Father Geek with another fact filled edition of Scott's regular weekly column on the wide world of Manga & Anime...

AnimAICN...

by Scott Green

Anime Spotlight: Android Kikaider: The Animation Volume 1

Released by Bandai Entertainment

It may be coincidence, but there seems to be a mini trend in retro-anime in the US recently. It's a little odd considering that the to many anime fans, the referenced material is more known by reputation or vague recollection to what appeared on TV in the 70's and 80's than experience.

Android Kikaider: The Animation is a reincarnation of a live action 70's about guitar carrying man who changes into a bug eyed robot-defender. The new animation examines the life of Jiro, the robot released by the last action of a scientist in hopes that the creation would protect his family. What was a one man Power Ranger show have been revised as something dark and compelling rather than simply grim and gritty.

Kikaider directly references Pinocchio, but given the reaction Jiro receives from the world, it is almost as much Frankenstein. The artificial man learning about humanity is very well trodden ground, but even if Kikaider isn't addressing new metaphysical issues, it is taking some interesting and novel paths to view them.

Jiro is told that he has a conscience, but that it is broken. He's an artifial intelligence that is told that he can't trust his programming. Observationally, he has evidence that these statements are true. On one side are humans that he is told protect, on the others side are robots telling him to destroy. Each side has representatives telling him that he is family who should join them, and representatives telling him that he is a defective outcast. From a logic standpoint alone, it's quite an equation. Because everyone is telling the truth, the "trust no one" mantra doesn't work.

The visual elements of the show combine the 70's uninhibited strangeness with modern fluidity and pop. Like Giant Robo, or other successful revival of the style, it isn't afraid to look a little silly to the modern palette. Lead characters have the caricature look seen in golden age American comics, and to some extent still in Mad Magazine.

Manga Spotlight: Slayers Special: Notorious Written by Hajime Kanzaka Illustrated by Tommy Ohtsuka

Released by CPM Manga

Fiery tempered sorceress Lina Inverse, and her busty, and her less competent sidekick/rival Naga the White Serpent return to fight a host of creatively hideous and or odd people for profit, vanity and ego. Kanzaka Hajime, whose the novels started the Slayers mini-empire turns in some rapid fire comic oddity. Some of it is direct anime re-treads, some is original.

The Slayers anime defined, or at least set the bench mark for swords and sorcery comedy. It is an instance where an anime series spawned a manga adaptation rather than vice-versa. Slayers Special: Notorious is Slayers for fans looking for a little more, original published in 2001, after all of the anime, except the fifth movie Slayers: Premium (which basically amounted to a final "happy now?!" to the fans). It's mild entertainment rather than the giddy affair that the anime could often be.

The problem here is that the manga is aiming at the same humor targets as the anime. Bugs and Daffy don't work flat on a page, neither do Lina and Naga.

Aside from occasionally carrying on jokes that can't work comics, ie Naga's irritating laugh, comics aren't a forgiving medium for slapstick. Maybe an illustrator with a great of skill could make it work, but Tommy Ohtsuka can't. He captures the vibrancy of the anime with attractive character design and comedic use of facial expressions, which makes him a good successor to co-creator Rui Azairumi, but his visual story telling can't keep up with the demands. He's capable, but not enough for the quick movements, and mock dramatic entrances.

The majority of the panels illustrate the characters posing or mugging. While posing is an integral part of the Slayer's humor, when it is used appears to the exclusion of all other postures it weakens the visual flow.

For comics to work, the reader must mentally picture what happens between too panels. Here, the illustration is a skeletal framework that requires mental manipulation on the part of the reader before it because explosive slack stick.

Slayers Special: Notorious is an attractive comic that fans of the series will enjoy, but it fails shooting for a goal it wasn't going to achieve.

Anime Soundtrack Spotlight: Serial Experiments Lain Music by Nakaido "Chabo" Reichi

Released by Pioneer

It is worth noting immediately that the Serial Experiments Lain soundtrack does not have Duvet, the series' popular opening theme by Boa. The song should be in the September release of the Lain Cyberia Mix.

