Father Geek here with Scott's weekly column on the whole wide world of Manga & Anime...

AnimAICN...

by Scott Green

Manga Spotlight xxxHOLiC Volumes 1 and 2 By CLAMP

Published by Del Rey

xxxHOLiC is a work that is both different and fannish from the popular team of woman manga creators known as CLAMP.

Ostensibly it is a linked horror anthology, similar in the domestically released manga world to Petshop of Horrors, but CLAMP can't touch a genre without subverting it. Eminating from a wish granter, the stories tend towards the self contained, but they also extend beyond simple horror exploitations of personality facets and flaws to encompass more character humor and visual ambiance.

Watanuki Kimihiro (whose name is a pun of "April first"), a teen who has lived on his own since his parents' death is frustrated by his ability to see ghost and spirits, but becomes truly aggravated when he stumbles into an agreement with Yuko, the lanky, teasing witch who runs a shop that batters wishes for an exchange of equal value.

Both principles are entertaining characters. Rather than the typical simplistic put upon male lead, Watanuki, is a railing, obsessive neat freak and perfectionist cook. It is not a stretch to imagine him growing up to host an NPR show and writer of self obsessed semi- humorous books. Yuko is a likewise a beat off from the familiar. In her case it is the amusing free spirit whose antics appear to compensate for burden (in the vein of Evangelion's Misato or Tenchi Muyo's Ryoko), with a snide delight through her half opened eyes in her manipulations that make her a genuinely fun character.

Though the stories are well written and nicely modern with some interesting ambiguity in the exchanges, but they are textbook anthology horror, with a little self-help thrown in. Of themselves, the troubles and fate of the visitors to Yuko's shop aren't particularly novel. Beyond putting the reoccurring leads through their paces, xxxHOLiC appears to be a sight driven work. Typically this is expected for an action series, building to one character exploding away another. Here, stories seem to build towards a nice fog, shadow play, or if a few cases visual gag.

The task of parsing out individual CLAMP credits tends not to be easy, but its is believed that xxxHOLiC is designed by Mick Nekoi` (Wish), rather than Mokona Apapa, who is responsible for the CLAMP house style.

The look is manga on art nuevo, with thin, ethereal bodies some have described as goth-y. From the introduction of Watanuki's visions of a shapely silhouette of a woman in fog and geometric circles to mist formed misshaped Lovecraftian beings to this discovery of Yuko's shop, and off amalgamation of Arab and Victorian, nestle between anonymous sky scrappers, the shapes and sights of xxxHOLiC are entrancing. One can get lost in complex panels full of swirls fog, storms of hair, symbols of divination.

Character design is likewise a diverting exercise in excess. The blonde marks who visit Yuko establishment become a interchangeable, but Yuko's parade of outfits, and shifts between lounging while smoking an opium style pipe, and strutting makes her a supremely striking figure. While Yuko is a palette for some great facial expressions, Watanuki is generally stuck in a school uniform so his dynamic qualities are expressed through some skillful cartooning. (He does get accessorized in the chapter illustrations, including some bizarre fetishization, such as an initial color spread of Yuko holding his chained collar, which he is wearing a cat bell, ears, and tiny bat wings).

A highlight or annoyance in xxxHOLiC is the games it plays in the attic of the CLAMP-verse, where prototype Sakura wands and Mokona(s) sit of dusty shelves. Though a notably quality in CLAMP work has been its reaching breath of genre, there is hardly a well known genre or manga story convention that they haven't addressed and warped, CLAMP has seeded their works with connections. Beyond reoccurring themes, of which wish fulfillment/granting has been paramount, there have been direct ties, best exemplified in Tokyo Babylon's launch of the epic X, which then pulled in pieces from other works. With X (also known as X/1999) on hiatus, xxxHOLiC has replaced or at least join X as the Rosetta Stone to CLAMP.

The series presents a unifying theory to the pieces that previously didn't quite match up, and while the rules are loose, it does advance the aspects of CLAMP's ideas on magic and wish granting. Likewise, there are direct ties to Card Capture Sakura, Magic Knights Rayearth, and especially its co-launched Tsubasa.

Even the series' lead acknowledges this aspect gets a bit esoteric. While the hearts of CLAMP fans will leap thanks to appearances by the likes of Clow Reed, without a great story it is a bit of an iffy proposition for casual and non-CLAMP fans (though there is a great appendix to explain the significance to the less obsessed).

Manga/Manwha Spotlight: The Ruler of the Land Volumes 2 and 3 Written by Jeon Keuk-Jin Illustrated by Yang Jae-Hyun

Released by ADV Manga

It's odd to see a dynastic epic star a horny twit habitually cracking fourth wall jokes. Even indoctrinated to Jackie Chan's comedic take on martial arts, and Tsui Hark's spectacles, some acclimating is needed to enjoy Korean martial arts epic Ruler of Land. An initial vexed reaction to war lords, adventurers and wondering masters frequently making dim jokes, is quickly lightened by the high spirited adventure and an incredibly intricate web of characters that make Ruler of the Land surprisingly entertaining endeavor. The reflective irreverence mixed with some character drama and exciting and creative if not always expertly rendered action proves increasingly addictive as the series progresses.

These volumes begin to establish an unpredictable of alliances and personalities. The setup of a wandering swordsman Bi-Kwang, and his disguised-as-a-man fighting companion/potential lover Hwa-Rin, dodging the elite guard of Lord of Thousand Horse who would like to take on Bi- Kwang as his disciple, along with a host of enemies has be complicated by a playing field of geographical and sect divisions broadens with feuds based on personal histories, romances, ambitions and factions.

The ability to shift characters between action, comedic, and dramatic uses is surprisingly effective.

