Father Geek back along with Scott Green to present this week's fact packed AICN Anime Report. Scott's dug up lots of exciting info for you Anime and Manga fans out there this Wednesday, buuuuut first here's something a bit sad that landed on ol' Father Geeks desk this morning...

According to several Japanese TV stations and newspapers this morning, Hayao Miyazaki ISN'T going to make any more films after Sen to Chihiro no Kamikakushi.

But since the Japanese press mistakenly announced his 'retirement' just before Mononoke Hime hit the Japanese cinemas a couple of years ago, I would wait a while for confirmation...

Tokyo Joe @:-}=

Father Geek here with another related item...

Greetings from Tokyo, I'm here on a combination
business trip/vacation and I've got a little bit of
news about the new Miyazaki movie, SEN TO CHIHIRO NO
KAMIKAKUSHI, or Spirited Away as the English title
seems to be. Its opening in wide release here on July
20, I'm probably going to leave town before the
premiere, but there's a chance that there will be a
sneak preview this Friday.

There have been a number of trailers on television,
one in particular left me in stunned silence for about
five minutes afterward. The trailer is done to a
haunting lullaby, with no dialogue. From what I could
gather the main character, Chihiro (also called Sen,
as will be explained in a bit), encounters one of the
creepiest animated characters I have ever seen, a
ghost about 7 feet tall. Just a black shroud really,
wearing a large white mask. Very simple design, but at
the same time it invokes a deep-seated discomfort when
seeing it, but maybe thats just me. I believe its name
is Kuonatsu, but my Japanese reading ability isn't too
good. From there she is abducted into the fairy
realms, and encounters all sorts of creatures and
another human girl who is also a prisoner. The
wonderfully conceived animated characters in the
trailer include frog men, the giant-headed witch
Yubaba, severed talking heads, and much to my surprise
and delight, dust-bunnies like in Totoro.

There is some computer assisted animation in this
movie, not sure to what extent yet, but it flows
nicely with the action in the rest of the animation.

Here's a brief overview from the Asahi Shimbum, July
5, 2001.

Four years have passed since film director Hayao
Miyazaki's animated hit Princess Mononoke drew huge
audiences across Japan. Despite rumors of his
retirement, Miyazaki is back with his new animation
film, Spirited Away.

The story is close to Alice in Wonderland. Driving
through a tunnel, 10 year old Chihiro and her family
wander into a mysterious hot spring town where ghosts
and spirits of all kinds assemble to heal their
wounds. There she loses her name - she is referred to
as Sen in the town- her selfish parents are turned
into pigs and their daughter is ultimately forced to
work for Yubaba, a witch who rules the town. Will
Chihiro be able to recover her name and return to the
world of humans?

Miyazaki has announced that he made the film
particularly for today's 10 year old girls who have
lost their sense of "living" their own lives. Chihiro
is a typical contemporary girl with skinny arms and
legs, who finds no interest in anything. It is only
through challenge, hardship and exceptional encounters
with strange friends that Chihiro learns to live,
gradually gaining the power to create her own life."

If you can read Japanese, check out
www.toho.co.jp/story/html

There are a bunch of images from the movie up there
to whet your appetite. Net time here is getting to be
kinda expensive, so I better sign off now. I sometimes
post on your site as darthshatner, so I guess you can
call me that now.

Father Geek back with a further report on MIYAZAKI'S retirement...

Just a quick note on the whole Miyazaki retirement issue. Tokyo Joe stated
that the newspapers falsely announced his retirement after Mononoke, which
isn't exactly true. As I understand it, Miyazaki WAS set to retire, but his
protege Yoshifumi Kondo, director of the little seen (in the US) Ghibli
film "Whisper of the Heart," died of cancer.

Chances are, that barring further tragedy over at Ghibli, we may be seeing the
end of full length Miyazaki films.

However, he does seem to leave the road open for more short work. Maybe a new
TV series, or another music video like "On Your Mark."

Anyway, here's a link to the announcement over at Nausicaa.net This is sad, sad
news.

38,> Just Click Here Now to read their report in full.

That's it for Father Geek today, now here's Scott Green...

One of the Unite State's largest anime conventions, Anime Expo run 7/5-7/8. Reports of the news announced at the convention was reported on Anime on DVD by Andrew Tei, and on Anime News Network. EX and A Fan's View have photos and convention coverage.

During the opening ceremonies of Anime Expo it was announced that starting next year, 2002, there will be two Anime Expos every year, one on the west coast and a new one on the east coast. The west coast AX will continue to take place in California on Independence Day weekend, and the new East Coast Anime Expo will take place on Labor Day weekend in Time Square New York city.

As Media Blaster's J Sirabella that the American anime companies where vieing for where Berserk, Noir, Inyu Yasha and GeneShaft. Only GeneShaft was not announced for domestic release.

Proculture Addicts, a print anime magazine, has posted the schedule for this year's Fantasia anime. It can be seen at here Fantasia takes place on July 10 to July 31 in Montreal. Anime being shown includes Akira, Boogie Pop Phantom, Escaflowne: A Girl In Gaia, a Hello Kitty parody, Albator (Arcadia of my Youth in French), Laputa: A Castle In The Sky, and Metropolis among others.

According to the Fantasia program, regarding Mayoa Miyazaki's Laputa: Castle in the Sky, "This Film was brought to you courtesy of Buena Vista Home Entertainment. Please look for 'Laputa: Castle in the Sky' coming soon to video and DVD." Fore more information on the movie see Nausicaa,net's feature on it here.

Fantasia has had premieres for Perfect Blue, Jin-Roh, Blood: The Last Vampire and Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust as well as the North American premieres of Spriggan, Tenchi Muyo in Love and X/1999.

This year Fantasia will present the premieres of Metropolis and Millenium Actress.

Metropolis is directed by Rin Taro and writen by Katsuhiro Otomo, based on the manga of the same name by Osamu Tezuka. Tezuka's original MANGA was actually a homage to the work of the same name by Fritz Lang.

