Old news

From August 2004.


8/31/04 A few days late I updated with another Pen Thought to the Pen Penny section. I also moved an old one to Previous Pennys.

The Sankei Sports Newspaper reports that Miura Rieko, the original voice of Read or Die's Yomiko Readman, will pose nude for a book and DVD titled "Gekkan (Monthly) Miura Rieko," to be released on September 10th and 29th respectively. The photo book is being produced by Christopher Doyle, the cinematographer for Zhang Yimou's Hero.

According to Galaxy Anime, the Playstation 2 game Gungrave: Overdose will be released on September 7th at a retail price of $14.99. Additionally, consumers that purchase a copy of Gungrave: Overdose between September 2004 and March 2005 will receive a free three-issue trial subscription to Play Magazine and a limited addition Gungrave art card featuring images from the Gungrave anime, packed with the game.

According to Spong.com, Sony has announced that they are working on a videogame adaptation of Bleach.

Broccoli USA will be releasing some Juvenile Orion merchandise later this fall. The small "trinkets" are being produced in Japan especially for the US market. Shizuki Yamashita explains that the items, which will cost around $5 to $10 are being produced due to requests made by US fans at conventions attended by Broccoli.

Hironobu Kageyama has indicated that he will be performing the main vocal theme for the "DragonBall Z 3" Playstation 2 game ("Budokai 3" in the US). The group was responsible for a majority of the DBZ greatest hits music.


8/30/04 Director Mamoru Oshii has revealed that next year he will direct a feature film adaptation of his comedy novel Tachiguishi Retsuden. It has not yet been decided if the film will be animated or live action.

The new TV anime series Onmyou Taisenki will debut on TV Tokyo on September 30th.

Japan's M.O.E. production house has announced that the UG Ultimate Gal anime TV series will debut in January 2005.

The current issue of Bandai's Digital Beat newsletter reveals that a new Stratos 4 OAV series will be released in Japan late next spring.

On Tuesday, August 31st, Atari will re-release the highly acclaimed 1997 DBGT Playstation game, Dragon Ball GT: Final Bout. The game is being released in limited quantities with exclusive cover art from Toei Animation.

Kohime Soushi, a new manga series by Koge Donbo, is set to start serialization in the November 2004 issue of Dengeki Comic Gao!, on sale September 27th.


8/27/04 The Magic Box reports an unconfirmed rumor that later this year Atari will be localizing the Playstation 2 game One Piece: Land Land.

The official Japanese webpage for the Gakuen Alice anime TV series is now open. The anime is scheduled to premier in October.

According to a news item updated at Robotech.com (registration required), a fourth installment of the Robotech series is being worked on.

Bandai has solicited the Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam Limited Edition Box Set for 2004-11-23 for $199.98.

Broccoli Books has announced that their October 27th release of Until the Full Moon will be exclusive to Borders Bookstore, Brentano's Bookstore, Waldenbooks, and Anime Gamers for three months.



8/26/04 I just noticed today about the cjb.net link dying somehow, I've re-registered it and hopefully it will stay registered, I didn't think it'd just stop after about three years, it was quite strange.

Japan's Yahoo News has revealed that the final, climactic battle in Ryuhei Kitamura's upcoming movie Godzilla Final Wars will feature a traditional actor in rubber suit Japanese Gojira/Godzilla fighting a fully CG animated Godzilla from the 1998 American Godzilla movie. Kind of disappointing and anticlimactic if you ask me.

The 2003 Sundance Award-winning Flash web epic "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.



8/25/04 According to a report on DarkHorizons, someone who talked to Tiffany Grant (the voice of Asuka) and she said that the Evangelion live action movie was on hold and there are talks with several big name directors currently taking place.

From Animenation, Sunrise has pre-opened a mysterious new website for the 1996 After War Gundam-X TV series. The website will officially open on September 10th.

The Magic Box reports an unconfirmed rumor that the Gameboy Advance Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories will be released in America on November 16th.

Broccoli Books has announced its acquisition of translation rights to Sanami Matoh's two volume fantasy-romance manga series Until the Full Moon (Full Moon ni Sasayaite).



8/24/04 Adult Swim is currently running a poll on their forum (free registration required to view) to determine which anime fans would like to see most. The options are Samurai Champloo, Gungrave, Peace Maker Kurogane and Paranoia Agent. Gungrave is far in the lead with 52% of the 3200 votes to date.

