Ol' Father Geek here in central Texas at the AICN Geek Headquarters Compound... things are moving along a little smoother now after a week of virtual siege by a group of WORMS set on holding our various E-mail accounts hostage. We still get the occasional, and obvious virus laden spam letter, but nothing like the hundreds per hour that were assaulting our computers non-stop this time last week.

Nothing serious resulted from the terrorist hackers' efforts other than wasted time digging out from under all the CG rubble, (except for the lost of a couple of Ebay treasures I'd had my eye on for a week) buuuuuuut just the same I'd love to see them caught, publicly humiliated for a spell, then slowly "Drawn & Quartered". That's not some obscure Anime term folks... its roughly similar to Mel Gibson's fate at the end of BRAVEHEART...

Now here's our man Scott and this week's...

AnimAICN...

by Scott Green

Anime Spotlight: Ninja Scroll: The Series Volume 1: Dragon Stone

Released by Urban Vision Entertainment

Circa 1996 Ninja Scroll made great strides evangelizing anime among young adult males. Director Yoshiaki Kawajiri created something not unlike his previous horror-sci-fi works, but in Ninja Scroll, the plot and characters clicked with pulsing action curtsey of Mad House to create a phenomenon.

The movie was spaghetti western teaming of Jubei Kibagami the wander ronin samurai, diminutive priest/government sky Dakuan, and the lady ninja poison taster Kagero get tangled in an anti-caper; facing off against the Eight Devils of Kimon ultimately to unveil and thwart their heist.

In the Ninja Scroll series Mad House is back. Tatsuo Sato, who has worked on Kodomo no Omacha/Child's Toy, Kare Kano Nadesico directs the series rather than Yoshiaki Kawajiri, who provided planning and design.

Jubei and Dakuan are likewise back, this time joined by a pair of new characters: Shigure a young woman trained in isolation, and Tsubute, an opportunistic young brigand. The four learn that Shigure is the "Maiden of Light", and hunted by both the supernatural Hiruko and Kimon clans.

The three sided conflict is fuel for the movie's brand of visceral action, only slightly toned down in the transition from movie to series. The violence isn't quite as boundary free. There's an impressive body count, and characters continue to brutally abuse each other, but there they don't rip off arms and lick the blood from the protruding bones or violate each other with the same vigor.

The baroque stream of oddities that march in and out of the series is amazing: from Beyond Thunderdome Bartertown leather freaks, to comic book super villains, to mythology, to out of the blue oddities. Volume One culminates with a semi-translucent man whose chest houses a blue flame that controls moths. Even if you think you've seen everything, here's something real new.

The Ninja Scroll series is generally more overt than the movie. Though the movie was a parade of strange feats and outlandish characters much in the way of Crouching Tiger, it always invoking a reaction of surprise when something outlandish happened. Where the movie might have kept a foot grounded on reality, the series keeps a toe. A quest that in the end was as mundane as money and politics has been replaced by prophecies, and magic stones. Jubei, who was a juggernaut in a Man With No Name unstoppable drive foward fasihon now has a super power in energy gust sword strikes.

The series is missing the edge of plausibility in the plotting and emotions. Fans of the movie aren't going believe what Jubie puts up with from Tsubute. It doesn't seem like a veteran like Jubei would suffer an oaf like Tsubute in a tight spot. This edge served the movie well. When Jubei got angry, you knew that there would be hell to pay.

Young new heroes and a more standard plot weaken the series compared to its predecessor. Still, the series is a rare action spectacle, which is very innovative in its own right. Its creativity in creating and destroying creatures is a marvel.

Ninja Scroll: The Series Volume 1: Dragon Stone will be release Tuesday, September 2nd.

Anime Spotlight: Spirit of Wonder

Released by Bandai Entertainment

Spirit of Wonder is one of whimsical the joys of anime. It is a deep breath after is aerobic brethren. It marvels at humanity and the universe through the lense of science fiction, with one foot on ether waves, and the other on Schrödinger's cat, combining period ideas concepts, Victorian, or the 50's with more current or accepted ones.

