Father Geek here one more time to introduce our regular weekly column on the universe of Manga & Anime... Scott's sent in a great report this week full of info on a ton of titles, sooooo I'll step aside and let you get to reading...

AnimAICN...

by Scott Green

Anime Preview: Ninja Scroll: The Series Volume 2: Dangerous Path

To be released by Urban Vision February 17th

Ninja Scroll's wandering masterless samurai Jubei, and priest/government spy Dakuan have returned and together with Priestess of Light Shigure and mountain bandit Tsubute they find themselves working together in an uneasy, and unlikely quartet. The four alternates roles as hunter and hunted with the demon Kimon clan, and the mysterious Hiruko Clan for possession of the Dragon Stone.

On one hand the Ninja Scroll television series owes much of its draw to the original Ninja Scroll movie. There was clearly an eye to the west's enduring fascination with the movie during production of the series, and the movie certainly does engender further interest in the characters (in a Fist Full of Dollars/For a Few Dollars More way of hoping to radically new situation with the same spirit). Conversely, the finished product suffers from comparison to the movie, and maybe from making the lead character Jubei rather than someone new.

The series does inherit the movie's boundless malice, and disregard for taste. Though its expressiveness extends through more mundane subject matter it's ingenuity for grotesque, baroque horror creations would do the master Go Nagai proud. The design work for it's stream of bizarre adversaries is staggering. And while resulting battles are sometimes engaging, and sometimes too swift or simplistic, the build ups are consistently solid spectacles.

Scenes like one in which a wounded foe wanders off into the forest to remake her patchwork body out of pieces of the local fauna take on a hypnotic life of their own.

Regrettably the visual aspects don't have a consistent samurai horror feel. Some of the designs fit well in a Tokugawa samurai action (demons disguised as a komuso Fuke priest, the wanders with the basket hats), others stick out with a misplaced super hero motif (primary colors, tight outfits, capes and the like).

As a distinct work, it probably could have been more successful by using new characters in the place of Jubei and Dakuan. Without the false ring to distract fans of the movie, it is an exciting work. Even if the characters are flat, and the situations are simplistic, few works are this perversely fascinating. Each episode makes the next more appealing because the promise of something newer and stranger. It is a successor to Ninja Scroll in that it offers an array of scenes that shouldn't be described at a lunch room table, but it isn't close to capturing the movie's balance of intrigue, pacing, and plot.

In the movie, the characters didn't want to work together, but met an intersection of personal histories, and political agendas. Here, there is no cohesion. The four lead characters can't even walk together without looking like a strange, artificial mob.

The quest, and its impacts on the characters have been all surface. It has been a sequence of encounters and fights rather than an experience applied the characters. The relationship between the heroes, the Kimon, and the Hiruko has seeds of an interesting complexity, but, they fail to flower in the MacGuffin scramble for an arbitrary magical object, in which all parties consistently look dense. The give and take comes too easy for Jubei, and not easy enough for Dakuan. A cunning planner like Dakuan, and a quick thinker like Jubei shouldn't be playing blind targets, or mad chasers.

There are tinges of respect or sorrow in the characters, but little else in terms of emotional weight. Shigure works in the mold of the sequestered young adult thrust towards her destiny, and Tsubute is the poor farmer trying to make his mark as a warrior, but neither is role is explored to a significant degree. Nor has the series explored the lives of Jubei and Dukuan. Twice in this volumes' four episodes Jubei faces someone looking to avenge men he has killed, but neither provides material for inspection or introspection. They hereos are more active visual templates (and not thinking ones at that) than full formed characters, and they're missing much of the movie's personality appeal.

Ironically, it is the reoccurring adversaries who bare the emotional and physical scars from the brutality of the conflict. Despite the alien nature and passions of these characters their wounds and sorrows give them a gravity that Jubei and Kagero had in the movie, but that heroes lacks in the series.