Pioneer's domestic release of the soundtrack very close to the Japanese release apart from a minor tweak to the interior booklet and the absence of "Distant Cry", the closing theme.

Given the cyber-thriller nature of Serial Experiments Lain, it is strange to notice the music's reliance on guitar sounds, which gives the music a human touch. The guitar is sometimes accompanied by more synthesized sound. Sometimes the two complement each other, sometimes they compete. For example, the "Lain Theme" features a duel/interplay between heavy guitar, and a very artificial melody a-la later rendition of the Doctor Who theme.

There's a good range from up beat pulse, to eerie, to low melancholy, with a few songs with real sticking power. The Lain soundtrack isn't one that for those unfamiliar with the series, but most of the music has the strength to stand on its own beyond mood arbitrators in the anime. It holds it own without Duvet.

Anime Spotlight: Rahxephon Orchestration 2: Tonal Pattern

Released by ADV Films

Rahxephon still seems like the cream of the latest group of giant robot anime, but it didn't have the brilliance of the first volume. The interesting characters were presents. As were the cleverness and mind games that made situations more complex than first glance.

Studio Bones (of Cowboy Bebop fame) continued to put out crisp animation, brilliant visual design of the first volume wasn't as in evidence, with far fewer exercising in stunning surreal or military-tech visuals.

Given that the series is more continuous than episodic these episodes seem to a slow build after the radical upheaval after the Matrix-esque twist in the first volume. The setting has stabilized. The large cast only grows a little. It even seems like the gimmick episodes (Christmas, beach trip) have been gotten out the way.

The recently prevalence of 13 episode TV series may have shifted expectations, but the snapshot view of these episodes is an attractive, and mildly engage series rather than the blockbuster promised by the first volume. The episode weren't substantial standalones, and they only marginally added to the greater picture of the series. The parties involved warrant some faith, especially considering Yutaka Izubuchi's work on Gasaraki.

See a review of volume one here

This Week's Releases

Anime

• Angel Links - Complete Series Set
• Corrector Yui
• El Hazard - The Alternative World - Limited Edition Boxed Set
• His and Her Circumstances (Vol. 4)
• Maison Ikkoku - Collector's Box Vol.1
• Medabots - World-Class Medabots (Vol. 10)
• Niea Under 7 - Limited Edition Boxed Set

Manga

• Ghost In The Shell 2 Man Machine Interface #5
• Inu Yasha Vol 14 Tp
• Inu Yasha Vol 3 Tp 2Nd Ed
• Inu Yasha Vol 4 Tp 2Nd Ed
• Oh My Goddess #99 The Phantom Racer (Part 4 Of 4)
• Raijin Comics #29
• Record Of Lodoss War Chronicles Heroic Knight Book 5
• Saint Legend Gn #5
• Shonen Jump Vol 1 #8 Aug 2003
• Video Girl Ai Vol 6 Tp Cutting Room

Soundtracks:

• Chobits
• Hellsing
• Serial Experiments Lain Original Soundtrack P
• Lost Universe
• Nadesico The Movie: Prince of Darkness
• Patlabor the Movie 3: WXIII : Patlabor the Movie 3: WXIII
• Slayers: The Motion Picture Soundtrack
• Yoko Ishida
• Yuki Kajiur

Next Week on TV

Sunday July 6th

• 12:00 Am Cartoon Network .Hack//Sign
• 7:00 Am Family Channel Medabots (through Saturday)
• 7:30 am Family Channel Beyblade (through Saturday)
• 9:00 am Family Channel Beyblade
• 9:30 am Family Channel Medabots
• 10:00 am UPM Digimon: Digital Monsters
• 6:00PM Cartoon Network Hamtaro
• 10:30PM International Channel Dragonball GT
• 11:00PM Internal Channel Slayers