Millenium Actress is the second full length movie by director Satoshi Kon, his first was Perfect Blue.

Perfect Blue is a thriller about a former pop singer looking to develop a career as an actress who is hounded by obsessed fans, and visions of her former self. It is currently available in the US on VHS and DVD. Anime News Network points out, according to madonnapower.com, during the "WIFLFAG" instrumental segment of Madonna's Drowned World Tour a segment of Perfect Blue is shown on a screen on stage.
For more information see www.fantasiafest.com/

Berserk Acquired

Media Blasters announced that they had acquired the rights to the Berserk anime series over the course of the past week; contract signed. DVD rights, which were apparently a stumbling block for Urban Vision, have been acquired along with the VHS rights.

The Berserk anime series adapts the early part of a currently running manga (comic) series by Miura Kentaro. It's a medieval tale of a man named Gatsu (Gatts or Guts) who has lived a rough live since birthday. He is found under the dead body of his mother by the wife of the mercenary. As tragedy continues to hound him he grows into an adapt swordsman with little desire other than to hone his skills. He joins a group of mercenaries known as the Hawks, lead by pale, elfin looking man named Griffith, whose skill and charisma is matched by his iron desire to become a king. The series starts by showing what Gatts has become from his experience with the Hawk, then shows his life in with the Hawks in one continuous story. It is told in a serial method rather than the episodic nature of most anime series. The depth of the characters and story make for an engrossing series that had earned by many fans in the US who talk about the series and debate it, rather than simply wat!
ch it.

A good Berserk resource is Black Sun Over Midland The official site can be found at here

Viz to Licenses Inu-Yasha

Viz has acquired the rights to the Inu Yasha anime. Before the release it on video they will be shopping it around for television broadcast. They will be making their video plans after a television airing is resolved. The DVD release will likely have 3 or 4 episodes a disc. Inu-Yasha is expected to go onto a third season in Japan, and a movie is due out this December of January.
Inu Yasha is the latest anime adaptation of manga (comics) by Rumiko Takahashi, who is probably best known for Ranma ½ and Maison Ikkoku. The genre of the manga series differed from story to story. Alternating between girl in mystic land action, to modern horror, to fairy tales, to reluctant romance but the differences in the anime series slightly muted, and melded. A modern school girl named Kagome is transported back to Japan's Era of a Warring states where she meet Inu-Yasha, a half human, half dog demon who was imprisoned to a tree after a showdown the resulted in the death of a priestess who looked remarkably like Kagome. In Takahashi fashion a large supporting cast of outlandish characters are introduced.
The manga is currently being released by Viz.

Pioneer acquires AMG

Pioneer has confirmed the Ah! My Goddess movie and super deformed shorts Adventure of Mini Goddesses. AMG is planned for the end of 2001. A bonus on the AMG movie will be a mini goddess episode. DTS is unlikely. 16:9 may be possible. THX.

They are 98% certain that they will not be using Coastal Carolina, the dub studio who produced the English dub for the OAV. The reason given is that they prefer to work closer to home. 98% chance they will not be using Coastal Carolina for the AMG dubs, they prefer to work with dubbers closer to home.
In the movie Keiichi is trying to attract new members to the Nekomi motor club, but has problems with people being attracted to the goddess Belldandy and not racing. At a party being thrown to welcome four new members the normally quiet and shy usually shy and quiet Sora Hasegawa gets drunk and hits on Keiichi. When bottles begin to fly around Belldandy's jealousy is suspected. In the movie new goddess Operetta, the Systems Manager for the "Earth Assistance Center", joins Peorth as rivals of the goddesses known to OAV watchers.
Adventures of Mini Goddesses feature humorous shorts featuring super-deformed (cute form with big heads and small bodies) version of the scheming, but slightly inept Urd, and the technically skilled, but immature Skuld, along with a rat named Gan.

Akira Release Info

Pioneer is currently stating all Akira releases will be on 7/24.As for the special tin, it does not contain an Alpha case as has been reported, there are plastic trays glued to tin. According to Anime News Network Akira will receive an un-determined as-of-yet theatrical release in September. Akira's Digital Theatrical release this spring ended when Pearl Harbor was released.

English Edition Of Newtype Coming

An English version of the Japanese anime magazine Newtype is coming to the US market. It will be handled by Digital Manga. The head of the company spent a year negotiating with Kadokawa Shoten. It will be coming out spring 2002 and feature up to date information about anime in Japan. They are hoping for 20% US information, 10% European information, and 70% Japanese information. The magazine will be released monthly with 150 pages per issue, as opposed to the 300 page Japanese version, and may use the wide presentation of the Japanese version. Text novel, manga serials (For the Barrel, Five Star Story, etc.), posters, and other extra in the Japanese magazine will most likely not be included because of licensing issues. If they can't get them, they might include alternatives. And if they do get them, the serials will be put out from the beginning. Due to the recentness of the deal, many of these details are to be worked out over the course of the next several months. The !
online English version of the Newtype site may also return to complement to print version. Utena director Kunihiko Ikuhara stated that his relationship with Newtype Japan has been strong for the last several years and he urges fans to support the English release of Newtype because he feels it the best Japanese Animation publication DMI's president, Mr. Sasahara mentioned "I hope to bring anime fans across the world the best information possible via the release of Newtpe English edition".

Viz Licenses Bastard Manga

Bastard! will be released in a monthly, double size (64 pages) format, starting with a 72 page first issue. Bastard! Manga.
Dark Schneider is the bastard referred to by the title. He is a warrior, sorcerer, letch and loudmouther, who nearly conquered the world with the help of his four generals. Before he can complete his conquest he is sealed away. When his former generals return to menace the world the people who imprisoned Dark Schneider being him back, hoping he will protect them. Many of the series characters' names were originally parodies of metal bands, and songs, but due to copyright issues they are obscured for the domestic release. The six episode OAV series has been release by Pioneer on VHS and DVD.

Manga UK dead?

