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Anime Spotlight: Legends of the Dark King: A Fist of the North Star Story Released by Sentai FilmWorks

Coming from a cornerstone of shonen manga, Fist of the North Star's antagonist Raoh looms large over the genre. There was purity to his role in that ur-fight manga. He was the rival, but his defeat also became the manga's ultimate goal. The far horizon wasn't becoming the Pirate King or the Hokage. Fist of the North Star started with its hero possessing the title of master. While Fist's far horizon was rescuing the hero's true love, it was also putting an end to this hateful ogre. Raoh was never the deepest character, but he was perfect for his function. He performed the role of dark emperor conquering the land. However, rather than just being nihilistic or ambitious, he was a bully... an overpowering, self serious, problem causer. In a pro-wrestling informed manga, this was the ultimate heel who you want to see him decisively knocked down. Yet... you had to begrudgingly admire Raoh's unrelenting war against all that angered him. Legends of the Dark King: A Fist of the North Star Story is the 2008 prequel to the 2006 Fist of the North Star revival movie The Legend of Raoh - Chapter of Love in Death - an adaptation of what's generally known to fans as the Souther arc, with a few added characters. The Raoh based story does heavily leverage familiarity with the Fist of the North Star. Seeing early meetings of known personalities or characters land in the situation in which they were introduced is a considerable part of the anime's justification for existing. That's a liability for those without an investment in the franchise. As is the few frills, essentialized look of Satelight's animation. And, as is the simplicity of Raoh's barrage of fists combat style. This is not spectacular fight anime. Yet, in the absurd dignity of Raoh as he literally catapults into a citadel or parlays with a horse, the disparity between Raoh's composure and his methods works in the anime's favor. Legends of the Dark King has enough names shouted, super move kanji scrawls and other excess that the combination of serious characters and outlandish tropes makes Legends of the Dark King an entertaining watch. Franchise title Fist of the North Star or Hokuto no Ken refers to the 2,000 year old martial art Hokuto Shinken (Divine Fist of the North Star) - an advanced assassination technique developed during China's Three Kingdom era. The form is defined by its mastery of striking acupressure points, causing a range of effects from loss of muscle control to curing disabilities to causing heads to blow up like melons dropped from a tower. Knowledge of this art is so dominant and deadly that it is self regulated by the edict that only one successor may exist at a time. When that title is passed on, all other rival students must either renounce its use or have their hands smashed. Before a nuclear holocaust engulfed the world in year 199x, Hokuto Shinken master Ryuken taught the art to his four adopted sons. Jagi was a conniving, poorly controlled jerk. However, this still left three legitimate claimants. The problem was that these three could easily have been legendary Hokuto Shinken masters in their own right. Though incredibly powerful, Toki dedicated himself to pacifism and healing, eliminating his contendership for the role of successor. So, it came down to Raoh and Kenshiro. The pair was presented with gigantic tigers. The hulking, juggernaut Raoh split his with his fists. Ken stared his down, and the tiger, recognizing Ken's deadliness, demurred. Kenshiro was chosen as successor, prompting Raoh to adopt an iconoclastic agenda of "conquering the heavens." Legends of the Dark King, semi-based on Youkow Osada's Ten no Hao Hokuto no Ken Raoh Gaiden/"The Conqueror of the Heavens: Fist of the North Star the Story of Raoh"), captures Raoh's story in the post-apocalyptic age leading up to his war with Kenshiro in this decade's anime movies The Legend of Raoh - Chapter of Love in Death and its sequel Legend of Raoh: Chapter of Fierce Fighting. It opens with Raoh doing what Kenshiro did in early Fist of the North Star: wandering the wastes - using his fists to punish the Mad Max-esque muscle marauders plaguing the landscape. Whereas Ken was a sorrowful, lonely soul, seeking out his lost love Yuria and joined by a pair of young orphans, Raoh is looking to fix the chaotic world by conquering it and instilling fearful order... and... in the newer versions of Fist of the North Star his cause is aided by two long time confidantes: Souga, a martial strategist and master of the Songshan Whirlwind Kick and Souga's sister/swordswoman and captain of Raoh's guard (and often bait in various plans) Reina. Given Legends of the Dark King's place within the Fist of the North Star's mythos/franchise, as a prequel concerned with an antagonist, the anime has a host of challenges to contend with. Some it overcomes. Others it acquiesces to. The tragedy of Raoh relates to his undynamic nature. He's told that he wishes to rule and that Kenshiro wishes to lead (by example), and he's told that Kenshiro's path is informed by righteousness, because, unlike Raoh, Kenshiro knows sorrow. Reminder: Raoh is an orphan, living in a post apocalyptic world. Longer versions of the story (the original manga, the 1984 anime) featured Raoh's efforts to learn sorrow and overcome fear, but Dark King emphasizes his static nature. Flashbacks to Raoh as a child and a young man show him behaving how he behaves as he does an adult. Beyond that, he's an exceptionally literal minded character. Enabled by his ability to topple walls and wade through storms of arrows, his agenda to smash and subordinate require lieutenants and armies to hold possessions more than it does to conquer them. Fortunately, Souga and Reina are around to add notes of humanity and uncertainty. They are the fallibly ones who wrestle with the morality of Raoh's methods for fixing a shattered world, his decision to enlists schemers cold blooded killers and sadists and their own ability to substantively assistant in the conquest. Their screen time, and perhaps more importantly, their discomfort helps to ensure that Raoh does not become over exposed by the attention, with the headstrong titan remaining a special presence in the anime. The speed in which the anime tracks Raoh's campaign helps as well. In one episode he's gone from vagabond, carrying out some weird, seemingly unnecessary rouse to possessing his own fortress and army. His action snow-ball throughout, with a pace justified by Raoh's philosophy of marching forward no matter what and settling obstacles with his fists. Dark King does not excel at sustaining itself as its own entity. Its original characters are predictable. It does not create any credible adversaries for Raoh. As such, there is no one significant to triumph with or against. This in and of itself might be bad, but as the anime progresses, it further loses itself as it falls into a pattern of retroactive foreshadowing. Progressively more time is devoted to conversations in which legends of original Fist of the North Star characters are prophesied. Even the anime original stories of Souga and Reina conclude in the movies. Fist of the North Star standards hop out of the shadows as the men behind the men. Characters like Raoh's rival Juza of the Clouds show up for some too-long conversations then leave without doing anything consequential or visually interesting. The most egregious example of this unresolved teasing is the foreshadowing of a show down with a powerful opposing warlord known as "The Holy Emperor." Fist of the North Star fans know who this is. There are no clues for anyone starting with Legend of the Dark King to guess the man's identity or background information to care much once it is revealed. Not even Raoh regards this as a mystery worth considering, but the anime still keeps hanging the question out there, such that it becomes what Dark King builds to. However, this isn't going to pay off here, or by Raoh. Raoh's consequent is in fact halted by the Holy Emperor, until Kenshiro confronts this antagonist in The Legend of Raoh - Chapter of Love in Death. The logic of this would make sense if Dark King lead into and promoted Love in Death, but, that movie was released several years before Dark King. There's little to suggest that Legends of the Dark king aimed high, but if it was a modest production, it delivered a modest success. Lifted by a brisk pace, it's fun to watch the villain plant his flag across a post apocalyptic landscape for a while. Given how much of it is resolved elsewhere, Fist of the North Star devotees will certainly enjoy it more than those who don't already know the characters. And, if you're an opinionated Fist of the North Star fan, there might be a few causes to complain about the translation. The Holy Emperor’s name is represents as Thouzer. Flamboyant Nanto Seiken master Juda presents the Fairy Star.