Monday-Friday

• 12:00 AM Cartoon Network Big O (Tuesday - Friday)
• 12:00 AM Tech TV Anime Unleashed (not Monday, through Saturday)
• 12:30 AM Cartoon Network Lupin III (Tuesday - Friday)
• 12:30 AM Tech TV Anime Unleashed (not Monday, through Saturday)
• 1:00 AM Cartoon Network Kikaider
• 1:30 AM Cartoon Network Trigun
• 3:00 AM Tech TV Anime Unleashed (not Monday, through Saturday)
• 3:30 AM Tech TV Anime Unleashed (not Monday, through Saturday)
• 6:00 AM Cartoon Network Zoids
• 7:00 AM Cartoon Network Hamtaro
• 7:30 AM UPN Digimon: Digital Monsters
• 9:00 AM Cartoon Network Pokemon
• 2:00 PM Cartoon Network Hamtaro
• 4:00 PM Digimon: Digital Monsters
• 4:00 PM WB Pokemon
• 4:30 PM WB Yu-Gi-Oh
• 4:30 PM Tech TV Anime Unleashed
• 5:30 PM Cartoon Network Dragon Ball Z
• 6:00 PM Cartoon Network Cyborg 009
• 6:30 PM Cartoon Network Rurouni Kenshin
• 9:00 PM Cartoon Network Pokemon
• 11:00 PM International Channel Soul Hunter (Monday)
• 11:00 PM International Channel Fushigi Yugi (Tuesday)
• 11:00 PM El Hazard - The Wanderers (Wednesday)

Saturday July 12th

• 2:00 AM Tech TV Anime Unleashed (not Monday, through Saturday)
• 2:30 AM Tech TV Anime Unleashed (not Monday, through Saturday)
• 8:30 AM WB Yu-Gi-Oh
• 9:30 AM Fox Kirby: Right Back at Ya!
• 9:30 AM Fox MegaMan: NT Warrior
• 10:00 AM Fox ltimate Muscle: The Kinnikuman Legacy
• 10:00 AM WB Pokemon
• 11:00 AM WB Yu-Gi-Oh!
• 11:00 AM Family Channel Tokyo Pig
• 12:30 AM Cartoon Network Transfomers Armada
• 1:00 PM Cartoon Network Hamtaro
• 7:00 PM Cartoon Network Pokemon
• 9:30 PM Cartoon Network Yu-Gi-Oh
• 10:00 Cartoon Network YuYu Hakusho
• 10:30 Cartoon Network G Gundam
• 11:00 PM Cartoon Network Transformers Armada

Of note, the new Cartoon Network Adult Swim line-up is 12:00 Big O, 12:30 Lupin III, 1:00 Kikaider, 1:30 Trigun.

See what TechTV is showing on Anime Unleashed here;.

FLCL Confirmed for Cartoon Network

Animation Insider has confirmed Cartoon Network's Adult Swim block will air the six episode OAV series FLCL on August 4th.

Pre-Anime Expo Rumors

Anime Expo, one of the year's biggest anime conventions takes place this weekend. From some of the voice actor quests roles, people are surmising that Bandai will be making announcements concerning Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex and Wolf's Rain.

Official English Sites

ADV has opened a Full Metal Panic website at full-metal-panic.com. The site features "a series of five different randomly-selected intro ("splash") pages, each of which contains numerous hidden omake."

Urban Vision has opened the Ninja Scroll TV site at www.ninja-scroll.com/

Urban Vision has launched a 12 Kingdoms site at http://www.12kingdoms.us/12KING.html

5555 Site

Toei has opened a website for Interstella 5555 - the 5tory of the 5ecret 5tar 5ystem, the colaberation between Matsumoto Leiji and Daft Punk here .

Anime Network in NY

Anime Network is being expanding to 3.8 million homes on Metropolitan New York's Cablevision. Starting on July 1st it will be available to o iO: Interactive Optimum digital cable for $6.95 per month.

