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"JoJo" refer a line of men descended from Jonathan Joestar who have feuded with the vampire Dio Brande since the mid 19th century. The anime adapts the star of the third JoJo, Japanese street punk Jotaro Kujo, grandson of pulp age globetrotting adventurer Joseph Joestar, who in turn was the grandson of Dio first foe, Victorian gentleman Jonathan Joestar.
With each generation, the JoJo's Bizarre Adventure manga series modeled itself after a different genre, but retaining a constant high level of bloody action. The third part, which was adapted into anime series in two sets of direct to video OAV series resembles a super hero comic, with the chronologically first episodes being an origin story. This gives way to super hero action, where the heroes and villains use their powers to in the nastiest ways that they can device.
Jotaro, a fast thinking and intuitive young man with a violent sense of justice, and an anti-authority attitude has been lead to suicidal frustration by the manifestation of what he interprets as an evil spirit. He has allowed himself to be locked in prison, and his mother has sent to Joseph Joestar. After seizing a guard he, in front of his mother and grandfather, he fires it at his own head, only to have a translucent green hand form and catch the bullet. The spirit is a Stand, a tarot card like manifestation which have begun to appear to the Joestar descendents in connection to the revival of Dio, who has affixed his head to the body of Jonathan. Spurred by a malignant Stand which ties itself to Holly, Jotaro and Joseph begin to seek of Dio.
The confrontation between the JoJo's and Dio is chess game between two intelligent sets of antagonists looking to brutalize each other, usually taking the form of the JoJo's moving towards Dio, and then having to think to neutralize an assault or road block. However, the concept of Indiana Jones, and his troubled super hero grandson searching out a vampire, its an inherently silly concept. The genius of JoJo's Bizarre Adventure is to make the silly concepts, into ones exotic, and compelling.
Case in point... JoJo's features an intelligent orangutan who at one point dons a ship captains uniform that exudes threat, and malice. It is believable that the sadistic will of this ape can threatened five men, who each in their own right, possess terrifying powers. Even the JoJo naming scheme is ignorable in the face of what has to one of the most graphically disturbing exorcism/de-possession on film. (Some anime/manga series get cute with themed character names. In Magic Knights Rayearth characters are named for cars, it's plants in Blue Seed, Dragon Ball and Ranma both has a number based on affiliation. In JoJo it's western music acts. In the anime version there's Speedwagon, the dog Iggy, J Gails pronounced Geils, and his mother Enya. This doesn't scratch the surface of the manga, which features the likes of Captain Tennille, Middler, and Chaka Khan )
OAV series like JoJo's Bizarre Adventure often seem to have a rapid pace, which is the case here. The series doesn't fall victim to an ADD bouncing narrative, but is moves on very quickly once it is finished with a scene.
The negative aspect of the JoJo's Bizarre Adventure is the degree to which it is a male show. It isn't just that JoJo franchise is built on oddly dress mean, action, extreme gore, and send-ups to male genres, it's that in this anime that all of the female characters that appear, aside from one looming threat are victims. It fits the source, and it isn't a show about well rounded character, but when Dio's villainy is established by gruesomely killing random women, and Holly's sudden affliction is attributed to the fact that she can't develop the fierceness to control her Stand, it leaves a bad taste.
JoJo's a well packaged DVD, especially considering it is Super Techno Arts' first . The audio includes 5.1, and stereo options, which is nice to have considering the series sound was done by Skywalker Sound. Bonus features include optional running storyboards for the first episode, the beginning of a background feature, and interview with the production staff.
Chobits is one the manga team CLAMP's rare forays into shonen (for male demographics) manga. Set in a world where computers called persocoms are given human shape, Hideki a struggling young man who comes to the city to work while applying to college finds Chi, a discarded persocom that can't do much of anything, but may be one of the rumored Chobits, persocoms with free will.
Chobits isn't really sci-fi. Instead it combines likable, reasonably believable people with an amusing refitting of technology and techie culture. It offers up its version of labtop, PDAs, screen-saver mode, an alternative to printers.
Hideki and Chi are perfect bookends that exemplifies the series sense of balance. CLAMP avoids making a girl who can only make cute posses, say "chi" and stack beer cans annoying, and they avoid making Hideki the typical pratfall-ing sex-comedy hero. Similarly they give him enough troubles to root for him, without establishing a Dickensian piling of woe. He has the human faults (a bachelor's slobby lifestyle and porn collection) she has an ethereal innocence. Even visually, there's a good counterbalance between his dark hair and her ghostly paleness. There are a number of good comedic devices, including Chi's attempt to learn, and Hideki's attempts to take care of her.
