Old news

From September 2003. The site enters its second year.


9/30/03 AD Vision announced that the Bubblegum Crisis 2041 anime series has not entered the pre-production stage in Japan yet.

AN Entertainment displayed the prototype of the Risky Safety Series Collector's Box, announced that Miami Guns will be a 4 disc release beginning in the first half of 2004, and announced that the English dubbing for Miami Guns will be produced by Scott Houle and Phoenix Post Sound.

AnimEigo stated that a DVD version of the Macross movie will likely never be released in America because of disputes over ownership of the title in Japan. Likewise the Macross 7 TV series will probably never have an official English language release in part due to copyright ownership disputes over its music.

Bandai announced its acquisition of the 25 episode 2001 anime TV series Kaze no Yojimbo, an anime updating of Akira Kurosawa's classic 1961 film Yojimbo.


9/29/03 Both Angel Sanctuary and Hana Zakari No Kimitachi E ("Hana-Kimi") are now licensed by Viz and set to release in the spring of 2004. Both are currently planned as bi-monthly releases.

Bandai Japan has unveiled a special Gundam themed edition of Nintendo's Game Cube along with a similar Game Boy Advance. The consoles feature the insignia of Char Aznable (the Red Comet) and are colored red.

Currently serialized in Weekly Shounen Magazine, the gag manga Sakigake!! Kuromati Koukou will be adapted into an anime TV series by Production IG. The series is set to start October 3rd at midnight on TV Tokyo.

Mousou Dairinin, a new TV series by Satoshi Kon, is set to broadcast in Japan on WOWOW this coming February. The sotry is a murder mystery about the phantom killer of Musashino City.

There are unconfirmed reports that Kawai Katsutoshi's manga "Monkey Turn" is being adapted into an anime that will premier on TV Tokyo this coming January.

Sequel Series for Divergence Eve was announced at the end of the broadcast of the final episode of the first series on the 24th. The series, due out next spring, is expected to last one season and will be called "Misaki Chronicle ~ Divergence Eve."

Gainax is working on a new Anime, Bokyaku no Senritsu ("The Forgotten Melody"). A romantic comedy with a female lead named Bokka. It is expected to air in Japan in the Spring of 2004.

Square Enix has announced that it will be re-visiting Final Fantasy VII in the form of a CG movie that takes place some two years after the end of the game. The film is however expected to depart from the more traditional anime style look of the game and feature more photo-realistic art as seen in Final Fantasy X. The movie is due out in 2004.



9/28/03 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:
Blue Gender Box Set
Cosmo Warrior Zero Box Set
Dark Myth
Doomed Megalopolis Special Edition
Dual Box Set
Figure 17 Vol. 1
Genma Wars Vol. 4
His and Her Circumstances Vol. 5
Moonlight Lady Vol. 2
Najica Blitz Tactics Vol. 2
Ninja Scroll 10th Anniversary Special Edition
Sakura Wars TV Vol. 4: Intermission
Twelve Kingdoms Vol. 2: Empress
Vanilla Series: Endless Serenade
Zaion Vol. 1 (also w/box)
Zenki Vol. 4

On Tuesday the Giant Robo 2 Soundtrack and Princess Nine OST 2 will be released.


9/26/03 According to Anime News Network, Bandai announced their acquisition of Kaze no Yojimbo at Anime Weekend Atlanta today.

A number of fall titles for Manga Entertainment have shifted dates, according to Right Stuf:
New Dominion Tank Police Complete Collection - November 25th, 2003
Fist of the North Star Vol. 5 - November 25th, 2003
Macross 3 Disc Box Set - January 31st, 2004
Evangelion, Neon Genesis Movie Box Set - February 29th, 2004

On October 1st, Pioneer LDC and Pioneer Entertainment, the Pioneer subsidiaries recently acquired from Pioneer by Dentsu, will officially change their names. October 1st is the date when all shares of the companies are officially transferred to Dentsu. Pioneer Entertainment (USA) Inc. will, will henceforth be known as Geneon Entertainment (USA) Inc. , while Pioneer LDC will have its name changed to Geneon Entertainment Inc.



