Father Geek reporting in with Scott's regular weekly edition of our long running fact filled Manga & Anime column...

AnimAICN...

by Scott Green

Anime Spotlight: Berserk

Released by Media Blasters

Few anime series can draw your attention like Berserk. There's the old analogy about a car crash that you can't help but watch. Berserk has that instinctually magnetism, but it is more like watching dominos being set up, and knowing that they are going to fall, but marveling at the entire pattern of creation and shattering. The chill of a late night viewing of Berserk's final toppling is something that can be remembered years later.

The series eludes simple genre descriptions as it takes a band of mercenaries, tangles them in graphically violent iron age warfare and palace intrigue, only quietly advertising to them that their medieval world is resting on shaky foundations. They never realize that they blindly barrel towards a fate that doesn't factor into their understanding. An ancient evil is about to be resurrected, but in this case no one knows of, or is working to prevent a fate which they meet with a stunned horror.

The anime version of Berserk begs to be evaluated own its own, distinct from its ongoing manga source. Despite an open ending, the anime series is a complete story that's continuous and novel like rather than episodic, a mapping of the life of a Man with No Name. Not just the event that triggered his search for vengeance, but his foundation from birth, an almost mathematical proof of how you get from a child to a force of pure rage.

Guts is a rare man whose life prepared him for a world gone to hell. From his childhood years, he lived on the battlefield, initially aiding his mercenary adopted father. He was essentially raised by wolves, learning to hunt and think in terms of survival, but not rules of social interaction. His subconscious may have been formed by these experiences, but his outward personality, and destiny were formed by his years with the Hawks. Beyond the desires to prove himself, hone his skill and keep moving Guts was without purpose of direction.

The hand the finds and wields the waiting weapon is Griffith, a young man of gifts of charisma, physical prowess and intelligence, and wilder ambition. Griffith's instrument for achieving his dreams is an unorthodox and highly loyal band of mercenaries known as the Hawks, of which Guts is brought into the inner circle and made a captain.

For a while it appears that Guts is meant to be a witness to history, and a tool of its creator as Guts and the Hawks' success on the battle field gives Griffith access to hidebound royal courts, and their own wars of politics.

Beyond the complexity and attention to detail in these arenas of conflict, it is the interaction between Guts, Griffith, and the other members of the Hawks that makes the series

There are moments where the Berserk's characters beg completion and debate. Watching their interaction, as they test and mold each other is a fascinating process. They give the series an appeal that transcends the draws of genre in action, and a way that few series accomplish.

When events come to a head, the characters aren't random victims, or even random warriors, but people whose hopes and fears have already been articulated, and whose ability have already been demonstrated.

In its characters and its storytelling Berserk does a spectacular number of things right, making it deeply compelling and chilling.

Manga Spotlight: Buddha Vol. 1: Kapilavastu By Osamu Tezuka

Published by Vertical, Inc.

It is gratifying to see a manga creator initially underrepresented in his translated work, especially when compared to his influence, having as much of his work translated by some many companies as rapdily as Osamu Tezuka. There is certainly no one other person who is as responsible for the diversity and vibrancy of Japanese comics, or as deserving of translation..

Tezuka's Buddha tells the life story of Buddhism's spiritual founder over eight volumes. The historical and spiritual epic weaves in many characters and stories' of Tezuka's own creation. In fact, Siddhartha, the prince who would become the Buddha is not born until late into the first volume.

Within this volume Tezuka's own creations from various castes of Indian society begin their own rich life stories. In particular it focuses om Chapra, a slave who through situation and tenacity becomes the adopted son of a general and a on his way to becoming a warrior, and Tatta a mischievous young pariah who turns out to be an unlikely source of enlightenment.

Epics like Buddha are the perfect opportunities for Tezuka to demonstrates his skills as a storyteller and illustrator.

Like Dickens's work, though the stories were originally told in a serialized form, they read well novelized. He masterfully weaves a web of characters as they move in and out of eachother's lives. As with many of Tezuka's stories, characters are view through humanist lenses. Other than the rare innocent or Hitler dictator, neither of which have appeared in Buddha, they are seldom strictly heroes or villains. Characters, including Chapra and Tatta are given the opportunity to both shine and falter based on situation and perspective.. Like the Dawn chapter of his other opus Phoenix, the first volume of Buddha features a conquering general that both as an instrument of atrocities, and as a complex and conflicted man.