Manga Sotlight: Future Diary Volume 1 By Sakae Esuno Released by TOKYOPOP

Future Diary is serialized in Shonen Ace, an anthology with more that its share of manga featuring characters with mental health problems - Neon Genesis Evangelion, Goth, MPD Psycho, Welcome to the NHK. In this case, the borderline, or outright pathological, personalities are entered into a last person standing death match. Comparisons to Battle Royale are unavoidable. Many of those comparable works weaves genre conventions and character dynamics into an engagement with social, psychological or metaphysical issues. I've almost always applauded manga for being thoughtfully relevant. Future Diary doesn't seem to take up that particular challenge, but one volume in, I'm not prepared to hold that or other potentially problematic issues against it. Before reading Future Diary, I knew it featured a character type that I'm not particularly fond of. To quote Patrick W. Galbraith's The Otaku Encyclopedia: Yandere: "Yan" means mental or emotional illness, "dere" means to show affection. The term is used to describe a character whose good will toward their partner crosses the bounds of sanity and often comes to express itself in violent or brutal ways." The most popular example of this is Higurashi - When They Cry, concerning a teenage boy who moves into a rural community, and quickly finds himself installed in a circle of friends with a group of local girls. To his dismay, he learns that their little competitions often feature sadistic "punishment games" for the loser, that Rena, a peer who dresses cute and obsesses over cute objects sometimes carries a large cleaver and seems to be searching the local dump for a body, and that the other girls have connections to acts of violence that are both recent and rooted in long running traditions. Higurashi eventually won over some of my respect. Its dealing with the dark side of the 80's economic boom and long standing relationships between rural and urban Japan had some sophistication. However, even after the causes were explained and the justifications were presented, it never fully scrubbed away my impression that those yandere characters were in some way based in or appealing to gynophobia. Anime, and to a lesser extent, manga have been isolating themselves into an echo chamber of works created by hard core enthusiasts for hard core enthusiasts. This is the path that lead to TV schedules full of anemic moe and fixations with 2D girlfriends. Yandere appears to me to be a mutation of the hyper idealized girls that populate these works. The concept might be interesting if it were a critique of that guy-centric world view, but there is little to suggest that it is. The last thing that needs to be worked into a manner of thinking defined by a retreat into manufactured ideals is the notion that girls are Manchurian Candidates, whose interests are thin veneers for pathological obsessions. That pink haired, pig tailed girl on the cover of Future Diary is series deuterogamist - Yuno Gasai. She's a good looking, successful student, who smiles innocently with that look that suggests that there aren't many gears turning in her head. In her introduction into the manga, she sits in class, playing with a piece of clay. Looks of childish concentration pass her face. When the bell rings and the class empties, the manga's hero, Yukiteru Amano walks over and sees that she has shaped an object that reveals that she knows his deepest secrets. Turns out she stalks him, loses her composure in a fit of weeping screaming and runs through a mine field to get to him, takes out another girl's eye... This is the poster child for yandere vibe in which girls are dangerous; a principle that is doubly true for girls who show affection. Yet, Future Diary has a winsome craziness that causes me to give it a pass. The premise takes a collection of people who obsessively record things, generally based on some pathology; gives them a record ("diary" you might say) from the future, and forces them to kill each other. So, a driven police officer would have an "investigation" diary of future crimes. Someone always plotting out how to escape situations would have an "escape" diary drawing out escape routes. Yuno has a stalking diary of Yukiteru's actions. Yukiteru is a notorious loner whose single activity is typing observations into his cell phone. As he explains "I just write down everything I see. Time, place, event... That kind of stuff.... It is completely random. My diary has no purpose." He goes to school. He goes home and day dreams. In his imagination he thinks up "Deus ex Machina, the King of Time and Space" - a sort of humanoid alien, scheming from a throne. Except, assuming that the manga isn't all a delusion, Deus ex Machina proves to be a real god. "If I am a real god, then I can live in your imagination or anywhere else for that matter." So, Yukiteru is given the first "future diary"... a cell phone with his diary containing entries from the future. Eleven other individuals, including Yuno are given their future diaries. If the phone/diary is broken, the owner's future is lost, and they are removed from existence. The diary owners are then given the tasks of eliminating each other, with the lone remnant supplanting Deus ex Machina in the office of god. Sakae Esuno manages a nice trick here. The abilities of the diaries are evocative. Like the eponymous Death Note, they are rule based, instruments in a thriller that invites consideration. Layer on bits of branching bits Schrodinger's Cat and it feels like a smart conceit. And the same time, Esuno has clearly not been painted into a corner by over defining the rules of engagement. The markings of self-granted authorial freedom are all over this manga. So far, the Esuno has managed not to betray the reader with its unforeseeable twists. With its careening trajectory, the manga excuses itself from predictability or over organization. Yukiteru and Yuno are cracked teens in normal guises and that normality is the handle that Future Diary offers for grasping its incendiary content. The other Future Diary possessors are immediate signals that the manga is not taking itself too seriously. There's a serial killer who's exceedingly overdone - towering Man with No Name look, with a face covered in motocross goggles/mask. Then, there's the manga's showcase of insanity piece - a terrorist bomber, dressed in a babydoll loligoth gown. This is irrationality as an asset. Recently, I criticized Ikigami for opting for melodrama rather than a true consideration of the serious subject it was evoking. Conversely, Future Diary brings samurai action manga Rurouni Kenshin to mind. That manga dealt with the Meiji Restoration - the complex period marked by the overthrow of the shogun and Japan's modernization. In theory, it is a subject that calls for a nuanced approach. In Kenshin, it's texture and motivation for a familiar, if effective shonen fight manga. Lack of sophistication didn't stop Kenshin from being a memorable, popular manga, nor invalidate that success. In theory, I'd like a manga that deals with mental health to be nuanced. I'd like a manga that took the time to lay out a set of operating rules for its conflict to strictly adhered to those rules. Future Diary offers enough of those qualities to resister claims at being sharp and intelligent without being laughed out of the conversation. Yet, it is a quick enough, energetic enough thriller that the implausibility and impracticalities lose traction in the forward rush.