9/24/03 Bandai Entertainment has officially inaugurated its "So You Want to be a Witch Hunter" online promotion at the Witch Hunter Robin official American homepage. At the site, fans can enter a sweepstakes to win a Witch Hunter Robin Prize pack including the first DVD, t-shirts, theatrical poster! The promotion will last until October 31st. Visit the official site for details and rules.

Anime Crash has announced in their newest press release that their first title to come out will be a Korean animated 26 episode TV series called Ki Fighter Taerang.

Buena Vista Home Entertainment's Japanese DVD release of Nausicaa will ship with its original mono soundtrack, as opposed to a stereo soundtrack adapted from the original. A "fake stereo" soundtrack had been developped for the DVD release, but testing showed the original mono sound to be superior.

Anime Nation has a listing for what appears to be an uncut release of Kinnikuman Ultimate muscle with English and Japanese audio tracks. 4Kids has yet to confirm these details.


9/22/03 The Pacific Media Expo has announced its first guest of honor, Trigun and Gungrave creator Yasuhiro Nightow.

The official homepage for the Space Battleship Yamato Rebirth Chapter anime now hosts a 47 second long Windows Media preview of the animation due out next year.

According to several retail sources, Bandai is planning to switch to a new DVD distributor. The new business arragement, which would end their relationship with current distributor Pioneer, is reportedly scheduled to begin on January 1, 2004.


9/21/03 I added a Pen Thought to the Pen Penny section and moved one to Previous Pennys.

This Tuesday the following will be released on Region 1 DVD:
Blue Seed: Beyond
Corrector Yui Vol. 2
Dragon Ball: General Blue Box Set
Rune Soldier Vol. 4: Monsters & Mayhem
Sailor Moon Season 2 Box Set
Virtuacall
X Vol. 7

According to one tidbit we've heard from Colorado's own NDK convention this weekend is that Manga confirmed that they no longer hold the rights to Giant Robo and that "someone else" would be bringing it out.

Kids' WB!'s new saturday morning schedule, which premiered on Sept 14th, claimed top rank in multiple children's rankings. Most notable, YuGiOh was ranked the number 1 show in Boys 6-11, Tweens 9-14 and Male Tweens 9-14.


9/19/03 According to The Magic Box, Sega is developing a Tetsuwan Atom Astro Boy 3D action adventure game for the PS2, and Bandai is at work on a PS2 RPG based on Saiyuki Reload.

Synch-Point has officially confirmed that the long delayed second DVD volume of I'm Gonna Be An Angel (Tenshi ni Narumon) will be released on January 7, 2004.

TV Tokyo launches its new Anime ch.com website today, offering the first two episodes of Slayers, Slayers Next, Slayers Try, and Saiyuki free throughout the month.

The recent Cartoon Network premiere of Superior Defender saw a 29% over-all increase in viewers over the same period last year, highlighted by a 42% growth in ratings for kids 6-11.


9/18/03 Sony of Japan is apparently 70% complete in production of Popolocrois: Tsuki no Okite no Bouken, the fifth game in the Popolocrois Monogatari RPG series and the third for the PS2. This new game will once again, for the third time, star Pinon, the son of Popolocrois 1 & 2 main character Pietro. The second Popolocrois Monogatari anime TV series will debut on Japanese television next month. The Popolocrois: Hajimari no Bouken anime TV series will star Pinon and the other characters from the PS2 Popolocrois RPGs.

According to Jagged Team, Konami of America, Inc. has officially announced plans to co-develop a live action movie adaptation of Silent Hill, Konami's popular survival horror video game franchise.

The official UFO Princess Walkure homepage now has a basic page up for the second TV series, UFO Princess Walkure: Jyuuni Tsuki no Yasoukyoku.

