Ahoy, squirts! Quint here with another of Scott Green's massive weekly AnimAICN columns (Father Geek's work station at Austin's Geek Headquarters is still down... make that vaporized). I know, two in a week? How could that be? But the good folks who spend so much time on this column had some super-cool San Diego Comic-Con info to share, so here it is! I'll be concentrating on the movie stuff at the Con (of which there's a ton... but I'll have a nice, juicy bit of pre-coverage in the next few days for you folks regarding that stuff). Off to Animeland!

AnimAICN...

by Scott Green

Manga Spotlight: Bleach


Volume 1


By Tite Kubo


Released by Viz's Shonen Jump Graphic Novel Line





Brisk action featuring a fiery red headed guy in a black samurai kimono


battling angry spirits sure doesn't hurt Bleach, but the series doesn't


rely on the built to the fight.





Bleach lives ups to the Shonen Jump expectation, offering a host of


characters who are fun, exotic and loud, but rather than a journey to


becomes the best, incremented by progressive battles, but it appears to


be building mix of horror anthology and almost a more action driven


version of relationship drama. Kind of a supernatural action horror


school life.





The series builds with traditional material, but cleverly avoids the


obvious It's premise sounds like the setup in which a man takes Death's


role after killing the Grim Reaper. In this case the man is noble


delinquent Ichigo Kurosaki, a ruffian who can see the spirits of the


dead, to be cheap, Sixth Sense with an attitude. Death really isn't


Death, but a soul reaper (shingami/death god for Japanese mythology


fans) in the form of ayoung looking girl in samurai garb named Rukia,


and Ichigo doesn't so much kill her as assault her (he kicks her across


the room when finds her in his house), then accidentally take all her


power when attempting to assist in dispatching a hollow spirit.





As an at least temporary soul reaper, Rukia is slowly getting her powers


back and still has a few tricks, Ichigo learns that their are two kinds


of spirits: "wholes" who may wander the earth as ghosts, in which case


it is the job of the soul reaper to guide the spirit to the Soul


Society, and "hollows" who consume the living to sustain themselves, and


who the soul reapers are tasked with destroying.





Ichigo and Rukia are the perfect pair to drive Bleach's manga style mix


of the supernatural and high school exploits. Ichigo is a great teen


action hero, while Ruika flavors the series with an offbeat semi-dark


personality. Along with the supporting characters, they're wholly


likable. Both have a tangible intensity that thrives in a horror work


that is horror sometimes dark, but not over burdened.





Ichigo has a charismatic look and demeanor that carries the action.


There's something in his long, cut look that suggests that he can handle


himself, and his ability to stay on top of an evolving situation is


noticeable. There is nothing striking about him in comparison to a host


of attitude heavy manga leads, which in and of itself is striking.


There is no exhibited need to stretch the character beyond a witty,


irreverent, tough guy, so while he's a tailor made star, he's almost a


believable person.





Ruika is a new take on the death spirit character. A little sour, but


not grim, and definitely not cheerful. Rare among female manga


characters, part of her liability is that she isn't especially cute,


looking more like a feminine boy than girl. Mostly because of her


furrowed brow deadpan seriousness, when she does do something cute it's


damn cute and funny, ie drawing out the difference between whole spirits


and hollows with bunny, bear faces, flowers and hearts.





The series is also populated with a variety nice oddity accessories,


including a teddy bear that spontaneously rips and bleeds, a kindof


spring drinky-bird to adjust the memories of the living who have come


into contact with hollow spirits, or cell phone for contact with the


soul society. They underscore Bleach's balance of seriousness and camp.


There are plenty of moments of tension and danger, but there is also


recognition that the premise is a little goofy.





Over Bleach's first volume, the series is never quite what is expected,


cleverly avoiding becoming too obvious. What it leads up to is more in


the vein of personal revelation than monster busting (though it does


offer plenty of the later). It applies the Shonen Jump energy in an


unusual direction, with highly entertaining results.