An example is Sang-Pil "Gold Cobra" Gin, an assassin, set with his henchmen against Bi-Kwang in the first volume. He's impressive and kinetic in close range combat, and he has an older, more mature variety of Bi-Kwang's lecherous streak. Like the evolution of the series, what started a slightly annoying utility characters become deeply appealing. Not just that that he was the familiar honorable adversary, but that he and his followers had some vivid depth. He is a conflicted personality, at war with his past decisions and how he can adhere to his values.

The action scenes continue to be poised under some elaborate and energetic circumstances (Bi-Kwang's a skilled jumper, so in these volumes there are a lot of cliff and suspension lines), but their execution remains slightly awkward. Though deficits are lessoned, or at least better hidden by the third volume, but poses aren't well rendered, and the battles between impressive arrivals and impactful conclusions occasionally flounder.

There are a number of characters who should be impressive presences and by personality are quite engaging, but in appearance and action they're their design offsettingly childish. This is a repeat of the criticism against the series' sense of humor in the first volume so it may become more forgivable as the series continues, but there are characters like Sang-Pil who the reader could really get into as a man with an interesting history, dilemma is relationship with the hero, but comically spike hair, small head, giant shoulder pad and giant bladed make him out to be something out of poor American super hero comic. When given a chance, the first volume of Ruler of the Land proved to be surprisingly fun, if a little dim, adventure. With its characters fleshed out in the second and third volumes, its epic qualities have begun to emerge and make it series to look out for. The series hasn't completely shaken its amateurishness or liberal approach to peppering the story with humor, but that has become part of its charm.

Manga Spotlight: Planetes Volume 3

Released by TOKYOPOP

Last weekend's San Diego Comic Con presented one of the American comic industry's most prestigious awards, the Eisners. Though the 2003 was bit of a step backwards in manga's representation in the awards, 2004 featured several creators and titles nominated for categories outside the stronghold of Best U.S. Edition of Foreign Material, which was won by iBook's adaptation of Osamu Tezuka's Budha. With respectable coverage, it now seems appropriate to gripe about overlooked.

It is hard to argue with honoring a Osuma Tezuka epic, with collection design by Chip Kidd. Set against the likes of Juan Diaz Canales and Juanjo Guarnido's visually unequaled Blacksad and Marjane Satrapi's captivating autography of growing up in Iran, Persepolis the award was a sign of respect for the material and manga. However, a misfortune of this year's Eisner nomination list was that Planetes did not receive any recognition.

What started as blue collar hard sci-fi has continued to evolve. Planetes' constants have been believable and intriguing characters and science. Though both occasionally edge towards the exceptional, they are kept grounded with firmly grounded elements, a sense of humor and grabbing illustration, but the content of series has shifted radically during its progression.

Volume 3 lightly leverages Planetes' setting, in which humanity begins to reach to the outer solar system with manned exploration. The mission, life in space, the larger political and social picture remain aspects of the series. Details are interspersed with the events of the volume and it doesn't relax its believable vision, but the volume doesn't advance the larger picture either.

Hachimaki, a young man with the outlandish plan to acquire his own spacecraft began the series as part of a crew removing orbiting debris. The outlooks of Hachimaki's co-workers, Fee a hardscrabble woman who takes pride in her work with a bit of hyper extended rugged individual streak, and Yuri, a quiet traveler and thinker whose work is pace is haunted by a past loss gave the Planetes a fascinating personality.

The second volume followed Hachimaki journey through the selection process for the team to man a mission to Jupiter's moons, along with the endeavor’s social reception. Rather than the moon mission's narrow competitive object, the project's mix of lasting ambition and wonder probably would be a stretch to find similar players at work in Columbus' day, but in some quarters the view of the project is seen and questioned through the hindsight of centuries of history. Some see it as a matter of time before the project succeeds and fear the divisions and exploitation that came from the exploration of Earth.

In volume 3, Hachimaki, along with his eccentric father have been chosen for the mission's international team of experts. Now he has to face the personal impact of the mission, namely the crushing fear that hits him alone in space. Partially, its the child fear of the lights being turned out. Alone in the dark one can convince themselves anything is possible, that the sun will not out tomorrow, that life and death creep around the next corner. Partially, it an explorer's confrontation with an impossibly immense task. The response to space, as a dangerous but possible objective is horrifying tantalizing: desirable, but never completely reached, like an accountant tasked with entering every grain of sand into a ledger.

Part of life is space is finding something to physically hold on to so that the body doesn't endlessly float away. Hachimaki's journey in volume 3 of Planetes is to find emotional and spiritual object to hold onto and find strength.

It is a very human story relatable and relative to mundane life, but on face value may sound trite, simplistic and over used. How often has everyone seen the hero find what is truly important right under his nose. Except, Hachimaki lack of an anchor is acute, and after literally facing the abyss, his revelation carries a profound weight, heavier because it isn't a panacea. Life and Planetes goes on, and Hachimaki will need to carry his decision into the next stage of experience.

The other aspect of the volume is a history of Tanabe, Hachimaki's emotional counter balance in the previous volume, who annoyed famously annoyed him (and a noticeable subset of the readers). Her history as the developmentally stunted adopted daughter of a punk rock singer turned wind farm maintainer and a school teacher is one of the series' great character explorations. There aren't many complete answers, but it does flesh out a character who wasn't completely interesting at first glance. The view of her parents' lives in retrospect, ever after for a once famous and angry punk, is the brand of story that makes Planetes so engaging.

Hachimaki's popular other crewmates from his days a debris collector take a back seat in the volume. The readers who enjoyed the first volume more than the second may agree with the view from a set of four panel bonus strips, in which they (or at least Fee) smoke, watch Bob Sapp matches and gripe about their lack of face time in the volume.

