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Be site to check out the Anime AICN - Serial Experiments Lain Contest Prizes include: Copies of the anime from Geneon The hardcover edition of the art book Yoshitoshi ABe Lain Illustrations ab# rebuild an omnipresence in wired from Digital Manga Publishing 10" UFO doll Lain in PJs Set of 4 Lain "Limited Edition Collector's Action Dolls" Set of 2 Lain mini-lunchboxes Myth Lain Messenger Bag The first half of this week's post is online here
Resource Spotlight: Shojo Beat's Manga Artist Academy By Hiroyaki Iizuka, Amu Sumoto, et al
Released by Viz
Shojo Beat's Manga Artist Academy lays out an entertaining metaphor for conveying a deluge of manga authoring tips. Possible detriments are that the volume cover topics in a wide rather than deep approach, and that it is tuned to turn out cookie cutter shojo authors (though that might be a selling point), but for an audience who is self-training for entry into the field, the insight that it does offer could lead to substantial improvements in the craft. The volume's instruction is taken from the perspective of Satomi, a would-be shojo manga creator, who happens to be a panda in a scarf and barrette. Satomi is lead around by a rock star professional to a host of real shojo manga creators, Yuu Watase is probably the best known to a North American audience. Theses creators who give Satomi various leson in the aspects of creating shojo manga. The Satomi narrative makes the book a fun read. Her interaction with the rock star fictional creator is marked by an amusingly over the top zeal with invocations of passion that fall onto the line where excessive shojo and excessive shonen meet. Chapters also feature humorous short poems from Satomi. The various shojo manga professionals are given little personality gimmicks that keep their character interaction lively. The instruction starts off a bit disastrously. Jumping in with talk papers on pens to use for illustrating is offered with a great density of information. Picking out the relevant facts is a chore. The walk away information beyond a few possible to-buy items is vague, and more exploration of the character of the lines produced by the pens could have been useful. From there, the first full chapter, featuring Emiko Sugi's discussion of drawing makes itself hard to apply, due to a non-progressive coverage of a range of topics, and a hint-based approach to the information. Like many section, tips suggest decisions that would put the resulting manga in line with traditional shojo. Chapters end with "Steal This From A Manga Professional", which are a series of thoughts for dissecting and appropriating the characteristic techniques of the manga creator who contributed to the previous chapter. Often these are not connected to the subject addressed in the proceeding chapter. The hints and points of discussion in these pieces are often more advanced than the content of the book, and at times the path from the books topic to the techniques is a bit oblique. As the book progresses deeper into the process of creating manga, the tips start becoming more useful. Character design and story structure may be too personal and they can be learned elsewhere. There are less resources on how to layout the panels of a page such that a reader to easily discern the story that author envision. Sections on creating the page, and the steps to prepare a page for publication are likely to be a more useful resource to the reader. As the book explores these topics, it begins to establish its value to the reader.
Anime Spotlight: Baki the Grappler, Vol. 9 Illegal Tactics
Released By FUNimation
There are plenty of anime that offer something approaching a universal appeal: works whose characters invite almost any viewer to invest some empathy in the depicted circumstances. Then, on the other end of the spectrum, there's special interest works, for which there is no point even introducing the work to huge swathes of the pool of viewers. Baki the Grappler is decidedly in this latter category. It's not the familiar shonen fighting tournament and it doesn't adherer to the sports anime formula. For better or worse, its a violent grind more akin to watching mixed martial arts than most anime. Baki the Grappler doesn't ask its viewer to identify with the specific motivations of the characters. In fact, the theme of the first season, the oedipal rebelliousness of the hero that drove him with the desire to beat his father to win the affection of his mother, though invoked is downplayed. This volume does feature interludes with between titular lead Baki and his girlfriend, but the series seems to acknowledge that these are pointless. Baki's girlfriend's repulsion to the violence is antithetical to the series. That she isn't going to convince Baki to abandon fighting is apparent and as such offers no drama. Her objections also undercut the compelling-in-its-wrongness of the oedipal overtones in the relationship between Baki and his mother. The series is almost strictly action, with little wait between exchanges of blows and little human substance. Its chest thumping one on one battles don't even represent test of wills. In each match both contestants demonstrate that they are willing to destroy not only their opponent’s body, but their own. With back stories, often featuring exceedingly laughable ideas, that are more reputation boosting than character enhancing, Baki the Grappler is masculine drama that cashes in on a pure, unambiguous opportunity most people never have, to demonstrate their dominance as the alpha dog. Once you get this far, the question is whether or not, on its own terms, it is an engaging chronicle on men bludgeoning each other or not. After the previous volume fell victim of trying to fit too much into the fully bracketed tournament format of Baki's second season, this volume proved that as the number of components dwindles, the series is better able the scenarios it has constructed. With more space, the anime's ability to put on a convince fight becomes evident. What this season of Baki does well, which is rarely seen in anime, is introduce an element of uncertainty. Because the character drama of the anime is slight, there generally isn't a reason to care why one fighter or the other is eventually victorious, but through the exchanges of attacks, curiosity exerts a powerful pull. In the way of fight promotion and professional wrestling, the series has been selling its fighters to the audience, given the viewer hints as to why they should anticipate each match-up. With a few high impact deviations from expected results, rational why each fighter could win the fight, and with story possibilities for either outcome, the anime has established its unreliability. Where the previous volume hit with too many fighters, the series was attempting to establish too much in too short a period of time. One fight per episode proves optimal, neither dragging or crowding.
