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AnimAICN: BrokenSaints; Evangelion; Initial D; Bleach; SaintSeiya; GITS; Abenobashi; Slayers; Gunparade March; Berserk

Father Geek here with a healthy dose of Manga & Anime news for all you fans of the genre... Yep ol' Scott has sent me his latest weekly column, and well, he's done it again... filled it to the brim with everything you need to know about the worlds of anime and manga, soooo jump right in and enjoy AICN's...

AnimAICN...

by Scott Green

Manga Spotlight: Berserk Volume 2 By Kentaro Miura

Released by Dark Horse Manga and Digital Manga Publishing

The first three volumes of Berserk were an experiment in their original Japanese release, and they are an experiment again in Dark Horse and Digital Manga's plans for the series in that so far, they are the extent of the companies' announced plans for the series

These initial volumes are more of a static feudal horror set piece, than the wider series' progression. Guts, also known as the Black Swordsman, scarred beyond any emotion other than rage, wages a war against the demons who have literally made his world a living hell. He enters a city, finds his way to the creature that has become its bishop or duke, and the two brutalize each other.

The experiment almost seems to be gauging the audiences' reaction, and Kentaro Miura's ability to depict a truly demon haunted world. It is visually rendered imagery of the type that looms in Lovecraft, and that Stephen King paints in his wilder moments (ie The Talisman or the more psychedelic scenes of the Dark Tower). The volume opens with a flashback, one in which an advisor describes a falling out with his count that ended with the man's wife and sons killed and butchered, half is face torn off, and his amputated legs consumed by the creature that was the count.

As soon as the first volume commenced, it was clear that Miura had determined how to paint the searing abyss of Guts's world. The malignance, and anger of the world bleeds out from the brutality of its society to the spirits that haunts its death pits. By the time he hit the second volume, he figured out how Guts should operate in it. The unwieldiness of the physically large character, and his larger weapon have given way to well choreographed and well render action. The volume is dominated by Gutts duel with an increasingly demon-mutilated knight, an amazing battle up stairs, and through limited space, showcasing Miura's great at setting action against a background rather than blank space.

The difficultly in this early phase is that Guts, as a static, developed rather than developing character is an anchor point that discourages reader from holding on. He has begun to show signs of a personality beyond the role of purposefully uncaring juggernaut, but he's still an unpleasant lead in an unpleasant world. He's always a severely emotionally stunted character, without the morality or compassion to make him a hero. Instead he's a source of fascination. In the wider scope of the series, beyond Miura's ability to create ever more stunning spectacles of horror, the appeal is seeing how Guts' experiences alter his life. Volume four of the manga opens with a harrowing depiction of Guts' childhood, more jarring than the anime rendition, then, for the next 10 volumes, Berserk is the story how Guts the mercenary became the Black Swordsman (this stretch was adapted into the brilliant Berserk anime series).

These chapters hint at the broader conflict, Gutts' reopening branding scar, behelit the eggs shaped stones with disarranged facial features, and the five member Godhand, but they are at the periphery of Guts' conflict. There are some interesting character moments as Guts' myopic sadistic and masochistic charge against the demons who have conquered his world is broken long enough to empathize with the rage and frustration of other victims.

Mange Spotlight: Rurouni Kenshin Volume 2

By Nobuhiro Watsuki

Factoring in Europe, as well as Asia and North America, Kenshin probably could make a reasonable claim at being one of the most popular manga series in the world. No one aspect of the manga is truly exceptional. Reduced to its skeleton of story structure, and organs of characters, themes and situations nothing stands out as particularly unique or inspired. Instead, doing everything a little well made Ruorini Kenshin an ace creation.

While dominantly a fast paced action series, its historical context, drama, politics, romance, and humor flavors the series to offer anyone a palette a taste of what they're looking for.

