Anime Spotlight:
Case Closed
Volume 1: The Secret Life of Jimmy Kudo

Released by FUNImation

There must be some biologically ingrained affinity in human beings to
mysteries starring quirky detective stories. Maybe it something related
to puzzle solving as an aspect of a latent survival instinct, or maybe
that its the comforting notion that the world can be put into order and
solved with the right mind set, but from Sherlock Holmes to Murder She
Wrote, its pretty clear that once the public gets on board with a
detective, its hard to put on the breaks.

Case Closed (aka Detective Conan) has run over 46 manga volumes in
Japan, and will probably hit its 400th anime episode in the near future.
.

The show is a welcome addiction. Not a not classic to be thought of
with Poirot or Holmes, but with fun characters and engaging puzzles, the
episodes provide diverting bite sized mysteries. With TV detectives,
what is needed is something that will not only catch and keep attention,
but cause anticipation, and that is what Case Close provides.

What sets the Case Closed apart, and complicates its domestic release,
is the series divided nature Jimmy Kudo (or Shinichi Kudo depending on
whether your watching the English audio dub or Japanese audio with
English subtitles), a teen detective with at least local renown is fed
an experimental poison after stumbling onto an extortion. The effect of
the poison is that Kudo's body in reduced to that on a young child,
after which he creates the new identity Edogawa Conan (taken from
Japanese crime author Edogawa Ranpo and Sherlock Holmes creator Author
Conan Doyle), and links up with his girl friend's less than competent
detective father to continue to solve cases.

Consequently, while the series boasts almost cloying children, fanciful
gadgets and a distinctive, cute brand of character design, it almost
boasts macabre crime scenes, people driven to murder, torment and dark
conspiracies. Transposing it to an American audience description is
difficult. The early buzz was that the show was dark and mature, but at
times it invokes a "maybe not reaction" and at times an "oh yeah". For
an older audience, while some of the gadgets get to be a bit much, more
overly convenient narrative aid than Bond's, for the most part, the
children characters are surprisingly bearable.

The re-occurring characters are uniformly entertaining, and well
utilized, if maybe a bit predictable and static.

Conan is a bit Holmsian in his deduction reasoning and compulsion to
solve mysteries, but his more of a consumed geek than Holmes's tunnel
savant nature. His moments of self aware ego and use of soccer as a
mental diversion or relaxant are nice touches. Screen time for his
karate devotee girlfriend has the muscle or her father as comic foil
with his self involved perspective, alcoholic sloveness and
impulsiveness are consistently well spent side tracks.

25 minutes is rather quick for a thorough mystery, especially factoring
in the time for the character moments, action, and side threads. Still,
clues are well laid out, and there is enough time to join Conan in
hazarding a solution. Like most TV detectives, it is also a fun
exercise to weigh cases against genre conventions as much as the
evidence and see what surprises turn up.

One reason to follow anime (and manga) is for the instances where it
fills gaps with the type of stories and visuals not found in other
mediums. and some are just, and another it may be utilizing familiar
stories and conventions, but follows through with an attractive and
captivating flair. Like its genre siblings, Case Close is flagrant is
the proximity of its killings, its readily assessable logic and
explanations, and still seeing the crime for inception or discovery to
explanation is something that can't be missed.

Manga Preview: Peacemaker Kurogane Manga Volume 1 Tp
by Nanae Chrono

to be released by ADV Manga in October

Ties to the historical events behind popular swordplay manga Ruruoni
Kenshin make a Shonen Jump style to-be-the-best adventure set among the
famed fanatical Shinsengumi militia an attractive proposition. From
this point, Peacemaker Kurogane starts from an enviable position, but
ultimately style and associative baggage are exclusively the manga's
points of appeal. Despite attractive, and in some instances creative,
design, flat action and disjointed storytelling hamstring the series.

Set during the Meji Restitution of the 1860's, in which the rule of
Japan's shogun regime was broken by the restitution of the emperor,
Peacemaker Kurogane follows highly fictionalized exploits of ahistorical
and in some cases historical figures within the Shinsengumi, a band of
shogun loyalists who kept a tight reign on the imperial capital Kyoto.
The series follows Tetsunosuke Ichimura, a gifted young swordsman
serving as page to Shinshegumi Vice Commander Hijikata (a historical
figure, inspiration for Aoshi in Ruruoni Kenshin, portrayed by Beat
Takeshi several years on in the homosexual themed samurai drama
Gohatto/Taboo).

Tetsunosuke and his older brother, who serves the Shinshengumi in a
non-combat role, begin to learn that their father was someone called the
"Peacemaker" and maybe connected to some new, mysterious deaths.

