Old news

From October 2003.


10/31/03 The official Innocence: Ghost in the Shell 2 homepage has updated with an official trailer available in Quicktime and Windows Media formats in three sizes each.

Viz, LLC. has announced its acquisition of the official North American distribution rights to Shin Takahashi's best selling manga Saishuheiki Kanojo and the 13 episode anime TV series adaptation of the manga.

Infoseek Anime has reported that Nasu Hiroyuki (director of the popular 1985 Bebop High School movie) is currently filming a live action Devilman movie for Japanese release next summer.

NHK has opened its official homepage for the new anime TV series Futari no Spica (Twin Spica).

Production I.G officially announced today the production of a further 26 episodes of Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex. Stand Alone Complex 2nd Gig is set to air on Sky Perfect TV pay per view starting in January, at a rate of 2 episodes per month.


10/30/03 In their continuing effort to expand beyond the distribution of just Japanese animation and manga, TOKYOPOP has acquired the rights to publish "Cine-Manga" (color film comics) based on Nickelodeon's cartoon The Fairly OddParents. The animated series is America's #1 show among kids 2-11 and is watched by an estimated 37 million monthly viewers. The first Fairly OddParents Cine-Manga will be available in March 2004.

Playhut Entertainment has announced that it will introduce "Chinamation" to America at this weekend's Las Vegas Comic-Con. Playhut Entertainment will host free daily screenings of DeCheng, Way of the Warriors, Little Monk, Mighty Bunch, and Bird Island.

Bandai has announced that the Big O II volume 1 will be released on January 20th instead of the original December date.

Satoshi Kon's Tokyo Godfathers will be released theatrically in the United States and Japan simultaneously on December 29th, 2003.


10/29/03 Bandai has announced a new Playstation 2 Inuyasha RPG for Japanese release this winter. The tentatively titled "Inuyasha: Sengoku Otogi Gassen" will be a sequel to Bandai's Inuyasha WonderSwan Crystal RPG and adventure game.

10/28/03 According to Trigun manga co-translators Digital Manga, Inc., Dark Horse Comics sold out of its initial 30,000 copies of Trigun manga volume 1 in the first 2-3 days of release. A second printing of 15,000 copies will be going to print this week and will be available in stores in early November.

AniFactor has opened a short essay contest to award five copies of the upcoming Region 1 Millennium Actress DVD. Entrants should write at least 100 words about a favorite Japanese actress (live action or voice actress). Submissions are due by November 10th at Midnight EST.

Broccoli Books has selected Diamond Distributors as its exclusive distributor for its manga titles to the "booktrade" (Bookstores, libraries and warehouses). Broccoli's manga are distributed to comic shops by a number of distributors, including but not limited to Diamond.



10/27/03 Gainax has announced that Shin Seiki Evangelion manga volume 9 will be released in April 2004. A 1,700 yen limited edition will be released in early April and include a 110mm tall articulated Rei Ayanami action figure sculpted by Masaki Apsy. The standard edition of the manga will be released shortly afterwards.

Kadokawa Shoten reports that the December issue of Newtype Magazine (on sale November 10th) will feature 10 pages of Evangelion coverage and include a bonus (presumably Region 2 only) DVD with footage of the Evangelion II Playstation 2 game that will be released on November 20th.

Last night Adult Swim goofed. Instead of airing episode 26 of the Big O season 2 (the final episode of the season) they aired episode 20. This was not a joke, it just happened to coincide with the Halloween special programming block. The final episode of the season will be aired Sunday, November 2 at it's regular time. This will push the never-before-aired episode of Family Guy back one week as well.

According to Japanese movie news website Museum K, Innocence: Ghost in the Shell 2 will open in Japanese theaters on March 6, 2004, and Hayao Miyazaki's latest film, Howl's Moving Castle, will debut in Japanese theaters on July 17, 2004.

DC Comics and Wildstorm will be puttig out a new Robotech comic mini-series on January 4th.


10/26/03 I added a Pen Thought to the Pen Penny section and moved one to Previous Pennys.