Chobits is a justifiable well popular and well liked series. Its an enjoyable light comedy with innovation, heart, and characters who feel more human than cardboard story devices.
Yu-Gi-Oh is the game/merchandise/anime/manga that replaced Pokemon in Japan, and eventually the US. The series is primarily known of the Duel Monsters card game, which doesn't appear until the next volume, but is has the same feel of the later card stories.
Yugi is a student who developed a second "King of Games" personally after completing the reconstruction of an Egyptian artifact known as the Millennium Puzzle. Since then he begun challenging bullies, and threats to The Shadow Games, small but dangerous competition designed to exploit their characters flaws.
The first volume, which collects first seven chapters of the series. It's a bit formulaic, but it is distinct formula different. It creates innovative situations with a subversive edge. The bullies that Yugi confronts aren't just traditional student bullies, but media, teachers, and hypocrites on all arenas. The dark morality tales make it a modern Grimms'.
While Kazuki Takahashi's intricate game and situation design should hold the interest of older readers, Yu-Gi-Oh's fan based tends to be very young. Due to violence, language, alcohol and tobacco use, Viz recommends the book for audiences 13 and older. The warning is pretty justified. Beyond knife wielding violence prone bullies, the volume features a rather violent and potential lethal hostage situation, not to mention a girl getting chloroformed. Audiences younger than 13 are certainly going to want the book, and at $7.95 for the 200 page volume, it's a very accessible manga for younger reader. It's a judgment call on the purchasers part. There good stories, with girl moral lessons, but not a lot of padding.
Production is beginning on a live action Japanese
version of Tetsujin 28 aka Gigantor. Filming on the
live action, which will use cgi for the giant robots is
set to begin this July.
New Anime and Manga Licenses
ADV Films
ADV has announced that they have acquired th rights to Panyo Panyo Di Gi Charat and Aquarian Age - Sign for Evolution.
Panyo Panyo Di Gi Charat is another manic comedy starring Gamer's super deformed girl-haired cat girl mascot.
Aquarian Age is a trading card game adaptation. The cute girl style game featured cards illustrated by the likes of Haruhiko Mikimoto (Macross), Narumi Kakinouchi (Vampire Miyu)Koge-Donbo (Digi Charat), Keiji Goto (Nadesico), and Kia Asamiya (Silent Moebius).
Bandai has licensed Cyber Formula GPX, Yukikaze, and the Love Hina Again OAV series Cyber Formula GPX is a sci-fi racing series.
Yukikaze is Studio Gonzo cgi-heavy series, based a sci-fi novel, follows a fighter pilot, with an AI craft, and his squad who initial an counter attack against an alien invader through a portal in the south pole.
FUNimation has licensed Kiddy Grade, a popular new sci-fi series a pair of women working for the Galactic Organization of Trade and Tariffs (GOTT).
Media Blasters has acquired the rights to anime series Figure 17 and Darling
Pioneer has acquired Earth Defender Mao-chan and Last Exile.
Earth Defender Mao-chan follows three eight year old girls who are pointed by their grandfathers to defend eather from cute aliens. The likewise cute Mao, one of the three girl's grandfather plans to use her to for his own motivations.
The manga version of horror novel/movies The Ring with story by Hiroshi Takahashi and art by Misao Inagaki will be released this November. The 304 page adapatation will retail for $14.95.
Yasuhiro Nightow's sci-fi western Trigun manga will be released starting in a 360 page volume this November that will retail for $13.95
Kouta Hirano's action-horror Hellsing will be released starting with a 208 page volume for $13.95 this December.
Viz will be releasing the manga version of Please Save My Earth, the story of seven people who dream of other idenities who lived on the moon.
Bandai has announced release dates for three new titles including the 3 episode Love Hina Again OAV series, which will apparently be edited together into a single feature.