According to this article by Jonathan Clements, Manga Entertainment Limited of the UK has closed its doors. Jonathan Clements wrote to Anime News Network stating

"Just to clarify, Manga UK isn't dead. As I say, however, it is now little more than a logo on videos/DVDs released by Palm Pictures. What *is* dead is the time when the UK Manga Entertainment actively sought out Japanese material, dubbed it, in the UK, and exported it to the US. There was a time when it could be argued that Manga US was a subsidiary of Manga UK. Roles were reversed some time ago, and any Manga Entertainment anime released in the UK are now sourced, bought, translated, and dubbed by American staff, then distributed in the UK by Palm Pictures. The departure of Rod Shaile is merely a more obvious sign of this ongoing state of affairs."

Macross Update

AnimEigo said at Anime Expo Sensory Technology is about 75-80% complete improving the video quality of Macross. Sensory is best known for their works on early black and white movies, often matching the quality of the original source. Shin said that Macross looks better today that it probably has ever been.

They stated that they hope Macross will be released this September.

Classic Anime on DVD

Right Stuf announced at their panel at the Anime Expor that like most North American Anime distributors, TRSI is wants to release all their catalog titles, such as Astro Boy and Kimba, on DVD. TRSI will be releasing Astro Boy on time for the 40th Anniversary of the series and the entire series should be released on DVD within 2 years. Unfortunately there is a possibility that not all the episodes will be releases. Some of the originals that they have acquired are not in suitable condition to be transferred to DVD.

New Media Blasters Titles

Media Blasters announced as recently acquired, or about to be released by Media Blasters include:

East Volumes 1 & 2
Level C

Gokudo-kunManyuki, renamed "Gokudo-Swordman Extraordinaire" Swordman Extraordinaire" is a 26 episode TV series. It is a high energy swords and socery comedy, in the vein of Slayers and Sorcerer Hunters about Gokudo. a skilled swordsman who is more suited to be a villian than a hero. He is joined by a genie who promises to stay with him until he becomes enlighted, and a princess who wants to become a swordswomen.

Mezzo Forte (Coming out in November in edited and uncut formats)
White Cross, which has bee renamed to "Night Hunters" and starts in October
Mahou Tsuki Tai (Magic Users Club) TV series starts in September.
Devasday, a new 3 part OVA series from AIC. The official site can be found at devadasu.com

Maho Tsukai Tai (which has been translated to "Magic Users Club") is cute, but slightly ecchi (risqué) comedy. An alien ships invaded earth, but though the fighters, and battleships that tried to intercept it were disintegrated, their crew were unharmed. Years pasted and people became used to the site of the probes that the alien ship periodically sent through the streets. One of the alien's goals is research magic, which brings them into conflict with the series heroine, the seemingly inept Sae, and her friends in the Magic Users Club. Much of the story revolves around Sae's battle with self-doubt, and the romances between the characters. There is a six episode OAV (direct to video release), and a thirteen episode television series. Images on Media Blaster's web page suggest that they have the rights to the OAV series, but it is not clear whether they also have the rights to the TV series. The production quality of the OAV is high, with good animation, special, and!
memorable introduction and ending music.

Mezzo Forte is a tangent to the popular "Kite", also released in the US by Media Blasters. Mezzo Forte seems to promise the same sort of brutal action, over the top violence, and dark, twisted plot as Yasuomi Umetsu's prior work on Kite. Umetu seems to be creating his own genre of what has been described as ""adult-oriented girls-with-guns". Kite tells a story marginally similar to "The Professional"(Leon), but darker and more depraved. After the protagonist Sawa's parents were killed she was taken in by an amoral cop who trains her to be an assassin, and they offers her services to kill criminals for a price. Though its action shattered suspension of disbelief, and is often very graphic, it is done in such a stylish manner it's breathtaking. Kite's bathroom fight scene was an influence on a scene from No Doubt's music video of "Ex Girlfriend".

Kenshin Info

Media Blaster announced that they have acquired all the Kenshin specials and "best fights" and will continue to release Kenshin at a rate of 1 volume per month. The Kenshin specials are recaps of the television series at mid points in the Kyoto arc. Most include new footage only in the clip transitions. The Kenshin Fight collection is a best of the fight scenes from the beginning of the television series through the end of the Kyoto story arc.
Kenshin is a samurai action series about a former political assassin and bodyguard during Japan's Meiji revolution, who gives up killing for a life of protecting others. The Kyoto Arc is a 34 episode story episode storyline in which Kenshin and his associates attempt to stop his replacement from starting a new revolution in Japan that will weed the strong from the weak.

Kare Kano Update

At Anime Expo Right Stuf responded to questions about the status of Kareshi Kanojo No Jijou(Kare Kano for short, His and Her Circumstances in English). Their work on the series has been held up by the large amount to text that appears in the screen. The series was expected to be released in Spring 2001, but delays are expected to cause the series to be released in spring 2002 at the earliest. The good news is that they will not be using unattractive text overlay technique.

Kare Kano is a shoujo (girl's) series directed by Anno Hideaki, creator and director of Neon Genesis Evangelion. The series is a relationship comedy/drama about a girl who is naturally lazy and mean spirited, but drives herself to be attractive, athletic and the model student who meets a buy who shares all of her ideal qualities.

Synch Point on Jojo

Jojo's Bizzare Adventure has been acquired. Their licensor wants them to get it out by the end of the year, but they may not be able to do it, since they are still ramping. It's OAVs (originally video animation, a direct to video release)1 and 2 Digital Manga / Synch Point is working with Super Techno Arts on this title. Apparently SP struck a deal with STA.