The official Japanese Ai Yori Aoshi homepage now has a separate page for the Ai Yori Aoshi Enishi anime TV series.

AD Vision has issued a press release announcing its acquisition of the award winning Korean animated film My Beautiful Girl Mari.


9/17/03 First off, congratulations me for winning an anime DVD in a haiku writing contest.

Sony has revealed that the long awaited US version of Final Fantasy XI for the PlayStation 2 will be coming out in March 2004.

AnimEigo has officially begun accepting preorders for the 3 disc Kimagure Orange Road OAV/movie DVD boxed set. The set will contain all 8 OAVs and the first movie and pre-order at $60 shipped.

Media Blasters President John Sirabella has issued an official statement confirming that some Media Blasters issued anime DVDs contain mono sound instead of correct stereo sound mixes. The statement cites a problem in the DVD production process and states that lengthy consideration of remastering and an exchange program will be based on a case by case basis considering the DVDs affected and other circumstances.



9/16/03 First off, I'd like to say I'm currently looking into getting a dotcom. However, I need to find a good reliable and inexpensive server to use so if you know of any good ones e-mail me. Apparently, my last update for Those Who Hunt Elves II Volume 1 messed up and Angelfire did not put it up. It's up now, along with the tenth and final volume of GTO in Other Reviews.

According to a TOKYOPOP representative speaking at the recent Big Apple Anime Fest, Viz has acquired the English language translation and publication rights to Yuki Kaori's Angel Sanctuary manga series. The report has not been confirmed.

The Mecha & Anime HQ will be hosting a chat with Deborah Sale Butler, the English voice actor for Shute from SD Gundam Force. The chat will take place on Friday, September 26 at 10:00 PM EST/7:00 PST at #mahq on irc.mircx.com.

Bandai has announced the stand alone release of the .hack//SIGN TV series soundtrack volume 1, originally available only with the limited edition .hack//SIGN DVD 1, for October 21st.

AD Vision has announced the release of domestic version CD soundtracks for Spriggan and the live action movies Destroy All Monsters and Rebirth of Mothra movies 1-3. All five CD soundtracks will be released on October 28th


9/15/03 According to The Magic Box, Capcom will release Hyper Street Fighter II X for the Playstation 2 this December, to commemorate Street Fighter's 15th anniversary.

Also according to The Magic Box, Capcom USA will release a Mega Man Anniversary Collection for GameCube and PlayStation 2 in February 2004, a compilation of classic Mega Man titles: Mega Man 1 - 8 and the two Mega Man arcade games Mega Man: The Power Battle and Mega Man 2: The Power Fighters. In addition to games, the compilation will also include a collection of Mega Man TV commercials, interviews and a history of the Mega Man series.

A subtitled print of Junkers Come Here will be screened at the Laemmle Santa Monica Theater in Santa Monica, California at 7:30 pm on September 18th as part of the ManiaFest film festival.

TOKYOPOP has officially announced on its website the acquisition of translation rights to CLAMP's Suki Dakara Suki manga series. The title will be published in America under the abbreviated title "Suki" beginning on February 10, 2004.


9/14/03 I added a Pen Thought to the Pen Penny section and moved one to Previous Pennys.

The following are being released this Tuesday on Region 1 DVD:
.hack//SIGN Vol. 4: Omnipotence
Big O Collectors Set
Ceres, Celestial Legend Collectors Edition Vol. 1
Dragon Ball Z: Fusion Box Set
Geneshaft Vol. 3
GTO Vol. 10
Initial D Vol. 1
Noir Vol. 6: Cloaks & Daggers
Ranma 1/2: Random Rhapsody Box Set
Sorcerer Hunters Complete Collection
Super Gals Vol. 1 (also w/box)
YuGiOh Vol. 13: Match of the Millennium Part II


9/13/03 HAPPY TWO YEAR ANNIVERSARY!!

