Ol' Father Geek here once again with our mid-work-week report from the world of Manga & Anime. As is usual Scott has put together a column that covers everything: new releases, videos, DVDs, comics, magazines, games, toys... simply all you need to know in one easy to find spot...

The AICN Anime Report...

by Scott Green

Anime Spotlight: All Purpose Cultural Cat Girl Nuku Nuku Collection

Released By ADV Films

Nuku Nuku, the combat android with the mind of a cat, and tornado caliber destructive capabilities, is one the hyper cute, Megumi Hayashibara voiced flagship maidens of anime, and her impossibly long named anime series is one of the guilty pleasure gems of ADV's library. She is one of the pantheon of anime comedy goddesses who wouldn't die. Finally the six episode OAV series is being released on DVD, and one disc at that. Cerebral matters aside, cuteness, violence, and irreverence are some of the cornerstones of anime popularity, and if a purple haired school girl supplexing a military power-suit doesn't sound fun, skip Nuku Nuku, and be careful which anime you pick.

Nuku Nuku was created on a Christmas Eve when the custody battle between a hair-over-the-eyes, cigarette dangling from mouth scientist, and his former wife, the heiress to a heavy industries corporation lead of a car chase, and the death of their son's adopted alley cat. In time to save Christmas, the scientist transferred the brain of the cat into the body of the combat robot he was developing.

Because Nuku Nuku's been around for over a decade at this point, many of the gags have been diluted by re-use (it says something about anime that they've re-used jokes about drinking tanning lotion, super powered bicycle ride, and robotic crab attacking a beach multiple times), but many never get tiresome, and there are some uncommon ones (throwing a tree through a military aircraft, violence inclined hench-women trying to escape summer heat by going to a diner, and making ice-coffee with a bottomless cup of coffee service and two glasses of ice water) take still make the series worth while for new or repeat viewers.

In the years that Nuku Nuku lay dormant between VHS and DVD, some of the series' uncomfortably sexist moments may have been forgotten. Short skirt/tight blouse waitressing, and gratuitous panty/cleavage shots are par for the course for anime, but when the sympathetic/cool father starts subjecting his reconciling, jet setting business woman ex-wife to arduous household chores as a test to show her love for her son, a line gets crossed. Like the title character is fun, and good natured, but has a habit of taking things too far.

Spotlight on... Carried by the Wind: Tsukikage Ran

Volume 3: Big Trouble in Little Nippon

Volume 4: Way of the Samurai

Volumes three and four of Carried by the Wind constitute the second half of the light hearted, one episode long retellings of very familiar wandering samurai stories (western audiences will recognize many from Yojimbo, Zatoichi, and even various westerns). The catch is that the taciturn samurai, the bumbling side kick are women.

Some of the jokes have lost dulled, they really killed the humor in the usually laid back swordswoman Ran's love in sake, but Ran's occasional soliloquies on her beatify and virtue, and Meow's constant physical humor continue to be a great source of mirth that make the series a perfect pick-me-up/distraction title.

Fight scene in Carried by the Wind never get tiresome. Ran's rapid and precise motions, and Meow fluid keeps, kicks, and Frankensteiners are the highlights of every episode. They surpass many well regarded live action samurai movies'.

The later episodes seemed to have recognized the key flaw of the series, that it couldn't sustain 25 minute episodes dedicated to one story, even if doing so was more faithful to the source formula. It changes its structure with Simpsons' like opening sub-stories, adding some character depth/history without weighing the series down, or changing its tone. Allsucceed in preventing episodes from becoming a thumb twirling waits for the fight scene collusion.

Some of the avenues explored in the later episodes of met with great success. A somber episode dealing with a friend from Meow's past was exciting, impactful, and a surprising highlight of the series but there were always a few misfires.

