Father Geek here with the latest installment of our popular mid-work-week report on all things Manga and/or Anime... Yes, its that time once again, but buuuuut before we leap into the regular report I have this bit of interesting news on Snake Plissken's Anime that found its way to my desk this morning...

To Whom it may concern,

I read your post about Snake Plissken's new anime coming out and I'd like to thank you. The writers of the film are Corey Mitchel and William Wilson and the script is totally awesome!! It will be by far and away the best movie. In this one, Snake is going to kill the President, although you didn't hear that from me. By the way, if you like Bruce Lee then you will love this flick when it comes out. It is already being made as we speak. I thought I'd give you the heads up on the movie. Now you know more than anyone. Feel free to spread the word on the stuff I told you. Also, the White Tiger from Big Trouble in Little China will be making an appearance in this film as well.

Spread the word,

XXXX

COOOOOOOOOL!!! Now here's Scott and the rest of this week's edition of....

THE AICN ANIME REPORT

By Scott Green

Anime Spotlight: X volume 1

Releases by Pioneer Animation

The X television series brings together manga creator team CLAMP, some of the queens of shoujo, girl's, Japanese comics, and Madhouse, an animated studio whose reputation has been made on more male centric super fast, stylish violence. X is the ultimate CLAMP-gasm, drawning together threads and ideas from previous works, populated by beautiful, tragic men, lithe heroes who run across telephone wires and up buildings, complicated relationships, yaoi undertones (homosexual male, generally for female consumption), and the entire retinue of CLAMP visual effect from Tokyo Towers, to sharp eyed hard haired men, to a slender woman in panties. The result is a shoujo super hero/end of the world story, animated with an great attention paid to action. Hyper-slick animation on the foundation of some of manga's most popular illustrators. There's some balance between dwelling on the bodies of CLAMP men, and a woman's pyrokinetic powers demonstrated in front of her cleavage. One hand you have enduring love, and commitment, star crossed romance, and on the other you have some of the best rough top battles, and the best team to animate them.

CLAMP's style of story telling, and design often legends itself well to anime adaptation, and while there have been a few notable misfires, the track record has been good. While the CLAMP/Madhouse collaboration has succeeded brilliant in the case of Card Captor Sakura, it failed with its first attempt at X, in the form of a theatrical feature. X's existing fan base and highly visual nature make it a clear choice for anime adaptation, but a difficult one. This is chiefly because it's a story arc that CLAMP never gets around to finishing, and secondly because it of the large number of characters, at least 20 major ones, and a number of minor ones. These factors conspired to make the movie adaptation visually stunning, but muddled and unsatisfying. In the case of this attempt, extra time for character and visual developments all character melodrama, and engrossing animation to complement each other and form shockingly series good series.

The presentation of the television series starts with episode 0, which leads the viewer into CLAMP's world in the dark without a guide rail. A knowledge of the manga, and Tokyo Babylon help, but it is still a dizzying plunge. The proper beginning, episode one, is a steadier first step, introducing Kamui, a youth, capable of superhuman commitment, returning to Tokyo only to be immediately caught in a web of conflicting agendas and vendettas, and forced into untenable situation between promises and destiny. Without knowing or desiring, he is the center piece in an upcoming apocalyptic confrontation between the Seven Seals, and the Seven Angels, who battle to destroy or protect Earth. Other characters are introduced quickly, but paced well enough so that their highly distinct natures come across as a complex, and baroque rather than as a bombardment. The characters are given depth, and often their past, fate, and position in the battle are as cruel, and ironic as Kamui's, and the have turned out more likable than the unapproachable, and incredulous youth/

At every turn the animation, and direction in X is surprising and amazing. Even when, after having seen the movie, you can predict what you're about to see, the new implementation is breath stealing. The destruction and effect, if not always realistic hit hard with their implications, and force you to suspend disbelief. Intricate design breathes life in an addendum to our world, where seers and biomechanical supercomputers fill in the mysterious spaces bellow government building.