There are few comic illustrators who can tell a story with the innovative style of Tezuka. It looks simple, and it reads simple, but it conveys the spirit of the moment in a way few other creators have capture. When Scott McCloud wrote his landmark Understanding Comics, Tezuka's Buddha was used for many examples of visual narrative.

Tezuka's character style is cartoonish in a classic Disney/Warner Brother sense to an extents that the first time one reads one of his more dramatic works it takes adjustment. However, he is able to capture the deepest emotions of the events he depicts.

The tone, of Buddha is similar to that of Adolf, his World War II story of a half German and Japanese boy, and a Jewish boy growing up in Japan. Though Adolf used more of his character design archetypes. Unlike a work like Phoenix, Buddha lacks Tezuka's sometimes pathological need to break tense moments and thrown cold water on intense scenes with moments of offbeat humor. It isn't just humor in dark moments, but out of place and arbitrary humor in dark moments. There are a few anachronisms, and the trademark gassy pig like creature that show up at odd moments, but more than his other works, in Buddha the levity stays in the right place.

Vertical has really put together a gorgeous edition with Buddha. Manga has fallen into a size, format and price, and while it is convenient, it is nice to see something exception like Buddha, a 400 page hard cover edition with a cover by Chip Kidd, one of best cover designer in the publishing business. Cheap and quickly produced manga is a nice thing to have, but Tezuka's work, and Buddha in particular aren't ephemera. Vertical has chosen the perfect format for the book.

Manga Spotlight: Battle Angel Alita: Last Order Volume 2: Angel of the Innocents By Yukito Kishiro

Released by Viz' Action Line

(Warning, Contains Spoilers for the first Battle Angel Alita)

One thing that Yukito Kishiro demonstrated in Aqua Knight, his return to manga after an abbreviated conclusion to the original Battle Angel Alita and a hiatus, was that his work is worth a little patience and a lot of faith. Remembering that deceptively simple work that built on small steps and misdirection into something magnificent by its end might be key for the second volume of Battle Angel Alita: Last Order, because without it, Last Order seems like he's coasting fans hunger to see their favorites again.

Maybe the change can be attributed to taking characters from the intimacy of a slum where everyone is elbow to elbow and desperate to a sterile hyper-controlled attempted utopia, but the second volume of Last Order reads like the work of a creator that is too satisfied. As a snapshot, it looks like he worked all his inspiration and influences out of his system in the first go around, and now is just having fun with his toys.

Still, weak Battle Angel is sharply illustrated, and full of impressive action scenes. While not as stunningly complex and furious as Alita's fight with her doppelganger in the first volume of Last Order a fight Alita's martial artist versus giant robot brawl, and a samurai duel are certainly high caliber manga action.

Like the action, the illustration remains breathtaking. As did many times over the course of the original series it has morphed: becoming thin, delicate and intricate, with detail that rivals Kishiro's health impending effort in the series first incarnation. The visual complexity of his scenes, especially backgrounds of a shattered, one clean and artificial surrounding are rarely equaled.

The concept for Last Order is full of exciting possibilities, especially for fans of the original Battle Angel Alita series. In the original series Alita is a dormant human brain in a robot body found in the Scrap Heap, a slum city build from material and human refuge of the raised city of Tiphares. After being given a new body by Doctor Ido, she experienced a new life: maturing, changing occupation and perceptions over time.

In Last Order she has been revived in Tiraphes, with the triple irony of location, being the a robot with a human brain in a city whose adult population has their brain's replaced by computers, and owing her new life to Desty Nova, the Satan manipulator of the first series.

The second volume of Last Order is missing a needed tension. The conflict feels like false drama, that Alita reached a certain point in her spiritual journey, and now she's retracing it for artificial reasons a la a Dragon Ball style escalation of threats.

The second volume of Last Order continues Tiphares' generational war between its those whose brains were replaced by computers, and young adults who haven't. In the first volume the conflict yielded some stunning moments, but here missing an edge that makes it both too mild and over the top. The initially revelation that the adult population had underwent a procedure that replaced their brains with computers was the rare telegraphed shock that lived up to its build, mostly due to its presentation. Even was it was revisited it maintained its grip. There is too much distance from the shock here, making the hatred and violence seem random and contrived when to should be gut wrenching.