It's a bit questionable to entitle an episode "I Was So Crucified I Didn't Know What to Do". Completely ignoring any religious connotations, crucifixions tend to be played as tragic moments in the same way that is hard to think of amusing instances of someone being drawn and quartered or stoned. It's hard to play a character getting framed and sentenced to crucifixion for laughs. Monty Pythons was able to do a very funny crucifixion scene, but Meow's Looney Toons antics don't quite do the trick.

There's a love it, or annoyed by it western culture critique episode with a giant, blonde European girl who thinks Japan thinks Japan is all ninjas, samurai, and geisha. When she perceives that samurai have lost their way, and she goes on a rampage to change things. It has bit of the Quiet American big, dumb, naïve and dangerous vein, but leans a bit too much to the inverse of the photo-snapping, Asian tourist. Not so much offensive, as not particularly amusing.

Ran, and Meow are fun characters, that have appealing personalities, and design, but part of the point of the series is that there adventures are episodic, and aren't supposed to go anywhere. It makes for a perfect genre parody, but when everything is said and done, it feels like they have been misused. Some other anime series needs to pick them up on the waver wire so that they can accomplish something.

Manga Spotlight: Kare Kano: His and Her Circumstances Volume 1

By Masami Tsuda... Released by TOKYOPOP

Kare Kano is the comic predecessor to the anime series being released as "His and Her Circumstances" by Right Stuf in the US.

"His and Her Circumstances" refers to Miyazawa Yukino, and Soichiro Arima, a girl who is such a degenerate praise addict that her life is solely succeeding in school, and preparing for school at home (to the extent that she trains for gym class), and a boy who succeeds naturally. Yukino starts off with an antagonist attitude to Arima, but when he stop by her home and see her in sweat suit clad, slovenly home mode, the subsequent blackmail starts a chain reaction.

The manga is considerable more feminine than the anime series, which Gainax skewed to be more gender neutral and human interest than the romance cemented comic. Aside from less face time for quirky siblings and parents, and a more traditional visual story telling technique, the manga features more glamour shots, and attention to rendering hair, but mostly the floristry. The anime series has its flower moments, but the manga is carpeted with the things. They're there for setting the emotion, or the mood, and they're cropping up constantly. The manga isn't weaker than the anime series, but it is different.

The portrayal of emotions is as spot on, as the anime adaptation. Yukina goes through an emotional cyclotron in the opening chapters of the His and Her Circumstances, and Masami Tsuda's illustration is excellent at rendering her complex emotions, and the fact that she often visually hides her emotion. Shoujo manga has followed a divergent evolution from the comics that many see (action, or comic strips). It is more a sequence of facial expressions, and dialogue than one of actions. Other than composition shots (house, class room, ect), every panel shows a face, and Masami Tsuda is masterful at portraying the nuance of the character's emotion at that moment.

In addition to the first two chapters of Kare Kano, a third of the book is "The Tiger and the Chameleon: A Promise For One Week", a separate short story. It's a sweet Kare Kano from the bottom rung of the high school social later. A girl who just tries to melt into the crowd after being described as ugly and boy with a rough reputation spend a week in close proximity after he offers to look after her for the time it will take to repair her glasses, in recompense for his part in their destruction.

The Tiger and the Chameleon isn't particularly profound, or new, but is bittersweet in a way that bring a lump to the throat. It certainly feels more genuine that the frequent Pygmalion teen flicks. If there's a complaint to register against the series it's that the author never really developed a convincing visual short hand for unattractiveness. The heroine's face was a little oddly shaped, her hair was a little disorderly, and her freckles set her apart, but she always looked odd-cute rather than odd-odd.

Kare Kano is one of TOKYOPOP's highly successful Authentic Manga line, which entails that it is an approximately 200 page volume which retails for $9.99, that that the pages and panels within the pages flow in the original right to left manner. It is a great price for an outstanding series, the draw black is that the sound effects, which are prevalent this like many series are untranslated. Though in most cases one can guess their meaning, the absence of a translation is felt.