The following will come out on Region 1 DVD this Tuesday:
City Hunter TV Season 2 Collection 1
Final Fantasy Unlimited Vol. #1 (also w/box)
Gun Frontier Vol. #4
Haibane Renmei Vol. #2
Inu Yasha Vol. #11
Jungle Emperor Leo
KO Beast Vol. #3: Clash of the Jinns
Mahoromatic: Something More Beautiful Vol. #2: Hectic Holidays
Mao-Chan Vol. #1
Mazinkaiser Vol. #2
Millennium Actress
Mirage of Blaze Vol. #3
Noir Vol. #7: The End of the Matter
Nuku Nuku Dash Vol. #1
Samurai Deeper Kyo Vol. #3
Space Pirate Mito: First Season Collection
Super Gals Vol. #02
Vanilla Series: Holy Virgins

Megumi Hayashibara, the popular voice actress and singer will be releasing a new music CD in Japan on January 7th.

Animate.tv will be making Ai Yori Aoshi ~ Enishi ~ Episode 1 available online for free. They will be streaming the episode from their website from October 30th until November 28th.


10/23/03 Another new manga title by way of their website, Battle Vixens (Ikki Tosen) by Yuji Shiozaki has been added to Tokyopop's title list, with volume one slated to be released on April 6th, 2004.

ComicsOne has announced that they have licensed the fan-service friendly Junk Force and will be releasing the first volume in January 2004.

Kids!WB has unveiled its new Saturday morning line-up, which premieres on November 1st. Ninety minutes of the four-hour block will be comprised of Yu-Gi-Oh! and Pokemon, the only anime present in the block.



10/22/03 AnimEigo has announced that the Urusei Yatsura Movie/OVA box set has been canceled as they intend to dub the remaining four movies that they have. There hasn't been any determination at this time as to whether they'll dub the OVAs or not but they do intend to put out a movie box.

10/21/03 According to Anime News Network, Viz has announced that the upcoming re-release of the original 9 volume Battle Angel Alita manga series will include new content at a reduced price. Volumes 1-8 will include "background pages pertaining to the respective volume" while volume 9 will include a new afterword by creator Yukito Kishiro.

Viz has announced limited edition re-releases of the first Naruto and Yu-Gi-Oh! manga graphic novels. Limited edition releases of Yu-Gi-Oh! volume 1 and Naruto volume 1 featuring special foil covers will be available this November at bookstores nationwide. In addition to the special cover, each copy will feature an imprinted serial number on the cover so that collectors can experience the thrill of owning one of only 5000 printed editions.

Viz has also announced the availability of two different free limited edition Ceres: Celestial Legend Collector's Edition DVD boxes. The boxes are designed to house the new "Collector's Edition" DVD re-release of the series, and are only available to consumers that purchase the new DVD re-release. Consumers must purchase the Collector's Edition Ceres two-disc DVD sets and mail in a sales receipt plus a proof of purchase (presumably cut from the DVD packaging or insert) plus $3.95 to cover shipping. The offer is limited to one box per household, so even collectors devoted enough to purchase two sets of Collector's Edition DVDs cannot collect both boxes.


10/20/03 As the spearhead of a new line, or possibly two new lines, of translated manga, Central Park Media has acquired the translation rights to a number of "yaoi" (male homosexual themed) manga serials. Kizuna, Kunshu-sama no Koi no Oaite, Kunshu-sama no Koi Katte, and Kin no Cain.

TOKYOPOP has updated its website with 3 new manga titles, The Demon Ororon, Mink and DNAngel. TOKYOPOP had already announced DNAngel and Mink back in Ausgust.

Dengeki Ani-Maga Magazine hints that Tanaka Kunihiko's manga serial Ichigeki Sacchuu!! Hoihoi-san will be adapted into anime. The story about an 11.5 inch tall robot girl that exterminates insects and bugs has already been turned into a Playstation 2 action game.

According to Moon Phase, "Comic Party Revolution volume 1: Ko no Hon, Urete Hoshii Desuno" will be released in December. The second and final episode of the new OAV series will be released in March 2004


10/19/03 I added a Pen Thought to the Pen Penny section and moved one to Previous Pennys.

The following will come out this Tuesday on Region 1 DVD:
Arc the Lad Complete Collection
Banner of the Stars II Vol. 2
Infinite Ryvius Vol. 1
Infinite Ryvius Vol. 1 Limited Edition
Power Dolls: Complete Collection
Project ARMS Vol. 7
RahXephon Vol. 6
Saint Seiya Vol. 1 (also w/box)
Southern Cross Box Set
Steam Detectives Vol. 1
Those Who Hunt Elves 2 Vol. 2
Urusei Yatsura Movie 1: Only You

Central Park Media has also confirmed that they have the rights to the Japanese Claymation Doggie Poo.


