Old news

From May 2003.


5/31/03 I put up another Pen Thought and moved one to Previous Pennys.

News from A-Kon: ADV has acquired Panyo Panyo Digi Charat as well as Aquarian Age. Bandai announced a Love Hina Movie Box will be due out in November. Pioneer announced the acquisition of Land Defense Force Mao-Chan as well as the latest Gonzo series, Last Exile. The Cyber Formula license that Bandai has announced is for the TV series only, which ran 37 episodes back in 1991

According to Ain't It Cool News, Porco Rosso, Nausicaa, and an as yet undetermined Studio Ghibli film will make up the second wave of American Ghibli DVD releases to be available in stores before the end of the year. If this is indeed true, Nausicaa will be the first Ghibli movie released on DVD outside Japan before its Japanese DVD release.

A live action Lone Wolf and Cub drama (dorama) will begin broadcast on the Japanese TV station TV Asahi on July 7th.

The final installment of the Pita Ten manga by Koge Donbo's will be published in the August issue of Dengeki Comic Gao!

TOKYOPOP has announced that the second Rising STarts of Manga contest will run from June 1st to September 1st, 2003. Like the first competition, the competition calls for original manga style submissions from aspiring creators. Full details can be found here.


5/30/03 Kiddy Grade has been licensed by Funimation and is expected out in early 2004.

FUNimation has confirmed that Blue Gender will be appearing on Adult Swim, however specific air dates are not available yet.

According to an article in Shonen Jump #7, the Rurouni Kenshin manga will be printed in Shonen Jump beginning this November.

Tech TV will be premiering The SoulTaker on Tuesday, June 24 at 12 a.m. Eastern. Gatekeepers 21 premieres on Wednesday, July 16 at 12 a.m. Eastern. Boogiepop Phantom premieres on Monday, July 28 at 12 a.m. Eastern.



5/29/03 I put up another Pen Thought and moved one to Previous Pennys.

Synch-Point/Anime Gamers USA has announced that American voice actors Kari Wahlgren and Jennifer Sekiguchi, both known for their performance as the English voice of Haruko Haruhara and Mamimi Samejima, respectively, in FLCL (Fooly Cooly), will be attending FanimeCon 2003 on June 20, 2003 in Santa Clara, CA.

AN Entertainment will be attending this weekend's fourth annual JACON anime convention in Orlando, Florida. In a last minute schedule change not yet reflected on the JACON website, the AN Entertainment panel will help open the convention at 1 PM tomorrow.

ADV Films announced today that Voices of a Distant Star will screen at this weekend's A-KON 14, to be held May 30-June 1 in Dallas Texas.

4Kids Entertainment is shopping a number of their titles to sub-licensees at 2003 New York Licensing show. Amongst the titles are Anime shows such as Pokemon, Yu-Gi-Oh!, Ultimate Muscle: The Kinnikuman Legacy and Kirby: Right Back At Ya!

AnimeNewsNetwork is currently offline, except for the main page that contians tidbits of news.


5/28/03 Today, I put up the review for the final volume of Berserk (tear), in Other Reviews.

According to the Japanese Playstation.com, Kodansha will release a Ghost in the Shell 1.5 manga with bonus screensaver CD-ROM on July 23rd. The book will be a reprint of the four chapters of Masamune Shirow's original Ghost in the Shell manga that were left out of the original tankouban: "Fat Cat" published in 1991, "Drive Slave" published in 1992, "Mines of Mind" published in 1995 and "Lost Past" published in 1996.

The official Japanese Last Exile homepage now hosts a free 10 minute long digest episode in Real Media format, along with short commercials for the TV series and opening theme song CD single.

The official website for Daft Punk & Leiji Matsumoto's Interstella 5555 is now online at interstella5555.com.



5/27/03 Japanese video game developer Yuke's has announced plans to develop a sequel to their 1999 Dreamcast action game Kenpu Denki Berserk: Sennen Teikoku no Taka Hen Sousitubana no Shou, which was itself a sequel to the Berserk anime TV series. The second Berserk game will be developed for the Playstation 2.