Anime Spotlight: Basilisk Volume 2
Released by FUNimation
There is a Basilisk anime and a Basilisk manga both being released in about the same time frame. In terms of content, they are close mirrors of each other. The anime's design is faithful to the manga. The manga utilizes a digital inking that gives its images an animated velocity. Given that the anime runs 24 episodes and the manga takes a breakneck dash through five volumes, the essential difference between the two alternate media presentations is that the anime stretches matters out a bit. In the anime, character drama is fleshed out. Some additional details and back story are added, but more often this takes the form of distended moments of exchanged stares, or longer, sometimes more banal, conversations that call attention to the characters' personalities. Simularly in the action, there is more space for effects shots and dispatching faceless support figures. The longer length can be taken several ways. Basilisk is the kind of "mature" work of sex, violence and broad drama with which anime used to be synonymous (in reputation). It's nice to have an anime that knows that its supposed to provide a cheap thrill, and thus labors to provide as a good as thrill as possible. And it's nice to have an anime that can carry than effort over a full length season. The manga moved at a heedless speed. Early on, it was apparent that the characters didn't just have a dark destiny, the path to their fates was going a to be cometic flare. The characters were aspects of the spectacle, and constructs that whose drama was fleeting, not something to get attached to. There are a few fewer significant effects shots and furious battles in this stretch of animation than first volume, but the mean animation was noticeably well done. While the concept of the work's ninja village is a bit at odds with suspension of disbelief, a realness is worked into the depiction of the world, down to the grains and imperfect lines of wooden beams or in wide natural scenery environment shots. The battles that do happen point to a factor in the current state of animation. Give and take fights convey more excitement than effects shots. Bursts of color, moving radiants, or climbing tendrils and such can appear as big, bold spectacles, but they have become common place, and seem more obvious than good, precise human motion. A quickly moved scabbard, intersecting the oncoming arc of a blade carries more visual impact than glower purple butterflies, and men turning into liquid. Unless the effects shows are integrated with capable direction and compelling context, they appear as unnecessary. The love between the principles is presented earnestly enough to be convincing, and some of the secondary relationships tweak at the heart strings, but Basilisk is more of a death match than a tragedy. These aren't terribly complex characters. There's nothing to interpret or learn. These are homicidal chess pieces who know that they are homicidal chess pieces. Rating salaciousness becomes more useful than finding justification. Sex is present, but muted as compared to the manga. There's a curvy ninja woman who offers flash compared to the bareness of the manga. The sort-of-rape stuff is one thing, but its made creepier in that the anime plays up a younger-sister angle. While not quite as graphic as the manga, the violence is on the high range of TV anime's bloodiness. Ninjas are killed not-so-clean fashion, and the mechanism for death range from to tough to look at violence to exotic. Animated blood leeching breasts is sure to be something new for most viewers and for some it will surely justify the work's existence. Ultimately, when the volume ends, if you are in mind to enjoy a series like Basilisk, your appetite is wetted for more. And this is probably a sign that the series is doing is job as base instinct appeal entertainment.
New Fist of the North Star - The Complete Collection
Released by ADV Films
There are two kinds of people in the world: those who enjoy Fist of the North Star and those who do not enjoy Fist of the North Star. Both can easily cite the concept as justification. It's a Bruce Lee/Mad Max amalgamation walking around a post-apocalyptic world with a martial art that causes people's body's to explode. A circa 1980 Mel Gibson's face on a pro wrestler's body performing Bruce Lee fight mannerisms, including the screech, whose flurry of punches causes men's anatomy to bulge then burst? No wonder it's been plucked as the lowest hanging fruit to anime/manga parodies for decades. If you apply real world logic to a creation like Superman or Batman you can bypass the gut acceptance and get to the absurdity. There's no need for that with Fist of the North Star's Kenshiro. Seen once or seen a hundred times, the act is startlingly bizarre. If you buy in, this reliable feed of predictable bizarre provides an addictive fountain of ritual and show. The concept mixes power, righteousness and a sense of its own tragedy with a straight willingness to leave common sense at the door. These story telling tenants don't make for a thoughtful work, but form a super hero work that self-acknowledges how it functions and remains true to the formula. With its notion of reliable drama and reliable spectacle there will always be another martial artist for its hero to fight and the hero can always dispatch hordes of 7 foot tall leather meets punk meets bodybuilder bandits to get to his antagonist. New Fist of the North Star is a 3 episode direct to video OVA that serves a as floating side story. It could be a first introduction to the wandering martial artist Kenshiro, it could be a revisit. The key difference is that unlike other Fist of the North Star anime, this one doesn't look 20 years old. It has the solid, refined look of digital animation which many viewers have come to expect. When torrents of battle aura flow of the fighters, they literally glow. Blood glistens red. When a city raises out of the desert wastes, it is crisp and given dimension rather than looking like the cell equivalent of a rock quarry or sound stage. Though existing fans of Fist of the North Star are going to be anime watchers amiable to the looks of mid 80's animation, seeing the character and his unique methods of dispatching his foes depicted in the bold style of the new model of anime techniques is more than intriguing. The draw back for returning fans is the voice work. 60 year old Akira Kamiya has said he is too old to reprise the lead, which is now performed by Takehito Koyasu (King of Fighter's Shingo Yabuki , Bobobo-bo Bo-bobo, Excel Saga's Ilpalazzo, Gundam SEED's Mu La Flaga ect). Koyasu competently performs the role and give the character a sufficient hard edge, but he doesn't carry the character's strange composition quite as well as Kamiya. And on the voice front, the main antagonist is played by popular musician Gackt. The character is a hulking martial artist who commands control, but is emotionally trapped by the traumas of his youth. Gackt does troubled far better than he does tough, and his voice never seems to fill the frame of the character. The disparity cause it to sound more like a performance than a character speaking. New Fist of the North Star holds onto the late Cold War feel of post apocalyptic fiction, where the world is a post nuclear blast-zone. Fist of the North Star follows the wondering warrior/savior motif, but where-ever the hero goes, almost-inevitably the problem is tied in some way to his school of deadly martial arts. New Fist of the North Star builds this out with its own semi-complex circumstances: an oasis kingdom that offers freedom from the ravages of fall-out contaminated water, ruled by theocracy of manufactured false-gods, a feud between antagonists , a mountain monastery of warrior-monks guarding their own secret. While there is a high fighting quotient, it's not constant fighting. The trouble spot and its players are explored with some depth and ultimately they are needed to carry the dynamic moments of the series, since the hero needs to static within the Fist of the North Star concept. Though at times this is intriguing, it is a bit hap hazard. The introduction of elements that are key to the climax are inelegantly hammered in. The denouncement and ultimately the morality as laid by the hero is arbitrary when judged by criteria other than time on the screen, where the lives of named characters matter and unnamed don't. The series might have been better served by creating more cases for the antagonists to fight each other, since battles with the hero are decisive, generally quickly resolved and slightly predictable. In fact, the opponent that presented the most trouble was a metal gate. Still, the fights offered complex mechanism for the human body to graphically project teeth and brains and other organs in random directions, or offered complex choreography or both. The final fight a highlight reel winner and it\s one of the best depictions of a karate style system of punches and blocks outside a Sonny Chiba Street Fighter movie.