10/17/03 This month in Japan, Banpresto will release the Gameboy Advance strategy RPG "Legend of Dynamic: Goushouden - Houkai no Rondo." The game is essentially a version of Super Robot Wars using only characters from Go Nagai's Dynamic Planning Studio. The game will feature more than 130 heroes from over 20 anime series including Cutie Honey, Devil Man, Getter Robo, Kekko Kamen, Mazinger Z, Maou Dante, and Violence Jack.

Geneon has announced the Heat Guy J series will be run on the MTV cable network "later this year or early in 2004."


10/16/03 According to the British DVD Times website, the American DVD release of Avalon will be a full featured special edition with the original Polish language and optional English and French dubbing, a feature on the film's special effects, and an interview with director Mamoru Oshii.

According to the AIC Anime official site in English, they list FUNimation releasing the Tenchi Muyo GXP series in North America in January 2004.

Reuters is reporting that Nintendo is planning to buy over one million shares in Bandai, making the GameCube manufacturer one of Bandai's top ten shareholders.


10/15/03 Sega has announced that the upcoming PS2 action game Dororo, based on the classic samurai/horror manga and anime by Osamu Tezuka, will be released in America under the title, "Blood Will Tell: Tezuka Osamu's Dororo."

Synch-Point has made an official statement announcing that the hefty booklets included in current copies of the FLCL DVDs will be going out of print. Due to increased demand for the FLCL DVDs generated by the show's television broadcast on the Cartoon Network, the booklet's of translated liner notes included in the three FLCL DVDs can't be printed fast enough to keep up with demand. As a result, forthcoming copies of the three FLCL DVDs will include only a two page insert. The full length liner notes will still be available on the Synch-Point Website.

ICv2 News reports that AD Vision has secured the rights to broadcast the Chobits anime TV series on the Anime Network. Chobits is the first title announced for availability on the digital cable television network that is not owned or distributed on home video by Anime Network sponsor AD Vision.

TOKYOPOP Inc. today announced plans for an exclusive licensing agreement with ValuSoft®, a division of THQ® Inc. (NASDAQ: THQI) and leading global publisher and distributor of interactive entertainment software. ValuSoft will transform the street racing adventures of TOKYOPOP’s high-speed anime hit Initial D into a fast-paced, driving game for the PC, slated for release in early 2004.

According to a report from C21 Media, 4Kids Entertainment is working on sealing a deal with Toei to acquire the magical girl series "Ojamajo Doremi". Do Re Mi would be used to diversify the Fox Box line-up and attract a female audience.


10/14/03 According to a press release, the Dejiko's Summer Vacation manga release from Broccoli Books will have a limited edition dust jacket that will be available through select locations.

10/13/03 According to Animaxis, the recent 13 episode St. Seiya Hades Chapter OAV series will be continued in a St. Seiya Tenkai-hen (Heaven Chapter) motion picture to be released to Japanese theaters in February 2004.

According to the Natsume Goushin Ryu Dojo, "Burn-up Scramble" will begin airing on Japanese television in January 2004.

Gonzo Studio's first theatrical anime production will be a film titled "Spirit." The movie will be written by Sadayuki Murai (Perfect Blue, Steamboy) and directed by Keiichi Suiyama. Character design will be provided by Kouji Ogata (Boogiepop Phantom).

A trailer for Satoshi Kon's Tokyo Godfathers is available on the official site.


10/12/03 I added a Pen Thought to the Pen Penny section and moved one to Previous Pennys. I moved the rest of the September updates to Old News.