The Yomiuri Newspaper has reported that Japanese producers are currently casting for the main character role in a Japanese live action & CG movie adaptation of Tetsujin 28 (known in America as Gigantor) to be released in Japan next year.

According to Natsume Goushin Ryu Dojo, Pony Canyon will produce a 4 episode Kidou Shinsengumi Moeken OAV series late this fall, presumably based on the Playstation 2 RPG featuring character design by Rumiko Takahashi.

Studio Fantasia, the producers of AIKa, Najica, and Stratos 4, will be producing an anime TV series adaptation of the popular Kimi ga Nozomu Eien adult PC game.

The Triangle Heart: Sweet Songs Forever OAV will be released in Japan on July 24th. Triangle Heart, based on an adult PC game, has already had a 5 episode OAV series released in Japan.

Anime News Network has confirmed that Viz has acquired the American translation license to the Hana Yori Dango anime TV series. According Diamond Comics, the first DVD volume will be available sometime between August and October.

Viz announced at the recent AnimeCentral convention that they have licensed the frequently requested Flame of Recca anime TV series for US release.



5/25/03 This Tuesday the following will be released on Region 1 DVD: Yu Yu Hakusho Vol. 13: Genkai's Test, Alien From Darkness, Berserk Vol. 6, Can Can Bunny: Summer Fun, Dai-Guard Vol. 6, Fruits Basket Vol. 4: The Clearing Sky, Genma Wars Vol. 2: Elusive Sanctuary, Knight Hunters Complete, Madara, Mahoromatic Vol. 3: A Warriors Fate, Neoranga Vol. 3, Read or Die, Sakura Wars TV Vol. 1: Opening Night, Sakura Wars TV Vol. 1: Opening Night W/Box, Space Pirate Mito Vol. 3, Vanilla Series: Dark, Variable Geo, Virtua Fighter Vol. 1, X Vol. 5, and Yu Yu Hakusho Vol. 14: No Return.

5/24/03 After quite some time, I've put up another Pen Thought and moved one to Previous Pennys.

Cyborg 009 (2001) will be premiering on Cartoon Network on June 30th at 6PM. The series is a remake of the classic 1968 Anime series. Cyborg 009 will be replacing Yu Yu Hakusho.

On August 31st, after a repeat of the original Big O, the second season will premiere at 11pm. As you may recall, this second season of Big O was co-produced (funded) by Cartoon Network. Re-runs of the original season of Big O start on July 7th.

On July 6th, Kikaider will join the Adult Swim lineup at 1AM.

Lone Wolf and Cub is set to be adapted into a live action Hollywood film by Darren Aronofsky, the director of the critically accalimed "Pi" and "Requiem for a Dream" movies.

It would seem that Tsubasa is not so much of a sequel to Cardcaptor Sakura, but rather an alternate tale set in a different world. Sakura and Shaoran seem to be older than they were in Card Captor Sakura. Sakura is Princess Sakura, heir to the throne of Clow Country, and Shaoran is her childhood friend and the son of an archaeologist.


5/23/03 The official Japanese Ai Yori Aoshi homepage has updated to reveal that the full title of the second TV series will be "Ai Yori Aoshi ~ Enishi" (not "Ai Yori Aoshi ~ Midori" as previously reported).

5/22/03 According to Natsume Goushin Ryu Dojo, the July issue of Animage Magazine will include a free Region 2 promotional DVD that will include a trailer for Onegai Twins, the sequel to "Please Teacher."

The Japanese Young Animal manga magazine has officially announced that a second Ai Yori Aoshi TV series titled "Ai Yori Aoshi ~ Midori" is in development.

Bandai Entertainment has opened its official English language homepage for the upcoming American DVD release of Junkers Come Here.

Nausicaa.net has discovered that Disney is now in the process of dubbing Hayao Miyazaki's film Kurenai no Buta (Crimson Pig), more commonly known as "Porco Rosso," presumably for eventual American release.

According to Anime News Network, Shaman King and Sonic X will premier on Fox's Saturday morning cartoon line-up beginning on September 6th.