Japan's Meiji Restitution of mid 19th century ended the reign of Japan's Shogun military rulers, and restored imperial rule. It was a power struggle, but there was also many revolutionaries among the Ishin Shishi hoping to end of the division of the shogun feudal system. One of the era's blood soaked idealists was the political assassin known as the Hitokiri Battosai. When the struggle ended Himura Kenshin, also known the Hitokiri Battosai traded his sword for a reversed blade sakabato, and swore never to kill again.

After wandering for 10 years, the Kenshin settles with Kaoru, a young woman who recently inherited the role as head of her family's defensive sword school, and is soon joined by Yahiko, the orphan son of a samurai, and Sanosuke, a brawling thug and revolutionary.

Volume two features the second half of Kenshin's confrontation with Sanoske, and Kenshin's battle with Udo Jin-e, a serial killer who plied his trade both as a member of the Shinshengumi militia on the side of the Shogun, as a hitokiri on the side of the Ishin Shishi.

Ruruoni Kenshin sets its distinction of its era. It is a highly fictionalized versionof the era, and Watsuki even admits in his liner notes that the politics are simplified, but when are they not. Many samurai have a wild west auro to them, but if Kenshin's era were to be compared to an era of American history, reconstruction would probably be the best fit. It is post-samurai samurai story, not just that the warriors' ethics were being challenged, but that the samurai class has been abolished and replaced with modern armies and police and swords have been outlawed.

The series and its characters are cognoscente of the ironies of its situation. The Meiji Restitution hadn't ended before its idealists were shunted aside. As a child Sanosuke latched on the charismatic revolutionary at the head of a pro-imperialist army who were rounded up and executed in a ploy to gain peasant support by heralding as reduction in taxes, then being branded a false army.

Despite being at the forefront of the revolution's conflict idea, during the series Kenshin is moralistic rather than political. He attributes the greed in the officials of the government he helped to install a symptom on an incomplete revolution, but not one that he is prepared to actively work towards. Instead, he seeks to protective lives, even the lives of the corrupt officials.

Even with its intriguing setting, and its eye to a female audience in its character design, Kenshin probably wouldn't have been a hit if its wasn't for its action. The series' fight scenes are explosive. Watsuki's leverages speed lines and motional blurs to their full effect, producing wildly kinetic action.

There's a fearsome rush of movements dividing Watsuki's unique depictions of impact. The volume marks the series' first depiction of Kenshin's flirtation with the Battosai side of side of his personality. Watsuki is good about not setting up action scenes, then going for the cheap, quick resolution. Still prior to the duel with Jin-e the fights had a predictable advance, evade, strike tempo. When Kenshin is challenged to tap into the skills of the his former life, the calculating brutality shines through in secular chains of attacks, defensives, and strategies.

Fans of the anime series will find the manga a much leaner work. While certain aspects as have given more space, there's less padding. After seeing the anime, the manga seems to be jumping between high points. There's far less of the day to day material and personalities.

Anime Spotlight: Gunparade March Volume 1

Released by Media-Blasters' Anime Works

Gunparade March features one of those "only in anime" high concepts: a non-ironic, yet not without moments of levity, high school drama set in 1999, 50 years into an alternative timeline where aliens invade/occupied earth in the waning days of World War II. To twist matters further, the series is also based on a video game (unavailable in English), which heavily used gender balanced dating simulation content.

In 1978 Japan, as a rare unconquered nation, developed giant combat robots, and established a draft system where 16 year olds of both genders could enter military service, or be assigned an undisclosed job for the next 20 years. Gunparade March follows a school of elite "Selected" students who train in various capacities (pilots, mechanical maintenance and support), and are deployed in engagements against invaders who attack Japan.

There is a sense of the occupation's mortal danger, but there is also a sense of normalcy. Aside from the combat engagements, the dorm and class lives of the students could be those of any students of a specialized school. Gunparade March doesn't try to be too serious, relevant, or innovative. While this may not sound like an endorsement, this light touch makes the series entertaining. Deaths aren't common, but stand out in the characters' mind, adding some tempered melancholy to the characters lives which effects their relationship with standard teen issues, and life's minutia and routines.