Upcoming in North America

The return of the brilliant Electric Ant is imminent. Electric Ant #2: Exquisite Corpses with cover by Hellen Jo will debut at Alternarive Press Expo, 10/17/09. table 418 Contributors to the 136 pgs, $12 zine include Ryan Sands Evan Hayden Alice Sola Kim Aeron Alfrey Angie Wang Anne Ishii Anthony Ha Anthony Wu Brendan Ninness Calvin Wong Chris Kuzma Claire Donner Dan Abbe Dash Shaw Derek Ballard Derek Yu Gea* Giannis Milonigiannis Harveyjames Hellen Jo Jason Thompson Jenn Yin Jon Vermilyea José-Luis Olivares Justine Lai Kathleen Yoas Kazimir Strzepek Lisa Hanawalt Makkinoso Michael Deforge Mickey Zacchilli Mimi Leung Monika Uchiyama Nate Shockey Nicholas Gazin Robert Syrett Root Bradford Ryan Germick Saicoink Shawn Cheng Sophia Foster-Dimino Ted May Tom Gaubatz Zehra Fazal Andrew Greenstone The issue extensive look the all-female performance troupe Takarazuka Revue, also stuff on trans-bars in Shinjuku and lots of crazy drawings of violent scenes from movies, video games, comics (the "THESE BLOODY MOMENTS" illustration feature) * First Showing notes Games Workshop is developing a 70 CGI animated sci-fi direct to DVD Warhammer 40,000 film called Ultramarines. Codex Pictures will be producing the project More can be seen here * Ghost in the Shell 2.0 preview Discotek Media Newly annoucned release plans include Fist of the North Star TV Series 1-152 Lupin the Third Episode 0 First Contact Sea Prince and the Fire Child (also known as Shiriusu no Densetsu) The Fist TV series will be released in 4 boxsets. Discotek still releasing the Crying Freeman anime series, Prisoner Scorpion Jailhouse 41, Burning Paradise, and Taxi Hunter. these will all be out in 2010 FUNimation Afro Samurai - Complete Murder Sessions (Spike Version) will collect the full anime on November 3rd for $37.98 Hasbro The Blu-ray Blog notes that Warren Ellis penned animated series, G.I. Joe: Resolute will be released on DVD November 3, 2009 - MSRP $19.99 Special Features: “Now You know” teaser promo Interviews with Filmmakers Storyboards JOE Files Last Gasp Same Hat reports Last Gasp will be publishing Onikage, a hardcover, large-sized book (11¾" x 14½") with the work of ero-guro artist Toshio Saeki Vertical Anime Vice reports that there is talk of Vertical releasing a collection of manga deity Osamu Tezuka's essays. Viz Media looks like VIZ collections of One Piece are in the works * New NARUTO Releases Include: NARUTO Shippuden The Movie • Rated 'T+' for Older Teens • MSRP: $24.92 US / $35.99 CAN • Available November 10 NARUTO Shippuden, Volume 3 • Rated 'T+' for Older Teens • MSRP: $24.92 US / $35.99 CAN • Available November 24 Episodes: 9 – 13 NARUTO UNCUT Season 1, Volume 2 DVD Box Set • Rated ‘T+’ for Older Teens • MSRP: $39.97 US / $57.99 CAN • Available November 24 Episodes: 26 – 52 New BLEACH Releases Include: BLEACH UNCUT Box Set 4, Part 1 • Rated ‘T’ for Teens • MSRP: $49.95 US / $71.99 CAN • Available November 3 Episodes: 64 – 79 (Original and Uncut) BLEACH Volume 22 • Rated ‘T’ for Teens • MSRP: $24.92 US / $35.99 CAN • Available November 17 Episodes: 88 – 91 New POKÉMON Releases Include: POKÉMON: ELEMENTS, Volume 5: Ice • Rated 'A' for All Ages • MSRP: $9.98 US / $14.99 CAN • Available November 24 POKÉMON: ELEMENTS, Volume 6: Dark • Rated 'A' for All Ages • MSRP: $9.98 US / $14.99 CAN • Available November 24 New Shojo Releases Include: NANA BOX SET, Volume 2 • Rated ‘M’ for Mature • MSRP: $59.90 US / $85.99 CAN • Available November 24 * The second of the New People artist documentary series, Yayoi Kusama: I Love Me will be released on October 27th. Artist Yayoi Kusama, is an avant-garde painter, sculptor and novelist with a visual style that is often characterized by a liberal use of polka dots and nets to achieve a so-called “infinity effect". She has been widely acclaimed by the international art world for over 50 years and received the Japanese National Lifetime Achievement Award , one of Japan’s most prestigious prizes for internationally recognized artists. This film documents Kusama’s creative process over the course of a year-and-a-half as she completes a series of 50 large monochrome drawings. As her work comes to life, one witnesses the essence of her artistic voice as builds on themes about the conflicts between life, death, and love – sometimes quietly and sometimes not. Her self-confidence and dignified spirit is evident throughout the insightful film.

Upcoming in Japan

Anime Vice's fall anime preview Random Curisoty's Fall Anime Preview Promos and Previews Professor Layton anime movie InuYasha Final Musashi: The Dream of the Last Samurai Thriller Restaurant Durarara!! - from the author of Baccano, from the people who adapted Baccano Mai Mai Miracle Ani no Miyako looks at BLACK?ROCK SHOOTER & Studio Ordet Anime A look at the upcoming Yamato Rebirth TV Asahi confirmed Crayon Shinchan will continue its broadcast despite the death of creator Yoshito Usui, with new episodes airing on October 16th. A new anime movie will open next spring. Manga A three month hiatus of Gantz has ended and creator Hiroya Oku has confirmed that the new "Final Phase" will be the manga's final storyline. Live Action Daimajin Kanon - the site for the new movie following the stone samurai kaiju, this time set in modern day Tokyo * The cast for the live action Battleship Yamato will include Takuya Kimura - Susumu Kodai Meisa Kuroki - Yuki Mori Toshiro Yanagiba - Shiro Sanada Naoto Ogata - Daisuke Shima Hiroyuki Ikeuchi - Hajime Saito Maiko - Aihara* Shinichi Tsutsumi - Mamoru Kodai Reiko Takashima - Dr. Sado* Isao Hashizume - Heikuro Todo Toshiyuki Nishida - Hikozaemon Tokugawa Tsutomu Yamazaki - Juzo Okita *Male characters in the original work who are female in the live-action film Takashi Yamazaki (Returner) will helm the project for a December 2010 release. The live-action film will use computer graphics and is budgeted at over 2 billion yen (US$22 million). * Nippon Cinema reports that Eiga.com is stating "Distributed by Stylejam and based on Yasutaka Tsutsui's timeless work, The Girl Who Leapt Through Time (Toki o Kakeru Shojo) will offer a fresh take and new story while also paying homage to the original in this big screen resurrection. The cast will include Riisa Naka (a voice actress from Mamoru Hosoda's 2006 animated film), Akiyoshi Nakao, and Narumi Yasuda. A nation-wide release is planned for 2010." * Nippon Cinema reports Yutaka Yamamoto, the director of “The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya”, “Lucky Star”, and “Kannagi” will make his live action debut with film Watashi no Yasashikunai Senpai (My Mean Senior), based pm based on a story written by novelist Akira while still in high school The cast also includes Jingi Irie, Kinuyo Kodama, Mei Nagano, Natsumi Ogawa, and Nobuhiko Takada. “Watashi no Yasashikunai Senpai” is still in production and will be released by Phantom Film sometime in 2010. Yutaka Yamamoto's live action student project * The rumored winter season of live action drama is said to include new episodes of the yakuza heiress turned school teacher manga, Gokusen * Sensha Yoshida's 4 panel gag manga Utsurun Desu will adapted into live action for BeeTV mobile phone content with Arata Furuta, Akina Minam and Takanori Takeyama

