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Be sure to check out the trailer for Studio 4°C's (much of the AniMatrix, TekkonKinkreet) Genius Party

Animation Spotlight: Oban Star Racers Volume One: The Alwas Cycle (Episodes 1-13) To Released by Shout Factory April 22, 2008

Anime Jump's Mike Toole, the best English language anime critic in this columnist's mind, posted this statement in December 2006 "It's funny, when I was a kid I turned to anime because I hated the repetitive plots and crappy animation of American cartoons. Now my three favorite TV cartoons are Venture Bros, Avatar: The Last Airbender, and (Oban Star Racers)." Work to create Oban Star Racers began in 1997, which is to say that the seeds of this animated series were planted before the public had seen Star Wars, Episode One. Yet, glancing at a thumbnail of the series that aired in 2006, seeing a host of hovering, alien chariots racing around a track, "pod racing" leaps to the geek mind. Siphoned from its context, the promise of more hoover engines making left turns is not about to engender thrilled anticipation. The idea of a host of colorful machines engaged in a high speed, regimented competition suggests a synergistic vehicle for video games, merch, and all of the other goodies that seem to drive IP creation these days. Instead, rather than the child of a product manager, delivered on a conference room table, Oban Star Racers was a passion project from Savin Yeatman-Eiffel of Sav! The World Productions. According to interviews and making-of features, the series took nine years from inception to TV du to Yeatman-Eiffel's insistence on maintaining creative control over the project. Eventually, he worked out a unique production arrangment with anime studio Hal Film Maker, the animators of the well regarded Princess Tutu, and the joint effort produced a classic, involving the story of an adolescent, told with a distinctively European sensibility, the energy that is hoped for from anime, well utilized 3D CG, music from Taku Iwasaki (Read or Die, Kenshin OVA, Gurren Lagann, Witch Hunter Robin) and themes by fan favorite Yoko Kanno. North American anime fans often go back to anime for the next fix of a popular genre or story type: the next relationship comedy with some cipher guy and a host of exotic girls, the next high concept action, and so on. Yet if you look at the classic anime movies that commanded the attention of North American audiences, like Akira, or recent examples, like Paprika, classic TV series that commanded the attention of North American audiences, like Star Blazers, or more recent examples, like Fullmetal Alchemist, those anime offered characters that drew the viewer's empathy and a presentation that offered a new experience. Oban Star Racers delivers on both accounts. Set in 2082, 25 years after humanity narrowly escaped conquest by an alien race known as the Crogs, Oban Star Racers opened with Eva celebrating a lonely 15th birthday at Stern Boarding School. With the acquisition of the right illicit part, Eva was able to complete the fixes on her hover scooter and use the vehicle to leap the school walls in an effort to track down her father, Don Wei. In the 10 years since Don Wei left Eva at Stern, rather than looking back, he channeled his complete attention managing preeminent racing teams. As Eva was tracking down her estranged father, Don Wei was being tapped by the President of the Earth Assembly to organize Earth's greatest race team to represent humanity in the Great Race of Oban. Reunited with her father, she saw the man in a fit of work, in the throws of tunnel vision directed towards achieving an objective, blind to the needs of his subordinates. Reacting to this coldness, Eva found that she was unable to introduce herself. When her father could not recognize her, in an instant, Eva decided to assume the identity of anonymous pit worker "Molly". While Molly proved that she was able to help Don Wei's team in a pinch, the young girl didn't fit into the elite roster that Don Wei planned to take to the Alwas racing trials of the Oban circuit, so she stowed away when the team was transported from Earth to Alwas. It is a risky proposition to have Molly hide her identity, but desire to be acknowledged by Don Wei. Unlike a masked hero who takes up an alter ego, the viewer does not want to assume that this ruse will be maintained indefinitely. A scenario in which the dynamic might become a protracted, patience trying exercise is easy to imagine. It teeters on Racer X is Rex Racer obvious or it could spiral into melodrama. Instead, Oban Star Racers constructs both Molly and Don Wei as fascinating, sympathetic characters. Foremost, both are established as talented individuals. One has tasted success that is achieved through rebelliousness and the other has tasted success that is achieved though others obeying his authority. Success reinforces the pattern that lead to that success. As such, the stubbornness of each individual is credible. Rather than being tedious the refusal of either to back down creates a compelling struggle between the two. This feedback loop is complicated and made more interesting as failure enters into the equation. The clash between Molly and Don Wei asserting the correctness of their course of action was heated when they could justify their position based on the results. When they can blame a set back on the opposite position, the entrenched mindsets of an enflamed conflict provide the foundations for a potent parent/child conflict. The rhythm of emotion as Molly fights to be recognized by her father, rejects him and is rejected by him is honest and emotionally provocative as any popular serial. Above the foundation of the Molly/Don Wei conflict, what set's Oban Star Racers' story arc apart from the pack is its comfort with ambivalence. Starting with the original mission, the president who sends the team to race is a clear analog for current leadership. Half way into the series, the motivations don't seem to be outright evil, but they do seem duplicitous, misguided and possibly unenlightened. However, Molly's role and the implicit connection between the viewer and the protagonist are not given clear path either. Rick Thunderbolt, Don Wei's intended pilot is guilty of some of the arrogance that is expected from someone who is highly decorated in professional competition, but he is also likable. He treats Molly well. He butts head with Don Wei from the solid ground of another veteran proven winner who does not see eye to eye with Wei's methods. One could cheer him because he's charismatic, and because he's on the right side, voicing the right position, but beyond that he's the hero of his own story. Yet, because Oban is Molly's story, because the tone of the series rises and falls with her progression, Rick needs to be removed from the picture. The viewer has to root for Rick to be knocked out of the driver's seat, and to some extent, the mood of the series reflects Molly's exhilaration when she is able to take his place as pilot and shocked frustration when Rick reassumes his role. The series isn't a simple exercise of beating an iterating series of opponents. There are heels involved, but Molly is also beating people who aren't villains, who lose something in losing. Oban might not be inspired by Star Wars and its pod racers, but it is informed by the anime that registered in the European pop consciousness, including a few that are known, in North America, such as Lupin III and Captain Harlock, a few that are less remembered, such as UFO Robo Grendizer, and some that never made it stateside, such as Candy Candy. Comparing a Leiji Matsumoto space opera like Star Blazers or Captain Harlock to Oban Star Racers, the inheritance manifests itself in how Oban tracks consequences. From a structural perspective, this is the binding continuity between episodes. Each episode is a stand alone story, but, there is also a definite order to the episodes. Character opinions change. Objects are crafted, painted, rebuilt and so on. The plot and the state of the character relationships in a given episode is the product of the preceding episodes, and even if the episode is structured around a one-off opponent, that short term conflict will shape the future. What's true about setting up events is also true of weighing the network of characters. When one character does something to another, it registers. People stay angry or distrustful. This fosters the sense that tracking the series, and investing in it emotionally is worth while. Fans of Japanese media will argue that "anime style" and "manga style" design are fatuous concepts. At any given point in the evolution of the popular media, there are frequently used hallmarks that can be referred to as the characteristics of anime style. The notion of big eyes and bright, unnaturally colored hair has stuck, but for genres like shonen, that look is long out of vogue. If you really wanted to force the case, you could suggest that Oban Star Racers has an "anime style" look, but in terms these hallmarks, the comparison is superficial. In terms of principles of design, more interesting parallels can be found. Like some manga, or what might be a better comparison, urban vinyl figure art, there is a balance of expressiveness and openness in the design. Every character, whether it's a lead or some alien whose name you'll forget unless you can recall the clever episode title mnemonic, has a component of bold caricature that gives the person unique, iconic look, and at the same time, the noseless, figures have the space of a light touch that allows the observer to read something into the characters. Like manga, the creator and the consumer meet somewhere in the middle. The creator introduces something eye catching and provocative, then the consumer fills in what is missing from the abstraction with their concept of what they are seeing. Working from both angles, if you enjoy the situations offered by sci-fi and emotional swings of good serial s torytelling, Oban Star Racers is an anime series that is not to be missed.