Spotlight Destiny's Hand Volume 1 Written by Nunzio DeFilippis and Christina Weir Illustrated by Melvin Calingo
Released by Seven Seas
Destiny's Hand doesn't take the reader's appreciation of genre for granted. It makes sure to reestablish what works in the pirate story. When engaged, particularly in its action scenes, its smiling, almost curious, charge at danger imbues the work with the spirit of swashbuckling adventure. The set pieces with weapons drawn and characters moving shine in their rounded construction of the scene. Diversely designed characters and backdrops provide a sense of place and time. Attention to the dimensions of the ship, room or landscape on which the characters are interacting feeds the physical relationships of the moment. Then in the exchange of facial expression and motions the reader is encourage to get caught up in the work. Destiny's Hand is successful in feeding on the pirate genre's tradition of shuffling social order. It is convincingly a wild, free ride, where danger is met with forceful spirits and camaraderie. Still, taken on its own terms, it's a struggle to accept aspects of the premise. The problem working into the first volume of Destiny's Hand is that it doesn't gracefully introduce its conceits. It's a pirate work that is no where near as outrageous as One Piece, but not as firm as something like Treasure Island. For a work of adventure fiction, there's nothing critically wrong with the concept of noble pirates, cargo stealers with a sense of honor who reacts to surrender with the guarantee of safe passage and the like. That these are pirates who are still armed robbers and not embargo running opportunists especially in that the work doesn't shy away some level of brutality is a bit hard to process. With the prevalence of the tradition of gentlemen thieves, a gentlemen pirate isn't manifesting out of no where. Except, when a merchant ship greets an upcoming pirate with a questionable ploy, and the narrative shares the indignation of the nobles pirates over the rouse, expectations are shaken up a bit too quickly. Beyond noble pirate concerns, further construction of the plot suggests potential. It builds the foundation for a host of intriguing character dynamics, but in this volume too much is new for the readers and for the characters to realize much of what could happen. If Destiny Hand is scheduled for three volumes, as suggested in interviews, too many threads were introduced. Whether the first volume is an extended opening or a condense first act is ambiguous, but it never seems to slow in adding new elements. When there are as many introductions as there are in the first volume, and when the introductions come with the steady regularity, what might be intended as a revelation can easily be confused with plot landscape being set out. While the volume does establish the strength of the relationships being depicted, there is no settled point to latch on and accept what is being depicted.
Hello Kitty Stump Village Volume 1
Released by Geneon
Cuteness is a given for a Hello Kitty work. Sanrio practically wrote the book on transforming the nebulous concept into an industry for reproducing and marketing it. That said, in addition to fulfilling the requisite adorable quotient, Stump Village is literally and figuratively less flat than the propensity for Hello Kitty animated series usually suggests. The Korean animated work captures the small doings of Hello Kitty and her friends, the Jackie O-looking rabbit My Melody, the thick dog Purin and log ear dog Pochoco replacement Cinnamoroll (so far Badtz Maru has only appeared in the opening sequel) in an animated form that combines stop motion and CGI effects. While still a placid form of young audience entertainment, the Stump Village short episodes are not quite assaulting in their sweetness. There's enough stumbling, bickering, and cutesy hard feeling that the work does have a bit of verve. While not a grand work of storytelling, it does seem to prioritize being true to the characters over forcing lessons into the narrative. So characters do, to the minor magnitude a Hello Kitty work affords, foul a bit badly, or hang on to grudges. In applied terms, if the other characters break Hello Kitty's prized "heart shaped fruit", she spends a good amount of time angrily self-sequestered in her room, even after her friends give her gifts and apologize. The 10 minute episodes follow Hello Kitty and company living in a micro village where they keep busy by farming, and entertaining themselves attempting to crack open walnuts, making gingerbread house like structures out of sweets and such. There is an emphasis on inventiveness. It's not so much applied to problem solving as it is a feature that characterizes the personalities. There's a light continuity in the work. Objects carry over between episodes, and there is one two part on the volume. After Tim Burton and Aardman's works, there are high expectations for the artfulness of stop motion. Stump Village captures the simplicity of Sanrio characters with the dimension of physical figures. Because of the flatness of Sanrio's design, 2D animation with this set of characters is sometimes lifeless. The dimension of the figures left by stop motion gives the characters more of a presence. The goals and output are lower than the more renowned works of stop motion, and the technique is nothing that would encourage a non-child-accompanied adult to watch the work, but Stump Village's sense of operating cuteness in action hold the viewers attention to the degree that it needs to. The series would bring a smile to the face of a young audience, and older audiences may enjoy the stop motion presentation, and seeing scenes like Hello Kitty attempt to break a walnut shell with a mallet, only to have the nut fire a bruising launch into My Melody's face
Ghibli News
Ghibli World points out that theGhibli Production Diary indicates that the storyboard for storyboards for Hayao Miyazaki's next movie are complete. Ghibli produced the storyboard using water color instead of black-and-white, and the diary noted "even we have not seen a colored storyboard very often. Of course it is the first time for a Studio Ghibli film". The movie expected for summer 2008, and following the pattern of last four Ghibli movies, many expect that the title will be announced on December 13th of this year. Cartoon Brew distills Reuters' article to lay out the strained relation between Hayao and Goro Miyazaki.
