Father Geek here with a jammed-packed issue of our regular Manga & Anime column. Yep, almost twice the normal load of news from every aspect of the worlds of anime and manga... everything you need, or could want to know about the weeks happenings. It all right here in one easy access spot...

AnimAICN...

by Scott Green

Manga Spotlight: Planetes Volume 01 By Makoto Yukimura

Released by TOKYOPOP

As hard science fiction, and as human drama, Planetes is a manga (comic) at the peak. It is a work that even those disinterested in the manga medium, or sci-fi genre should try.

Planets takes view on life in space that isn't wild optimism or pessimism, the spectrum between 2001, and Alien. As Earth became polluted and depleted man began looking to space for more resources and more room. There's a semi-adage that as difficult as straightening things out of Earth is, it's a lot easier than colonizing space. In Planetes, as Earth is re-sanitized, humanity has been inching into space. A few settlements have been established on the moon. There plans being drafted for sending manned exploration flight to Jupiter's moons. One of the new occupations created by this next step in human developments is cleaning the debris out of earth orbit. Between the abandoned satellites, shuttle cast offs, and random rock and junk, there's a lot of mass hanging around earth that could do series damage when propelled or hit at a high velocity.

Cleaning the debris up is dangerous, but essential job, like oil rig or fire jumper, something that Sebastian Junger would write about: there's the danger of operating in space, the physical health impacts of radiating and extended periods of time in little or no gravity, and the mental stresses of the job, and periods of sensory depravation.

The stories follow the lives of three debris collections with radically different backgrounds and dispositions: Hachimaki, an ambitious young man with definite plans for his career, Yuri, a veteran who may have lost himself in space, and a woman with a fiery temper, and a smoking habit that doesn't go over too well in space.

The volume collects short stories that reflect the personality of the characters, the natural of humanity's second stride into space, and how the two reflect upon each other. They almost ring true, as the kind of thing you might hear at a lunch break or a bar at the end of the day from an almost reliable, but garrulous friend. There's always a small stretch to the stories, as it their teller embellishing just a bit. Still, the characters and science feel fully realized. At all times, there a connection to the people and place, such that event if something that may be predictable to the reader occurs, the feature can still feel the full emotions of the characters.

These are people with the jobs people always want to know about: in the excitement, in the impact and in the mechanics. Though it is a speculative work, it reads as if the author researched people working on the job.

The comic story telling is simple, but efficient and effective. The panels are large, and while they are a little more dynamic than uniform grids, they're very accessible.

Manga Spotlight: Maison Ikkuku Voume 1 By Rumiko Takahashi

Released by Viz's Editor's Choice line

Maison Ikkoku is Rumiko Takahashi's second major work, between Urusei Yatsura and Ranma 1/2. Of her longer works (which include the fore mentioned, and Inu Yasha), Maison Ikkuku is the most grounded in reality, and goes after an older audience.

This Love Hina ancestor was spawned by Takahashi's own experience living in a cheap apartment complex in her days before wild success, and perennial appearances at the top of Japan's income tax list. The put upon hero is Godai's young man who tries to make ends meet while studying as a "ronin", a student who has not passed his college entrance exams.

He lives in a one room dive at Maison Ikkuku, which doesn't make his studies easy. Beyond shotty upkeep, and temperamental power there are neighbors who have discovered that one of life's little joys is making Godai's life more miserable. Participating in interrupting his work with loud drinking and taunting are : Yotsuya, a suit wearing man who inserts himself into situations to make needling comments, Akemi, a young bar hostess who habitually passes out in inopportune places and parades around the apartment in skimpy outfits, and Mrs. Ichinose, a short, round gossipy woman with a loud young son. Godai's life gains new a new focus or a new distraction when a new manager moves into Maison Ikkoku. Kyoko is an attractive woman who seems genuinely concerned about the upkeep of the property, and the well being of her tenants, but has a strange distinct quality.

Much of the humor is and has been recycled: accidentally groping, fumbled gift giving, prat falls, but here is it is its classic state. Takahashi has a gift for staging movement in her comics. While Maison Ikkoku uses it far more sparingly than many of her other series it is in evidence. She's able to position character and give then expression that both have a comic exaggeration and look natural.