The ImaginAsian Network will debut at 6AM on August 30th. The new Asian specialty network will air anime series including Kurogane Communication, Patlabor, Votoms, Space Pirate Mito, Figure 17, Twelve Kingdoms, Gravitation, and Jungle Emperor Leo: The Movie.

TOKYOPOP has announced that the first English translated volume of Tamayo Akiyama's manga series Mouryou Kiden: Legend of the Nymphs will be released on December 7th.

Japan's Vap Video has announced that the Hideaki Anno directed live action Cutie Honey movie will be released to DVD in Japan on December 22nd in a standard edition and a limited edition.



8/22/04 Just got my computer set up a little while ago so no update other than news tonight.

The official Japanese webpage for the Sukinamono wa Suki Dakara Shouganai ("I like What I like, so Whatever!!") anime confirms that the "SukiSho" TV anime will debut in January. The anime is based on a series of "boys love" adventure games released for the Japanese PC and Playstation 2.

Top Cow Comics has announced that Gonzo Studios has licensed the rights to produce a Witchblade anime series for Japanese release, based on the American comic book. Furthermore, Gonzo has arranged a publishing deal with Kodansha to have a manga adaptation of the anime also published in Japan.

Canada's YTV network has officially announced that Superior Defender and Gundam SEED will premiere on Friday September 10th at 7pm and 9:30 pm respectively.

Right Stuf International reports that Viz will release the first graphic novel of "Tough" on December 29th.

According to the Hatena message board, Fuji TV has announced that the network will only broadcast Samurai Champloo through episode 17. The complete 26 episode series will be broadcast on BS digital satellite television.

Animate TV has announced that the first episode of the Tactics anime TV series, based on the manga by Meitantei Loki Ragnarok creator Sakura Kinoshita, will air on October 5th.

Shogakukan has announced that the anime TV series adaptation of Takuya Mitsuda's baseball manga Major will premier this October.

One item that missed our Otakon reports was Broccoli Books announcement that they had acquired the license for Until the Full Moon (Full Moon ni Sasayaite) by Sanami Matoh, the manga artist of FAKE.

The Cowboy Bebop TV series is being re-mixed in Dolby Digital 5.1 for a new Japanese release due out on December 23rd. Previously only 6 episodes had received the 5.1 treatment, but now the entire series is getting the 5.1DD upgrade.


8/14/04 A whole day early, I updated with another Pen Thought to the Pen Penny section. I also moved an old one to Previous Pennys. I also updated the Old News section. The early update is because I'll be without a computer for a few days at least, I hope to have it by Wednesday but I can't be sure.

The new Black Jack anime series will air on Nihon TV starting on October 11th, and that Makoto Tezuka, Osamu's son, will direct. New episodes will air every Monday night at 7pm.

Bleach TV, based on the Bleach manga will premiere on TV Tokyo on October 5th at 6:30 pm.

YTV has confirmed to Anime News Network that they will be airing Witch Hunter Robin, starting on Friday, September 10th at 10:30pm.


8/13/04 According to 4Kids' second quarter earnings press release, they will be releasing "MewMew Power" on FoxBox this fall. So far 4Kids has referred to Tokyo Mew Mew as "Hollywood Mew Mew," "The Mew Mews," and "Tokyo Mew Mew."

According to the Internet Movie Database, director Mamoru Oshii will be one of 20 directors contributing 5 minutes of film to the Joel & Ethan Coen directed romance film Paris, je t'aime, scheduled for release next year.

TOKYOPOP has announced its acquisition of English language translation rights to Ako Yutenji's manga series Liling-Po. The official English language version will premier next year.

Bandai has pushed back the American release of the Playstation 2 Cowboy Bebop game from October 2004 to early 2005.

Bandai of Japan has announced the release of a limited edition, life sized Mobile Suit Gundam Haro PC case. Only 1,000 units will be produced and sold for 99,800 yen each (roughly $898 US).

The new anime & furry fanzine titled Furtype is now accepting submissions for its first issue. This includes reviews of anime, manga, comics, movies, TV, video games, and more. Plus additional entires of artwork, fiction, con reports, and links.



8/10/04 Central Park Media has announced that the following anime DVDs are now on moratorium, essentially meaning that they are now out of print.
Battle Arena Toshinden
Garzey's Wing
Silent Service
They Were Eleven
Tokyo Babylon
Voltage Fighter Gowcaizer
Wild Cardz

Toei Animation has announced plans for two new anime TV series to debut this fall. Bouken Ou Beat (King of Adventure Beat) will premier on September 30th. The anime adaptation of Masami (St. Seiya) Kurumada's boxing manga Ring ni Kakero will debut later this fall.