The Business

PW has confirmed Kodansha's entrance into the North American manga market. The new line of manga will be called Kodansha Comics, which will be published under Kodansha USA Publishing and distributed by Random House. As was previously known, the line will launch with Katsuhiro Otomo's Akira and Shirow Masamune's Ghost in the Shell. More titles will be announced later in the year. Kodansha has stated the intention to continue to license some of its titles in the U.S. * A must read - JAniCA Club Blog Translation: What’s Going On in the Anime Industry Right Now?! - anime director Osamu Yamasaki's comments on animator's pay * Music Securities Inc., a Japanese music production and fund management firm, will start a fund investing in products from the yokai horror “Ge Ge Ge no Kitaro” 10 million yen ($111,000) to 30 million yen have been raised for this Yokai Fund, named after the Japanese word for demon, said Masami Komatsu, Chief Executive Officer of Music Securities in Tokyo. Komatsu is raising money from individuals via the Internet to finance merchandise including cups, fans and ties based on Kitaro characters created by writer and illustrator Shigeru Mizuki. “It’s becoming harder to preserve what’s left of culture and regionalism of Japan nowadays and we wanted to somehow help those who are struggling to maintain that tradition,” Komatsu, 34, said in an interview in Tokyo yesterday. “We wanted to offer a place where individuals can invest in not just financial securities, but businesses that are in need of capital but can’t get it from financial institutions.” “The fund could potentially attract overseas capital, given that Japanese animation has been highly regarded abroad,” said Haruhiro Nakano, president of Saison Asset Management in Tokyo. “It goes against the whole idea of funds just chasing after money, but rather the proceeds will go to revitalizing a region, so I’m going to be watching closely to see whether it will succeed.” * VIZ Media has announced that it has become the master licensor of shojo vampire series Vampire Knight. It has acquired the domestic TV, Home Entertainment, Streaming, DTO, and Merchandising rights to the hit VAMPIRE KNIGHT animated series. With this license VIZ Media will hold the rights to VAMPIRE KNIGHT for TV (including IPTV and VOD) and Home Video (all platforms including Blu-ray), Streaming, DTO and Merchandising (including digital Merchandise and mobile). VAMPIRE KNIGHT is based on the best-selling gothic-romance manga series created by Matsuri Hino. Cross Academy is attended by two groups of students: the Day Class and the Night Class. At twilight, when the students of the Day Class return to their dorm, they cross paths with the Night Class on their way to school. * Goldman Sachs added DreamWorks Animation SKG Inc to its Americas Conviction Buy List, citing solid year-to-date performance for 3-D films despite the weak economic environment. * manga pricing market research

Astro Boy Previews

NYCIFF will be presenting advanced screenings of Astro Boy October 17th and 18th at the IFC Center with a "Blast-Off Party" on the 18th. 11 clips of the movie MovieTickets.com's Guide to Imagi Astro Boy guide to the movie's villains clip from Astro fight in Ham Egg's robot gladiatorial fights TV Spots

Anime x Games

The awesome English trailer for Samura Wars ~So Long My Love~ MMO Site has put together a preview of the Dragon Ball Online South Korean closed beta. The game features three playable races (Humans, Namekians and Majins) and 6 classes. Tekken 6 trailer featuring pro-fighters World Heavyweight Boxing Champion Evander Holyfield MMA standout Josh Barnett (and noted Fist of the North Star fan) Professional boxer Vicente Escobedo 1984 Olympic and Pan American Games Gold-Medalist Henry Tillman 6th-Degree Kenpo Practitioner Tommy Wish Four-time World Muay Thai Champion William “The Bull” Sriyapai Defending World Youth Boxing Champion Peter “Lil Pete” Duran Light-Welter Weight MMA Champion Dan “The Outlaw” Hardy Five-time National Boxing Champion, 2010 Pan American Games team member and 2012 Olympic Team hopeful Patricia Manuel MMA fighter and professional skateboarder Jason Ellis TapouT Clothing founders Punkass and Skyscrape Professional sumo wrestler Tamir “the Giant Killer” Dolgormaa 2008 Olympian and professional boxer Javier Molina TEKKEN 6 will be available on October 27, 2009 for Xbox 360® and PlayStation3 and this fall for the PSP system. Gundam meets Little Big Planet Tokyo Game Show impressions of Ni no Kuni, the Layer 5/Studio Ghibli collaberation