There's a bit of grime on Maison Ikkoku that gives it an endearing quality that isn't always found in similar works which followed it, such as the feel of life in close quarters missing in Love Hina and the like. There is something alcohol fueled nights and people trying to get a little enjoyment out of life that binds the readers to characters in a way that less grounded series lack.

Kyoko is a conflicted individual whose quiet emotions are palpable. She's an interesting and complex character who balances adherence to tradition and duty with a take charge attitude. The first of volume slowly reveals why is in her current position. Before a status quo is built, she has earned a deep empathy.

Godai on the other hand invokes the frustration you may have come to expect from his brand of loser romantic heroes. Already he has entered into a pattern of backsliding after the smallest progression, which makes victory almost as painful as defeat. Still the frustration helps the series as the reader's emotions synch with its heroes.

There are many moments, such as receiving grilled face indentations from pressing his facing against a chain link fence while watching Kyoko receive tennis instructions from an attractive possible suitor, that are the perfect mix of comic and pathetic

The new Editor' Choice release of Maison Ikkuku is the collection that fan's have been waiting for. When Viz previously released the series, manga had taken off, they skipped several episodes. At the time they concerned that the ronin concept would be too alien and uncertain how much Japanese culture readers would accept. Now the series has been re-released in its original order. Some the original translation choices are still intact. The first chapter opens with Godai study for midterms rather than entrance exams.

Anime Spotlight: Boogiepop Phantom Evolution 3

Released by Right Stuf

Though Boogiepop Phantom is recursively disjoint, as the series passes its half way point, it appears to have spiraled to the top of its totem pole of the modern life horror pantheon that it has been building. Escalating with more meetings of the influenced, powers that be, police, doctors and the like who have been replaced by agents of another power. If Lovecraft and Poe had written the first season of Buffy the Vampire Slayer the results could be like Boogiepop Phantom.

The stories of Boogiepop Phantom are horror from the epicenter of teenage fear: the path of life is quickly derailed by one standardized test, awkwardness, power fantasy of the bullied. Each spirals out of control in a grizzly manner. The sepia toned travels through a post economic crash landscape, where even the bright lights are muddied and corrupted feel like a journey through the memories rather than documented events. Events flow almost stream of conscious, narrowing in on the events and visions that stand out starkest.

If Right Stuf doesn't have a reputation has the anime fan's company, it certainly deserves one. From the pricing of sci-fi comedy Irresponsible Captain Tylor to the DVD presentations of His and Her Circumstances and Boogiepop Phantom, Right Stuf has been subtly innovative. Beyond bonus features the increasingly common English dub director commentary, and interesting promotional video, the Boogiepop DVD has a number of X factors that improve its ease of use. Small details fit the releases to the user's expectations like a glove.

Anime Spotlight: Banner of the Stars II Volume 2

Released by Bandai Entertainment

When you mixed politics into science fiction it as tendency to be exaggerated to almost the level of a parable. With Star Trek's theme world, or freedom fighters against totalitarian régimes, even when objectors or other stumbling blocks are thrown in, political interaction feels too neat and contrived, as if removing it from terra firma disconnects it from plausibility.

Banner of the Stars II is a chapter in the anime adaptation of a science fiction novel series that lowers the volume on the wider galactic war, and an examination of the culture of the space optimized race known as the Abh, and focuses in on one particular political fire storm with fascinating depth.

Jinto is a human vassal duke of the Abh, who has been educated by them, and later served with and maybe fallen in love with an Abh imperial crown princess. After dealing the alliance of human opposition a staggering blow in the first Banner of the Stars, the Abh have scrambled to solidify their power in the newly conquered territory, and turn their route into a lasting victory. Jinto's ship is assigned to Lobnas II, a former penal colony, and Jinto soon finds himself the man on the ground.

Lobnas is quickly revealed to be a powder keg of factions, agendas and hidden industries. It is a bit like the world of Alien^3, but more complex and fascinating it its own right. The top strata includes the guards, administration and their families, hardened male criminals, male criminals kept under less security who have been castrated, and female criminal. Veins of alliances beneath the separation for more of a spider web than a simple quartering.

The conference room chattiness of the first volume has given way to negotiation and acquisition with piano wire tension. Answers are less certain than previous entries in the stars series. The heroes are inexperienced, and the typically confident and competent Abh are out of their element. Their technology isn't equipped to deal with planetary minutia, and their tactics are reduced to sledge hammer punishment.