Anime Spotlight: Yu Yu Hakusho: Ghost File Tournament's End (Episodes 63-66)

Released by FUNimation

Yu Yu Hakusho's Dark Tournament has ended with a satisfying Campbell hero quest meets street fight duel. Yusuke, the juvenile delinquent, turned agent of the prince of the underworld, turned supernatural tournament captain must beat Toguro, the man who defeated his mentor Genkai, and acted as the bane for the majority of his career.

In many ways, the grand arc's consluion is the standard end to anime fight progression and perhaps a little disappointing in that victory is archived through an emotional plateau rather than level of maturity. However the series also continues its habit of running contrary to tradition. The spirit of Yusuke's mentor returns to offer advise when he needs the edge to exceed what he believes are his limits. However, rather than telling to look into his soul,she does this by instructing his opponent how to inflict the most psychological damage on Yusuke, and though the means had already been explored in the series, both the pragmatism of the action, and its fan pleaser implementation produce a number of satisfying scenes. It was also a nice reminder that Yusuke was a street punk, not a wide eyed, forward reaching paragon, and that his mentor had the attitude to hold her own.

Yu Yahusho is a series that knows what makes it characters engaging, and how to maximize those traits. While the volume focuses on Yusuke, it capitalizes on small moments to give fans what they are looking for in the other heros, and pasts opponents.

The volume's final episode is an epilogue to the Dark Tournament, which deals with both Toguro's fate and motivation. It isn't uncommon in anime to cap and defeat of an unrelenting foe with the formative history that made them such dedicatingly merciless. The examination of Toguro's past treads the line between explanation, and after the fact justification, and reaches but respectable balance. Ultimately is adds some additional parallels and contrasts between Toguro and Genkai, which serves to make the pair's relationship with Yusuke richer.

While the post tournament's reconstruction of the status quo was a little disappointing, there has been abundant character growth, and potential foreshadowing to carry the series forward. If it continues to address Yusuke's need to hone and direct his skills and follows up on warnings concerning the hero's temptation, there plenty of room for him to continue to grow and mature. Nor has it painted itself into a corner establishing threats. While Yusuke has defeated the ultimate adversary it was one who challenges his opponents in direct duels, leaving room for a more thoughtful, plotting villain.

The epilogue also marks a change in animation style (given the preview for the next episode, it looks like the change will persist at least for the next episode). Previously the series' competent, but unexceptional. The new style is more abstract and exaggerated. It isn't always attractive, and at times too much like generic American television animation, it is imaginative. Despite some hideously disproportioned figures, the it plays some intriguing games with the anime library of visual metaphysics: swapping colors schemes and energy auras.

Anime Spotlight: Full Metal Panic! Mission.03-Mission 05

Released By ADV Films

Generally the best you can hope for, is for something to do one thing well. Full Metal Panic does two thing well (though not always at the same time). Full Metal Panic ackages highschool romantic comedy and giant robot military action. In both aspects, feature an intelligence, energy, and well suited characters.

In the wake of the late 90's high profile school shootings it seemed like military and highschool would mix more like oil and water than chocolate and peanut butter, but airing on the heels of 9/11, it was the series tense hijackings and hostage takings that rose the most eyebrows, going so far as to cause a delay in the series' original Japanese television airing. This divergence widens when in these volumes the hero's past as a child mujahidin-type guerilla in a fictionalized Afghanistan stand in is explored. The series is one of the few to prominently features notices that the characters and situations are fictional.

Kaname grew up not knowing she was a Whispered, genetically imprinted to militarily valuable skills, and predisposed to obsessive compulsive behavior. Instead, she is well adjusted, outspoken, and a bit of a comedy routine ham (up to the Japanese standby of the harisen folded paper fan). Sousuke is a normal teenager who grew up as a guerilla fighter, and embraced stoic military discipline to his core. Their lives intersect when Sousuke is assigned to protect Kaname by Mithril, an extra-national peace promoting army (though western leaning in an extension of the Cold War). The introvert, and an extrovert go between two the two worlds of school and military. In each one, is a fish out of water, yet has something to offer.