Infinite Ryvius vol. 1 Limited Edition - September 2nd
Love Hina Again Movie - September 9th
Infinite Ryvius vol. 1 - September 16th
Witch Hunter Robin Vol. 1 Limited Edition - October 7th
Witch Hunter Robin Vol. 1 - October 21st
Darling - $29.99 - 08/26/2003
Twelve Kingdoms #2 - 125 minutes - $29.98 - 09/30/2003
Figure 17 - 3 episodes (unsure runtime) - $29.98 - 09/30/2003
Gun Frontier Vol. #3 - 75 minutes - $24.95 - 08/26/2003
Mirage of Blaze Vol. #2 - 75 minutes - $24.95 - 08/26/2003
Samurai Deeper Kyo Vol. #2 - 125 minutes - $29.98 - 08/26/2003
Zenki Vol. #4 - 275 minute - $39.95 - 09/30/2003
Kodansha will be releasing a Japanese edition of Ghost in the Shell, which will include the four chapters left out of the original Ghost in the Shell release. Ghost in the Shell 1.5 will be released January 23rd, with a screensaver CD Rom.
Yukes is developing a second Berserk video game for the Playstation 2. The game is reportedly a sequel to the 1999 Dreamcast game, and will take place after the TV series. Magic Box has screenshots here
Techi TV has announced three new anime series, Soul Taker, Gatekeepers 21, and Boogiepop Phantom for its Anime Unleashed block.
The shows will air Monday through Friday from 1am to 1:30 am (ET, PT), with rebroadcasts on Friday from 11 pm to 1 am (ET/PT) and 1:30 am to 3 am (ET/PT).
IT was announced at the E3 video game export that Dororo, the game based to Osamu Tezuka's manga will be availabe for the American Playstation 2.
From Anime
Nation:
TV Asahi has published its list of picks for the top 20
all-time greatest anime. The list includes 2 titles
that most Japanese natives would call "American anime."
And the Winners are...
Tezuka Productions
The English version of Asahi has an interesting here about Takayuki Matsutani president of, Tezuka Productions, who talks about Tezuka, the licensing of Astro Boy, and upcoming Japanese and American Astro Boy movies.
Images of the box art for Synch Points FLCL box can be seen at here.
For more information see here
From the press release:
This highly anticipated manga is part of a multimedia phenomenon in Japan where it simultaneously released as a series of Playstation 2 games, two unique anime shows and a manga-all of which were extremely successful. Additionally, the first anime series aired here on Cartoon Network, and the first two Playstation games have been released in the U.S. to critical acclaim. Written by Tatsuya Hamazaki with art by Rei Izumi, .hack is the exciting story of two 14-year-old twins who enter and win a contest to portray legendary avatars in an ultra-advanced online game called "The World." What starts as a game turns out to be a quest to save the world!
Comics pro Jim Krueger (Foot Soldiers, Earth X, Universe X) delivers the English-language adaptation of this riveting manga originally created by artist Haruhiko Mikimoto (Macross) and writer Sukehiro Tomita. In Baby Birth's futuristic world, an ancient seal has been broken, sending a flood of demons into the mortal realm. The only hope of saving Earth from their horrid wrath lies in the hands of two individuals-both descendants of the great savior who banished these demons in the first place.
Sure to challenge the boundaries between men and women, this manga by Hinako Ashihara (Girls Lesson, Homemade Home) provides a clever commentary on love and the lengths that some will go to find it. Its story follows a young aspiring female dancer who attempts to join an all-male dance troupe in order to improve her skill and hopefully snag a guy in the process. So what if she's missing a Y-chromosome? She's got spunk, skill, and passion-and, in the end, she hopes that love will conquer all.
Known to its legions of fans worldwide as Furi Kuri, FLCL burst upon the Japanese pop culture scene in early 2000. Its hyperkinetic visual flavor and utterly bizarre storyline expressed themselves in a six-volume direct-to-DVD anime show, three short text novels, two popular soundtrack recordings, and an irresistible two-volume manga series. FLCL-a product of the fertile imaginations at Gainax (Evangelion, Kare Kano)-is the story of Naota, a 12-year-old boy from whose forehead sprouts a giant robot, and Haruko, a fetching alien who rides a Vespa and wields a mean bass guitar ... who could ask for anything more?
Written in response to the Columbine tragedy, X-Day is the gripping and controversial two-volume manga from author Setona Mizushiro (Mr. Mermaid). The story follows a group of teens whose mounting stress during senior year finals culminates in a plan to blow up their high school when nobody else is around.
From Natsume Maya Hirokane Kenshi shared the grand prix (a prize of 500,000 yen) with Ishii Hisaichi at the 32nd Japan Cartoonists Association Awards, held on 7 May 2003. Hirokane was recognised for his manga "Tasogare Ryuuseigun", serialised in Shogakukan's magazine Big Comic Original. Ishii won for his manga Nono-chan, which is serialised in the Asahi Shimbun.