With better content backing it, the design in Peacemaker Kurogane would
have the potential for a crossover hit. The characters both look like
fountains of action energy, and have the elaborate handsomeness of a
Gundam Wing or Knight Hunters/Weiss Kreuz style anime adventure idols.
The series is almost worth reading for its new visual takes on some of
the staples of samurai fiction: an attractive yet typically youthful
depiction of Shinsegumi captain Soji Okita, but an oddly goth-y take on
Hajime Saito, and a Ryoma Sakamoto a lord who became an outlaw and
pro-emperor revolutionary worked towards the modernization of Japan who
appears as a dread-locked gun slinging samurai have to be seen.

There isn't much story in Peacemaker's narrative. Characters are
introduced to the readers, and in some circumstances each other, but the
proceedings are more in the way of noise than happenings. There are
moments and conversations that do have substance, and they aren't just
vignettes, but they don't build a flow either. For a three volume
series, one volume of pieces to set the tone and population of a work
seems to be a mistake.

To its credit, the series does deal with the bloody role that the
Shinshengumi plays in history. To a degree, there is an acknowledgment
that entering into the group is more akin to how an American might view
becoming one of Quantrill's Raiders than the typical shonen adventure of
becoming an imagined pirate king or ninja chieftain. The organization
isn't wholly sanitized, and there is some agonizing about their work.

Like the narrative, the problem with Peacemaker's action is that it is
moments rather stories. A group of people meet, something happens, and
it is over. Occasionally the something happens can be impressive spot
in some case, more of an assumption of poses than an action sequence, or
in some cases more of an indetermination jumble of arms and swords,
speedyline or confusing panel layouts. The fights look good
occasionally, but there is never the sense of dynamic motion and matches
forces that make for an engaging fight.

ADV's appendix, with foot notes explaining the historical background of
the characters and event allusions is an excellent tool in establishing
the context of the series.

Given subject matter, and to some degree style, comparisons between
Peacemaker Kurogane and Ruruoni Kenshin are inventible. Without
Kenshin's personality, action or narrative, Peacemakers comes out
lacking, but given the price point of manga, and some attractive design
it isn't a complete wash.

Manga Spotlight:
Mermaid Saga
Volume 1

Released by Viz

Creepy fairy tales are a rare treat. In any medium, there are few good
stories that capture a sense of harsh, almost arbitrary cosmic rules
that govern life: maybe the Hellboy comic, maybe Pi.

While within each of her works Rumiko Takahashi tends to liberally
sample through genres, her best known in recent years, Ranma 1/2 and
Inu-Yasha tend towards a recognizable mix of action and relationship
dramady.

However, now that Inu-Yasha rather than Ranma 1/2 is Rumiko Takahashi's
best known work, its less surprising than it once would have been that
she is a skilled horror comic creator.
Rumiko Tahashi's annual chart topping appearances on Japan's tax payer
lists attests to her mass appeal, but her shorter works sometime get
lost in the shadows of her monsters (Maison Ikkoku, Ranma, Inu Tasha,
ect)

Combining design with a simplistic, but effective grotesque, and a sense
of motion that drove the action/slap stick of Ranma or Inu-Yasha,
re-applied to shocking moments of revelation, Mermaid Saga visually
captures a sense of unfolding horror. Rather than conceptual shocks of
the domestically best known and regarded horror manga Uzumaki, Rumiko
Takahashi plays tricks of misdirection and tighter control with comic
medium to control pacing, and shock the reader when they glance at the
next panel, or turn a page. There are plenty of developments in the
series which, if layed out in a mattered of fact manor, would flow by
with shallow ripples, but with her technique, can really shake the
reader. There are a number of page-turn invoked double take to found in
Mermaid Saga.

The central myth stories bounces between modern and ancient times
exploring the complex and sinister rules and ecology of consumption
between mermaids and humans. Volume one's stories link the fates of
Yuta, a fisherman who ate was granted immortality after eating the flesh
of a mermaid hundreds of years ago and Mana, a sequestered modern girl
who likewise gained immortality.

The stories combine some predictable elements with a new mythology. It
is interesting to see how the tenements of the mermaid myth is laid out
early, then see how it is twisted while maintaining its logic. The long
gestation period for mistakes in the series intensifies the drama.

Anime Spotlight:
GetBackers
Volume 1: G & B On the Case

Released by ADV Films

The original GetBackers manga (comic) from which the anime was adapted
suffered a minor identity crisis in its early chapters. Starring a pair
of teen vagrants with super powers, it initially flirted with an
anti-establishment, opt out, rebelliousness before toning down the
social grit and focusing on action. Given the unimaginative output of
the social awareness, it was the right move. If it wasn't unique and
enlightening, it at least found a way to be brisk and entertaining.

The anime version GetBackers jumps right into the action, wasting what
for a lengthy anime series is astonishingly little time before putting
the heroes against like abilitied adversaries in engaging low-fantastic
urban superhero adventure. It works like a good attention maintaining
action movie.
The plot is a bit novel, and when it demands attention it is sufficient.

