Father Geek here with a huge column from Scott dealing with the worlds of Anime & Manga this week. Once again he is hitting on all bases as he covers every aspect of the industry... from toys to games to DVD to live action screen debuts to inner company politics its all right here in one easy to find location, AICN's weekly column...

AnimAICN...

by Scott Green

Manga Spotlight: Phoenix Volume 4: Karma By Osamu Tezuka

Released by Viz's Editor's Choice Line

It is always worth re-iterating that Osuma Tezuka is the "God of Manga" because the statement isn't hyperbole. Few artists have defined and excelled in a medium to the extent that Tezuka did with manga. As a creator of classic characters and enduring genres he can also relied upon for stunning work, but Karma surpasses expectations. The story is the fifth phase (three and four were collected in one volume) of his Phoenix cycle, which is one of his deepest and most mature works.

Karma employs personal life stories as a window to in an ambitious exploration of the human condition, both within the confines of the species' constructs: society and religion, and within the inescapable foundation of existence: life, random chance, and death. Through Tezuka's humanist lenses, Karma looks at the lives of two artists and tries to mark out the paths of several answers without precluding others. Buddhist beliefs, which are a central pillar of the narrative, are presented at as one path to understanding and transcending existence, as well as the mechanism for the larger Phoenix work, but they are also presented as a human, political tool for controlling the masses.

Building on blocks like Karma, the Phoenix cycle examines the human continuation from the early days of civilization to its final fate. Each volume, alternating between moving forward in time in historical fiction and backward in science fiction, tells the often-epic life story of a set of inhabitants in the focal time frame. A tool in the examination is revisiting certain characters, chiefly the deformed but skilled Saruta, through reincarnation. Karma is a central spoke in the cycle, directly confronting the mechanism and role of reincarnation in general and its role in this character's existence in particular. (Of note, in the direct confrontation with the force of reincarnation, Tezuka makes reference to a chapter of the Phoenix cycle he never committed to manga in his life time)

The focus of this iteration is Gao, an incarnation of the of the person more often identified as Saruta in the cycle, who was born in small fishes village in 720 AD during Japan's cultural coalescence. After his birth, Gao's father raced up a steep incline to thank the mountain spirits for a strong baby, but, in a twist, of fate fell to his death and left Gao scarred, less one eye and one arm. Taunted by his peers, Gao's rage builds until it boils over into murder. One of his first encounters is with a sculptor named Akanemaru, whose kindness toward Gao is rewarded when Gao maims the sculptor's arm. The paths of the Gao and Akanemaru take parallel courses, occasionally overlooking each other, and converging again at the story's conclusion.

Gao continues his life as a murder and bandit until sorrow leads to his capture and subsequent release into the guidance of a wizen one armed monk. The monk hopes to calm Gao's spirit, but instead Gao finds an outlet for his hate, and the frustration of his country's people in grotesque sculptures.

Akanemaru is likewise led back to sculpture by a monk, but finds himself on the guiding edge of the intersection between spirituality as politics with patrons in the powerful nobleman Tachibanano Moroe and influential diplomat and scholar Kibi Makibi, who see Buddhism as a tool to unity and subjugate the masses.

The historical entries in the Phoenix cycles have dealt with dictatorial leaders. In the case of Phoenix it is the historically based Tachibanano Moroe and Kibi Makibi who play power games and bleed people through religion and its iconography. Still Karma attempts to reconcile religions misuse with its function as a window to truth.

Karma paints an intimate life story of a man who is often, or at least initially physically and morally repulsive, but always invokes empathy. Transitions of age and experience make alter Gao's outlook on life, but the radical shifts seem natural rather than marking points of plot or an overbearing message. Through an emotional engagement in his mistakes and triumphs the reader is guided into a confrontation with the foundations of existence, and left to be their own judge as to the lesson of Gao's life.

Karma proclaims Tezuka's skills as a wizard of the comic medium. He brings an animator' mind to his work, and a peerless one at that. In the 35 years since Karma's original publication, few comic illustrators have matched Tezuka's skill in portraying motion or location. The cinematic use of lighting and staging made a deceptively simple narrative visually powerful.

His ability to construct a sweeping variety of settings, natural or man made is breathtaking. Architectural form, natural beauty as well as more sorrowful sites are meticulously rendered and as engrossing as any work in a moving medium, live action or animated.

He also pays great attention to the art within the art. The works of Akanemaru's awe inspiring formalized design and Gao's wild expression reflect their creator's style, and invoke in the reader the same reaction as the its observers within the story.

He also adds flexibility of narrative in powerful departures from a highly recognizable style. This may involve breaking the bounds of logic in service of depicting a moment. At times the breaks are Warner Brother's type departures from established rules within the story and medium: Gao hate driving his to run out of a panel and along with its walls. He also warp his abstraction of character design to fit outbursts of emotion, as when Gao's form is shattered in a foreshadowing in this artistic output.

The flexibility extends to the creation of stories within the story, a mini-cycle of reincarnation, such as a tail of reincarnation from plankton eaten by a fish, to a turtle caught by fishermen and rendered by craftsmen to a bird who who meets the mythical phoenix herself.

A problem with many of Tezuka's more serious works is an incursion of his humor, often to the detriment of the narrative. Frequently he will incorporates a silly visual gag, overt anachronisms, humorous self cameos or media reference into a panel or sequence, often in the middle of a dramatic movement. Karma distances itself from some of his past excess. There are spotty appearances by his trademark pig character and various gags, but they are far less common or obtrusive earlier Phoenix entries.

