is secretly a third, a generation of robots that are intellectually, emotional, and biologically compatible with humans, and her former partner, and now husband have returned, with a daughter. There is an insane corporate villain, a military-industrial army bolstered by a pair of Armitage replicas, and a child kidnapping for motivation. It's fine, with the exception of a sentimental, out of place message that is mercifully brief, and some throw away scenes that look like a wrong headed attempt to please fans of the original.

The style of digital animation, and Dual Matrix play off each other. The fast pan, and unnatural movements are perfect for the robotic action. It adds a mechanical force, and tracking

They've tuned up Armitage's moves, and made her more of a hand to hand martial artist than the police street fighter she once in her previous appearance. She stands, and moves with a forceful grace, mixed with her personal wildness. Despite a brute force savageness, animation often emphasized a precise technique to her attacks. She's a steel girder crushing Michelle Yeoh.

The first Armitage was a tapestry, with threads from police drama, speculative science fiction, political and social upheaval, even H.P. Lovecraft. Dual Matrix is built of visual blocks taken from Ghost in the Shell, the Matrix, Terminator, Robocop, and Battle Angel Alita. For the most part, it captures enough of the source's excitement, and spins it in a new enough direction to be enthralling.

If you enjoyed the speculative, and political aspects of the original, you will not find additional development of the ideas or characters. The implication of child bearing robots, and the political situation on Mars are not addressed, nor has motherhood, or time to complicate the revelations about her creation changed Armitage much. She starts off with a more mature look, but before long, she's bad to a modification on her original bad-ass-prostitute attire.

The most prominent featured part of the release is actress Juliette Lewis's portrayal of Armitage in the English language audio track. Is does a fine, and believable job, the character is an action hero, and what the character needs is about what she is known for, damaged anger, and determination. The whole dub cast, which includes an annoying cute young character, and Jar Jar Bink's Ahmed Best as a flamboyant robot information broker, sound natural considering the subject matter, and character depth; not to mention not nearly as annoying as it could have been. Its a good example of the new high standards of English dubs.

Dual Matrix is an excellent action, but a mediocre Armitage sequel. The original felt balance between the cerebral acrobats of a writer, and the visual acrobats of a director. Dual Matrix is all director; as if a writer was not in the budget. Judged on its own merits, the movie succeeds, it pulls of great effects, and thrilling action, but given its name, its not asking to be judged on its own merits.

Manga Spotlight: Battle Angel Alita

by Yukito Kishiro Released by Viz

Viz will soon begin releasing Battle Angel Alita: Last Order, Yukito Kishiro's return to the series that he cut short due to health problem. The original Battle Angel Alita is the tumultuous kung fu cyberpunk tale of he life on an android, from rebirth to childhood, through adolescence, and into adulthood. Its a work of both meticulous design in script, and illustrations, and one of natural fluidity. It spends almost 400 pages on the silly concept of android rollerball, and makes it on the most gripping, intelligent, and exciting sports stories in comic, or any other form.

It begins in a pile of parts in the Scrap Yard, the material and social dumping grounds for the technological utopia of Tiphares. It is a shanty town with a tin layer of anarchy and mob rule, above a subtle control through were law is implemented by bounty hunter, gladiatorial crowd control, and social administration by payment to the broad minded con-men. A stand out in the Scrap Yard's sea of eccentrics, and misfits is Doctor Ido, a mechanical doctor for cyborgs, robots and androids, a rocket hammer wielding bounty hunter, and scrap collector. While collecting robot eyes, he find a female androids head, and torso with a human brain. He gives the individual the named Alita, after his recently deceased cat. Alita is an odd clash of nature and nurture. She is given a body, she is clean, new, tabula rase, except for the innate knowledge of Panzer Kunst, a martial art developed for humanoid cyborgs.

Kishiro's series follows Alita through her new life. She finds and loses family, friends, and lovers. She's a bounty hunter, a Motorball gladiator, a musician, a government assassin, a terrorist, and a revolutionary. Alita, and those around her age and evolve. The events in the lives change them with a natural flow. Characters make understandable decisions, and Kishiro's follows through with the results of the decision. The characters' decisions can be surprising, but the follow laws of emotion, or logic, not blind necessities of plot.

The one constant in Alita's life is violence. She's born with the skill to fights, and whether she runs towards or away from it, it is a constant companion. Kishiro does an outstanding job capturing the movements of the action. He's good with motion, but few match his ability to capture posture, and position. Difference is styles, martial arts, and characters become apparent in the positioning. For example, Alita, and another girl exchange kick, Alita using her Panzer Kunst, the other girl using Brazilian Capoeira. The single panel captures the fact that the two moves are about the same speed, but blightly different. There is a precision that make the movements believable, and engaging.