There are plenty of enjoyable manga series, but list the majority of almost any medium, much of it is serves a quick purpose. Planetes is rare in that it isn't disposable entertainment, rare in that is science fiction that holds on to plausibility, rare in that it is science fiction that hold onto humanity.

Various flaws in TOKYOPOP's releases get pointed out in these reviews. Untranslated, or partially translated sound effects have been a peeve that been pointed out, and when an translation appendix was offered in some series, such as Fruits Basket, it was pointed out too.

A complaint about the second volume of Planetes was that it featured a poem by Kenji Miazawa, a beloved Japanese author possibly known to anime fans through Night on the Galactic Railroad or Spring and Chaos, left in its original Japanese. According to the editor's note in volume three, the lack of an available scholarly translation and the difficulties in translating poetry lead to the decision. Reader reaction has inspired to a best effort translation appearing in volume 3. Its presence in English certainly has value, and it is helpful to see at least an approximation.

Anime Spotlight: R.O.D: The TV Volume 1: The Paper Sisters

Released by Geneon

There are certain anime characters that are always fun to see in action. High on the list is Read or Die/ROD's paper users, characters who can manipulate paper to stop a bullet, cut through a metal wall, or support the weight of a passenger as a glider. Animated, its never losses its sense of giddy illogic and creativity.

The original Read or Die direct to video OAV followed paper user Yomiko Readman's conflict against a cabal of resurrected great thinkers on behalf of British Library’s Special Engineer. Though Yomiko and her employers leave an ominous path through the ROD television series, the focus is instead on a trio of sisters (or more likely, "sisters"), with less impressive abilities and jobs.

Likewise the episodes don't have the same break neck pace of the OAV. In place of a Bond movie like progress of linked huge action events, ROD takes time explore its quirky characters.

The Paper Sisters are blonde and scatterbrained Michelle who uses her paper abilities to form weapons, typically a bow and arrow, tall and shy Maggie who can use paper to make real or imagined animals, and Anita, a spry pink haired fung-fu monkey of a child who uses paper to form walls, edges or projectiles. Their Paper Sister Detective Agency doesn't seem a particularly successful endeavor, and the series hasn't shown any of their cases, but in the first episode the three find themselves tour guides in Hong Kong for visiting Japanese author Nenene Sumiregawa, who appears to be more than capable of keeping the trio busy.

At least in the early going, ROD has been character driven, with elements of plot haunting the periphery. Inevitablely, the plot movement is going to kick in, and the last episode of the volume shows signs that momentum will be picking up sooner rather than later, but the characters have enough weight to sustain an entertaining look at the less action oriented aspects of their lives.

Though the Paper Sisters are too endearing to laugh at, their antics trying to nest and make themselves welcome in Nenenene's house, or binging to exhaustion when visiting a Japanese book are highly amusing little misadventures.

A few of the characters' more interesting traits are lightly emphasized. Michelle who has some mental disconnects, but tries to stay on her toes, appears to be a compulsive reader, looking at any scrap of paper with writing on within reach, and she appears to an analytical mind when to processing what she reads. Maggie seems mildly autistic in her avoidance of conversations and spatial ticks. Anita looks to be more of a standard template, apparently building to some revelation of tragedies for in her background, but considering that for the requisite cute character slot, she's an amusing mini, milk guzzling spit fire, with a bit of the Spike Spiegel charm, a little hidden tragedy is forgivable. It also gets a few distinction points for making Nenene a little chubby, or at least a the look of someone who doesn't exercise much.

Though the first volume of ROD is dominated by less physically intense content, it does have several impressive action scenes. The first episode has several action scenes that were of the OAVs caliber, though of action movie rather than pulp variety, explosions and kinetic stunts rather than baroque outlandishness, and the fourth of the volumes four episodes its own physical engagement. The action remains dynamic and creative. The slick motion of the Sisters in action, and the paper effects hints at what may develop into a top notch action series.

Last Week's Releases

Anime

• Bast of Syndrome - Riddle's Intervention (Vol. 3)
• The Big O II - Aggressive Negotiations (Vol. 4)
• Comic Party - The Big Time (Vol. 4)
• Demon Lord Dante - Dante Rages (Vol. 2)
• Fushigi Yugi - The Mysterious Play (Vol. 1)
• Galaxy Angel - Stranded Without Dessert (Vol. 3)
• Ghost in the Shell - Stand Alone Complex (Vol. 1)
• Kiddy Grade - Freedom of Truth (Vol. 5)
• Knight Hunters Eternity File - New Blood (Vol. 1)
• Neon Genesis Evangelion - Platinum Collection 1
• Rurouni Kenshin Meiji Era - Premium Box 3
• Seven of Seven - The Luckiest Number (Vol. 1)
• Sonic Soldier Borgman - Last Battle/Lover's Rain
• Stratos 4 - Blast Off - Flight 1
• Yu Gi Oh:Friends Til the End S 2 V 7
• Yu Yu Hakusho - Dark Tournament Saga Gift Set (Vola. 1-6)

Manga

• Animerica Extra Aug 2004 Vol 7 #8
• Banana Fish Vol 3 2Nd Ed (Mr)
• Ceres Celestial Legend Vol 4 Tp 2Nd Ed Chidori
• Ceres Celestial Legend Vol 8 Tp
• Fushigi Yugi Vol 6 Tp Summoner
• Galaxy Angel Gn #3
• Inu Yasha Ani Manga Vol 4
• Maison Ikkoku Vol 6 Tp 2Nd Ed
• Neon Genesis Evangelion Vol 5 Tp 2Nd Ed
• Peigenz Vol 1 Tp
• Ranma 1/2 Tp Vol 12 2Nd Ed
• Sensual Phrase Vol 3 Gn (Mr)
• Samurai Executioner Vol 1 Tp
• Wedding Peach Young Love
• X 1999 Vol 15 Tp