The format has worked out to alternate between three or so stand alone comedy episode, and about the same number of a continuous military action story. Beyond thwarting attempts to rationally distribute the micro-stories among volumes for a domestic release (volume breaks have interrupted a number of the short arcs on bad spots) the series is not in a hurry to establish a firm overarching story. There are progressions the relationships, and in Sousuke 's rivalry with the series heavy, but there doesn't appear to be an agenda to accomplish a great deal in the series' 24 episodes.

Full Metal Panic is work successfully within both genres. Though at times its bipolar nature seems to risks alienation of fans of one genre or the other it remains true enough to the personalities of it characters.

While the giant robot warfare doesn't quite have the eye to real work applicability of a series like Gasaraki, but it does cohere to a logic that emphasizes strategy. Despite on gapping logical lapses in military logic (competent military officers under the command of a genius, but not tempered teenage girl, high heeled battle suits). It builds confrontations like a good video game would, establishing situation, tools, possible avenues to pursue then allowing the resolution to play out in a dynamic fashion.

Full Metal Panic's relationship humor works, because it doesn't lower its characters intelligence to shoehorn them into jokes. The leads are both competent, intelligent people, and while there is plenty of there's plenty of gross overreaction for comedic effect, there is also plenty of self knowledge, and attempts to clear up misunderstandings. They're a quirky odd couple who try to understand and relate to each other, so when Kaname finds Sousuke with an undressed young woman, who happens to be Tessa, their chronological peer, and his commanding officer. He recognizes Kaname's distress, and tries to explain. When the officers plays decides to play tease the pair by playing dumb, and making the explanation sound like a rehearsed lie, the joke feel natural, rather than an attempt to extend a tired gag.

While there are some misfires, in a particular a dull and overpoweringly goofy giant robot carnival, seldom do these comedy episodes not turn out better than expected. It when an episode that looks like a hopeless vehicle for titillating chest and butt shots is able to ends in a clever samurai tribute Miyamoto Mushashi that geeks should pick up on as soon as "she's late" is uttered. (References only topped by the tanker shipped named George Clinton)

The tension in show downs and battles are palpable, but other than quieter moments of exhaustion the series overestimates its emotional effect. While it easy to wish the lead characters well, it expects lingering moments to effect the audience.

Going back to their experiments in CGI series like Blue Sub No 6, Full Metal Panic's animators studio Gonzo have been in the forefront animation post-cel age. While in many ways the progression is lamentable, Gonzo shows in a work like Full Metal Panic that television anime still be attractive, and dynamic. The integration of 2D and 3D animation captures a scale and motion that aids, at the action, while a technicolor vibrance add life to the comedy.

This Week's Releases

Anime

• Abenobashi Vol 2
• Ayane's High Kick
• Crying Freeman: Complete Collection
• Dbz: Cell Games:Moments Peace
• Dbz:Cell Games Starter Set
• Figure 17 Vol 3:Valiant Duet
• Genocyber - The Collection
• Gunparade March Vol. 1
• Knights of the Zodiac - Battle of the Bronze Knights (Vol. 1)
• L/R (Licensed By Royalty) - Targets (Vol. 2)
• Labyrinth of Flames
• Legend of Lemnear
• Photon: The Idiot Adventures
• Robotech Remastered - Volume 1 Extended Edition
• Samurai X: Ova Collection
• Tenchi Muyo Gxp Out of This World Vol
• Twelve Kingdoms Vol 4 Reunion
• Yu-Gi-Oh: Mysteryduelist
• Yu-Gi-Oh:Obelisk the Tormentor
• Tomie (live action adaptation of Uzumaki creator Junji Ito's horror manga)

Manga

• Astro Boy Vol 23 Tp
• Basara Vol 4 Tp
• Iron Wok Jan Gn #7
• My Sassy Girl Gn #2
• Please Teacher Official Fan Book
• Ranma 1/2 Vol 25 Tp
• Storm Riders Part 2 Invading Sun Vol 2 Tp
• Tuxedo Gin Vol 4 Tp

Adult Swim Details

Anime News Network and Galaxy Anime report Adult Swim released a few more specifics about their new shows on their message board. Adult Swim has acquired 50 episodes of Detective Conan, the first of which will premiere on Monday April 5th at 12:30 am. Wolf's Rain will premiere on Saturday, April 24th at 11pm, followed by the first of the new of Inu Yasha episodes at 11:30, two episodes will be shown.