There is a real sense that Lobnas is an apple catch that has been left to ferment, and is now being tipped over, with spectacularly messy. The logic of why people disinclined to work together are, and why the antagonism is so vehement. Personalities feel like they have had time to form, and that now, we are seeing the end result of something has built, and then run lose so quickly that people can only act by their defining characteristics, resulting in tough choices, and logical, bad decision.

Banners of the Stars II throws a developing young leader into the situation, with even worse results. Jinto kept himself in bad situation where, having little skill and less official power, he could lend negligible assistance, and in doing so found himself in a hostage citation that made an minor internal disturbance into an imperial sore spot. The frame work of the Stars series seems it would allow more flexibility for how the situation would resolve itself.

As a stand alone you'd expect Jinto to resolve the situation himself, but as a chapter in a longer work it will be interesting to see if this becomes a black mark situation that he is extricated from, or one that becomes a complete disaster.

Anime Spotlight: Final Fantasy: Unlimited Phase 1

Released by ADV Films

The good news that while not a perfect translation of the appeal of the Final Fantasy, Unlimited should please fans far more than other attempts to animate venerable game series. It compares very favorably to the other anime attempt Final Fantasy: Legend of the Crystals. The bad news if that compared to the range of Final Fantasy fans, Unlimited's appeal skews a bit young compared to range of the game series.

Final Fantasy is a long video game series linked by stylistic elements rather story or characters. Generally Final Fantasies are set in some mystical world where some conflict is masking a global threat with metaphysical overtones. Generally there is some system of magic, as well as modern and fantastic technology. There the large yellow bird horse substitutes chocobos turn up, as do a man named Cid, and a pair of guys named Biggs and Wedge.

Diverging from the Final Fantasy games, Unlimited starts in our world. A mysterious pillar forms, marked by a battle between two monsters, a giant silver sea-horse with a gun/sword for its beak, and a three barreled gun nosed dragon with vertical propellers in its wings. These strange chimeras are a hallmark of the design both in the game and anime. The anime faithfully delivers on the strange, from spore smoking fungus men to furry pocket-book creatures.

12 years later, a young twin brother and sister pass into this other world. Accompanied by a mysterious woman with magic martial arts, and brooding man with a monster summoning gun, the twins begin to search for their missing parents.

While the Final Fantasy is more of production from the animation studio Gonzo than Final Fantasy creators Square, it does make an effect to push the fans buttons. There are plenty of Chocobo, and closing animation than Chocobo lovers with adore. Familiar creatures like the ice spirit Shiva are summoned. There are plenty of homages to frequent Final Fantasy composer Nobuo Uematsu, including a modified victory theme after the battles. Likewise there are a few interesting touches to the series exploring the inhabitation of a game work, such as summoned creatures departing by breaking a hole in the sky.

The principle problem of this Unlimited, is that age-wise, it aims a little low. There's a beg curve the Final Fantasy game appeal that probably peaks in the mid to late teens, with plenty of outlier. The bell curve for Unlimited may, generously peak at early teens. There are just too many things that might appear entertaining to a younger viewer that are likely grating to an older one. While the game could play thing cute and juvenile from time to time, cute are juvenile are the dominant characteristics of the opening episodes of Unlimited From a voice is a few octaves into grating to the loud "waah" of chocobos, it is inescapable. Even its inclusion of a storyteller/guide seems to add an extra safety net and impede the sense of adventure. A bosomy mystery woman, and a brooding gunslinger aren't enough to enough the balance the scale in this case.

Hopefully the series will break out of its tendency to overuse footage. The first block of episode has already run into the group a cgi sequence in which a gun is load with magic bullets in order to summon creatures.

Unlimited has it share of engaging visuals, and amusing moments, but for older Final Fantasy, or just fantasy in general fans, Unlimited is going to be more of a curiosity than an excursion as enthralling as the game.

It is watchable, but mostly in the amusing distraction way of something like Digimon. There are certainly less features called interesting Final Fantasy, but if the names Cloud, Cecil, Locke, or Yuna hold a special place in your heart, you probably don't need to take out new real estate for anyone from Unlimited.