After its quasi religious apocalyptic visions, and torrent of angel feathers, the key visual in X, and the selling point for many is its battles... brilliant physics defying spectacles with characters using cities as their playgrounds, amazing twists of on text book super powers, and Eastern legend. The concept is that character battle in a "barrier field", protecting civilians, and property unless the person who forms the barrier is killed. It is a stunningly graphic demonstration how you go from a nearly shining modern metropolis, to a trade mark sci-fi post apocalyptic ruins. The transition from the half playful battle that cause the damage to the effect is a bit of a punch to the gut.

It has been a while since there has been an exciting, lengthy series to look forward to, and X is just such as thing.

Manga Spotlight: The Big O by Hitoshi Ariga

The Big O is a less common anime to manga adaptation. great concept, spawned first entry 40 years "The Event" stoles the memories of the population of Paradigm city. The doomed city now lives in a pastless isolated bubble. Control has factionalized between the corporations, military police, and criminals. Between these forces is Roger Smith, "negotiator". A slick loner in a black suit, who's part James Bond, part Batman, and part Philip Marlowe. He has also come to possess a relic of forgotten technology, the Big O, a Megadeus, and giant robot that looks like an art deco locomotive.

The first volume closes where the anime series opens, with the introduction or R. Dorothy It doesn't add much to the mythos of the series, but its a better introduction to the concepts and world of Paradigm based on the additional room a manga series affords. Roger Smith twice tangles with the half dangerous master criminal Beck, and the emotional cost of the lost memories is hammered home.

Cute character design mellows the grief and tragedy of the series. The series looks to have an eye towards a younger audience. Shadows and stark black and white are used to great effect, but so are saucer eyed children. Its not quite as hard-boiled as the concept may suggest. There are plenty of great, and classic manga series intended for a young audience, and this is certainly on of the good ones.

The manga does an excellent job translating aspects of the anime that relied on sound and motion into comic form, namely the size and force of Big O, and the not-quite human nature of the robot girl Dorothy. Giant sound effects, heavy shows reminders of scale and convey the pavement splitting presence of the Big O. The manga gives Dorothy and odd erect slouch posture, and dead eyes are as effective at capturing her nature as the anime's ticks and voice.

Big O is great for detective noir fans who don't mind problems solved by a giant robot rather than fist, gun, or car chase, and giant robot fans who would like battles interspliced between something other than war or teenage angst. Big O possesses concepts, and settings with tremendous legs, it just remains for to be seen whether it uses them to go further and deeper than the interesting, but harshly length constrained animated version.

This Week's Releases

Anime

• Chance Pop Session - Session 1
• Hyper Police - Episodes 9-12
• Ronin Warriors - Walls Crumble (Vol. 9)
• Saber Marionette J To X Program Five
• Trouble Chocolate (Vol. 2)

Manga

• All New Tenchi Muyo Part 2 #3 (Of 5)
• Battle Angel Alita Last Order Part 1 #4
• Blade Of The Immortal #74 Fall Frost (Part 2 Of 6)
• Blade Of The Immortal Beasts Tp
• Dragonball Part 5 #7 (Of 7)
• Heaven Sword & Dragon Sabre Gn #3
• Mobile Suit Gundam 0079 Vol 8 Tp
• Pokemon Adventures Vol 7 Pokemon Elite Tp
• Raijin Comics #3
• Ranma 1/2 Part 11 #10 (Of 11)
• Rga Magazine #2
• Rga Magazine #3
• Saint Legend Gn #2
• Storm Riders Gn #7
• Vagabond #14
• X 1999 Vol 9 Requiem Tp
• Zoids #11

American Comic Adaptations of Anime Licenses: Robotech #1 (Of 6) Top Cow Classics Battle Of The Planets #1

Chance Pop is an anime series about a trio of young girl singers from different backgrounds, hoping to be stars to enroll in the same class at an illustrious music school.