Given Yukito Kishiro's history it is easy to wonder what's actually at play. There are aspects, such as Alita's newfound stunning impulsiveness may be hints, or may be entropy effecting the series.

Anime Spotlight: Someday's Dreamer Lesson 1: Magical Dreamer

Released by Pioneer/Geneon

While translated manga (Japanese comics) has exploded into the shoujo (female demographic) market, anime is still catching up. Someday's Dreamer is a perfect series for fans of looking for anime that captures the drama and style of shoujo manga. Its a teen young woman's trip to make her way in the city. The twist is that she's a magic using mage who is in the city for an apprenticeship. Yet, it is set in the modern world, and utilizes an innovatively mundane system of magic, one where users must register themselves at the magic equivalent of the Department of Motor Vehicles, fill out forms, watch jury duty style instructional videos, and only use their powers to fulfill approved contracts. Their job helping people find happiness in ways that don't make waves in the world. In effect, they are semi-private social workers, with a little less paperwork, and a lot less grit.

Lately there has been a trend of decompression American comics, which amounts to less happening in a given installment of a series (the popularity of translated manga, particularly graphic novels collections is sighted as the trend's impetuous). Other than some notable examples (such as stretches of Dragon Ball), there aren't many decompressed anime series. Someday's Dreamer shifts between genuinely slow, and mellow. It doesn't have the frantic nature of many anime series, but the pace of the Someday's Dreamer is right for the series. It fits the focus on relationships and the pleasant mix of sweetness and sentimentality with a bit melancholy.

An interesting feature to the anime observer is Someday's Dreamer is a series with female fanservice. Fanservice is the term given to gratuitous mildly titillating shots stuck in anime. Usually a camera angle that's showing of cleavage or such. Someday's Dreamer turns the table on this and has its own fun showing of attractive men shirtless with weak justification.

This Week's Releases

Anime

• Aura Battler Dunbine - Escape From Byston Well (Vol. 4)
• Babel II: Testament of the Apocalypse Set
• Berserk - Premium Collection
• Cardcaptor Sakura - The Movie 2 - The Sealed Card
• Ceres, Celestial Legend - Collectors (Vol. 2)
• Eden's Bowy - Eden's War (Vol. 5)
• Figure 17 Vol. 2:Flying Hearts
• Future GPX Cyberformula - The Complete Collection
• Geneshaft - Mobius (Vol. 4)
• .hack//SIGN - Uncovered (Vol. 5)
• Last Exile - First Move (Vol. 1)
• Maison Ikkoku - Collector's Box Vol.2
• Pokemon - Adventures On The Orange Island Vol. 3 (12 Episodes)
• Pokemon - The Adventures in the Orange Islands (Vol. 3)
• Ranma 1/2 Ranma Forever - Season 7
• Rurouni Kenshin Wandering Samurai - Premium Box ~
• Twelve Kingdoms Vol. 3:Coup
• Yu-Gi-Oh:Championship Set Vols. 11-13

Also of Note

• Aqua Teen Hunger Force Volume 1
• Ichi the Killer
• Jisatsu Circle
• Space Ghost Coast to Coast Volume 1

Manga

• Alice 19Th Vol 1 Gn Lotis Master
• Azumanga Daioh Manga Vol 2 Tp
• Basara Vol 3 Tp
• Bomber Girl Vol 1 Tp
• Boys Over Flowers Vol 3 Tp Hana Yori Dango
• Cannon God Exaxxion #19
• Cyborg 009 Vol 2 Gn (Of 8)
• Di Gi Charat Vol 2 Gn Viz Ed
• Dragon Knights Vol 10 Gn (Of 17)
• Erica Sakurazawas Nothing But Loving You Gn
• Firefighter Daigo Of Fire Company M Vol 5
• Fist Of North Star Master Ed Vol 7 Gn
• Fist Of The Blue Sky Vol 3 Tp
• Full Metal Panic Manga Vol 2
• Gto Vol 15 Gn (Of 25)
• Gunslinger Girl Manga Vol 1 Tp
• Hot Gimmick Vol 1 Tp
• Oh My Goddess Vol 17 Traveler Tp
• Rurouni Kenshin Vol 1 Gn
• Saber Marionette J Vol 3 Gn (Of 5)
• Scryed Vol 5 Gn (Of 5
• Tuxedo Gin Vol 3 Tp

Both Ichi the Killer and Jisatsu Circle are live action movies based on very dark manga series.