The Cartoon Network has announced that its Action Saturday series will begin on Saturday, April 17, with the television premiere of The Animatrix. Gundam Seed will also start on the Saturday Action Block on April 17th.

Domestic Live Action Adaptations

According to Hollywood Reporter Kamran Pasha has been hired to write a script for the Distant Horizon and Rob Cohen 's live action adaptation of Yasuomi Umetsu's violent teenager killer tragity Kite.

Comics2Film points out that there have been hints that James Cameron's return to feature films directing could be the long rumored Battle Angel Alita adaptation.

Trailers

A new trailer for the upcoming Appleseed movie is on the official site and a 70 second trailer on Apple's Japanese Quicktime site..

A new trailer for Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence is online here

Bandai Plans

Bandai has indicated that Kaze no Yojimbo (a remove of the Kurosawa samurai classic), and a box set collection of ecological mysticism series Arjuna will be released in April.

Dragon Drive will be released in May.

The official English Gundam site has been updated with story information about the upcoming Gundam Zeta, the series which realigns the military giant robot franchise's Universal Century loyalties in opposition to the creation of totalitarian Earth government.

Bandai's site features a polls as to which version of the character Kiba they would like to see as a plushy in the Wolf's Rain limited edition release.

ADV's "Anime Essentials"

Anime on DVD reports that ADV will be re-releasing a number of older releases with new prices as part of an "Anime Essentials" Line. March releases will include Curse of the Undead Yoma aka Blood Reign, Ninja Resurrection and Plastic Little. All three titles retail for $19.99 and appear to be the same as the original disc releases and will street on 03/16/2004.

Last Exile on Tech TV

Anime News Network has learned Studio Gonzo's flying cities meets 18th century politics Last Exile will be airing on Tech TV's Anime Unleashed starting the first week of March. Anime Unleashed will be on every weekday at 1am EST.

Tech TV will air two episodes of Last Exile every night from March 8 through March 13. On Sunday, March 14 Tech TV will present the first half of the Last Exile series (13 episodes) in a mini-marathon.

Howl's Moving Castle News

Anime News Network reports, according to the Ghibli Diary, storyboarding of the upcoming Miyazaki film, Howl's Moving Castle, was recently completed. At just under 1400 storyboards Howl has slightly more storyboards than Spirited Away.

Ironcat Manga Updates

IronCat.com reports that the embattled manga publishes has sent My Code Name is Charmer Volume 1, The Wanderer Volume 1 and, Vampire Princess Miyu Volume 5, for expected February releases.

ComicsOne to Releases Onegai Twins and Storm Riders Novels

ComicsOne has announced that they will be releasing the prose novels of Onegai Twins, the followup to Onegai/Please Teacher, and Storm Riders.

From the press release:

This highly anticipated follow-up to Onegai Teacher stars Maiku Kamishiro, an orphan whose only link to his childhood is a picture of his old house, himself, and his twin sister. In an attempt to discover more about his past, Maiku moves into his childhood home. Soon after, two girls suddenly enter into Maiku's single life. One of them is his twin sister, and the other is a perfect stranger. The problem is he doesn't know which one's which! From here begins a tangled give-and-take relationship between Maiku and the blue-eyed girls, as they attempt to understand each other and their place in the new life that is opening up to them. Find out the identity of Maiku's real blood relative and experience a brand new comical and heartfelt ride in the Onegai universe.