Anime Spotlight: L/R Licensed by Royalty Mission File 1: Deceptions

Released by Geneon/Pioneer

L/R: Licensed by Royalty is a bit of a strange bird. It's an English spy comedy that takes a rather unexpected route, especially considering that it is anime. More than often it plays fake. There's a semi murder mystery in the first episode; a not quite terrorist situation in the second; given a character appearance in the opening animation is would probably be best to hold off on a complete evaluation of the third, and the forth is a dummy exotic treasure chase. This isn't to say that the series doesn't deliver, just that it delivers on a strange, often dry comedy rather than Bond or Lupin III. The misdirection both at the story and meta levels are a fun trick with many expected results.

In L/R, the role of English will be played the nation of Ishtar, and Jack Hofner and Rowe Rickenbacker are the secret agents L/R of Cloud 7. Jack is neat, white suited and refined, while Rowe is comparatively unkempt and deliberately crude. The relationship is more couple than Odd Couple, but there aren't any definitive indications of the character's sexuality.

Licensed by Royalty exudes a charm along the line between eccentricity and camp about the level of some of the saner Lupin III, with more English dryness than high adventure. The L/R agents consistently keep composed and don't reveal hand until the last moment, with a demeanor that goes beyond the Cowboy Bebop Zen into practiced disinterest. The animation is very meticulous about the characters, giving them small motions that add to their definition.

Likes its heroes, Licensed by Royalty is often talky, and at times almost disconcertingly calm. When the characters fail at making their efforts looks easy, it the humor or action can be shine. It can be zany, such as a house entrance with urinating water fountains at its entrance that can be aimed. Likewise the action can be quit memorable. The first episode in particular features a fight that's creative in its construction and tactics, and impressive in its motion and cinematics.

L/R: Licensed by Royalty is a welcomed different take on the spy spoof, but to enjoy it, you need to either know what to expect, or be willing to go allow it to define itself. While it features some very adapt action series, the quantity and time between don't sell the series as an action. Once you see what it is trying to do, it is very amusing, and even better on repeat reviewing.

This Week's Anime and Manga Releases

Anime:

• Boys Over Flowers:Cinderella for Nigh
• Love Hina - Movie Boxed Set (Again/Spring Movie/Christmas Movie)
• Mamoru Oshii Cinema Trilogy Collection (Talking
• Head/Stray Dogs/The Red Spectacles) + Soundtrack CD
• Medabots - Medabots Forever
• Original Dirty Pair: Flight 005 Conspiracy
• Please Teacher - Hello Again (Vol. 4)
• S-Cry-Ed - The Other Side (Vol. 3)
• Star Blazers Series 3: Bolar Wars 6
• Yu Yu Hakusho - Deadly Toguro

Manga:

• Battle Royale Vol 3 Gn (Of 5)
• Confidential Confessions Vol 3 Gn (Of 6)
• Dragonball Vol 13 Tp Shonen J Ed
• Iron Wok Jan Gn #6
• Next World Vol 2 Tp
• Oh My Goddess #103 Dr Moreau (Part 4 Of 5)
• Iron Wok Jan Gn #6
• Ragnarok Collection 1 Gn Box Set
• Shonen Jump Vol 1 #12 Dec 2003
• Tezukas Buddha Vol 2 Hc Four Encounters
• Yuyu Hakusho Vol 2 Tp Lonesome Ghosts
• Wild Act Vol 3 Gn (Of 13)

Japanese Theatrical News

From Natsume Maya

Filming on the live action Cutie Honey finished last month. The planned release date is currently May 2004, though Gainax says the movie will more likely be released in the summer. Gainax says that they will be incorporating an animation technique, which they are calling "Honeymation".

The adaptation of Go Nagai's dark Sailor Moon predecessor will feature the talents of Evangelion creator/director Anno Hideaki as director, and character design from Terada Katsuya (Blood: the LastVampire), Izubuchi Yutaka (director of RahXephon), Sugimura Shinichi and Anno Moyoko (mangaka, wife of Anno Hideaki).

A trailr for the live action Cutie Honey can be seen at here

A live action Devilman movie has schedule to be release theatricaly in Japan this summer. The movie, which has budget of cost one thousand million yen will feature CGI effects. Images can be seen here Devilman is a well known horror superhero story from 70's pioneer Go Nagai.