A few too many blatant narrative devises, giving it an over driven feel,
but flashyness of characters action makes it satisfying to watch. Even
if predictable, which it often is, leaves you wanting to how it will be
visually executed.

The GetBackers are Amano Ginji, the blonde, a bit emotional and goofy
former Thunder Emperor gang leader of the Volts, who has the power to
generate electricity from his body, and his darker and more sarcastic
partner Mido Ban, skilled with the hallucination inducing Jagen eye and
style of martial arts that includes a 200kg grip.
The two teens live on the streets, and make their living retrieving
missing items, generally stealing back what has been.
Their destitution is treated as more of quirk, that the characters end
up sleeping a self constructed shelter, eating hand outs from a homeless
man, than a real obstacle that they are trying to overcome.

After two establishment quickie episodes, one to introduce the
characters, one for the manga's thrust of urban grittiness before
launching into a block buster three episode action-fest, pitting the
pair of retrievers against transporters consisting of a trio of fellow
larger than lifers in the form of "Lady Poison" a poisoned perfume
wielding young woman with ties to Ban's past, "Doctor Jackal", a
squinting, grinning sadist who uses scalpels for his killing, and the
apply named driver "Mr. No Breaks".

The confrontation's evolution from VW Beetle (aka Ladybug) vs semi cab
chase, to super power capture the flag, to paired off one-on-one fights
is an impressive wealth to offer so early in a series. To a noticeable
degree GetBackers seems to fighting anime (DragonBall, Kenshin or the
like), but in it isn't limiting itself to one ones, but offering a
breath of venues it doesn't have the frequent claustrophobia of
potential.

The use of super powers in the series also differs a bit from the norm.
They aren't generally terribly impressive, or visually intensive, and in
the characters' world they exceptional, but not unheard of. They are
neither meant to engage the viewer in of themselves or drive the story.
Instead, they appear to be a key for the narrative to enter and exit
confrontations. The trouble is that in this capacity, the fingerprints
of the writer are often very visible. They are very flexible problem
solvers, but even their restrictions are obvious story gateways.

The second issue with the super powers is that the characters can too
easily solve mundane threats. After the first two episodes when dealing
with mundane people who don't operate on the same level, the
confrontations are restricted to respecting the emotions of others
rather than a legitimate threat.

For a genre with generally an overwhelming male appeal, GetBackers aims
broader. Despite showing homosexual proclivities, the two handsome
leads appear a little over affectionate to eachother. This is more the
more of the standard yaoi (homosexual male romance generally for a
female audience) tease than a story element.

ImaginAsian TV's Anime Lineup

The Asian TV network ImaginAsian will begin broadcasting August 30th at
6:00 am. Anime programming includes Kurogane Communication, Patlabor,
Votoms, Space Pirate Mito, Twelve Kingdoms, Figure 17, Gravitation, and
Jungle Emperor Leo: The Movie

The schedule is online href="http://www.iatv.tv/calendar/day.php">here.

Broken Saints DVD

If you haven't done so already, be sure to check out the trailer for the
upcoming DVD collection the outstanding anime/manga inspired horror
animation Broken Saints href="http://bs.brokensaints.com/dvd/">here.

Anime Game News

From The Magic Box

The North American release of the Cowboy Bebop Playstion 2 game has been
delayed from this October to be early 2005.

A new Battleship Yamato Playstation 2 game, based on Leiji Matsumoto's
space opera will be released in Japn starting this October. The second
and third entries will be released in January and April 2005.
Space Battleship Yamato: Recollection of Isukandaru can be seen href="http://www.the-magicbox.com/0408/game081904f.shtml">here.

New screen shots of DragonBall Z: Budokai 3, set to be released
domestically November 16th can be seen href="http://www.the-magicbox.com/0408/game081904a.shtml">here.

Cell shaded fighting game Naruto: Narutimet Hero 2, to be released for
the Playstation 2in Japan, can be seen href="http://www.the-magicbox.com/0408/game081704b.shtml">here

The Xbox game Robotech: Invasion can be seen href="http://www.the-magicbox.com/0408/game081704e.shtml">here

Screenshots of the Full Metal Alchemist fighting game Dream Carnival,
scheduled to be released August 26th can be seen href="http://www.the-magicbox.com/0408/game081304a.shtml">here, and
the action RPG Akaki Elixir no Akuma, scheduled to be released September
22nd in Japan, can be seen href="http://www.the-magicbox.com/0408/game081004c.shtml">here

The new Super Robot Wars game Original Generation 2 for GameBoy, which
links to Super Robots Wars GC for the Game Cub can be seen href="http://www.the-magicbox.com/0408/game081004b.shtml">here.
Super Robot Wars/Taisen brings together giant robots from over 20 anime
series.
Super Robot Taisen GC can be seen href="http://www.the-magicbox.com/0408/game081704c.shtml">here

Jagged Team points out a
trailer for the Playstation 2 Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex
game here.

