Father Geek here with the mid-work-week Anime/Manga report from Scott Green... Sooooooo here it is everything you want to know about the world of Manga & Anime this week, all located in one easy to find spot, the...

AICN Anime Report...

By Scott Green

Anime Spotlight: Neon Genesis Evangelion: The End of Evangelion

Released by Manga Video

It's been a wild ride for the whining young Shinji Ikari, and his purple robot, but no one saw this coming. After complaints, dissatisfaction, and death threats, Hideaki Anno, and GAINAX have revisited the last two episodes, and have given the fans what they wanted. Action and violence... a complete, or nearly complete explanation of the events and causal factors of the story... and an ending. No one expected the resulting black hole of density, and attraction created. In the end, everyone on both sides of the screen got what they deserve.

End of Evangelion is a mental core dump from a man and a group with wild ideas about human relationships, myth, and religion, the population of a fictional world of damaged individuals and cloaked agendas, and a staggering visual interpretation of the whole.

The first viewing is an emotional sledgehammer. There is a storm of isolation, anger, and betrayal raging in the creators and creation. From its evolutionary, single celled root there has been a flaw in humanity and it has reached an intractable position. Paradoxically in our crowded world, people have never felt so isolated and abandoned. Only a solution with force equal to the cause can set the break.

From unflinching the violence of the assault on NERV, the protagonists of the initial series, and cruel subtleties of the first half of the feature, to the shot gun blast metaphor-gasm of the second, End of Evangelion is a mind bending experience. A flashed frame, or mundane detail is rendered as hauntingly as a major cataclysm, and a shocking spectacle is visualized as in stark truthfulness.

It takes several viewings to distance oneself from the emotional impact of the movie, and look at it analytically. The symbolism, mythical, biblical, and mystical allusions are packed very densely, but you don't need to be Joseph Campbell, or have a strong background in Freud and Jung to interpret the movie. The key pieces are common knowledge for a western audience. Deduction can easily replace a familiarity with the Dead Sea Scroll version of the Adam and Eve story. One can see the statements without picking up every Marduke, Ishtar reference.

In the six years since the American release of the first volume, the reputation of Evangelion has waxed and waned. Its been a bit overshadowed by the works that built on its foundation, and by accusations of pretentiousness, but as innovative as the television series was, the movie takes it to a new level. It is certain elicit an emotional reaction, whether it is revulsion, or admiration, or both. "Unique" is a word that can fairly applied this movie.

Again, Manga has put together a great product with this release. The amount of work that went into the translation, and English dub was obviously staggering. You can quibble on a few points ("I feel sick" is a bit more quotable than "how disgusting"), but in a work were flaws would be glaringly apparent, the finished product is superb.

Like "Death and Rebirth", "End of Evangelion" features a commentary track with insight on the production of the English version, and analysis of the movie. Don't listen to the commentary track until you've seen the movie several times. It contains excellent information, and perspective, but there's a glibness that comes of seeing the movie too many times thatworks better after one has deconstructed the movie on their own.

End of Evangelion will be released on September 24th. A review of the first movie, "Death and Rebirth" can be seen here.

Anime Spotlight: Dai-Guard: Terrestrial Defense Corp. Volume 1: Hostile Takeover

Released by ADV Films

In a world of trade shows, low bidder contracts, and CYA board, meetings the workers at Dai-Guard protect Earth from giant invaders from below the planet's crust. Corporate 9to5ers are thrown in a 70's style drill armed giant robot. It's Office Space meets Voltron. Here's the marketing department, and middle management to save the day. Dai-Guard is an under the radar title with broad, mature audience appeal, deserving of attention. It's far from the typical male robot-geek find power to crush the crunchy monster standard.

Cross pollinating tried (or tired) genres with corporate culture is a combination with great potential. We've seen a corporate space-opera style battleship in Nadesico, and a long traditional of military-industrial giant robot makers from the classic Gundam to the recent Gasaraki, but Dai-Guard is the first to really focus on the idea, and mine it.