Its neither manic, or angsty, not shrill relationship comedy or power fantasy giant robots but thanks to clever dialog, competent animation and a sprinkling of interesting concepts the series isn't middling.

Much of anime is about a look, or a series finding its own look. The look of Gunparade March is uniforms. They are the most recognizable element of the show, and they stand as its emblem. The characters wear stripped tunics that blends elements of sci-fi, military and school uniforms. The catch is, each is slightly augmented or customized to the character.

Unlike other anime series based on game that aren't available in English (ie Sakura Wars), there isn't a noticeable gap. It feels like an original work, rather than hit the high points for something that the view should be familiar with.

This Week's Releases

Anime
  • Kiddy Grade:Peacekeeper Vol 1
  • Legend of Mystical Ninja - The Flight for Justice (Vol. 2)
  • Legend of the Dragon Kings - White Drag
  • A Little Snow Fairy Sugar - Sugar Baby (Vol. 6)
  • Master Keaton - Blood and Dust (Vol. 5)
  • Pokemon:Johto League Champions-Vol 7:

Manga
  • Blade Of The Immortal #87
  • Oh My Goddess #105
  • Steam Detectives Vol 7

Stand Alone Complex Video Announcement

Japanese animation distributors, Manga Entertainment and Bandai Entertainment will jointly distribute the all-new Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex anime TV series worldwide (ex-Asia). Based on Masamune Shirow s popular manga/comic series, Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex was co-produced by both companies along with Japan s acclaimed Production I.G. (Kill Bill, Blood the Last Vampire, Jin-Roh: The Wolf Brigade). Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex consists of 26 futuristic half hour episodes that will be released on DVD this summer along with a subsequent U.S. cable television broadcast.

Manga Entertainment CEO Marvin Gleicher says: We are very excited to join with our friends at Bandai Entertainment in releasing this excellent new anime series. There is no title that better represents the bright future of Japanese animation than Ghost in the Shell.

Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex presents a new vision of the future in which female cyborg Major Motoko Kusanagi and her fellow police officers of Section 9 must hunt down criminals in both the real world and online world. Set in the not too distant future where technology plays a key role in everyday human life, this top-notch sci-fi action series combines the latest in full CG animation featuring dramatic themes, illustrious characters, and meticulous design.

This highly anticipated anime series was produced by an incredible creative team including Yoko Kanno (Cowboy Bebop), Kenji Kamiyama (Blood the Last Vampire, Jin-Roh: The Wolf Brigade) and the talented staff at Production I.G. (Dead Leaves, Patlabor 1&2). Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex has recently made its debut on Japanese television and will begin airing in the U.S. on Cartoon Network's late night Adult Swim block later this year. The release of Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex marks an exciting and important milestone for anime and its ever increasing popularity in mainstream pop culture here in the United States said Ken Iyadomi, Executive Vice President of Bandai Entertainment.

Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex is set for release on June 27, 2004 and will be supported by a joint summer marketing campaign between Manga Entertainment and Bandai Entertainment. www.ghostintheshell.tv

Daichi Akitaroh's Independent OAV

Natsume Maya points out the new site for Daichi Akitaroh's (Kodomo No Omocha, Now and Then, Here and There) independent OVA Makasete Iruka!, which will be released in the early Summer of 2004.

New Innocence Trailer

A new Ghost in the Shell: Innocense trailer has been posted on the official site here

Synch Point Acquires Aquarian Age OAV

Synch-Point has announced that they will be releasing Aquarian Age Saga II OVA "Don't Forget Me" as "Aquarian Age the Movie."

Sites For New Gainax Series

Gainax (Evangelion, KareKano, ect) has posted site for Boukyaku no Senritsu (The Melody of Oblivion) featuring character design by Hasegawa Shinya, and Neppuu Kairiku Bushilord.