The JoJo's Bizarre Adventure anime adapts part of the third of six series, in a title that has run since 1987, and over 60 volumes of 184 pages. The genre of the title differed from series to series. The third started off as horror, but took on an American superhero comics feel. The second OAV series takes place chronologically after the first series, so the first OAV series will be released first in US. "Jo Jo" refers to the names of members of a family that the title follows. In the case of the third series, and OAVs Jo Jo is Jotaro Kujo, a violent juvenile delinquent who finds out that what he believed was an evil spirit trying to posses him is a Stand, a tarot-card like incarnation that gives him super powers. The OAVs are known for their slick violence, comic-book atmosphere, and interesting uses of super powers.
For a good JoJo FAQ see here

Anime Music Updates

A number of anime music announcements were made at Anime Expo. An many deduced by the lack of updates in over a year Animetronic, Pioneer's initiative to start an anime/techno music video business is dead. The cause of the demise was legal difficulties with right that popped up when the project was nearly complete.d. Pioneer has a Music Rights lawyer now.
ADV is still gearing up its sound track label for to start within 6 months. Their library will include 100 titles with 4-5 released a month.
At their Anime Expo panel Right Stuf reminded everyone about the Anime Trax label which is a joint venture with ADV. Anime Trax recently released 2 Tylor soundtrack CDs and is planning on releasing many more Anime Soundtracks. At $15 a piece these certainly are a great buy when compared to $40 and up for imported CDs.

David Williams stated on Anime on DVD's forum" From what I understand, no, we won't be printing the lyrics. To get the cost down the booklets had to go. I don't expect Anime soundtrack CDs to have large enough print runs. But if it turns out that they do suddenly become popular with the more mainstream crowds and support larger pressings then I'm sure you'll start seeing things like the booklets in an attempt to add value as the costs of production is spread over more discs. But for now...."

Tokyo Pop has soundtracks for Final Fantasy 10, Final Fantasy 4, and Chrono Trigger in addition to Trigun Spicy Donut, BGC2040, and Miyu.

Tokyopop will start a J-Idols line, featuring Japan's Most Beautiful Women. 3 DVDs will be released in Sept. Yuka, Kyoko Fukada, and Race Queens. Will include photo galleries, music videos, virtual dates, video messages, behind scenes footage, and personal profiles.

New ADV Title Announcements

ADV unleashed a string on new title announcements at Anime Expo Which includes
Dirty Pair OVAs, "Let's Dance With Papa", Puni Puni Poemi (Excel Saga spin-off OVA series), Chivas 1-2-3 (known as Sorcerer on the Rocks in America), Sakura Wars OVA Series 2, Sakura Wars TV, Zone of Enders OVA and TV, Sin 2, New Urotsukidouji OVA series, Wonderful , Aura Battler Dunbine, Cutie Honey (New series in production), Eden's Bowy , Excel Saga, Rune Soldier (Mahou Senshi Riui; new acquisition) , Neo Ranga, Noir, Power Stone, Saiyuki, Steel Angel Kurumi OVA and TV , Super Milk-chan!, and Wild Arms.

Noir aired starting in April 2001, and combines traditions of late 30's french film noir and late 90's Hong Kong action films. Its the tale of two young assassins, a girl who suffers from amnesia, and one who suffers from flashbacks of horrific events. There is good information about Noir at here here

Puni Puni Poemi is a two part OAV follow-up to Excel Saga that parodies the magic girl genre (Sailor Moon, ect), and many other anime conventions.

Neo Ranga is aired as 15 minute segments as part of the Anime Complex show. This means that watching a number of episodes in one sitting does not provide a good effect. The series tells the story of three girls who discover a connection to an ancient culture on a remote island, and a giant stone creature.

Steel Angel Kurumi is about robots with the hearts of angels from the future living in an alternate history past. The official Japanese site can be found at here The TV show featured 15 minute episodes and has been praised for its animation quality, and direction. Voice actors on the series include Ai Orikasa (Ryoko of Tenchi Muyou, Quatre of Gundam Wing), Kikuko Inoue (Belldandy of Oh My Goddess, Rune Venus of El Hazard, Kasumi of Ranma 1/2) and Hirotaka Suzuoki (Kunou of Ranma 1/2 ).

Aura Battler Dunbine is a giant robot show from the creator of Gundam that has been compared to Escaflowne and Zeta Gundam. A motorcycle racer is taken to Byston Well, a world where people go when they die that exists between the sea and the land. The show feature work by Yoshiyuki Tomino, character design by Tomonori Kogawa, and mechanical design by Kazutaka Miyatake.

Rune Soldier is another swords and sorcery comedy about about a young sorcerer wannabe who attempts to join a group of female adventurer Priestess Merissa, Thief Mirel and Paladin Jeani. official sites can be found at RunSoldier.com, here and here

Eden's Bowy has been described as a children's anime series about a young boy who is the last "God Killers", who journey a veteran warrior, and cute young woman on a journey he hopes will lead him home. The series' animation has been praised for its character designs, and adapt combination of digital animation with tradition cell effects.

Super Milk Chan is often compared to a demented version of Powerpuff Girls. Milk is a super-heroine with a robot assistant who is called by the president to save the world, but is also called by her landlord to pay her rent. Much of the series' humor is pop-culture parody. Its opening is a montage of parodies of 60's and 70's anime series. According to EX some of the series' cameos include Marie Antoinette as depicted by Rose of Versailles, a Matsumoto Leiji reporter and Colonel Sanders.

Wild Arms, Power Stone, Sakura Wars OVA Series 2, Sakura Wars TV, Zone of Enders OVA and TV, Sin2 are based on the video games of the same named. Wild Arms is a swords and sorcery RPG. Power Stone is a fighting game with an eclectic group of fighters which includes a samurai warrior, a Dragon Ball-esqu fighters, a large miner, a Native American warrior, an English pilot, a Middle Eastern woman on a flying carpet, a cure ninja girl, and a strange bandaged slasher.

Urotsukidouji is a famous, or infamous hentai (adult series).

ADV Slayers Problems Resolved

ADV had acquired a number of Slayers movies and OAVs (Slayers Return, Slayers Great, and Slayers Excellent) that had yet to be released. Slayers Great is especially entertaining. It features the sorceresses Lina and Naga working for competing makers of giant golems. It features the best Lina/Naga duels, and one of the more humorous Slayers stories.