ComicsOne won't stop there; another must-have landing this April is the Storm Riders novel. Titled A Tale of No Name, this anxiously awaited first novel features the living sword himself - Nameless. Here we come to know a very different brasher figure -- a change from the humble soft-spoken powerhouse we have grown to love. Learn of young Nameless' upbringing as a youth and how he became the venerable character now in the forefront of Storm Riders: Invading Sun! How did he obtain his feared Hero Sword? What were the events that put Nameless and Sword Saint at odds? And who is Nameless' hated kung fu brother? The novel includes 3 volumes with over 900 pages of story with original sketches by Wing Shing Ma!

Both the Onegai Twins Novel vol. 1 and Storm Riders The Novel: A Tale of No Name vol. 1 will be available in April 2004. Each novel will be priced at $7.95. Visit www.comicsone.com for more detailed series information.

Release Hints

Anime on DVD reports that the latest issue of Video Business Magazine contains some suggestions about upcoming anime releases.

Manga Entertainment hasn't stated a release date for their Product IG co-production Dead Leaves, but WEA is being listed distributing it on 3/30.

The listing of from Manga Entertainment via the WEA distribution. That's supposedly set for a 03/30/30 release, but the Manga site is unhelpful since it only lists releases through October of 2003.

UNimation's Gen Fukunaga, who talks up their deal with Alliance Atlantis for a variety of non-anime programming to compliment their library, including such titles as Degrassi: The Next Generation and, Connie the Cow.

From Diamond Comics' P reviews, which can be condisdered tenatively scheduled: It looks like starting with volume ADV will be lowering the price of 80's classic Aura Battle Dunbine to $19.99. ADV has delayed volume five of Aura Battler Dunbine to April 20th, and volume siz to June 8th. ADV's releases of the first volume of Azumanga Daioh and Excel Saga magic girl parody spin-off Puni Puni Poemi

AnimEigo will release the two Orange Road OAV series DVDs individually in April at $24.98. Madox-01 will also debut on American DVD.

Media Blasters will be releasing Media Blasters will also be reducing the retail price of the Cleopatra DC, Demon Fighter Kocho, Madonna, Marriage, Sailor Victory, Space Travelers, Twin Signal, and Voogies Angel DVDs to $9.95 each. The Elf Princess Rane & Shinesman DVDs will drop to $14.95 each.

Samurai Champloo Manga

The latest issue of Japanese manga anthology Shonen Ace features the first chapter of an adaptation of upcoming Cowboy Bebop director Shinichiro Watanabe's anime Samurai Champloo.

More On Manga / Starz Deal

Anime News Network reports Manga Entertainment will be showing a number of their titles on Starz Action. Confirmed titles include:

• Ghost in the Shell
• Patlabor: The Movie
• Patlabor 2: The Movie
• Blood: The Last Vampire
• Perfect Blue
• Street Fighter II V
• Fist of the North Star TV series
• Black Magic M-66
• Macross II: Lovers Again
• Macross Plus (4 episode OAV Version)
• New Dominion Tank Police
• Shadow Skill (first OAV, Shadow Skill 2)
• X/1999 (Movie)

20th Century Boy Wins French Award

The winners have been announced for the French Prix d'Angoulême. Naoki Urusawa's 20th Century Boy won the Prix De La Serie award.

Dark Horse Manga Previews

Dark Horse included a number of new previews on their site including:

Trigun Vol. 2 TPB

Berserk Vol. 2 TPB

Megatokyo Vol. 2 TPB

Right Stuf's Comic Party Anime Release

Right Stuf will be releasing the first volume of Comics Part of March 30th.

Comic Party DVD 1: A New World

From the Right Stuf International, the company that brought you HIS AND HER CIRCUMSTANCES comes a hilarious new series that parodies the entire Anime/Manga industry! With direction by Norihiko Sudo (Assistant Director - CASTLE IN THE SKY) and scripts by Hiroshi Yamaguchi (NADESICO / GATEKEEPERS 21)!