Wings of Honneamise Re-Master

Accordint to Anime Tourist's Fanime coverage Manga Entertainment will be releasing a remasterd Wings of Honneamise. The two disc set will feature the film in standard and widescreen editions.

Hikaru no Go Manga Licensed

Fan manga translaters Toriyamaworld.com have been asked by the licensor of Hikaru no Goto remove the translations from their site. Because the license has not been formerly announced, the site is not naming the licensor. There are indications that Viz is the licensor.

Live Action Cutey Honey

A live action film based on Go Nagai's Cutey Honey is set to start filming this July. Model Eriko Satoh will be appearing as the Honey, and there are conflicting reports about whether Hideaki Anno or Kazuya Tsurumaki will be directing. The makers are aiming for a Charlie's Angels flair to the movie.

Design images can be see here

Super Radical Gag Family Licensed

A post of Anime on DVD's forum points out that IC Entertainment will be releasing the manga series Super Radical Gag Family. See here

New Licensing Announcements

At the Fanime anime convention, Bandai announced that they have licensed Dragon Drive, and Tensho no Shippo.

ADV announced that they have licensed Wedding Peach, and Megazone 23.

Gundam Modeling Contest

Bandai America will be running a customized Gundam Model Building Contest at this summer's Anime Expo and Comic-Con conventions,

At the Bandai booths, participants will be given one hour to complete Gundam models which will be judged on customized creativity. Participants must bring their on customizing tools (but no sharp objects). Winners will be given an exclusive Perfect Grade or Level 8 model kit.

If you would like to participate, e-mail your name, address, phone number and the convention you will be at to .

YuGiOh in Spanish

4Kids will be releasing Spanish language version of YuGiOh this starting with four two episodes volumes on August 12th.

Upcoming Anime Collections

From Anime on DVD

Bandai will be releasing a collection of the first 13 episode season of The Big O on September 16th for $44.98.

Media Blasters may be running promotional Magic Users Club and Knight Hunters sets in the $30-40 range.

Diamond's Previews magazine is listing a two dsic Ceres Collectors Set 1, which will feature new Yu Watase cover art, and interview, and a box available with the purchase of collections 1 and 2.

Ghost in the Shell 2 News

"Innocence", the Ghost in the Shell movie is currently schedule for a Japanese theatrical release next spring. $18 million has been spent on the movie so far.

Dragon Vall Tops Search For 200 Weeks

Dragon Ball has now maintained a position in the Top 10, of the Lycos 50 most search terms for 200 consecutive weeks.

Miami Guns Licensed?

It looks like Miami Guns may be licensed by AN Entertainments. In addition to a banner image on the company's site, MiamiGuns.com is forwarded to AN Entertainment.

Coastal Recordings Closes Shop

Anime News Network has learned from Coastal Recording's Scott Houle that the English dubbing studio completed its final projects the You're Under Arrest TV series, mini specials and movie, and as of March 19th, 2003 will be shutting down.

Hole sites distances from the recording hubs of New York, Houstan, and Los Angles for the company's decline, and closing.

"I've always considered Coastal a specialty house because we put over 40% of our income back into production (lots of re-do's to make it sound like the actors were in the same room, an average of 12 hours of mixing per 22 min., extensive attention to detail, etc.)," explained Houle. "Coastal has never made a profit in Anime, but we kept a lot of happy actors busy and woke up every day feeling like we were producing real quality."

During its nine year run Coast was considered one, if not the, best English dubbers of anime.

Anime News Network has an editorial about the role Coastal and the signifigance of its closing here

Cyborg 009 Manga Confirmed

Recently a number contributers to Anime on DVD's forum found holder pages for manga series Fruits Basket, Saiyuki, Get Backers, Ai Yori Aoshi: True Blue Love, Cyborg 009, Love Won't Stop (being called A.I. Love You), and Pitaten.

The Cyborg 009 page has been filled out, revieling that the first volume will be released on September 9th.

New Lupin III TV Movie

The Lupin III TV movie Otakara Henkyaku Dai-sakusen will air on August 1st in Japan.