Dark Horse Plans
ICV2 lists a selection of Dark Horse release plans for early 2007. Tanpenshu, a two-volume series collecting shorter works by Eden creator Hiroki Endo will be released starting January. The first features three storylines including a doomed yakuza outcast, a group of school kids with one about to boil over, and the members of an experimental theater troupe. Akira Club will be released in February for $29.95. The 256-page 8" x 11" color hardcover companion volume to the Akira volumes by Katsuhiro Otomo includes over 100 title-page illos created for the original serialization but not included with the manga volumes, alternate art, preliminary drawings, production sketches, posters, ads, and products, all with commentary by Otomo himself. Masamume Shirow's works will collected in new right-to-left editions, starting with Dominion, a 224 pages for $14.95 February: Dominion: Conflict 1; 160 pages, $14.95 March Orion 2nd Edition April: Appleseed Book 1: The Promethean Challenge The first Gunsmith Cat omnibus will collected in February with 464 pages of the work for $16.95. The first volume of the follow-up series Gunsmith Cats: Burst will be released in April for $10.95 Volume 1 Gina Bigg's shojo-inspired web comic Red String will be published in a collection for $12.95
Media Blasters Licenses Yaoi Anime
Anime on DVD points out that Media Blasters updated their website to indicated that yaoi anime Gakuen Heaven has been licensed by company for release starting in January 2007. The manga is scheduled to be released by TOKYOPOP
Japanese Previews
AnimeNation points out Japanese fan site Tenkai no Mori has collected streaming trailers for 25 of the new Japanese anime television series that premier this month. The trailers available are: Kanon, Code Geass, Asatte no Houkou, Yoake Mae Yori Ruri Iro Na ~ Crescent Love, BLACK LAGOON The Second Barrage, Kujibiki Unbalance, RED GARDEN, Soukou no Strain, 009-1, Bakumatsu Kikansetsu Irohanihoheto, Jigoku Shoujo second series, Mamoru-kun ni Megami no Shukufuku wo, Galaxy Angeluun, Super Robot Taisen OG, Happiness, Otome wa Boku ni Koishiteru, Tokimeki Memorial ~Only Love~, Sumomomomomomo ~Chijou Saikyo no Yume~, Pumpkin Scissors, Negima!?, Kateikyoshi Hitman REBORN!, Busou Renkin, D.Gray-man, Yamato Nadeshiko Shichihenge, Ghost Hunt. Cartoon Brew has YouTube'ed clips of KOMANEKO, a cute stop motion work here From < a href="http://ikimashou.net">ikimashou.net A streaming trailer for 3D CGI movie Atagoal wa Neko no Mori has been posted online. ikimashou.net has a YouTube movie. The site for Gonzo's implemtnation of Getsumen Toheiki Mina, the formerly fictional anime series watched by the hero of Densha Otoko/Train Man is online. The series will appear on Japanese TV starting in January. A streaming trailer for the upcoming Devil May Cry anime, with mostly character design, can be seen here. A YouTube version can be seen here A 90 second SumomomoMomomo is up on BigGlobe here AIka's new OVA,"AIKa R-16:VIRGIN MISSION", scheduled for Spring 2007 The home page for the recently commenced Ghost Hunt anime adpation is updated. Les Miserables: Shoujo Cossette's site. A 90 minute pilot/premiere is in the works for the 52 episode project The second live action Death Note Movie, Death Note: The Last Name, set to debut in Japanese theaters November 3rd, has a preview trailer here and a full trailer here. Venus Versus Virus has a new site here with a trailer here The Japanese Pokemon movie site has been updated for an upcoming Pokemon Diamond and Pearl movie The Mai-Otome Zwei OVA site is running here From AnimeNation The Japanese fan site Neko to Negima! has a trailer for Negima!?, the second Negima TV series here Left click on the link. The site for Ginga Tetsudo: Eien e no Bunkiten (Galaxy Railways: To the Crossroads of Eternity), the second season of the work based on Leiji Matsumoto's space opera universe now hosts a streaming trailer. The site for the TV anime adaptation of Kekkaishi features trailers: 30 second trailer 15 second trailer 1 15 second trailer 2 Anime News Service reports a website for the new OVA Saiyuki Reload: Burial will open soon at saiyuki-ova.net.
Viz Talks Q4 Premieres
VIZ Media has announced the release this fall of nine unique and new manga series. The first of the titles will debut in October with new series each month through the end of 2006. These will include TRAIN_MAN: DENSHA OTOKO, HAYATE THE COMBAT BUTLER, R.O.D: READ OR DREAM, and O-PARTS HUNTER, under the VIZ Media imprint; four new Shojo Beat titles - THE CAIN SAGA, LA CORDA d’ORO, PUNCH! and TAIL OF THE MOON; and REBORN!, which will be offered by VIZ MEDIA’s SHONEN JUMP imprint. TRAIN_MAN: DENSHA OTOKO • MSRP: $9.99 • Rated “T” for Teens • Available October 2006 The manga companion to the quirky smash hit live-action film (theatrically released in September by VIZ Pictures), TRAIN_MAN tells the comedic but romantic adventure a hopeless geek has as he makes his first attempts to woo a beautiful woman he meets on a train. With the help of a zany cast of characters he meets on an internet bulletin board, he gets advice and finds that love is daunting and often strange, but worth undergoing a complete metamorphosis to find his soul mate. A sweet story that captivated Japanese audiences, VIZ Media is pleased to introduce TRAIN_MAN to North American audiences in both the original live action film, set for release early next year, and this engaging and heartwarming manga. THE CAIN SAGA • MSRP: $8.99 • Rated “M” for Mature • Available October 2006 Kaori Yuki, author of hit gothic manga series ANGEL SANCTUARY, takes readers deep into the past of one of her most intriguing characters. THE CAIN SAGA takes us to 19th century Britain to introduce a much younger Earl Cain C. Hargreaves, already a fan favorite from the Shojo Beat Manga’s conspiracy-laden series, GODCHILD. In this first volume of a five book set, linked short stories explore the earlier adventures of the prominent but fractured family that seems to exist solely so its members can wander the dark labyrinth of crime, passion, murder and mystery that has cursed them for generations. LA CORDA d’ORO • MSRP: $8.99 • Rated “T” for Teens • Available October 2006 Recently previewed in SHOJO BEAT magazine, LA CORDA d'ORO tells the story of the prestigious Seishou Academy, which holds a prominent musical competition where only the very best students are allowed to participate. Though all are eligible to apply, only students from the Music School actually make it to the competition – until now. Kahoko is a normal student in the General Education School with absolutely no musical skill, but all that changes when she catches a glimpse of an elusive fairy that lives on campus. The fairy grants Kahoko a magic violin, and before she knows it, she's become a virtuoso and is nominated to participate in the school's music competition, along with five very attractive boys. Will she win love and fame, or will bitter rivalry rule the day? TAIL OF THE MOON • MSRP: $8.99 • Rated “T+” for Older Teens • Available October 2006 In the 8th year of Japan’s feudal Tenshou period, a girl named Usagi is training to be a Shinobi, or ninja, but she isn't good at it. Sure, she's good with healing herbs, but she's the granddaughter of the leader of a prestigious ninja village and she's such a klutz that she never makes it out of the kiddie class. Finally frustrated with Usagi's lack of progress, her grandfather resigns to send her to marry a local lord and have lots of ninja babies. But the lord has no interest in Usagi, or her child bearing potential! After years of goofing around, Usagi is finally determined to reach her goals to become