5/21/03 Today I added reviews for the eighth volume of GTO and the first volume of Rune Soldier to Other Reviews.

Japanese news site and host server Goo has reported that a theatrical anime adaptation of Osamu Tezuka's manga Boku no Son Goku (My Son Goku) will be released late this summer.

Director Ryuhei Kitamura has announced plans to produce two new films in the Versus series- Versus Alternate Cut and Versus 2.

Some CD releases: Sakura Wars The Movie : Original Soundtrack will come out on 09/09/2003. Ai Yori Aoshi : Sakura: Original Soundtrack will come out on 10/07/2003 Chobits: Original Soundtrack 002 will come out on 10/07/2003 Mahoromatic: Something More Beautiful : More Beautiful Soundtrack will come out on 10/07/2003.



5/20/03 "In an announcement sure to make waves in the entertainment industry, ADV Films President and CEO John Ledford today publicly confirmed industry rumors that the firm has acquired the rights to produce, and has already begun development of, a live-action feature-film based on the Japanese animated television series "Neon Genesis Evangelion," a multi-million dollar worldwide franchise and perhaps the most influential anime title in the history of the art form." Yes, read it again after the disbelief passes. However unbelievable it sounds, it is apparently true. You can read the rest of the press release here. This has been confirmed with ADV Films by multiple sources. They are pursuing an "agressive timetable" in making it. Wow, just... wow.

Pioneer has officially alerted retailers that their distribution license to Dragonball Z will expire on August 31st. As of August 31, the first 3 Dragonball Z movies on DVD, and the first 17 Dragonball Z TV series DVDs will go out of print. FUNimation has already announced plans to remaster and re-release uncut, uncensored DVD versions of the first 17 TV series DVDs probably next year, but there's been no word yet on the status of the first 3 movies.

TOKYOPOP has officially acquired the English language translation and publication rights to the .hack//Legend of the Twilight Bracelet (.hack//Tasogare no Udewa Densetsu) manga.

Critical Mass has announced that the 2 episode Shimai Ijiri adult anime series will be the next release in the American Vanilla Series DVD catalog under the translated title "Slave Sisters."

The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed that Toei Animation of Japan has plans to create a new season of Kinnikuman Nisei (Ultimate Muscle, as it's known in America) animation for broadcast only on American television.

Manga author Kazuo Koike, creator of Lone Wolf & Cub and Crying Freeman, will write a Wolverine story for Marvel Comics to be published in X-Men Unlimited #50, available in July.

The official Dragonball Z website is now hosting the exclusive E3 Dragonball Z video games trailer including footage of the cel shaded Dragonball Z Budokai 2, the Gameboy Advance Legend of Goku 2, and a teaser for a new Gameboy Advance game titled Dragon Ball Z: Taiketsu.

Atari and FUNimation have entered into an agreement through which Atari will publish video games for select next-generation consoles based on FUNimation's popular animated television series Yu Yu Hakusho.

The Heat Guy J official U.S. website has been launched.


5/19/03 The new distribution company Hirameki International has announced the American distribution rights to the Idol Fight Suchi-Pai OAV series and Soar High! Isami (Tobe! Isami) TV series from 1995, directed by Gisaburo.

AN Entertainment announced at last weekend's Anime Central convention that tentatively, predicated on strong sales of DVD volumes 1 & 2, all copies of Risky Safety DVD 3 will include a "hard" series collector's box at no additional charge. They will feature special inserts to "match the quality" of the Japanese release.

Central Park Media's Cat Soup (Nekojiru-so) will be released on special edition DVD with directors commentary and creator interviews. There's only one audio track because the OAV has no spoken dialogue.

Also CPM, Animation Runner Kuromi OAV 1 will be released on special edition DVD in September with alternate angle running storyboards, interviews and commentary with creator/director Akitaro Daichi, and a feature with an American animator about the animation creation process in America and Japan.

The second Street Fighter Alpha (Street Fighter Zero) OAV series is scheduled to begin production in Japan in September.