Blade of the Immortal: Beasts continues Hiroaki Samura's exceptionally illustrated story of former samurai cursed with immortality until he kills 1,000 evil men. In "Beast" the feud between the rogue Itto-Ryu school and the Akagi assassins takes a brutal turn.

Battle Angel Alita: Last Order is the revisited, revised look the cyber-punk epic, see here for a review of the orginal series.

Heaven Sword & Dragon Sabre, Saint Legend, and Storm Riders are member of ComicsOne's kung fu comics line.

Second Ghost in the Shell Movie Announced

Production IG that they are working a second Ghost in the Shell movie "Innocence: Ghost in the Shell" with Studio Ghibli (best known for their work on Hayao Miyazaki's movies). Mamoru Oshii suggest it will be love story with erotic aspects. The movie is targeted for a Japanese release in 2004.

See www.production-ig.co.jp/anime/innocence

Trigun Manga Confirmed for US Release

Gustsoon!'s Raijin Game and Anime Magazine has included an interview with Trigun creator Yasuhiro Nightow, who stated Trigun and Trigun Maximu will be published in English. The series changed its name fro Trigun to Trigun Maximum when it swapped publishers. The popular sci-fi western follows the adventures of red trench coat clad gunman Vash the Stampede, and the two insurance agents sent to track him and less the cost of his damage. An anime series (released domestically by Pioneer), was adapted from the series before it was completed, leading to a wild divergence in the plots.

The Anime Network(Tm) Format Details

From the press release:

After an initial news release that created a veritable storm of curiosity and speculation within the fan community and the industry at large, ADV Films today announced details about the impending launch of The Anime Network(tm). The network will go on the air in a series of stepped-up phases, with Phase One a mid-December launch as part of Comcast Cable's video-on-demand (VOD) initiative in the Philadelphia area, delivering programs directly to viewers, at their request, at any time.

Comcast's VOD service-including The Anime Network(tm)-is available to approximately 1.2 million customers in the Philadelphia area. The Anime Networkä is the first television channel in North America dedicated to anime (Japanese animation) and anime-related content.

Leadership at The Anime Network(tm) described the decision to launch Phase One via VOD service as one of complementary strengths. "We're very excited to have completed this deal with Comcast; their VOD functionality is a perfect fit for our first step. Plus, we believe that on-demand systems are going to be a strong and enduring element of the direct-delivered home entertainment industry," said John Ledford, President and CEO of A.D. Vision, Inc., parent company of The Anime Network(tm) and ADV Films.

"For our audience, a video-on-demand-based launch is quite perfect," Ledford continued. "Anime fans are really the ultimate early-adopters-they're very tech savvy, and will be quick to appreciate the benefits of on-demand functionality."

Content

The Anime Network(tm) model is structured around four categorized content areas: Action Zone, Sci-Fi, Comedy, and Martial Arts. The mid-December launch of The Anime Network(tm) will include approximately 25 hours of available content, including both feature films and episodes from series. Titles will include "Spriggan," "Neon Genesis Evangelion," "Excel Saga," "Martian Successor Nadesico," "Gasaraki," "Noir," "Dai-Guard," "Bubblegum Crisis Tokyo 2040," "Orphen," Golden Boy," "Sorcerer Hunters," Kimera," "Ninja Resurrection," "Tekken," "Those Who Hunt Elves," "Gunsmith Cats," "Burn Up W" and "Samurai X: The Motion Picture." Viewers in the Philadelphia area wishing to confirm availability of The Anime Network in their specific areas can do so by visiting http://www.comcast.com.

The Anime Networkä: Ongoing Plans

Leadership at The Anime Network confirms that the network will be going online with several other major national cable providers to bring The Anime Networkä to millions of viewers in service areas across North America. The Anime Network's web address is http://www.theanimenetwork.com .