a ninja and capture her true love's heart! REBORN! • MSRP: $9.99 • Rated “T+” for Older Teens • Available October 2006 Tsunayoshi Sawada (Tsuna for short) is a scaredy-cat junior high student who’s a failure at school, sports and social life. He only attends school so he can stare at his gorgeous classmate Kyoko Sasagawa from afar. But everything changes for Tsuna when Reborn, a fedora-wearing, pistol-packing Italian hit-man baby, shows up at his house and claims he was sent to Japan to groom Tsuna for his future life as a big Mafia boss! Tsuna doesn’t believe this absurd story, so Reborn shoots Tsuna in the head with his gun. As Tsuna faces his own death, he’s filled with remorse that he never confessed his feelings to Kyoko...and suddenly he’s overcome with magical powers that allow him to run off screaming to tell Kyoko how much he loves her. After five minutes, Tsuna goes back to normal. Reborn explains how his gun works: When he shoots people in the head, they die but are then reborn with temporary supernatural powers that allow them to fulfill their dying wish. Reborn and Tsuna make an unlikely pair, but every day they’re together, Tsuna gets reborn into a new (and better) guy! HAYATE THE COMBAT BUTLER • MSRP: $9.99 • Rated “T+” for Older Teens • Available November 2006 Hardworking Hayate Ayasaki is one of the fastest delivery boys in town until his employer terminates him for being underage. Forced to support his ingrate and unemployed parents, he is shocked to discover that they’ve run up huge gambling debts, and have decided to earn the money back by selling Hayate’s organs to the yakuza. Our hero then decides to kidnap a young girl, Nagi Sanzenin, for ransom money, but fails miserably by giving away his real name. Nagi, who is the daughter of an extremely wealthy family, mistakes his actions for a confession of true love and smitten, hires him to become her personal butler. Now Hayate think he has finally found stable employment, but he is in for way more than he suspects. PUNCH! • MSRP: $8.99 • Rated “T+” for Older Teens • Available November 2006 Though Elle wants nothing to do with fighting, her grandfather has different ideas and betroths her to an up-and-coming boxer from his own gym. She hates the idea and doesn't want to marry him. One day she meets a handsome street brawler who intrigues her, but her jealous fiancé finds out and goes after the guy! What will happen when a trained boxer goes a couple rounds with a scrappy street fighter? An apt combination of brawn and beauty, PUNCH! was recently previewed in SHOJO BEAT magazine and is the latest manga from Rie Takada, who created HAPPY HUSTLE HIGH (also published by VIZ Media). R.O.D: READ OR DREAM • MSRP: $9.99 • Rated “T+” for Older Teens • Available November 2006 A sequel to VIZ Media’s recently released R.O.D: READ OR DIE manga, this new series centers on Michelle who is a romantic daydreamer and hardcore book collector, Maggie a soft-spoken bookworm who always gets mistaken for a boy, and Anita a tomboy who doesn't have time for reading. Together, they're the Paper Sisters, three very different siblings united by a strange power – they all have the ability to control paper in any way they desire. And from their Hong Kong detective agency, they solve any and all cases involving books! R.O.D: READ OR DREAM is a manga series that proves that reading IS fundamental! O-PARTS HUNTER • MSRP: $9.99 • Rated “T+” for Older Teens • Available December 2006 In the not too distant future, mankind fights over relics from an ancient civilization called O-Parts, each of which contain incredible powers. Some people with special abilities are able to use the O-Parts to their full potential, and are known as O.P.T.s (or O-Parts Tacticians). Naturally, O-Parts can be used for both good and evil purposes. Ruby Crescent is an ordinary girl who, following in her father’s footsteps, dreams of becoming a treasure hunter and discovering elusive and valuable O-Parts. She soon meets a mysterious boy named Jio who has a tragic past and only trusts one thing in the world: money. Little does he suspect that he is actually a very powerful O.P.T. and inside him resides a demon of incredible power. Though Jio doesn't believe in friendship, he agrees to be Ruby's bodyguard and together they embark on a dangerous quest to discover the secrets of the O-Parts.
Manga Talks Tactics
Anchor Bay Entertainment and Manga Entertainment release Tactics: Volume 2 on DVD, featuring episodes 6-10 of the remarkable anime series. The continuing saga of supernatural detective Kantaro Ichinomiya and his “Demon Eating”goblin partner Haruka, Tactics: Volume 2 is produced by studio Deen (SPIRITED AWAY, FRUITS BASKET, NEON GENESIS EVANGELION, READ OR DIE, and MOBILE SUIT GUNDAM). Dvdtalk.com says that “the animation is stunning, the artwork is breathtaking and the backgrounds resemble Japanese watercolor painting…a sleeper hit.” Tactics” Volume 2 has an SRP of $24.98 Episodes 6-10 follows the monster-fighting squad as they journey to Bride Island, Suzuku Temple, and Asakusa in search of paranormal adventures. Starting with Chapter 6, a ghost trolley appears in a small village six months after a horrible accident. In their investigations, the detectives encounter a young girl who might hold the secret to the mysterious apparition. Then in Episode 7, the daughter of a wealthy family disappears from Asakusa. Haruka and Kantaro are called to investigate. Can the two stop bickering long enough to discover the secret of Lord Katsuragi and the Katsuragi society? Episode 8 is a treat for anyone who has ever felt unappreciated with Yoko who keeps the Ichinomiya household running. She cooks, cleans and does the laundry with little reward. After Kantaro and Haruka enjoy a treat that she was saving for later, Yoko decides to pack up and leave. In Episode 9, people are inexplicably turning into skeletons on Bride Island. Professor Numata seeks the help of Kantaro and his college rival/supernatural skeptic. The two-part Episode 10 is all-out adventure of Kantaro, Haruka and the rest of the team attempt to solve the mysterious deaths on the eve of Suzuku Village’s Festival of the Wind. The Tactics: Volume 2 DVD boasts the following exhilarating episodes: Episodes 6: The Ghost Trolley Episode 7: A Seductive Beckoning Episode 8: A Foxy Lady Episode 9: The Strange Tale of Bride Island Episode 10: Will of the Winds Part One Bonus features on the Tactics: Volume 2 DVD include: • Original Japanese with English Subtitles • Japanese and English Language Stereo and 5.1 Surround Mixes • Photo Gallery • Motion Menus • Original Japanese TV Commercials • Original Japanese Merchandise Ads
At&T U-Verse Tv To Include Anime Network On Demand
AtAT&Tamp;T Inc. announced a distribution agreement with Anime Network, which will deliver its on-demand programming as part of the AtAT&Tamp;T U-verseSM TV channel lineup. Under the agreement, AtAT&Tamp;T U-verse TV customers will have access to Anime Network On Demand, which offers thousands of hours of the latest anime programming directly from Japan. AtAT&Tamp;T U-verse TV and Anime Network On Demand will offer free, subscription and transactional video-on-demand (VOD) options. AtAT&Tamp;T U-verse TV is delivered by Project Lightspeed, the company’s initiative to expand the fiber-optics network deeper into neighborhoods to deliver U-verse TV, AtAT&Tamp;T Yahoo!® High Speed Internet U-verse Enabled and, in the future, Voice over IP services. Through its subsidiaries, AtAT&Tamp;T expects to reach nearly 19 million households by the end of 2008 as part of its initial deployment, using fiber-to-the-node (FTTN) and fiber-to-the-premises (FTTP) technologies.