Manga Spotlight: Fairy Tail Volumes 1 and 2 by Hiro Mashima Released by Del Rey Manga

According to reliable accounts, Hiro Mashima's Rave Master gets quite good. Unfortunately, to get to the fresh, involving material you have to work through an early phase of the manga that suggests that you're reading the aquatic adventure that isn't One Piece. Writing as someone who abandoned that ship early, perhaps too early, Mashima's new manga, Fairy Tail, proved to be a winsome surprise. When you're thinking of adventure anime and manga, whether it is Dragon Ball, Bleach, Naruto, One Piece, Yu Gi Oh or the like, you're generally thinking of works originating from the Shonen Jump anthology. Fairy Tail is part of the competition, published in Weekly Shonen Magazine, an anthology that has printed classics such as Ashita no Joe and Ge Ge Ge no Kitaro, and shonen works that skew a bit older, such as Air Gear, Cromartie High School, Devilman, GTO and Violence Jack. In line with that slight difference, the heroes of Fairy Tail are slightly older. Their ambitions are slightly more concrete, professional. Rather than chasing "I'll be the best," the heroes are a cadre of young people with difficult pasts whose shared goal is to make a living by solving problems through the means that they define as proper. In Fiore, the prime movers are magic users organized into guilds under the governance of a Magic Council. In keeping with the time tested notion of heroes who are notorious for their habit of leveling tremendous amounts of landscape and private property in accomplishing their objectives, Fairy Tail is a particularly notorious guild among the powers that be. At the same time, largely comprised of young, attractive magicians, who are generally in the right, members of Fairy Tail are media darlings, the idol of many wanna-be's. The manga opens with one of these would-be's. Lucy Heartphilia hasn't made a name for herself, but she has some aptitude as a celestial wizard, a practitioner of stellar spirit with the ability to use special keys to bring beings from other dimensions into the world. She arrives on scene in time to fall into the thrall of the famous wizard Salamander. Also arriving with an eye out for Salamander is Natsu Dragonil, accompanied by his blue, winged cat companion Happy. Natsu frequently suffers motion sickness, he's unsophisticated, he's immoderate in his reactions, yet, Lucy quickly learns that this flighty free spirit knows his business when it comes to magic and dangerous adversaries. Lucy's ability to draw odd beings into the manga and Natsu raw knuckles firebrand approach to solving troubles offer effective platforms for the type of exchanges that work well in shonen manga. They're ready for a fight, a heated argument, a friendly or a less than friendly contest of will. However, the real star of Fairy Tail is Mashima's illustrations. His tight, fit lines bring a sense of liveliness to the work. Like One Piece or Bleach, the look of the manga broadcasts an idea of exotic young people in strange circumstances. Beyond that, Mashima demonstrates skill at telling a story in a single panel. Whether it is a crowd shot or someone pointing to a bulletin board or a frame of a fight, Mashima doesn't over pack the details, but through his cartooning, he is very adept at conveying these micro-stories. Many North American manga commentators have noted that Fairy Tail looks similar to One Piece. They have a point. Open up a page of One Piece and a page of Fairy Tail. The similarities are more than superficial. There's an overlap in the repertoire of expressions. Key points of comparison emerge in how bodies are shaped, how features, chins for one are illustrated, even how panels are laid out. It's been said that Eiichiro Oda and Hiro Mashima both worked under Kenshin creator Nobuhiro Watsuki. It's also been said that Mashima was an assistant on One Piece, but given the start dates on One Piece and Rave Master, that doesn't really work out. Del Rey repeats the position that Mashima had no master, that he went strait to the role of professional manga artist without serving as an apprentice. It is significant that Eiichiro Oda and Hiro Mashima, as well as creators like Naruto's Masashi Kishimoto grew up with an admiration of Akira Toriyama. Except, it is also worth noting, that in many cases they were hoping to achieve the spirit of early Dragon Ball, where something unexpected and wondrous was about to be sprung. Toriyama offered more in the way of a goal for the impression that a manga should leave than how it should look. In terms of the visual approach leverage in One Piece, you can find Oda crediting Tom and Jerry as a key inspiration. To say that Fairy Tail bears a substantial similarity to One Piece is not the same as saying Mashima's work is not creative or effective. Oda and Mashima are working in a similar tradition the way that The Ring and Ju-on or Sergio Leone's westerns and Sergio Corbucci's westerns work from the same school of thought. One Piece has maintained its inventive energy over its decade long run, and Fairy Tail launches with respectably similar verve. Fairy Tail proves to be less reserved than is generally expected from shonen manga. Rather than a slowly swelling cast, by half way through the first volume a large group of supporting characters has already been already introduced. This proves to be both a benefit and a liability to the manga. Already, Natsu's motivation is clear. Lucy's is suggested. There is a general pattern for how their missions will be staged. After reading a number of Shonen Jump epics, short but exciting quests are a welcome change of pace. Yet, in trying to mix up the pattern, Mashima doesn't always happen upon the most effective solutions. For example, in a particular story Natsu and Lucy are hired to infiltrate a manor and destroy a book in the possession of the mansion's strange-women loving master. The story ably serves as an action set piece. Lucy and Natsu are separated and paired off against opponents who bring out something new in their fighting capabilities. However the plot does not provoke a second thought. As much as Mashima prods us to wonder about the significance of the book, what little is known concerning its background doesn't suggest that deep thinking is warranted. The resolution tries to fill in the details and provide something heart felt, but with the conflict resolved, it is too late in the process summon up enough motivation to care. This also calls the series; longevity into question. While it is strange to criticize a manga for not falling into lock step with the well defined patterns of its genre, Mashima hasn't demonstrated how he is going to make these front loaded introductions and defined missions work. Rather than the snowballing cast like that of the popular Shonen Jump series (Bleach, Naruto, One Piece, ect), the heroes and world seem to be largely known quantities. In that respect, the manga works more like an American super-hero comic or a Western fantasy quest, punctuated by short shonen manga missions. At the same time, even though there are long term goals that define the characters, the horizons are close to the events. There is a magnetism to the characters and to the world, they are sufficiently fun that Fairy Tail shines in its field, but, at least two volumes in, the manga has not established the plot momentum or cause for curiosity that will drive the series forward.