Previously only the "Miss China's Ring" chapter of Kenji Tsuruta's and the accompanying anime adaptation were available, but Bandai has now released the anime adaptation of the "Scientific Boys Club" chapter.

It is easy to fall in love with Kenji Tsuruta's illustration in the Spirit of Wonder manga. His characters have an inviting, neighborly look to them. People you could have a conversation with, and would want to.

The new collection is bookended by two short Victorian tales of the Tenkai Inn, run by a woman known as Miss China, and home to quack inventor Doctor Breckenridge and his young assistant Jim. Miss China is constantly asking her pair of borders for their rent, which they are constantly blowing on parts via Lily, the local flower girl/black market parts broker for their idiot inventions.

The opening short is a comic tale of China accidentally being shrunk by the latest Breckenridge invention, an amusing testimony to China's adaptability. The final segment is a bizarre addition to the Spirit of Wonder cannon, in which an invention traps China, Doctor Breckenridge and Jim on a light show inspired psychedelics version of Mars that reflects China's perceptions of the planet and her life.

The larger feature is "Scientific Boys Club", where-in a mathematic genius young woman named Windy, and her husband are corralled into assisting the three aged "Scientific Boys Club" members in their dream to sail the ether waves to Mars. It is a quiet story of a young couple in love, and trio of sophomoric men who have allowed themselves to indulge in fantasies in their autumn years. Fudged times frame or an identicale descendant allow for a number of brief Miss China appearances in this tribute to 50's sci-fi.

The common factor is the stories is that they reach a point where bitter sweet nostalgia, the chores of the present and exploring the boundaries of the future hit an equilibrium and the world opens up. It is cozy and ultimately non-threatening, but you probably would not call enjoying a meadow or night sky escapism, and Spirit of Wonder probably isn't either.

Manga Spotlight: Samurai Deeper Kyo Volumes 1 & 2 by Akimine Kamijyo

Released by TOKYOPOP

The Battle of Sekigahara is a punctuation in Japanese history. When concluded Tokugawa Ieyasu had established himself as Japan's military ruler shogun, and set the status quo that would hold from the seventeen century through most of the nineteenth. The battle spawn a number of historical samurai, including the man who would becomes known as Musashi Miyamoto, but in Samurai Deeper Kyo it was the ascendance of Demon Eyes Kyo.

Four years later Kyo has tied up his sword and gone on the road as the travelling medicine peddler Mibu Kyoshiro. The former or potential killer who has adopted a dopey demeanor, and taken to the road immediately invites comparison to Ruruoni Kenshin, the story of a wandering protector who was formerly a political assassin during the destruction of the Tokugawa shogonate, and Trigun, a sci-fi western with a traveling gunslinger who causes plenty of destruction but no deaths. The difference is that Samurai Deeper Kyo is less moral contrition or zealous adherence to a non-lethal code, and more Jeckle and Hyde.

Despite a launching itself off historical events, Samurai Deeper Kyo crosses the larger than life threshold and begins treading on the super-natural/super powered. It is an easy lifting action series, with some thrilling fights, scenes of comedy, and scenes of shocking drama.

Samurai manga are a tricky proposition. It isn't easy to capture a sword fights in comic form. Passage of time plays a key role in the action, and it is difficult to strictly govern how the comic's viewer will perceive time between panels. The pause before the first blow of a duel, interval between strikes, a quick reaction to a blow, the faster combatant all require that the illustrator convey some notion of time passing. Missteps can result in confusing action, but more often illustrators take short cuts, and limit the complexity of their action.

The first volume is fall into a few slash and blood gush fights, but Kyo starts providing some fights with impact. There is a palpable fast, deadly energy to scenes.

Despite the proficiency at translating sword fights into comic form, at times Samurai Deeper Kyo seems too intent on becoming an anime series. Weighing in at 18 volumes it certainly had the strength to stand on its own, but seems more keyed into the strengths of anime than manga. Some of the ques are badly chosen. ie Kyoshiro's eyes go from black to red when he becomes Kyo. The color shift isn't conveyed well in a black and white comic. There is differentiation between the two, but Kyoshiro's eyes often look like Kyo's in the illustration.