Old Eva Gossip
Eva Monkey points Eva Otaku has posted a partial translation of Evangelion Kaibunsho, an old Usenet post proportion to be insider account of the behind the scenes story of Gainax's production of Neon Genesis Evangelion.
CPM and DramaQueen Distribution Deal
MangaCast reports distributor Consortium will be handling the manga from CPM and DramaQueen. Diamond, the distribitor of comics to specialty shops and some book stores has served their relationship with CPM. Love Manga looks at the subject here
Yawara Release Plans
Anime on DVD reports that according to AnimEigo's fall update, they plan to release Urasawa Naoki's Yawara starting with a 40 episode set. The series follows the sports/drama follows a high school senior as she prepares for the Barcelona Olympics.
Top 10 Manga for Japan Media Arts Festival
MangaNews and @jojo report 10th anniversary TJapan Media Arts Festival released the results of its poll on the top 10 manga. 1. Slam Dunk 2. Jojo's Bizarre Adventures 3. Dragon Ball 4. Full Metal Alchemist 5. Doraemon 6. Phoenix 7. Black Jack 8. Nasicaa of the Valley of the Wind 9. Mushishi 10. Death Note
ADV Acquires Best Student Council
ADV Films announced it has acquired exclusive home video and broadcast rights in North America for Best Student Council aka Gokujo Seitokai, a new series by J.C. Staff (Excel Saga, Maburaho). The school dramedy directed by Yoshiaki Iwasaki (Love Hina) will premiere on the Anime Network. Synopsis: At first glance, Miyagami Gakuen seems like a typical all-girls’ school. Beneath its placid surface, a highly-disciplined student council is engaged in an unceasing struggle to keep Miyagami Gakuen safe from the outside (adult) world! Complete with covert and assault divisions, all student council members have some kind of special ability. So how did cute little transfer student Rando Rino make the cut? Armed with only her ever-present hand puppet (and an excess of adorability), Rino’s good humor and charm lead her through one adventure after another. A hilarious series accented by thoughtful reflections on growing up, Best Student Council plays in the very best tradition of anime comedies. ADV Films has not yet announced a specific release date, but expects to release it in early 2007.
Screenings at Chicago International Film Festival
Anime News Network points out Chicago International Film Festival and the Japan America Society of Chicago present the first annual Anime Focus starting Saturday, October 7 at noon. The event features the North American premiere of director Yoshiyuki Tomino’s trilogy Mobile Suit Z Gundam I,II & III, as well as an opportunity to speak to Tomino in a Q&A session following the screenings. This is the North American premiere of the compilation movie (based on the 1985–86 Zeta TV series), and they are digitally remastered with significant additional footage and the promise of a surprise ending. Mobile Suit Z Gundam I Sat 10/7 | 12:00pm | Thorne Auditorium Mobile Suit Z Gundam II Sat 10/7 | 2:15pm | Thorne Auditorium Mobile Suit Z Gundam III Sat 10/7 | 4:15pm | Thorne Auditorium Mobile Suit Z Gundam director Yoshiyuki Tomino will also be there to sign Mobile Suit Gundam: Awakening, Escalation, Confrontation, and Mobile Suit Gundam: Char’s Counterattack on Friday, October 6 at 12:30 pm. Finally, Satoshi Kon's Paprika will screen the following weekend: Sat 10/14 | 11:00pm | Landmark’s Century Centre Wed 10/18 | 7:00pm | Landmark’s Century Centre
More School Rumble
ikimashou reports that the end of the School Rumble anime indicated that more anime based on the shonen rommance gag manga is the works.
Robotech Shadow Chronicles Delayed, Picks Up Award
FUNimation is now listing that the distributor plans to release Robotech: The Shadow Chronicles in theaters and on DVD in early 2007. Formerly, the DVD was scheduled for November 2006. In addition to the 2006 International Horror and Sci-Fi Film Festival, Robotech: The Shadow Chronicles has already had successful screenings at Cannes and The New York Korean Film Festival, and the feature will be coming to additional film festivals across North America. Fans are encouraged to stop by www.funimationfilms.com for an updated list of festivals. FUNimation and Harmony Gold have announced that the new feature-length animated film Robotech: The Shadow Chronicles won the Best Animated Sci-Fi Feature Award at the 2006 International Horror and Sci-Fi Film Festival. The award will be presented at the October 28 screening in Phoenix. Robotech: The Shadow Chronicles was the only animated sci-fi feature film shown at the 2006 International Horror and Sci-Fi Film Festival.
December ADV Premieres and Box Sets
From Anime on DVD ADV Films New Title Solicitations (02:01 PM EDT): The December slate for ADV Films has shown up on Right Stuf today and they're kicking off a couple of new series: 12/5 Pani Poni Dash! Vol. #1 - 125 minutes - $29.98 12/12 E's Otherwise Complete Collection (Thinpak) - 650 minutes - $59.98 Full Metal Panic? FUMOFFU Complete Collection (Thinpak) - 300 minutes - $49.98 12/19 Nerima Daikon Brothers Vol. #1 - 100 minutes - $29.98
Death Note International
VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), animation and licensing companies has inked deals with Ediciones Glenat España in Spain, Panini in Italy, Tokyopop in Germany and Dargaud Lombard in France to publish the DEATH NOTE manga from Shueisha. It is scheduled for fall 2006 release. DEATH NOTE is about Light Yagami an ace student with great prospects who is bored out of his mind. Then he finds the Death Note, a notebook dropped by a rogue Shinigami death god. Any human whose name is written in the notebook dies, and Light vows to use the power of the Death Note to rid the world of evil. But when criminals begin dropping dead, the authorities send the legendary detective L to track down the killer and he's hot on the heels of Light Yagami.