Destiny or delusion? It's a hilarious rollercoaster of laughter and confusion when Taishi, the ultimate otaku, drags his friend Kazuki into the swirling world of ambition, hatred, and love - the world of fan comics! Poor clueless Kazuki must sink or swim when he's dumped straight into the middle of a massive comic convention. Lost amidst hoards of buyers, sellers, and cosplayers, Kazuki is about to be baptized by fire, all in order to lead him toward his true calling: to take over the world through fan comics!

Meanwhile, Kazuki's childhood friend Mizuki isn't about to let him be dragged from his normal life without a fight! But will she be able to stop the addictive draw of the new world that lies before Kazuki? Little by little, Kazuki is slipping down the path towards destiny.and Taishi is shoving him every step of the way!

Join the Comic Party, and follow Kazuki as his journey takes him through the steps to becoming a master fan comic author - while spoofing everything along the way! From Gundam to Evangelion, from Initial D to Wedding Peach; if it's part of the anime world, it's all fair game!

Contains episodes 1-3.

Upcoming TOKYOPOP Series

Saiyuki (Fantasy, Volume 1 Release: 3/2/04)

Inspiration for the hit anime-now released in America-Kazuya Minekura's anachronistic take on the ancient Chinese legend of the Monkey King turns the classic heroes into beautiful bishonen in a modern setting. Its epic story follows four warriors into the West on the trail of a demonic plague with limitless power. Facing otherworldly assassins, the great priest Genjyo Sanzo and his legendary companions attempt to uncover the secret of the plague and return peace and harmony to the land of Shangri-la.

Culdcept (Fantasy, Volume 1 Release: 7/13/04)

From artist and writer Shinya Kaneko (Vermillion) comes this wildly imaginative tale about card-shaped relics that are part of the ancient Culdcept, a book that created the Universe. Whoever collects all the cards will have the power of gods, but only special people--called Cepters--can control the cards, and thus, control the universe. Reminiscent of Magic: The Gathering, Culdcept follows a young apprentice Cepter who sets out on an improbable journey to conquer the evil Black Cepters before they discover the hidden relics.

Doll (Sci-Fi, Volume 1 Release: 7/6/04)

Mitsukazu Mihara brings the elegant designs of Gothic Lolita fashion to life in six haunting tales featuring human-like androids called Dolls. In the near future, Dolls serve humans as companions, servants, friends and even lovers, blurring the lines between the real and the synthetic. With character designs reminiscent of Japanese visual kei bands, Mihara's thought-provoking stories provide a firsthand glimpse into the psychology of the human-doll relationship, and explore answers to the question of what it means to be truly human.

Eternity (Adventure/Comedy, Volume 1 Release: 7/13/04)

Based on the ancient tale, Romance of the Three Kingdoms, this contemporized story by author Jin-Ryong Park and illustrator Yong-Kwan Shin (debuted with Lamp 1999 in Young Champ magazine) adds a comedic, urban edge to a legendary fable. Seventeen-year-old shaman Aram Ko embarks on a quest for three reincarnated men who, in their past lives, were former leaders killed by the oppressed Chinese government. Mystery, intrigue and slapstick ensue as the trio encounters the strange and unusual world of the 20th century!

Evil's Return (Fantasy/Adventure, Volume 1 Release: 7/13/04)

From the creative minds of Hwan Shin and Jong-kyu Lee (collaborators on the upcoming Prodigy) comes this ultra-violent story of love, death and salvation. Yumi is a fun-loving high school student with a terrible fate. Cursed since birth, Yumi is destined to become the mother of Evil, and now something wicked her way comes. The forces of good and evil clash to gain control of her mortal soul in a contest that will ultimately affect the fate of this world and worlds beyond.

Passion Fruit (Fantasy/Drama, Volume 1 Release: 7/13/04)

Mari Okazaki, Kaoru Fujiwara and Junko Kawakami bring readers this unique collection that explores the frailty of the human condition through a series of unforgettable stories. Volume 1, Okazaki's "Sweat & Honey," debuts in a beautiful collector's hardcover book format. Here, two female cousins learn that living together may bring them closer to each other...or ultimately drive them apart. The entire Passion Fruit series begins its release in softcover format this fall, with each of its three volumes examining our innermost secrets and hidden desires. With uninhibited authenticity and pathos, these books prove that passion is truly stranger than fiction!