Jisatsu Circle, also known as Suicide Club is about a wave of girls committing suicide starting with mass suicide of 54 girls jumping in front a subway.

Ichi the Killer is Takashi Miike's grotesquely violent adaptation of the Koroshiya manga a yazuka conflict, and the two psychopaths working to carry it out.

A review of the first volume of 80's anime Aura Battler Dunbine can be seen here

A review of Last Exile can be seen here

Babel II is a giant robot series that series that shares source material with Giant Robo.

Upcoming in Japan

From Natsume Maya

Manga artist Kia Asamiya, who created a number of manga series including Steam Detectives, Silent Moebius, Nadesico, and the manga adaptation of Star Wars: Episode One, and has recently done work for Marvel and DC Comics, has announce two new manga series. Karapuri will be a sci-fi romantic comedy, and Junk: Record of Last Hero m will be a superhero action.

The sequel to Animation Runner Kuromi, the anime feature about the anime production process will be release January 28th in Japan. The original was released domestically by Central Part Media.

The sequel Jubei-chan Mystical Ninja, the comedy about a school girl who learns that she is the incarnation of famous samurai Jubie Yagyu will premiere this January with the title Jubei-chan 2 ~Siberia Yagyuu no Gyakushuu~ (Siberia Yagyu's Counterattack). The official site is at http://www.j2.bz/

Hana-Kimi to Be Bookstore Exclusive

Viz has announced that manga series Hana-Kimi will be available exclusively at Walden Books from February through May. The shoujo comic is the story of a girl who enters an exclusive highschool as a boy to get close to a track star she idolizes.

Astro Boy On WB

From to Anime News Network

On Saturday, November 29th Kids'WB! will be airing a "Turkey Surprise Day." The event, running from 8am until noon, will be hosted by the characters from Kids'WB! show Teen Titans and will feature a preview of the new Astro Boy TV series, airing on Kids'WB! in 2004, as well as a "sneak peak" at the new season of MegaMan: NT Warrior

KIDS'WB! has also announced a change to their Saturday morning line-up. As of November 22nd Pokémon: Advanced will air a second time at 11:30, replacing X-Men: Evolution.

The full schedule is as follows:

• 8:00 a.m. YU-GI-OH!: ENTER THE SHADOW REALM
• 8:30 a.m. TEEN TITANS
• 9:00 a.m. JACKIE CHAN ADVENTURES
• 9:30 a.m. XIAOLIN SHOWDOWN
• 10:00 a.m. POKÉMON: ADVANCED
• 10:30 a.m. ¡MUCHA LUCHA!
• 11:00 a.m. YU-GI-OH!: ENTER THE SHADOW REALM
• 11:30 a.m. POKÉMON: ADVANCED (replaces X-Men: Evolution)

Interviews

Anime News Network as interviewed Katou Kazuhiko aka Lupin III creator Monkey Punch here.

Comics World News has interviewed Lindsay Cibos, the winner of TOKYOPOP's second Rising Stars of Manga talent competition here

According to Hollywood Reporter and Anime News Network...

Millennium Actress, Pokemon Heroes and Patlabor WXIII, and possible Cowboy Bebop: The Movie have been submitted as possible nominees for the Academy Award for best animated feature. Other current submissions include "Finding Nemo", "Rugrats Go Wild!," "Jungle Book 2," "Piglet's Big Movie," and "Brother Bear".

AniMatrix feature Final Flight of the Osiris has been submitted for best animated short film.

Live Action Initial D

From Anime News Service and Monkey Peaches According to an unknown source, Taiwanese singer Jay Chou has been offered with the title role of the big screen adaptation of Japanese manga series Initial D. Director Hark Tsui has been planning the project for years and according to this source, shooting will finally start in March next year. Initial D is about a young guy, who is a tofu deliver by day and an underground street racer by night. Andy Lau was originally set to play the father of the main character, which once belonged to Edison Chen. Now Andy Lau is no longer attached to the project and Edison Chen is offered with another role, a rival racer.