Kishiro is clearly a man in love with details and ideas. He's created a full cyber punk world with Battle Angel. We the clockwork gears of how the society, and technology of Tiphares and the scrap yard function.

The complexity carries into Kishiro's illustration. He incorporates from cyberpunk sprawl design only rivaled by Akira's Katsuhiro Otomo to a western aesthetic with nods to American comic artists Frank Miller, or Arthur Adams, and design homages to KISS, or Grace Jones. There are large changes in the illustration over the course of the series. He's learns to make his expression more believable, and less porcelain. Machinery and gadgets start compounding on the complexity,

It's a magnum opus, a life's work, Kishiro worked himself into a serious illness, or execerbated one greatly creating Battle Angel Alita. Afterwards, Kashiro scaled down the scope, and detail of his work. There will never be another work like it, form its creator, or anyone else.

This Week's Anime and Manga Releases

Anime

• Brain Powered Vol. #3
• Dragon Ball Z:Perfect Cell-Perfection
• Fancy Lala Vol. #2
• FLCL Vol. #1
• Generator Gawl - Perfect Collection
• Ronin Warriors Vol. #6
• Sailor Moon - Fight to the Finish (TV Show, Vol. 7)
• Sailor Moon - The Doom Tree Strikes (TV Show, Vol. 8)
• Sailor Moon SuperS - Pegasus Collection IV
• Star Blazers:Comet Empire Part 6

Manga

• Bastard #9 Vampire (Part 1 Of 2)
• Neon Genesis Evangelion Part 7 #4 (Of 7)
• Oh My Goddess Part Xii #3 Learning To Love (Part 3 Of 3)
• Peach Girl Vol 6 Pkt Gn
• Priest Vol 2
• Silent Mobius Part 11 Blood #2 (Of 5)
• Skull Man Vol 3 Gn
• Slayers Special Book 1 Touch Of Evil

Gundam Seed Trailer

A trailer for the new Gundam series Mobile Suit Gundam Seed has been posted here and here on a Gundam Seed page.

Gundam Seed starts on the Japanese TBS on October 5th.

More Manga Artists At Marvel

Pulse is reporting at the Anime Expo in New York, C. B. Cebulski from Marvel Comics announced even more Japanese manga-ka (comics creators) who would be working for Marvel Comics.

Tsutomu Nihei, best known for his amazingly strange and detailed work in his cyberpunk labyrinth Blame will be working on a Wolverine project. Outlaw Star's Takehiko Ito, Blood: The Last Vampire's Katsuya Terada Yoko Mera of SNK's Samurai Showdown, Gurihira creators Chisuyu Sasaki and Naoko Kawaru, and character designers for Final Fantasy Shen "Jason" Nagasawa will be doing cover art.

Makota Nakatsuka will be working with J. (Sidekicks) Torres on a manga project called X-Men Ronin. who worked for SNK on the popular Samurai Showdown is working on some covers and pin up work.

Emiko Iwasaki, a character designer on the game Guilty Gear is also slated to do some pin up work including one for X-Men Unlimited # 40, a Spider-Man pinup, and perhaps a four issue limited series in mid 2003.

Mizuki Sakabayashi is working on a Storm pin up for X-Men Unlimited and some other short pieces and perhaps a longer project is in Sakabayashi's future as well

Dragon Ball News

From SaiyanZ Rage

More episodes of the original Dragon Ball series will be airing this October on Cartoon Network, starting with episode 52 "Escape from Pirate Cave", tentatively schedule for October 21st.

According to Wizard's Anime Invasion Magazine FUNimation has announced plans to re-dub the first to season of Dragon Ball Z (episodes 1-53) for bilingual DVDs.

The International Channel has confirmed that Dragonball GT will premier on Sunday, November 10, most likely taking over the Dragonball Z time slot since Dragonball Z will end on November 3rd. Right now, the International Channel is broadcasting the uncut and untranslated original Japanese Dragonball Z TV series. Most likely, Dragonball GT will also be broadcast in untranslated original Japanese.

FUNimation has confirmed plans to alter the name of Vegeta's and Bulma's daughter Bra to "Bulla" in the English dub of Dragonball Z. The name change (actually closer to a very loose translation) avoids criticisms of sexism or the inclusion of inappropriate sexual references in a children's cartoon, but also eliminates part of the running joke with Bulma's family being named after clothes: Bulma as in "bloomers"; Professor Briefs; Trunks, as in shorts, underwear or swim trunks; and Bra.