This Week's Releases





Anime





Dragon Ball GT - The Lost Episodes - Reaction (Vol. 1)


Dragon Ball GT - The Lost Episodes Starter Set


Dragon Drive:Another Dimension Vol 2


Figure 17 - Memories Remain (Vol. 6)


Gate Keepers Vol 4


Hello Kitty & Friends:Timeless Tales


Initial D - Battle 6 - Asphalt Angles


Knights of the Zodiac Vol 5


Megazone 23 Vol 2


Saber Marionette R (Vol. 1)


Sailor Moon S Vol 6


Tenchi Muyo Ova Vol 4


Tenchi Universe Vol 4


Trigun Vol 6


Wedding Peach:Summer Flowers Vol 4





Also of Note:





Justice League - Star Crossed


Lone Wolf and Cub White Heaven in Hel


Zatoichi - Zatoichi Meets the One Armed Swordsman





Manga





Basara Vol 7 Tp


Battle Royale Vol 8 Gn (Of 11)


Berserk Vol 4 Tp


Blade Of The Immortal #91


Celestial Zone Vol 2 #12 (Of 12)


Comic Party Book 2 Gn (Cpm)


Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon Vol 7 Gn


Dark Angel Vol 3 Tp New Ptg


Nausicaa Of Valley Of Wind Vol 6 Tp 2Nd Ed


One Piece Vol 4 Tp


Prince Of Tennis Vol 2 Gn


Ranma 1/2 Vol 27 Tp


Sister Red 2 Vol Gn Set


Vagabond Vol 13 Tp





Lady Death Animation to be Screened At Comic-Con





After years in development (first announced in 1999), and the bankruptcy


of two of the comic character's publishers (original creators Chaos and


new holders CrossGen), ADV Film's animated adaptation of popular pale


swordswoman Lady Death will screen at this year's San Diego Comic Con.





The panel for Lady Death The Motion Picture is going to take place on


Friday July 23 at 2:30-3:30pm in Room 9.





The actual screening for it is going to be Friday night at 9-11pm in


room 5AB.





The official site for the project can be seen at www.ladydeaththemovie.com/.


Dated news concerning the movie lists Andy Orjuela and Carl Macek as the


movie's producers, with a script from Macek and animation from Korean


SunMin Image Pictures.








InuYasha Movie to Debut at Comic-Con 2004





Viz has announced that the first InuYasha movie, Inuyasha: Affections


Touching Across Time will receive its North American theatrical debut at


Comic-Con 2004, to be held July 22-25 at the San Diego Convention Center


in San Diego, California.





Viz will also be featuring a sound booth at Comic-Con give fans the


opportunity to addition for the role of an extra in an upcoming Inuyasha


DVD. The winner will record their extra part at Ocean Studios in


Vancouver, Canada and will have the opportunity to meet some of the


English language voice actors.





The DVD edition of Inuyasha: Affections Touching Across Time will be


released by VIZ on September 7, along with a new DVD boxed set


containing the entire first season's 27 episodes.





From Viz:





The film, based on author Rumiko Takahashi's manga about the adventures


of a half- demon dog boy, was originally released in December 2001 in


Japan to critical acclaim. Inuyasha: Affections Touching Across Time is


an action-filled, suspenseful story that pits Inuyasha against a


powerful demon from China named Menomaru. Two hundred years ago,


Inuyasha's father managed to seal Menomaru's evil demon father, Hyoga,


away in a tomb, but a shard from the magical Shikon Jewel freed the son,


Menomaru, allowing him to escape his imprisonment and threaten the


entire land. It now falls to Inuyasha, along with his friends, to find


away to stop Menomaru from wrecking havoc on civilization. Inuyasha:


Affections Touching Across Time offers a new and exciting storyline and


characters not previously seen in the manga titles.





The movie's official website, with theatrical schedule is online at  www.inuyashamovie.net





DC's First Manga Releases





DC Comics has posted information about the first releases of their CMX


manga line as part of their October solicitations.





Releases include:





From Eroika With Love


Land of the Blindfolded


Madara





TOKYOPOP Talks Upcoming CLAMP Releases





TOKYOPOP has sent out announcements concerning their upcoming releases


of product spotlight the work of popular team of women manga creators


CLAMP, include two art books, North Side and South Side, and bimonthly


magazine to celebrate the 15th anniversary of the collective.