Dark Horse To Release Metropolis Manga

From Dark Horse's March solicitations:

From Osamu Tezuka, creator of Astro Boy, comes Metropolis, the legendary 1949 graphic novel that inspired the animated fame that floored audiences and critics alike. In a not-so-far-off future a beautiful, artifically created girl - unaware of her non-human background - searches for the non-existent parents she believes must exist, wandering alone in a world populated by humans and by the slave-driven robots who serve them. Tezuka's key theme of the nature of humanity in a technological society is framed in bold relief, as well as his wry allegorical observations of the Cold War that was escalating when he created Metropolis. A brilliant work of wit and wisdom - and guest-starring some friends you may recognize from Astro Boy - Metropolis is one of graphic fiction's most enduring tales, available for the first time in an English-language edition.

168 pages, black and white, $13.95, in stores on April 2.

Online Interviews

An interesting interview with Toshio Maeda, famous for "tentacle porn" Urotsuki Doji and La Blue Girl, can be read here. He talks about plans new animation feature and contributing to the women's hentai (pornographic) manga magazine Amour

Anime-Tourist has posted an interview with Takashi Nakamura (Macross Plus, Catnapped!, Akira, and the new Tree of Palme) here.

The new Galaxy Anime feature interviews with Bill Flanagan of Viz Communications, and Adam Arnold and Steve Daibo of Anime Fringe.

Anime News Network has posted interview with TechTV's Director of Programming Development Laura Civiello here

Splash has posted an interview with J. Torres about continuing Marvel Comic's Mangaverse incarnation of the X-Mean here

RahXephon US Release Date Announced

AD Vision has announced that the first American DVD volume of the 26 episode RahXephon TV series will be released on March 25th and contain 5 episodes. RahXephon is an mecha series often compared to Evangelion, with characters who are a more mature, and a plot that isn't as weighed by the characters' problems.

Current, and Upcoming Japanese Releases

From Natsume Maya Genco has announced a second Onegai Teachner series, referred to as "One 2" as a pun (pronounced "Oh-nei," short for "onegai"). See www.please-please.jp/

The Onegai Teacher manga will be released in the US by ComicsOne, and the first anime series will be released by Bandai is a romantic comedy about a boy whose teacher and neighbor is an alien.

The TV anime Ashita no Nadja will commence broadcast on 2 February 2003 on TV Asahi see here

The I''s anime page has opened at http://www.i-s.jp/the site features preview clips. Volume 2 of the OAV will be released in March.

I"s is romantic comedy adapted from the popular manga series by Masakazu Katusura about a love triange between the three I's Ichitaka, Iori and Itsuki, who are put together for a school project.

The TV anime Mouse, based upon the manga by Akahori Satoru and Itaba Hiroshi and serialised in the manga magazine Young Animal, will commence broadcast on 5 January 2003 and will be 12 episodes in length, each episode being fifteen minutes long. Young Animal's Mouse page is up here

The sci-fi comic manga Narue no Sekai (The World of Narue) by Marukawa Tomohiro, serialised in Kadokawa's Monthly Shonen Ace-A, is to be made into a TV anime series.

It's stated on the Kino no Tabi ~ The Beautiful World ~ website that the TV anime will commence broadcast on WOWOW in April 2003.

It's been announced in Akita Shoten's Monthly Champion Red magazine that the manga Masetsu Majuu Sensen by Ishikawa Ken and Dynamic Pro (where the manga is serialised) will be made into an anime.

AT-X has announced that it'll start broadcasting the original sci-fi action anime series Barom One on 7 December 2002.