Naoki Urasawa's Monster To be Animated

Anime News Network reports Naoki Urasawa's manga series Monster has been adapted into an anime series by Studio Madhouse. The series will air in April starting in April..

Monster follows a successful Japanese doctor living in Germany whose ethics begin to conflict with the priorities of his hospital. After saving a wounded boy rather than working on a politician his social status begins to crumble. When a series of murders begin to tilt matters in his favor, he becomes a suspect in the crimes.

Panda-Z Site

panda-z.net has opened to promote the Panda-Z anime series due to start in April. It is worth a look for fans of Tranzor/Mazinger Z.

Detatoko Princess Licensed

Anime Nation reports Media Blasters has licensed comedy fantasy OAV Detatoko Princess.

Beginning of Dragonball GT Confirmed for American Release

FUNimation's Lance Heiskell informed Anime on DVD "The first two volumes of the first DBGT saga will be released July 13. There will be 5 volumes total and then followed by the GT movie (tv special)." The episodes had been skipped in the video and television releases of the series to start with the material deemed more action oriented.

Mature Anime and Manga pulled from Suncoast Shelves

Anime News Netwowrk reports Suncoast employees were instructed to remove the Berserk and Steel Angel mangas, along with adult video titles Rei Rei and Countdown from store shelves. However, some stores report that other similar titles such as La Blue Girl and Blade of the Immortal have remained on store shelves. Suncoast officials were unavailable to comment on the removal.

CPM Anime Price Reductions and Test Drive

Central Park Media announced the re-release of the following four DVDs - Harlock Saga, Maetel Legend, Roujin Z and My My Mai available on April 27, 2004. Attractively repackaged and re-priced at $19.99 SRP. All DVDs will have audio tracks in both English and Japanese with English subtitles, for a street date of April 27, 2004.

Harlock Saga

From Leiji Matsumoto, creator of Captain Herlock:The Legend Returns. A killer has stolen a legendary treasure. Now, as the universe spirals into chaos, the gods have awakened to avenge this theft. Noble space pirate Captain Harlock must restore the gold to its rightful heirs before humanity is caught in the crossfire.

Maetel Legend

From Leiji Matsumoto, creator of Captain Herlock: The Legend Returns. The princess of a dying world, young Maetel must choose whether to become a machine to survive, or to abandon her home world to keep her humanity.

Roujin Z

From Katsuhiro Otomo, the director of Akira. An invalid volunteers for a bizarre science experiment- a mechanized bed that quickly transforms into an unstoppable robot.

My My Mai

From the director of Homeroom Affairs. Mai is a super counselor with blazing sex appeal who specializes in solving her clients' bedroom problems. Patients are cured at the risk of a broken heart.

In April, Central Park Media set to release Anime Test Drive DVDs for the following series-The World of Narue, The Slayers, Descendants of Darkness and Revolutionary Girl Utena: The Rose Collection each priced at $7.99 SRP.

Fans can watch the first episode or two of a series- The World of Narue, The Slayers, Descendants of Darkness and Revolutionary Girl Utena: The Rose Collection -plus 45 minutes of cool trailers, buy the corresponding DVD box set at a great low price and get $10.00 back.

February ADV Releases

ADV has announced that the following titles will be released February 24th: Kino's Journey: Idle Adventurer,Saint Seiya: Personal Feuds; Slayers: Gorgeous; Steam Detectives: Case Four.

Kino's Journey: Idle Adventurer

The first volume of Kino's Journey is an inventive and original anime series by director Ryutaro Nakamura, famed for his clever, intriguing Serial Experiments Lain. Kino's Journey tells the story of the young adventurer Kino, who travels the world on Hermes, a talking motorcycle, spending no more and no less than three days at each stop. Throughout their travels, Kino and Hermes are observers of new cultures, witness to both the differences and the similarities of peoples around the world.