To flog a well battered horse, TOKYOPOP ought to do something about translating sound effects in their Authentic Manga line. Visual illustration of sound effects play a signifigant role in manga. They accompany facial expression to reduce ambiguity. They add character to an action. While they are seldom essential, they are frequently integral. While some are sparse with the sound effect, Samurai Deeper Kyo isn't.

It accentuates characters, fights, and jokes. With rare exception, TOKYOPOP does not translate them in the Authentic Manga line. Because the effects are stylized and incorporated into the surrounding illustrations there is some work to translating, which possibly might effect the line's rapid translation/localization, and inexpensive price, but it seemly like end noting the effects would be a working compromise that would benefit a series like Samurai Deeper Kyo.

This Week's Anime and Manga Releases

Anime

• Aura Battler Dunbine - Heroes of Byston (Vol. 2)
• Dragon Ball Z - Broly - The Legendary Super Saiyan
• Dragon Ball: Piccolo Jr. Saga Set Part 2
• Dragon Ball: Piccolo Jr. Saga Set Part 2
• Eden's Bowy - Nowhere to Run (Vol. 3)
• eX-Driver Complete Collection
• Gokudo - Collection Extraordinaire
• Gun Frontier:Nooses Wild
• Haibane Renmei - New Feathers (Vol. 1)
• Hello Kitty's Paradise Collection 2
• Inu-Yasha - Origin of the Sacred Jewel
• Mahoromatic - Automatic Maiden - Maid in Training (Vol. 4)
• Mazinkaiser - Turbo Smashing Sensation! (Vol. 1)
• Samurai Deeper Kyo Vol. #2
• Those Who Hunt Elves II - Vol. 1
• Zone of the Enders (ZOE) - Dolores, i - Last Things Last (Vol. 6)

Manga

• Astro Boy Vol 18 Tp
• Club 9 Vol 2 Tp
• Excel Saga Vol 2 Tp
• Firefighter Daigo Of Fire Company M Vol 4
• Ghost In The Shell 2 Man Machine Interface #6 (Of 11)
• Firefighter Daigo Of Fire Company M Vol 4
• Gyo Vol 1 Tp
• Marionette Generation Vol 4 Tp
• Raijin Comics #36

  Haibane Renmei is a series from Yoshitishi ABe about a family of angels in a town of humans, who may only own things previously possessed by human.

  Gyo is a horror manga from Uzumaki's Junji Ito.

  Next Week On TV

  Cartoon will be shifting its lineup around next week.

  Toomani will be:

  • 5:00 p.m. SD Gundam Force
  • 5:30 p.m. Dragon Ball Z
  • 6:00 p.m. Cyborg 009
  • 6:30 p.m. Dragon Ball
  • Yu-Gi-Oh will be shown at 8:30.

  Adult Swim will be:

  • 12:00 a.m. Inuyasha
  • 12:30 a.m. Blue Gender
  • 1:00 a.m. Trigun
  • 1:30 a.m. Cowboy Bebop

  Live Action Adaptations

  The live action Tetsujin 28/Gigantor is shedule to appear in Japanese theatres in fall 2004. The movie will be using cgi effects and full sized props for the giant robot. An image of the cast can be seen here.

  A new Tetsujin 28 anime series is in the works to air in 2004.

  According to Kung Fu Cinema, Tsui Hark (Once Upon A Time in China, A Better Tomorrow, Chinese Ghost Story, The Legend of Zu) will be directing a live action version of street racing manga/anime series Initial D. Edison Chen will star as the lead Takumi.

  A picture of the cast of the live action Sailormoon can be seen here.

  The Big Evangelion Announcement?

  It appears that the big Neon Genesis Evangelion announcement that would constitute GAiNAX's Eva Renewal Project is Evangelion 2, a Playstation 2 game that will be released this November.

  Anno Hideaki will be supervising the game which mixed 2D and 3D gameplay in what by some accounts will be a retelling of the anime series.