New Re: Cutie Honey Trailer Online

Anime Nation points out the
official Japanese homepage for the href="http://re-cutiehoney.com/">Re: Cutie Honey OAV series now
hosts a new 2 minute long streaming Real Media trailer for the first
episode

Fuji TV to Stop Airing Samurai Champloo

Anime News Network reports Fuji
TV has announced that after airing episode 17, Fuji TV will stop Samurai
Champloo, Cowboy Bebop director Shinichiro Watanabe's scratch style
samurai series.

The complete 26 episode series will be broadcast on BS digital satellite
television.

Beck Anime Site

The site for the anime adpation of href="http://www.beck.ne.jp/">Beck, a popular rock music series, set
to air in October, is now online.

Adv Films Sets Release Date For Chrono Crusade Volume One

ADV Films has announced that the first volume (of seven) of the Chrono
Cross anime will be released September 21st

Based on the hit graphic novel series created by Daisuke Moriyama and
distributed in North America by ADV Manga, Chrono Crusade already had a
huge fan following even before an "A" list of production talent,
including heavy hitter GONZO (Full Metal Panic!, Hellsing), stepped in
to make the animated version. Adding to that potent list of talent, ADV
Films' DVD release will contain numerous bonus features and both the
original Japanese version and an all new 5.1 English language version
produced by top-ranked dubbing studio ISM.

The year is 1928. Jazz is hot, bootleg liquor is king and the idle rich
of a nation have discovered a horrifying new past time: summoning
demons! To combat this growing threat, a new order of Holy Warriors has
arisen. This is the story of Sister Rosette, an elite Exorcist in the
Order of Magdalene, whose soul has been bound by alchemy to that of the
devil Chrono. Armed with Sacred ammo, they form an unstoppable team,
ready to wage war at a moments notice. because when the gates of hell
are opened, someone has to put the devils back!

November CMX Manga Releases
To be released by DC Comics' CMX manga line this November:

MUSASHI NUMBER NINE VOL. 1

Written by Takahashi Miyuki, art and cover by Takahashi.

CMX. Musashi Number Nine chronicles the fast-paced adventures of a
16-year-old super-agent who takes on assassins, terrorists and counter
agents! Written and illustrated by acclaimed artist Takahashi Miyuki,
Musashi Number Nine is an action series famous in Japan for a hero who
is the ultimate in cool, featuring crisp, stylishly rendered artwork and
engaging storytelling.

Exotic, smart and lethal, Number Nine is a field operative for an
organization committed to fighting injustice. Little is known about
"Universal Blue" except that they're the last line of defense against
battalions of terrorists and criminals. Even less is known about its
field operatives -- though it¹s whispered that they possess the ability
to change the course of world history. And Number Nine is one of them.

In this volume, a teenaged girl is marked for death for reasons beyond
her control, and Universal Blue decides to take care of her. But Number
Nine runs into trouble with this headstrong client. After all, who would
accept a stranger's help with the unraveling chaos of her life? The
teenaged girl has a special gift -- one that will save the life of an
important person. But will she live long enough to deliver that gift in
time?

208 pages, black and white, $9.95, in stores on Nov. 18.

SWAN VOL. 1

Written by Ariyoshi Kyoko, art and cover by Ariyoshi

CMX. One of the most famous and lauded shojo manga ever published, SWAN
is Ariyoshi Kyoko's best-selling classic about a girl who strives to
become a great ballerina.

Meet Hijiri Masumi, a 16-year-old about to enter her first ballet
contest. The competition is fierce, and there¹s no telling whether
she'll win, or how far her training can take her. But the great director
Alexej Sergeiev invites her to join his company, and she launches her
career -- spending years dancing in the shadow of prima ballerina
Kyogoku Sayoko. Masumi's journey takes her on a tour of the great ballet
companies of Europe and America through triumph and despair as she
struggles toward her goal of becoming the greatest dancer of her
generation.

200 pages, black and white, $9.95, in stores on Nov. 3.

Media Blasters Release Plans

Media Blasters has infirmed Anime on
DVD that starting with Pilgrim Jäger volume 1 we will be using scans
of the original Japanese printers films or original digital files to
letter from. This means that correct bleeds will remain intact and
clarity will be amazing.
The unfortunate news is that some of our releases are getting delayed to
accomodate for this.

Mew Mew Names Changes

4Kids' localization of anime Tokyo Mew Mew has received a new name
change, "MewMew Power", after formerly being called "Hollywood Mew Mew,"
"The Mew Mews," and the original "Tokyo Mew Mew."