Apart from some rough early or incomplete work, it hard to find a disappointing Tezuka project. One of the greatest achievements of the domestic market is that there is now an opportunity for Tezuka's Phoenix to be published. Tezuka's thoughts as an artist and philosopher are laid out in his search to find a personal meaning in life and death .

Manga Spotlight: Hellsing volumes 1 & 2 By Kohta Hirano

Released by Dark Horse Manga and Digital Manga

Hellsing is wildly fun action manga for an audience look for something a little more mature than the Shonen Jump hero quests (DragonBall, Shaman King, Naruto, ect),buy not necessarily more mentally taxing. The well execute big guns, big chests, big violence pulp violence follows a global, supernatural, almost gang warfare, between states, churches, and religions.

The Hellsing organization is tasked with protect "The British Empire and the Protestant Church" from supernatural incursions, which sets them against home grown lone maniacs, vampire criminals from minor hoods to major upstarts, and turfs wars with forces like the Vatican. The latest of the Hellsing family to inherit the organization is Integra, who cemented her leadership with the family's secret weapon, the vampire Alucard. Working together, Integra has become a non-nonsense director and Alucard, a red trench cat red glasses, red hat, red ascot wearing fervent hitman/agent. In the series' first mission Alucard picks up a pet project "police girl" Seras Victoria, who Alucard shot through in order to kill a vampire vicar, then made a into a vampire in order to save her.

Hellsing is a work of front loaded thought, enough to capture attention, but not direct it elsewhere. The series does have a plot, one that is thought out with great concepts and setting, apart from the concept of its Protestant Church is a little funny, an Anglican Church would have been better, it isn't one meant to mentally engage the reader. Events are more drive my action and style.

As with the above reviewed Ninja Scroll, the thrust of the work is exotic people and combat, but in Hellsing, it is done with a sense of humor, style, and most importantly unpredictability. There is a crime-esque hard and personal edge to the proceedings, but it is exaggerated to the extent that it isn't meant to be taken serious (to say nothing of Cross Fire fighting nuns backup stories)

Volume one is mad dash of introductions, back stories, and quick situations before an all out fights with a worthy adversary. Volume two is dominated by a long standoff with two vampire brothers who infiltrate Hellsing, set turn their human SWAT team into an army of ghouls

Seeing the alluringly psychotic vampire vampire slayer Alucard armed with a pistol bearing the text "Jesus Christ is in heaven now", or Seras surprise even her allies with some effective grappling moves makes undead on undead violence fun again.

The slick glint of the manga's better anime adaptation is a quality unique to that medium, but in its place is a thick lined heavy ink style the adds as much energy.

Kohta Hirano's ability to convey perspective isn't exactly flawless. Appendages, guns and Ceres' chest fluctuate rather freely.

One aspect of formula's success is its sense of humor It is dark and gory, but it is also flippant, but taking often dour vampire business series. Sera's transition to vampirehood is treated as an embarrassment rather than momentous shift in shift in existence. Teased by Alucard and Integra ("evening walker" being one of their great epithets), the source a good amount of blood and gluts slapstick, along with some great mug expression for the all the principals, she prevents the series from being overpowered by its violence.

Hellsing's dialogue does feature some exaggerated localization ("inquiring minds want to know" and such), but the extra flexibility complements the glib source material. The only real annoyance in this approach is the accent used for an Irish Vatican paladin.

Anime Spotlight: Ninja Scroll TV Volume 3 Deliverance

Released by Urban Vision

Ninja Scroll TV captures a surprising degree of its popular movie predecessor's violence, but misses the original's mix of character dynamics, myth, historical politics and mystery, and further distances itself with colors, design and action reflecting more of a feudal meet super hero fashion than the movies' feudal half mystic heist plot. The final volume still offers some memorable sights, and further involvement from a force that will please samurai fans, but the best of the series' staggeringly bizarre design has been used before the concluding episodes

The series is a MacGuffin chase between the Ninja Scroll movie's wandering swordsman Jubei and shrunken monk/government agent Dakuan, along with young new characters destined "Light Maiden" Shigure and mountain bandit Tsubute, against the demonic Kimon clan (again of from the movie, but not a completely logical extension), the freakish hidden Hiruko clan, and, ironically, the inferred inspiration for Jubei, the famed swordsmen of Yagyu clan.

The volume's episodic and continuity linked clashes between representatives of the four parties, lead up to final revelation of the role of Shigure and her dragon and confrontation between all involved.

The breath of the series' appeal is limited to oddities graphically dispatching humans or being dispatched With several exceptions spaced through out the series, both the flow of given episode and a given confrontation is almost uniformly predictable.The range of motion and action dynamic doesn't match the intricacy of the characters' appearance

There are glimpses of some interesting shogun-era political maneuvers with the Tokugawa aligned Yagyu and Toyotomi aligned Kimon, but mostly the goal everyone can be simplified as everyone seeming to control Shigure.

Aside from a new Kimon or Hiruko whose physical deformities extent to bent personalities, the characters, particularly the heroes lay flatly on the action. Shigure's unequivocal rejection of an larger destiny defined by the expectations of others and Tsubute's rejection of the life fate a lot him had potential, but neither is particularly well developed, especially Tsubute, who the series doesn't seem to know what to do with for the majority of the run. Which isn't half a bad as the handling of Dakuan, who, other than a minor agitator, who almost no involvement in the proceedings.