  Famitsu.com has an image here.

  Next Phoenix Volume

  Viz will be releasing the third volume of Osamu Tezuka's self described life's work, Phoenix, this November. Phoenix Volume 3: Yamato Space Tp

  True to Phoenix's alternating historical and science-fiction narrative structure, this third volume contains two self-contained tales, one of Japan's distant feudal past (320-350 A.D.), the other in the world's far-flung future (2577 A.D.). In "Yamato," Tezuka weaves a bloody Shakespearean morality play about one king's vanity - the construction of an extravagant imperial tomb and his attempt to remove his rival, Takeru of Kumaso, by sending his son, Oguna, to assassinate him. In "Space," Orion, a sub-light speed rocket heading towards earth crashes into a meteorite. The ship becomes unable to fly and four people manage to escape, including Dr. Saruta (from A Tale of the Future) and Nana.

  However the pods only have enough food for half a year and enough air for a year and a half!

  Satoshi Kon Movie News

  Director Satoshi Kon's Millenium Actress has received an MPAA PG rating for "for thematic elements, violence and brief mild language".

  Anime News Network points out according to the Production Diary (August 20th entry, production on Kon's Tokyo Godfathers has completed. The movie will premiere at the Big Apple Anime Fest later this month.

  Trailers and Previews

  Trailers of Katsuhiro Otomo's Steamboy have gone online at Steamboy.net

  A second trailer of the third Inu Yasha movie, Tenka Hadou no Ken can be seen in narrow band and broadband editions

  DVD Vision Japan has a preview of Miami Guns, which will be released in North America by AN Entertainment.

  Japanese Official Sites

  Studio 4ºC, who recently produced segments of the Animatrix has opened a new site at www.beyond-c.co.jp/

  The site for Full Metal Panic? Fumoffu, the sequel to Full Metal Panic!, which started August 25 opened here

  TV Tokyo's anime Avenger has a site here

  Production IG is developing an anime TV series adaptation of Nonaka Eiji's Sakigake!! Cromartie Koukou manga (Charge!! Cromartie High School) for broadcast premier on October 2nd.

  Deluxe Chobits 8 Becomes an Exclusive

  TOKYOPOP has announced that the Chobits volume 8 manga release with box and Chii figure has become an exclusive to Waldenbooks and Borders.

  Hamtaro at Burger King For Halloween Burger King will be running a four week promotion featuring the cute anime hamster Hamator starting October 7th. The Halloween themed promotion with feature i nteractive toys of Hamtaro characters, the lineup of hamster Halloween stars include Hamtaro Franken-Ham, Alien Boss-Ham, Elder Wolf-Ham, Penelope Ghost-Ham, Cappy Pumpkin-Ham, Oxnard Spider-Ham, Panda Skeleton-Ham, and Bijou Witch-Ham. .

  In addition, the Ham-Hams will debut in their very first Ham-Ham Halloween TV special. Produced by ShoPro Entertainment, the family-friendly Halloween adventure will air on The Cartoon Network. In typical fashion, Hamtaro and the Ham-Hams will embark on new adventures -- this time dressed in costumes celebrating the tradition of Halloween. Hamtaro, Boss, Bijou, Cappy and others featured in the special, will be available in Burger King kids' meals at participating Burger King restaurants. Each Ham-Ham toy will come with a unique Halloween costume, and with a different interactive play feature.

  ShoPro Entertainment, the U.S. affiliate for Japan-based Shogakukan Production Co. Ltd. (ShoPro), has brought multi-billion dollar properties and highly rated Japanese television series, including Hamtaro, Inuyasha, Corrector Yui, and MegaMan: NT Warrior, to broadcasters around the world. Hamtaro (www.hamtaro.com), seen on Cartoon Network, is an entertaining and heartwarming story about a golden hamster named Hamtaro and his hamster friends known as the Ham-Hams.