Shonen Jump #1 in Third Printing Release Days To Be Tuesdays

From ICv2 The first issue of Viz' Shonen Jump has sold far beyond expectations in all channels. The first printing of 250,000 copies was sold out before release, and there are now over 300,000 in distribution, with the book on its third printing. Those numbers blow away the Viz target of 100,000 copies within the first six months (see "Interview with Viz Management"). Comic stores serviced by Diamond, which accounted for a relatively small proportion of initial orders, have more than doubled initial orders with reorders. And although sell-through numbers from other channels (which include newsstand outlets serviced by Curtis and book, video, and record chains) are not in yet, Viz Director of Manga Sales and Marketing Dallas Middaugh told us, "Initial word from our buyers and retailers has been that the magazine has been 'flying off the shelves.'" Among the reasons for the unexpectedly strong sales was the inclusion of a free Yu Gi Oh card, a promotional element that was not known at the time orders were solicited /

The release of the first issue, scheduled for Tuesday, November 26, actually began about a week earlier. Diamond accounts received the book on Wednesday, November 20, as did retailers buying directly from Viz and some Curtis accounts. When Viz became aware that copies were streeting earlier than scheduled, it requested that copies be pulled off sale. Diamond notified its accounts that books were to be pulled off sale on Friday, November 22nd, and other retailers were also requested to take the books off the shelves.

Lone Wolf and Cub #1 Tops 50,000

From Icv2 total sales on the Lone Wolf and Cub Vol. 1 trade paperback from Dark Horse have now passed 50,000 copies in all channels combined. This is a remarkable number of copies for a manga with no TV, video, or other tie-ins to support its sales; it sells solely on the strength of its art and story. The book was released a little over two years ago as the first in a monthly series of $9.95 trade paperbacks, and has been selling consistently ever since. The series finale is looming this month with the release of the final volume (28) so its shelf life will probably not last much beyond 2003, but it already has to rank as one of the best-selling manga trade paperbacks, and indeed as one of the best-selling graphic novels of the last few years.

Spirited Away Red Tint on TV

Anime News Network reports Japanese TV viewers have been dissapointed to see that when Nihon TV aired the trailer for their upcoming broadcast of Spirited Away, it contained the infamous red tint found on the Spirited Away DVD.

Japanese Actress Does Cosplay at Wedding

Japanese Actress Yuki Uchida, a TV star, was married in a dress designed to look like the one worn by Princess Clarisse in the Lupin III film The Castle Of Cagliostro (directed by Hayao Mayazaki). The film is one of her childhood favorites, reports Sports Nippon. Cosplay is short for "costume play", general referring to desressing up at anime characters, which is an even bigger part of Japanese conventions than their American counterparts.

Fushigi Yuugi To Air On International Channel

Starting in early 2003, Fushigi Yuugi will air on the International Channel, which is currently running El Hazard: The Magnificent World Wednesdays at 9 EST.

Fushigi Yugi or "Mysterious Play", and relationship fantasy epic about a girl and her best friend who are transported to a mystical version of China through a book, where she begins involving with a countries seven protectors in an effect to save it from its invading neighbors and return herself home.

CPM Confirms DNA^2 Source Quality

Anime on DVD has confirmed that Central Park Media has the original Japanese masters for their DVD release of DNA^2, which were rumored to be lost.

High Profile Hires at ADV and TOKYPOP

From an ADV Press release:

2002-ADV Films today announced that Frank A. Wolbert has joined the firm as Senior Vice President of Sales & Marketing, with primary responsibility for sales and marketing of home video, music and other published material company-wide.

Mr. Wolbert brings more than two decades of experience within the entertainment and publishing industries. His senior-level management experience includes service as Vice President of Marketing, Business Development for Advanced Marketing Services, Inc. (AMS), a leading book wholesaler and publisher.

Prior to joining AMS, Mr. Wolbert held several executive level positions at Baker & Tay <

>From a TOKYPOP press release:

2002-ADV Films today announced that Frank A. Wolbert has joined the firm as Senior Vice President of Sales & Marketing, with primary responsibility for sales and marketing of home video, music and other published material company-wide.

Mr. Wolbert brings more than two decades of experience within the entertainment and publishing industries. His senior-level management experience includes service as Vice President of Marketing, Business Development for Advanced Marketing Services, Inc. (AMS), a leading book wholesaler and publisher.