It is easy to speculate that the impetus of the series was the western interest in the movie held together by western super hero conventions and universal myth. It isn't by the numbers assembling line manufacturing, but it does feel like an exercise in clearing out the design file, linked by story fragments that have been kicking around.

Anime Spotlight: Gravion Volume 1: Divine Steel

Released by ADV Films

Gravion, short for Super Heavyweight God Gravion (Choujuushin Gravion) applies the compounded Teflon slickness of Masami Obari and Studio Gonzo to nostalgic combining giant robots. Matching Obari's (Battle Arena Toshinden, Fatal Fury, Tekkaman Blade) distinctive character design with homages to Voltron/Getter Robo style linking giant robots, along with other entries in the mecha canon, such as Macross.

The premise employs the familiar collection of teen's with a special genetic trait and tragic pasts who will pilot robots to save earth from alien invaders. However the premise is introduced in an interesting manner, with Masque of Red Death meets alien invasion as an eccentric, young industrialist invites the elite to his protected castle to watch his agents fight off the first round of invaders.

This narrative inventiveness is soon abandoned in favor of showcasing visual design, using secrets and conspiracies to establish tension. Despite nice twists on the source material that pop up periodically, such as the shy recluse character being assigned a stealth plane, the initial creative flair lessens after the initial launch.

Fans of Obari's work will enjoy the gleam Gonzo adds, with a vibrancy missing in some implementations (Virus Buster Serge for example). His design in Gravion is only a few degree more flamboyant than most anime with more frills, larger eyes, and in one instance a larger and bouncier chest than most exaggerated anime, but more subtle than examples of his projects (difference in subtly between a fire engine with and without its sirens).

There is plenty of female fetishism, including maid outfits, but it is spaced out with several example of male fetishism. Apart from his hentai (pornographic) work, one of Obari's interesting traitts is that both his male and female figure are radically idealized and accessorized. He isn't quite an outlet of equal opportunity fan service (gratuitous titillating material), but he is more balanced than most.

Like the story, the design peaks early. After an initial burst of excitements as the series displays what to offer it progressively becomes less engaging as it exhaust its newness. An immense sense of scale works well with the nostalgic mecha design, but a static repertoire of attacks, and dull enemies leaves the design to stand on its own.

Manga Spotlight: Fruits Basket Volumes 2 & 3 by Natsuki Takaya

Released by TOKYOPOP

Fruits Baskets continues to sculpt a sweet and painful tale escaping isolation out of a material expected to yield a goofy comedy.

The premise sounds like a shoujo (girl's) version of Rumiko Takahashi's martial arts comedy Ranma 1/2. Tohru Honda, a girl who was reduce to living in a tent after the death of her mother finds a new home with the three members of the Sohma, a clan cursed to turn into animals of the Chinese zodiac when embraced by a member of the opposite sex (the dragon is introduce in this volume in an amusing, and to an English speaker very non-obvious, manner).

Fruits Basket" is taken from the name of a duck-duck-goose like game, in which the leads names the participants after items that belong in a fruits basket, until one player is name for an item that doesn't belong, and they are kicked out of the group.

Tohru, her friends, a goth and a ex-gang member rebel, and her Sohma housemates (contemporaries Yuki the mouse, Kyo the cat, and 27 year old Shigure the dog). More than the tried story of misfits who finding each other, the series looks at the effects of ostracization and actively attempt to overcome the pathologies build up in those on find themselves on the outside. Rather than a simple shoujo romance of an abandoned girl and an isolated boy Fruits Baskets drops the girl into the complex labyrinth of a family who perpetually guard themselves from society, and in doing so have compounded their problems.

Volume 2 exhibits the ripples of tragedy emanating from the Sohma curse, as Tohru is evaluated by the family's doctor Hatori, who erases the memories out outsiders who learn the family's secrets. Hatori's history and interaction with Tohru underlies that the curse isn't not cute or novel for afflicted, but frequently painful. Ironically Sohmas' fear isn't the a pitch fork wielding mob, but the forced out rejection that their guarded position has already achieved.

Volume 3 features several hints of obscured levels of plot and foreshadows the direction the series could take, but it more dominantly traditional humorous one offs, including some common plugins such as a hot springs trip and the harried book editor, and some uniquely strange entries such as the bipolar cow of the Sohma clan. The volume accentuates the inheritably comedic qualities of the premise, which have never been absent, but previously haven't been the focus.

Fruits Basket is an engrossing comedic drama, with characters that the you can't help but become attached to. Though it shares much in common with the standards of shoujo romance, it base in universal experiences, fears and troubles, and humorous and insight view on those troubles broadens its appeal.

TOKYOPOP has toyed with bonus features in several of its manga release, but none so far have reached the level of Fruits Baskets, which includes fan art, background details, rules for the card games the characters play, and best of all a sound effect translation appendix.

Illustrated sound effects have been out of favor in American comics. They are used, but often sparingly, and many perceive them as a bit campy (maybe in reaction to the live action Batman TV show). Manga explores them frequently, and some series employee them very frequently. Japanese has an extensive repertoire of sound descriptive words, which means that if you don't know them, they can be annoyingly ambiguous, especially when used in a dramatic series such as Fruits Baskets where they are applied to facial expression or physically calm moments. One feature of TOKYOPOP's "100% Authentic Manga" line has to leave sound effects untranslated. Fruits Basket volume 2 departs from the status quo by included an end noted appendix of the phonetic spelling of the effect, and the English equivalent. These are a considerable boon to understanding the series. Several common effects are demonstrated and explained rather than repeatedly footnoted. Somewhat problematically, the "doki-doki" heartbeat mark doesn't quite look how it appeared in the manga itself.