Providence Anime Conference

At least since the boom of the early part of the decade, anime in North America has detached itself from the role of adjunct to sci-fi fandom. As such, the crowd at an anime convention is certainly geeky, but in terms of preferences and demographic distribution, they're distinct from the sci-fi crowd. Events build around this audience, especially large events, have fallen into a certain pattern, offering concerts, costume and fan edited music video competitions, and a chance to interact the voice actors who dub anime into English. For someone a bit older, mid twenties or later, or someone with the classic sci-fi fan mindset, if an event with more than its share of screaming fan girls and college students isn't intimidating, it is at least largely uninteresting. The New England Anime Society (NEAS), the organizers of Anime Boston, aim to shake off some of this stiff calcification, with the pre-register for the event, with a cap at 2,000 paid attendees. Rates are sliding based on how many have registered: $65 for the first 250, $70 for 251-1000, $75 for 1001-2000. A sketch for the convention was laid out at a panel that was presented during Anime Boston (March 21-23, 2008). Described as a scheduling designed to minimize the impact on professionals in New England region, the event will start with a welcome reception, mid-afternoon on Friday, October 3rd. In keeping with the base age of 21, a cash bar will be offered at the reception. PAC hopes to break away from the familiar anime convention standards of edited music video and costume skit cosplay competitions, but organizers also hope to put together a cosplay fashion show and a music video screening. Alternative competition will be in the form of game shows and trivia contests. In addition to traditional panels, an objective is to utilize the space at the Rhode Island Convention Center to offer a "work shop in the round format." Other twists on the familiar anime con routines include a formal ball rather than an informal dance and an artist's alley that is restricted to flat media (paper, canvas, cells, ect.) Adult anime will be shown in the screening rooms in addition to a selection of other genres. There is an interest on the part of the organizers to include well remembered older works, and an idea that was mentioned was to put together a 80's themed Saturday morning screening block. At Anime Boston, organizers stated that they had hoped to publish a schedule on April 1, but that mark seems to have been missed at the time that this piece was written. While organizers have expressed an interest in departing from the familiar slate of anime convention guests, the three announced guests of honor are familiar to anime-con goers: Kevin McKeever of Harmony Gold will be attending as part of the Robotech Convention Tour, in addition to Adam Sheehan, Senior Events Manager at FUNimation, and David Williams, ADR Director at ADV Films. The Anime Boston panel suggested that organizers have an eye on inviting English language voice actors from some of the older televised anime. The Providence Anime Conference is founded on an audacious idea. As someone who is far more interested in discussing the anime tradition, trends in the media and the direction of the industry, than dwelling on the latest hot property, I welcome the attempt to build something like PAC. I think that there is a nice for something that is significantly different from the proscribed model for an American anime convention. MIT Professor Ian Condry's 2007 Cool Japan symposium certainly attracted an engage audience. Whether PAC attracts voices from academia, whether it offers a stage to people beyond this familiar selection of company representatives, whether it attracts an attendee base all remains to be seen. From my perspective, this is one of the most exciting events being organized in North American fandom, but, due to the variables involved, due to the fact this is something new, the need for organizers follow through with their promise of stepping outside the well established routine, and the need for the convention to attract engaged participants who are similarly willing to sign on to the premise of the conference, I am also approaching it with some trepidation.

News on Miyazaki's Next

Nausicaa.net and Ghibli World report that the current status of Hayao Miyazaki's Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea) is *Key animation: 1060/1139 cuts (93%) *Chief animator check: 1012 cuts (89%) *Animation: 944 cuts (83%) *Background painting: 1065 cuts (94%) *Paint: 915 cuts (80%) *Filming: 909 cuts (80%) Studio Ghibli is aiming to complete 30 cuts a week. T two Japanese theaters listing that the movie will open July 19. A description of the trailer can be read here Japanese pop and jazz musician Yano Akiko, who sang on Isao Takahata’s My Neighbors the Yamadas and for her voice roles on the Ghibli Museum shorts Water Spider Monmon and House Hunting will voice the role of one of Ponyo's sisters.