Hirokane is also the author of the series of manga on businessman Shima Kosaku. The Nono-chan manga was previously called HouhokekyoTonari no Yamada-kun (My Neighbours the Yamadas)and is the manga which the Studio Ghibli movie is based on.
Itochu Fashion System, the producer of the TV anime Firestorm, hopes to market the anime for broadcast overseas by the (northern) summer of 2004. Target markets are North America and Europe. Work will begin on an English language version of the anime at this end of this month.
A manga version of the Onegai (Please) Twins, the sequel to Onegai Teacher will accompany the TV series.The manga version will run in Dengeki Daioh starting on the August issue.
An sequel to Ai Yori Aoshi, named Ai Yori Aoshi Enishi will air on Japanese TV this fall.
From Natsume Maya
It's been announced in Kodansha's monthly manga magazine Magazine Z that the Seventh Prison arc of the manga King of Bandit Jing by Kumakura Yuichi is to be animated and will be relased in the winter of 2003. But whereas the kanji calls the arc "Seventh Prison", the announcement calls it "7th heaven" in English. Sony's website for the TV series based on the manga is here.
Wonderfarm has announced that a manga version of the upcoming anime series Saint Beast, (a bishounen spin-off of the bishoujo series Tenshi no Shippo), will commence serialisation in the July 2003 issue of Monthly Comic Zero Sum (on sale 28 May 2003). The manga will be authored by Yaezaki Kaoru. Source
The Kyoto Shimbun reports that the young adult novel "Nodoshiro no Umi" by Okayama Kazuo is to be made into an anime movie and released in the (northern) summer of 2004. Set in the 1970s at Shiretoko Peninsula in Hokkaido, the story is about a youth Yoichi who seeks revenge after his father, a fisherman and hunter, is killed by a Steller sea lion
Sankei Sports reports that an eighth Detective Conan movie is to be made.
A children's title from Bandai, directed by Tetsuro Amino. Production by Sunrise, based on the work of 326.
From the press release A.P.P.P. and Super Techno Arts would like to announce that "JoJo's Bizarre Adventure" DVD volume 1 release date, originally slotted for March 11, 2003, will be coming out on June 10, 2003.
With our first traverse into handling DVD production and distribution, we have gone through some unforeseen delays in production. We deeply apologize for this delay, and for any inconvenience that this may have caused. However, we are happy to announce that we are continuing to move forward, and production is now in its final phase. With the time and energy poured into this product, we are excited by the high quality of the DVD, and look forward to sharing this excitement with you on June 10, 2003. Production on further DVD volumes 2-6 are in progress, and we are doing our best to ensure a timely release on these volumes.
Art work by the anime-inspired superflat artist Takashi Murakami recent sold at Christies Auctions. The "Miss Ko2" statue sold for $567,500.
For those following the artist changes on Marvel's comic Namor, Salvador Larocca, who replaced manga artist Mizuki Sakakibara before the series started, will be leaving the title to illustrate Uncanny X-Men. The title, seemed to have been initially regarded the flagship for the new manga inspired line Tsunami
4Kids (Pokemon, Yu-Gi-Oh, ect) has announced GBA-TV, which will allow animated episodes to be watched from an Game Boy Advance catrige. The technology enables the Game Boy Advance to function as a personal video player with the Game Boy controls allowing the viewer to Pause, Resume, Stop, Rewind and Chapter Search each of the television episodes on the GBA-TV cartridge. 4Kids intends to roll out GBA-TV cartridges at retail in the 4th quarter 2003. Each GBA-TV cartridge is expected to retail for under $20 and feature two television episodes from popular animated kids programs such as Pokemon(, Kirby: Right Back At Ya and Yu-Gi-Oh.
The Comics Journal Journalista points out an aricle which reports Finnish retailer restricts Dragon Ball sales under government pressure(Censorship) Finland retailer Rautakirja has decided to stop selling copies of the Dragon Ball manga to children under the age of twelve, under pressure from a minister of the Finnish Parliament. The minister, Susanna Rahkonen, claimed that the comic book was paedophilic in nature. Helsinki's Helsingin Sanomat explains:
"The controversial first issue of Dragon Ball has almost been sold out. On one of its pages, a young girl shows an older man her underwear. The man says he wishes he had a camera with him.
"Later the girl realises that she was not wearing any underwear, because the main character in the comic, a young boy, had removed them while she was asleep.