Geneon Talks Fourth Quarter Premieres
Hellsing: Ultimate Synopsis For over a century, the Hellsing Organization has been secretly protecting the British Empire from the undead "freaks," When Sir Integra Hellsing succeeded as the head of the organization, she also inherited the ultimate weapon against the undead enemies, the rogue vampire Arucard. Although his signature weapon is an enormous “anti-freak” gun called Jackal, he is a "true" undead with mysterious and frightening powers, which includes the ability to transform himself into bats and other creatures. While on a mission ordered by Integra, he is forced to shoot Seras Victoria, a policewoman held hostage by an enemy vampire. “Do you want to live?” he asks Seras, whose very answer changes the course of her existence. Now reborn as Arucard's servant, Seras is torn between her conflicting humanity and her vampire urges. Street Date: 12/06/06 Retail Price: $44.98 Ergo Proxy Synopsis Domed city Romd is an impenetrable would-be utopia where humans and robots coexist, and everything is under complete government control. While working on a mysterious murder case, Rel Mayer, a female detective who works for the Civilian Intelligence Office, receives a foreboding message that something is going to “awaken.” That night, she is attacked by a deformed super-being...What was this unidentified monster that attacked her, and who was the figure that came in between them? Eventually the spiraling mystery unfolds and the metaphysical battle cry will lure Rel to the unknown outside world. Street Date: 11/22/06 Retail Price: $29.98 Paradise Kiss Synopsis Yukari, a beautiful high school student, is studying for the college entrance exam. Her entire life is based on the education formula, which means the most important objectives are to get good test scores and get into a good college. As a result, she has been ultimately stressed out by trying so hard to please her parents. One day, she ran into a group of students from Yazawa School of Design that calls itself “Paradise Kiss,” and her life began to change… They want Yukari to model their creations in the annual Yazawa School of Design fashion show! At first, she is hesitant about doing anything other than studying, but as Yukari is influenced by the unique members of “Paradise Kiss,” she begins to notice that there is more to life than school. Street Date: 12/19/06 Retail: $29.98 Hello Kitty: Stump Village Synopsis Let's visit Stump Village to see Hello Kitty and all of her cute friends! Each day is a new surprise, like inventing a seesaw nutcracker, making sunglasses out of vegetables, and building a yummy-looking cookie town. Sometimes they play and sometimes they misbehave, but at the end of the day they always learn something new. Street Date: 10/31/06 Retail: $14.98
ibooks Liquidation
The Beat reports that after the Chapter 7 Bankruptcy of Byron Preiss Visual Publications and iBooks, the companies' assets will be auctioned on October 19 with a starting bid of $150,000. ibooks' manga releases included Icaro by Moebius and Jiro Taniguchi.
TOKYOPOP Holiday Gift Sets
Princess Ai: An Ai-Land Saga (Manga: Fantasy; Teens 13+; Release Date: 10/10/06; Price: $24.99 S.R.P.) This best-selling Gothic fantasy thrillogy, created by an unparalleled royal manga family that includes writer-producer-composer D.J. Milky (Juror 13), renowned Japanese artist Misaho Kujiradou, celebrated international manga-ka Ai Yazawa (Paradise Kiss), and rock star Courtney Love, comes to fans in a gorgeous deluxe box with beautiful foil accents that contains the complete bestselling manga series. Follow Princess Ai's adventures as she transforms from a girl lost in the streets of Tokyo into a global pop diva with the world at her feet. More Princess Ai releases are planned for the new year. Kingdom Hearts (Manga: Fantasy; All Ages; Release Date: 10/10/06; Price: $23.99 S.R.P.) Based on the super-popular Kingdom Hearts video game franchise from Disney and Square Enix, here are the first four best-selling manga volumes of one boy's epic journey of courage, trust and destiny! When a strange storm hits his island home, 14-year-old Sora is separated from his friends and swept into a mysterious new land. There he meets Court Wizard Donald and Captain Goofy, who are on a mission to find their king, Mickey, and return him to his throne at Disney Castle. When the three learn of the Heartless, ominous creatures who feed off the darkness in the hearts of others, they join forces to recover Sora's friends, return the king to his rightful position and save the universe from the Heartless! Avatar (Cine-Manga: Action; All Ages: Release Date: 10/10/06; Price: $19.99 S.R.P.) TOKYOPOP presents the first three volumes of Nickelodeon's epic fantasy, packed with martial arts maneuvers, in a thrilling Cine-Manga-style adventure! Wind. Earth. Fire. Air. Only the Avatar was the master of all four elements. Only he could save the world from the ruthless Fire Nation. But when the world needed him most, he disappeared. Until now... On the South Pole, a lone Water Tribe village struggles to survive. Young Waterbender Katara and her warrior brother Sokka rescue a mysterious boy named Aang, who is an Airbender--a race of people no one has seen in a century. Soon, everyone discovers that Aang is the long lost Avatar. Now it's up to Katara and Sokka to make sure Aang faces his destiny...to save the world!
Upcoming GONZO Projects
Anime News Service reports GONZO Festa Fall '06 showed a clip of "Romeo x Juliet". The series is scheduled for 2007. Confirmed staff include Director Fumitoshi Oisaki (Kaleido Star, Sgt. Frog) Series Composition by Reiko Yoshida (Kaleido Star, ARIA) and Producer: Dongyang Ikeda (Kaleido Star). An anime sequel to the sci-fi anime Kiddy Grade was announced on Suzumiya Haruhi SOS Brigade Radio #35. The series will feature new stories featuring Kiddy Grade's Eclair and Lumiere.
Gunbuster Promotionally Inching
Anime on DVD points out that Bandai Visual USA now lists the upcoming release of Gainax's Evangelion precursor Gunbuster.Harutoshi Fukui Working on Gundam
Gunota reports Harutoshi Fukui, author of Lorelei and Aimless Aegis will be working on a Gundam project that will be appearing starting this winter in the Gundam Ace periodical.