This Week's Releases

Anime

• Azumanga Daioh Vol 2:Animini Mini Dis
• Full Metal Panic Vol 1 : Animini Mini
• Happy Lesson Vol 2:Animini Mini Disc
• Inu-Yasha - Curse of the Dark Priestess (Vol. 20)
• Kaleido Star - Great Expectations (Vol. 3)
• Kaleido Star Vol 2:Animini Mini Disc
• Kino's Journey Vol 3:Animini Mini Dis
• Miami Guns Vol 2
• Noir Vol 2:Animini Mini Disc
• Sailor Moon Super S - The Complete Uncut TV Set
• Saiyuki - New World Order (Vol. 12)
• Space Pirate Captain Herlock - Final Voyage (Vol. 4)

Manga

• 50 Rules For Teenagers Manga Vol 1 Tp
• Boss Manga Vol 2 Tp
• Desert Coral Manga Vol 2 Tp
• Doing Time Gn (Mr)
• Duck Prince Book 2 Gn Swans Dilemma (Of 6)
• Flowers And Bees Vol 4 Tp (Mr)
• Gundam The Origin #12
• Najica Blitz Tactics Manga Vol 1 Tp (
• Oh My Goddess #111
• Pretear Manga Vol 2 Tp
• Quantum Mistake Manga Vol 1 Tp
• Shonen Jump Vol 2 #9 Sept 2004
• Steel Angel Kurumi Manga Vol 7 Tp
• World Of Narue Book 2 Gn

CMX Preview

DC Comics has previews of their upcoming CMX manga releases here.

New Full Metal Panic Anime Nation points out that Japanese fan site Full Meta.com is claim that an announcement regarding a third installment all of military action/highschool relationship comedy hybrid, directed by Yasuhiro Takemoto, will in announced in the September issue of Japan's Dragon Magazine.

Howl's Opening Date

Nausicaa.net reports that Studio Ghibli/Hayao Miyaki's latest movie Howl's Moving Castle will open in Japan on November 20th.

The movie will also be shown as the Venice Film Festival.

ComicsOne to Release King of Fighters 2003

ComicsOne announced that The King Of Fighters 2003 #1, based on the popular fighting video game will be released this November.

The 128 page color graphic novel will retail for $13.95.

The cover can be seen here

Manga Eisner Winners

The American comic industry's prestigious Eisner awards were announced at last weekend's San Diego Comic-Con.Buddha, vols. 1 and 2, by Osamu Tezuka (Vertical) won for Best U.S. Edition of Foreign Material. The other nominees were Blacksad, by Juan Diaz Canales and Juanjo Guarnido (ibooks), Chaland Anthology: Freddy Lombard, vols. 1 and 2, by Yves Chaland (Humanoids), Little Vampire Does Kung Fu!, by Joann Sfar (Simon & Shuster) and Persepolis, by Marjane Satrapi (Pantheon).

Lone Wolf and Cub creators Kasuo Koike and Goseki Kojima were inducted into the Hall of Fame.

Other manga nominees were Takehiko Inoue, Vagabond (Viz) for Best Writer/Artist, Astro Boy, by Osamu Tezuka (Dark Horse) for Best Title for a Younger Audience and What's Michael vols. 7 and 8, by Makoto Kobayashi (Dark Horse) for Best Humor Publication.

Bandai to Release Manga

Bandai Entertainment has tentatively schedule the launch of their new manga division for March 2005.

Bandai will be translating Japanese release and producing their own original titles.

Del Rey Announced Six Unnamed Manga Titles

Del Rey announced that six new will be added to their manga line in 2005.The titles were not names.

New Manga From Dark Horse

Dark Horse Comics announced at San Diego Comic-Con that they will be releasing Katsuya Terada, and Hipira: The Little Vampire by Akira creator Katsuhiro Otomo and Shinji Kimura.

The company will also be releasing a comic version of Brooke Burgess and Andrew West's manga style Broken Saints.

Eclectic Girl to be Animated

In non-anime news, Ait/PlanetLar publisher Larry Young announced that all ages comic series Electric Girl by Michael Brennan is being adapted into an animated series for Cartoon Network. The series following a teenage girl with electrical powers and the gremlin who follows her around.

Candy Candy Legal Battle Heats Up Again

The Daily Mainichi reports that the legal feuds over young girl's manga "Candy Candy" have escalated again. Artist Yumiko Igarashi was ordered by the Tokyo High Court to pay 1.75 million yen to compensate toymaker Apple One after selling rights to the property which she did not own, overruling a Tokyo District Court decision which did not find Igarashi culpable in Apple One's losses.

Yumiko Igarashi is in a legal battle with "Candy, Candy"'s creator Kyoko Mizuki over rights to the property.

Warcraft Manga From TOKYOPOP

TOKYOPOP and Blizzard Entertainment have announced the development of an original comic based on popular fantasy warfare PC game series.

Warcraft: The Sunwell Trilogy will be written by Richard Knaak and illustrated by Ragnarok manwha illustrator Jae Hwan Kim. The first volume is scheduled to be released February 2005.

Inu-Yasha Mobile Phone Content

Anime News Service points at that Sorrent, Inc. (www.sorrent.com), and ShoPro Entertainment, today announced a multi-year partnership in which Sorrent will develop and publish mobile content based on the Inuyasha animation TV program and graphic novel series in America. Through the agreement, fans will be able to access Inuyasha messaging, wallpapers and games directly from their mobile phones.

More Duel Masters Episodes

52 new episodes of the collectable card game based Duel Masters series will be produced to be shown in the US and Japan.

Comic Con News Bytes

From Anime on DVD's reports on the San Diego Comic Con, despite a heavy anime presence, few major announcements were made.

ADV

ADV deflected questions about whether the newsstand release of the latest NewType USA without DVD and poster extras.