Slayers OAVs and Movie were being held up due to rights. The problem is now solved. Movies will be first. A new 3rd Slayers OAV series is being worked on.

A new Slayers OVA series is now in production. The show is tentatively titled "Slayers 5", but no new information could be presented. Other older shows that may receive a revival include Dragon Half, which ran for 2 OVAs.

Slayers is perhaps the best known swords and sorcery adventure comedy anime series, at least from an American perspective. Lina Inverse is a top notch sorceress known for her greed, destructive nature, and, from an anime standpoint, small bust. The Slayers OAVs and movies occur chronologically between the title's three television series. In the OAVs and movies, her sidekick/rival, is Naga the White Serpent, a sorceress with an enormous bust, slow whit, enormous greed, and skull cracking laugh.

Progress on ADV titles

Those Who Hunt Elves has started he mastering process.
Excel Saga Translation is under the way. According to Anime News Network Excel Saga will enter ADR production soon, and may be available late this year or early next year. "No promises", quipped ADV when asked if it would be available for Christmas. ADV commented on the floods troubling Houston in recent months: "Someone up there must really want us to release Excel Saga." In the end, ADV's offices were spared from damage, although some employees lost cars and homes.

Miyuki-chan in Wonderland, CLAMP's version of Alice in Wonderland will be a problem due to it being 30 minutes. Retailers don't like that. No decision has been made on Nuku Nuku TV, and Blue Seed OAVs

Princess Nine will not have a DD5.1 Japanese track. Apparently the Japanese version is cut, so it wouldn't sync.

Finally, Burn Up Excess TV is coming soon, thanks in part to the usage of Rio for a new orange drink add campaign.
For titles progressing in Japan:

More Ninja Resurrection is in pre-production, maybe 13 episodes. The series is a hyper violent samurai action from Giant Robo's production teams about a show down between the historically based, legendary figures government agent Yagyu Jubei, and Christian leader Shiro Amakusa.
Due to the anime adaptation of the first version shorter game, Sin's success in Japan and the US, a second Sin is in the works, which may be a 13 episode series rather than a movie.

Possible new Golden Boy series. Golden Boy is an at times risqué comedy about a law school student who leaves school before graduation to see life.
"A lot of Getter Robo coming this way"
ADV has rights to Rurouni Kenshin directors edit - look for announcement @ Otakon

Pioneer Release Plans

Niea_7 will be 4 vols bi monthly, as well as Hand Maid May. Gatekeepers is 8 vols and will include alternate OPs as extras. IT may have an insert.

Soul Taker Info

Pioneer will release Soul Taker is early 2002. It will be different from the broadcast version as the creator was unhappy due to barely meeting production TV schedules. Soul Taker is having scenes reanimated. The creator was not happy with the original, they were rushed for broadcast. For more on Soul Taker see the official site at SoulTaker.net

Pioneer Acquires Vandread

Pioneer has Vandread, for around Jan 2002. They have an option on the 2nd season. Vandread is a CGI work by Studio Gonzo of Blue Sube No. 6 fame about a man working on a mecha assembly line in a society where there is a civil war between men and women. See the official Vandread site at Vandread.com

Eva Movie Update

According to Amanda Wynn-Lee, director (and voice actress) of the Evangelion movies, at Manga Entertainment's panel at Anime Expo production will begin in two weeks. Additionally, Virus will begin production in two months and is due out early 2002.

ADV Movies

A theatrical planning of the You're Under Arrest is being planned. The Nadesico movie: Prince of Darkness is being considered for a theatrical release.

Sailor Moon Release Info

Pioneer's Sailor Moon Vol3 should have OPs. Reason for the "zoom" they are currently using is they have using the TV masters, and not the LD masters.Pioneer doesn't want to be asked four the fifth season of Sailor Moon (Sailor Stars) until they are complete with the fourth (Super S). ADV will be releasing the first two seasons of Sailor Moon subtitled, and uncut, but it being held up currently by material availability.

Card Captor Sakura Info

Pioneer will be getting other eye catches for Card Captura Skaura. Volume volume 5 will be released in September, volumes 6 will be released in November and volumes 4 and 7 will be released in January. They would not tell who is the problem that kept vol 4 delayed. A bonus will be given in vol 4. Pioneer holds the rights to all of the CCS episodes, as well as Movie #1. They would not confirm 2nd movie or Tomoyo Video Memorial.

CCS #4 "will be as unedited as the materials we receive from Japan"
They wouldn't say if it was Nelvana or Japan who was the 'licensor' which made the request to delay #4.

Tenchi Muyi Info

Pioneer will be releasing Tenchi Muyo Mihoshi special on DVD. Evaluation of Magical Project S on DVD is ongoing, mostly pending dub decision. There is no dub currently and they're deciding if a sub only DVD will sell, or if they should do a dub. They was watching ADV's City Hunter 2 on the viability of releasing sub only dvds.

Amritage Dual Matrix

Pioneer will be coming out with Armitage Dual Matrix, which is an all digital production sequel to Arimitage III Polymatrix. Armitage III OAVs will be released after Dual Matrix - they don't want to confuse the market with Polymatrix and Dual Matrix on the market at the same time.
Armitage III Polymatrix is a recut movie version of a four episode OAV. The English dub of Armigage III Polymatrix features the voices of Elizabeth Berkley and Keiffer Sutherland.

Armitage III takes a more biological look at the familiar territory of the difference between highly advanced machines and humans.
Armitage is a Third, a highly advanced android that is indistinguishable from a human, who is serving as police officer on Mars, which is in the process of being terraformed. She is assigned the case of find the man who killed a popular country singer to reveal she was secretly a Third

Misc Pionner Info

Gatekeepers will have alternate openings as extras.

There will be a new Boa album later this year, and performance at AnimeFest in TX. Boa is the English group who performed the opening song for Serial Experiments Lain.

Moldiver dubtitles were a budget issue - they didn't have the money to redo them after they discovered the only track they had was the original closed caption track. They did try to improve it a bit - removing the sound effects comments, retiming some, making some script changes. But they didn't have the budget to redo the subtitle track - so it was dubtitles or no release. They did release it at a low MSRP.