Ghost in the Shell: Innocense is currently schedule for theatrical release on March 6th.

The Hayao Miyazaki/Studio Ghibli adaptation of British children's novel Howl's Moving Castle is scheduled for July 17th.

A twelvth Crayon Shinchan movie will be released in Japanese theatres this April.

The fifth One Piece movie, titled "Norowareta Seiken" (The Cursed Holy Sword) will be released March 6th in Japan. The poster can be seen here

Viz Licenses SaiKano Anime and Manga

Viz has announced that they have licensed Shin Takahashi's manga series SaiKano aka "She, the Ultimate Weapon" and the 13 episode anime adaptation.

VIZ will release all 13 episodes of the series in 2004, across four volumes, starting with the first volume in April 2004. In addition, VIZ, will also publish the manga, with the first volume shipping in June 2004.

The series is a darkly emotional filled science fiction focusing on the relationship between a boy and a girl whose body has been modified to fight a war.

Interstella 5555 on DVD

Occrding to Anime News Network, Interstella 5555: The 5tory of the 5ecret 5tar 5ystem, the music video collaboration between French musicians Daft Punk and Leiji Matsumoto, best known for space operas Captain Harlock, Battle Ship Yamato, and Galaxy Express 999 will be available on DVD, in Japan and North America, on December 2nd (The British release will be December 1st, French November 28th).

Studio Iron Sitation

Anime News Network has posted a detailed examination of the problems and accusations concerning domestic manga translator/publisher Studio Iron here.

Ghost in the Shell News

Anime News Network points out that Production IG has announced that a season season 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.

As with the first season, some "Complex" episodes will be a part of the primary story arc and others will be "Stand Alone" episodes.

The extension to 52 episodes was first mentioned by Bandai Entertainment at Otakon, but this marks the first official announcement from Production I.G

Footage of the upcoming movie Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence can be seen at here

Tokyo Godfather Theatrical Release

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

The US theatrical Release of Tokyo Godfathers was moved forward by Columbia Tristar so that the movie could become eligible for an Oscar nomination for the 2004 Academy Awards.

Tokyo Godfathers received its world premiere at the Big Apple Anime Fest earlier this year.

TOKYOPOP Announces Battle Vixes

TOKYOPOP's; has announced on their website that they have licenced Yuji Shiozaki'smanga series Ikki Tosen ("Strength of a Thousand"), which they will be calling Battle Vixens.

Geneon Announcements

According to Anime on DVD Geneon, formally known as Pioneer

Gad Guard a 26 episode Studio Gonzo mecha anime Hajime No Ippo a 75 episode boxing anime produced bt Madhouse Ikki-Tosen The 13 episode anime adaptation of the manga which TOKYOPOP will be releasing as Battle Vixens Demon Lord Dante: horror action based on Go Nagai's

And the following soundtracks will be released on 2/17/04:

Chobits Character Song Collection

Fruits Basket Original Soundtrack 'Memory for You'

LAST EXILE Original Soundtrack

Mezzo Fort TV

From Natsume Maya The TV series based on the Mezzo Forte OAV will be start on Japanese TV on January 6th. The official site can be seen here. Mezzo Forte was a two episode tangent to popular young girl assassin tragedy Kite. Mezzo Forte followed a trio of private investigator operatives include a laid back ex-cop with a high pain tolerance, a punk techie, and a cute girl with strange powers and Bruce Lee moves.

Both Kite and Mezzo Forte feature impressively slick excessively violent visually, but despite some incongruous sexual violence, Mezzo Forte took a more slap stick, almost self parody tone.

What Happened to Battle Royale

Newsarama has posted an article discussing the reasons for TOKYOPOP's delay in the release of the third volume of the Battle Royale manga. After releasing the second volume in July, the third volume was delayed until last week.

According to editor Mark Panicci "In an effort to improve the quality of all our titles, TOKYOPOP is doing its best to eliminate moiré patters that can occur when resizing or after retouch," the editor told Newsarama. "Battle Royale vol. 3 was delayed so that this could be corrected. It's been printed and will street November 4th."

Battle Royale vol. 4 will hit stores the first week of December, and volume 5 will hit the first week of January. From then on, the series will resume its bi-monthly shipping schedule.