Continuing to expand its impressive catalog, TOKYOPOP Inc. is thrilled


to announce the January release of CLAMP's renowned North Side and South


Side art books. The celebrated all-women creative team of CLAMP-known as


the Greatest Manga Studio in the World showcases their classic works


from 1989 through 2000 in these two gorgeous volumes.





North Side includes illustrious artwork from manga such as Magic Knights


Rayearth, Clover, Legend of Chun Hyang and Sohryuuden. Among the


crowd-pleasing highlights is an innovative section, "CLAMP in


Wonderland," which features popular characters interacting with one


another in a fairytale setting.





South Side features luscious pieces from beloved series including Man of


Many Faces, Duklyon: CLAMP School Defenders, Suki, Wish, Miyuki-chan in


Wonderland, The One I Love, Shirahime-Syo and Legal Drug, as well as


original, never-before-seen CLAMP artwork. Both volumes also present


"how-to" art tutorials showing aspiring manga-ka the ins and outs of


drawing their favorite CLAMP characters.





CLAMP's unmatched list of titles has gained attention worldwide, and


their dramatic stories have won them numerous awards and a huge fan


following. North Side and South Side will be hitting bookstores


everywhere in January 2005 and sell for $19.99.





Celebrating CLAMP's 15-year anniversary as an artistic force, TOKYOPOP


will publish CLAMP No Kiseki: The Ultimate Collection, a stunning


omnibus that highlights dazzling works from the all-female manga-ka


team. The limited, bimonthly anthology will be available beginning


spring 2005, and will span 12 installments over two years.





The gorgeous, 32-page publication will feature CLAMP's most celebrated


artwork and will also include never-before-seen interviews and other


exclusive material. Each volume will be packaged with three collectible


chess pieces depicting CLAMP's most famous characters appearing in that


particular volume. Once all 12 issues are collected, fans will have a


complete chess set-CLAMP style!





Each issue of CLAMP No Kiseki: The Ultimate Collection will showcase the


popular titles that manga fans all over the world have come to cherish


from CLAMP's unmatched repertoire of work. Volume One will feature


Cardcaptor Sakura, one of the most treasured of CLAMP's classics.


Following issues will highlight such titles as Tsubasa, xxxHolic,


Clover, Magic Knight Rayearth, Angelic Layer, and of course Chobits,


their signature title that rocketed CLAMP into mainstream popularity.





Only 10,000 copies of each installment will be available nationwide. The


highly collectible nature of CLAMP No Kiseki: The Ultimate Collection


ensures that these books will sell out and become unavailable, so fans


are encouraged to get them quickly!





CLAMP No Kiseki: The Ultimate Collection will be sold exclusively at


Waldenbooks, select comic retailers and www.TOKYOPOP.com.





Late August/Early September ADV Releases





8/31





Aura Battler Dunbine: Invaders From Byston Well (Volume 8 of 12)


Azumanga Daioh: Friends! (Volume 4 of 6)


Panyo Panyo Di Gi Charat: Mya! (Volume 3 of 4)


The Super Milk-Chan Show: Milk Shake (volume 2 of 4)





9/7





BASToF Syndrome: Secrets Revealed (Volume 4 of 6)


Hello Kitty & Friends: Princess Dreams (Volume 5 of 6)


Robotech Remastered: Robotech Masters Collection 2 Volume 5 (Volume


Volume 5 of 7)





ADV will be releasing pre-priced Essential Anime editions of Burn Up W


and Ruin Explorers ion August 31st.





From ADV:





Burn Up W: Essential Anime Collection





Burn Up W, better known for its babes with guns, was produced by AIC


(Bubblegum Crisis Tokyo 2040, Oh My Goddess!), directed by Hiroshi


Negishi (Amazing Nurse Nanako) and animated by Hana Pro (Ninja Cadets).





Team Warrior is no laughing matter for the criminals of Neo-Tokyo. Led


by the fearless Rio, this top-secret counter-terrorist force will stop


at nothing to preserve the peace, or at least their version of it. >From


assault by bungee jump to giant mecha destruction, Rio, Yugi, Maki and


Lilica spare no extreme in the forging of their own brand of justice.