Nadia on TV

Reports that Nadia will be on TV. They had been making an effort to bring the movie for some time. According to Anime News Network Nadia, however, will be on one of two networks that show anime, Matt Greenfield said. Rumors at Anime Expo suggest these two are Cartoon Network (in the Toonami block) or Encore Action, which has shown numerous ADV titles including Bubble Gum Crisis 2040. ADV could not be reached at press time to confirm or deny these possible networks.

Escaflowne movie

The Escaflowne: a Girl in Gaia movie will receive a theatrical run starting the San Francisco Bay Area on Sept 21. DVD next year According to Anime News Network when questioned about the cancellation of Escaflowne on Fox, the answer was that there was no fallout between Bandai and Fox as a result of this.
The Escaflowne movie is a radically different retelling of the Escaflowne TV series. Hitomi is an introverted, depressed, and suicidal girl. She is transported to a feudal world were she finds the refugees of Black Dragon clan, which rules in terror through its fierce "Dragon Squadrons" lead by the sadistic Dilandeau. Hitomi meets Van Fanel, a somewhat feral warrior with psychic powers. She finds that she can summon the Escaflowne Dragon Amor for him. It's a large organic looking mecha with fearsome destructive capabilities.

The movie is more of an action feature, without the sense of wonder, and science fiction aspects of the television series. More characters and story elements are introduced than the movie can support, but the music by Yoko Yanno (who is responsible for the original Escaflowne TV series, Macross Plus and Cowboy Bebop), action sequences and animation are very high quality, and indicative of the movie's large budget.

Kikuko Inoue Interview

Anime on DVD has an interview with voice actress Kikuko Inoue from her panel at Anime Expo at here

Sherlock Hound Problems

Problems with Sherlock Hound. The Japanese and English tracks don't sync They are trying to fix. They're working on Sherlock Hound. The problem is the English & Japanese tracks don't sync. They're trying to find a solution. They mentioned that it was done in English first, then later in Japanese and Italian.

Sherlock Hound is Sherlock Homes series where the characters are depicted as dogs. The series is noteworthy because Hayao Miyazaki (Kiki's Delivery Series, Princess Mononoke) directed six episodes of the series, and wrote some of the six before the series was put on hiatus due to copyright issues. For more information on the series and Miyazaki's involvement see Nausicaa.net

DVD Box Sets

El Hazard uses the FY style boxset
Other Boxsets coming out this Christmas, are Trigun (199.98, no Chromium with a box for all 8 vols). New Lain Boxset (no cd, no lunchbox, new box with Abe art). Tenchi Universe boxset. Sailor Moon Movie Boxset. Hakkenden Box set 54.98. 3 DVDs in a triple Alpha. It sounds like the 'bonus' will be original art used on the boxes. The boxes will not be available separately. No chromium cards will be included with the box sets

Pioneer on Fushigi Yuugi Gaiden

Pioneer has licensed Fushigi Yuugi Gaiden. The novels will be adapted into anime with 4 eps at 30 mins each. Release in spring, release details unknown. The events in the series take place three years after the tv series, and will feature all of seven Suzaku senshi.

Anime Taking a Bite Out of Disney

According to an LA Times article Disney is loosing market share due to more entertainment options for its key demographics, including "Japanese animated cartoon Sailor Moon". See here.

A Video Girl Ai boxed set was expected out in December. The mistake in the second OVA, where the intro was dropped, will be corrected in the DVD release.

A fan's request to have a Key the Metal Idol boxed set was referred to by Viz's Toshi as "a good idea worth looking into.

Viz Looking for X/1999 Replacements

Viz has not yet decided upon a replacement for X/1999, if you have any suggestions e-mail extra@viz.com. Clamp titles such as Tokyo Babylon will not be considered until licensing issues regarding X/1999 get cleared up. Other titles under consideration are DNA2 and I's. Viz has pretty much lost everything they have with Clamp. So no X/1999, no X vol 7. THey are trying to get a new contract. X Vol 7 was all ready to go.

Viz Manga Translation of Ayashi No Ceres

They will be removing obscure Japanese references from Ayashi no Ceres and replacing them with American references, however they will include an index of these edits at the back of every volume. If Ceres sells well Viz should release some of Yu Watase older titles such as Utopia and Pajama de Ojama.

Chiho Saito Covers for Viz

Manga artist Chihi Saito, best known in the US for her work on Revolutionary Girl Utena will be providing two covers for Viz's manga anthology, Animerica Extra. The August issue, which includes an article about baseball in Japan will feature a cover of Utena characters in baseball uniforms. She may also do a Halloween cover for October.

Magic User's Clubs info

The first volume of the Mahou Tsuki Tai TV series will be labeled at Magic Users Club Volume 4, which is reasonable considering that the TV series starts off the day after the OVA series ended. Media Blasters also mentioned that the clear cases will not be used on any more volumes of MTT.

Sequel Anime

During Anime Expo's opening ceremonies voice actor Akira Kamiya led a special Live Dub demonstration that also included Ms. Inoue, and several other voice actors, both professional and students from Japan. They voiced a 3-minute segment of Galaxy Angel for us live. Mr. Kamiya also mentioned that the two manga sequels that recently began in "Comic Bunch" (Sequels to City Hunter and Fist of the North Star) could very possibly be turned into Animes within a year. Mr. Kamiya played the parts of Ryu Saeba and Ken.

While discussing Mezzo Forte, which comes to us from the same creator as Kite, Media Blasters did mention a rumored sequel to Kite that may be in the works.

FLCL Info

Furi Kuri (FLCL), Gainax's hit OVA series, is due out before the end of the year. It's uncertain at this point if Synch-Point will use the subtitle tracks provided by Gainax on their Japanese DVD releases. I asked about FLCL manga's panel, and if they would be overlaid. They said they have a possible solution. No details. They sent it to several authoring places, that kinda said back to them, "WTF?"

