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 href="http://www.sanspo.com/geino/top/gt200308/gt2003081902.html">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 href="http://www.hochi.co.jp/index/news_detail_popup.omf?storykey=00030823182200591276+categorykey=00020424145211628759">here.
  
  

  The Big Evangelion Announcement?
  

  It appears that the big Neon Genesis Evangelion
  announcement that would constitute href="http://www.gainax.co.jp/">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 href="http://www.famitsu.com/game/coming/2003/08/21/104%2C1061453760%2C15443%2C0%2C0.html">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 href="http://www.steamboy.net/">Steamboy.net
  

  A second trailer of the third Inu Yasha movie, Tenka
  Hadou no Ken can be seen in href="http://www.inuyasha-movie.com/movie/inu_toku2_256.wmv">narrow band and href="http://www.inuyasha-movie.com/movie/inu_toku2_1m.wmv">broadband editions
  
  

  href="http://www.dvdvisionjapan.com/miamiguns.html">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 href="http://www.beyond-c.co.jp/">www.beyond-c.co.jp/
  
  

  The site for Full Metal Panic? Fumoffu, the sequel to
  Full Metal Panic!, which started August 25 opened href="http://www.fujitv.co.jp/b_hp/fullmeta/">here
  
  

  TV Tokyo's anime Avenger has a site href="http://www.tv-tokyo.co.jp/anime/avenger/">here
  
  

  Production IG is developing an anime TV series
  adaptation of Nonaka Eiji's Sakigake!! href="http://www.tv-tokyo.co.jp/anime/cromartie/">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
  

  href="http://natsumemaya.terminus.net.au/news.htm">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 href="http://www.newtype-usa.com">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
  

  href="http://natsumemaya.terminus.net.au/news.htm">Natsume Maya reports Spirit of Wonder creator Tsuruta
  Kenji's new manga href="http://shop.kodansha.jp/bc/comics/topics/forget">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.