Plagued by kidnapped virtual idols, financial woes and marginally


restrained violent proclivities, the members of Team Warrior skate the


edge of comic insanity to bring you Burn-Up W.





Ruin Explorers: Essential Anime Collection





Ruin Explorers, which will attract fans who loved Slayers, was directed


by Takeshi Mori, who also brought fans Gun Smithcats, Stratos 4 and


Nadia Secret of Blue Water. The stunning animation was done by the


talented crew at Animate (All Purpose Cultural Cat Girl Nuku Nuku) and


Asia-Do (Street Fighter II: The Movie)





Fam and Ihrie are willing to do almost anything to make a buck. So when


these debt-driven damsels discover the potential profits to be had in


recovering a particularly dangerous mystical object, it means mortal


peril for an entire civilization. Haunted by an unspeakable curse,


plagued by doomsday prophecies, plotted against by untrustworthy


traveling companions and locked in a desperate race to gain the Ultimate


Power, Fam and Ihrie are the Ruin Explorers!





Anime Network in India





IMDB reports Sony Pictures Television


International launched a 24-hour channel in India Monday dedicated


entirely to Japanese anime. The company said that the channel, Animax,


is the first of its kind in the world. SPTI said that it plans to


provide the channel free initially but that it will later charge about


$.65 per month.








Viz Releases





According to Anime on DVD's


Anime Expo convention report the Video Girl Ai anime will be released on


one volume, rather than two as Diamond Comic's solicitations suggest.


The series may or may not be a remaster, depending on licensor approval.





Basic on a manga series by Masakazu Katsura (DNA^2, Shadow Lady, I"s),


the romantic comedy follows a highschool looser desides to cheer himself


up by renting a suggestive video. When he puts the video into his


defective VCR a girl magically appears, but not as as ideal as


advertised.





Viz is also releasing the manga version of Video Girl Ai





The InuYasha: Affections Touching Across Time, the movie based on Rumiko


Takashi's supernatural adventure romance will be released with an


exclusive lenticular cover for Borders/Waldens. Early reports that the


movie would air on Cartoon Network October 23rd arose from


misconnumications regarding the post video release window. Movie is now


being planned to a Spring 2005 television airing.





Inu Yasha Movie 2 will be released on 12/20.





The 27 episode box set of collection of Inu-Yasha season one will be


release on Sepetember 7th. It will retail of $100, and $120 for a Deluxe


Version. The deluxe version will include a necklace and be limited to


15,000 copies.





The anime version of teen modern ninja fighting tournment Flame of Recca


will be collected in 4 episode volumes, retailing for $24.98, starting


October 26th. The subscription version of the Animerica magazine will be packaged with


a one episode preview DVD. The songs will won't be subtitled.





Project Arms 2nd Chapter, the continuation of the bio-tech military


action from Spriggan creators Ryouji Minagawa and Kyouchi Nanatsuki,


includes 3 episodes on the first of the four DVDs.





New English dubs will be creating for the DVD release of Rumiko


Takashi's half desperate romantic epic Maison Ikkuku. Brad Swaile has


been recast for lead role of the ronin (student who has graduated


highschool, but not passed college entrace exams) Godai due to the


original voice actor's work in a recurring role on Monk.





From Anime News Network


The manga of Yami no Matsuei be released with the English title


Descendants of Darkness.





Viz has confirmed that it will be releasing the Yami no Matsuei manga,


using both the Japanese name and the English "Descendants of Darkness"


title that the anime series is released under.





The first volume of Beet the Vandal Buster, a product of the creative


team behind the manga Dragon Quest, is set to be released in October.


The manga version of Saikano will be released over a total of seven


volumes. Despite the fact that the last volume of the seven is fairly


sexually explicit, it will not be shrink-wrapped unless retailers


themselves decide to do so.





A trailer for the anime version of Hikaru no Go, based on a popular


manga series following players of the strategy game Go was shown as Viz


booth, but Viz stated that they were only to promote the manga, which


appears in shown jump, and not an indication that Viz has licensed the


series.





New Berserk Game Shots





The Magic Box has screenshots


of Sammy's upcoming Berserk game for the Playstation 2 here. The


game looks to be taken from late in the manga series, where it takes a


more overtly supernatural tone, and its hero/anti-hero, the revenge


driven swordsman Guts collects a new set of companions.