This Week's Releases

Anime

• Dai-Guard - Red Tape and Proud Hearts (Vol. 4)
• Darkstalkers (American television series version)
• The Devil Lady - The Becoming (Vol. 2)
• Mobile Fighter G Gundam - Round 4
• Mobile Fighter G Gundam - Round 5
• Mobile Fighter G Gundam - Round 6
• Mobile Fighter G Gundam Boxed Set 2 - Rounds 4-6
• Noir - Shades of Darkness (Vol. 1)
• Saber Marionette J to X Program Six
• Sailor Moon SuperS - Pegasus Collection 6
• Trouble Chocolate Vol. 3

Manga

• All New Tenchi Muyo Part 2 #5 (Of 5)
• Blade Of The Immortal Fall Frost (Part 4 Of 6) #76
• Bride Of Deimos Gn #3
• Fist Of North Star Master Ed Vol 2 Gn
• Ghost In The Shell 2 Man Machine Interface #2
• Heaven Sword & Dragon Sabre Gn #5
• Iron Wok Jan Gn #3
• Mobile Suit Gundam 0079 Vol 9 Tp
• Raijin Comics #11
• Rga Magazine #11
• Silent Mobius Part 12 Hell #3 (Of 5)
• Spirited Away Vol 5 Tp
• Storm Riders Gn #10
• Story Of Tao Gn #3
• Weapons Of The Gods Gn #5
• Whats Michael Fat Cat In The City Tp

Noir is one of the more anticipated new anime series of the year. A review of the first volume of a review of the first volume can be seen here.

Dai-Guard is a very under-rated Office Space-meets giant robots show. A review of the first volume can be seen here

A review of the first volume of Devil Lady is here.

Kenshin to Air on Cartoon Network

Cartoon Network will be showing Rurouni Kenshin starting this March.

Kenshin was feared assasin known as the Hitokiri Battousai (ruffly sword wielding man killer) in the revolution that led to Japan's Meiji era. As the revolt neared its conclusion he took an oath never to kill again, and traded his katana for a reversed edge sword.

The series starts getting really interesting about 29 episodes in when Kenshin's rival from in vigilante squad in the revolt, and his replacement show up for a 30 episode story arc.

Anime on DVD talked to Media Blasters (who is releasing the series on home video in the US) at Katsucon. The series will be edited, included blood removal, and re-dubbed lines.

Other Anime on TV

Disney and UPN have decided not to renue their three year deal to provide an animation block on weekday afternoons and weekend mornings. The programming, which includes Digimon is expected to be moved to one of Disney's networks (Disney Channel, Toon Disney or ABC Family when the current contract expires on August 31). The motivation has been credited to the trend for children to watch cable rather than broadcast networks.

Kids' WB has acquired the rights to recent anime show Rockman.EXE, which will be renamed Megaman: NT Warrior".

Cartoon Network's Adult Swim skipped the Cowboy Bebop episode "Wild Horses" from the series rotation. The episode features the use of a re-fitted space shuttle Columbia.

Blame Creator To Illustrate Marvel Comic

Marvel Comics has announced the Second Wave of their Tsunami line, which will include the six issue mini series, Wolverine: Snikt!, which will be illustrated by Tsutomu Nihei, creator of the hit cyberpunk manga (comic) Blame. The first issue is schedule to ship in May.

Blame's illustration features haunting bio-mechanical creation, that are a bit Gieger, a bit Moebius, and a bit Katsuhiro Ôtomo, but with its own personality.

Wolf Rain Manga

Natsume Maya reports the manga version of the anime series Wolf's Rain will commence serialization in Kodansha's monthly manga magazine Magazine Z with the April 2003 issue, published on 26 February 2003. The manga will be drawn by Iida Toshitsuu. Source: ultimatum half edition.

A review of Wolf's Rain, the new anime series from the creator of Cowboy Bebop, will be appearing in a forthcoming column,

Viz to Release Basara and Excel Saga Manga

Viz will be releasing Basara in bi-monthly graphic novel collections starting this summer. The fantasy shoujo series by Yumi Tamura, the creator of the Animerica Extra's Chicago. Basara is a complex post-apocalyptic story where Japan has reverted to feudal society. It follows a girl who disqueses herself as her dead brother, who was prophesided to depose the her kingdom's ruler.