Upcoming Geneon Releases

Anime

11/2

• Burn-Up Scramble - Angels Attack (V.A)
  
• Ikki Tousen - Historic Battles (V.2)

11/9

• Ai Yori Aoshi -ENISHI- Vol. 3
  
• Submarine 707R - The Movie

11/16

• Dokkoida!? - Mega Mania Attack (V. 2)
  
• Gungrave - Undead War (V.3)
  
• Paranoia Agent - Enter Lil' Slugger

Soundtracks

11/9

• Gungrave Original Soundtrack 2 - "lefthead"
  
• R.O.D the TV Original Soundtrack 2
  
• Refrain of Evangelion
  
• Sonic Heroes Official Soundtrack

Signature Series Re-priced releases

11/2

• Gatekeepers - (V.6)
  
• Sailor Moon SuperS - (V.4)
  
• Tenchi Universe - (V.6)

Live Action

11/2

• Onmyoji 2

Ai Yori Aoshi -ENISHI-

Based on the popular Japanese manga by Kou Fumizuki
Second season of the fan favorite series, Ai Yori Aoshi

Burn-Up Scramble

In the near future of Tokyo, the Metropolitan Police Department forms a
secret unit called "WARRIORS" to solve the many heinous crimes. The
members that make up this crime fighting team are: Rio, a police officer
specializing in any form of martial arts; Maya, an eagle-eyed sniper;
and Lilica, a prisoner with supernatural powers. First the Warriors rev
up to face a local biker gang that's been harassing local citizens. Then
they confront a mobile robbing machine that chose the wrong target -
Rio! The girls then must disarm a bomb - if they can find it! And
finally, the crew must catch a thief that's been creating a disturbance
around town.

Submarine 707R - The Movie

A high-tech terrorist plagues the ocean...
To counter the subversive activities of the USR, a shadowy terrorist
group menacing the seas, the leading nations of the world join forces to
form the Peace Keeping Navy (PKN). Its inauguration ceremony, however,
quickly turns into disaster as Admiral Red, charismatic leader of the
USR, launches a surprise attack on the PKN. With fierce firepower, Red
lets his intentions be known that he will destroy anything that gets in
the way of his twisted vision of an ideal future... Dive into this
exciting deep-sea military action-adventure thriller, as Captain Hayami
and the crew of the 707 try to outwit Admiral Red's gargantuan nuclear
submarine!

Based on the Comic by SATORU OZAWA (Blue Submarine No.6) Character
Design MINORU MURAO (Final Fantasy Unlimited) / JUN TAKAGI (Yukikaze,
Vandread) Mechanical Design KAZUTAKA MIYATAKE (Star Blazers, Macross)
Art Direction HIROMASA OGURA (Patlabor the Movie, Ghost in the Shell)
Directed by SHOICHI MASUO (Project A-ko, Aim for the Top)
Opening by HIDEAKI ANNO (Evangelion)

Refrain of Evangelion

THE quintessential Neon Genesis Evangelion aural experience awaits with
the CD release of "Refrain of Evangelion." EVA faithful fans will find
to their liking the sensational orchestral pieces and fantastic,
deep-thinking vocal songs that defined the atmosphere and raw emotions
tied into the TV series and movies. This CD comes packed with 26 of
the best tracks, including an unreleased, new English language song,
"Everything you've ever dreamed," not available on any other domestic
EVA release.

Onmyoji 2 DVD

When the Curse Breaks the Seal of a Rampaging Ancient God, the Mightiest
Onmyoji Returns! Mysterious and bloody incidents ensue after a solar
eclipse in the capital of Heian (794-1185 AD). Devils rampage through
the capital at night and attack members of the nobility, each of whom
has a body part is bitten off. Abe no Seimei (Mansai Nomura), the
mightiest onmyoji, suspects that something will happen when the eighth
victim is killed and the seal breaks off of a legendary sword. However
secrets behind the incident reveal the bottomless darkness which even
Seimei cannot foresee! When he faces an astonishing fact relating to
the Imperial Court and the Izumo tribe, he has to risk his own life to
save the capital and fight a man who had sold his soul to a rampaging
god to avenge his people. Following the success of the original release,
Onmyoji II enchants viewers with its dark yet spellbinding and mystical
visual story!

Possible Viz Manga Licenses

Anime on DVD points out that
upcoming manga releasing listing included currently unnannounced titles
Outlaw Star and Tough (aka Tekken-den TOUGH, by Tetsuya Saruwatari) from
Viz.

Bleach Anime Start Date

The anime adpation of Shonen Jump manga series Bleach will start October
5th on Japan's TV Tokyo.

>DB GT Special

FUNimation will be releasing Dragon Ball GT Movie: A Hero's Legacy,
originally a TV special, on November 16th.

Anime News Network reports
Makoto Tezuka, son of famed manga creator Osamu Tezuka (creator of Astro
Boy, Kimba the White Lion and manga others)and husband of award winning
manga artist Okano Reiko, will be directing Say Hello to Black Jack, a
medical drama in part a tribute to his father's medical adventure Black
Jack.