Digital Distribution News

30's Guy Richie-esque anime Baccano is now on Hulu * Robotech: The Shadow Chronicles and Tetsuo: The Iron Man have been added to NetFlix's screening offerings * New Crunchyroll streaming content includes Fairy Tail Adapted from the hit manga published in Weekly Shonen Magazine by RAVE MASTER creator Hiro Mashima and animated by A-1 Pictures and Satelight, FAIRY TAIL features pop idol turned actress Aya Hirano in the lead role of Lucy Heartfilia. The story follows a teenage girl named Lucy Heartfilla who is determined to join the notorious magical Fairy Tail Guild. During a daring rescue, she encounters Natsu who is part of the guild and eventually offers her a place. They become teammates performing various missions for the Fairy Tail Guild. Sasameki Koto Adapted from the comedy manga series published in Monthly Comic Alive by Takashi Ikeda and animated by AIC, SASAMEKI KOTO (original title is Sasamekikoto), meaning ³whispered words" in Japanese, features singer-voice actress Ayahi Takagi in the lead role of Sumika Murasame. Without every saying a word to her, honor student Sumika Murasame has had a crush on her best friend, Ushio Kazama since middle school. In their social circle are the energetic members of the brass section: Kiyori Torioi, girls fashion magazine model Masaki Akemiya, and finally Tomoe Hachisuka and Miyako Taema, a couple, all making up a collection of eclectic personalities. One day, the idea of forming an all-girls after school comes up amongst them... THE BOOK OF BANTORRA Adapted from the SUPER DASH Bunko light novel series by Ishio Yamagata and animated by David Production, THE BOOK OF BANTORRA features fan-favorite anime voice actress Romi Paku in the lead role as Hamutz Meseta. In a world where the dead are transformed into books… When a person dies, the body is divested of the soul, and when the soul departs from its body, it is crystallized into a book. Written in that book are all the memories of that soul’s life. For anyone who touches that book, the dead person’s past can be relived…. It is in the Library of Bantorra, created by Bantorra, the God of the Past, that all excavated books are stored. It is run by an elite organization known as the Armed Librarians. Under the direction of Acting Chief Librarian Hamutz Meseta, all Armed Librarians possess an extraordinary combination of encyclopedic knowledge and fighting skill. For this reason, it is said, the Armed Librarians are the most difficult profession to enter in the world. Sora No Otoshimono Adapted from the hit manga published in Shonen Ace by Suu Minazuki and animated by AIC A.S.T.A., SORA NO OTOSHIMONO, which translates to "misplaced by heaven" in Japanese, features the iconic video game and anime thespian Souichiro Hoshi in the lead role of Tomoki Sakurai. There's a student, Tomoki Sakurai, who is a pacifist that lives in a small town covered with lush natural surroundings. One day, a young lady falls from the sky, Ikaros, who ends up complicating his life of pacifism. She introduces herself as an android and calls Tomoki "Master" when they meet. She is able to grant his wishes with the strange power she possesses. He wants $1 billion, to be invisible, and to stop time! What is Tomoki's last desire to satisfy a wholesome man's wish? ASURA CRYIN' 2 Adapted from the light novel series published in Dengeki Bunko by Gakuto Mikumo and animated by Seven Arcs, ASURA CRYIN' 2 features the famed video game and anime voice actor Miyu Irino in the lead role of Tomoharu Natsume. Protagonist Tomoharu Natsume is a high school student living by himself. At first glance, he seems to be a normal high school student. However, unlike others, he has a ghost friend Misao Minakami that only he can see. On the day he moved, he was entrusted with a silver trunk by a mysterious woman. That night, he was attacked by a shrine maiden. Tomoharu was about to face the hidden truth of the world. TEGAMI BACHI: LETTER BEE Adapted from the hit manga published in Jump Square by Hiroyuki Asada and animated by the legendary Studio Pierrot, TEGAMI BACHI: LETTER BEE features acclaimed voice actress Miyuki Sawashiro in the lead role of Lag Seeing. In a land of perpetual night, your heart is your light. Amberground is locked in darkness. A man-made star casts only a dim light over the land. The pitch-black wilderness is infested with Gaichuu--colossal insects with metal exoskeletons. The Gaichuu make travel between the cities of Amberground extremely dangerous. But thankfully the Letter Bees, a brave corps of messengers, risk their lives in order to keep the hearts of Amberground connected. Gauche Suede is on his last delivery before a big promotion. In the outskirts of Yodaka, the darkest area of Amberground, Gauche is surprised to find that the package is a young boy named Lag Seeing. Lag had been traumatized by his mother's abduction and is due to be delivered to his aunt. In this remote area rife with Gaichuu, Lag and Gauche face a dangerous journey that inspires Lag to become a Letter Bee. NATSU NO ARASHI! 