Bandai

Galaxy Angel Zeta will be coming out in September. Zeta Gundam would released before the end of the year.

Between August and September, the Gundam F91 theatrical movie will be shown in 6-7 markets across the country.

Robert Napton will be heading Bandai's new manga division. The format of will be 5x7.5" collections, with color pages and dust jackets. Sound effects will be untranslated, with an appendix glossary

Dark Horse Comics

Dark Horse mentioned that they will be re-releasing collections of Gunsmith Cats, You're Under Arrest and Ah! My Goddess in the original Japanese right to left. Ah! My Goddess will soon finish its monthly run and continue in graphic novel collections.

Dark Horse also expressed interest in more titles from Lone Wolf and Cub creator Koike Kazuo.

DC Comics CMX

Titles will be right to left with the exception of the rare title that was published left to right (MADARA was published left to right in Japan).

DC previewed the upcoming addition of Gals (the origin of the Super Gals anime). The personal/family name order was done in the Japanese way characters ie "Kotobuki Ran".

Sound effects will be untranslated and honorifics will be included.

Currently, the release schedule is quarterly.

Del Rey

Del Rey will not be editing the content of their releases, and will do away with age rating stickers of Negima starting in volume 3. Color pages of the comics will also be included. A quarterly schedule will be employed for their releases in 2005.

FUNimation

Upcoming Releases

August

• Tenchi GXp Vol 5

August 17

• Dragon Ball Z Movie 9

August 25th

• Clase Closed Volume 1

September

• Kiddy Grade
• Dragon Ball FT

October

• Yu Yu Hakusho Box set 2

October 19

• Shaman King Uncut, Yu Yu Hakusho coming shortly after

October 26th

• Sakura Taisen Sumire OVA

November

• Final Kiddy Grade

November 9

• Spiral volume 1
• Fruits Basket Box Set

December

• Final Tenchi GXP

January 16th

• Full Metal Alchmestic volume 1

May 2005

• Dragon Ball FT Movie

November 6th, 11:30 PM will be when Full Metal Alchemist airs on Adult Swim on cartoon Network. The first Full Metal Alchemist PS2 has been moved up to a November release for this year. The premiere of the Full Metal Alchemist dub will be at Otakon next week, before the concert of L'Arc en Ciel. The DVD release of Full Metal Alchemist will have three boxes split across the series. Funimation is looking to put a tin or some type of metal over the box. Also, the contract of Full Metal Alchemist is only for 51 episodes.

In a few month, "tons" of Full Metal Alchemist merchandise will be coming out.

The Fruits Baskets caps which have been a con exclusive, should also eventually be showing up in stores.

Geneon

Geneon's Tetsujin 28 (Gigantor) license include the recent TV series and the live action movie.

The upcoming non-anime Gregory Horror Show is a series of three minute CGI shorts. Cybuster, a Bandai giant robot series, will be a 6 volume release. Popoton's 12 episodes will be on 3 volumes. The Daichis, otherwise know as Earth Defense Family, will be 13 episodes on 3 volumes. Samurai Champloo will be 7 volumes.

Geneon is pulling back on selling boxes with first volumes of new series, because it is seen as discoraging impulse buys.

TOKYOPOP

New titles include manwha titles

• Laya the Witch by Dive to Dream Sea Studio
• Angel Cup by Young Jae-ho (girls soccer manhwa)
• Arcana by Lee So-young
• Heaven Above Heaven by Jeon Jae-ho
• Plaent Blood by Kim Tae-hyung
• riverside by Choi Ii-ho
• Tarot Cafe by Park Sans-sun (creator of Le Bijox)
• visitor by No Yee-jung
• In a Dream World by Yoon Jae-ho

...and manga titles

• Liling Po by Ako Yutenji
• Qwan by Aki Shimzu (artist for Suikoden III) Shaolin Sisters 2 by Narumi
• Kakinouchi Prussian Blue, a german shojo manga produced in right to left format.

Viz

The fourth Maison Ikkuku box set, with episodes 37-48 of Inu-Yasha creator Rumiko Takahashi's dramady will be released on November 23rd for $69.98, exclusivel at Viz.com and Right Stuf

Due to poor sales, Viz is re-evaluating the release of Corrector Yui, no details were given about possible alternative release methods.

Viz will be launching a new edgier Shonen Jump imprint, tentatively called Shonen Jump Advanced such as Ultimate Muscle, and a new imprint for the Studio Ghibli animation capture comics.

Steamboy Opens Fourth in Japanese Box Office

Anime News Network reports Steamboy has opened fourth in the Japenese box office takes, behind the new Pokemon movie, 2004 Pocket Monster Advanced Generation, which open in second place. Harry Potter And The Prisoner Of Azkaban has help the first place for four weeks. The live action adaptation of manga Umizaru fell off the top 10 list after five weeks.

The their second week Pokemon retained the second position, but Steamboy fell to sixth place under King Arthur, which opened in third, Spiderman 2, and Shrek 2, which opened in 5th.

FUNimation Thinks Anime Channel

FUNimation is considering a 24-7 anime channel that will focus on uncut, English dubbed anime.A survey can be found here

October CPM Anime

Central Park Media will be releasing fighting anime ShootFighter Tekken: Round 2 and the live-action Japanese horror Baptism of Blood on DVD in October.

ShootFighter Tekken: Round 2

Fighting is a way of life for teen martial arts prodigy Kiichi Miyazawa. When his best friend goes down in a grappling match with a deadly Jujitsu master, Kiichi takes matters into his own hands and enters the ring. But this time he may have taken on more than he can handle. The challenge is to the death, and his opponent has the near-supernatural ability to predict his every move. Honor, guts, and glory are all on the line in this no-holds-barred martial arts blood match!