The anime series is scheduled to air on Nihon TV starting October 11th.

Fox Animation Trailers

Anime News Network points
out that trailers of Fox's Fox Box's fall lineup, including Mew Mew
Power, One Piece and F-Zero GP Legend are online href="http://www.foxkids.com/promotions/youpickit/">here.

Until the Full Moon Licensed

Anime News Network
announced that Broccoli Books announced that they had acquired the
license for Until the Full Moon (Full Moon ni Sasayaite) by Sanami
Matoh, the manga artist of FAKE.

Casshern DVD Releases October 23rd

Kung Fu Cinema reports that href="http://www.cdjapan.co.jp/detailview.html?KEY=DA-452">CD Japan
lists that the live action Casshern will be released on DVD in Japan on
October 23rd. The disc includes English sintot;es

Live Action Aeon Flux Filming

The Movie Blog and href="http://www.ComingSoon.net">ComingSoon.net report that the live
action adaptation of Peter Chung animated futurist adventure Aeonx Flux
began filming at Studio Babelsberg in Germany. The film is directed by
Karyn Kusama with Charlize Theron as the lead and Frances McDormand as a
rebellion leader.

Witchblade Anime

ICV2 reports that Top Cow announced at
the Wizard World Chicago comic convention Witchblade has been licended
by Japanese studio Gonzo Digimation (Blue Submarine #6, Last Exile,
Burst Angel) for the production of a 26-episode anime TV series. Matt
Hawkins of Top Cow told ICv2 that Gonzo would drop the character of Sara
Pezzini, the heroine of the American comics and TV series, in favor of a
Japanese policewoman, who comes into possession of the mystical blade.

Gonzo a deal with Kodansha, who will bring out a manga series based on
the anime in a coordinated launch, probably late next year.

CPM DVD Deals

Central Park Media will be releasing the following set with a deal for
one of 12 DVDs

Black Jack DVD collection ($49.99)
Now and Then, Here and There DVD collection ($69.99) ShootFighter Tekken
DVD collection ($49.99) Yoshiaki Kawajiri DVD brick [Demon City
Shinjuku, A Wind Named Amnesia, Birdy the Mighty DVDs 1 & 2] ($39.99)

World of Narue DVD collection plus Graphic Novel 1 set with a coupon for
the second volume of the manga will be priced at $79.99.

On October 19th the following titles will be re-released on English
language dub DVD sets for $19.99 Heroic Legend of Arslan
Nightwalker

The following titles will be re-priced at $9.99 on November 2nd:
Grappler Baki Judge Mask of Zeguy RG Veda Tales of Seduction by U-Jin

Anime on Canadian TV

Anime News Network reports
that Witch Hunter Robin will be airing on Canadian YYV starting
September 10th at 10:30 PM. SD Gundam and Gundam SEED will air on YTV
at 7:00pm and 9:30pm respectively

New episodes of DBGT, Inuyasha, and Dragonball will premiere on August
20th, September 10th and October 4th respectively.

Cruising the Anime City, An Otaku Guide to Neo Tokyo

Stonebridge Press will be
releasing "Cruising the Anime City, An Otaku Guide to Neo Tokyo"> this
November.

Manga cafés are nothing new to Japan, of course. Stone Bridge Press's
upcoming Cruising the Anime City, An Otaku Guide to Neo Tokyo, has a
chapter devoted to them.

In Neo Tokyo, otaku dress up cosplay style for real, fans crowd cons to
buy and trade, and anime soundtracks are heard in concert halls. Neo
Tokyo is where anime has become both urban fashion and cultural
zeitgeist, and this is its first street-smart guide in English.
Featuring interviews with tastemakers, co-authors Patrick Macias and
Tomohiro Machiyama cover studios, toys, museums, games, film
"locations," music, plus where to hang and how to cruise.

This book is full-color with photos, illustrations, maps and more. It is
144 pages, 7 x 9", paperback, and available in November for $16.95.

Patrick Macias, a specialist in Asian film and Japanese pop culture, is
author of TokyoScope. Tomohiro Machiyama is a movie critic and
journalist who writes and publishes in Japan. Both authors live in the
SF Bay Area.

Sunday's New York Times had a small article about Atom, a manga café in
which customers pay a $5 admission to read manga and drink coffee or
tea. Most of the manga are in Japanese for New York's Japanese
community, but there is also a section in English. See href="http://www.nytimes.com/2004/08/15/nyregion/thecity/15mang.html">he
re

Mid-Late September ADV Releases

9/21

• El Paraíso De Hello Kitty: Diviértete Con Amigos (Spanish)
  
• Neon Genesis Evangelion: Platinum: 02 (of 7)

9/28

• My Dear Marie

My Dear Marie

Based on the popular manga by Takeuchi Sakura and directed by Tomomi
Mochizuki (Princess Nine and Dirty Pair Flash), My Dear Marie has been
hailed as a must-see for the romantically impaired ever since its
initial release on VHS by ADV Films. Now, at long last, anime fans
everywhere will finally get their heart-springs re-wound as this
timeless masterpiece about a clueless guy and his clockwork girl returns
for a much-anticipated deluxe DVD treatment. Prepare to meet the
ultimate household appliance in a love story full of crossed circuits in
My Dear Marie!