2 We continue off where we left off last season when male protagonist Hajime discovers that Arashi is really a ghost and they continue on a journey together through an unusual connection that the two of them share. Arashi's friend, Kaja, who was an exchange student from Germany, is also a ghost who is able to make a personal connection with Jun allowing them to travel together through time as well. Stayed tuned for the upcoming adventures and experiences the characters are bound to face together captivating audiences of all types! NOGIZAKA HARUKA NO HIMITSU 2 ~Purezza~ Adapted from the hit light novel series published by ASCII MEDIA WORKS Inc. by Yusaku Igarashi and animated by diomedea inc. formerly known as Studio Barcelona, NOGIZAKA HARUKA NO HIMITSU 2 ~Purezza~ features singer and actress Mamiko Noto in the titular lead role. Y?to Ayase attends Hakuj? Academy, a private high school in Japan. His classmate, Haruka Nogizaka, is not only very attractive, but is intelligent and rich, garnering her the title as the school's idol. However, one day when Y?to's friend asks him to return a book to the library, he unexpectedly stumbles across Haruka and her deepest, darkest secret--she is an otaku!! Promising to keep her secret hidden, Y?to and Haruka become close friends, helping Haruka with her secret hobby and developing their relationship together. Season two of NOGIZAKA HARUKA NO HIMITSU picks up where we left off in the first season, making for a romantic-comedy adventure that everyone is sure to enjoy! Miracle Train Created by the "Miracle Train Committee" under the direction of Aniplex, MIRACLE TRAIN-Welcome to the Oedo Line- is animated by Yumeta Company, the same studio as the bishonen blockbuster LA CORDA D'ORO anime adaptation. MIRACLE TRAIN-Welcome to the Oedo Line- features voice actor superstars KENN, Tomokazu Sugita, Ryotaro Okiayu, Daisuke Ono, Yuki Kaji, and Masakazu Morita in the lead roles. There is an urban legend in Japan about an underground subway line that moves without limitations. The rumor is only gorgeous men ride a train that is known as the Miracle Train. And if you were to happen upon this line, you would undoubtedly fall into a complete state of happiness. Being touched by a ray of light, granting her access to enter into the Oedo Line platform, where the Miracle Train runs. As the doors open up, the space inside is very different, as six handsome men await you inside. This is the legend of the Miracle Train and they are all personifications of Oedo Line stations! But how do you get on this Miracle Train? According to the conductor, the leader of these six gentlemen and the female guide, when women have worries or insecurities, the Miracle Train will appear. With names matching the stations along the line, these fabulous gentlemen - whose bonds together are tight, despite their different personalities - will erase all of your worries and fears. Thus the name: Miracle Train. So, are you ready to believe in and ride the miracle train? Naked Wolves NAKED WOLVES is a series of flash animated shorts that chronicles the journey of a sumo wrestler as he searches the globe for 48 secret sumo techniques so that one day he can defeat his childhood friend and rival for the title of Yokozuna. "I'm gonna be a sumo wrestler as grand as Mt. Fuji~!" In the comedic adventures of NAKED WOLVES, the central character, a sumo wrestler named Mikoshiarashi, travels around the world acquiring top-secret sumo techniques and making friends with other strong wrestlers, all on his road to becoming an invincible "YOKOZUNA" The Grand Sumo Champion. Howl on, Naked Wolves! * Digital Manga Inc. announced that the eManga rental service is now offering Yaoi Press titles, starting with Yaoi Hentai Vol. 1 and Vol. 2 The standard eManga rental package is $10 for 1000 points, with entire books averaging between 200 and 300 points.