Stan Lee on Anime, Manga

VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), and POW! Entertainment (POWN.PK) announced that Stan Lee, the mind behind Spider-Man, the Incredible Hulk, the Fantastic Four, the X-Men and Daredevil, will be talking about ULTIMO (KARAKURIDÔJI ULTIMO), his collaboration with Shaman King manga creator Hiroyuki Takei at the 2008 New York Comic-con. The 32-page prologue for ULTIMO, which features 3 full-color pages, will debut in a special April issue of the Japanese manga magazine Jump SQ., the sibling publication of Shueisha’s Weekly Shonen Jump, which is historically the best-selling manga magazine in Japan. The special, standalone issue is called Jump SQ.II and comes out the very day of this special event. Stan Lee says, “I am deeply honored for this great opportunity to collaborate with an award-winning artist/writer of the stature of Hiroyuki Takei. I enthusiastically expect that the combination of an American story-telling style merged with Takei-san’s acclaimed Japanese style will result in our joint creation ‘ULTIMO’ presenting an original, exciting type of manga that will appeal to comicbook fans around the world”. The ULTIMO story: High above Farmless City, citizens are stunned by the sudden appearance of two floating figures. Are they human boys, monolithic robots, or something much more strange? As the battle ensues between them, destruction and devastation falls on the hapless city. One figure is Vice, and seems to be as evil as his name implies. The other is Ultimo, intent on trying to stop Vice from wreaking more havoc. But who are Vice and Ultimo really? Where did they come from? A new mystery begins with the fate of the world possibly hanging in the balance! A drawing to win an autographed copies of Jump SQ. II can be entered here Anime News Network reports that the May issue (released on April 10) of Kadokawa's Newtype magazine has confirmed Stan Lee is also attached to a BONES (Fullmetal Alchemist) anime series tentatively title Hero Manga. The story will center on a boy named Joey who discovers a toy robot near the west coast of the United States. Then, the toy becomes Hero Man, a giant robot that Joey pilots against evil threats. Staff includes director Hitoshi Nanba (Baki the Grappler, Bono Bono), character designer Shigeto Koyama (Eureka Seven, Moribito - Guardian of the Spirit, Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann), and Toshihiro Kawamoto (Cowboy Bebop, Golden Boy, Wolf's Rain) and chief animator Toshihiro Kawamoto (Cowboy Bebop, Golden Boy, Wolf's Rain)

Anime on DVD Sold

Popular anime site Anime on DVD has been sold to Mania.com. Founder Chris Beveridge's statement can be read here. Immediate changes to the site include new forum software with new user generate content functionality. According to Beveridge, current staff will continue to be involved with providing content for the site.

June Media Blasters Releases

Anime Works: 6/3/08 SIMOUN: Crescendo of Lamentation (Volume 4 of 5, Eps. 17-21): yuri mecha series 6/10/08 GAO GAI GAR: King of Braves Premium Box Set (Volumes 1-5, Eps. 1-25 5 Discs, $34.99) 6/17/08 GALAXY HIGH SCHOOL (Complete Volumes 1-2, Eps. 1-13 2 Discs, $14.99) 6/24/08 KUJIBIKI UNBALANCE Love Rikkyouin (Volume 2, Eps.5-8 Includes Genshiken OVA #2): Genshiken comedy Spin-off OTOBOKU Maidens are falling for Me (Volume 1, Eps. 1-4) Tokyo Shock (Live Action): 6/3/08 THE MACHINE GIRL 6/17/08 LONE WOLF AND CUB TV Volume 2, Eps. 6-9 2 Discs TOKYO SHOCK HORROR PACK Triple Feature Collection (JAPANESE HELL, CURSED, SAMURAI CHICKS; $29.99) GAO GAI GAR This is the story of the brave men and women who will defend our world. On a desolate road in the snowy mountains, a childless couple wished upon a falling star. The star is revealed to be Galeon, a mechanical lion who delivers the baby Mamoru into their arms. Mamoru grows into an ordinary grade school student, until the day when his class is caught up in a ferocious attack by the mechanoid alien Zonders. The young cyborg hero, Gai Shishio, is sent by the UN alien defense force "3G." He risks his own life without question to protect Mamoru's class and all of Earth. Drawn by the power of his mysterious origins, Mamoru becomes a member of 3G, joining the ranks of humanity's bravest defenders. They wage all-out war against the Zonders with their advanced vehicles, weapons and AI robots. When their backs are up against the wall, Gai Fuses with Galeon and 3G's Gao Machines to form the indomitable King of all robots: Gao-Gai-Gar! But even in the face of these Awe-inspiring machines, the bravery of humanity in its darkest hour is the true Key to Victory! THE MACHINE GIRL 6/3/08 Ami (Minase Yashiro, in her film debut) is a tough but otherwise average high school girl, trying to lead a normal life. Her world comes crashing down when her brother and his friend are killed by ruthless bullies. As Ami tracks down the ringleader, she is surprised to discover the bullies' association with a sinister ninja yakuza family. When she goes after her revenge, she soon finds herself in over her head and minus her left arm. Barely surviving, Amiescapes and seeks out shelter from two kindly garage mechanics. They take pity on her, fitting her with a high-powered machine gun where her arm used to be. She then teams up with the chainsaw-wielding mother (Asami) of her brother's slain friend and together they unleash an unholy, non-stop, over-the-top kill fest against the equally creative machinery (drill bra, flying guillotine) of their relentless ninja enemies. TOKYO SHOCK HORROR PACK Triple Feature Collection JAPANESE HELL A young girl finds herself mixed up in a cult responsible for the sarin gas attack on Japan's subway system. As a result, her soul teeters on the edge of hell. The Queen of Hell grants her a glimpse of what's in store should she fail to repent. Soon she's tumbling into the fiery abyss, baring witness to sinners mercilessly suffering in a manner befitting their sins. They beg for death, but death never comes. Japanese Hell is a thoroughly sinister cautionary tale -- part horror show, part costumed morality play –taken to unforgiving extremes. Evildoers beware: those who do not turn from their wicked ways get their hideous, gory comeuppance in Japanese Hell! CURSED The normally cheerful Nao finds herself in a very unhopeful working environment. At the convenience store where she works, every shift is the graveyard shift. As she goes about her duties, a dark and foreboding presence swirls around her. Vengeful spirits have been awakened and are taking over the establishment. With their humanity crushed, the owner and his wife have already gone insane. Now, one by one, the customers are becoming possessed. And then there's that foul stench coming from behind the store. So it's up to Nao to put an end to this curse. She soon finds that the only escape from this demonic terror is to unlock its secrets. And that can't be a good thing. SAMURAI CHICKS On the southern islands of Japan lies the Orion Dancers Academy where girls learn to sing and dance. Or so they'd like you to believe. Actually, the dance academy is a front for a school for female warriors-in-training. Disguised as singers and actresses in Tokyo, these girl-warrior secret agents are out to gain independence from the island. While watching a music video, they are able to unlock secret codes hidden within the popstar's dance moves that enable them to complete their missions. However, a sinister rival organization is out to thwart their mission at every turn. When the final confrontation arrives, the girls will have to put their exhaustive training to the ultimate test. OTOBOKU Mizuho can't believe his ears when Grandpa's will is read out. Grandpa's final wish is for Mizuho to attend the same academy as Mizuho's mother. The catch is it's an all-girls school. With the help of friend Mariya however, he gets a makeover good enough to fool everyone at the academy.