Ever met the perfect girl, but she already had a boyfriend? Well why not
just build your own? An amateur mad scientist attempts to build a
robotic duplicate of his dream girl, and Marie is the result. As you can
probably guess, there are some unexpected complications. Stay tuned for
mayhem and disaster!

Neon Genesis Evangelion: Platinum: 02

As if having to defend the Earth and mankind wasn't enough to cope with,
Shinji Ikari now finds himself faced with something completely
unexpected: competition. Not only is Rei's Eva back on the line, there's
also a new giant robot defender that's being promoted by a group outside
NERV! And to top it off, prepare to meet the third Eva pilot, the
hottest ball of red-headed fury ever unleashed. And SHE's got Shinji in
her cross-hairs! It's an all out battle royal with the entire planet as
a war zone in the second stunning volume of NEON GENESIS EVANGELION -
THE PLATINUM EDITION!

Neon Genesis Evangelion: Platinum:02 (SRP $29.98 DVD) is a DVD-only
release, including five complete episodes in both English 5.1 and
Japanese 5.1 language versions with English subtitles. The volume is
housed in an exclusive metallic finish slipcover. Extras include: clean
opening and closing animation; commentary with Tiffany Grant and Allison
Shipp; full length animatics for episode 9; 12-page profile booklet
filled with screen shots, Japanese commentaries and character profiles
and ADV previews.

Media Blasters December Releases

From Media Blaster's Anime Works Line, to be released December 14th:

The Gokusen: Kumiko's Way (Volume 2 - Episodes 6-9)

Math teacher by day, crime lord by night, Kumiko struggles to keep her
double life a secret. But star student Shin is getting closer and closer
to the truth. She has to keep her head while bailing her students out of
trouble and stopping the countless turf wars that all seem to involve
the school. Worst of all, a legendary brute of a senior returns, and he
knows that nothing improves a school's cultural festival like baseball
bats!

1 disc, 4 episodes, 100 mins. (2nd volume of 3) English/Japanese
Dialogue with English subtitles

Densuke just enrolled at the exclusive Zashono academy. He's eager to
participate in extracurricular activities, but he never expected to join
the mysterious Eiken Club. Strangely enough, every other member is a
busty co-ed, and many of the club activities involve bikinis. But
Densuke isn't interested in anyone but the the shy and beautiful
Chiharu. Will he overcome the wall of women that stand between him and
true love? Or is he doomed to a lifetime of riding watersides with a
jumble of half-naked women greased with yogurt?

1 Disc, 2 episodes, 60 minutes English/Japanese Dialogue with English
subtitles

Shrine of the Morning Mist - Asagiri No Miko (Volume 1 - Episodes 1-10)

Yuzu Hieda was just an average High School student and part time Shinto
priestess. But then she was given a mission in the form of her
classmate, Tadahiro Amatsu. Tadahiro has a secret buried behind his left
eye, a secret that has attracted the attention of an evil sorcerer and
his army of demons! To fight the evil, Yuzu assembles a team of five
powerful priestesses and prepares to master the magic arts.

1 Disc, 10 episodes 125 Minutes English/Japanese Dialogue with English
subtitles

To be released December 28th

The Twelve Kingdoms (Volume 9 episodes 36-40)

In times of crisis, the metal of leaders are tested and the principles
of kingdoms are forged. The corrupt minister, Shoko, mistreats the
people and controls a web of bribed officials. To stop him, Youko teams
up with a group of rebels only to find that one of her closest friends
is lending a lethal hand to the evil administrator. But how can Youko
bring her kingdom to peace if she is forced to wage a civil war against
her own court?

1 disc, 5 episodes, 125 minutes, English/Japanese dialogue with English
subtitles

Giant Robo Volume 2 (episodes 3-5)

Daisaku and Giant Robo must overcome Von Volger's most maniacal
creations, the Eye of Volger and the explosive Big Balloon! When Daisaku
is trapped aboard the burning Greta Garbo, it's up to Gin Rei and
Tetsugyu to rescue him. But a deadly adversary is lying in wait for
Tetsugyu, and he won't give up until he has his vengeance!

1 disc, 3 episodes, 125 minutes, English/Japanese dialogue with English
subtitles

Seraphim Call (episodes 1-12)

Twelve girls with twelve wishes...twelve dreams. Deep in their hearts
they all have a secret dream, and they'll all meet at Acropolis Tower to
see if their dreams will come true.