  A.D. Vision, Inc. Announces Launch Of Adv Toys

  A.D. Vision, Inc. formally announced the founding of ADV Toys, the firm's new merchandise division and the latest major initiative of the Houston-based international multimedia concern. Initially announced in a far-reaching July 4, 2003 panel discussion at Anime Expo (Anaheim, California), the division will create toys and collectible merchandise based upon the firm's extensive film, manga (graphic novel) and original content holdings.

  "We are launching ADV Toys at an opportune moment," said A.D. Vision, Inc. President and CEO John Ledford. "Consumers who came to love Japanese animation, manga and other genre forms in their childhood and adolescence now have the resources to acquire and collect high-quality toys and models based on their favorite titles. And for younger age groups, we've identified extensive opportunities in age- and budget-appropriate toys and collectibles."

  ADV Films Sets Street Dates For Release Of Two Illustration Books

  ADV Films formally announced street dates for the release of RahXephon BIBLE illustration book and Full Metal Panic! The Anime Mission illustration book. Both titles will be available at bookstores and comic/specialty stores nationwide, and are being produced by ADV Films' sister division ADV Manga.

  RahXephon BIBLE

  RahXephon is one of the most popular and intriguing anime series to be released in the U.S. in recent years. Thousands are absorbed in the mysteries of the title, and the RahXephon BIBLE is the key to unlocking them. Filled with full-color original artwork, character profiles, production sketches, mecha designs, guides to terminology and more, and printed in a handsome full-size edition, the RahXephon Bible is an essential tie-in to the blockbuster anime.

  Street Date: 10/7/03 96 full-color and black & white pages Created by Studio BONES-Yutaka Izubuchi SRP: $19.98

  Full Metal Panic! The Anime Mission

  An absolutely key resource for fans of the smash-hit anime series! Packed with full-color artwork, production sketches, mecha and weapon designs, exclusive interviews with key staff and more, Full Metal Panic! The Anime Mission is a voyage deep into the creation of the Full Metal Panic! anime.

  Street Date: 10/21/03 96 full-color and black & white pages Original Story: Shouji Gatou Illustration: Shikidouji SRP: $19.98

  Toynami Licensing Voltron

  Toynami has signed a three year Voltron merchandise licensing deal with World Events Productions.

  ADV October Releases

  The following will be released on October 28th: All Purpose Cultural Cat-Girl Nuku Nuku DASH! Mode 1 -Noir: The End of the Matter (7th and final volume -Super GALS! Never Break a GAL'S Heart! (Volume 2) -Mazinkaiser: A Fire Blast from the Past (Second smashing volume of the OVA) -Hello Kitty's Paradise: Holiday Box Set...

  All Purpose Cultural Cat-Girl Nuku Nuku Dash

  All-Purpose Cultural Cat Girl Nuku Nuku DASH! Mode 1, first volume of the OVA tie-in to the fan favorite Nuku Nuku series, based on a manga by Yuzo Takada (3x3 Eyes, Blue Seed). This version of the title puts a whole new spin on the first OVA, combining teenage romance with exciting action sequences. (In a special note, ADV Films' sister division, ADV Manga, will be releasing the Nuku Nuku manga in an English-language edition!)

  The Story: It's love at first sight when 14-year-old Ryunoske Natsume has a chance encounter with the purr-fect beauty he will come to know as Nuku Nuku. Atsuko Higuchi, aka Nuku Nuku, shows up at the Natsume residence one afternoon not knowing where she came from or where she will end up.

  One person, however, knows more about the elusive Nuku Nuku than he is letting on. While Kyusaku tries to discover the secrets of this androbot All-Purpose Cultural Cat Girl, his son Ryunoske is tormented by his deepening love for his new live-in companion. Meanwhile, Akiko Natsume finds herself being reassigned at Mashima Industries and heading up an impossible mission. As Nuku Nuku tries to adjust to life with the Natsumes', she finds herself up against a string of adversaries, but little does she know it's Akiko who is the deadliest foe. This is the All-Purpose Cultural Cat Girl like you've never seen her before!

  Noir

  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;

  Supergals!: Never Break A Gal's Heart

  The second volume of the popular shoujo anime series SuperGALS! Without losing any time for shopping, high-school gossip, and teen romance, the SuperGALS!-the three hippest girls in Shibuya-keep their eyes open for adventure in the next five episodes in the second volume, Never Break a GAL's Heart.