Gaku Wins Manga Taisho Prize

Anime News Network reports that Shinichi Ishizuka's Gaku - Minna no Yama, concerning a climber on a mountain rescue team, has been awarded this year's this year's Manga Taisho (Cartoon Grand Prize). The Manga Taisho nominating committee is dominated by the bookstore staffers who are in charge of their respective stores' manga. The manga, which runs in Shogakuan's Big Comic Spirits magazine, garnered 68 points in the vote. Kiyohiko Azuma's Yotsuba&! placed second with 49 points, and Akimi Yoshida's Umimachi Diary 1: Semishigure no Yamugoro earned 42 points for third place.

Upcoming in Japan

Classic 80's sci-fi character designer Haruhiko Mikimoto (Macross, Gunbuster) has signed on to work on the Appleseed: Genesis TV series. Promos for Production I.G's Library War here and here A trailer for the Osamu Dezaki anime Ultraviolet: Code 044, based on the like named Kurt Wimmer movie is on the official site A trailer of Disney Japan's Fireball has been posted. The latest issue of NewType revealed that BONES is developing Eureka Seven. Tomoki Kyoda will return to direct the feature, which will revolve around the sci-fi mecha series' protagonists Renton and Eureka in a new mythos. Canned Dogs has the announcement. The Gurren Lagann movie, Tengen Toppa Gurren-Lagann: Guren-hen (Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann the Movie: Crimson Chapter), will retell the mecha series first story arc. Site for new/upcoming anime include CODE-E follow-up Mission-E Anime News Network reports that political manga creator Kaiji Kawaguchi (Eagle, The Silent Service, Zipang) will draw a one-shot manga in the next issue (on sale on April 10) of Kodansha's Morning. ANN also indicates that the May issue (released on April 5) of Kodansha's Monthly Shonen Magazine has announced that Harold Sakuishi's Beck rock-and-roll manga will end after two more installments. Banri Hidaka (.B. Rose, Tears of a Lamb, and I Hate You More than Anyone) will commence a new manga called Berry Berry Zenpen (Berry Berry Part I) in the ninth issue (released on April 5) of Hakusensha's Hana to Yume magazine A second season of supernatural school comedy Rosario + Vampire anime series has been confirmed. The tentatively titled Rosario + Vampire Capu2 series is planned for an October debut. The official website for the Detective Conan movies has posted two television ads for the Detective Conan: Full Score of Fear movie. The film features the previously unreleased song "Tsubasa o Hirogete" from the singer Zard as its ending theme. Takara-Tomy announced that fighting tops toy tie-in anime Beynlade will be returning after four years A second season of Hayate the Combat Butler! is in production, to follow-up on the recently completed first season. A "Second Term" of Kodomo no Jikan (Nymphet) is similarly in the works. Special editions of volumes 23 through 25 of the Japanese release of the Negima! Magister Negi Magi manga will be packaged with OVA episodes. Director Kenji Nakamura (Ayakashi - Samurai Horror Tales' "Bakeneko," Mononoke) will helm new Mushrambo (Shinzo in the US) movies titled Kokoro o Chikara ni and Owaranai Chikyu a geek by any other name notes that cast returning for the upcoming forth season of fantasy action comedy The Slayers includes Megumi Hayashibara as Lina Inverse, Yasunori Matsumoto as Gourry Hikaru Midorikawa as Zelgadis, and Masami Suzuki Amelia. The character Xellos has appeared on promotional material, but his original seiyuu (voice actor) Akira Ishida has not been confirmed. A new Slayers Revolution is also being developed by Issei Hyouju for publication in Dragon age starting in May.

Kino Novels on Hold

Anime Nation reports TOKYOPOP has informed us the retailer that due to a “licensing issue” the English translated Kino’s Journey novels may be considered out of print effective immediately. Furthermore, the continuing English language release of the Scrapped Princess novels has been delayed indefinitely.

Viz's Release of Zelda Manga Confirmed

ICV2 reports Viz Media has confirmed that it will release the two-volume The Legend of Zelda manga series in October. The two-volume The Legend of Zelda: The Ocarina of Time manga, which was published in Japan in 2000, will be priced at $7.99 a volume. The two-volume Legend of Zelda: The Ocarina of Time series was created by the two-woman team of "Honda A" and "Nagano S," who have specialized in adapting Nintendo's Legend of Zelda games to manga under the "pen name" of Akira Himekawa.

FUNimation on Re: Cutie Honey?

Anime on DVD reports that video streaming site Crunchyroll has removed the anime Re: Cutie Honey, and credited the request to the series being licensed by FUNimation. FUNimation has not accounted that they plan to Re: Cutie Honey, a three episode OVA produced by Gainax as a tie in to the Hideaki Anno directed movie.