2 discs, 12 episodes, 300 minutes, Japanese dialogue with English
subtitles

November Bandai Releases

11/9

• Argentosoma - Complete Collection
  
  
• Carried By the Wind - Complete Collection
  
  
• Dragon Dive Daring Mission (V.4)
  
  
• Fancy Lala Complete Collection
  
  
• Galaxy Angels Z Back for Seconds (V.1)
  
  
• Gundam F91
  
  
• KIKAIDER PERFECT COLLECTION
  
  
• s-CRY-ed - Complete Collection
  
  
• Zentrix The Last Hope (V.2)
  
  

  Sound tracks
  

  11/9
  

  • Ghost in the Shell OST Plus
    
  • Ghost in the Shell Soundtrack "Be Human"

  
  
  

  Argentosoma
  

  Takuto Kaneshiro is a gifted young man and considered by most to be
  something of a genius. With a sweet, lovable girlfriend, he's got a lot
  of dreams for his future. But those dreams soon turn to nightmares when
  Takuto is involved with a freak accident during a secret experiment. He
  will have the things most dear to him... taken away. With Takuto
  Kaneshiro dead, Ryu Soma is born. And the only thing on his mind is
  revenge.
  
  

  Carried By the Wind - Complete Collection
  

  Wandering the lands of Japan - Ran is a master swordsman with a strong
  sense of honor combined with the courage and strength to right wrongs
  and battle injustice. But that doesn't stop her from having a good
  time! Stuck with an unwanted traveling companion, Myao - the two will
  bring law and order to the countryside. if they don't kill each other
  first.
  
  

  Fancy Lala
  

  What would you do if you could be anything you wanted? Miho Shinohara
  gets her chance when some little friends drop off a magical crayon that
  changes her life forever! 10-year old Miho is about to see what life is
  like as 15-year old Lala - pop star, model, and actress extraordinaire!
  With the ability to transform to Lala, Miho's life suddenly transforms
  into a magical fairytale but life as a normal girl and a pop star can be
  pretty crazy
  
  

  Galaxy Angel Z (Second season)
  

  The five Galaxy Angels are back again with a mission for more gut
  busting laughs! After discovering the Lost Technology, it's only a
  matter of time to see the Angel Brigade fall back into mischief. During
  their assignment the girls must investigate a haunted mansion but as it
  turns out, it's a hide-out for thieves. Raphna receives free tickets to
  a wrestling match only to face Great Muscle, the strongest man in the
  universe in the ring! Milfuelle and Mint picks up a tribal leader who
  has a costume of a fabled creature for the tribal festival. Mint can't
  help but to put on the costume, unfortunately, she can't take it off and
  becomes the village celebrity!
  
  

  Gundam F91
  

  U.C. 0123. After a generation of peace, the Earth Federation has begun
  to build new space colonies to house humanity's growing population. But
  a new force, the aristocratic Crossbone Vanguard, plans to seize the
  colonies of the newly constructed Frontier Side for itself. As their
  home becomes a battlefield, a handful of young civilians struggle to
  escape the conflict. To save his friends and family, the reluctant
  warrior Seabook Arno becomes the pilot of a new Gundam which bears the
  code name F91.
  
  

  Directed by legendary director Yoshiyuki Tomino (Mobile Suit Gundam,
  Overman King Gainer)
  
  

  Mecha designs by Kunio Okawara along with Character designs by Yoshikazu
  Yasuhiko (Mobile Suit Gundam TV Series, Mobile Suit Gundam Trilogy).
  
  

  KIKAIDER
  

  Based on the live action works by Shotaro Ishinomori. Jiro, a humanoid
  robot gifted with the 'conscience circuit' enabling him to simulate real
  emotions and distinguish between "right and wrong." As Jiro struggles
  with his dark side, as well as an unsympathetic society, he protects his
  creator's daughter Mitsuko and her little brother Masaru from the evil
  Professor Gil. The saga continues in Kikaider 01 as fate brings Jiro
  into an alliance with his brother Ichiro to stop all evil abound. The
  stage is set at a conclusive battle as Jiro is once again reunited with
  Professor Gil!
  
  
  

  s-CRY-ed - Complete Collection
  

  The aftermath of a mysterious environmental catastrophe has left the
  land in complete desolation! While mankind has been able to rebuild the
  city, the catastrophe has caused some humans to undergo genetic
  mutations granting them special powers and abilities. These genetically
  enhanced humans are known as Alters. Kazuma has spent his entire life in
  the wastelands relying on his special powers to survive, but when a
  secret organization called 'Holy' threatens to take away his freedom, he
  will be left with a choice to join or die. His fight to seek the truth
  behind the 'Holy' will rage and consume humanity and Alter alike!