The full article can be read here

Yaoi Line From CPM Manga?

Anime> Tourist is reporting that Central Park Media has aquired a new of yaoi (male homosexual romance, generally for a female audience) manga titles, including Kazuma Kodaka's Kizuna, Naduki Koujima's Kunshu-sama no Koi no Oaite, Kunshu-sama no Koi Katte, and Asagiri Yu's Kin no Cain.

ADV Sets Date for Magical Shopping Arcade Abenobashi

From the press release: ADV Films has set a street date of December 16, 2003 for the first volume of Magical Shopping Arcade Abenobashi, the hilarious anime series that fuses thrilling action, slapstick comedy and a bit of family drama with uproariously clever parodies of anime, video games and any other pop culture target that stumbles into its crosshairs. The series is the latest creation of GAINAX, the mega-talented production studio that revolutionized the anime industry in the nineties with Neon Genesis Evangelion, and the early 21st century with FLCL.Mag ical Shopping Arcade Abenobashi was directed by Hiroyuki Yamaga (Neon Genesis Evangelion, Wings of Honneamise) and co-produced by Madhouse (Vampire Hunter D, Trigun, Ninja Scroll etc.).

The Story: "Bein' human, havin' your health...that's the mostimportant thing." -Arumi Asahina

Try telling that to twelve-year-old Sasshi Imamiya. He's lost his home, lost the toy collection that defined his very geekdom, and he's about to lose his best friend, Arumi. Reality is closing in on him.

That is, until they discover that their neighborhood shopping district is actually a portal to a series of parallel existences. Reality decides to take a vacation-an extended vacation-as Arumi and Sasshi suddenly find themselves in a world like their own... only not. And as they try to fight their way back to the real world, they'll face menacing mushrooms, big-breasted space pirates, killer kung-fu fighters, a tripped-out transvestite, a sorcerer who seems to be in some sort of midlife crisis... and that's just the beginning!

They say there's no place like home, but this ain't exactly Oz, and it sure as heck ain't Kansas! Put the kids to bed, leave Toto with the neighbors and get ready to dive into the madcap, whacked-out world of Magical Shopping Arcade Abenobashi!

ADV Manga Sets Street Dates For Gunslinger Girl

ADV Manga has announced that the first volume of the Gunsliger Girl manga series will be released November 18th the science-fiction/action manga created by Yu Aida. Gunslinger Girl, originally published in MediaWorks' Gekkan Comic Dengeki Daioh, arrives on these shores just as online buzz about the anime series, currently airing on Japanese television, begins to build.

The Story: Henrietta barely survived a brutal attack that killed her family. "Rescued" by the Social Welfare Agency, her injuries were repaired with robotic components and she was brainwashed-lost with the memory of her family's death was almost every trace of her own humanity. Today she is an extraordinarily lethal cyborg assassin, obediently working with her handler Giuseppe to carry out her deadly tasks.

Despite her conditioning and programming, Henrietta still has the heart of a young girl; she has not completely forgotten how to love. Yet the very emotion is contrary to her training and programming. Can the Gunslinger Girl survive? Can she find peace in a struggle against her very nature?

184 black & white pages (color intro pages) SRP: $9.99

2004 Gustoon! Collections

From an Anime> on DVD forum post

Janurary 11th:

• Bow Wow Wata #1
• Guardian Angel Getten #2 (1/21)

February 18th:

• Fists of the North Star: Master's Edition #8
• Revenge of the Mouflon #1

March 17th:

• Climbers Saga
• Fist of the Blue Sky #4

April 21st:

• City Hunter #5
• Slam Dunk #5

Hajime Watanabe to Appear at Fanime

The FanimeCon anime convention has announced that Hajime Watanabe, who severed as character design for Akitaroh Daichi anime series Animation Runner Kuromi, Kodomo no Omocha, and Tsukikage Ran will be attending the convention as a guest.

Totoro's Forest Protected

From Natsume> Maya Plans for a four story, 48 aparement complex in thw woods of Sayama Hills are being protested by a 3,000 signature petition, which pointed out that the area was the setting of Hayao Miyazaki's onari no Totoro (MyNeighbour Totoro), and labeling the area "Totoro's forest".

