These days I swear ADV want to make otaku bankrupt! They've just sent us the US releases for November 16th. Here are the details:
- Neon Genesis Evangelion: Platinum:3
- Chrono Crusade: Holy War
- El Paraíso de Hello Kitty: Aprendre con Cariño
- Gene Roddenberry's Andromeda: Season Four, Collection Three
- Wedding Peach: Scarlet Tears
I suggest you get hold of the second Chrono Crusade DVD, the first one proved popular with the readers of AnimeOnDVD.com
Read More... | Souce: ADV Films
Those nice chaps over at ADV UK have sent in their November release details. The following titles are all due to hit the shelves on the 15th November:
- Neon Genesis Evangelion: Perfect Collection - Limited Edition
- Magical Shopping Arcade Abenobashi volume 1
- Mazinkaiser vol.2
- Go Nagai's New Cutey Honey: Collection 2
- Rune Soldier volume 3
- Final Fantasy: Unlimited - Phase 5
- Slayers Excellent
- Conduct Zero (live-action)
With this selection we recommend picking up Neon Genesis Evangelion: Perfect Collection, after all it is Eva and it is a revolutionary series. Perhaps it'll make a great Christmas present for the otaku in your life? Magical Shopping Arcade Abenobashi is also worth a looking at especially since it's another Gainax title.
Read More... | Souce: ADV Films UK
Category > Culture
We've just got details in from Ridgeback Press, apparently they will be launching Samurai History Papers, a quarterly newsletter from Romulus Hillsborough (whose research on the history of the Meiji Restoration spans over twenty years). It focuses on the facts behind many samurai anime series, such as the Shinsengumi (central to Peacemaker Kurogane and Rurouni Kenshin).
Read More... | Souce: Ridgeback Press
Those good folks at ADV USA have sent us the details of their latest Gainax release Petite Princess Yucie, they're marketing as "From GAINAX The Producers of Nadia". Interestingly this is a joint project with Gainax and AIC.
Read More... | Souce: ADV Films
Category > Retail
Using CDJapan we've discovered that L'Arc~en~Ciel, one of the biggest rock bands in Japan are releasing a DVD of their live concert at Otakon. Titled L'Arc~en~Ciel - Live In USA - at 1st Mariner Arena July 31, 2004. The region 2 Japanese DVD is due out on December 8th 2004 and should retail for around 4300 yen (without tax). As yet no offical news of a US release.
Souce: L\'Arc~en~Ciel
According to the Mainichi Daily News 5 people in Japan have been arrested for selling pirate anime DVDs using on-line auction sites. One family of pirates were attempting to sell 4,500 copies of Doraemon netting around 6.2 million yen. The pirate claimed he did it "...because my family business faced financial crisis".
Another pirate plotted with his wife and brother to sell pirated copies of Dragon Ball (it's not clear which Dragon Ball), netting about 20 million yen.
As the author of the Pirate Anime FAQ, it's interesting to see some solid figures about how profitable piracy can be, usually the information I get is hazy to say the least when it comes to the quantity of pirate goods sold. Recently I have found that the authorities in Japan have started to clamp down on piracy making a more visible effort to close operations like this.
Souce: Mainichi Daily News
Category > Gaming
Reuters have posted an article about Nintendo's new handheld, the Gameboy DS. It's a good synopsis of Gameboy, and states that 12 software titles will debuts on it's Japanese release on Dec. 2.
Nintendo will be releasing the handheld in the USA first on November 21st, timing it just right for Thanksgiving and the Christmas Holidays. The retail price is set to a very completive $149.99, to help compete against Sony's handheld the PSP, which is due out at the end of the year in Japan and hopefully March 2005 in North America and Europe.
Souce: Reuters
ADV US have sent us details of their releases for November 2nd. First up is Robotech Remastered: New Generation Collection 1, something for the more nostalgic anime fan. The 2-disc set retails for $29.98 and has never before seen footage with a fresh clean transfer from the original 16mm film stock for the 13 complete episodes in both English 5.1 and Spanish 5.1.
Next up is New Fist of the North Star: The Forbidden Fist, in which Kenshiro gets up to his normal tricks and has to detail with demons that practice a mysterious killing techinque!!!
Read More... | Souce: ADV Films
Those nice folks at Optimum Asia have sent us the press release for Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust on DVD, which will hit the shops on 18th October. This is an interesting announcement and shows Optimum branching out releasing even more anime, previously Optimum have released the Ghibli masterpiece Spirited Away and also have the cinema rights for The Cat Returns (another Ghibli feature).