Viz has also indicated that they will be releasing the manga version of comedy series Excal Saga.

Images From New Tenchi OAV

The official Japanese site for Tenchi Muyo has posted images from the upcoming third OAV series here

Pioneer Entertainment to Re-release Tenchi OAV

In honor of Pioneer Animation's 10th anniversary, they will be re-releasing the Tenchi Muyo OAV series in four volumes on March 18th.

ADV Changes Gasaraki Collection Price

ADV has set the price of the eight volume Gasaraki Perfect Collection at $109.98. A review of the thoughtful mecha series an be seen at here

A Japanese Gasaraki site will be opening at www.gasaraki.net/

Bandai Announces Platinum Line

Icv2 reports Bandai is set to announce that it is launching a Platinum line of DVDs, reserved for the strongest titles in its range, which will be used to designate DVD titles with more and better extras than titles in the regular Bandai line; only titles for which a special edition is produced will be designated "Platinum." The stand-alone DVDs for those titles will bear special "Platinum" trade dress. The first title in the Platinum Series is .hack//SIGN. Titles over the last year that would have been considered for the Platinum line include Jin Roh, Escaflowne, and Arjuna. There will be four titles in the Platinum series in 2003

ADV Status Updates

From Anime on DVD's Katsucon report.

On the TV front, during Giant Robot Week on Cartoon Network, all the episodes shown will be uncut. The Anime Channel test is getting a great response so far, and New York City looks to be the next market. There are talks with Cox Cable and satellite companies also.

ADV is preparing a Full Metal Panic in preparation for the sries release. They're also preparing promotions for Bandit King Jing and Najica Blitz Tactics.

Bandit King Jing is in preproduction, and the dubbing hasn't begun yet. Full Metal Panic will be dubbed by Industrial Smoke and Mirrors. The masters for the rest of Slayers arrived at ADV a few weeks ago, and we might see the next Slayers title released by the end of the year. Sailor Moon is also being worked on right now. Those Who Hunt Elves will begin it's dubbing next month, with Blue Seed 2 starting shortly after. The Sorcerer Hunters OAV will follow those. Eden's Bowy has gone through translation, and the dubbing will start soon. Expect to see it this year.

AnimeTrax has now officially become ADV Music instead, and there were hints of a manga line.

Manga Entertainment Status

From Anime on DVD's Katsucon report. Gainax's re-Evangelion sci-fi classic Gunbust will be released on DVD, but there is no timeframe, and some materials would have to be recreated..

The Giant Robo DVD is still being held up, now for licensing issue.

Read or Die will have all it openings and endings, and will include an interview from Anime Expo 2002 where three of the creators of Read or Die were present. Manga might also try for a theatrical release of Ninja Scroll for its tenth anniversary.

Bandai News

From Anime on DVD's Katsucon report:

Bandai has announced that they will be releasing s.CRY.ed, Zeta Gundam, and the three films by Mamoru Omaru: Red Spectacle, Kerebaras, and Talking Head.

In June, there are the multiple collected editions of Blue Submarine No.6, Angel Links, Crest of the Stars and Jubei-chan. Geneshaft will be released in May.

Kikaider will be aired on Cartoon Network in June.

From the press release:

Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam

A property with a legendary history of more than 20 years in Japan, the Gundam series has returned with more action, drama and Gundams in Zeta Gundam. Along with the new Zeta Gundam series comes an intricately designed line of 4.5-inch action figures with more than 14 points of articulation, 4.5-inch deluxe figures with more than 20 points of articulation, 7.5-inch action figures with more than 25 points of articulation, battle scarred figures and action figure model kits with unique articulation and action. The Zeta Gundam series, directed by Yoshiyuki Tomino, will be released on DVD later this year. Bandai has assembled an all-star cast for this new series including character designer Yoshikazu Yasuhiko; mecha designers Kunio Okawara and Kazumi Fujita; and art director Junichi Higashi.