Akiraoh Daichi to Appear at Sakura-Con

Anime director Akitaroh Daichi will be appearing at the 2004 Sakura-Con anime convention. Daichi's work include Kodomo No Omocha (Kodocha, Child's Toy) Fruits Basket, and Now and Then, Here and There.

Anime Game News

From Magic Box Namco will be releasing Taikou no Tetsujin: Animated Cartoon Festival for PS2 in Japan on December 18. The drum music game will feature songs form anime titles Great Detective Conan, One Piece, Naruto, Ultraman, Sailormoon, Doreamon, Inu Yasha, Space Battleship Yamato and Pokemon Advance.

While it isn't anime based Genki and Metal Gear designer Yoji Shinkawa's Shinsen Gumi game, based on the samurai militia seen in Kenshin and other series can be seen here

The cell shaded Dragon Ball Z: Budokai 2 can be seen here

Square Enix announced they will release the PS2 action RPG Fullmetal Alchemist in Japan on December 25, for 6800 yen. The game is based on a new anime series currently showing in Japan.

Sega has released two new preview videos of Astro Boy: Tetsu Wan Atom for GameBoy Advance, the game will be released in Japan on December 18.

Astro Boy: Tetsu Wan Atom Preview Video #1 (WMV) - DSL/Cable, http://asx.pod.tv/sega/free/movie/gba_atom_cm1_500.asx 56K http://asx.pod.tv/sega/free/movie/gba_atom_cm1_56.asx Astro Boy: Tetsu Wan Atom Preview Video #2 (WMV) - DSL/Cable, http://asx.pod.tv/sega/free/movie/gba_atom_cm2_500.asx 56K http://asx.pod.tv/sega/free/movie/gba_atom_cm2_56.asx

Anime on Cartoon Network

There have been rumors that Cartoon Network will be airing Bandai's stylish horror action Witch Hunter Robin. Anime News Network's contact says that the series will be shown late this year or early next.

The first episode of Dragon Ball GT launched the series will impressive rating numbers 9.7 for males 9-14 and an impressive 8.6 for males 6-11.

SD Gundam Force continues to score high ratings, hitting 6.3 with males 6-11 and 6.3 for households.

New Merchandise Licenses

Toycom announced that in the coming year, they will be releasing 6" figures of Inu-Yasha, including Inuyasha, Kagome, Kikyo, and Sesshomaru, and 5" figures and 8" dolls based on CLAMP's Chobits.

Upcoming Releases

ADV for December 23

Casshan: Robot Hunter Feature... Casshan: Robot Hunter, the OVA follow-up to the l... Casshan: Robot Hunter television series.

The release combines all four OVA episodes into a haunting action-adventure feature that hearkens back to the sleek mecha animation from the original 1970s-era TV series. This special edition release will be available in the original Japanese language version, with English subtitles. Directed by Hiroyuki Fukushima (Speed Racer, Gatchaman) from a screenplay by Fukushima and Yasuomi Umezu (Angel Cop, Megazone 23), ADV's release continues an extraordinary pedigree with stateside production by the legendary Carl Macek (Robotech, Vampire Hunter D).

Sakura Wars Tv: Curtain Call

The sixth and concluding volume of the series that has proved an enduring fan favorite, blending exciting robot combat, musical theatre, romance, and a dose of history lesson.

Bandai

Bandai will be releasing the first volume of Yukikaze on February 17th. Based on award winning sci-fi novels the aeral combat series follows a test pilot and a jet with aritifical intelligance becomes self aware during the course of the way they're fighting.

CPM Anime

Central Park Media announced the release of twelve anime DVDs at reduced prices: Ayane's High Kick, Genocyber: The Collection, Labyrinth of Flames, Legend of Lemnear, Photon: The Idiot Adventures, and Sprite: Between Two Worlds will be priced at $19.99 srp. Harmagedon, RG Veda, Cybernetics Guardian, Garaga, Grappler Baki, and Judge will be priced at $9.99 srp. This collection of titles scheduled for release on January 27, 2004 feature a variety of genres from some of the best-known names in Japanese animation including Rintaro, Katsuhiro Otomo, and CLAMP.