Destination is a state of mind. Travelers not only find themselves in a variety of locations and geographic phenomena, but they also bear witness to the whims of culture and the skewed effects of subtle circumstance. Kino is such a traveler. Sitting astride Hermes, an internal combustion companion, Kino searches for life's answers, life's questions, and the myriad of interpretations connected to them. A wielder of cutlery, firepower and a piercing tongue, Kino is ready to embark on a journey unlike any other. Drift along for the ride.

Adapted from Keiichi Sigsawa's bestselling novels, this stylish, thought-provoking tale promises to grab hold of the audience's imagination, challenging expectations and stereotypes as it focuses on the discovery of beauty in things not beautiful.

Saint Seiya: Personal Feuds

Saint Seiya: Personal Feuds is the fourth volume of the mythic fantasy-action series whose classic story of heroes and villains, good versus evil has captivated audiences around the world.

Saint Seiya is based on a manga by Masami Kurumada and produced by Toei Animation, the animation studio that gave anime fans Digimon, Sailor Moon, and Dragon Ball. The DVD release of Saint Seiya is the uncut and uncensored version of the Knights of the Zodiac anime, currently airing on the Cartoon Network. In January, 2004, ADV Films released the first DVD and VHS volumes of Knights of the Zodiac, acquired from DIC Entertainment, a leading producer and distributor of children's entertainment.

Slayers: Gorgeous

Slayers: Gorgeous is the fourth movie tie-in (after Slayers: the Motion Picture, Slayers: Return, and Slayers: Great) to the fan-favorite anime series Slayers, the action-comedy starring odd couple Lina Inverse and the buxom Naga the Serpent.

Lina Inverse and her sidekick Naga the Serpent are happily enjoying lunch when the entire town ducks under cover before an invasion of Marlene Culvert and her legion of bloodthirsty dragons. The cause of the invasion? Marlene is in a feud with her father, the king, over her allowance.

Lina leaps into action to defend the village against Marlene, her tetrad knights and her dragons, but her dependable Dragon Slave spell fails her. Right when she thinks she has won, the real battle has just begun.

Steam Detectives: Case Four

Steam Detectives is a thrilling detective series whose gothic, retro animation is reminiscent of graphic art detective classics such as Dick Tracy and Batman.

The villains of Steam City are back at it again! First, Crimson Scorpion has an ingenious plan to steal a pair of priceless black diamonds by seducing Detective Onigawara. Then, Ling Ling's crafty sister Lang Lang is determined to be "an angel in black" for a sick little girl, fulfilling her last wishes... even if it kills her!

Steam Detectives is the creation of the legendary manga artist Kia Asamiya (Martian Successor Nadesico, Silent Mobius), who, in recent years, has been working in the U.S. on graphic novels and sketches for such titles as X-Men, Star Wars and Batman.

Gundam Figures for 2004

Bandai has unvealed its Gundam figures for 2004. Figures.com has images of the Hong Kong Gundam expo here.

Raving Toy Maniac has images of the Gundam figures being previewed for the February 15-18 American International Toy Fair here, including figures from SD Gundam and Gundam Seed.

Gundam Seed is set to start on Cartoon Network in April.

Vulgar Ghost Daydream to be Animated

The manga series Vulgar Ghost Daydream will be animated into a four volume OAV (direct to video) series starting next winter.

August Tokyopop Premieres

August's Premiere Lineup Includes Tramps Like Us, Abenobashi: Magical Shopping Arcade, Warriors of Tao, Et Cetera, Dream Saga and Instant Teen: Just Add Nuts

TRAMPS LIKE US (Comedy/Romance/Drama, Volume 1 Release: 8/10/04)

Inspiration for a successful Tokyo Broadcasting System live-action series, this romantic comedy by Yayoi Ogawa follows the life of Sumire Iwaya, a woman with a cheating boyfriend and an unfulfilled work life. Things seem bleak until she meets Momo, a homeless man with a colorful past whose presence puts a bounce in her step and a shake in her hips. It takes two to tango, but when Sumire's first love reappears in her life, will this be the last waltz?