"The Mobile Suit Gundam saga stands without equal as an enduringly popular and successful anime franchise," said Mark Simmons of "Animerica".

The Zeta Gundam series begins seven years after the defeat of the Zeon army during what has now become known as the 'One Year War'. An elite Federation military force, the Titans, must prevent further uprising of space colonies orbiting the Earth. The tragic destruction of an entire space colony at the hands of fascist-like Titans threatens to undermine peace between the Earth and those living in space. The world is once again on the brink of war and the future of humanity is at stake!

Mobile Suite Zeta Gundam consists of 50 thirty-minute episodes.

The timeline is as follows:

• o Universal Century 0079 - Mobile Suit Gundam (TV series)
• o Universal Century 0079 - Mobile Suit Gundam 08th MS Team (OVA)
• o Universal Century 0080- Mobile Suit Gundam-War in the Pocket (OVA)
• o Universal Century 0083-Mobile Suit Gundam-Stardust Memory (OVA)
• o Universal Century 0087-Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam (TV series)
• o Universal Century 0092-Mobile Suit Gundam - Char's Counterattack (Theatrical Feature)

s.CRY.ed

In line with Bandai's commitment to bringing top anime to the forefront of home entertainment, the company has just announced the acquisition of one of the hottest anime properties of the year, s.CRY.ed. Animated by animation powerhouse Sunrise studios (Cowboy Bebop, Argentosoma) -The story takes place in a desolate world devastated by a mysterious environmental catastrophe. While the city has been rebuilt, the catastrophe has caused some humans to undergo genetic mutations granting them unique powers. These enhanced humans are known as Alters. The star of the series is Kazuma, an Alter whose freedom is being threatened by a secret organization called 'Holy'. His fight for freedom will consume humanity and Alter alike! The series will feature a plethora of DVD extra materials including textless opening/endings, special clips, footage, trailers, exclusive interviews and commentary from producers and creative staff from the show including Goro Taniguchi (Infinite Ryvius), director; Yousuke Kurodo, scriptwriter; and Hisashi Hirai (Infinite Ryvius), character designer.

.hack//SIGN

First there was anime, then versatile action figures, and now Bandai is jumping into the world of virtual gaming with its new anime series, .hack//SIGN. The series made its North American television debut this month on the Cartoon Network and is accompanied by a concurrent launch of the video game, .hack//INFECTION (part I) for PlayStation®2. This runaway Japanese hit series, presents "The World," an engulfing, futuristic gaming environment where players log-on to test skills in virtual adventures and battles. Follow Tsukasa (character designs by famed illustrator Yoshiyuki Sadamato), as he searches for a way out of "The World" after being stuck while logged-in. The .hack//SIGN limited edition DVD with collector's box will include an exclusive "Grunty" plush doll, t-shirt, original CD soundtrack, postcard set, stickers, and a free .hack//INFECTION (part I) demo game. In addition, subsequent volumes of this best selling series will feature both a limited edition release bundled with an original CD soundtrack and a standard DVD release.

Kikaider

As a follow up to its string of hits on the Cartoon Network, Bandai Entertainment will bring Kikaider, one of Japan's most renowned animated properties (based on the live action works of Shotaro Ishinomori) to North America this summer 2003.

Kikaider is a human-like robot tasked with the protection of his creator's son and daughter. Tune in to see if this robot gifted with human emotions can protect Dr. Komyoji's children and battle against the evil Dr. Gill and his army of androids.the suspense never ends!