Upcoming CPM Release

CPM Press set to release the following graphic novels in May - The World of Narue Volume 1, Duck Prince Book 1: Transformation, Just a Girl Book 2, Record of Lodoss War: The Grey Witch Book 1 and Geobreeders Book 1 priced at $9.99 (SRP).

- The World of Narue, one of the most popular anime series in Japan makes its graphic novel debut in May, just a few weeks after the release of the The World of Narue Anime Test DriveT DVD and the entire anime series in a Collector's Series DVD Collection.

Just a Girl Book 2 by shoujo maven, Tomoko Taniguchi and Ai Morinaga's Duck Prince Book 1: Transformation- a modern take on a classic fairy tale, which perfectly blends comedy with shoujo romance, also hit the bookshelves in May.

Rounding out May's graphic novel line-up is the fantasy epic, Record of Lodoss War: The Grey Witch Book 1, and the outrageous gun-toting Geobreeders Book 1. Both graphic novels have been reformatted and re-priced.

The World of Narue Volume 1

Writer and artist: Tomohiro Marukawa. Narue is an adorable schoolgirl with a secret. She's really an alien with powers right out of a sci-fi comic! But growing up is never easy, and it doesn't help when you're from outer space.

Duck Prince Book 1: Transformation

Writer and artist Ai Morinaga. Reiichi is the quintessential nerd: thick glasses, coarse and unkempt hair, short, fat and ugly, and his classmates constantly make fun of him. After a freak car accident, Reiichi finds himself changed. He is no longer an "ugly duckling", some how he has transformed into a tall and gorgeous young man.

Just a Girl Book 2

Written and drawn by Tomoko Taniguchi, creator of such acclaimed titles as Aquarium and Call Me Princess. Erica must make the decision of her life; wait around for a love that may never come, or learn how to become her own woman and follow her dreams.

Record of Lodoss War: The Grey Witch Book 1

Writer: Ryo Mizuno; Artist: Yoshihiko Ochi. Parn, the free knight and Deedlit, the elf, assemble a company of heroic adventurers to fight the black magical power of the Grey Witch as it threatens to corrupt and destroy all the kingdoms of Lodoss Island. Newly reformatted and re-priced!

Geobreeders Book 1

Original story and art by Ahihiro Ito. This is the story of the Kagura Security Company: five women and one man who act as detectives and handle cases that are bizarre or out-of-the ordinary. Newly reformatted and re-priced!

November NewType USA Preview

NewType USA Volume Three, Issue Two (February 2004) will feature a cover story on new anime series Fullmetal Alchemist, with features articles on studio Sunrise, the live action Skyhigh adaptation, and Spirit, the first theatrical anime film from acclaimed production studio GONZO (Full Metal Panic!, Hellsing). Title coverage includes Samurai Champloo , SAMURAI 7, BUSHILORD, PEACE MAKER Kurogane and Azumanga Daioh.

Gustoon Release Info

An Anime on DVD forum goer posted their correspondence with Gutsoon considering their manga release plans, which revealed a number of interesting positions.

How is Raijin going to handle the release of long running series like City Hunter, Slam Dunk, etc. when they've cut their magazine back to a monthly?

We are considering a number of solutions to the long series problem. At the moment, we plan to keep cranking out the paperbacks at a good pace to allow readers to keep up with the story. Then, as to what to do about the pacing in the magazine, well... We haven't made a final decision yet. But don't worry, the paperbacks will give you plenty of reading pleasure. We've already released 4 volumes of City Hunter and Slam Dunk, and volume 8 of Fist of the North Star is coming out in February.

Why no Baki The Grappler in graphic novel format yet?

Baki: the author and his agents (who are not directly inside the Coamix Inc. organization) had already signed a batch of rights relations before RAIJIN started out. We have to clear the mess of right issues before we can release the paperbacks. So we'll have to ask you to give us a little more time on this one. Believe me, there are a whole pack of fans who are shouting for this one to go into publication, and we'd love to get them out.