Dai-Guard captures the corporate environment from the cogs to the executive board. Every episode has at least a few "I've been there moments" in the characters' attempt to balance the meaninglessness of corporate procedure, their base drives for fame, money or success, and a desire to do the right thing or contribute something. For example attempting to mix safety and advancement with loyalty. It is neither a blanket indictment, or a salute to Yhe System. There's corporate greed, military indifference, and self servicing employees, but there is a believable mix of compassion.

The series features an excellent English dub that captures both the human, and emotion of the character. American localizations in the dub script enhance the series by clueing in the culture without going noticeably overboard. With strong main, supporting, and incidental casts, the dub is on par with televisioned American animation.

This Week's Releases

Anime

• Dai-Guard - Hostile Takeover (Vol. 1)
• Medabots - Medabot Wars (Vol. 4)

Manga

• Cannon Exaxxion Stage Two (Part 1 Of 5) #9
• Astro Boy Vol 6
• Battle Angel Alita Last Order Part 1 #1
• Blade Of The Immortal #72 Beasts (Part 7 Of 7)
• Cannon Exaxxion Stage Two (Part 1 Of 5) #9
• Dragonball Part 5 #4 (Of 7)
• Inu Yasha Part 7 #2 (Of 8)
• Inu Yasha Part 7 #2 (Of 8)

Also From Dark Horse Comics:

• Blade Of The Immortal Sticker #1 Manji Jumping
• Blade Of The Immortal Sticker #2 Manji & Rin
• Blade Of The Immortal Sticker #3 Manji & Moon
• Blade Of The Immortal Sticker #4 Super Deformed

Battle Angel Alita: Last Order is an re-envisioned continuation of the original manga series. A review of the original can be seen at jrtr

His and Her Circumstances Release Dates Moves

Right Stuf has announced that they have moved the release date if the second volume of His and Her Circumstances to December 3rd. A review of the first volume of His and Her Circumstances can be seen at here.

Excel Saga Volume 3 Release Date

Right Stuf is listing a November 5th release date for the third volume of the popular comedy series Excel Saga.

I''S to be Anime

Natsume Maya reports that popular romantic comedy manga creator Katsura Masakazu's (Video Girl Ai, Shadow Lady) manga I''s is set to be animated in a 30 minut feature.

Iori has set aside a possible career as an idol and started on the road to becoming an actress. Itsuki has returned to the US in furtherance of her modeling. Ichitaka decides to go on a bicycle trip to work out his feelings. This is the story of one summer for the three "I's".

Mariah Carey Music for Your Under Arrest

According to Anime News Service, Japanese Nikkan reports Mariah Carey will be providing the song "Through the Rain" as the theme song for the upcoming You're Under Arrest Drama. Previously Mariah provided music for the live action drama Nijukyu-sai no Christmas (My Christmas at 29 years old) in 1994.

Raijin Subscription Rate Offer Expanded

Gustsoon! is expanding their introductory subscription offer for their Raijin manga anthology to November 30th. A four issue, one month subscription can be purchased for $9.95. Those rates being offered include, three-months at $4.95/ an issue (12 issues of Raijin Comics and 12 issues of Fujin). A six-month subscription at $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 subscribers.

See www.raijincomics.com/.

A look at the Raijin preview issue can be seen at here

Totally Spies Heads to Japan

The French anime-inspired animated show Totally Spies has begin a run on Japan's TV Tokyo.

Tokyopop Merchandised Holiday Gift Sets

According to ICV2 Tokyopop has announced a couple of innovative gift sets for the holidays, both involving promotionally priced combinations of products from different categories based on the same property. The Real Bout High School Holiday Gift Set streets October 29 at $29.99. The set includes the first volume of the Real Bout High School manga trade paperback series, plus the Real Bout anime DVD. This can be looked at either as a 25% promotional discount on the two items sold as a set; or as a free first issue of the manga trade paperback series to DVD purchasers, in the hopes that they'll become hooked and buy the series.