Anime Merchandise At Toy Fair

The annual Toy Fair took place in New York last weekend. Figures.com has images of Bandai (Gundam, SD Gundam, Jagun Fighters, Digimon, Big O, and MUSCLE) releases, Epoch (Vampire Hunter D, various fighting games) JAKKs Pacific's Dragon Ball, Matell (Yu Gi Oh), Toynami (Robotech, DragonBall I-Men, and Hanna Barbara's Herculoids and Thundarr)

Upcoming NewType USA Content

The upcoming release of NewType USA volume 2, ossie 3 will feature an interview with Yutaka Izubuchi (WXIII: Patlabor the Movie 3), an interview with Puffy AmiYumi, a look inside GONZO c overage of Chobits, the renewal of Evangelion, Macross Zero, Sugar, Mahotsukai ni Taisetsuna Koto, Cho Battle Hoshin, LAST EXILE, a chapter of the Full Metal Panic manga, and a DVD insert from ADV Films, including the first episode of Saiyuki.

Viz Talk Distributor Change

Viz, whose anime had been distrobuted by Pioneer has announced a three-year exclusive agreement with Ventura Distribution, Inc. for the U.S. and Canada, the country's premiere independent home video distribution company and a major consolidator of home entertainment labels for some of the nation's largest wholesale, retail, catalog and e-commerce accounts. The partnership is effective March 1, 2003.

From Viz's press release:

"VIZ decided to partner with Ventura based on their stellar reputation in the industry, and the quality of their sales, marketing, and operations teams," said Rick Bauer, Senior Vice President, Sales and Marketing of VIZ, LLC. "Ventura's performance-driven culture, coupled with its commitment to customer satisfaction, enables VIZ to quickly react to opportunities in the dynamic home entertainment market."

"This new business relationship also contemplates an expanded opportunity for both companies to develop and market new anime brands together," added Craig Sussman, Executive Vice President of Ventura.

Ventura Distribution is a dynamic, 10-year-old home entertainment company that provides full service sales, marketing, manufacturing and distribution for independent studios. Among the many video lines it represents are Time Life Video, Billy Blanks' TaeBo Series, BET Video, Razor&Tie, Showtime, Respond 2 / 19 Television and VAS [Video Action Sports] just to name a few. Ventura Distribution also exclusively distributes programming of its in-house labels, UrbanWorks Entertainment and StudioWorks Entertainment. In addition to anime, Ventura's diverse programming genres include classic television, cult and foreign films, documentaries, extreme sports, family entertainment, feature films, inspirational, music, fitness, urban and other specialty product lines

Chobits Release Date

Pioneer has announced a March 11th release date for the first volume of Chobits. From the press release:

A personal computer in the shape of a beautiful mysterious girl comes to life with gusto when Pioneer Entertainment debuts Chobits: Persocom, Vol. 1 on DVD March 11, 2003. The hot anime series, created by Clamp (X, Cardcaptor Sakura) with animation from production house Madhouse (X, Trigun), unfolds the mysteries of a smart, sexy female computer and her new owner. Featuring the first four episodes, a full color art gallery and a non-credit opening, Chobits: Persocom, Vol., 1 arrives as a Collector's Case Edition DVD priced at $34.98. In addition, a Limited Edition Collector's Case DVD will be available complete with an imported stationary set for $34.98. A standard edition DVD is available for $29.98.

Chobits: Persocom, Vol. 1 - Synopsis

Hideki, a poor country student, is accepted to a university in Tokyo - however, he can't afford the cool 'living' female-computers that all his classmates have. When he finds an unused one in the trash, he manages to activate it. Will she prove to be more trouble then she is worth, or is she the legendary Chobits, a computer that can really live?

Pioneer Announces Patlabor WXIII Video Release

Pioneer will be releasing a 3 disc special edition of announces Patlabor WXIII, the recent movie in the sci-fi police drama series, on April 8th.

Marking the 15th anniversary of the cult favorite franchise, Mobile Police Patlabor, Pioneer Entertainment (USA) Inc. debuts Patlabor WXIII on a three-disc Special Edition DVD and standard DVD on April 8, 2003. First released in Japan in 2002, Pioneer recently introduced the animated sci-fi thriller to North America with a limited theatrical release.