This Week's Releases

Anime

• Bast Of Syndrome - The Hacker (Vol. 2)
• Hello Kitty & Friends:Animini
• Hello Kitty-Sanrio World:Summer Of Fu
• Happy Lesson:Animini
• Kaleido Star:Animini
• Noir:Animini
• Panyo Panyo Di Gi Charat:Animini
• Sadamitsu The Destroyer Vol 3
• Super Gals:Animini
• Wedding Peach:Animini
• Zoids Chaotic Century - Reborn (Vol. 5)

Manga

• Ai Yori Aoshi Vol 4 Gn (Of 9)
• Arm Of Kannon Vol 2 Gn (Of 8)
• Battle Angel Alita Vol 4 Tp 2Nd Ed
• Btx Vol 4 Gn (Of 16)
• Cardcaptor Sakura Vol 1 Gn New Ptg (Of 6)
• Cheeky Angel Vol 1
• Fushigi Yugi Vol 11 Tp Veteran
• Gto Vol 19 Gn (Of 25)
• Hellsing Vol 3 Tp
• Hino Horror Vol 4 Gn Oninbo & The Bugs From Hell Part 2
• Imadoki Vol 1
• Inu Yasha Vol 12 Tp 2Nd Ed
• Jing King Of Bandits Vol 7 Gn (Of 7)
• Kare Kano Vol 10 Gn (Of 13)
• Lament Of The Lamb Vol 2 Gn (Of 7)
• Mahoromatic Automatic Maiden Vol 2 Gn (Of 6)
• Mars Horse With No Name Gn
• Megaman Nt Warrior Vol 2 Gn
• Pet Shop Of Horrors Vol 7 Gn (Of 10)
• Real Bout High School Vol 6 Gn (Of 6)
• Red Prowling Devil 8 Vol Gn Set
• Revenge Of Mouflon Vol 2 Tp
• Saiyuki Vol 3 Gn (Of 9)
• Sgt Frog Vol 3 Gn (Of 6)
• Suikoden III Vol 2 Gn (Of 4)
• Tokyo Babylon Vol 2 Gn (Of 7)

Ultimate Muscle Manga to September

To answer last week's Talk Back question, according to Diamond Comics, the distributor of comic to speciality comic shops and some book stores, Viz's release of the first two volumes of manga version wrestling farce Ultimate Muscle (aka Kinnikuman) have been canceled and resoliticted for a September release.

Geneon Confirms Appleseed and Tetsujin 28th Licenses

Geneon Entertainment, a division of Dentsu, Inc. has officially announced the worldwide rights (excluding Japan and Korea) of the new, CGI animated adaptation of Ghost in the Shell creator Masaume Shirow's Appleed from Micott & Basara.

The film employs a new "3D Live Anime" technology, utilzing motion capture animation techniques with three-dimensional computer animation, in conjunction with two-dimensional character animation to recreate the best qualities of traditional cel-based anime.

The creative team behind the innovative animation style includes director Aramaki and producer Fumihiko Sori, whose credits include CG animation work on Titanic and directing the international sleeper hit Ping Pong.

Set in the year 2131, after most of the world has been devastated by war, Appleseed chronicles the battle between mankind and bioroids, a race of cybernetic pseudo-clones designed to aid humans in domestic capacities. But when ideologies flare and aggression rises to the surface, the thin veneer of peaceful coexistence is shattered.

The North American theatrical distribution is tentatively scheduled for late Summer 2004, followed by a home video release. Appleseed marks the first film under the new Geneon Films umbrella; a division dedicated to marketing and distributing live action and other animated feature films from Japan and Asia, around the World.

Geneon also announced the North American and European rights for the new adaptation of Tetsujin 28th (aka Gigantor).

Official Sites

Gainax's Top wo Nerae! 2 (Gunbuster 2) has gone online at www.top2.jp/

Gainax's site for Neppuu Kairiku Bushilord suggests that the upcoming anime project is a TV series.

The site for the Naruto movie, which will open in Japanese theatres August 21st, is online here.

Trailers

A trailer for the Yu Gi Oh movie has been posted by The Movie Box here.

News trailers for Steam Boy is online, to be released in Japan on July 17th, are online here

From the AnimeWorks Label

Giant Robo - Vol 1: The Day the Earth Stood Still (Episodes 1-2)

It is a new dawn for mankind. The Shizuma Drive has brought clean, limitless energy and launched humanity into an age of prosperity. But even in this Eden of technology, there lurk the shadows of envy and greed. Big Fire: a secret brotherhood whose only goal is to direct the world toward chaos. "Together! Allegiance or death! Big Fire!" The world is protected by the Experts of Justice: a team of operatives assembled from around the globe to stop the ultimate disaster of The Eternal Night. The key to everything is the bravery of their newest member, a boy named Daisaku Kusama, and the great machine he commands..."Crush them now Giant Robo!"

1 disc, 2 episodes, 90 minutes, English/Japanese Dialogue with English subtitles in new 5.1 surround mix!

Gokusen - Volume 1: The Unteachables (Episodes 1-5)

Kumiko Yamaguchi is the heir of the Oedo Yakuza family, but it's her dream to teach the youth of Japan. She puts aside her cunning nature and takes up the role of a normal air headed graduate, landing a high-school teaching job. Now Kumiko is determined to understand the teen-age mind, teach higher math, and maybe carry on a little romance. This is assuming she can stop her slavishly loyal army of brutal hitmen from murdering the students who misbehave.