Well, with this two year anniversary I changed the entrance image and the main image. If you missed the entrance image it's here. I also added a review for the first volume of Those Who Hunt Elves II Volume 1 in Other Reviews. I also moved the rest of August updates to Old News.


9/12/03 KID Games is in development of a Nurse Witch Komugi-chan Majikarte game for the Playstation 2, scheduled for Japanese release sometime next year.

Broccoli will release Di-Gi-Charat Fantasy Excellent for the PS2 on October 30th in Japan in a regular and limited edition.

Takara is developing a Playstation 2 RPG based on the D.N.Angel anime TV series.

Bandai is currently at work on a Playstation 2 adventure game based on the Uchuu no Stellvia anime TV series.

Production is underway on a tentatively titled "Sammy vs. Capcom" arcade fighting game. Based on early hints, the game may basically be Guilty Gear vs. Vampire characters.

AN Entertainment's release of Omishi Magical Theater: Risky Safety DVD volume 2, initially scheduled to release on September 23rd, is being rescheduled for North American release on October 14th.

An official website for SD Gundam is up here.



9/11/03 Central Park Media's Graveyard of Fireflies DVD Special Edition has been ranked by DVD Verdict as the fifth best DVD ever released in America. The scoring is based on a combination of ranking the quality of the movie, and the quality of the DVD technical features.

Japanese television network NHK has opened its official homepage for the upcoming anime TV series Mujin Wakusei Survive (Uninhabited Planet Survive). The show is futuristic, sci-fi story about seven teens and a cat-like animal stranded on an uninhabited planet.

This winter Square Enix will release "Final Fantasy X-2 International + Last Mission" for the Japanese PS2. The special edition of Final Fantasy X-2 will be the Japanese release of the expanded American version of the game packaged with a bonus "Last Mission" disc containing all of the movie scenes from the game plus three new bonus movie sequences.

Square Enix and Atari have also announced plans to release an Unlimited Saga Collector's Edition. The set will contain the game and a 14 minute long "Eternal Calm, Final Fantasy X-2: Prologue DVD," both packed in a "luxurious purple sleeve and special DVD case with artwork of the seven main characters." The Collector's Edition version of Unlimited Saga will be released first in Europe on October 31st with a North American release to follow.

The Japanese Animate.tv website, which has apparently updated to make itself accessible to site visitors that previously could not access the site, is now hosting two streaming Windows Media Video exclusive episodes of Texhnolyze. Rogue 19 and Rogue 20 Degital Edit will not be aired on Japanese television. These two episodes fall between the events of Rogue 18: Throne (broadcast on Japanese television on September 10th) and "TV ON AIR NO.18 Encephalopathy" which will air on September 18th.

The folks at TOKYOPOP have teamed up with the folks at Jada Toys to bring out a Collectible Initial D Die Cast Series of toys.


9/10/03 Konami has announced three new Ge Ge Ge no Kitaro console games for the Playstation, Playstation 2 and GameBoy Advance. All three will be based on the popular horror adventure manga and anime created by Shigeru Mizuki.

9/9/03 FUNimation announced at the recent Big Apple Anime Fest that due to contractual obligations, their release of Sakura Wars animation will retain the original Japanese title "Sakura Taisen." The "Sumire" OAV will be released on December 2nd. The first volume of the Ecole de Paris OVA series will debut on April 13, 2004. FUNimation will not be using AD Vision's voice actors for the English dub, but effort will be made to match FUNimation's dubbing to the sound of AD Vision's voices. The first of 6 volumes of Kiddy Grade will be released on February 17, 2004. 4Kids owns the television distribution rights to the Shaman King anime. American home video distribution has not been determined yet.