Canadian YTV's contract with FUNimation for Dragonball Z is for 53 new episodes, starting with episode 220 (Meal Time), which airs on September 2nd at 8:00pm EST, and finishing with episode 272(Celebrations with Majin Buu).

In all their are 276 episodes of Dragonball Z and it has been stated that it is not likely that YTV will purchase a new contract for the final four episodes.

The 8:30 pm timeslot for DBZ on YTV has also been cancelled, leaving only the 8pm slot.

Bandai Anime Expo New York News

According to Anime on DVD Bandai has announced the acquisition of season one of Galaxy Angels and Geneshaft. It should come as little surprise that they also have Big O Season 2. Geneshaft is a genetics sci-fi that looks at a future society that took the drastic step of preserving humanity by reducing the male to female ratio to 1:9.

Mobile Suit Gundam Zeta is in production for a domestic release. Banner of the Stars, the follow-up to the cultural sci-fi Crest of the Stars will begin its three disc release in January.

FUNimation Acquires One Piece Anime Rights and Galaxy Police

According to Anime on DVD Funimation has acquired the bizare pirate 100+ episode series One Piece, and the the most recent Tenchi spinoff series, the Galaxy Police series.

Anime Expo New York Pioneer Information

Anime News Network's Anime Expo New York convention report states Pioneer's sturio representative stated that he is "pretty sure" that Pioneer will acquire the rights to the second Mahoromatic series, Mahoromatic: Something More Beautiful, due to premiere in Japan later this month. On the other hand, Pioneer does not have the license to Witch Hunter Robin despite speculation to the contrary.

They also confirmed that the only Lupin license that they have is for the TV series, and none of the OVA's or movies (many of which have been acquired by FUNimation).

They will be releasing DVD box sets for Magical Project S and Hand Maid May, each with a large number of extras and bonus features.

Anime Expo New York ADV Information

Anime News Network's Anime Expo New York convention report states ADV has hinted at some of their 12 new co-development projects, including "Parasite Dolls", a title set in the Bubble Gum Crisis universe, and a Sin II tv series, based on the video game by the same name.

Anime Expo New York TOKOPOP Information

Anime News Network's Anime Expo New York convention report states TOKYOPOP has licensed the 15-volume Digimon series drawn by a Hong Kong-based artist. They expect to begin releasing it in late 2002. They've also confirmed that Nelvana does indeed have the license to the Groove Adventure Rave Anime, while TOKYOPOP holds the manga license. They are also looking to expand their number of Korean, Chinese and Taiwanese comic titles.

TOKYOPOP will be release two hardcover Art of Rayearth books by October. The books will sell for either $14,99 or $19.99.

Regarding the acquisition of older CLAMP tiltes, such as RG Veda and Tokyo Babylon, TOKYOPOP'S Joel Burrell stated, "anything we can get, we will get."

Given the fees involved, the chance of for Kodomo no Omocha TV series being licensed for US release is "unrealistic," although Tokyopop is hoping some arrangement can be made.

Kodomo No Omocha is the anime version of the manga series titled Kodocha for its American series. The anime series has earned a strong reputation, and American buzz for its insanity, high energy, and rapid fire humor.

Animatrix Trailer

The Matrix.com has posted an AniMatrix teaser trailer.

The latest release schedule is far more precise:

The Animatrix Preview Trailer @ TheMatrix.com August 27th @ 18:03:03s in NYC, 15:03:03s in LA August 28th @ 08:03:03s in Sydney, 07:03:03s in Tokyo

This first preview trailer is roughly 30 seconds. It is designed to let those unfamiliar with The Animatrix learn of the project's existence, and find out that all nine episodes will be released on DVD and video.

Love Hina For Christmas

Right stuf reports that the Love Hina Christmas special, or movie, will be released by Bandai on December 3rd.

Bankruptcy Doesn't Slow ADV's Lady Death

ICV2 report that the recent bankruptcy of Lady Death owner Chaos Comic will not delay ADV Films "American Anime" adapation of the character.

Chaos Comic recently filed Chapter VII bankruptcy. Anime powerhouse AD Vision, not Chaos, is financing the 72-minute feature film, which is based on a script by American anime pioneer Carl Macek (Robotech). Macek has finished storyboarding the film and test footage from the film's Korean animation studio (SunMin Image Pictures) reportedly looks great. Macek and fellow producer Andy Orjuela are set to go to Korea to check on the actual animation of the film, a process that is likely to take several months. So far Lady Death has not been cast, though Macek promised ICv2 that some big time talent will be involved.