Any plans to release any of Hojo's other titles like Cat's Eye, Family Compo, or Angel Heart?

Hojo: we are actively working on plans to release Hojo's backlog. Family Compo and Cat's Eye are on top of the list. Keep your eyes peeled on the pages of RAIJIN for release announcements.

Studio Proteus To Close Site

Studio Proteus has posted a message stating that they will be closing www.studioproteus.com at the end of the month. The manga translating will continue to work with Dark Horse comics.

No Anime Oscar Nominations

The three films nominated for Best Animated are Brother Bear, Finding Nemo, and Triplets of Belleville.

Elidgable anime titles include Millennium Actress, Pokemon Heros, and Tokyo Godfathers.

Miami Guns Volume 1

AN Entertainment has announced that the debut DVD volume of the Miami Guns anime series will hit retail store shelves throughout North America on June 22, 2004. Anticipated to be one of the year's breakout surprise hits, Miami Guns is a wild, wacky comedy in the vein of the best selling anime title Excel Saga. Fast paced, sexy, non-stop action and comedy tailored toward anime fans, yet still easily accessible and entertaining for viewers uninitiated into anime culture, are sure to distinguish Miami Guns as one of 2004's most talked about "must see" series!

ABOUT MIAMI GUNS

Based on a fan favorite four volume manga series by Takeaki Momose, the artist behind the RahXephon manga, the 13 episode Miami Guns TV series tells the story of spoiled rich girl Yao Sakurakouji who decides to join the Miami police force to enjoy car chases, gunfights and wanton destruction. The psychotic and not-too-bright Yao is partnered with Lu Amano, the soft-spoken and sharp-tongued daughter of the police chief. Together the dirty duo clean up the streets of Miami and take on a mysterious crime syndicate known only as "The Organization."

Slapstick comedy, risqué action, and outrageous parody ensue. The first Miami Guns DVD alone features side-splitting parodies of pop culture icons including Jean Reno's Leon the Professional, Detective Conan, Speed Racer, Neon Genesis Evangelion, Wacky Races, and a world famous extended homage to the hit anime series Initial D. Director Yoshitaka Koyama, the director behind the popular Rune Soldier anime TV series, pulls out all the stops for Miami Guns, resulting in the craziest, most bizarre anime to hit American shores since the blockbuster hit FLCL. Cover art can be downloaded at http://an-entertainment.com/miamiguns/images/dvd1.jpg

For screenshots, synopsis and more, visit http://www.miamiguns.com

New Live Action Cutey Honey Pictures

Gainax has posted images of the anime opening to the live action Cutey Honey movie on their site here. Gainax's Hideaki Anno will be directing the movie.

Viz at Jump to Jump

Viz has announced that it will participate in Jump to Japan: Discovering Culture Through Popular Art.

The exhibit, which will tour children's museums at more than 70 U.S. cities over the next four years, is one of the most extensive explorations of arts-focused Asian pop culture ever staged. VIZ is supporting the effort by lending video content and imagery from its POKÉMON and HAMTARO shows, as well as a variety of panels from the popular SHONEN JUMP magazine, for the duration of the exhibit's run. A press release and imagry are attached for your review and consideration. These include a picture of a lifesized "Catbus" from Hayao Miyazaki's My Neighbor Totoro that is a centerpiece of the exhibit.

The exhibit opens in Seattle on January 24 and will remain at The Children's Museum at the Seattle Center in Seattle, WA through June 6, 2004 before moving on to the next location. The 3,000 square foot exhibit is split into three areas that cover "Fantastic Animation," "Manga Mania," and "Artful Traditions."

Domestic Release of X-Japan

Anime News Network reports Tofu Records will release an X-Japan Best Of CD and DVD on February 24th. This will be the first official American release of a full X-Japan album.

X-Japan may be known to anime fans from the performing the music to the X^2 music video adoption of CLAMP's X.