ADV Dub Issues

Orphen English dub differences due to working with Activision. According to Anime News Network The dub of Orphen (which has been considered some of the most Americanized dubbing by ADV to date) was made with an American TV audience in mind, ADV said. Negotiations for a possible televised showing have not been ruled out, as negotiations are "ongoing". No possible networks were mentioned.

Problems with Generator Gawl English dub won't happen again.
ADV broke ground on a 2nd dubbing studio

Bandai Titles Status

Brain Powered and Silent Mobius dubs in production for DVD released

SMJ->X same release as SMJ. SMJ->X next year
Pilot Canidate in Fall
Jin-roh relase next year

Love Hina early next year. Only have TV eps 1-24 so far. According to Amine News Network When questioned about whether or not Love Hina would appear on TV they responded that they try to get everything on tv (not the Christmas Special or OAVs yet).

It was mentioned that the Amaray 3 disc flippy cases put an exceptional amount of pressure on the DVD and progressively damage the DVD as it is removed and re-inserted into the case over time. Jerry Chu said that Bandai was not aware of this problem and that they would like to hear from fans to see if this is happening often.

On the subject of packaging and episode per disc count, they said that they have received very positive feedback regarding the 9/9/8 format and Bandai will look at releasing more titles in that format.

New Bandai Titles

Despite repeatedly responding to questions about whether they will be releasing the Cowboy Bebop movie in the US with a statement that their schedule is too packed to announced new titles, Bandai announced two new acquisitions at anime expo: Tsukai Kagi Ran and Kikdaidar.
Tsukikage Ran is a colaberation between Studio Madhouse, known for frantic action such as Ninja Scroll, and director Daichi Akitaro, known for hyper action comedies Jubei-Chan, Elf Princess Ren (Fairy Princess Rain) and Kodomo no Omocha. Tsukikage Ran is a samurai action about a samurai woman with a love for sake, and her Chinse martial artist sidekick. It is an episodic series, telling familiar tales of wondering ronin. Many have noted the high quality and detail of the series' fight scenes. The tv series ran for 13 episodes.
Building on their close relationship with Sunrise, Bandai may be starting a new sub label called "Sunrise Classic Action" which will release subtitled only DVDs of classic Sunrise titles such as Giant Gorg and Lazener.

Gundam Status

First Gundam TV DVD will have original Japanese OP as extra
July 23 5pm for First Gundam on CN
12 am for MS08th
afterwards 0080 and 0083 also Char's Counter Attack being worked on for DVD.

According to Anime News Network Bandai will be releasing all the titles that make up the 1-year war first; DVDs for 0080 and 0083 (Stardust Memories) will be out early next year. Following these, Bandai's next Gundam release will be Char's Counterattack. Miller's report will be available in 2002. Bandai is also looking into releasing Gundam Soundtracks, but no decisions have yet to be made.

Gundam MS08 will start appearing on Cartoon Network on July 23rd at Midnight, while Mobile Suit Gundam 0079 will begin airing on the same day, at 5pm, during the regular Toonami block. 0080 and 0083 are very likely to appear on Cartoon Network as well.

From Bandai America, the Gundam game "Journey to Jaboro" for PS2 will be available in August.

Crest of the stars info

Crest of the Stars - no more Comchoice. Will replace disc if you email support@animevillage.com August Bimonthly resume schedule no plans yet on Seikai no Senki and Saikai no Danshou

Cowboy Bebop

New Cowboy Bebop Movie trailer shown at Anime Expo. Despite announcing new titles Bandai repeats no news on acquisition, so they will not comment on whether they will be releasing the Cowboy Bebop movie. Possible Cowboy Bebop on TV. The highly anticipated Cowboy Bebob boxed set should be out in November. The box might be available separately for people who have already purchased the DVDs.

AnimEigo DVD Release

AnimEigo's dub of YUA TV is being worked on at Coastal Carolina. It will be released with4 eps per DVD. YUA OVA's will be part of the TV release. First 4 TV eps are based on the OVA's, with slight differences. AnimEigo will possible include both 4 OVA's and first 4 TV on 1 DVD.

Kimugure Orange Road will be preorder, with DVDs coming out 6-9 months later for retail.

Macross TV looks like Sept 2001.
2nd Miyu DVD is wrapping up soon. The estimate a total of a one month slip from the original schedule

UY2 boxset shipping now. UY3 boxset to ship within 2 months. Mastering almost all done. There will be a lag after UY3. They will do the movies and ova's next, and work on some other titles.

They have hired a 2nd DVD producer who has 2 more assistants.

Central Park Media Slayers and Utena News

The Slayers DVD audio will most likely not be fixed due to economical reasons. They would want around 1200 preorders to do it.

They have been trying to renegotiate for the further Utena TV eps now for 2 years.

Tokyopop Anime Release Schedule

St. Tail will be released at the end of Aug on a bimonthly release schedule. 3 eps on each DVD, for around 15 DVDs. Email them people! Even the Japanese LD release had 4 eps.
Spring and Chaos should be ready in 2-3 weeks.
Vampire Princess Miyu, first end of Aug bimonthly. 8-9 DVDs at 3 eps each. $29.99

Tokyopop Manga

Paradise Kiss, Planet Ladder, and Mars appears Nov in Smile.
Dragons Knights, Corrector Yui Coming

Kodomo no Omocha, which will be released as Popstar Kodacha, in Dec.
Marmalade Boy in Nov.

Both Kodacha and Marmalade Boy will be unflipped. The first 5 issues will be comic, then switch to graphic novel for the rest.

Gundam Wing titles include Battlefield Pacifist, Endless Watlz, and G-Uniy.
Second volume of Clover in Sept.

Sorcerer Hunters graphics novels to be sped up to every 3 months.
Most graphic novels will be sped up to 2-3 months between releases.

Maison Ikkoku on DVD

According to a post on the Anime on DVD forum, at the Maison Ikkoku on DVD fan petition panel, Dallas from Marketing and sales at Viz popped in to give a heads-up about what's going on with MI at Viz. Unfortunately, they have given up on ever trying to sell individual disks of MI. Current rate is only 400 copies per tape sold, they're losing money.