Manga Entertaiment's Special Tenth Anniversary of Ninja Scroll will be a double disc set.

Pioneer announced that they have licensed the recent Maho Tsukai ni Taisetsu na Koto Someday's Dreamers anime TV series for American release.

Haibane Renmei will be released in America with its Japanese name unaltered. The first DVD will include a limited edition pencil board. The limited edition DVD 1 with series box will include 2 pencil boards.

300 (out of 10,000) copies of FLCL DVD 3 with series collector's box will be available for sale before street date at Fanimecon next month.



5/18/03 The following will be released this Tuesday on Region 1 DVD: .hack//SIGN Vol. 2: Outcast, Banner of the Stars Vol. 3, Dragon Ball GT Vol. 3: Baby: Creation, Dragon Ball GT Vol. 4: Baby: Proliferation, Geneshaft Vol. 1, Great Dangaioh Vol. 4, Hello Kitty's Paradise Collection, and Rurouni Kenshin: Trust & Betrayal Director's Cut.

5/17/03 Today at ACON, ADV Films announced that they had licensed Happy Lesson (both the OVA series and the TV series) and Nuku Nuku TV, as well as the Japanese live action film Gun Crazy.

5/16/03 Pioneer has licensed Someday's Dreamers.

5/15/03 4Kids Entertainment announced that Shaman King (TV) would be airing on Fox Box this fall, effectively announcing that they had licensed at least part of the TV series.

4Kids Entertainment also announced today that they have licensed Sonic X and that it will air on FoxBox this fall. Additionally, they have annoucned that they have TMS Entertainment Ltd. of Japan to produce 52 all-new animated episodes of Sonic X. So far 26 episodes of Sonic X have been produced and aired in Japan.



5/14/03 Sony has officially announced plans to release Final Fantasy XI in America. The PC version of the online only game will ship in October. The PS2 version will be available in America in early 2004.

AN Entertainment will attend this weekend's AnimeCentral anime convention in Rosemont, Illinois. AnimeNation will have a booth in the exhibitor's hall to promote the upcoming release of Omishi Magical Theater Risky Safety DVD volume 1. AN Entertainment will host an advance screening and panel on Saturday at 3 PM.

ShoujoCon has announced a new guest: Tomoko Taniguchi (Manga-ka: Call Me Princess, Princess Prince, Aquarium). ShoujoCon has also announced that Silver Ash have cancelled their appearance due to restrictions in travel based on the SARS outbreak.

Here's the trailer for the 5th Pokemon Movie: Pokemon Heroes


5/13/03 I finished moving the rest of April upates to Old News.

Anime News Network has learned that contrary to news reported yesterday, the Leiji Matsumoto/Daft Punk anime movie Interstella5555 will not be screened at the 56th Annual Cannes Film Festival, per se. The short film will screen at 35th Annual Quinzaine des Realisateurs (Director's Fortnight) Film Festival, which is an independent film festival held simultaneously with the Cannes Film Festival.

A Japanese nationwide survey by BP Consulting Inc. has determined that Studio Ghibli is among Japan's most trusted brand names. The anime studio, the only one to be ranked in the top 20 name brands, came in 4th place behind Sony, Disney, and the Fuji Television network.

Cinderella Boy, the new anime TV series from Lupin III creator Monkey Punch, will debut on Japanese satellite channel Anime Theater X on June 21st. The action/comedy parodies recognized stories including the Cinderella fairy tale and Rumiko Takahashi's Ranma 1/2 by telling the story of Ranma, a male private investigator who is mysteriously merged into his female partner Rera's body.



5/12/02 Kosuke Fujishima, creator of Ah! My Goddess and You're Under Arrest, and character designer for Sakura Wars, provided the character designs for Namco's latest "Tales..." RPG, Tales of Symphonia. Fujishima will also provide an anime opening and cut-scenes for the GameCube game.

According to Shoji Gatoh, creator of Full Metal Panic, the second FMP TV series, titled "Full Metal Panic? Fumoffu," will premier on Fuji TV on August 4th.