Anime on North American TV

Cartoon Network's Adult Swim will be airing Bleach the Movie: Memories of Nobody on November 28th and Bleach: The DiamondDust Rebellion on December 5th.

Cool Figures (and Merch)

Bandai America will be bringing back a nostalgia line of Mighty Morphin Power Rangers action figures, vehicles, Megazords and role-play items. * Anime producer and online anime retailer Right Stuf, Inc. and its Nozomi Entertainment division announced the first release in its “Art of” series of anime lithograph prints. The Art of ARIA The NATURAL Lithograph: “Those Nightshine Chimes” will be available on December 8, 2009. The full-color, limited-edition print will be produced as a lithograph on high-quality paper, which has archival properties and is specifically for the reproduction of artwork. Each print will be priced at $49.99, measure 20 by 16 inches, and include a certificate of authenticity. Only 250 total prints of ARIA The NATURAL: “Those Nightshine Chimes” will be made. * Domo Slurpees will be at 7-Eleven dyring the month of October, along special edition Slurpee cups, flocked Slurpee character straws, Qee action figures, an exclusive Domo Attack! Energy drink and Domo Manga comic books. Collectible cups feature Domo and his furry sidekicks enjoying Slurpee drinks and one showing Domo experiencing a Brainfreeze. For Domo fans, a tiny flocked Domo character is affixed to premium Slurpee straws, selling for $1.99. Special flavors include Fuji Frost by Fanta Other Domo merchandise include Domo DVDs, collectibles like Domo Qee* miniature action figures in cup-like packaging ($9.99), Domo Manga comic books ($3.99), plush characters and apparel, like caps and T-shirts. * A look at Astro Boy marching toys A Sanjuro Munny Soul of Chogokin GX-51: Getter Robo and Soul of Chogokin GX-52 Saint Seiya dioramas