Read More... | Souce: Optimum Asia
Category > Manga
I've just got hold of the press release from Seven Seas, a new LA based publishers dedicated to producing manga for the international market.
Although it isn't exactly clear, it seems that the company won't be licensing and translating manga, but actually getting artists outside of Japan to produce work in a manga style. This has been successful before with artists such as Adam Warren (Dirty Pair and Starwars manga to name a few), and Fred "Piro" Gallagher of MegaTokyo fame, it will be interesting to see if a company can work with such a specialist policy, personally I'm curious as to which artist they'll be using and if any of them are already well known in anime/manga fandom.
Read More... | Souce: Seven Seas
Category > Retail
ADV USA have just sent us the details for the latest issue of Newtype USA. The anime/manga mazagine which is easily the best English language magazine out there.
I suggest you check out the Paranoia Agent article (Satoshi Kon can do no wrong in my book), as well as the Xebec feature. What's odd is that the press release doesn't mention that there's also a feature on L'Arc~en~Ciel too!
Read More... | Souce: Newtype USA
Category > Events
We've just got an e-mail from Paul over at Terratag. Terratag t-shirts have been sold at most of the UK anime conventions and Paul even had a stall at the Japanese Food Festival in London this August.
Terratag are also very naughty and as a result, I've always debated if I should add them to the Pirate Anime FAQ. The more astute otaku will know there is a range of Terratag t-shirts with Gundam designs on, Terratag have not paid for a license from Bandai to use any Gundam images, or their likeness. Technically this is a copyright violation, and that generally flags them as a bootlegger. This could land Paul in trouble with Bandai's lawyers, and he could face a hefty fine at least.
Anyway, Paul wanted to point out that he's holding an art exhibition at the Notting Hill Arts Club, his show runs until November 1st, he helpfully points out on the night of October 4th there are going to be 4 scratch DJ's from Tokyo playing live. The crew is called En and features Mc Raita with Dj's Jif Rock, Kiccio and Kaitaro. There will also be a jazz/hip-hop dance crew. So fans of the Japanese music scene will want to get over there!
Read More... | Souce: Terratag
The Age have just posted an interesting article about the accomplishments of Australian Anime DVD firm Madman Entertainment. It mentions their success with Neon Genesis Evangelion and how the founders won the Ernst & Young's Young Entrepreneur of the Year award. UK fans will also note that MVM team up with Madman now and again to co-produce DVDs, saving costs and sharing resources.
Souce: The Age
Category > Manga
Sales of the Rurouni Kenshin manga have been doing so well that the US publisher Viz have decided to release the title monthly, previously it was published bi-monthly, but due to the successful sales figures and the demand from fans, Viz have decided to narrow the gap between releases.
This is great news for fans who can't wait for the next instalment of the popular series, but also bad news for my wallet! ^_-
Read More... | Souce: Viz
Anime on DVD are reporting that the second volume Ghost In the Shell: Stand Alone Complex has a labelling error. The DTS DVD and the regular DVD are mislabelled. For people who have purchased the special edition all you have to do is use the normal DD DVD if you want to listen to it in DTS. However people who have bought the regular edition will really have the DTS DVD. As a result the sound is in DTS and in standard stereo and not the 5.1 surround mix on the normal DVD.
Some retailers are already returning the stock to Bandai, who will hopefully be offering a replacement program.
Souce: Anime on DVD
Category > Websites
At Nan Desu Kan the Anime News Network announced that they are joining forces with independent anime magazine Protoculture Addicts to produce Anime News Network's Protoculture Addicts. This will be the 82nd issue of Protoculture Addicts (out in January 2005).
This is good news for Anime fans in North America (and the rest of the English speaking world too), since Protoculture Addicts has always been an excellent intelligent source of information for fans, combined with ANNs resources it means even better magazine. I look forward to reading this!
Read More... | Souce: Anime News Network
Category > Manga
For those of you who love your Manga, Tokyopop will be adding six new titles to its range in the coming months. For release in February:
Planet Blood, a story about a futuristic warrior who awakes on a medieval planet.
Gundam Seed Astray R, which is a companion novel to Gundam Seed Astray
Liling-Po, where a master theif recovers treasures for the Chinese Imperial Palace
And in March:
Dead End, a horror drama.
Qwan, a ancient China fantasy series
Sorcerer Hunters, which is being re-released in the "authentic" $9.95 package
Souce: ICV2.com
We've got the details for the UK release dates of the Beez / Bandai UK DVDs.
We'll also post more details as we get them.