Newtype Usa Vol. 2, Issue One (Jan. 2003)-Partial Table Of Contents

From the press release:

Newtype USA, the leading anime and manga publication in the English-speaking world, today opened up the January 2003 issue's Table of Contents for a quick peek at the content of the first issue of the new year.

The COVER STORY: Mobile Suit Gundam SEED: series director Mitsuo Fukuda talks about the creation of the first Gundam for the 21st century...

FEATURE ARTICLES include coverage of

. Wolf's Rain;

. Macross Zero;

. Onegai Teacher

. Arjuna;

. Mahoromatic;

. Grave of the Fireflies;

. and much more!

The NEWTYPE PRESS section includes numerous insider columns, and ANIME LAND is filled with news about upcoming events, monthly sales figures, new releases, and what's on TV in the U.S. and Japan.

FREE BONUSES!

. The next installment of the Full Metal Panic manga

. Chobits postcards

. An eye-opening centerfold of Chii, from Chobits

. A DVD insert from ADV Films, including the first episode of NOIR! ('Nuff said.)

Availability

Newtype USA Vol. Two, Issue One will ship from the printer to subscribers and retailers on/around December 20, 2002, with North American retail availability circa January 1, 2003.

Upcoming Releases

From Anime on DVD

• According to RSI, Manga Entertainment will release DVD versions of Bounty Dog and Dangaioh on January 28th. The 60 minute Bounty Dog DVD and 90 minute Dangaioh DVD will retail for $24.95 each. If the Dangaioh DVD actually has a full 90 minute running time, there's a chance that the series will be uncut, unlike Manga Entertainment's heavily censored VHS version.
• The first 2 volumes of the Fist of the North Star TV series are also reportedly scheduled for release on February 25th, each with a 2 hour running time and retail price of $29.95.
• Central Park Media has announced that the classic Gall Force: Eternal Story movie and Rhea Gall Force OAV will be re-released on remastered DVD, along with the American DVD premiers of Gall Force OAVs 2 & 3, on March 11th. The Gall Force DVDs will retail for $19.99 individually, or $74.99 as a 4 disc boxed set.
• FUNimation has announced that Dragonball Z movie 7 will debut on American DVD on February 4th. Movie 7 "The Three Great Super Saiyajins" will be re-named "Super Android 13" for its American release. Movie 7 is set shortly after the Android Saga of the TV series and is the first
• AD Vision has revealed that the first American DVD volume of RahXephon will be available on March 25th in a DVD only version for $29.98 and in a $44.98 set that includes a series collector's box and T-shirt.
• According to the AnimEigo site, Crusher Joe is available from them on a two disc DVD-9 set now for just $20.

From ADV:

• Excel Saga 6 April 8
• Full Metal Panic 1 (Regular Edition or with Box & T-Shirt) June 10
• Super Gals 1 (Regular or with box): June 24
• Eden's Bowy 1 (reg or w/box)June 03
• Voices of a Distant Star (Hoshi no Koe MSRP 19.99?) June 10
• You're Under Arrest 1 (Poss. Specials?) May 6
• Noir 2 - 4/15
• Noir 3 - 5/13
• Noir 4 - 6/24
• Chance Pop Session 3 - 4/8
• Crying Freeman 2 - 5/6
• Casshan 1 - 5/13
• Crying Freaman 3 - 6/17
• Casshan 2 - 6/24
• Dai Guard 5 - 4/1
• Dai Guard 6 - 5/27
• Rune Solider 1 - 4/8
• Rune Solider 2 - 6/3
• Devil Lady 3 - 4/01
• Devil Lady 4 - 5/13
• Devil Lady 5 - 6/24
• Maikenkaiser 2 - 6/24
• Medabots 8 - 3/4
• Medabots 9 - 5/6
• Neo Ranga 2 - 4/15
• Neo Ranga 3 - 5/27
• RahXephon 2 - 5/6
• RahXephon 3 - 6/17
• Saiyuki 1 - 4/29 Box and T-Shirt
• Saiyuki 2 - 6/10
• The Samurai - 4/22
• Wild Arms 3 - 4/29
• Zone of the Enders TV 4 - 5/6
• City Hunter 3: .357 Magnum - April 08, 2003
• City Hunter 4: Bay City Wars & Million - June 03, 2003
• Colorful - March 18, 2003
• Genesis Climber Mospeada: Complete ($99.98) - March 25, 2003
• Goemon 1: Legend of Mystical Ninja (also w/ Box) - May 20, 2003
• Mazinkaiser 1 - May 13, 2003
• Rune Soldier 1 - April 08, 2003
• Sakura Wars TV 1 - May 27, 2003
• Samurai X: Trust & Betrayal Directors Cut - May 20, 2003
• Samurai X: Reflection - March 25, 2003
• Southern Cross ($99.98) - May 20, 2003
• Spectral Force - June 03, 2003
• Steam Detectives 1 - June 17, 2003
• Street Fighter 1 - April 15, 2003
• Ushio & Tora 1: Complete Collection - May 13, 2003

From Central Park Media:

• Revolutionary Girl Utena Vol. #5: Darkness Beckoning - 75 minutes - $29.98 - 03/11/2003
• Descendants of Darkness: Devil's Song - 75 minutes - $29.98 - 03/11/2003
• Gall Force: Eternal Story (Remastered) - 86 minutes - $19.99 - 03/11/2003
• Gall Force 2: Destruction - 50 minutes - $19.99 - 03/11/2003
• Gall Force 3: Stardust War - 62 minutes - $19.99 - 03/11/2003
• Rhea Gall Force - 60 minutes - $19.99 - 03/11/2003
• Gall Force Collection - 260 minutes - $74.99 - 03/11/2003

Manga Releases

• Dangaioh - 90 minutes - $24.95 - 01/28/2003
• Fist of the Northstar Vol. #1 - 120 minutes - $29.95 - 02/25/2003
• Fist of the Northstar Vol. #2 - 120 minutes - $29.95 - 02/25/2003
• Virus Vol. #2 - 120 minutes - $24.95 - 02/25/2003
• Bounty Dog - 60 minutes - $24.95 - 01/28/2003
• The Fist of the Northstar discs are not listed on the Manga site (yet?) but they do continue to list the previously announced two Guyver DVD releases for the same date of 02/25/2003. So conceivably, Manga could be releasing five discs on the same date.

From Media Blasters:

• Space Pirate Mito Vol. #2 - 75 minutes - $24.95 - 03/25/2003
• Genma Wars Vol. #1: Divine Twins - 100 minutes - $29.95 - 03/25/2003
• Ys Vol. #2 - 90 minutes - $24.95 - 03/25/2003
• Berserk Vol.#5 - 100 minutes - $29.95 - 03/25/2003
• Magic Knights Rayearth II TV Vol. #1 - 100 minutes - $29.95 - 03/25/2003
• Magic Knights Rayearth II TV Vol. #2 - 100 minutes - $29.95 - 03/25/2003
• Magic Knights Rayearth II TV Vol. #3 - 100 minutes - $29.95 - 03/25/2003
• Magic Knights Rayearth II TV Vol. #4 - 100 minutes - $29.95 - 03/25/2003
• Magic Knights Rayearth II TV Vol. #5 - 100 minutes - $29.95 - 03/25/2003
• Magic Knights Rayearth II TV Vol. #6 - 100 minutes - $29.95 - 03/25/2003
• Magic Knights Rayearth II TV Vol. #7 - 125 minutes - $29.95 - 03/25/2003
• Slave Doll - 90 minutes - $29.95 - 03/25/2003
• If I See You In My Dreams OVA Collection - 90 minutes - $29.95 - 04/29/2003
• Gun Frontier Vol. #1: Hopalong Harlock - 100 minutes - $29.95 - 04/29/2003
• Babel II Vol. #4 - 75 minutes - $24.95 - 04/29/2003
• Idol Project Vol. #2: Final Concert - 60 minutes - $19.95 - 04/29/2003
• Magic Users Club: The Magic Box - 505 minutes - $89.98 - 04/29/2003