Baptism of Blood (Subtitled only)

Sakura’s mother is making her life a living hell. Disfigured and half-mad, she rules her daughter’s life with an iron fist in the crumbling mansion that is their home. But when Sakura stumbles upon a mad scientist’s fiendish machine, she discovers that her mother really is evil! For twenty years, she has concealed the ghastliest of schemes – to transplant her own brain into Sakura’s helpless body!

October Geneon Releases

Anime

9/28

Fushigi Yugi: The Mysterious Play (V.2) DVD

10/12

Tsukihime, Lunar Legend - Life Threads (V.1) DVD

10/19

éX-Driver THE MOVIE

Texhnolyze - Suspicions (V.4)

10/26

Gad Guard - Persona (V.3) DVD

R.O.D -The TV- (V.3) DVD

éX-Driver THE MOVIE DVD The World of éX-Driver

The squeal of smoking tires, the roar of the engine and the thrill of a hairpin turn in a power drift. Most people in the future have no knowledge of these adrenaline-pumping aspects to driving because they only use cars driven by AI computers. However, sometimes the computers lose themselves and the cars race out of control! Fortunately, the éX-Drivers still love their gas-powered racing cars and are hired to shutdown rogue AI cars using their amazing driving skills. éX-D THE MOVIE (64min)Three teenage prodigies, Lorna, Lisa and Souichi, go to Los Angeles to participate in a world-class race of éX-Drivers. As they prepare, they soon suspect that underground gambling and the mob may be involved- the thrill of the race is about to éXplode with this more sinister danger!

Nina & Rei DANGER ZONE (25min)

Miniature menace! A rogue vehicle has beens hutting down Tokyo's transportation grid even though it's only 1 foot long! When Nina and Rei attempt to stop the remote controlled car, they discover it is a miniature version of Nina! Who's built this tiny terror and why?!

Tsukihime, Lunar Legend

The ability to see the threads that bind everything and to be able to destroy anything just by severing it is known as the Mystic Eyes of Death Perception. Shiki has such a power, or would that be a curse that he must endure? Thankfully, he was given glasses that can seal this curse and he was finally able to live life normally…until now. When Shiki is strangely attracted to a woman and unwillingly kills her, his life takes a strange turn in that he didn’t actually kill her… After all, it’s takes more than a simple cut to kill a vampire…

Inu Yasha Anime to End in September

Anime on DVD reports that Viz's Toshi Yoshida confirmed at the San Diego Comic Con that episodes 166 and 167 of Inu-Yasha, which will air in Japan on September 6th with include the televised anime series.

Gravitation DVD 4 Release

Right Stuf has announced that Gravitation DVD 4: Secrets of a Troubled Past will be released October 26th.

Based on the best-selling graphic novel series by Maki Murakami, the Gravitation anime has been Rated one of the best romantic anime TITLES of all time (Anime Insider, 2003). As ONE OF THE FIRST SHONEN-AI (male homosexual love story) anime titles to hit the States, Gravitation's popularity is soaring with female U.S. audiences. First spotlighted in Newtype USA's July 2004 DVD, this wonderful romantic series will soon be spreading to new audiences across the nation when it DEBUTS ON THE ANIME NETWORK!

Contains episodes 11-13.

Graphic of cover is located at: http://www.rightstuf.com/outgoing/sleeves/rsdvd8029.jpg

Anime Network Interest

Anime Network has announced the results of a 2004 Beta Research Cable Subscriber Study, which gauges consumer interest in emerging and mid-sized cable networks, Teens and Men 18-34 cited the Anime Network as one of their top channel choices among emerging cable networks. This same audience sector also showed high interest in new technologies including Digital Cable, Video On Demand (VOD), Digital Video Recorders (DVR) and High Definition Television (HDTV).

Anime Network scored high indices and correlations with interest in each of the new technology applications. These results mean that in comparison to other emerging networks, respondents who are very interested in Anime Network are also more likely than other cable viewers to be interested in new technology offerings and vice versa. The results were as follows:

* Anime Network is #1 on its index relating to subscribing/being likely to subscribe to Digital Cable.

* Anime Network is #1 on its index with interest in VOD.

* Anime Network is #2 on its index with interest in HDTV.

* Anime Network is #3 on its index with interest in DVRs.

According to the study, the profile of persons with high interest in Anime Network are Men, ages 18-34 and 18-49, teens and persons 12-24 and 12-34. These people are also likely to subscribe to digital cable and are interested in DBS. They are also heavy Internet users and are likely subscribers to high-speed Internet access providers. They are also very interested in VOD, DVRs and HDTV.

The percentage of men age 18-34 with high interest in Anime Network(25%) was higher than 22 other emerging networks.

The percentage of men age 18-34 with high interest in Anime Network(25%) was also comparable to or higher than several On Demand networks

The percent of teens with high interest in Anime Network (24%) was comparable to several networks.

Overall, the percentage of interested respondents (3 or more rating on a 5-point scale) in Anime Network was 24% among total adults, 31% among adults age 18-34, 38% among men age 18-34 and 37% among teens.

New Yu Gi Oh Anime in October

An Anime on DVD forum poster points out that the issue 34th of the Japanese Weekly Shonen Jump reports that a new Yu Gi Oh anime series will begin on October 6th. Yugioh Duel Monsters Genex will star a hero named Yugi Juudai

Viz to Release Wolf's Rain Manga

ICV2 reports that Viz will be releasing the manga adaptation of Studio Bones' anime Wolf's Rain by Lida Toshitsugu and Iida Toshitsuu.

Upcoming ADV Essential Anime Releases

Anime on DVD reports that ADV will be the updated power suit-versus-android action Bubblegum Crisis 2040 as part of their re-priced Essential Anime line. The series will spread across 3 $19.95 releases.A new DVD release of original Bubblegum Crisis is forthcoming from AnimEigo.