1 disc, 5 episodes, 125 mins. (1 volume of 3) English/Japanese Dialogue with English subtitles

Invader Zim - Volume 3: Horrible Holiday Cheer

Zim is an enthusiastic, well-meaning alien working hard for the betterment of the universe. Of course, this means trying to purge Earth of the human filth that infests its surface. His opponent is Dib, the young paranormal investigator who turns out to be the only person on the planet capable of seeing through Zim's painfully obvious disguise. In this, the final installment of Zim's adventures, the world's most cuddly Soul Stealer appears, waffles turn out to be pretty tasty, Zim falls in love with the mysterious Tak, GIR goes crazy, and the good children of earth are forced to live under a protective dome! Includes several episodes not aired as part of Invader Zim's original run, and the infamous Christmas episode.

2 Discs, 9 episodes, 225 minutes (volume 3 of 3) English/Spanish Dialogue with English Closed Captions

From the AnimeWorks Publications label

Pilgrim Jäger - Book 1

In 1521 it was a time of religious confusion and strife. There was persecution of non-Christians over petty confusions and differing opinions. The world was in chaos...but from this chaos would rise two women of strength and charity to kick butt in the name of all that is holy! Story by: Tou Ubukata (famous for the story of the popular video game Shenmue, and a popular fantasy writer in Japan) Art by: Mami Itou (a designer for Capcom aka Street Fighter)

208 pages, right to left

From the Shriek Show Publications label

Beyond the Film...beyond the terror!

The Fischer house is a gateway to hell and the gatekeepers are the succubae: Cassandra, Erin, Irene, and Pauline. Beautiful demon women with the power to grant fantasies, but be careful because you might just get what you wish for.

Featuring a cover by Becky Cloonan (Demo, Jennie One), and stories by Studio Zombie (Slayers, X-Men Ronin, Love 15), Rick Spears (Teenagers from Mars, Batman) & Rob G. (Teenagers from Mars, The Couriers, Batman), Tim Smith 3 (Teen Titans Go!, Festering Season), Mike Raicht (Marvel Age: Spider-Man, X-Men Unlimited) & Paul Azaceta (Captain Marvel, Spider-Man Unlimited, Namor) The Brothers Goldman (Styx Taxi, Everyman), Kevin Colden (Mauled), Nick Mamatas (novelist: The Urban Bizarre, Move Under Ground, Northern Gothic) & Adriano Eduardo (Mauled, Small Clue County) and Terry West the creator of Flesh for the Beast.

272 pages left to right AND right to left

Alive

Directed by Ryuhei Kitamura (VERSUS and AZUMI, GODZILLA FINAL BATTLE 2005)

A Sci-Fi Thriller combining the tension of Vincenzo Natali's CUBE and Kitamura's own VERSUS. For the brutal murder of his girlfriend's rapists, Tenshu is sentenced to die in the electric chair. Miraculously surviving the chair he is given the choice to burn in the c again or take part in a vicious experiment pitting him against another prisoner/guinea pig and a destructive alien life force. R-rated and unrated versions available.

1 disc 119 minutes (R rated version), English/Japanese Dialogue with English subtitles

ADV Announces Neon Genesis Evangelion Platinum: 01 Collector's Edition Street Date

ADV Films announced a July 27th release dat for Neon Genesis Evangelion - Platinum:01 Collector's Edition.

The highly anticipated Genesis Evangelion - Platinum:01 Collector's Edition includes the Volume 1 DVD with an exclusive metallic finish slipcover and an attractive custom series art box to house all seven volumes. Extras include: one-of-a-kind numbered decal; profile booklet filled with screen shots, Japanese commentaries and character profiles; Episode: 01 commentary by ADR director Matt Greenfield; Episode: 02 commentary by Matt Greenfield and Spike Spencer ("Shinji"); clean opening and closing animation; and ADV previews (SRP $39.98).

CPM To Release Ichi The Killer Anime

Central Park Media will be releasing Ichi The Killer: Episode Zero, an anime prequel to Ichi the Killer on September 21st.

Movielink Offers Speed Racer to Broadband

Anime News Network points out Movielink has announced that they will be offering the full 52 episodes of Speed Racer for streaming download via their broadband Video on Demand service.

Anime Network Expands to Columbus Starting July 27th

Anime Network has announced that it will be expanding its coverage to Insight Communications' digital cable subscribers in Columbus, Ohio, beginning Tuesday, July 27, when it will launch as a 24-hour, 7-day-a-week network. The network will continue to rollout in this fashion on Insight systems in Illinois, Indiana and Kentucky throughout 2004. Specific launch dates are TBA.

Asamiya Batman Figures

DC Comic's DC Direct line will be releasing figures of Batman, The Joker, Two-Face, Catwoman based on the design of manga artist Kia Asamiya. Each will be limited to 10,000 pieces and released on September 29th.

Del Rey Announces New Kodanhsa Manga Licenses

Del Rey Books, an imprint of The Random House Publishing Group, announced two new major Kodansha manga acquisitions, both geared for release in October of 2004.

The Wallflower and Othello are among the most popular titles published by Kodansha in Japan. Both are shojo (geared toward girls) manga, although they will appeal equally to females and males in the U.S.