ABENOBASHI: MAGICAL SHOPPING ARCADE (Sci-Fi/Comedy, Volume 1 Release: 8/10/04)

From Gainax (FLCL, Neon Genesis Evangelion) and Akahori Satoru (Saber Marionette J) comes a unique parody manga with hilarious hijinks and parallel universes! Sasshi and Arumi are down in the dumps when their neighborhood undergoes change in the name of urban renewal...but they never would have guessed that the demolition would unlock a portal to parallel universes! The two friends embark on an entertaining, side-splitting adventure somewhere over the rainbow filled with satires of well-known anime, fantasy movies and Japanese pop culture.

WARRIORS OF TAO (Sci-Fi/Action/Adventure, Volume 1 Release: 8/10/04)

Warriors of Tao--Shinya Kuwahara's gory tale of gladiators in an interplanetary competition--is Darwinism at its most merciless. A young man named Toma is chosen as the Earth's representative fighter in a tournament in which the loser is dead meat--literally! The beings of the winning planet gain the right to feed on the flesh and blood of the defeated world. Can Toma keep Earth off of the menu?

ET CETERA (Action/Adventure, Volume 1 Release: 8/10/04)

Up-and-coming manga-ka Tow Nakazaki (Let's Kick, Who Is Fuou?!) delivers action-comedy by the wagon-load in this wacky take on how the West was won. The story unfolds when Mingchao, a wannabe starlet with sights on Hollywood, inherits the Eto gun, a weapon with mystical powers. Mingchao puts her Tinseltown dreams on hold when she learns about her gun's twin--and the underground organization that will do anything to lock and load on both guns' secrets. Featured in Kodansha's #1 manga magazine, Gekkan Shonen, Et Cetera is one off-the-wall adventure fans of the American West won't want to miss!

DREAM SAGA (Fantasy/Romance, Volume 1 Release: 8/10/04)

Winner of Nakayoshi magazine's "New Face" Manga award, shojo creator Megumi Tachikawa (Mink, Saint Tail, Hot Typhoon) delivers fans Dream Saga, which follows the adventures of Yuuki Wakasa, a good student and dutiful daughter who uses manga to escape the monotony of everyday life. Little does she know that her life is about to become a manga-worthy adventure when a red magic stone mysteriously falls from the sky. Yuuki becomes the "chosen one" who must enter the dream world to save the Sun God and her own planet from total annihilation!

INSTANT TEEN: JUST ADD NUTS (Comedy/Romance, Volume 1 Release: 8/10/04)

Fans of Fruits Basket and Tokyo Mew Mew are sure to delight in this hilarious manga from award-winning creator Haruka Fukushima. Natsumi is a homely fifth grader with a craving for curves of her own. One day, after eating a packet of mysterious pink nuts, her wish comes true and she is transformed into a beautiful, sexy woman! Now endowed with a mind for recess and a body for supermodel glitz and glamour, will Natsumi's newfound adulthood and sudden fawning admirers lead to happiness or heartbreak?

Viz Talks Bleach and Prince of Tennis

Viz has announced that THe Prince Of Tennis will ship in April of 2004 and hit store shelves on a bi-monthly basis beginning in May, while the long awaited supernatural title Bleach will ship in May and be available bi-monthly in stores starting in June.

THE PRINCE OF TENNIS

192 pages, $7.95 U.S.