Wired Looks at Anime Piracy

Anime News Service points out Wired's article on anime piracy.

New Media Blasters Manga

Icv2 reports Media Blaster's has added Eiken, described by editor in chief Frank Pannone as "Love Hina extreme" and Samurai Manga to their upcoming manga line.

Cowboy Bebop in Stealth Marketing Report

60 Minutes has re-run their report on underground marketing, which included online buzz generation for the Cowboy Bebop movie. A write-up can be seen here

Game News

From The Magic Box

Screenshots of Tomy's 4 player Naruto fighting game Gekitou Ninja Taisen 3 for GameCube can be seen here

New screenshots of the Playstatuion 2 Naruto: Narutimet Hero 2can be seen here

Lupin III: Legacy of Columbus ~ dyes a Vermilion can be seen here.

News screenshots of Dororo / Blood Will Tell: Osamu Tezuka's Dororo can be seen here

New Innocence Trailer Online

The Movie Box has a new trailer for the second Ghost in the Shell movie, Innocense here. A domestic theatrcal run will start September 17th.

Otakon Licensing Announces

The following licensing announcments were made at the Otakon anime convention:

ADV

Surprising for a company known for its accumulation of anime licenses, ADV was not able to announce any new anime licenses at the convention.

Bandai

Avenger: Sci-fi post apocaylptic revenge tale

Fantastic Children: A children's series who are sent about kids sent to a world of cute demons

Planetes: hard sci-fi story about the exploration and colonization of the solar system

Geneon

Human Scramble: a boxing series about a fighter with a hidden past

Jubei-Chan 2: sequel to the parody magic girl/samurai series about a girl descended from swordsman Jubei Yagyu who inherits an eye patch that gives her the ansestor's sword skills

Koi Kaze: drama about a brother and sister who meet again after living with seperate divorsed parents for 10 years

Kyo Kara Maou: a comedy about a highschool student who gets flushed down the toilet by bullies and ends up in medievel Europe

Petit Cossette: goth hrror

Star Ocean Ex: based on fantasy/sci-fi game

Tokyo Underground: an action series about a hidden city below Japan's capital

Ultra Maniac Tv: relationship comedy

King Records (Sound tracks) Jubei-chan 2 Da Capo Maidens of Morning Mist

Right Stuf Gravitation OVA yaoi (homosexual romance) rock drama Scheduled to be released summer 2005

Piano For Oh My Goddess creator Kosuke Fujishima, a drama reflected in a girl's piono playing Due to be released in spring 2005

Stand Alone Complex Disc Issues?

Anime on DVD reports Bandai is investigating reports of problems with the DTS audio track on f Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex where audio out of the left rear speaker is either non-existent or lower than it should be.

Free Dead Leaves Day

Manga Entertainment will be offering the upcoming Dead Leaves anime for free for one day, September 28th on Dead Leaves.com. Manga ran a simular promotion for Blood: The Last Vampire.

Tenchi 3 Trailer

Anime Nation points out that the official Tenchi Muyo website has an trailer fo the upcoming fourth direct to video episode of the third series of the space opera relationship comedy at here

Penquin to Release Digital Manga

Icv2 reports that Digital Manga, who has translated Berserk, Trigun, Hellsing and the Ring, has enterted into a three year agreement with Penguin Books to translate manga for a new imprint. 8-10 volumes will be translated the first year and 10-15 subsiqunt years.

Unedited Yu-Gi-Oh and Shaman King Releases

The first volumes of the unedited versions of Yu-Gi-Oh and Shaman King will be released on October 19th for $19.98 each

The released will feature Japanese audio tracks with faithful English subtitles.

These are the titles being released:

YU-GI-OH! Volume 1: The Shadow Games

• Episode 1 - The Blood Curdling Blue-Eyes White Dragon
• Episode 2 - The Trap of Illusionist Faceless Mage
• Episode 3 - The Lost Exodia

YU-GI-OH! Volume 2: The Insector Combo

• Episode 4 - The Insector Combo
• Episode 5 - Perfectly Ultimate Great Moth
• Episode 6 - Mai’s Beautiful Harpies

SHAMAN KING Volume 1: A Boy Who Dances With Ghosts

• Episode 1 - A Boy Who Dances with Ghosts
• Episode 2 - Waiting Samurai
• Episode 3 - Tao Len

SHAMAN KING Volume 2: Perfect Possession

• Episode 4 - Perfect Possession
• Episode 5 - A Precocious Shaman
• Episode 6 - Kung Fu Master

Cartoon Network Retails

Anime News Network points out a variety report stating that Cartton Network is Turner Broadcasting's fastest growing network. Investors and press recently learned that Cartoon Network is more profitable than CNN. In 2003 Cartoon Network turned $650 million in revenue, 17% of the the entire Turner Broadcasting revenue, compared to $535 million (14%) in revenue for CNN and the rest of Turner Broadcastings news operations.

Cartoon Network's financial success is being attributed to increased ad revenue thanks to its ever increasing adult audience, and low operating costs. Adult Swim has consistently ranked #1 in its time period (11 pm - 2 am) on basic cable with adults 18-34, against competition from late night talk shows like NBC's Tonight Show with Jay Leno and the CBS Late Show with David Letterman.

In early July Cartoon Network reported impressive growth statistics over last year for Adult Swim in key adult demographics such as 23% in adults 18-34, 47% in adults 18-24 and 76% in women 18-24.

Anime Network 24/7

Anime Network has announced that it hasbecame the first cable channel to move from a strictly video-on-demand (VOD) format to a 24-hour, 7-day-a-week national network on July 27 with a kickoff event from the Comcast Media Center in Littleton, CO, where the network's signal originates. The winner of Anime Network's national "Launch the Network Sweepstakes," Janine Hwang of Orlando, Fla., pulled a lever to officially inaugurate the network uplink, making the best of anime available to cable systems nationwide.