Manga has plans for DVD re-releases of Wings of Honneamise and Devilman, as well as DVD releases of New Dominion Tank Police and Orguss 02. Manga owns the distribution rights to only the first 36 episodes of the Fist of the North Star TV series. Manga also owns the translation rights to several manga titles but may subcontract their translation and distribution to an outside company. The Manga co-produced Street Fighter Zero OAV series 2 will be released in March 2004. The Manga Entertainment/Production IG co-produced OAV series Dead Leaves will be 13 episodes long.

According to The Magic Box, Square Enix is at work on a console video game based on the manga and upcoming fantasy/action anime TV series Fullmetal Alchemist.

Nadia CD soundtracks 1, 2, 3, and the movie soundtrack will all be released on November 28th.



9/7/03 I added a Pen Thought to the Pen Penny section and moved one to Previous Pennys.

The following will be released this Tuesday on Region 1 DVD:
Animation Runner Kuromi
Boys Over Flowers Vol. 1
Cardcaptor Sakura Vol. 17
Cat Soup
Chobits Vol. 4: Love Defined
Night Shift Nurses: RN's Revenge Xtreme Series Edition
Original Dirty Pair: Project Eden
RahXephon Vol. 5
Revolutionary Girl Utena Vol. 8: Unveiling
Sakura Wars The Movie Limited Edition
Sakura Wars The Movie Standard Edition

The Sakura Wars The Movie : Original Soundtrack will be released this Tuesday.

At Comike, Gainax distributed round Mahoromatic fans that had an image for a new show printed on the back. Little is known about Kono Minikuku mo Utsukushii Sekai, except that it is coming in 2004.


9/5/03 Evangelion 2 Official Website is up!! It has multiple screenshots up.

The first episode of the Galaxy Express 999 TV series is up for download for free. The rest will also be online but will not be free.

Bandai will release the first .hack//SIGN Original Soundtrack on 10/21/2003.


9/4/03 Beginning October 4th, Hellsing will be broadcast on the Action network throughout the month. Broadcast will follow Action's usual pattern, with several new episodes each Saturday and repeats the following Wednesday.

Dark Horse has moved volume one of the Trigun manga to an October 8th release date. Also, the manga adaptation of Koji Suzuki's The Ring has been set for a November 12th release.



9/2/03 Central Park Media has confirmed its acquisition of the translation and distribution rights to the Comic Partyand Ahiru no Ojiisama (Duck Prince) manga series.

TOKYOPOP has officially announced that the first 18 of 72 Marmalade Boy TV episodes will be released in April 2004 as a 3 disc DVD set packaged in a "stunning hard-cover case."

TOKYOPOP announced the acquisition of translation rights to the Crest of the Stars, RG Veda, and Tokyo Babylon manga series at the recent Big Apple Anime Fest.

Pioneer has officially announced plans to develop a second Hanaukyo Maid Tai anime series for release next year.

According to the current issue of Megami Magazine, the Mezzo Forte TV series will be 13 episodes, premiering early next year.

The Peacemaker Kurogane TV series, a show based on the manga about the Shinsengumi, will debut on October 7th.

Akira Toriyama, the creator of Dragonball and character designer for Dragonquest RPGs 1-7, is providing the character designs for the currently in production Gameboy Advance RPG "Slime Morimori Dragon Quest" The game, produced by Square Enix and Dragonquest series producer Yuji Hori, will be the first Dragonquest game to make a slime the main character.

According to Animaxis, an un-named American studio has licensed the rights to produce an adaptation of Tsutomu (Jiraishin/"ICe Blade") Takahashi's manga serial Sky High. Sky High has already been adapted into a successful Japanese "dorama" and into a live action movie directed by Ryuhei Kitamura, scheduled to open in Japanese theaters on November 8th.

The Anime Network, ADV's dedicated anime cable outlet, is partnering with Waldenbooks in a new nationwide in-store signage promotion. The "Demand Your Anime" campaign, which began in Suncoast's 385 stores last year, will be extended into the manga sections of eight hundred Waldenbooks retail outlets.



9/1/03 I moved most of the August updates to Old News.

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