The following are coming out this Tuesday on Region 1 DVD:
Ai Yori Aoshi Vol. 5: With All My Heart
Angelic Layer Vol. 1 (also w/box)
Bandit King Jing Vol. 3
Beyblade Vol.#5
Demon Beast Resurrection Collection
Demon Beast Resurrection: Soul Survivor
DNA2 Collection
DNA2 Vol. 5: Epiphany
Dragon Ball GT Vol. 7: Annihlation
Dragon Ball GT Vol. 8: Salvation
Full Metal Panic Vol. 4
Heat Guy J Vol. 2
Initial D Vol. 2
Legend of the Dragon Kings Vol. 3
Lupin the 3rd TV Vol. 4: Thieves' Paradise
Master Keaton Vol. 3
Neoranga Vol. 5
Nightmare Campus Vol. 5
Patlabor: The Original Series Collection Vol. 1
Revolutionary Girl Utena Vol. 9: Revelation
Risky Safety Vol. 2
Saiyuki Vol. 5
Sugar Vol. 4
Time Stranger
YuGiOh Vol. 14: Ties of Friendship
YuGiOh Vol. 15: Legendary Heroes


10/11/03 Viz has apparently licensed the Kaikan Phrase manga, calling it Sensual Phrase for the US release. The first volume is due out March 10th, 2004.

10/9/03 Geneon Anime Music's January line-up:
Neon Genesis Evangelion OST 1 - 01/20/2004
His and Her Circumstances Act 1.0 - 01/20/2004
Fooly Cooly (Furi Kuri) OST 1 - 01/20/2004

Anime Crash has acquired Geister: Fractions of the Earth, a twenty-six episode series that was broadcast in both Korea and Japan.



10/8/03 On Saturday, October 11 at 6 p.m. EDT - 3 p.m. PDT, AnimationHQ.net will be hosting a chat session with Jonathan Klein, the vice-president, co-founder and co-owner of New Generation Pictures, a production company based in Beverly Hills that has been translating, subtitling and dubbing anime for such major companies as Pioneer, Bandai, Urban Vision, Central Park Media, The Right Stuf and TOKYOPOP.

A special sneak preview of the Buena Vista English dubbed version of Hayao Miyazaki's classic adventure film Porco Rosso will screen at the Austin Film Festival on Tuesday, October 14th before its American home video release.

A preview for the Love Smash 5 tennis game is here

Namco's official site for its epic fantasy RPG Baten Kaitos now hosts downloadable MPEG trailers for the game and the game's battle system.

The 43-episode series GTO begins airing on the Network's SHO Next channel on November 3rd at 9:00pm, with new episodes nightly Monday through Friday as opposed to the original date in December.

The soundtracks of: Doomed Megalopolis, Jyubei Ninpucho, Kimera, Sonic Soldier Borgman: Last Battle, Sonic Soldier Borgman: Lover's Rain, and Voices of a Distant Star will all be released on 12/09/2003.



10/7/03 According to Ain't It Cool News, director Ronny Yu (Freddy vs. Jason) is now writing a script for a big budget American live action adaptation of the anime movie Blood: The Last Vampire.

The TOKYOPOP homepage has revealed the company's acquisition of translation rights to Mizuki Hakase's manga serial Akuma no Ororon. The series will be released in America with the translated title "The Demon Ororon."

FUNimation has indefinitely delayed the scheduled December 2nd release of the Sakura Wars: Sumire OAV DVD.

Effective October 15, the suggested retail price for all four volumes of Fruits Basket will be lowered from $39.95 to $29.98.

Geneon (formerly Pioneer) has announced a new line of "Signature Series" anime DVDs at discounted prices. The line appears to be a method of resoliciting older releases; including Trigun, Akira, Serial Experiments Lain, and various Tenchi.

The release of Someday's Dreamers DVD volume 1 has been delayed from November 11th until November 25th.

The domestic Mahoromatic: Something More Beautiful soundtrack CD scheduled for release today has been recalled due to an undisclosed manufacturing error. The CD will now be released on November 4th.

Geneon has canceled its solicitation for the first Big O II DVD. Bandai still lists the DVD as scheduled for release on January 21st, possibly signifying that Geneon has only canceled its distribution of the title, not meaning that the release itself has been canceled.

According to a first hand report of the IC Entertainment AnimeNEXT panel published to the Anime on DVD Forum, IC Entertainment is in financial straits resulting in much of its staff being volunteers; has announced that several of its regular titles are being placed on indefinite hiatus; and even appears to be uncertain of the company's name. IC blames the problems on an un-named former employee. IC maintains that several anticipated upcoming releases including Di-Gi-Charat: Dejiko's Champion Cup Theatre & Hanaukyo Maid Team will still be released as scheduled.