The Japanese Yomiuri Newspaper has reported details of the Leiji Matsumoto produced anime to be screened at the Cannes Film Festival on May 18th. "Interstella5555 - the 5tory of the 5ecret 5tar 5ystem," will be an hour long expanded movie music video adaptation of French techno-pop group Daft Punk's album "Discovery."

It seems that the Samurai Deeper Kyo box that's available with the first disc will be made of wood.



5/11/03 The following will be released this Tuesday on Region 1 DVD: Brigadoon Vol. 1, Cardcaptor Sakura Vol. 15, Casshan: Robot Hunter, Chobits Vol. 2: City of Silence, Descendents of Darkness: Tarot Curse, Devil Lady Vol. 4: The Gathering, GTO Vol. 8, New Angel Vol. 1, Nightmare Campus Vol. 2, Noir Vol. 3, Patlabor TV Vol. 5, Professor Pain, Revolutionary Girl Utena Vol. 6: The Beginning of the End, Revolutionary Girl Utena: The Black Rose Saga Collection, Sailor Moon Super S TV Vol. 7, Saint Tail Vol. 6, and Ushio & Tora: The Complete Collection.

5/10/03 Final Flight of the Osiris will air on Teletoon on Monday, May 26th at 10pm, 11:15pm, 2am and 2:45am.

Cartoon Network will begin airing the Rurouni Kenshin Kyoto Arc on Monday June 9th, starting with the first episode, "The Strongest Opponent From the Past: Merciless Fangs Strike." The Kyoto Arc is much more violent and considered by many to be the best portion of the series, however with the increase in violence there will undoubtedly be a large increase in editing.

There is an article about Thinpaks here. Thinpaks take up half the space of standard DVD cases by having a much smaller spine. This makes shelf space twice as spacious and is much handier for box sets and such.


5/9/03 For those who didn't really pay attention, Viz has discontinued monthly comics. This means that all those who have collected the monthly comics of Neon Genesis Evangelion up to this point (me included) will have to buy the Graphic Novel format for Volume 8 and any other volumes. Those who like having their manga in all the same format (me included) would have to buy all the back graphic novels to make this so.

Kids WB has announced that the Rockman.exe anime TV series, titled "Megaman NT Warrior" for American release, will premier on May 17th at 9:30 AM eastern time.

Japanese publisher CoMiX Wave has established a new sub-company called CW Films specifically to distribute film productions. CW films has announced plans to release a DVD single for the Makoto Shinkai produced anime music video Egao ("Smiling Face"), a 2:20 music video for vocalist Iwasaki Hiromi's theme song to the Japanese TV program Minna no Uta. The Egao DVD will include 3 versions of the Egao music video along with a "making of" segment and staff interviews.

Voice actor Kyle Hebert will be hosting three chat sessions with AD Vision voice actors on his official site this month. Chris Patton's chat session will begin at 9PM EST/6PM PST tomorrow evening. Jay Hickman's chat session will begin at 1PM EST/10AM PST on May 17th. Monica Rial's chat session will begin at 9:30PM EST/6:30 PST on May 24th.

VIZ has announced, although it was actually other people, they're handling the DVD release of "Corrector Yui".

Bandai sent out the final details for the Scryed Limited Edition and Regular DVDs today. Scryed volume 1 will be released on July 15th, with the special edition preceding in on July 1st.

Tokyopop and AEG have annouonced the creation of an Initial D Trading Card Game.



5/8/03 Bandai of Japan has announced plans to open a Bandai Museum in Chiba Prefecture (just outside of Tokyo). The museum, scheduled to open on July 19th, will include a cafe and theater, and exhibit famous properties including Kamen Rider, Ultraman, Sailormoon and Gundam. Admission to certain exhibits will be free, but other exhibits will require an entrance fee.

CLAMP has officially announced on its homepage that the group's latest manga serial, titled "Tsubasa - RESERVoir CHRoNiCLE," will debut in Shukan Weekly Shonen Magazine issue 25, scheduled to go on sale in Japan on May 21st.