Viz Released Nana Live Action on DVD

VIZ Pictures, an affiliate of VIZ Media, LLC that focuses on Japanese live-action film distribution, has announced the release of the manga-inspired live-action film NANA on DVD set for April 8. The film, which features English subtitles, will have an estimated retail price of $24.98. The release follows a special week-run theatrical screening that began on Friday, April 4 in New York’s IMAGINASIAN THEATRE. NANA follows the adventures of two girls both named Nana. While they share the same name, they couldn't be more different. Nana "Hachi" Komatsu (played by Miyazaki Aoi) follows her boyfriend to Tokyo and hopes to make a new start, while Nana Osaki (played by Nakashima Mika), who arrives in the city at the same time, is a punk rock beauty who has the ambition to make it big in the world of rock and roll. Although these two young women come from vastly different backgrounds, they quickly become best friends. What sets them apart, however, is the stark difference between their lives. One Nana comes from a small town, following her friends and boyfriend but ultimately looking for her own goal to obtain, while the other Nana has a single-minded aim to make her dream and band, the Black Stones, among the best in Japan. NANA was inspired by a wildly successful shojo manga series of the same name by Ai Yazawa, which has sold over 22 million copies in Japan. The English version of the manga, is published domestically by VIZ Media Copyright notice: © 2005 “NANA” Production Committee. All Rights Reserved.

June Bandai * Releases

Via Anime on DVD, the following Bandai Entertainment titles will be released June 3rd Aika R-16 Virgin Mission Mobile Suit Gundam Seed Destiny TV Movie 1 $29.98, Limited Edition $49.9 Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam Collection 2 (Anime Legends) - 625 minutes - $49.98 Silent Mobius Complete Collection (Anime Legends) - 650 minutes - $49.98 - 06/03/2008 Zegapain Vol. #5 Bandai Visual USA will be releasing Super Robot Wars: OG - Divine Wars Vol. #7 on June 10th.

Remember Before The Sojitz Investment, When ADV Was Grinding Re-Releases...

ADV Films' release schedule is starting to recall the characteristics of their 2005 output: heavy on re-releases and re-packaged release. According to Anime on DVD, new releases include 06/03 Kanon Vol. #5 6/24 Red Garden Vol. #5 Shattered Angels Vol. #2 (also w/box) New packages include 06/03 Coyote Ragtime Show: Complete Collection (Thinpak) - 300 minutes - $69.98 Full Metal Panic!: Complete Collection (Thinpak) - 625 minutes - $89.98 6/10 Final Fantasy Unlimited: Complete Collection (Thinpak) - 625 minutes - $49.98 Moeyo Ken (TV): Complete Collection (Thinpak) - 325 minutes - $45.98 Mythical Detective Loki Ragnarok: Complete Collection (Thinpak) - 650 minutes - $69.98 6/17 Legend of Crystania: Complete Collection (Thinpak) - 220 minutes - $29.98 Noir: Complete Collection (Thinpak) - 650 minutes - $89.98 6/24 Maburaho: Complete Collection (Thinpak) - 600 minutes - $69.98 Papuwa: Complete Collection (Thinpak) - 650 minutes - $59.98 Re-releases include 06/10 Ninja Resurrection $19.98

Event News

The New York Anime Festival (NYAF) announced new dates for its 2008 show -- September 26th through the 28th at the Jacob Javits Center in New York City. The New York Anime Festival, a Japanese pop culture convention from the creators of the New York Comic Con, held its first event on December 7-9, 2007. NYAF previously announced 2008 dates of September 12-14, but it has moved back to later in the month after further discussions with the Jacob Javits Center. AnimeNation and J-Revolution report that the newly reunited X Japan rock band has announced plans for its first American concert performance, to be held at the Madison Square Garden arena in New York City on September 13. Anime Expo announced that they are now offering tickets for Traditional Main Events (including Opening/Closing Ceremonies, Masquerade, Anime Music Video Contest, AX Idol, Charity Auction and concerts) through their site. These events are are all accessible free of charge to registered attendees at this years Anime Expo 2008 held from July 3-6, 2008 at the Los Angeles Convention Center in Los Angeles, CA. All Main Events will be held at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live. AX also announced that ‹ Attendees registered as guests within the official Anime Expo 2008 Hotel Room Blocks will be able to access the 24-hour complimentary shuttle service which will provide transportation from all official convention hotels to this year's Anime Expo 2008.

Pop Culture Doc Released

Nightjar has released pop culture documentary Tokyology on DVD. The disc features Carrie Ann Inaba hosting a tour of Harajuku, Shinjuku Goths, the Tokyo Anime Fair. Akihabara, and Yoshitoshi ABe's house amoung 15 Tokyo sites.

Figures News

Organic Hobby, Inc in conjunction with CM’s Corporation will release “ATM-09-ST Scopedog (Zetra Custom & Norden Custom Vers.) in May with a SRP of $78.00 each. "ATM-09-ST Scopedog (Zetra Custom & Norden Custom Vers.)" are based on the famous TV Anime action series "Armored Trooper VOTOM" created by Ryosuke Takahashi and Sunrise, aired in Japan from April 1, 1983 to March 23, 1984 on TV Tokyo. The figures are each 5 ~ 6" tall PVC/ABS/PC and comes with multiple articulation points. CollectionDX has listed the Q2 Revoltech release schedule: ril 15 * #48 Jun * #49 Suzuki * Re-release #29 Toro (both versions) Later April re-releases * Mazinkaiser * Convoy * Megatron * Ultra Magnus May 1 * #005 Fraulein Haruka Amagai * #005 Fraulein Haruka Amagai (Friend Color Shop limited edition) May 15 * #50 Gurren Lagann * #51 Regult * #34 VF-1J Valkyrie (Max Color) June 1 * #006 Fraulein Revoltech Hutami * #006 Fraulein Revoltech Hutami (Friend Color Shop limited edition) June 15 * #52 Razengan * #53 YF-19 * #54 YF-21 July 1 * #007 Fraulein Revoltech Hutami Ami * #007 Fraulein Revoltech Hutami Ami (Friend Color Shop limited edition) July 15 * #55 Detroit Metal City John Crowther * #56 Detroit Metal City Alexander JAGI * #57 Detroit Metal City Camus The site also looks at Galaxy Cyclone Braiger, VR-052T MOSPEADA Ride Armor (Ley Type), Combat-R Zero "Plutonium"(more on the Combat-R Zero here) and Queen Emeraldas (the space blimp, not the like named character who captains said blimp) Cool Japanese Toys reviews Max Factory's FIGMA Series - YUKI NAGATO and Yamato's Capcom Figure Collection - POISON TOYSREVIL'S I LIKE TOYS runs down New York Comic Con exclusives including: DynomightNYC's bumrush Toy Tokyo-exclusive NYCC HOMER qee David Horvath + Sun-Min Kim's uma + chupacabra nycc exclusives by giant robot Medicom Toy's MGS2 RAIDEN STEALTH CAMOUFLAGE Racing * Drinking * Smoking Luey - Green as well as exclusives from StrangeCo andmyplasticheart Bertie The Pipebomb (or Pipebot) aka "World War Robot", produced by Bigshot Toyworks and threezero. A schedule of the con from a figures/merchandise perspective can be seen here A great interview with American Kaiju's Bob Conge The site also looks at Cupco's Tiger Mask Fighter plush dizign by erick scarecrow, scheduled to be at the NYCC looks great. kidrobot's Adult Swim trading figures Freaky big-headed Haruhi figures Color test for Oban Star Racers Molly