Broccoli Announces Entry Into US Manga Market

Broccoli International USA, Inc., the U.S. branch of multi-national multimedia company Broccoli Co. Ltd, announces their first release by Broccoli Books, the firm's new publishing division. Broccoli Books will publish English manga -- Japanese graphic novels -- as well as other books, including art books, film books, and more.

Broccoli Book's first title, Di Gi Charat Theater -- Dejiko's Summer Vacation, will be released on November 18, 2003. It will be available in major bookstores as well as Japanese animation stores and comic shops throughout North America.

Di Gi Charat is the mascot character for Broccoli Co. Ltd, and over a span of five years has appeared in various mediums including television, novels, comics, radio, music CDs, and a feature film. Di Gi Charat has yet to come out in the United States, but Broccoli hopes that the manga will be the beginning of a Di Gi Charat phenomenon.

Broccoli Books will be doing most of the work in-house,beginning with licensing, production, and distribution.

Broccoli Books will be circulating over 270,000 units in print their first year, with expected sales of $1.5 million in 2004. Approximately 30 to 40 books will be released by the end of 2004.

In related news, Broccoli International has announced that they will be using Diamond Book Distributors to release their manga to the bookstore market. Their first titles will include Di Gi Charat, Galaxy Angel, and Aquarian Age-Juvenile Orion.

NewType News

The November Newtype Usa Vol. Two, Issue Eleven markes the first anniversary of the anime manga. It's cover story is CLAMP's Angelic Layer, other articles include interviews with Newtype Japan Editor-in-Chief Takashi Watanabe and Lupin III creator Monkey Punch the past, present and future of The Big O, and title coverage of Gungrave, Kaleido Star, PLANETES, LUNAR LEGEND TSUKIHIME,Chrno Crusade, Someday's Dreamers, Final Fantasy: Unlimited

Bonus features include a new installment of Angel/Dust, a four page Street Fighter comic by Udon, Official Art of: Infinite Ryvius, A Five Star Stories poster, and DVDs with the first episodes of Saint Seiya; and a Media Blasters Series Sampler . According to ICV2; ADV's Newtype USA has nearly quadrupled its press run from 30,000 for the first issue (November 2002) to 119,000 for the November, 2003 issue (Vol. 2 #11). Although much of that growth had occurred by the summer, circulation is continuing to climb, although at a slower rate.

CPM is tenatively going to create a yaoi manga line for 14-18 years olds, and another for adults.

Anime Business and Law

According to Game Spot, following last week's purchase of 1.28 million shares of Bandai stock by Nintendo, Bandai president Takeo Takasu held a press conference stating that no merger between the two companies is planned. Bandai was looking for a company to acquire a number of its share from financial institutions and other companies.

From AniMaxis; and Anime> News Network, following up on last week's article about The Committee to Protect Manga Strips, the group which seek to return original comic scripts to their creators has recovered over 21 000 pages of manga scripts belonging to more than 196 creators. They are still seeking the return of another 18,000 pages belonging to 52 creators. Mandrake, the second hand store who had some of the script which started the controversy has been sued by Toei Animation for the return of 11 stolen SailorMoon cels.

From Comic> Journalista and Japan> Todaythe Cultural Affairs Agency is looking to revise that nation's copyright laws to allow authors to charge royalties for the commercial rental of books. The rise of shops specializing in such rentals is being blamed by Japanese manga publishers for the sluggish sales of their comics magazines and graphic-novel collections.

Also from Journalista, Japan Today has an article; about how the Tokyo city government is looking to pass legistration to improve children safty, which will include restricting the sale of manga comic books with violent or sexual content.

From Natsume> Maya The president of Marvelous Entertainment has commented on he changing structure of the anime industry in Japan due to the influence of foreign licensing. In the past, investment for anime production has primarily come from TV stations, sponsors and toy makers and the TV stations and advertising agencies took charge. But with profits now coming from overseas, anime producers are starting to take charge themselves, opening up the channels for marketing the anime.

For example, Marvelous Entertainment's anime Gunslinger Girl cost 13 million yen per episode to produce (total 13 episodes). There have already been orders from Europe and North America in relation to the show - and this has been enough to cover approximately half the production expenses of the anime. On top of that are the Asian market (South Korea, Taiwan, etc) and DVD sales.