According to Natsume Goushin Ryu Dojo, KSS Studios has announced plans to create anime OAV adaptations of the adult PC games "Wind: A Breath of Heart" and "Moekko Company Moekan" as well as an OAV adaptation of the interactive DVD game Phantom of Inferno.

According to The Magic Box, Japanese video game news magazine Dorimaga has reported that Capcom has plans to develop a new game in the Street Fighter 2 series to celebrate the franchise's 15th anniversary. Reportedly the game will be a sequel to Street Fighter 2 instead of Street Fighter 3 so that it can use the "more realistic" Street Fighter 2 character design style rather than Street Fighter 3's "cartoony" style. The game will be set between the events of Street Fighter 2 and Street Fighter 3.

Dragon Ball Z: Budokai will be released on Gamecube in October.

Raijin Comics has made it possible for readers to subscribe to and pay for the weekly anthology in 4 issue installments. The long term price is the same, but rather than one big bill the cost is spread out over more, smaller bills

The United States Patent and Trademark Office has recognized and confirmed BAAF's trademark of the term "World Anime Party" in conjunction with any anime or manga-related fan convention or film festival. This makes BAAF the only convention authorized (under US law and international treaties) to use that phrase.


5/7/03 Bandai has officially announced that Macross Zero OAV episode 2 will go on sale on Japanese DVD on May 23rd.

The AniMatrix short film "The Second Renaissance Part 2" is now available for download from the official site in English and Japanese spoken language versions.

Beginning May 14th, customers that order a year subscription to Weekly Raijin Comics will receive bonus free copies of the first City Hunter, Slam Dunk, First President of Japan, and Fist of the Blue Sky graphic novel collections.

The Big Apple Anime Fest has announced that City Hunter creator Hojo Tsukasa will attend the convention as a guest of Raijin Comics.

The Cartoon Network's schedule reveals that Mechanical Humanoid Kikaider: The Animation has been scheduled to premier on Adult Swim at midnight on June 4th. The Cartoon Network will broadcast the entire 12 episode TV series and the 4 episode Jizo Ningen Kikaider 01 OAV series.

James Cameron told Fuji TV's Tokudane ("Exclusive News") that the script for his Battle Angel movie is currently being written.

As a result of a forecast stating that Toei Animation expects to see its pre-tax profit fall in the coming year, investors have cooled to the company, causing its stock price to fall.



5/6/03 I added the first volume of Noir to Other Reviews.

Central Park Media has officially announced plans to translated Tomoko Taniguchi's manga Popcorn Romance.

According to Anime News Network, Japanese toy development company Plex has announced that the successful full color manga Angel's Wing, by Tetsuya Aoki, will become a monthly series.

Japanese toy development company Plex has officially announced plans to publish a new, full color, original shoujo manga by Nao Yazawa in America. Yazawa, the creator of Wedding Peach, will write and illustrate Nozomi, a 56 page one-shot, full color manga specifically created for American readers. It will be written in left-to-right format with more traditional sound effects similar to what Americans are used to.

Cyber Adventure Tsuka currently hosts the teaser trailer for Katsuhiro Otomo's upcoming anime adventure movie Steamboy in Real Media and AVI format.

AnimeTrax has announced the release dates of two anime OSTs. The Princess Nine OST 1 and Giant Robo OST 1 will both be released on 08/26/2003.

More music news: On August 5th Pioneer will release: Heat Guy J : Heat Guy J OST, Mahoromatic: Automatic Maiden : Mahoromatic OST, and Haibane Renmei : Haibane Renmei OST. Also, on September 2nd Pioneer will be releasing: Lain : Cyberia Mix Soundtrack, Hellsing : RUINS: Hellsing OST 2, and X : X Soundtrack 1.

Katsuhiro Otomo's Steamboy is set to be released theatrically in Japan in October 2003 and in the United States in November of 2003. The Japanese release will be handled by Toho, while Sony Pictures will be handling the North American theatrical release.


5/5/03 Viz has formally announced its intention to cease publishing monthly translated manga comics. Beginning this summer, all of Viz's translated manga will be released directly to graphic novel format.