10/6/03 According to the Natsume Goushin Ryu Dojo, the Japanese Comic Flapper Magazine has announced that Kaoru Shintani's classic military adventure story Area 88 will be revived for a new anime TV series next year. The Area 88 manga was first adapted into anime in a 1985-86 3 episode OAV series.

According to The Magic Box, Bandai has announced the release of Inuyasha: Poetry of Festival, a new Inuyasha RPG, for release on the Japanese PS2 on December 25th.

The LoGH R1 DVD poll still has not received the 1500 submissions it was looking for, but response has been strong enough that Wright Staff Co. is seriously considering a limited edition, subtitled only American DVD release of the LoGH anime in a set that would retail for $1,700 rather than the originally estimated $1,925.


10/5/03 I added a Pen Thought to the Pen Penny section and moved one to Previous Pennys. I put up Blue Seed Beyond in Other Reviews.

The following will be released this Tuesday on Region 1 DVD:
Argentosoma Vol. 5
Aura Battler Dunbine Vol. 3
Eden's Bowy Vol. 4
Inu Yasha Vol. 10
Kikaider Vol. 2
Steel Angel Kurumi 2 Vol. 2
Witch Hunter Robin Vol. 1 Limited Edition
Yu Yu Hakusho Vol. 17: Sword and Dragon

The following soundtracks will be released this Tuesday:
Ai Yori Aoshi : Sakura: Original Soundtrack
Chobits: Original Soundtrack 002
Mahoromatic: Something More Beautiful : More Beautiful Soundtrack


10/4/03 From AnimeNext 2003: Media Blasters announced the acquisition of a new show, Mouse. The 12 Kingdoms box will be like a Chinese chest and hold all 15 volumes of the series. It will be available separately as an empty box for those who have already purchased the series. The Iria box will be a three DVD tin with lots of extras. Either a Spanish language dub or Spanish subtitles will be be included. The release will have the feature on two discs with the third disc being a complete disc of extras.

From AnimeNext 2003: World of Narue will hit DVD sometime in 2004. The DVD release is planned to be packed with extra features, include actor and director commentaries and a feature about the 2003 Anime Idol contest. CPM is exploring acquisition of Korean titles.

From AnimeNext 2003: Di Gi Charat: Dejiko's Champion Cup Theatre manga has hit the printers and should be available within 2 or 3 weeks.

From AnimeNext 2003: More Maison Ikkoku is coming. Production has started back up with script writing currently taking place. The Inu Yasha Special Limited Edition Box Set will be released soon. The set includes the first three DVDs of the series, an exclusive desktop calendar, and samples of the Inu Yasha playing cards slated for release next year by Shopro.

From AnimeNext 2003: From now on boxes for ADV titles that contain a t-shirt as a promo item, will now instead contain a code that can be redeemed at ADV's website for a t-shirt of your desired size. ADV is trying to get Super Milk-chan on TV.


10/3/03 RSI has announced that its DVD version of the 1989 Assemble Insert comedy/action OAV series will be re-released on December 9th with a new cover and a new lower retail price of only $14.98.

AD Vision has opened its official English language homepage devoted to Battle Doll Angelic Layer.

TV-Tokyo has opened its homepage devoted to the Takahashi Rumiko Theater: Mermaid's Forest TV series.

Saiyaki Reloaded has a homepage here and a TV-Tokyo one here.

The International Channel will begin airing season one of Tenchi Muyo! (uncut, English dub) on Friday, October 3rd at 11pm EST.


10/2/03 I moved most of the September updates to Old News.

TechTV has acquired the broadcast rights to Geneshaft and the first Banner of the Stars series. Banner is scheduled to begin Tuesday, November 4th, and Geneshaft will premiere at a date to be determined.


10/1/03 Klockworx has opened its official website for the Aoi Umi no Tristia (Tristia of the Deep Blue Sea) OVA series due out next year. The 2 episode OAV series is an adaptation of a PC game.

TV-Tokyo is now hosting several previews for upcoming series here. They include: Papuwa, Popolocrois, Rockman.EXE Axess, Wagamama Yousei Mirumo de Pon! Golden, Takahashi Rumiko Theater: Mermaid's Forest, Gungrave, Saiyuki Reloaded, F-Zero Falcon Legend, and Bastof Lemon.


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