The game will include over 70 minutes of anime clips.





Bandai Cracks Down on Piracy





Bandai Entertainment announced that it served lawsuits against several


retailers for engaging in the duplication, importation, distribution,


and/or sale of unauthorized merchandise infringing upon copyrighted and


trademarked properties at this year's Anime Expo convention in Anaheim,


California.





From Bandai's press release, the lawsuit includes





Otaku Entertainment, Inc., dba MANGA HOUSE


EJ International, Inc., dba ABCTOY4ME.COM and ANIMECIRCLE.COM


Anime Combo


MTWC Group, Inc., dba Kawaii Anime and Kawaii-Anime.com


John Lo, Inc., dba House of Anime and Houseofanime.com





Bandai also states





"The increased proliferation of counterfeit merchandise and DVD piracy


of Japanese animated properties has gone on for too long", states Ken


Iyadomi, Executive Vice President of Bandai Entertainment. "The time has


come to take a stand against the flood of cheap knockoffs and blatant


bootlegs. The vendors who sell pirated merchandise, CDs, and DVDs are


causing huge economic losses for legitimate businesses and must be


stopped."





With the full cooperation of all those who participate in the creation


and distribution of these products in Japan and elsewhere - Bandai


Entertainment aims to aggressively protect its intellectual property


rights and licenses through these actions and hopes that these lawsuits


will send a clear message to other retailers and distributors that


distributing counterfeit or bootleg DVDs and merchandise will not be


tolerated.





Consumers and retailers are urged to contact Bandai Entertainment at


support@bandai-ent.com to report other distributors suspected of selling counterfeit DVDs and merchandise.





In related news, three people were arrest in Tokyo for selling Hong Kong


produced copies of Gundam on Yahoo! Auctions.





Mainichi reports


38 Japanese anime companies will be using a new "Made in Japan"


label to fight pirated anime and video games.





RentAnime.com Opens





RentAnime.com, a Netflix like online DVD rental service launch a service to provide rental of three 3


DVDs at a time with unlimited turnover for a $19.95 monthly fee.





Kaiyodo At San Diego Comic Con





Kaiyodo, makers of many popular anime action figure lines will be making


their first official American exhibit at this years San Eigo Comic Com.





Anime lines will include Fights of the Forth Star, Neon Genesis


Evangelion, Trigun and Votoms.





Bandai and Cartoon Network Launch Video on Demand





Anime News Network reports Bandai Entertainment and Cartoon Network will be launching an "Adult


Swim Video on Demand" starting with super-hero action s-CRY-ed.





Bandai will be bringing back their www.AnimeVillage.com label in


association with the service.





Infinite Ryvius Manga From ComicsOne





ComicsOne will be releasing the two volume manga adaptation of sci-fi


anime Infinite Ryvius, released domestically by Bandai. The first


volume will be released on October.





The social sci-fi follows a large school of trainees set adrift in an


advanced space craft after their instructors were killed in a sabotage


induced disaster.





.hack//ENEMY TCG Wins Prestigious Origins 2004 Award





Bandai has announced that during a ceremony at the 2004 Origins Game


Fair in Columbus, OH, Decipher's .hack//ENEMY Trading Card Game received


the Origins Award For Best Trading Card Game of 2003.





First released in October, 2003, .hack//ENEMY TCG entered a market that


was already crowded with many other anime-based trading card game


properties. Confident that this game was different, Decipher pushed


forward with creative marketing plans including two nation-wide tours to


visit retail shops, an innovative tournament system which invited


players to "Level Up!" for great prizes and powerful promo cards, and


aggressive advertising.





Digital Manga to Release Edu-Manga and Alternative Manga





ICV2 reports that Digital Manga announced that it will be releasing Edu-Manga in 2005, a series of


graphic novel biographies narrated by the character Astro Boy. The first


five titles include Helen Keller, Albert Einstein, Mother Theresa,


Beethoven, and Anne Frank.





Project X, based on an inspirational TV series which follows the trials


and tribulations of entrepreneurs with good ideas, who thanks to


perseverance and good luck finally manage to break through and achieve


financial and personal success will also be released 2005.