The Wallflower (Yamato Nadeshiko Shichi Henge) by Tomoko Hayakawa tells the story of four handsome boys who have been given the chance to get free rent, but only on one condition: They must transform the landlady's niece into aproper lady! Enter Sunako Nakahara, the agoraphobic, horror-movie-loving, pockmark-faced, frizzy-haired, fashion-illiterate hermit who has a tendency to break into explosive nose bleeds whenever she sees anything attractive. This project is going to take far more than our four heroes ever expected; it needs a miracle!

Othello, by Kodansha Manga of the Year award winner Satomi Ikezawa, stars Yaya, the nicest girl in high school-and everyone's favorite doormat. No one treats her well, but Yaya is just too shy and trusting to believe the worst of her friends. When it all gets to be too much, Yaya goes away... and a new personality, Nana, emerges! Nana is ready to show Yaya's false friends for the slime they are, and to kick some serious butt in the process. But can Yaya understand what's happening to her mind?

Upcoming Anime Books From Stone Bridge

Stone Bridge Press will be releasing two new anime books this fall: Watching Anime, Reading Manga, collected essays by Fred Patten to be released in September for $18.95 and Cruising the Anime City, An Otaku Guide to Neo Tokyo a 144-page trade paperback, with over 100 color photographs to be released in November. Japanese the Manga Way: An Illustrated Guide to Grammar and Structure by Wayne P. Lammers demonstrates language and grammar with manga.

Paranoia Agent Tracks Online

Hirasawa Susumu, the composer for Satoshi Kon's TV series Paranoia Agent has posted 10 MP3's not included on the series' official soundtracks release here Paranoia Agent will be released domestically by Geneon.

School Rumble & Ichigo 100% Anime Announced

Natsume Maya reports Studio Comet, animators of the current anime TV series Shura no Toki, will animate a TV series adaptation of Kobayashi Jin's popular School Rumble manga for Japanese broadcast this October.

Kawashita Mizuki's popular romance manga Ichigo 100% will be adapted into an anime for this fall's Jump Festa (most likely a mail-away premium DVD).

Anime Game News

From The Magic Box

Bandai will be releasing a new One Piece action game in Japan on July 29th. One Piece: Round the Land will have 8 stages, each of the seven playable character will have his/her own stages, such as Zorro's Buggy Circuit, Sanji's Sea Restaurant, Nami's Aron Garden and Luffy's Skypiea stage. Screenshots can be seen here

Capcom's Mobile Suit Gundam: AEUG Vs Titan DX will feature a new Revival System is added to the game, when your machine is destroyed, you have a chance to revive it with the stamina of the pilot. Screenshots of the game can be seen here.

Square Enix and Bandai announced two new Full Metal Alchemist titles for PlayStation 2. The first is an action RPG from Square Enix called Full Metal Alchemist: Akaki Elixir no Akuma, the game will ship in Japan this fall, and in US next spring.

The second title is a 3D tag-team fighting game from Bandai called Full Metal Alchemist: Dream Carnival, which is developed by Eighting, the creator of the Bloody Roar series; no release date is set.

Naruto: Narutimett Hero 2 for PlayStation 2, the sequel to last year's popular celshaded fighting game, can be seen here

A Naruto RPG for the GameBoy Advance, to be released in Japan on July 22nd can be seen here. The game will have turn based combat with over 140 ninja skills.

Mezzo DSA Cast

Anime on DVD has posted a list of the English language dub cast for Mezzo DSA here

NHK's site for Agatha Christie's Great Detectives Poirot and Marple, scheduled to premiere on Japanese TV July 4th can be seen here.

Director: Jin Chung

Studio: IS&M

Translator: Lucan Duran

Mikura - Luci Christian - Main character. Teenage girl. Strong, highly proficient at fighting and firearms, determined, and can be a cold blooded killer if the situation requires her to be one.

Harada - Jason Douglas - A pointy-haired young man who is infatuated with Mikura. He is an expert on androids and all things technical.

Kurokawa - Andy McAvin - An ex-cop partnered with Mikura and Kurokawa in the DSA (Danger Service Agency). Loves noodles. Always cracks lame puns.

Asami - Sasha Paysinger - A shy and quiet girl who one day wants to become a strong woman like Mikura. She sees Mikura at work in the first episode and begins hanging around the DSA's headquarters.

Mugiyama - Vic Mignogna - Leader of a strongman organization known as, ?Black Scissors.? Owns a barber shop as a front for his other operations.

New Cyborg 009

New Episodes on Cyborg 009 will air on Carton Network starting 1:30AM Saturday June 19th.

September FUNimation Releases

From Right Stuf's release listings

9/7

• Dragon Ball GT Lost Episodes Vol. #1: Rejection Uncu
• Kiddy Grade Vol. #6
• Beyblade Season 3 Vol. #03
• Beyblade Season 3 Vol. #04

9/28

• Dragon Ball: Tein Shinhan Saga
• YuGiOh Vol. #24: The Dark Spirited Revealed

Upcoming Viz Anime Releases (including Flame of Recca)

From Right Stuf's release listings

• 8/3 Inu Yasha Vol. #20
• 8/24 Inu Yasha Vol. #21
• 9/7 Inu Yasha Season Set #1 (box set $99.99)
• 9/21 Zoids Chaotic Century Vol. #4
• 10/19 Megaman: NT Warrior Vol. #02
• 10/26 Pokemon: Master Quest Vol. #01, and Project Arms Vol. #11, and Flame of Recca Vol. #01
• 11/23 Zoids Chaotic Century Vol. #5
• 12/7 Inu Yasha Vol. #24 and #25
• 12/28 Inu Yasha Movie #2

Anime Style Animation on MTV

MTV announced that an upcoming mock-behind the scenes anime inspired show entitled Kappa Mikey.