Inspired by the original Godzilla movie from Japan, Patlabor WXIII is an action-packed, cautionary tale about the dangers of scientific advancement unchecked by morality.

Patlabor WXIII is directed by Fumihiko Takayama (Macross TV, Bubble Gum Crisis, Gundam 0080) and features animation by Madhouse (Trigun, X, Ninja Scroll, Vampire Hunter D), art direction by Hiromasa Ogura (Ghost In The Shell, Ninja Scroll, Wings Of Honeamise) and music by Kenji Kawai (Patlabor Movies 1 and 2, Ghost In The Shell, Ranma ½).

The special edition will retail for $54.98, and the standard edition for $29.98.

Patlabor WXIII Special Edition DVD Features:

Disc One (Feature Film):

• . Anamorphic Widescreen Film

Disc Two:

• . Directed by Kenji Kamiyama (Jin-Roh, Blood), Mini-Pato (Mini-Patlabor) animated parody short films featuring:
• o Screenplays by Mamoru Oshii (Jin-Roh, Ghost in the Shell, Patlabor 1 and 2)
• o Character designs and animation by Tetsuya Nishio (Jin-Roh)

Disc Three:

• . Three documentaries about Patlabor including The Making of WXIII
• . The project's pilot film (experimental film used to pitch the project and obtain funding)
• . Textless opening with a sing-a-long feature
• . Layout gallery with the Say Young radio program
• . TV commercials
• . 5.1 Channel Sound Gallery

Patlabor WXIII Synopsis:

Veteran police detective Kusumi and his young partner Hata search for the cause of several deadly labor accidents in and around Tokyo Bay. Each detective applies his own style of investigation and they soon uncover a labyrinth of deceit with connections to the Japanese and American militaries. As they continue their investigation, Kusumi begins to suspect Hata's new girlfriend, Saeko, a genetic research scientist, may be involved. Neither is prepared for their encounter with the ravenous biological weapon, WXIII: Wasted Thirteen. While the detectives are the only survivors of the encounter, the government covers up the incident, and they must work with the military to lure the monster into a brutal showdown with the Patlabors of Special Vehicle Unit 2.

CPM Manga Samurai Release

Central Park Media announced the upcoming release on March 12 of Samurai Legend, a tale of blood, swords and political intrigue by Kan Furuyama, the company's first book in their original manga line-up.

From the pages of history, comes the legend of the Samurai JUBEI and the book he was pledged to protect. Now that book has been stolen and Jubei must retrieve it before Japan descends into bloody civil war. Artwork by the Tezuka award-winning artist of Benkei in New York, Jiro Taniguchi.

Upcoming ADV Releases

The second volume of Rahxephon, entitled Tonal Pattern will be released May 6th.

RahXephon was created and directed by Yutaka Izubuchi (Gasaraki, the Gundam franchise), and produced by Bones (Angelic Layer), Victor Entertainment (Noir) and Fuji TV (Astro Boy, Battle of the Planets). The RahXephon series debuted on Japanese TV in 2002 and became an immediate sensation, with fierce action and the multilayered complexity of the plot and characters drawing in viewers by the tens of thousands.

The Story: As the Mu launch a succession of attacks against the free world, TERRA is forced to use their secret weapon, the RahXephon, despite the reluctance of its pilot. Lost in time and trapped in a world he thought had been destroyed, Ayato must confront both a new wave of Dolem and his suspicions that he is only a pawn in a much larger game. The mysterious advances of the girl known as Quon and the reappearance of a supposedly dead friend are only a few of the many mysteries that must be unraveled in the second collection of RahXephon.

The third volume of Noir, The Firing Chamber will be released May 13th.

The series, which premiered in Japan in 2001, was directed by Koichi Mashimo (Dirty Pair, Dominion). Viewers praise NOIR's spectacular animation, the use of music, its exotic settings (largely in western Europe) and an enduringly complex storyline, based on a relationship between a duo of female assassins who cannot trust one another, but who need each other to survive. Critics have favorably compared NOIR to such genre-defining live-action suspense films as The Professional and La Femme Nikita.