ShadowStar Anime Scheduled

The anime series Narutaru, whose manga series was released as Shadow Star in the US will air in Japan starting July 7th. The official site can be seen at http://www.narutaru.jp/

Evangelion News

A new best of Evangelion CD will be released on July 24th.

Gainax will be releasing Neon Genesis Evangelion ~ Ayanami Ikusai Keikaku with Asuka Hokan Keikaku a dating sim for the Playstation 2. Magic Box has images here.

Japanese Manga News

From Natsume Maya

The manga series Eat-man will conclude in the September issue of Dengeki Comic Gao!, which goes on sale in July. Part of Yoshitomi Akihito's has been translated by Viz, but the title was dropped.

Shoujo manga series Massugu ni Ikou (Let's Go Straight) is being adapted into an anime series which will air this fall.

A thirteen episode adaptation of Gunslinger Girl will also air this fall.

Director Hirata Tomohiro wil be adapting manga series Peacemaker Kurogane by Kurono Nanae into an anime series.

A post to 2 channel states that an advance copy of August 2003 issue of the monthly manga magazine Comic Blade (officially on sale 30 June 2003) announces that the manga (serialised in the same magazine) will be made into an anime. Director will be (character designer for Irresponsible Captain Tylor). Source: ultimatum half edition.

phase. See the 25 June 2003 news on the Marvelous website for the announcement.

Inokuma Shinobu's latest manga is href="http://www.youngsunday.com/rensai/comics/mizusho.html">Toritsu Mizusho (The School of Water Business), serialised in Weekly Young Sunday manga magazine. Based on the novel by Murozumi Hikaru, the manga is about a high school geared towards teaching young people about the entertainment/night-life world (ie the "water trade") - with courses on being a hostess, manager, host, sexual services/prostitute and gay bars.

You can download a Toritsu Mizusho wallpaper from Young Sunday's website, as well as wallpapers of other manga including Tetsuwan Birdy (Birdy the Mighty).

Furthermore, you can download Toritsu Mizusho calendar wallpapers from Inokuma's website (currently for the months of May to August 2003).

ComicsOne to Translate Onegai Teacher Novel

Thos fall, ComicsOne will be releasing the Please Teacher Anime Fanbook and Onegai Teacher translated novel.

The fanbook features images and sketches of the series with creator commetary. The Please Teacher Fanbook will be available September 2003 with the Onegai Teacher Novel shortly following in October 2003. The full color Anime Fanbook will be priced at $17.95. The Onegai Teacher Novel will be priced at $7.95. Visit www.comicsone.com for more detailed series information.

More Information on Legend of Galactic Heroes

Anime on DVD learned more information on the plans for a Legend of Galactic Hereos region 1 release.

Mr.Kikukawa and Wright Staff have read hundreds of comments from the DVD survey, and they are grateful for the feedback they've received. One important note: The LOGH DVD online survey is NOT a binding contract, and so no bill-collection or anythingto that effect will happen if a customer changes his/her mind about purchasing the DVD set. At the same time, we would encourage only those who are serious about purchasing the DVD set to sign up.

Some people sent in incomplete information (such as email address only). These will not count towards the requested number of preorders, so please make sure to fill in all requested information on the page. Mr.Yukio Kikukawa will be at AX. LOGH panel will be held Friday, 10AM. He will be discussing the R1 DVD project, of course, but there maybe some 'surprise' news, so this is a not-to-be-missed event for all LOGH fans and anyone interested in learning about the series!