27-09-2004 Gundam Wing Box Set Vol 1 - DVD
27-09-2004 Gundam Wing Box Set Vol 2 - DVD
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04-10-2004 Gundam Wing Box Vol 3 - DVD
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25-10-2004 Escaflowne Collection Box Vol 1 - DVD
25-10-2004 Hack Sign Vol 5 - DVD
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22-11-2004 Cowboy Bebop Vol 1 - DVD
22-11-2004 Escaflowne Collection Box Vol 2 - DVD
Souce: Beez
We've just got details in From ADV Films US about their release of Sister Princess, an anime series based on the popular dating sim.
Read More... | Souce: ADV Films USA
Category > Freaky Things
The Scotsman.com is running a story about Simon Woodroffe (the entrepreneur behind Yo! Sushi) latest plans to bring Japanese style Capsule Hotels to the UK.
Read More... | Souce: Scotsman.com
Category > Anime
We've just been sent a very interesting press release for the Ghost In The Shell franchise, it's well known that the movie Ghost In the Shell 2: Innocence it will be hitting US cinema screens on September 17th and that Manga Entertainment and Bandai Entertainment are jointly releasing the DVDs for Ghost In The Shell Standalone Complex series. However what they also point out is that Standalone Complex will be aired on Cartoon Network's late-night Adult Swim from early November!
The press release also mentions that Dark Horse is republishing Shirow's Ghost in the Shell manga as Ghost in the Shell 2nd Edition, it features extra materials not published in previous US editions and will be printed in it's original Japanese size.
It also mentions the new PS2 game. So it looks like US anime fans will be able to get Ghost In the Shell in every single format they could want!
Read More... | Souce: Go Fish Pictures
I've just heard from the good folks at Columbia Tristar Entertainment, Satoshi Kon's brilliant movie Tokyo Godfathers will be hitting the UK shops on 13th September.
This really is an wonderful film and one of the best anime films I've seen this year. So go get it from Amazon.co.uk, Play.com or any other good retailer.
Read More... | Souce: Sony Pictures
It's that time of the month again, ADV UK have sent us their line up for October. They'll be releasing the following titles:
- Kino's Journey Volume 1: Idle Adventurer
- Mahoromatic - Automatic Maiden Volume 1
- Azumanga Daioh The Animation Volume 2: Festivals!
- Angelic Layer Volume 4: Faith, Hope & Love
- Full Metal Panic! Mission 7
- Gun Crazy: A Woman From Nowhere (live-action)
I think ADV hate my wallet. They've gone crazy and released a load of top titles all together. As always you can't go wrong with some Azumanga Daioh, but they're also releasing the last volume of Full Metal Panic! That and with Mahoromatic titles from Gainax always prove popular. They're so evil. If you've got a credit card, for crying out loud hide it!
Read More... | Souce: ADV Films UK
Category > Fandom
The Anime News Network have just published an article regarding a recent reader poll. The poll asked readers for their opinion on Newtype USA's decision to remove the free DVD from non subscription issues of the magazine.
Read More... | Souce: Anime News Network
ADV Films USA have just released the details for Chrono Crusade. It's due out in the US on September 21, 2004, so get saving if you want to buy it.
Read More... | Souce: ADV Films
The good people at Anime Tourist have posted details of the Industry News from Otakon.
Souce: Anime Tourist
We've just been sent the press release for the UK edition of Transformers. Seasons 3 & 4 are due out on August 30th, while Season 1 is set for October 11th. There's more than meets the eye with these titles!
Read More... | Souce: TransformersDVD.com
We've just been sent the details for the UK release of the brilliant Grave of the Fireflies, which is due out on 23rd August. A truly distressing tale of the victims of war, if you don't shed at least a single tear when watching this, then you have no soul!
Read More... | Souce: Optimum Releasing
It's that time of the month again, ADV UK have sent us their press release. September looks like an interesting month with the the following titles:
- Hellsing: The Collection
- Mazinkaiser vol.1
- New Cutey Honey vol.1
- Rune Soldier vol.2
- Final Fantasy: Unlimited vol.4
- Pretear vol.4
- Slayers Gorgeous
We recommend Slayers Gorgeous and Hellsing: The Collection.
Read More... | Souce: ADV Films UK
ADV keep churning out those titles in the UK, which as always is a good sign.
In July they'll be releasing:
Rune Soldier vol. 1: Enter The Klutz
Final Fantasy: Unlimited - Phase 3
Pretear Vol. 3
King of Bandit Jing Vol. 4
Slayers Great
Queen Emeraldas
Read More... | Souce: ADV UK Press Release
Category > Manga
Viz have just posted a press release detailing their sales of popular Kenshin Series.
This comes as no surprise to regular fans of the Anime and Manga.
Read More... | Souce: Viz