The story: The word is out on the street: Noir is back in business, and any life can be bought for a price. But Mireille and Kirika's latest case takes on an unexpected wrinkle when someone else beats them to their first target. Who is this unexpected competition, and what links does she have to the mysterious Soldats? If you thought our first two femmes fatales were deadly, just wait 'til you meet Noir's third lethal lady of the night. Her name is Chloe, and her calling card is murder.

The fourth volume of Go Nagai's Devil Lady, entitled The Gathering will likewise be released May 13th.

Nagai, an elder statesman in the world of anime and manga, is the renowned creator of such anime touchstones as Getter Robo, Mazinger Z and Grandizer, and the Devilman series, from which The Devil Lady sprung. The Devil Lady was adapted by Toshihiro Hirano (director of Vampire Princess Miyu) and writer Chiako Konaka.

The Story: As the Devil Beasts draw together in their ultimate quest to eradicate humankind, Jun must come to grips with the beast she has become. Her human soul fights a bitter battle with her feral instincts in a last-ditch effort to defy time and destiny. The only hope the human race has against its evolutionary predators is locked away inside Jun's tormented mind. Will the salvation of the species cost Jun her life? Or a price far greater than that?

The hour of man's dominance is fading-and blood-stained fangs await their feeding...

The Ushio & Tora Complete Collection

The Ushio & Tora Complete Collection will be released May 13rh, including all ten episodes of the series, plus the "CD Theatre" spoof episode, which is included as one of the title's extra features.

Based on a manga by Kazuhiro Fujita, Ushio & Tora is a fan favorite, acclaimed for its combination of thrilling adventure, thoughtful scripting, and a most-unlikely friendship at its center.

The story: Ushio thinks his father's tale of an ancient ancestor impaling a demon on a temple altar stone with the legendary Beast Spear is nuts, but when he finds the monster in his own basement, Ushio has to take another look at the family legend! Fortunately, Ushio knows it's best to let sleeping dogs lie and leave captured demons where they are. Unfortunately, the release of the monster's evil energies begins to beckon other demons to Ushio's hometown! To save his friends and family from the invading spirits, Ushio is forced to release Tora from his captivity. But will the cure prove to be worse than the curse? Will Ushio end his life a Tora-snack? Or will the Beast Spear keep Tora in line long enough to save the city? Find out in Ushio & Tora!

Ushio & Tora Complete Collection ($39.98 SRP) is a DVD-only release on two discs. Includes 10 complete episodes, with both English- and Japanese-language versions, and English subtitles. Extras include the "CD Theatre" episode, original Japanese artwork and ADV Previews.

Evangelion No One Has Ever Seen

AnimeNation reports Gainax has released specific details of the "Renewal of Evangelion" Japanese home video release. All of the Evangelion animation will be re-released in a 10 disc DVD boxed set that contains the entire 26 episode TV series broadcast on Japanese television 7 years ago, the extended "director's cut" versions of episodes 21-24, and the final edits of the Death and End of Evangelion movies. The video footage will be entirely remastered to present the best looking Evangelion ever seen and will include 2.0 and 5.1 audio tracks. The new DVD set will also include 1 bonus disc of supplemental material featuring non-credit opening and ending, trailers, and a never before released "live action version of the film."

The Renewal of Evangelion DVD boxed set will be released in Japan on June 25th at a retail price of 39,800 yen. The individual DVDs will be released separately beginning in July.

As a sneak preview of the remastered re-release, Gainax will release a "Neon Genesis Evangelion 01 Test-Type" DVD on March 26th. This 30 minute DVD will retail for 1500 yen and include the remastered TV episode 1 and a new music video of "Zankoku na Tenshi no Teze."

Production I.G. Confirms "Escape From" Anime

From Anime News Service

Production IG has confirmed that they are producing a Snake Plissken (of Escape From... fame) anime on their forum. The site has also been update with photos of their upcoming Dead Leaves here.