Ayane's High Kick

From the screenwriter of Cutey Honey. Ayane is a high school student that dreams of becoming a pro kick boxer

Genocyber: The Collection

From the director of Cybernetics Guardian and the screenwriter of Wrath of the Ninja. The Genocyber is the ultimate weapon. A super-being created by scientists tampering in God's domain.

Labyrinth of Flames

From the creator of Project A-ko and Agent Aika. Galan a spastic geek who would do anything to be a real live samurai, but that's just an impossible dream or is it?

Legend of Lemnear

From the director of Plastic Little. In an age of darkness, sorcery, and heroes, A prophesied warrior Lemnear emerges to battle the monstrous legions of the Dark Lord.

Photon: The Idiot Adventures

From the creative team behind Tenchi Muyo! and the screenwriter of Record of Lodoss War: Chronicles of the Heroic Knight. Photon, a young man with a kind heart and superhuman strength, leaves his village in search of a runaway friend.

Sprite: Between Two Worlds

Manami has been flirting outrageously and sparking vicious catfights! Afterwards, she remembers nothing.

Harmagedon

From legendary anime creators Rintaro (Astroboy, Kimba the White Lion, X: The Movie) and Katsuhiro Otomo (Akira, Perfect Blue and Spriggan). Genma is ancient beyond understanding has immeasurable power and has destroyed half the universe. Now he is on his way here.

Features character designs by the fan-favorite art studio, CLAMP. A brutal tyrant enslaves a dying race. Prophecy says that six warriors will end his despotic rule. Five mystical fighters search the land for the last of their kind, living by their wits and battle skills.

From the director of M.D. Geist & Genocyber. The Central Guard Company is hired to clean up the city's hellish, ultra-violent slums. Two scientists, Leyla and Adler compete to find an effective solution. ".fluid, dynamic animation." -Animerica

Garaga

From the animator of The Hobbit and Return of the King. When the spaceship Xebec crashes on a bizarre alien world, its crew must use all their wits and skills to survive.

Grappler Baki

From the director of Queen Emeraldas. In the world of karate, Baki Hanma-Grappler Baki- is a mystery. No one knows where he came from or where he learned his unique fighting style.

Judge

From the director of Burn Up W. Most criminals are only concerned with earthly justice, but there is another law. Deep within the spirit world, the dead seek retribution for the crimes committed against them by the living.

Manga

February 4

Alien Nine: Emulators Story and Art: Hitoshi Tomizawa

The girls have finally graduated 6th grade and now are in junior high, but are they prepared for the new challenges that await them? There is also a new girl in town and she seems to be a host for an entirely different kind of alien. Hitoshi Tomizawa is the creator of the popular Alien Nine series, which includes 4 graphic novels, as well as a full-length anime.

February 11

Just A Girl Book: 1 Story and Art: Tomoko Taniguchi

On her own for the very first time, Erica finds herself dealing with the joys and sorrows of independence. Luckily, some old friends and some exciting new ones are there to help her make her way in this new world. Tomoko Taniguchi is the popular writer/artist of many shoujo titles, including Call Me Princess, Princess Prince, Aquarium, and Popcorn Romance. Her work has been published in Japan, the United States, and Mexico.

Geneon

February 10

Captain Herlock: The Legend Returns Volume 1 will be released in February. This take on Leiji Matsumoto's space pirate features the work by the characters creator, director Taro Rin (aka Rintara), Sadayuki Murai (Perfect Blue), and Studio Madhouse.

Media Blaster Anime Works

March 30

• 12 Kingdoms (Vol.5 Eps.19-22)
• Figure 17 (Vol. 4 Eps. 8&9)
• Gun Frontier Pack $39.95
• Iria - Zeiram The Animation - Collection (+ collector's tin) $39.95
• Rurouni Kenshin Legend of Kyoto Premium Box $149.95
• Gunparade March - Operation Two (5-8)

TOKYOPOP

Manga Releases (the following are all first volumes of their repesictive series)

April 6

BATTLE VIXENS

Also known as Ikki Tosen, this immensely popular Yuji Shiozaki series is being adapted by famed comic book pro Keith Giffen (Justice League, Battle Royale). Its shocking story follows a troubled teenage girl who wants nothing more than to beat someone to a bloody pulp. This raging buxom beauty has no idea of her true fighting potential until her mother sends her to Tokyo, where she begins training with other brawl-hunting "Toushi"-warriors from around the world who possess ancient jewels that hold the spirits of fallen Chinese heroes.