Wildstorm Ninja Scroll Preview
Newsarama has posted a 5 page preview of Wildstorm's upcoming comic book continuation of Ninja Scroll here
English Sukeban Deka Work
Twitch points out that The Japan Times features a review of the new live action adaptation of cult manga Sukeban Deka, featuring a yo-yo wielding woman cop, undercover as a highschool delinquent here
VIZ Media And Ty's Toy Box Form E-Commerce Alliance
VIZ Media announced its selection of Ty’s Toy Box, LLC (www.tystoybox.com) to handle its e-commerce fulfillment operations. Effective immediately, Ty’s Toy Box will be responsible for the technology, merchandising, warehousing, fulfillment and customer care for VIZ Media’s online marketplaces. The first store narutostore.viz.com launches on September 12th. Launch plans for store.viz.com are set for early October, followed by dedicated marketplace sites for brands such as INUYASHA, ZATCH BELL!, DEKO BOKO FRIENDS, and Shonen Jump BLEACH. Merchandise also will be marketed and sold through the Ty’s Toy Box multi-channel e-commerce network, which includes Amazon (www.amazon.com) and eBay (www.ebay.com).
Animation Mentor Graduates First Class, Starting Next
Online animation school Animation Mentor has announced that the program, which mixes instruction with social networking based guidance graduated its first ever class September 25. One hundred fifty-four animators from 23 countries have completed their studies under working studio animator instructors, earning diplomas in Advanced Studies in Character Animation from the California Bureau for Private Postsecondary and Vocational Education. At the same time, Animation Mentor is welcoming its largest class since the inaugural group of students came aboard in March 2005. Today, 156 aspiring animators from 26 countries are beginning their first term at the school. The six-term (18-month) program includes live, interactive Q&A sessions/classes led by mentors who work at PIXAR, Sony, DreamWorks, and more; eCritiques in which mentors provide personal audio-visual critiques of weekly assignments; rich media instruction from pre-eminent animators; and combination live/virtual improvisation classes. The program also offers a, 24-hour animation community enabled by the school site. In addition to personal profile pages, forums, chat rooms, buddy lists and virtual events, they view each other’s coursework and tests, find fellow countrymen attending the school, and turn to each other for feedback and support.
Student Taylor Mahoney participating in Lucy Napier's (Shrek 2, Madagascar) class with his webcam and microphone. Lucy's image appears on Taylor's screen, holding forth on the week's assignment. Ten other students from around the world participate virtually in Lucy's weekly classes, along with Taylor. From Student: Patricia Location: San Francisco, CA Age: 37 Participating in Animation Mentor was one of the best decisions I've made. The experience has been overwhelmingly positive and I can't wait to begin the second term. I come from a 2D background, and struggled for a few years trying to get a handle on Maya. I wasted a lot of money on courses where they expected you to learn animation, modeling, rigging, lighting and texturing in a six-week term and I found it very disheartening. But the Animation Mentor approach is that we are learning animation, and only animation, and I think the result of this in a few years time will be a very highly skilled talent pool with a new higher standard founded in the basic animation principles. By far the best aspect of this unique program is the terrific sense of community, and the tremendous support and encouragement provided by both the Mentors and our fellow classmates. Since I work full time, I frequently work quite late into the night, and I know I am not alone. If I come up against an obstacle at 2 am, I often go to the forum and have a solution within minutes, either from a helpful student who is online, or a post from someone else who has experienced the same problem. Fostering this kind of camaraderie is such an important thing, because ultimately we will all be working as part of a team, and mutual respect is invaluable. Many thanks for bringing us along for the ride!
DGN Productions Inc Website Live
DGN Productions, parent company of manga/Hong Kong comics publisher Drmaster has launched its site at /www.dgnproduction.com. The site features a information about products, such as Drmaster releases and services such as printing and licensing.
Cybergraphix To Showcase Guardians of Luna at Rat Bastard
Cybergraphix Animation has announced that the the studio will be brining its boys’ action-adventure series Guardians of Luna and its adaptation of Cliff Galbraith and Tim Bird's underground comic Rat Bastard to audiovisual content market MIPCOM (October 9th-13th in Cannes France) After securing a manga publishing deal with DRMaster Publications (www.drmasterbooks.com), Guardians of Luna is now seeking broadcast deals at the market. “We are bringing Guardians of Luna, now fully funded, to MIPCOM and MIPCOM Jr. this year.” said Avi Melman, CEO of Cybergraphix Animation. “We’re very excited about the series’ progress, and look forward to showcasing it at the market, along with our hot new property Rat Bastard.” Guardians of Luna brings together major animation talent like Michael Reaves (Batman:The Animated Series, Gargoyles), veteran Japanese animator/director Osamu Tsuruyama (Macross, The Animatrix) and the voice talents of Rino Romano (The Batman, Roughnecks: The Starship Troopers Chronicles), Phil LaMarr (Static Shock, Futurama), Adam Wylie (Legion of Superheroes, Gilmore Girls) and Yeni Alvarez (Static Shock, Los Beltran). Rat Bastard is helmed by veteran director Kevin Altieri (Striperella, Batman: The Animated Series), and features a gritty sci-fi style blended with a dark film noir sensibility. Roscoe J. Rodent is a private detective working the seedy underbelly of futuristic New York, in a world where genetic engineering has robbed people of their humanity. Everyone aspires to become genetically pure in order to live in a utopian city in the sky called Cloud 10, and it seems that Roscoe, the only one content with what he is, must stick his nose into crimes the corrupt police won't solve.
Warren Ellis Animated Project
Comic writer Warren Ellis' Bag Signal e-mail newsletter included a mention that will be writing the script to a direct-to-DVD animated film next month. Details could not be announced, but he mentioned that he may be also be tasked with voice direction on the project.
Gorillaz Autobiography
The Beat reports Cartoon band Gorillaz are releasing Rise Of The Ogre, a 300 page a autobiography with illustrated by Jamie Hewlett, the designer/animator of the band (and co-creator of Tank Girl).
Persepolis Preview Stills
In non-anime news The Beat points out that Sony Pictures Classics has stills from the upcoming animated adaptation of Marjane Satrapi's autobiographical comic Persepolis here. The film is scheudled for 2007, written and co-directed by Satrapi, with Vincent Paronnaud. Chiara Mastroianni voices young Marjane, and Mastroianni’s real-life mother, Catherine Deneuve plays Marjane’s mother.
For more commentary see the AICN Anime MySpace A moment of humor via ikimashou.net, seen Fata-Stay Night? Check out this Chinese Sabre figure here Gundam Zabi trading figures here