Anime in Japan

From Natsume Maya

Konaka Chiaki, story editor and writer-in-chief of the Big O TV series has an English language page up and writes a bit about the history surrounding the decision to make the second season of the Big O.

In the "notebook" on his website, Kon Satoshi (of Perfect Blue fame) has released more staff details for his next work Tokyo Godfathers, although music and some other details are yet undecided. The site also mentions another movie in the works called Family Muke (For Families). This will be the tale of a boy growing up, of adventure, love and courage.

Kon is also thinking of a TV series, that he was produce and script, but not direct. The series will be Perfect Blue style horror and will deal with one relatively small incident setting off a chain of events and affecting unlikely people. The main character in each episode will differ, but the chain of events will eventually boomerang and return to the origin. Thus, the incident itself will be one of the main characters.

The official website for the TV anime version of Get Backers is up at here. The series starts on 5 October 2002.

BAAF 2002 Film Tickets On Sale

Tickets for the BAAF 2002 Film Festival are now on sale at the Loews State Theater Box Office! Loews State Theater is located at the B2 level in the Virgin Megastore in Times Square. (1540 Broadway between 45th & 46th Street) All premieres are $10 and $5 for all other films. Hurry and get your tickets now!

Box Office Hours: Saturday - Sunday, 12 noon to 12 midnight. Ticket Availability: (212) 391-3960

Upcoming Releases

Anime on DVD reports Bandai will be relasing the first volume of Melty Lancer on January seventh. The first volume of Banner of the starts will be release on January 23rd.

Doomed Magalopolis

From the press release: A Legendary Animated Horror Film Returns First-Ever Dvd Release Of Acclaimed Director Rintaro's Doomed Megalopolis Ova Series

DV Films today announced the impending release of DOOMED MEGALOPOLIS on DVD. Presented in a two-disc set, this marks the first DVD release of supervising director RinTaro's (Metropolis, Captain Harlock) seminal horror masterpiece. Produced by one of Japan's premiere animation houses, Madhouse Studios (Ninja Scroll), this English-language adaptation-by Carl Macek (Robotech, Lady Death)-remains true to form, delivering a chilling tale of genuine horror constructed in a classic 4-part mini-series format.

A classic struggle between good and evil, Doomed Megalopolis takes place in the context of a devastating earthquake that destroyed much of Tokyo in 1923. The tale posits an alternate cause for that destruction, putting a supernatural spin on the actual event.

"Doomed Megalopolis is really a triumph of the anime form," said Macek. "It's a completely unique-and very adult-supernatural horror tale, set dramatically against a backdrop of pre-war Japanese history and culture. It's unlike any other title I've had the opportunity to produce, and I'm very excited that we've been able to bring it out on DVD."

The Story: Set in Tokyo during the first decades of the 20th century, Doomed Megalopolis tells the story of the powerful mystic Kato's obsession with the conquest of Tokyo-"the greatest city on earth." But Kato's actions awaken the long-dead spirit Masakato, the legendary guardian of Tokyo. Unable to stand along against Masakato's power, the calculating Kato uses an innocent woman as an unsuspecting pawn in the hope of producing an offspring capable of challenging Tokyo's mystical protector. But Kato never counted on the effect that a team of unlikely heroes would have on his sinister plans. Nor could he anticipate the destruction his spells would cause for the millions of innocent citizens of Tokyo...

ADV's release of Doomed Megalopolis combines all four parts of the title: "The Haunting of Tokyo," "The Fall of Tokyo," "The Gods of Tokyo" and "The Battle for Tokyo." The DVD will clock in at over three hours; final packaging artwork is in progress as of the date of this release. NOTE: Doomed Megalopolis contains adult content and is rated 17+; pricing details and release dates are TBA

Galaxy Angel Acquired?

From Anime News Service

The first season of the produced 2 season Galaxy Angel TV Anime has been acquired for U.S. distribution. The show aired on Japan's Sky PercTV and TV Tokyo over 2001-2002 as a Sc-Fi / comedy series featuring beautiful girls. Production by Broccoli and Bandai Visual. Animation is by Madhouse, Executive Producer Takaaki Kitani.