After the kickoff event at 12:00 noon CT, the network officially began its programming schedule with an episode of the wildly popular series "Neon Genesis Evangelion," the futuristic story of a fierce battle for the Earth, between the mysterious alien beings known as the Angels, and mankind's last hope for survival, the awe-inspiring Evangelions, after the inhabitants of Earth are nearly completely wiped out by a mysterious meteorite strike on Antarctica.

With its 24/7 linear network nationwide launch, Anime Network moves to a new level, giving fans non-stop anime action in feature films and television series such as "Noir," "Spriggan," "Bubblegum Crisis Tokyo 2040," "Tekken," "Golden Boy," "Ninja Resurrection," "Samurai X: The Motion Picture," "Comic Party," "Gravion," "Kaleidostar," "Orphen," "Final Fantasy," "Chobits," "BoogiePop Phantom" "Peacemaker," and "Chrono Crusade."

Initial D Models

Jada Toys has announced the release of our Initial D® line of die-cast. From the hit anime series comes a new line of 1:64, 1:24, and 1:18 scale die-cast cars, model kits, and collectible figures. The product launch will include such vehicles as the infamous Toyota Trueno AE86, Mazda RX-7 FD3S, Mazda RX-7 FC3S, and Nissan Skyline GTR R32.

Princess Ai: #1 Graphic Novel In The UsA

Princess Ai, TOKYOPOP's new manga co-created by international rock star Courtney Love, hot new creator D.J. Milky and Japanese manga-ka Misaho Kujiradou, is the number one graphic novel in the country. According to Nielsen BookScan sales reports, Princess Ai topped the Adult Fiction Overall Trade Paper Graphic Novels list for the week ending July 25.

The news comes on the heels of San Diego Comic-Con, the largest comic convention in North America, where TOKYOPOP featured its publishing program and future releases. The award-winning publishing company has four manga titles in the most recent BookScan top 10, including Fruits Basket, Kill Me, Kiss Me and D*N*Angel, with Princess Ai standing firm at the top.

Inspired by Courtney Love and featuring the character design of famed artist Ai Yazawa (Paradise Kiss), the beautiful manga artwork of Misaho Kujiradou and the riveting story of D.J. Milky, Princess Ai chronicles the amazing journey of a mysterious young woman searching for identity and salvation in this world and beyond. After finding herself lost on the cold, hard streets of Tokyo, Ai must piece together clues about who she is, why she's on Earth and the secret of the heart-shaped box she carries. What the princess experiences along the way is an adventure filled with love, chaos and unexpected fame. Princess Ai volume one, "Destitution," was just released this month. Volume two, "Lumination," will be available at bookstores everywhere in February 2005. Animation projects, merchandise and other evolutions of Princess Ai are in the works for the near future.

Ft. Hood Plays Host To Actors From Rahxephon

ADV announced actors from the hugely popular animated series "RahXephon" paid a visit to Ft. Hood, TX on Saturday, July 24 to meet with base personnel and their families. Lead voice actors Chris Patton ("Ayato Kamina") and Monica Rial ("Haruka") signed t-shirts and DVDs of the hit anime series, which airs in the U.S. exclusively on Anime Network.

Be Beautiful Releases The Culmination Of A Selfish Love

In October, Be Beautiful set to release Selfish Love: Book 2 and Kizuna – Bonds of Love: Book 3 each priced at $15.99 SRP.

Be Beautiful is pleased to announce its final group of graphic novel releases for 2004 Selfish Love: Book 2 and Kizuna – Bonds of Love: Book 3. Be Beautiful is a brand new graphic novel imprint devoted to romance and relationships aimed at a post-shoujo audience, which includes college age and older female readers. This alluring imprint will release books written and illustrated by some of the most talented female Japanese artists of our time.

Both books are examples of "yaoi"- a popular Japanese publishing genre created by female artists and writers for the enjoyment of female readers, usually featuring relationships involving impossibly beautiful men, and diverse interpretations of the “pure love" concept. Be Beautiful graphic novels offer beautifully illustrated stories of romantic fantasy similar to traditional romance novels.

Be Beautiful books will often contain explicit content, so they are meant for readers 18 years of age and older. These books will be published in a right-to-left page presentation, as the creators originally intended.

Selfish Love: Book 2

Story and art by: Naduki Koujima. Orito, the President of the Honors Society, won't take “no” for an answer. He refuses to stop pursuing the affections of Ryuya, the Vice President. After all, according to Orito, the Vice President is supposed to be his “right hand man.” The advances keep escalating and Ryuya's honor is at stake! Will he remain pure and defiant, or will he give into Orito’s strong and sensuous game of love?

Kizuna – Bonds of Love: Book 3

Story and art by: Kazuma Kodaka. Ranmaru and Kei’s relationship has had some emotional ups and downs, but no matter what the conflict, they have always managed to work through their problems and strengthen the bond that they share. Will this be the challenge that finally puts an end to the relationship of a lifetime? “A romantic epic” - The Village Voice

TOKYOPOP Signs Top Two Rising Stars Of Manga 3 Winners To Book Deals

TOKYOPOP has announced that it will be releasing full length series by Nathan Maurer and Felipe Smith, winners of the third Rising Stars of Manga talent competition in 2004.

The company has awarded contracts to the top two winners of the third Rising Stars of Manga competition: Nathan Maurer's grand prize-winning entry, Atomic King Daidogan, will be published by TOKYOPOP as a full-length series. Also joining the esteemed ranks of TOKYOPOP's finest is an original series from Felipe Smith, based on his second-place winning story entitled Manga. The manga publishing giant plans to release these two titles beginning in the spring of 2005.