THE DEMON ORORON

Fans of all things goth will delight in this unique manga created by Mizuki Hakase and adapted by Josh D.M. Dysart (Image's Violent Messiahs). Chiaki is the orphaned daughter of the Archangel Michael and a human woman. Ororon is an unholy devil with a bounty on his head. With nowhere to run and no allies to turn to, Ororon and Chiaki struggle to stay alive as the battle between devils and the angelic order rages around them.

May 4

ARM OF KANNON (Akuma no Ororon)

An "11" on the evil scale, this dark tale by Masakazu Yamaguchi will appeal to fans of TOKYOPOP's Battle Royale and Priest. After Juzo Mikami discovers an ancient Buddhist relic rumored to have mystical powers, he vanishes, leaving behind his wife and two children. Juzo reappears three years later, but something isn't right, and his son, Mao, is suspicious of the man claiming to be his father. As Mao searches for the truth behind the relic and his father's disappearance, a secret organization bent on creating mystical super-soldiers may just get in the way and cause a world of chaos in the process.

CRESCENT MOON (Mikan no Tsuki)

Created by Haruko Iida, this classic Japanese legend of sorcery and myth has a lure shojo fans will find irresistible, especially if they've ever read TOKYOPOP's Demon Diary or Vampire Game. In this unusual story, a high-school girl has the uncanny ability to bring luck to everyone she physically touches. A recurring dream drives her to a tribe of demons called the Lunar Race, who ask for her aid in recovering their stolen power source. As an envoy between them and the Human Race, she is joined by a group of fierce but kind companions. Their battles and adventures forge a camaraderie that will never be broken!

MODEL

Lee So-young (The God of Death, Check) delivers this classic gothic story. Like Lament of the Lamb, its plot involves vampires...but introduces a whole new angle to the parasite-host relationship. Jae is a struggling artist living in Europe. Determined to succeed at all costs, she finds herself in the most unusual of barter deals. She allows a vampire to drink her blood if he allows her to paint him. Her hope? That this bizarre situation may just give her the edge that launches her into stardom as a painter.

May 11

LAMENT OF THE LAMB (Hitsuji no Uta)

Created by Kei Toume-one of Japan's hottest manga artists-this surprise hit inspired a live action film and an anime series in Japan. Lament of the Lamb takes readers on a chilling journey into the tormented life of a family of vampires-all of whom struggle constantly to suppress their insatiable thirst for blood. Sent away after the death of his mother, Kazuna has long been blissfully unaware of his "condition." When his teenage hormones begin to rage, an uncontrollable bloodlust suddenly rears its head. Can his long-lost sister protect him from the world? More important... can she protect the world from him?

SUIKODEN

Shimizu Aki-a huge manga talent in Japan-has created this wonderful story that inspired the hit Konami video game. For years, a devastating war has raged between the countries of The Grasslands and Zecksen. Virtually every family in both countries has suffered some sort of devastating loss, and their final ray of hope is vanishing as a long-awaited peace treaty crumbles before their very eyes. With nothing left to lose, a quest is undertaken to find the legendary Flame Bearer who is credited with ending a war many years ago.

The manga seems to be based on the games rather than a more direct adpatation of the Suikoden/Water Margin/Bandits of the Marsh story which on its own has been seem in a number of anime and manga stories.

Anime Business News

Viz has announced that the Shonen Jump manga anthology has hit a circulation of 305,000 copies. The August issue sold 540,000 copies.

Bandai announced in the six month period which ended September 30th, their profits were 6.7 billion yen, down from 7.1 billion the year before. Video games sakes were down from the first half of year, but sales of character merchandise, including Gundam in Japan and girl's toys in Europe were strong.

4Kids, who are responsible for Pokemon, Yu-Gi-Og, and the Fox Box block which include Shaman King, Sonic X, Kirby: Right Back At Ya! and Ultimate Muscle: The Kinnikuman Legacy have announced an increase in revenue over last year. The first quarter went up 109% to $25.3 million over the previous year. Profit was $2.9 million over 2.0 the previous year.