April 2004

The exciting backdrop of high school tennis serves as the setting for the sports drama and coming-of-age story, THE PRINCE OF TENNIS. From creator Takeshi Konomi, the manga depicts the on- and off-the-court adventures of Ryoma Echizen, who joins the Seishun Gakuen Middle School tennis team, known for being one of the most competitive teams in Japan. Freshmen rarely have a chance to actually play during their first year, but Ryoma's cool confidence, combined with a deadly, un-returnable "twist serve," gain him a coveted starting spot. With rigorous and extremely intense practices, the upperclassmen of the team expect the very best from themselves, and expect even more from the new members of the team. He's made the cut but can he survive the intense competition? Join Ryoma and other first year players, as they train hard, make friends, and try to find a place for themselves on the team. Also meet Ryoma's cute but chronically shy classmate, Sakuno Ryuzaki, who hopes he will notice her. Ryoma Echizen is THE PRINCE OF TENNIS. He may be ready for the Seishun Gakuen tennis team, but are they ready for him?

BLEACH

192 pages, $7.95 U.S.

May 2004

BLEACH tells the story of Ichigo Kurosaki, who is just like any other ordinary 15-year-old high school student - except for his special ability to see ghosts. So when a teenage girl materializes through his bedroom wall, it should be no call for alarm. However, this girl, named Rukia, is a shinigami (Soul Reaper) who is hunting a Hollow (an evil spirit that consumes souls). The Hollow proceeds to attack Ichigo'sfamily and Rukia is badly wounded. In order to defeat the evil spirit, Rukia must let Ichigo temporarily become a Soul Reaper by absorbing some of her energy. However, Ichigo inadvertently ends up with all of Rukia's powers and after defeating the Hollow, she informs Ichigo that since she has relinquished all her powers, he must now take on all the responsibilities of a Soul Reaper until she can figure out how to get her powers back. Now this 15-year-old high school student begins a brandnew vocation as a hyperkinetic, all-purpose ghost buster. With enough attitude to make a grown demon blush, Ichigo and crew are cleaning up the afterlife, one ghoul at a time.

BLEACH is author Tite Kubo's second title and it has spawned 11 volumes to-date that have sold close to 7 million copies. Kubo made his debut with ZOMBIE POWDER, a four-volume manga series also about supernatural demons. While BLEACH has already been translated into seven languages, this is the first time the story will be presented in English.

"Part Sixth Sense, part Buffy the Vampire Slayer, BLEACH is an exciting, action packed manga whose artistic style and suspenseful storyline are sure to develop a captivated following," states Yumi Hoashi, vice president of SHONEN JUMP. "Certainly the story of ordinary people who are transformed into demon-slaying ghost hunters is not new to American audiences, but fans of everything from Blade to Ghostbusters to Vampire Hunter D should find an affinity for this young boy who goes about bleaching - literally cleaning up - the afterlife of assorted demons and evil spirits."

Tsui Hark Leaves Initial D Movie

AnimeNation and Wu-Jing.org report popular Hong Kong director Tsui Hark has removed himself from involvement with the live action Initial D movie because he could not reconcile his creative vision for the movie with the demands of producers Media Asia Group. Andrew Lau, celebrated director of The Stormriders and Infernal Affairs, has been hired to take over directing duties on the Chinese film.

Upcoming Geneon Releases

Anime

May 4th:

New DVD Titles

A Little Snow Fairy Sugar - Special Back when Sugar was still an apprentice Snow Fairy... Saga has been chosen to star in the school play as a Princess! Sugar, Pepper and Salt become so excited over the news that they couldn't wait to go see the rehearsals. Unfortunately, Saga discovers she has stage fright and becomes nervous in the role. Will she be able to perform before an audience? Meanwhile, inspired by Saga, the fairies decide to perform a play of their own!