  Mazinkaiser: A Fire Blast From The Past

  The second and final volume of the Mazinkaiser OVA series, the latest tie-in to legendary director Go Nagai's mecha classic Mazinger Z. Nagai, an elder statesman in the world of anime and manga, is the renowned creator of such anime touchstones as Getter Robo, Grandizer, the Devilman series, and The Devil Lady. His Mazinger Z was the first-ever anime or manga robot piloted by a human, and the title is credited with launching the super-robot era of 1970s anime.

  F-Zero Game to Become Anime

  Natsume Maya reports racing game F-Zero has been adapted into an anime series which will apear on TV Tokyop starting on October 7th. F-Zero Falcon Densetsu (Falcon Legend) was produced by Dentsu and Ashi Production.

  November Centraol Park Media Anime

  Central Park Media will be releasing the following anime titles on November 11th: The Heroic Legend of Arlsan, Gall Force: Earth Chapter, Revolutionary Girl Utena: Finale, Revolutionary Girl Utena: Apocalypse Saga DVD Collection

  The Heroic Legend of Arlsan (new packaging/reduced price)

  From the creators of Ronin Warriors, Dirty Pair, Cat Girl Nuku Nuku and Blue Seed. Betrayed from within and overwhelmed by dark sorcery, the valiant armies of Pars are overrun by the warrior-fanatics of Rucitania. Escaping the destruction of his homeland, the heroic Prince Arslan begins to assemble a group of five, extraordinary allies - a priestess, an exiled warrior, a mischievous minstrel, an insightful artist and his attendant - to aid him in his fight against the Rucitanian invaders. Together, they must build an army and defeat 300,000 trained soldiers, including the mysterious Lord Silver Mask, who has also laid claim to the throne of Pars.

  RUNNING TIME: 240 minutes SRP PRICE: $49.99

  Gall Force: Earth Chapter

  From the creator of Armitage: Dual Matrix, the producer of Bubblegum Crash, and the writer of Megazone 23. In a world ruled by lethal war machines, Sandy Newman fights for her life every day. Time is running out, and the machines have driven humanity to the brink of extinction. Sandy is the last holder of the scientific secrets to save her race, and ruthless mechanoid assassins hunt her without mercy. Her only hope is to breach the machines' fortress and destroy their computer leader, or humanity is doomed!

  RUNNING TIME: 156 minutes SRP PRICE: $29.99

  Revolutionary Girl Utena: Finale

  From Kunihiko Ikuhara (Director of Sailor Moon), Shinya Hasegawa (Key Animation Supervisor of Neon Genesis Evangelion), and based on the original manga by Chiho Saito. The final, shocking conclusion! Utena is about to discover the truth behind the secrets, the duels, and her own forgotten past. To do this, she must confront the prince who once saved her life, and face her most terrifying nightmare. For the last time, Utena must draw her sword and fight her own inner demons. Will there be a happy ending? Contains episodes 37-39.

  RATING: 13 & UP SRP PRICE: $29.99

  September NewType USA Preview

  The cover of story of the September NewType Usa Vol. Two, Issue Nine will feature a cover story on Mobile Suit Gundam SEED, and articles with special look behind the scenes at Satelight, the studio behind such titles as Geneshaft and Heat Guy J

  Title Coverage includes:

  • . Infinite Ryvius;
  • . ASSOBOT Senki Goku;
  • . D*N*ANGEL;
  • . Di Gi Charat Nyo;
  • . Pretty Soldier Sailor Moon;
  • . Alien Nine;
  • . Lone Wolf 2100;
  • . X;

  Manga series Angel/Dust will be replacing Full Metal Panic! in the magazine.

  New Tsuruta Manga

  Natsume Maya reports Spirit of Wonder creator Tsuruta Kenji's new manga Forget MeNot will be published by Kodansha on September 22nd. The story of the most un-detective-like detective, Imari Mariel, set in the city of Venice.