Udon To Release New New Korean Illustration/Comics Anthology

Following their release of the popular Japanese anthology series ROBOT, UDON Entertainment has now partnered with Seoul Visual Works to publish the English edition of Korean illustration and comics anthology APPLE. APPLE stands for “A Place for People who Love Entertainment”, and features original stories and illustrations from the best creative talent Korea has to offer. Over 40 artists from the video game world are represented in APPLE Volume 1, including the artists behind the mega-hit Lineage MMORPG series, superstar Hyung-Tae Kim(Magna Carta, War of Genesis), and dozens of other pro illustrators, animators and graphic artists. “There are so many illustrators in the video game industry who want to use their creativity outside of video game development,” says Seoul Visual Works Founder Eddie Yu. “They want to create something more personal and subjective. APPLE is a showcase for those illustrators and their personal creations. APPLE isn't a big budget project but the creators are happy to contribute to a worthwhile project, one in which they can see what other artists are up to, learn from them, and study the current trends.” The English edition of APPLE Volume 1 goes on sale everywhere May 2008, with future volumes expected to see print every 6-8 months. The 8 ¾” x 11 ¾” full color, 264 page book will retail for $34.95 For a preview see here

“MAIKO HAAAAN!!!” Opens at The ImaginAsian Theater on April 18th

The The ImaginAsian Theater at 239 East 59th Street in New York, NY will be screening "hyper entertainment romantic comedy" Maiko Haaaan!!! April 18-25, 2008. From acclaimed screenwriter Kankuro Kudo of Ping Pong, Yaji and Kita: The Midnight Pilgrims, and Takashi Miike's Zebraman comes Maiko Haaaan!!!, a slapstick comedy with an energetic twist of Kyoto humor and a colorful introduction to the undisclosed Maiko world. The film centers on Kumihiko Onizuka (Sadao Abe, Kamikaze Girls), an office worker who dumps his girlfriend because he believes he can only fall in love with a Maiko (apprentice geisha). He decides to pursue his dream of courting a real Maiko in Kyoto. The private Maiko Houses become the backdrop to his confrontations with his rival, a millionaire baseball player (Shinichi Tsutsumi). Meanwhile, Kumihiko’s girlfriend (Kou Shibasaki) tries to win him back by leaving Tokyo to become a Maiko herself.

"Batman Gotham Knight" To Premiere at Wizard World Chicago

DC Comics, Warner Premiere, Warner Home Video and Warner Bros. Animation will present the World Premiere of the DC Universe Animated Original PG-13 Movie, Batman Gotham Knight, at Wizard World Chicago on June 28, 2008. Scheduled for an evening presentation, the Batman Gotham Knight premiere will be followed immediately by a panel featuring members of the film crew and cast, including animation producer Bruce Timm (Superman Doomsday, Justice League: The New Frontier); comics writer Brian Azzarello and Emmy Award-winning television writer Alan Burnett. Other filmmakers and voice talent are expected to participate. Batman Gotham Knight will arrive July 8, 2008 on DVD and Blu-Ray disc, and will also be available On Demand via digital cable and for download through broadband sites.

Gundam 00 Retrospective

The first season of Gundam 00 has recently come to a close. 00 was the latest attempt to relaunch the popular mecha war franchise with a new story, unconnected to previous Gundams. Unlike other Gundam series, there will be a break between season one and season two. Gunota translates an explanation from Watching Subcul column in Nikkei's Evening Edition. Concerning Gundam 00 (season 2 scheduled for an October airing in Japan) and Code Geas (second season airing now) : plamodels (plastic models) and other merchandise can still be sold during the break period, DVD sales can gain additional momentum from people wanting to review the show before the second season starts, and (Sunrise claims) better quality animation. Video Research Ltd. shows the 25th and final episode of Gundam 00's first season getting a 5.0% rating, making it the 8th most watched anime of the week. TV ratings info from VRL and 2ch for the entire series to date below. Gundam 00 1st episode rating (10/ 6): 5.4% 2nd episode rating (10/13): 5.5% 3rd episode rating (10/20): 4.8% 4th episode rating (10/27): 5.5% 5th episode rating (11/ 3): 4.4% 6th episode rating (11/10): 5.0% 7th episode rating (11/17): 4.9% 8th episode rating (11/24): 5.0% 9th episode rating (12/ 1): 4.5% 10th episode rating (12/ 8): 4.0% 11th episode rating (12/15): 4.8% 12th episode rating (12/22): 5.7% 13th episode rating ( 1/ 5): 5.0% 14th episode rating ( 1/12): 4.6% 15th episode rating ( 1/19): 3.8% 16th episode rating ( 1/26): 4.2% 17th episode rating ( 2/ 2): 4.2% 18th episode rating ( 2/ 9): 6.1% 19th episode rating ( 2/16): 4.7% 20th episode rating ( 2/23): 4.7% 21st episode rating ( 3/ 1): 4.4% 22nd episode rating ( 3/ 8): 4.6% 23rd episode rating ( 3/15): 5.0% 24th episode rating ( 3/22): 5.4% 25th episode rating ( 3/29): 5.0% Highest rating: 6.1% Lowest rating: 3.8% Average rating: 4.85% Ratings info for other Gundam series to date can be seen here.