Anime Signature Series Releases($19.98)

May 11th:

Gate Keepers - Infiltration (V.3) (Geneon Signature Series) DVD

lain - Reset (V.4) (Geneon Signature Series) DVD

Sailor Moon S TV Series - (V.4) (Geneon Signature Series) DVD

Tenchi Muyo OVA - (V.3) (Geneon Signature Series) DVD

Tenchi Universe - Tenchi Muyo on Earth (V.3) (Geneon Signature Series)

Trigun - Gung-Ho Guns (V.4) (Geneon Signature Series)

Soundtrack Releases

May 11th:

Arjuna Original Soundtrack - Into the Another World

Recognized as one of the most gifted and innovative anime composers, Yoko Kanno can now add the eclectic and adventurous 'Arjuna Original Soundtrack' to her list of masterworks that includes Macross Plus,' 'Escaflowne,' 'Wolf's Rain,' 'Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex' and 'Cowboy Bebop.' For this soundtrack, Yoko Kanno teams up with Maaya Sakamoto (Escaflowne, Rahxephon, Cardcaptor Sakura), Tsuneo Imahori (composer of Gungrave and Trigun) and Keishi Urata (Texhnolyze, Akira) to deliver a sumptuous, elegantly ethnic-sounding aural regale, with tribal and celtic pieces sprinkled in. Featuring eight emotionally-stirring instrumentals and 13 must-hear vocal tracks, including the opening theme Early Bird' and ending theme songs 'Motor Bike,' 'Mameshiba' and 'Air & Stars.'

The End of Evangelion - Movie Soundtrack CD

"The End of Evangelion' is the shocking theatrical conclusion to 'Neon Genesis Evangelion,' one of the most unpredictable and controversial anime series of all time. The movie's dramatic atmosphere is perfectly conveyed and intensified even further, thanks to the grand-scale musical rendering of composer Shiro Sagisu, whose orchestral composition complements and beautifully contrasts the film's cataclysmic storylines. This movie soundtrack contains 12 superb instrumental tracks along with two notably moving English language songs, 'Thanatos - If I Can't Be Yours' and 'Come Sweet Death.'"

Gunparade Original Soundtrack - Spirit of SAMURAI CD

"Gunparade March Original Soundtrack ""Spirit of SAMURAI"" (One CD / 34 tracks)More than just another sci-fi anime glamorizing giant robots, 'Gunparade March' focuses on strong character-driven storylines and utilizes an equally strong and thrilling music score provided by the 'Gunparade March Original Soundtrack.' Famed composer Kenji Kawai (Ghost in the Shell, Patlabor WXIII the Movie, Blue Seed, Maison Ikkoku, Avalon, Ringu) draws from his wide range of instrumental versatility to skillfully create 34 tracks of high-quality, exhilarating music and vocals. Featuring 32 instrumentals and two songs, including the opening theme, 'Door of Truth' sung by fan-favorite performer Yoko Ishida (Ai Yori Aoshi, Sugar, Texhnolyze) and the closing theme, 'Beyond the Darkness.'"

ADV Announces First Anime Classics Titles

The first titles to be released under ADV Films new Essential Anime label include Blood Reign: Curse of the Yoma; Ninja Resurrection; and Plastic Little. All have been digitally remastered in English 5.1 audio and awill be available March 16th at SRP of $19.98.

Samurai 7 Site

A placeholder has been posted for the Samurai 7 anime series, based on Akira Kirosawa's Seven Samurai.

Misc Evangelion

From Natsume Maya: The 1996 Neon Genesis Evangelion Sega Saturn has been adpated into an interactive DVD game, which will be released in Japan April 7th.

Gainax has anno unced a Ikari Shinji Ikusei Keikaku (Ikari Shinji Rearing Project) game, which like the Rei and Asuka games allows the player to raise the character.

The Pinky:st (Pinky Street)'s figures by Vance Project has some amusing Evangelion figures.

Manga Line From DC Comics

In a Time magazine article about shoujo (female demographics) manga, it was revealed that DC Comics will be launching a CMX manga imprint.

Broken Saints coming to DVD

Anime News Network points out manga inspired flash web comic "Broken Saints" is coming to DVD in the Fall. The producers of the 24-part/12-hour dependant, manga-inspired web-comic, received a grant from the Canadian Government permitting them to release the series on a multi-disc DVD set along with upgraded art, 5.1 Surround Sound and other new features. More details can be found on their website at brokensaints.com.

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