More Anime Music

Tofu has launched a site for their first anime music CD which will feature:

• 01 Siam Shade - 1/3 pure heart emotion
• 02 Zone - true blue
• 03 Tommy february6 - Tommy Febratte Macaron
• 04 Judy And Mary - Sobakasu
• 05 Suiteisho-jo - Agreement
• 06 T.M.Revolution - INVOKE
• 07 Nami Tamaki - Believe
• 08 Yosuke Sakanoue - SUPER DRIVE
• 09 Mika Nakashima - CRESCENT MOON
• 10 Ken Hirai - Strawberry Sex
• 11 the brilliant green - Rainy days never stays
• 12 Yellow Generation - CARPE DIEM
• 13 Chemistry - FLOATIN'
• 14 SOULHEAD - STEP TO THE NEW WORLD
• 15 hyde - SHALLOW SLEEP

Urban Vision Interview

DVD Vision has posted an interview with Rhona Medina of Urban Vision here. The interview mentions that a second Ninja Scroll movie is the work for a 2005 release.

Dead Leaves Images

Production IG has posted images of the upcoming OAV Dead Leaves here. The series, which was co-financed by Manga Entertainment is gaining a reputation for oddity, and causing some problem in translation.

Sadamoto Q & A

Anime on DVD has posted a report on the Fanime Convention with a summary of the Q&A with Evangeliom, FLCL and .Hack character designer Yoshiyuki Sadamoto here.

Anime Expo Appearances

Company announcements for this weekend's Anime Expo convetion:

Anime Network:

During the Anime Expo gathering, the Anime Network will be showcasing its new High-Definition anime content through regularly scheduled special screenings all day during the convention. Each screening provides anime fans attending the event with a sneak preview of the latest High-Definition anime programming carried on Anime Network, including such popular anime programs as NOIR; Spriggan; You're Under Arrest: The Movie; Magical Shopping Street Abenobashi and Samurai X. Consumers attending Anime Expo may obtain tickets for the special High-Definition screenings by visiting A.D. Vision, Inc.'s exhibition space on the convention floor: booth 607.

Consumers may also pick up entry forms for the Anime Network "Demand The Anime Network" sweepstakes, qualifying for the grand prize drawing of a new 2004 Honda Civic Si. The sweepstakes runs from July 3, 2003 through December 4, 2003. Entrants may also register online at the network's website, accessible at www.theanimenetwork.com.

Bandai:

Thursday-Sunday, July 3-6

Bandai America will host fun Gundam trivia contests, provide exclusive giveaways, and display unique action figure models straight from Japan. A massive six-foot Gundam statue and replica uniforms of Mobile Suit Gundam characters Amuro Ray and Sayla Mass will also be on display.

Beware of the Power of the Eye! Bandai America will showcase one of their latest hot toy properties, Jagun Fighters. A unique action figure brand combined with game play activity, Jagun Fighters sets opponents against one another as they battle with intricately crafted game pieces called Power Eye Stones. In addition to learning how to play the game, fans will receive exclusive Jagun Fighters giveaways, as well as have the opportunity to sign up as a beta tester for the brand. Beta testers will receive advance product samples to take home and battle with their friends, and their feedback may be used to create new items in the collection.

In addition, Bandai Entertainment will be premiering its 'Bandai Theater' for the first time at this year's Anime Expo convention. The Theater will give Anime Expo attendees an opportunity to take a glimpse into the past, present, and future of Japanese animation from Bandai Entertainment. The Bandai exhibit will also be featuring numerous daily events including: an Anime Karaoke contest, t-shirt giveaway, stunts, a Grunty reunion, autograph signings, and more. Please visit the Bandai Entertainment exhibit at Anime Expo for the most updated schedule.

Friday-Saturday, July 4-5

Bandai America is calling on the vast legion of creative customizers for the Gundam Model Building Contest taking place on Friday, July 4 and Saturday, July 5. Participants will be given a Gundam action figure model kit at the Bandai booth, and will have one hour to complete their models. The goal of the contest is to see how fans use their creativity when customizing their own Gundam model kits at home, including battle-damage, scarring, special paint jobs, dioramas, etc. Participants must bring their own customizing tools (excluding razors, knives or sharp objects). All of the finished models will be on display, and a panel of judges will select the winner who will receive a Gundam Perfect Grade or Level 8 action figure model kit. Fans who are interested in participating must pre-register by e-mailing their name, address and phone number to bandaiinfo@rogersassoc.com. Only a limited number of spaces are available.