Several alternative comic include Bambi and Pink Gun will also be


released.





Upcoming In Japan





From NatsumeMaya








The website for the fourth Inu-Yash Movie, "Guren no Houraijima" is


online at www.inuyasha-movie.com, and features a 10 second trailer. The movie is schedule to be


released this winter along with a Hamtaro movie.





Sweet Valerian, set to debut on Japanese TV August 1st will feature a concept and character design by


CLAMP Staff:





Character Design: Sakurai Hiroaki


Composition:Ooba Sayuri


Anime Character Design:Yamakawa Yoshik


Music: Double Oats (Abe Jun and Muto Seiji, who worked on the music for


Fruits Basket and Kodomo no Omocha)


Animation Production: Madhouse





A site for the Full Metal Alchemistic movie, scheduled to be released


next summer is online here.





Animation studio Madhouse announced that the anime adaptation of rock


manga will broadcast this fall.





The Gundam Seed Destiny site, features the sequel to the latest Gundam,


due out in October, is online at www.gundam-seed-d.net/. Staff includes:





Director: Fukuda Mitsuo


Composition:Morosawa Chiaki


Character Design: Hirai Hisashi


Mecha Design:Ookawara Kunio, Yamane Kimitoshi and Fujioka Kenki


Music: Sahashi Toshihiko


3D CG Sunrise Digital Images Department


Production: MBS and Sunrise





Another site is online here





The latest classic to be adapted into an anime is Gonzo Studios' Count


of Monte Cristo, which will be titled Gankutsuou.





Animate.tv has trailers


here and here





The Japanese release of the first volume of Gainax's follow-up to


Gunbuster has been delayed to November 26th.





Screenshots of the upcoming Japanese DVD release of an uncut version of


horror sci-fi Gantz can be seen online here and              here (Warning:


nudity)





Japanese Manga Circulation Numbers





Natsume Maya, the Japanese Magazine Publishers Association has published the


circulation number for Japanese manga periodicals in 2003:





Shonen





Monthly Shonen GanGan (which serialises Full Metal Alchemist) is around


300,000


Shogakukan's Weekly Shonen Sunday - 1,311,000


Shueisha's Weekly Shonen Jump (previously Rurouni Kenshin, now Naruto


etc) - 3,240,000;


Kodansha's Weekly Shonen Magazine (Air Gear) - 3,190,000;


monthly Shonen Ace-A (Neon Genesis Evangelion) - 300,000.





Seinen





Afternoon has circulation of 140,000


monthly Ultrajump (Tenjou Tenge) has 90,000


Gundam Ace has 300,000


monthly Comic Dengeki Daioh has 250,000


monthly Young Animal has 240,000


semi-monthly(?) Young Jump (Gantz) has 1,275,000.





Shoujo manga magazines





Asuka (200,000)


Ciao (911,000)


Nakayoshi (520,000)


Hana to Yume (340,000)


Bessatsu Margaret (465,000)


Margaret (260,000)


Ribon (990,000)





Female young adult manga magazines





Kiss (240,000);


Chorus (180,000);


Judy (171,000) and


Young You (190,000)





Evangelion Creator to Appear in Live Action





Natsume Maya points out that Neon Genesis Evangelion creator and direct Anno


Hideaki's official website lists


that he has an acting role as an anime director in the live action movie


"Cha no Aji" (The Taste of Tea).  The staff of animation studio Madhouse also appear as an anime staff.








Studio Gonzo Tidbits





From Anime on DVD's report on


popular computer graphic intensive Studio Gonzo's Anime Expo panel:





The fifth volumes of direct to video OAV Yukikaze, an aviation sci-fi


about an AI augmented fighter jet that becomes self aware, has been


delayed to March 2005 due to twice as much content being included in the


last episode.





When asked about the respect of more steam punk anime, sequel to Last


Exile was suggested.





Future projects include Brave Story, a movie co-funded by Buena Vista


International with a world wide release planned for 2006. Koichi


Chigira and Range Murata are both working on the project about a young


boy that travels to an altered world / dimension to save his mother.





Six Minute Steamboy Trailer





Jagged Team points out that a 6 minute trailer of Steam Boy is online here