Viz Takes Diamond Awards

Diamond Comic, the primary distributor of comics to specialty comic shops, has award Viz Media the Manga Publisher of the Year in the 2007 Gem Awards. Naruto Volume 14 was the Manga Trade Paperback.

Upcoming Dark Horse Releases

ASTRO BOY 1 & 2 Osamu Tezuka On sale Sept. 10 b&w, 424 pages $14.95 TPB, 4 1/2" x 6 3/4" This special edition combines the first two volumes of the collected Astro Boy, featuring over 400 story pages. BERSERK VOLUME 25 Kentaro Miura On sale Sept. 24 b&w, 208 pages $13.95 TPB, 5 1/8" x 7 1/4" GANTZ VOLUME 2 Oku Hiroya On sale Sept. 24 b&w, 224 pages $12.95 TPB, 5 1/8" x 7 1/16" “Your lives are over. What you do with your new lives is up to me!” This was the warning given to a diverse group of citizens that were teleported to an inescapable condo by an ominous black orb calling itself Gantz. Join best friends Kei and Masaru, the sultry Kishimoto, a stray dog, and the rest of the group as they are unleashed on the streets of Tokyo to face a terrifying onion alien! Will the weapons and strange suits given to them by Gantz prove to be a lifesaver or a death sentence? Now the group has to fight for their lives, even though they are all already dead. THE KUROSAGI CORPSE DELIVERY SERVICE VOLUME 7 Eiji Otsuka (W) and Housui Yamazaki (A) On sale Sept. 3 b&w, 216 pages $10.95 TPB, 5" x 7" MPD-PSYCHO VOLUME 6 Eiji Otsuka (W) and Sho-u Tajima (A) On sale Sept. 3 b&w, 184 pages $10.95 TPB, 5" x 7" PATH OF THE ASSASSIN VOLUME 13: HATEFUL BURDEN Kazuo Koike (W) and Goseki Kojima (A) On sale Sept. 17 b&w, 304 pages $9.95 TPB, 4 1/8" x 6" VAMPIRE HUNTER D BUST On sale Nov 19 8.5" tall Packaged in a deluxe full color box $74.99 Sculptor Tim Bruckner 's adaptation of the character by Japanese author Hideyuki Kikuchi and visualized in the illustrations of Yoshitaka Amano. MINDSTYLE On sale July 30 Jim Henson’s The Dark Crystal Castle Statue Approx. 17" tall, base is approx. 9" wide Limited-edition statue $274.99 36th Chamber of Shaolin 12" Figure - Gordon Liu 12" tall articulated figure Limited-edition $139.99 36th Chamber of Shaolin 12" Figure - Lo Lieh 12" tall articulated figure Limited-edition $139.99 Dark Horse is proud to bring you another offering from Jim Henson’s The Dark Crystal series in the form of the castle environment as produced by MINDstyle.

Japanese Anime Favorites

Gunota reports Oricon Life has posted the results of a television anime ranking poll of 600 members of their Oricon Monitor Research service (100 males & 100 females each taken from groups in their teens, 20's, and 30's). Overall: 1) Dragon Ball 2) Mobile Suit Gundam 3) Detective Conan 3) Neon Genesis Evangelion 5) Slam Dunk 5) One Piece 7) Doraemon 8) Sailor Moon 9) Fullmetal Alchemist 9) Lupin The 3rd Female: 1) Dragon Ball 2) Detective Conan 2) Sailor Moon 4) Slam Dunk 5) Neon Genesis Evangelion Male: 1) Dragon Ball 2) Mobile Suit Gundam 3) Neon Genesis Evangelion 3) Doraemon 5) One Piece Teens: 1) Detective Conan 2) Fullmetal Alchemist 3) Sailor Moon 3) Dragon Ball 20's: 1) Dragon Ball 2) Slam Dunk 3) Neon Genesis Evangelion 30's: 1) Dragon Ball 2) Mobile Suit Gundam 3) Lupin The 3rd

Macias Talk in San Francisco

Otaku USA's Patrick Macias will be delivering a presentation in San Francisco sponsored by the Consulate General of Japan as part of the Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival. The lecture "JAPAN: Games for OTAKU and EVERYBODY" will be held Sunday, April 13 1:00 - 3:00 p.m. at the Kabuki Hotel, 1625 Post Street, Spring Room 'B' Together with anime, manga, J-pop and fashion, computer and video based gaming is another major aspect of contemporary Japanese pop culture. Popular writer, editor, and internationally recognized Japanese pop culture expert Patrick Macias, will give a power point presentation entitled "JAPAN: Games for OTAKU and EVERYBODY" In his presentation Mr. Macias will provide a broad overview of modern game-based culture in Japan beginning with a look at the uniquely Japanese cultural roots of gaming. He will discuss the emergence of otaku culture in the late 20th century and show how gaming in Japan has broken into new markets both domestically and internationally while still maintaining the public "Game Center" as a social gathering space.

Dark Horse to Collect Clover?

a geek by any other name notes that Chloe Ferguson and Kuri have spotted a listing on Amazon for an omnibus edition of CLAMP’s manga Clover, schedule for release in December by Dark Horse. The manga was previously released in North America by TOKYOPOP

Worth Checking Out...

Via a geek by any other name , Cinema Blend take anime fans to task for their taste in entertainment and their use of the Hayao Miyazaki justification. Anime News Network weighs in on the spring anime season. AniPages Daily also looks at new anime from an animation perspective. Danny Choo has taken a look at the new Code Geass and the merch side here About.com:Manga interviews Chibi Vampire/Karin's Yuna Kagesaki David Welsh interviewed Michael Perry Of Aurora Publishers Weekly spoke to Brigitte Koyama-Richard about her book One Thousand Years of Manga. The site also look at Daniel Pink's The Adventures of Johnny Bunko: The Last Career Guide You'll Ever Need TM Revolution interviewed Via MangaBlog, Simon Jones on the workings on the manga buisness Same Hat captures Google's tribute to Astro Boy's birthday (4/7/2003) Manga Before Flowers wish list. David Welsh reacts Comics212 on Junko Mizuno A production bl