Pioneer and Bandai:

• Ai Yori Aoshi Vol. #2: My Dearest - 125 minutes - $29.98 - 04/22/2003
• Banner of the Stars Vol. #3 - 100 minutes - $29.98 - 05/20/2003
• Cardcaptor Sakura Vol. #15 - 100 minutes - $29.98 - 05/13/2003
• Fancy Lala Vol. #6 - 100 minutes - $24.98 - 05/06/2003
• Geneshaft Vol. #1 - 100 minutes - $29.98 - 05/20/2003
• .hack//SIGN Vol. #2 - 125 minutes - $29.98 - 05/06/2003
• Sailor Moon Super S TV Vol. #7 - 75 minutes - $14.98 - 05/13/2003
• Chobits Vol. #2 - 100 minutes - $29.98 - 05/13/2003
• Please Teacher Vol. #1 - 100 minutes - $29.98 - 05/06/2003
• .hack//SIGN Vol. #1 - 125 minutes - $29.98 - 03/18/2003
• .hack//SIGN Vol. #1 SE - 125 minutes - $64.98 - 03/04/2003
• Love Hina Spring Special - 60 minutes - $29.98 - 03/18/2003
• Banner of the Stars vol. #2 - 100 minutes - $29.98 - 03/18/2003 (late solicitation)
• Kikaider Vol. #1 - 100 minutes - $29.98 - 04/22/2003 (rescheduled date)

There's a variety of changes to be aware of as well

• Lupin TV Vol. #3 has been postponed with no new date.
• Ronin Warriors OVA is now 150 minutes instead of 100 minutes.
• Infinite Ryvius Vol. #1 has been postponed with no new date.
• Gatekeepers 21 Vol. #1 runtime has changed from 75 minutes to 90 minutes
• According to the TOKYOPOP site, they've changed the release date for GTO Vol. #06 from 2/11 to 1/14 as well as adding in GTO Vol. #07 to a 03/11/2003 street date.

CD Universe has published a list of unconfirmed upcoming DVD release dates from AD Vision. American DVD premiers include:

• Colorful on March 18, 2003
• Genesis Climber Mospeada: Complete Collection & Samurai X: Reflection [Rurouni Kenshin: Seisouhen OAV series] on March 25, 2003
• Rune Solider 1 [Mahou Senshi Riui], City Hunter: .357 Magnum [City Hunter Movie: magnum of Love's Destination], City Hunter: Bay City Wars & Million Dollar Conspiracy all on April 8, 2003
• The Samurai on April 22, 2003
• Saiyuki 1 [Gensomaden Saiyuki] (also w/box & T-shirt) on April 29, 2003
• You're Under Arrest 1 (possibly YUA Special) on May 6, 2003
• Casshan 1 [Robot Hunter Casshan OAV series US re-release], Ushio & Tora Complete Collection, and Mazinkaiser 1 on May 13, 2003
• Goemon 1: Legend of Mystical Ninja [Ganbare! Goemon] (also w/box), Samurai X: Trust & Betrayal Directors Cut, and Southern Cross: Complete Collection on May 20, 2003
• Sakura Wars TV 1 on May 27, 2003
• Eden's Bowy 1 (also w/box) and Spectral Force on June 03, 2003
• Full Metal Panic 1 (also w/box & T-Shirt) and Voices of a Distant Star [Hoshi no Koe] on June 10, 2003
• Steam Detectives 1 on June 17, 2003
• Super Gals 1 [Super GALS! Kotobuki Ran] (also w/box) on June 24, 2003