From the network's description:

KAPPA MIKEY - When unemployed New York actor Mikey Simon is recruited to join the cast of LilyMu, formerly Japan's hottest TV Anime series, let's just say, "the fish doesn't stick to the rice." His co-stars can tell right away that he's the wrong guy for the job. But the viewers disagree, and suddenly, Mikey is Japan's newest superstar, rocketing LilyMu back to the top of the ratings. Kappa Mikey is the story of Mikey's epic struggles to win over his co-workers, get a clue about Japanese culture and look cool while wrestling giant robotic beetles! Kappa Mikey has adapted the Larry Sanders model to the growing pop culture of anime, giving the viewers an exclusive comedic look at the behind the scenes of a Japanese cartoon. Created by Larry Schwarz; Directed by Sergei Aniskov; Produced by Animation Collective; Executives in Charge of Development for MTV: Marian Davis and John Priemer.

CPM Talks Be Beautiful Label

In August, Be Beautiful set to release its first two graphic novels, Kizuna - Bonds of Love: Book 1 and Golden Cain priced at $15.99 SRP each.

New York, NY (June 7, 2004) - A18 Corporation is pleased to announce the upcoming August launch of Be Beautiful, a brand new graphic novel imprint devoted to romance and relationships aimed at adult female readers. This alluring imprint will release books written and illustrated by some of the most talented female Japanese artists of our time. In August, Be Beautiful will release its first two graphic novels: Kizuna - Bonds of Love: Book 1 and Golden Cain.

Both books are examples of "yaoi"- a popular Japanese publishing genre created by female artists and writers for the enjoyment of female readers, usually featuring relationships involving impossibly beautiful men, and diverse interpretations of the "pure love" concept. Be Beautiful graphic novels offer beautifully illustrated stories of romantic fantasy similar to traditional romance novels.

"We are tremendously excited to be working with some of the leading female artists in Japan to bring beautiful and exciting graphic novels to the United States for female readers 18 years of age and older. Be Beautiful will publish titles which today's shojo reader will read as they become older." as Masumi Homma O'Donnell, Vice President of Business Affairs of A18 Corporation stated.

Be Beautiful books will often contain explicit content, so they are meant for readers 18 years of age and older. These books will be published in a right-to-left page presentation, as the creators originally intended. Be Beautiful will release two exciting yaoi graphic novels a month beginning in August 2004 through October 2004. Titles scheduled for release this year are: Kizuna - Bonds of Love (3 volumes), Golden Cain (1 volume), and Selfish Love (2 volumes).

Kizuna - Bonds of Love: Book 1

Story and art by: Kazuma Kodaka. Ranmaru and Kei have a strong and passionate relationship built on years of trust, sacrifice, and love. When the mysterious son of a Yakuza boss starts to have designs on Ranmaru's affection, tempers flare, and hidden emotions rise to the surface. Will Ranmaru and Kei's love for each other be able to survive this difficult test, or will the emotional conflict finally come to a head? Size: 5" x 7.375"... Pages: 208 pages, b&w... Street date: August 25, 2004... SRP: $15.99

Golden Cain

Story and art by: You Asagiri. Shun works very hard to live up to the memory of his older brother, even at the cost of his personal life. Suddenly, a beautiful stranger comes into his life and takes Shun on a ride down a dangerous road of love, loss, lust, guilt, passion, and taboo! Shun craves excitement, and the stranger gives it to him, but at what cost? Pages: 184 pages, b&w... Street date: August 25, 2004... SRP: $15.99

Second Marmalade Boy Collection

DVD Empire lists that TOKYOPOP's second collection of the Marmlade Boy anime will released on October 26th.

Early August ADV Releases & Later Premieres

ADV's release of the first volume of Soul Taker spin-off Nurse Witch Komugi, entitled "A Vaccine for Humanity!" has been schedule for August 17th (the series will be released across two volumes). Produced by Pioneer LDC (Hellsing) and Tatsunoko (Speed Racer), Nurse Witch Komugi is perfect for fans of mahou shoujo (magical girl) shows and the cosplay genre.

Anime on DVD reports ADV will be releasing the first 5 episodes of the GetBackers anime on August 24th.

ADV's release schedule for early August:

August 3

• Saiyuki: New World Order, (12th and final volume)
• Kaleido Star: Great Expectations (Volume 3 of 6)

August 10

• Conduct Zero (Korean live action)
• Saint Seiya: Golden Opportunities (Volume 8 of 12)
• Hello Kitty & Friends: Let'S Be Friends (Volume 4 of 6)

Nurse Witch Komugi

Saiyuki

The Saiyuki series is the latest manifestation of the 16th-century Chinese novel Xiyouji (Journey to the West) by Wu Cheng-En, which tells a time-proven story of a band of eccentric travelers bound for adventure. This intriguing anime is produced by TV Tokyo (Noir), Dentsu and Studio Pierrot (Fushigi Yugi). It also features beautiful character designs by Yuji Moriyama (Wings of Honneamise).

In the Saiyuki tale, a pistol-toting monk and his three eccentric companions are assigned the task of traveling to India from China to quash the resurrection of a sinister demon, encountering a few unsavory characters and experiencing a smattering of mishaps along the way.

ADV Licenses Dark Water

ADV Films has announced that they have licensed the home video and broadcast rights for live action Japanese horror film Dark Water.