Event News

The Fathom Events one night screening of TMNT: Turtles Forever has been cancelled. The movie will still be released direct to DVD * Mizuho Nishikubo's Musashi: The Dream of the Last Samurai is having its North American premiere at the 38th Festival du Nouveau Cinéma, held in Montreal, Canada from October 7th to 18th, 2009. Go Nagai will be visiting Japanese embassies in Kuwait, Egypt and Jordan A Wired at cosplay at Tokyo Game Show * The National Film Board of Canada will present nine new shorts at Ottawa International Animation Festival’s 33rd edition (October 14–18, 2009), three of them in competition. The NFB will also present the Public Prize. Official Competition (Narrative Category) will include Runaway from Cordell Barker (The Cat Came Back and Strange Invaders) Vive la Rose from Bruce Alcock Git Gob from Phillip Eddoll IN THE CANADIAN SHOWCASE Chris Landreth’s The Spine Brandon Blommaert’s Batmilk Neely Goniodsky’s Pearl Cédric Louis and Claude Barras’ Land of the Heads Howie Shia’s Peggy Baker Four Phrases Inés Sedan’s The Man Who Slept * New York Anme Festival reports from Publishers Weekly Serdar Yegulalp Otaku USA SubAtomic Brainfreeze on the blogging panel - the Tomino panel - Ogiue Maniax Ed Sizemore's report Gundam creator Yoshiyuki Tomino at New York Anime Fest * Umezz Carnival 2009 Special Live Event report Wasted Time's 7th year anniversary party Ita-sha Exhibition - anime decorated cars

Worth Checking Out...

Insight Jason Thompson on Felipe Smith and Peepo Choo So it was a big deal when, in 2008, Felipe Smith did what Paul Pope couldn't, and managed to get a manga running in a Japanese monthly magazine, Morning 2 (the sister magazine of Morning). The editors at Morning 2 had immediately recognized his incredible talent. Smith – whose most obvious influence is the untranslated manga artist Tatsuya Egawa – is a brilliant comic artist and cartoonist, an artist whose every character is distinct and every line is alive. Anime World Order - Interview With the "Old Timers of Anime," Otakon 2009 Director Hirokazu Koreeda on the adaptation of Air Doll Photo tracing in Manga Erica Friedman's Yuri Manga Hall of Shame HDYGTFAJ: Jeremy Atkins of Dark Horse Comics Otaku USA on Jack Frost - Vandread Jason Thompson on Mushishi The Hooded Utilitarian on Sailor Moon Kevin Conroy on Reprising the Dark Knight for "Superman/Batman: Public Enemies Japanator spoke to Ed Chavez about Vertical's new licenses Ogiue Maniax's Fujoshi Files Okazu on Yuri Light Novel: R.O.D., Volume 1 "Quick Japan" Naoki Urasawa interview, part 6 (of 6) WSJ talks to about his Akihabara music video Anime Dream on the Korean/Japanese animated film Blade of the Phantom Master Reverse Thieves on Turn A Gundam, a distinctive Gundam with Syd Mead design, Yoko Kanno music, and giant robots clashing with World War I tech Kid Fenris on Southern Cross (one third of Robotech) Comic Book Resources talks to Eric Nash On "Manga Kamishibai" So Why Does a Badass Like Black Jack Look so Damn Cartoony? - speaking of Black Jack - Black Jack Magazine - Black Jack stories by Go Nagai, Masayuki Taguchi (Battle Royale), Matsuri Akino (Pet Shop of Horrors) and more Savage Critic on Otomo's Domu and Urasawa's Monster Tim Maughan on Urasawa's on mature Astro Boy retelling - Pluto and Mathew Brady continues his reading of the manga Awesome Engine's excellent appraisal of Comic Party Star Crossed Anime Blog on Mamoru Oshii's Gosenzosama Banbanzai Review manga inspires interest in calligraphy A look at the Toward the Terra movie - sci-fi prose Usurper of the Sun (Housuke Nojiri) A preview of The Art of Osamu Tezuka Anime Genesis' interview with voice actress Kari Wahlgren Twitch on the SITGES 09 screenings of Musashi: The Dream Of The Last Samurai and Summar Wars - also Hayao Miyazaki's Starting Point 1979-1996 jFilm Powow's TIFF '09 reviews of Air Doll and Kamui Ready Made spoke to Dark Horse's PR director Jeremy Atkins A new URL for Manga Bookshelf Media Follow aicnanime