TOKYOPOP has announced its acquisition of translation rights to Kouyu Shurei's manga series Alichino. The first volume will be released on February 8, 2005.

Anime News Network reports that Geneon has officially confirmed plans to retain the original Japanese name "Shonen Bat" in the subtitle track of the forthcoming Paranoia Agent DVD release. Geneon's initial marketing translated the name "Shonen Bat" to "Lil' Slugger," which caused a small controversy in the fan community over the impression that "Lil' Slugger" was not a translation which retained the meaning and integrity of the original Japanese name.

The official Japanese homepage for the Uta-Kata anime TV series is now open. The new anime, scheduled to debut on Japanese television in October, features character designs by Keiji Gotoh (Kiddy Grade, Gatekeepers).

It looks like Canada's anime landscape could be improving in the coming months. Reader and Canadian broadcast insider Ricky Ricardo has informed ANN that YTV will be airing the following series: Gundam SEED, SD Superior Defender, Witch Hunter Robin and .hack//SIGN.



8/8/04 I updated with another Pen Thought to the Pen Penny section. I also moved an old one to Previous Pennys. I also updated the Old News section.

Coming out this Tuesday on Region 1 DVD
Angel Tales Vol. 2
Beyblade Vol. 10
Gundam SEED Vol. 1 (also w/box)
Ikki-Tosen Vol. 1 (also w/box)
Infinite Ryvius Vol. 6
Kaze No Yojimbo Vol. 3
Master Keaton Vol. 8
Saint Seiya Vol. 8
Witch Hunter Robin Vol. 6

Japanese food and bottling company Suntory has announced that, starting in late August and running until mid October, they will be distributing bottles of Pepsi Twist and Diet Pepsi Twist with miniature Gundam figurines. A total of 32 different figurines, from various Gundam series and movies will be made available.



8/5/04 ICv2 News reports that major mainstream American publisher Penguin Books has signed a 3 year deal with Digital Manga, Inc. to distribute English translated manga. Digital Manga will acquire and translate 8-10 volumes of manga next year, which Penguin Books will print and distribute. Similar to the strategy employed by Del Rey, Penguin appears to be employing a quality-over-quantity approach to domestic manga distribution.

Tokyopop has confirmed that their upcoming release of Rave Master, will be the edited for TV version and will only contain the English dub.



8/2/04 Only one day late, I updated with another Pen Thought to the Pen Penny section. I also moved an old one to Previous Pennys.

More details have become available on the uncut versions of the Yu-Gi- Oh! and Shaman King DVDs due out this fall from 4 Kids via FUNimation. Two volumes of each title, each with three episodes, will be released on October 19th. The bowdlerized versions, which were sanitized for American TV and DVD release, had purged all religious symbols, including crosses, pentagrams, and stars of David; toned down or eliminated depictions of violence such as the slicing of monsters, firing of weapons, and showing of blood; and reduced cleavage, lengthened skirts, and had clothing added to reduce sexual content. Not only will the new versions replace these previously expurgated elements, they will also feature newly recorded English language tracks that will be much closer to the original Japanese script.

Dark Horse Comics has announced the release of a revised, uncut, expanded English translation of the original Ghost in the Shell manga. The 2nd edition graphic novel will be printed in its original Japanese size and will includes the pages of adult content removed from the original American release, plus other new features. The book will be shrinkwrapped and carry an 18+ age advisory.

We received word from Right Stuf today that they'll be one of the few retailers that will be carrying the limited edition release of the Inu Yasha Season 1 box set, which is retailer for $20 above the regular price of $100. The Deluxe Edition is limited to 15,000 total copies, and includes an exclusive Inu Yasha necklace imported from Japan.

FUNimation has announced the acquisition of the first and second seasons of Grappler Baki. Right Stuf has licensed the Gravitation OVAs as well as the Piano. Bandai has licensed Planetes, Fantastic Children, and Avengers. Geneon has announced licenses for Star Ocean EX, Human Scramble (also known as Human Crossing Point), Tokyo Underground, Koi Kaze, Ultra Maniac TV, Le Portrait de Petit Cossette, Kyou Kara Mao, and Jubei-Chan 2.

According to the Yomiuri Online, Howl's Moving Castle will premiere in Japan on November 20th.

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