With an American version coming out this fall starring Jennifer Connelly, Dark Water is the eagerly awaited and triumphant directorial return of Nakata Hideo. Hideo joins back with the Ringu team of writer Suzuki Kôji, who also wrote the Ringu series of novels, and Kenji Kawai, who was responsible for Ringu's terrifyingly creepy soundtrack.

The Story... In the style of Ringu, Dark Water is an equally troubling psychological thriller. The story revolves around a mother and daughter who escape a bitter custody battle by retreating to a dilapidated apartment building. But instead of finding solace, they are haunted by a ghost. With gripping suspense, you are masterfully taken from the opening scene to a riveting conclusion. Hauntingly brilliant and masterfully distributing, this film is a radiant follow-up to Ringu, which was hailed by fans across the world.

ADV Films has not yet announced a specific street date for this title, but its release will be slated to coincide with the debut of the American version of Dark Water.

Kaleido Star

Kaleido Star, the new series from renowned Japanese director Junichi Sato (Sailor Moon) and studios GONZO and HAL Film Maker, combines playful elements of children's anime with the sophisticated vision of Cirque du Soleil. This highly anticipated series tells the story of an orphaned girl's journey to independence and performing stardom with the support of her new circus family.

The following AniMini titles by ADV Films will hit the streets August 3, 2004:

Azumanga Daioh 2:

An acclaimed anime series that premiered in early 2002 in Japan, Azumanga Daioh follows the day-to-day adventures of a comical group of high school girls and their equally eccentric friends and teachers.

Full Metal Panic! 1:

Deftly combining mecha combat, martial arts, international criminal intrigue, high-school politics and a dash of teen romance, Full Metal Panic! was enthusiastically received by viewers in Japan and in the U.S.

Happy Lesson 2:

The light-hearted, laugh-out-loud anime series that follows the beloved shounen tradition of Oh My Goddess! and Love Hina. Happy Lesson tells of Chitose, a teenager who suddenly finds himself surrounded by a bevy of beauties. But these ladies aren't vying for Chitose's romantic affection-they all want to be his mother!

Kaleido Star 2:

Kaleido Star is a charming animated series aimed at tweens and teens, combining playful elements of children's anime and a sense of fun and play-such a crucial element of Sailor Moon-with a believably positive storyline that emphasizes empowerment through bravery and determination.

Kino's Journey:

An inventive and original anime series by director Ryutaro Nakamura, famed for his clever, intriguing Serial Experiments Lain, Kino's Journey tells the story of the young adventurer Kino, who travels the world on Hermes, a talking motorcycle, spending no more and no less than three days at each stop. Throughout their travels, Kino and Hermes are observers of new cultures, witness to both the differences and the similarities of peoples around the world.

Noir 2:

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.

The 3-inch DVDs retail for$6.98, contains a complete episode of the series and double as coupons and are redeemable for $10 off a regular full-size multi-episode DVD title of the same name when purchased through the ADV Films website.

Miyazaki Voted Celeb to Stop Smoking

Anime News Network points out that anime director Hayao Miyazaki (Kiki's Delivery Service, Spirited Away, Princess Mononoke) came in fifth in a Japanese anti-smoking health group's poll of people the public would like to see stop smoking. Positions one through four were singer and actress Akiko Wada, actor Takuya Kimura, comedian Sanma Akashiya and actor/director/comedian Beat Takeshi.

Business News

A series of articles speak to the health of the domestic manga industry and the woes of Japan's anime production.

Fortune Small Business TOKYOPOP and CEO Stuart Levy here.

Icv2 reports that according to TOKYOPOP COO John Parker, since TOKYOPOP shifted to using Diamond as their exclusive direct market (comic shop) distributor in May, they've been apple to match their shipping times with Client Distribution Services (CDS), the company's bookstore distributor.

Diamond VP Marketing Communications said that Diamond was "...in discussions with both Viz and Random House to improve their delivery times to the comic store market too."

TOKYOPOP is also working to improve Diamond's inventory of their books by flooring inventory at the distributor. In this arrangement, Tokyopop is placing some of its inventory at Diamond in order to have product closer to the market for reorders and backlist orders.

Natsume Maya translates a Mainichi Shimbun article about the crisis in Japan's anime industry, in which a never selected few make prosper, but many work long hours for low pay.

The top tier of animation, lead by director Miyazaki Hayao is estimated to have made 67 million yen in 2003 (and the company holding the copyrights would've made several 100 million yen) make substantially less, and retain fewer rights than their peers in the manga industry. Other top class animators may make around 20 or 30 million yen (approximately US$181,000 to US$272,000). While there are seven mangaka with estimated incomes of over 100 million yen (including Takahashi Rumiko, estimated income 470 million yen)

New recruits at Studio Ghibli earn two million yen a year (approximately US$18,100), which is favorable 500,000 to one million yen a year (where the pay system is based upon production output) at other studios.

According to a survey which an industry labor union carried out in 1999, the average annual income of animators was 2.47 million yen, 50% earned less than two million yen and less than 10% earned more than five million yen.

One animation school said that because of the low incomes, 90% of its graduates change jobs within five years. Director Sugii Gisaburo (director of Touch etc) blames the lack of recompense to animation companies for making hit works. In his view, if some of the profits don't come back to the animators, this could stop the development of new talent and lead to the destruction of smaller animation companies within five years. While the government sees anime as a growth industry and has taken steps to try to stop piracy (ie outside threats), the industry itself has spreading concerns of anime under threat from the inside.