The first season ended it's run over Japanese TV on Septemberd 29th 2001 at 25 eepisodes. A second series began airing in February 2002, comprised of 2 10 minute mini episodes inside of a larger 30 minute weekly broadcast. Comic was serialized in Monthly Dragon Junior by Kadokawa Shoten. About 2 months ago word first came down in Japan that a third season of Galaxy Angel is being planned.

The GA franchise in Japan, rich in female vocal telent spawned several audio related offerings such as CD's. Mari Iijima fans note, the original voice actress (seiyuu) for Macross' Lynn Minmei recorded 2 songs (including the main theme) for the Galaxy Angel PS2 game, currently it is not expected that the game will be released in America.

Ghost In the Shell: Stand Alone Complex Screening at AXNY

Bandai has announced that they will be screening the first episode of the new Ghost in the Shell TV series Stand Alone Complex at the Anime Expo New York.

DiC Licenses Speed Racer

Animation Magazine is reporting that DiC Entertainment (also known for the dub of Sailor Moon seasons 1-2) has acquired both the classic Speed Racer, as well as the new Speed Racer currently airing on Nickelodeon.

Anime In Japan

A web page from Studio Gonzo's new Kiddy Grade has gone online at www.kiddygrade.com

Tokyopop appoints new Director of Licensing

TokyoPop has appointed the former Director of Marketing for Twentieth Century Fox Consumer Products as their new Director of Licensing.

Super Manga Blast Article, With Key Appleseed Information

Pulse has posted an article on Dark Horse Comics' Super Manga Blast interviewing editor Tim Ervin-Gore. Amoung the topics discussed was Ghost in the Shell creator Masamune Shirow's new Applseed Hypernote, which will run in issue #25 through #36, but will not be released in a collected format see here.

Toei Summer Anime Fair a Failure

From Anime News Service: Anime distubor Toei's Summer Anime Fair is being called a failure after earning only 800 million yen (US$6.8m) for releases which included Digimon Frontier, Kinniku-Man the 2nd and Crash Gear Turbo.

Rival studio Toho won the box office receipts during the same period with the latest Doraemon movie (2,300 million yen), the latest Detective Conan movie (3,300 million yen) and the fifth Pokemon movie, which earned a massive 3 billion yen.

Gutsoon! Signs Distribution Agreement with Diamond for Raijijn

Gutsoon! Entertainment has signed a distribution agreement with one of the world's largest comic book distributors, Diamond Comic Distributors for the distribution of their flagship publishing property Raijin Comics, it was announced today by Nobuhiko Horie, Chairman, Gutsoon Entertainment and Coamix.

The agreement marks the next step for Gutsoon! Entertainment, following the announcement of the launch of their first U.S. weekly-manga anthology last month, at Anime Expo, Long Beach. The first issue is now scheduled to be in stores Dec. 4th, 2002.

Highlighting the distribution deal, is Gutsoon! Entertainment's new lower shelf price, offering manga fans Raijin Comics at a single-issue rate of $4.95. Down $2.00 from the original single-issue rate plans. Fujin, the special supplement included with the weekly issues, which will feature news and updates on anime, videogames and trends will be offered at .99¢.

For interested subscribers, Gutsoon! offers Raijin Comics special subscription opportunities for those manga fans who may be interested in receiving their weekly comic book. For three-months at a rate of $4.95/issue (12 issues of Raijin Comics and 12 issues of Fujin). A six-month subscription will also be $4.45/issue (24 issues of Raijin Comics and 24 issues of Fujin); a twelve month subscription is being offered at a special rate of $3.95/issue (48 issues of Raijin Comics and 48 issues of Fujin). To thank the newest subscribers, a special premium (gift) will be given to both six month and twelve-month sign-up subscribers.

JoJo's Bizarre Adventure Release Information

Super Techno Arts announce the first DVD volume of "JoJo's Bizarre Adventure", based on the manga series by Hirohiko Araki will be released in November/December 2002. 7 episodes of OVA prequel series and 6 episodes of OVA sequel series will be available on total of 6 volumes, with sound and music upgraded to 5.1 surround system for the sequel series. Character design and animation director by Junichi Hayama, music composed and arranged by Marco d'Ambrosio of MarcoCo., and sound design by Tom Myers of Skywalker Sound.