Yuu Watase's latest manga serial, "Zettai Kareshi" (Absolute/Unconditional Boyfriend) will debut in Shoujo Comic June 2003 #12.

The newest Media Blasters series-specific site has been officially launched with Samurai Deeper Kyo.

According to one source, Katsuhiro Otomo's "Steam Boy" is due out in Japan in October with TOHO distributing while Sony Pictures will be handling the North American release.


5/4/03 The following will be released on Region 1 DVD this Tuesday: YuGiOh Vol. 9: Shining Friendship, YuGiOh Vol. 10: The Night Before, .hack//SIGN Vol. 2: Outcast Special Edition, Crying Freeman Vol. 2: A Taste of Revenge, Fancy Lala Vol. 6, Medabots Vol. 9, Please Teacher Vol. 1: Hot For Teacher, Please Teacher Vol. 1: Hot For Teacher Collectors Box, RahXephon Vol. 2, Ranma 1/2: Martial Mayhem Box Set, Ranma Forever Vol. 6, Sakura Wars OVA Collection, You're Under Arrest Vol. 1: Mini-Specials, and Zone of Enders Dolores i Vol. 4: The Enemy Within.

The new Geneshaft website is here.


5/2/03 Boogiepop Phantom episodes 1 & 2 will be available on The Anime Network between June 1st and July 14th, and episodes 3 & 4 will be available from July 15th on.

Kids Station has announced that the first two episodes of the Narutaru anime TV series will have a premiere showing on June 28th.

The June issue of monthly manga magazine Dragon Age has revealed that Moriyama Daisuke's fantasy manga Chrno Crusade will be adapted into anime.

The official Azumi movie homepage now hosts three trailers for the upcoming live action adaptation of Yu Koyama's popular ninja/samurai manga. The film was directed by Ryuhei (Versus) Kitamura, reportedly with eventual Western theatrical release in mind.

FUNimation has confirmed that they will be announcing one new acquisition at Akon, but that their plans for other conventions are still tentative.

Bandai Entertainment today announced the launch of geneshaft.bandai.com. Currently the website includes the trailer, story overview, character profiles and other standard fare.


5/1/03 Well, I moved a lot of April updates to Old News. I also added a new fan fic with three chapters to the Fan Fic section. This effectively ends Kenji's reign as the only author of the section.

An article from Nikkansports.com reports that Pokemon movie 6 has sold 280,000 advance tickets in two days in Japan, almost twice the 150,000 advance tickets which was sold over a period of 13 weeks for the previous Pokemon movie last year. The Pokemon Advance Generation movie opens in Japanese theaters on July 19th.

Neko no Ongaeshi (The Cat Returns) with its bonus feature The Ghiblies Episode 2 will be released to Japanese DVD on July 4th.

Umi ga Kikoeru (I Can Hear the Ocean), the 1993 Studio Ghibli television movie directed by Tomomi Mochizuki, will see DVD release in Japan on August 8th.

The official Japanese homepage for the upcoming Guardian Hearts OAV series now hosts the opening animation in Real Media format. The cute opening animation, which does include nudity, is available from the official site.

The Anime Network official site has added a function to the top of its main page that allows anime fans in areas without Anime Network availability to identify and contact (by fax, email, snail mail or telephone) their local cable providers and request Anime Network availability.

Ensuring that AN Entertainment's first release of Risky Safety will reach the widest range of retailers, they've signed a distribution deal with ADV Films to handle that end of the product life cycle.

TRSI has announced the Boogiepop Phantom Limited Edition Collector's Ultra Box, a Best Buy / TRSI exclusive promotion, consisting of the entire series on four DVDs, two soundtrack albums, a card set and pencil boards.

Spirited Away's re-release, caused by its Oscar success, is wheezing to a close. Down to 47 theaters nationwide, Miyazaki's film pulled in a scant $25,972 last weekend. As a whole, its release was a relative success, pulling in almost $10 million.

The Anime Network has announced that they have acquired the rights to broadcast TRSI's Boogiepop Phantom. This is the first time that a non-ADV title has been licensed for broadcast on TAN.

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