Vampire Princess Miyu Ultimate Box Set

The Vampire Princess Miyu Ultimate Box Set streets November 26th at $99.99. This set contains all 26 episodes on six DVDs, the CD soundtrack, and a "Mystery Friendship Charm" premium. This set is more aggressively priced, with around a 50% discount. Not only does it incentivize the purchase of the complete set, it also introduces anime-based CDs to the DVD consumer.

Farcape Anime Planned?

The official Farscape webpage states "The Jim Henson Company is in active development on a new Farscape film, an anime project." Further speculation has been fueled by the fact that Farscape is distributed on home video by ADV Films, who has increasingly become involed in producing anime.

Billingual Ghost in the Shell With Deleted Pages

Studeo Proteus has confirmed that Kodansha will be using the original cut of manga expert Frederik L. Schodt's translation for a billingual edition of the original Ghost in the Shell with two deleted pages of "cyber sex". The ISBN is 4-7700-2919-5.

In regards to releasing the adult material in the English edition of Ghost in the Shell 2: Man Machine interface, creator Masamune Shirow may be changing his mind again, and the material may be included in the collected version.

Legend of Galactic Heros Coming to US

According to The Legend of Galactic Hereos WWW Info Center Tokuma Shoten announced at AX New York Legend Of Galactic Heroes is coming to the US on DVD.

Raxephon Movie Coming Next Year

A Rahxephon movie has been announced for release April 2003. A clip can be seen at here

Marvel MangaVerse News

Newsarama has posted a lengthy article about the status of their MangaVerse title.

Upcoming Releases

ADV File will be releasing the second volume of Sakura Wars OAV 2, entitled "Wedding Bells" on November 26th.

The Cowboy Bebop Best Sessions collection is currently schedule for release November 19th.

Bandai will be releasing the second volume of Arjuna, and the Love Hina Christmas movie on December 3rd. The third and forths volumes of Hamtaro will also be released on that date.

New title announcement (12:31 PM EST): The folks at ADV are back with another new street date today, giving 11/26/2002 the nod for Sakura Wars OVA 2 Vol. #2 : Wedding Bells to come out with another solid round of extras. Sakura Wars fans are likely to be really happy that it's coming out just about a month or so after the first volume.

Green Gender Movie Trailer

AIC has posted a trailer for the Green Gender movie on their site

New Millenium Actress Trailer

A new trailer for Millennium Actress as been put on the site at jere

TM Revolution's Nishikawa On Gundam Seed

According to Anime News ServiceTakanori Nishikawa (31) of T-M-Revolution appears on the new series "Mobile Suit Gundam SEED" (Saturday afternoon 6, TBS system, October 5 start) of popular TV-animation as a voice actor. Nishikawa appears to the 3rd time as an enemy's role of a pilot. This is the first time that a pop singer acts as a voice actor in these TV series that is proud of 23 years of history. Since his new song "INVOKE" (October 30 sale) was appointed as the program theme song, his performance was decided. Although these news were announced in the city of Tokyo on September 16, since it was divorced in Yumi Yoshimura (27) of PUFFY, and July, this has been the first time that Nishikawa received reporters. "From now on, it will be new. -- Is what is necessary just to be able to make a living from the easier position? When a fan and the staff could also be touched mental more positively", the mental state which returned to single was told. He also celebrates the birthday on the 19th in single. It passes to "work busily so that lonesomeness may not be felt. It seems to also obtain cost by the advance, furthermore to have you anxious from " and the circumference. Real intention is uttered to the restart of life, saying "If it gets used to a popular person is persuaded to itself." The enthusiasm constructed in a new song on it, saying "I want to stir up one's new portion and to embody that" was also shown.

Production IG Expanding West?

A post on the Anime News Service mailing list points out a thread on Production IG's message board is stating President Ishikawa of I.G. "longs for an I.G film to break into the Western mainstream AND be a success."