FIRST VOLUME:

• - Street Date: November/December 2002
• - Episode count: 3 Episodes x 30 minutes each
• - Format: Region 1 DVD Bilingual (Japanese/English)
• - DVD Extras: Staff interview, production footage, art gallery, and more
• - Inserts: 2 x Tarot Cards designed by Hirohiko Araki
• - Price: Individual disc - $29.99 Art box with individual disc - $44.99
• - Animation Production: A.P.P.P.
• - Executive Producer: Kazufumi Nomura
• - Distribution by: Super Techno Arts Inc./Diamond Comic Distributors

More than 100 years have past since the battle between Jonathan Joestar and the vampire, Dio Brando. Dio's escape from the ocean depths awakens the psychic power known as "Stand" within Joseph Joestar and Jotaro Kujo (JoJo). They join forces with other Stand Users to face the ultimate evil to save JoJo's mother Holley from the deadly curse.

Viz's Spirited Away Releases

Viz Communications, Inc. announced its acquisition of the publishing rights to Hayao Miyazaki's Spirited Away.

Through a partnership with Studio Ghibli, Viz plans to publish graphic novels, art and coffee table books, which will also serve as the official print adaptations of the movie being released by The Walt Disney Studios this September. Viz will begin releasing Spirited Away in August, marking the debut of this long-awaited and beloved story in English.

The critically acclaimed box office hit (box office totals to date equal $234 million) and winner of the Berlin Film Festival's Golden Bear Award, Spirited Away tells the story of Chihiro, a ten-year-old girl who discovers a secret, magical world while traveling with her family. When her parents are turned into pigs, Chihiro must learn to navigate this secret world full of ghosts, spirits and goblins, while struggling to maintain her identity and free her parents from its magic spell.

With full color artwork, Spirited Away, Volumes 1-5 (168 pages for $9.95) present the entire movie in a manga-like format, with thousands of beautiful stills from the film arranged to read as a comic book, complete with translated dialogue. Each title will be presented in its original Japanese format (reads right-to-left) and feature distinctive Japanese sound effects with a bonus translation in the back. Beginning in July, Viz will release the following Spirited Away print titles:

THE ART OF SPIRITED AWAY

- A large, hardcover coffee-table book featuring artwork from the renowned animated film, Spirited Away, directed by Hayao Miyazaki. Features color stills, sketches, storyboards and illustrations used to envision the rich fantasy world of the film. Also includes extensive production notes and a complete English-language script from the film. $34.95 USA/$57.95 CAN, paperback, 240 color pages

SPIRITED AWAY PICTURE BOOK

- A large, hardbound book for kids that tells the entire story of the hit animated feature film, Spirited Away, directed by Hayao Miyazaki and being distributed this fall by Disney. Generously illustrated by color stills from the film. $19.95 USA/$32.95 CAN, hardbound, 168 color pages.

Rave Anime Acquired by Nelvana?

Word has been sent to Anime News Network from AXNY that Tokyopop mentionned at their panel that Nelvana, the company best known to Anime fans for the Cardcaptors adaptation of Cardcaptor Sakura, has aquired the rights to the Rave Anime.

Viz Promotes on WB

Newsarama reports the new show on WB Everwood will feature a character with a noticable anime and manga collection, supplied by Viz. "It's a straight family drama, and one of the kids is really into anime and manga," Viz's Senior Marketing Manager Dallas Middaugh told Newsarama.com. "His room is plastered with the stuff - posters, comics, books, DVDs. The producers called Paul Levitz a few months ago to ask for some manga and anime, and Paul had them call me. We hooked them up with our books, posters and other stuff, and we're waiting with baited breath to see the result next month. I've been told it looks really good, and we're providing WB with more materials."

According to Middaugh, Viz was told that it's recent horror manga volumes, Uzumaki plays a "prominent" role in the premier episode set to air on September 16th.

Manga that will show up in the first episode include:

Comics:

• Ceres, Celestial Legend 1 #1
• Inu-Yasha 6 #1
• Ranma 1/2 10 #9

Graphic Novels:

• Fushigi Yugi #1
• Inu-Yasha #1
• Inu-Yasha #2
• Maison Ikkoku #1
• Patlabor #1
• Ranma 1/2 #3
• Revolutionary Girl Utena #1
• Urusei Yatsura #1
• Uzumaki #1
• Urusei Yatsura #2

And you may (or may not) spot the following in upcoming episodes:

Comics:

• Inu-Yasha
• Ceres
• Ranma

Graphic Novels:

• Cinderalla
• Fushigi Yugi 2-4
• Inu-Yasha 10-11
• Maison Ikkoku 2-3
• Ranma 1-2
• Uzumaki 2
• Ceres 1
• Utena 1-2

Magazines:

• Animerica 10-7 to 10-9
• Shonen Jump