"On Tuesday the women's network of the Finnish Parliament sent a written question to the Ministry of Justice concerning the Dragon Ball comic. The women MPs asked what action the Ministry of Justice plans to take to protect children against a comic that portrays paedophilia as normal, as well as from other objectionable material."
Rahkonen, who serves as chairwoman of both the women's network and the nation's Consumers' Association, has also threatened to organize a boycott of all products by the comic's Finnish publisher, Kolibri, if the company does not "withdraw the publication voluntarily".
At the forefront of introducing Japanese animation to North American audiences, Pioneer will release nine soundtracks, seven from hugely popular anime television series and films. Titles arriving on July 1, 2003 include Hellsing, Patlabor, Chobits and Lain, plus compilations from two of Japan's rising pop artist. Soundtracks for Haibane-Renmei, Heat Guy J and Mahoromatic debut on August 5. The company plans to release nearly three-dozen titles in several waves through the remainder of the year.
Popular Japanese artist Yuki Kajiura highlights Pioneer's slate of soundtracks debuting July 1, with the CD release of Fiction. For the first time, English-speaking artists will sing all 11 tracks, composed by Kajiura. Kajiura, who created the music to the smash hit anime series "Noir" and ".hack//SIGN," is currently recording Fiction in New York and the album will be released in the United States prior to its release date in Japan, representing a first in anime music.
Pioneer also will release music from another widely known Japanese artist, the singing diva Yoko Ishida. All the rage among anime fans for her incredible performances in her mega-popular dance-craze Para-Para CD series, Ishida's Sweets features 11-all new tracks, including songs from the hit anime series "Ai Yori Aoshi," "Tiny Fairy Sugar" and "Pretear." A bonus English track, the theme from Sugar (Sugar Baby Love") will only be available on this U.S. Release.
Each anime soundtrack contains new and unique packaging, English translations of lyrics, and phonetic translations of lyrics for karaoke.
In addition, the following soundtracks also make their domestic debut:
Chobits Original Soundtrack 001 - Following the highly awaited Chobits anime series, comes the equally popular and heavily anticipated Chobits Original Soundtrack 001. From the superstar artist group CLAMP (CardCaptor Sakura, Rayearth, X), Chobits Original Soundtrack 001 features 12 tracks, including the memorable, bouncy opening song, "Let Me Be With You" by Nino Tanaka.
Hellsing - Raid, Vol. 1 - From composer Kenji Kawai, widely recognized for his music in live-action films such as Ringu, Hellsing - Raid embodies the gritty, gothic atmosphere of the hit anime series and delivers 19 tracks of the coolest, high-gear frenzy garage band sounds and edgy instrumental cuts ever heard on an anime CD.
Lain - As seen on TechTV, "Serial Experiments Lain" is one of the most popular, stylishly intriguing and thought-provoking anime series ever seen. Delve deeper into the sounds of Lain's Wired world with the release of the domestic Lain CD soundtrack. Featuring eclectic, haunting instrumentals with an underscoring of techno, this soundtrack features music by artist Nakaido "Chabo" Reichi.
Patlabor WXII - From renowned composer Kawai, comes his latest, haunting instrumental work, Patlabor WXIII the Movie Soundtrack. Moody, evocative, frantic and fantastic, this special soundtrack contains 16 of Kawai's masterful instrumental renderings that enriched the atmosphere of the critically acclaimed Patlabor WXIII the Movie.
Haibane-Renmei - The thoughtful, ethereal melodies from the fan-popular Haibane-Renmei anime series features 19 tracks, including the outstanding English language songs "Wondering" and "Love Will Light the Way." The latest anime release from the creators of Serial Experiments Lain, the soundtrack comes packaged with a booklet featuring English & phonetic song lyrics and an interview with composer Yuki Otani and a vocalist profile.
Heat Guy J Original Soundtrack - With 20 tracks of instrumental and vocals, is an eclectic mix of cool jazz, rave and other alternative music genres, the Heat Guy J Original Soundtrack makes a memorable impression. Packaged with a booklet featuring English & phonetic song lyrics, the CD also includes a translated interview with the "Tryforce" band members!
Mahoromatic - Automatic Maiden Original Soundtrack - From the hit anime series Mahoromatic, this soundtrack features 27 tracks, as well as five bonus tracks, including both the vocal and karaoke versions of the opening song, "On the Way Home" and the catchy closing song "Mahoro de mambo" translated into English. The latest anime release from Gainax, Mahoromatic - Automatic Maiden Original Soundtrack features comments from music composer Toshiro Masuda.