After checking out the panel/screening for Bandai America's newest collection of pint-sized heroes, come by the booth to see the action figures and other toys in the Superior Defender product line. Superior Defender is the next BIG thing in robots. An intergalactic adventure of incredible proportions, a new 3-D animation TV show is set to debut in Fall 2003 on Cartoon Network and will feature a variety of vertically challenged robots called the Mobile, Knight and Musha Defenders.

TOKYOPOP:

As part of its mega-lineup of Anime Expo events and appearances, TOKYOPOP (Booth 509) will feature exciting autograph sessions, exclusive game demos, anime screenings, a full retail store and surprise giveaways. Convention attendees will get the chance to meet famed anime voice artist Wendee Lee (Brigadoon, GTO, Reign: The Conqueror) and be the first to experience its brand new Initial D trading card game, with live interactive demonstrations. TOKYOPOP will also host appearances by manga creators Studio Tavicat, Ahmed Hoke and Terrence Walker, as well as Rising Stars of Manga winners Priscilla Hamby, Clint Bickham, Michael Vega and Hans Tseng. A special Borders in-booth store will offer the latest TOKYOPOP goods, and a giant plasma screen will give fans their TOKYOPOP anime fix.

Viz:

Viz has recently announced that they will be hosting Rikdo Koshi, the creator and artist of Excel Saga at their booth on Friday, July 4th from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m..

Anime Game News

GamePro has posted an interview with the producer of Dragon Ball Z: Budokai here. Of Budokai 2, he says "..they want their own Hyperbolic Time Chamber, or they want Senzu beans to pep them up when they're tired, or they want to go home, or they want a girlfriend...".

Atari has released the new Game Boy Advance Dragon Ball Z: The Legacy of Goku III.

From the press release: In Dragon Ball Z(R): Legacy of Goku II(TM), players assume the role of Trunks(R), Vegeta(R), Piccolo(TM), Gohan(R) or Goku(R) as they journey through the next episode in the DBZ adventure. The game spans from the Trunks Saga through the Cell Games and culminates in a head-to-head battle with the mighty Cell himself. Players train, fight and fulfill quests as they advance their way through over 200 maps in order to battle the evil Cell. .com.

From The Magic Box

Banpresto will be releasing the fourth Game Boy Advance Super Robot Taisen game, Taisen D in Japan on August 8th. The game, which features characters and mecha from a number of anime series including Macross 7, The Big O, and Megazone, can be seen here

Bandai's Playstation 2 Kidou Senshi Gundam: Megurial Sora action game can be seen here, and the 3D shooter Mobile Suit Gundam: Megurial Sora, the sequel to Journey to Juburo can be seen here.

Anime Merchandise News

Figures.com has pictures from Japan Toy Show 2003 here, which include Yamato's new Kenshin prototypes (battosai Kenshin, Shishio, Soujiro, Aoshi, and Seijurou), Berserk, and Macross, Jun Planning's Ping Pong Club figures, Epoch's Galaxy Express 999 and Transformers (Scorpinock and Fortess Maximus), and Aoshima's Mazinger.

The New York Licensing Show reveiled that TOKYOPOP is looking for a toy licenser for Rave Master. The show will be part of Cartoon Network's Toonami Block in 2004. 4 Kids announced that the Shaman King toy will be licensed Hasbro, Mattel or Bandai.

Toycom will be releasing two figures of Berserk's Guts. The Guts Mercenary Soldier and Guts Hawk Soldier - TV Version can be seen at Raying Toy Maniac here

Figures.com has pictures of the upcoming JAKKS Pacific Dragon Ball Z figures, including series 13, 2 packs, amd playstates, here

Toycom's extention to the Hellsing figures, Warrior priest Anderson can be seen here

Figures has pictures of a figure of Go Nagai's Ufo Robot Goldorak Series (Also Known As Grendizer Or Goldrake) here.