The Japanese government is planning to promote "contents business", ie content-based/intellectual property industries such as anime, movies, games and music. Measures will be aimed at increasing opportunities for training and education, and facilitating financing of works as well as strengthening anti-piracy measures. The annual Japanese domestic contents industry is 11,000,000,000 yen in size, twice that of the nation's steel industry.

Upcoming Manga Entertainment Releases

Manga Entertainment will be releasing New Dominion Tank Police, based on Ghost in the Shell creator Masamune Shirow's manga, and Fist of the North Star DVD volume 5 on November 25th.

Volume 5 will be last collection of Fist of the North Star released by Manga Entertainment, and feature 8 episode that have not been released on the US before.

Urusei Yatsura Changes

From Animeigo's; Website

Based on the extremely positive response to the dub of the first UY Movie, we have decided to dub the other 4 movies! We don't have a timeframe yet for their release, but we'll keep you updated.

Because of this, we are canceling the UY Movies/OVA Boxset preorder, since you'd probably have to wait at least a year or longer to get it.

Instead, we're going to arrange that anyone who buys one of the UY Movies on our website can also get a free box to hold all the rest of the movies (including Beautiful Dreamer from CPM)

Regarding the UY OVAs, we haven't decided whether or not to dub them yet, but we hope to. More details soon.

Anime Box Sets and Collections

TOKYOPOP will be releasing a box set of the first 23 episodes the Great Teacher Onizuka anime series on December 6th.

Viz will be releasing two limited edition boxes for their Ceres: Celestial Legend Collector's Edition. The limited edition box set, and a contest for three original, autographed Ceres sketches by Yu Watase can be found on> Viz's promotions site.

Anime Game News

From The Magic Box

New images of the the Neon Genesis Evangelion 2 game can be seen here

Bandai will be releasing a new Shaman King 3D, Playstation2 toon shaded fighting game in Japan in Spring 2004. The game will feature new character from the seriews such as Rydosebu/

Screen shots can be seen on Magic Boxes October 16th update.

Bandai / Atari's PS2 celshaded fighting game Dragon Ball Z: Budokai 2, scheduled to release in Japan in December can be seen here A remake of the 1989 Dragon Ball Nintendo RPG for the WonderSwan Crystal can be seen here

Big O II Video Release

Bandai's DVD release of the first volume of Big O II has been delayed to January 20th.

Kidou Shinsen Gumi Moeyoken OAV

Images from the first OAV (direct to video) episode of Kidou Shinsen Gumi Moeyoken, can be seen on the official site at here. The OAV is based on a samuri video game, which featured character design by Inu-Yasha creator Rumiko Takahashi.

Planetes Opening

The opening and closing animation for the anime version of Planetes, currently airing on Japanese TV can be seen here

One Piece Volume 2 Problem

From Viz's site:

Dear VIZ Customer,

We have become aware of a printing problem in our recently-released Shonen Jump graphic novel, One Piece, Volume 2.

On page 146 the page was cut-off and on page 193, the wrong page was added and the correct final page is missing. We are in the process of reprinting this title and replacement copies will be available after November 14. To receive a free replacement copy of One Piece, Vol 2, please tear out the misprinted page 193 of the book (the one with 'to be continued in One Piece Vol. 3!' printed at the bottom) and...

send it to:

• Cascade Print Media
• 3520 South Pine Street
• Tacoma, WA 98409
• Attn: One Piece

All requests for replacement copies must be received by May 31, 2004. Allow four to six weeks for delivery.

Please accept our sincerest apology for any inconvenience this may have caused.

Best regards, The VIZ Team

Trigun Manga Sells Out

The first 35,000 copy run of volume one of the Digital Manga/Dark Horse Comic's translation of Trigun has sold out withing days of its release. Dark Horse has gone back to press with a 15,000 copy run. The 350 page collection retailed for $14.95.

The second volume is schedule for a January 7th release.

Trigun is a western with some sci-fi and post apocalyptic elements about a wanted gunman who roams a desert planet, leaving great amounts of destruction, but no loss of life. The anime adaptation of Trigun, which has been released by Pioneer/Geneon and aired on Cartoon Network, diverges from the manga on several points, especially late in the story.