However, they have a meeting scheduled with Pioneer about the details of doing multiple Box Sets of MI. Current plan is to do the first 36 dub/sub and the rest sub only. Don't expect any extras.

Episode and disc count are TBD with the goal of making it as cost effective as possible, i.e. shove as many episodes on a disk as will fit.

Whether or not Viz will/can use the Japanese DVD masters was brought up and will be looked into.

It would be a added bonus is they could us the japanese dvd masters, and give MI fans a extra incentive.

"I'm Gonna Be an Angel!" Dub Review

Akadot's Dub Track features an advanced review of "I'm Gonna Be an Angel!" by Ryan Mathews at ,/a>

Trigun Kubricks

Medicom makes lego-man like figures called Kubricks. According to Pioneer's webite a set of Trigun Kubricks consisting of Vash the Stampede, Nicholas Wolfwood, and Monev the Gale will be released in the US through Diamond distributors. The interesting thing about this set is that its a Diamond Comics exclusive, it will not be released in Japan. The figures can be seen at Pioneer's site.

Toonami Schedule Update
Starting July 23rd, the Toonami Schedule will be as follows:

• 5:00 PM - Mobile Suit Gundam (original 1979 series)
  
• 5:30 PM - Viewer's Choice (one of four series to start on July 16th)
  
• 6:00 PM - Dragonball Z
  
• 6:30 PM - Dragonball Z
  
  
  
• Midnight - Mobile Suit Gundam: The 08th MS Team 12:30 AM - Outlaw Star

Thanks to Mark Holtz at www.deepspacefranchise.net

Cartoon Network Starts Gundam Promos

Cartoon Network has begun airing commercials for the original Gundam series. The commercials are shown with the footage given a blue tone. Some have suggested that is to mask the dated animation.

Lain on Public Television

According to a post on Anime on DVD's forum San Fransico public television station KTEH-54 will be showing Serial Experiments Lain on Sunday, August 12th, at 9pm. The first three episodes will show that
evening, and that is a pledge night. There will be a break on the 19th for
more pledge stuff, and Lain will start in its normal timeslot of 10pm
(following Evangelion) on Sunday, August 26th.

Asamiya Moving to New York?

According to a post on rec.arts.anime.misc manga artist Kia Asamiya suggested he may be moving to New York to become more involved with the US comic industry. More Silent Mobius manga is also in the works.

Manga DVD's and Other Projects

Manga explained at their Anime Expo panel that the DVD release of Giant Robo will be a box set release. Gunbuster will be released sub only. Fist of the North Star will begin again from volume 7 and continue until their 39 episode contract is met.

Viz Ranma and Video Girl AiDVD News

The long awaited Ranma season 1 boxed set is expected to be released in November, followed by the season 2 boxed set sometime in the first half of 2002.
Ranma TV Season One boxset in Nov. Ranma Season 6 eps are shuffled into arcs for dvd releases apparently.

Marvel Comics Manga Event

According to Newsarma, Marvel Comics will be putting together a manga inspired event eited by Ralph Macchio, Brian Smith and Joe Quesada, publisher/creator Ben Dunn of Antarctic Press (home of titles like Ninja High School and Warrior Nun Areala) will reportedly plot and illustrate the first and last 'bookend' issues, and the six 'middle' one shots will be written and drawn by various creators, though no specific names were divulged this early.

"What I am basically doing is creating the Marvel Universe as if manga artists had created it," explained Dunn of his involvement, who says plans for the 'Mangaverse' are to incorporate characters like Spider-Man, the Fantastic Four and the X-Men and other Marvel mainstays in stories with proposed titles (still pending approval) like "Super Sentai Fantastic Four", "Combat Mecha Iron Man" and "God Warrior Thor".

C.B. Cebulski of Fanboy Entertainment stated
"Marvel's biggest concern when discussing this all is that they do not want to be derivative in any way. They want to take the best aspects of manga and anime, from the art style and pacing to storytelling and design, and combine it with the Marvel characters. They do not want to copy ideas and concepts or simply mimic hit series and the elements that made them popular. To this effect, I know they are contacting some of the best manga and anime inspired writers and artists out there. Some are big names, others are up and comers. Not everyone is available though. They won't be able to please everyone but I think some of the choices will surprise and please people."

"What's exciting about this is that January is traditionally a month when publishers have little to no major offerings," said Joe Quesada. "This January Marvel is loaded for bear!"

Newsrama also has an interesting article about manga at here

ADV Retract Noir License Statement

After announcing that they had acquire the license to the popular anime show Noir at Anime Expo ADV announced the following on their site: "Any previous reference to a program known as "Noir" is retracted and absolutely no inference should be drawn from any earlier inclusion. We apologize for any confusion caused by this inadvertent listing."
Thanks to Ian Fitzpatrick of Clark Anime Club for points this out.

Gundam Wing: Endlass Waltz at Sony Metreon
San Francisco, CA

- Bandai Entertainment in conjunction with the Sony Metreon will hold a special screening of Gundam Wing the Movie - Endless Waltz on the Metreon's new Action Theatre. Screenings of Endless Waltz will take place on Saturday, July 14th and Sunday, July 15th at 6:00 PM and 9:00 PM.
Located between Fourth and Mission St. in Downtown San Francisco. Gundam Wing Endless Waltz is a prequel and sequel to the Gundam television series. It features interesting retroactive redesigns of the Gundam, and spectacularly animated mecha battles.

Also, be sure to join Bandia on the weekend of July 20 - 22, to take sneak peek at Cartoon Network's upcoming broadcast of Mobile Suit Gundam and Mobile Suit Gundam 08th MS Team. There will also be a special DVD preview of the Mobile Suit Gundam 0080: War in the Pocket and Mobile Suit Gundam 0083: Stardust Memory. For further details visit the Sony Metreon website at www.metreon.com .