(Los Angeles, CA) Pacific Media Association (PMA) has unveiled Pacific Media Expo (PMX), America's first major media show dedicated to Asian-Pacific Media and Popular Culture. Pacific Media Expo is a three-day-long media show sponsored by the Pacific Media Association. Pacific Media Expo will be hosted at the Anaheim Convention Center, May 29th-31st, 2004. This show will feature panel discussions, autograph sessions, live action and animation video rooms, art exhibitions and a charity auction. The centerpieces however, will be a concert facility designed to house 7,000 participants and one of the country's largest exhibit halls dedicated to Asian media and pop culture.
Pacific Media Expo was created by Mike Tatsugawa, the founder of Anime Expo. When asked about the creation of PMX and its sudden interest within the anime community, Tatsugawa responded, "Now that anime is mainstream, it's time to focus on the next generation of media and the next generation of challenges. Once we felt that we largely completed our goal of pushing anime into the mainstream, the question loomed, 'What next?' That's where the concept of PMX was born. Many of us have spent the last two years conducting market research, contacting industry members and trying to create a plan for where we believe Asian media will go for the next ten years. This is why our slogan is, "New media for a new generation."
Volunteers from conventions from throughout the country are working on this new project. Said Tatsugawa about the new staff, "Collectively, our executive committee has about one hundred years of convention experience under our belts. Our staff probably has a combined total of several hundred years of seniority. The greatest benefit of all this collective experience is the level of trust and goodwill we have in the entertainment community. Currently, we are collaborating with one of the United States' largest electronics retailers, one of Japan's largest music labels and most of the world's largest anime companies to put this event together. There will probably be more industry collaboration on this project than anything else anyone in the industry has ever done in the past. We think that we have created a winning formula of veteran staffers, strong industry support and a vision that everyone believes in. The only thing that has surprised us is that nobody in California has tried to do it before."
More comprehensive information on Pacific Media Expo can be found at http://www.pacific-media-expo.com or by sending E-mail to press@pacific-media-expo.com.
For additional information, write to: Pacific Media Expo 914 Westwood Blvd., Suite 586 Los Angeles, CA 90024-2905
"Following our success last year and earlier this year with our X2 and 2 Fast 2 Furious line up of ZipZaps, we decided to ask our fans about additional features for the next generation of ZipZaps," said Don Carroll, senior vice president and general manager, Connecting Things, RadioShack. "We found out that consumers wanted the option to race with multiple friends, more precise steering and lights for nighttime racing. We listened and created ZipZaps SE, a great extension of the ZipZaps franchise that has proven so popular with kids and collectors alike."
Hot New Features and Models The new ZipZaps SE line offers an industry first -- six selectable 27 MHz frequencies that allow up to six people to race simultaneously. Headlights and taillights, perfect for nighttime racing or just showing off to friends, add another realistic dimension to the new line up. Catering to the most common request among avid micro RC racers for increased maneuverability, the ZipZaps SE series features digital-proportional steering for realistic control over speed and handling as racers zoom along fast curves and tight stretches. A steering trim adjuster allowing for pin-point tracking and an all-new controller design features a reversible control trigger for right or left hand use.
Kicking off the ZipZaps SE collection this September is a lineup of tricked-out cars based on Initial D, the fast-paced "manga comic book" series from Japan that features the action-packed adventures of reluctant hero, Tak, a teenage tofu delivery boy who gets swept up in the world of street racers. Truly an enormous hit in Japan, the Initial D property has already sold more than 30 million graphic novels, boasted a 47% market share in its television time slot and earned more than $300 million in revenue from the Asian market alone. "With Manga Mania just hitting the U.S., the Initial D ZipZaps will hit RadioShack store shelves at a great time to fulfill the desires of Manga fans," added Carroll.
RadioShack's Initial D ZipZaps SE lineup will consist of several red-hot vehicles from TOKYOPOP's hit series, including two Special Edition (SE) Initial D starter kits: the SE Mazda Savanna FC3S RX-7 Starter Kit (driven by Ryosuke "Ry" Takahashi) and SE Mazda Enfini FD3S RX-7 Starter Kit (driven by Keisuke "K.T." Takahashi). Each respective special edition starter kit includes the latest innovations in ZipZaps technology with six selectable 27 MHz frequencies to allow six cars to race at once and working headlights and taillights for nighttime racing.
Two special edition body kits will also be available for the Initial D ZipZaps line. The SE Initial D Body Kit I features the Nissan Skyline GT-R R32 (driven by Takeshi "Zack" Nakazato) and the Honda Civic SiR2 EG-6 kit (driven by Shingo Shoji) including four hubcaps for each car along with body tops with headlights and tail lights to work in the ZipZaps SE chassis. The SE Initial D Body Kit II features the Toyota AE86 Sprinter Trueno (driven by Takumi "Tak" Fujiwara) and the Toyota AE85 Levin SR (driven by Itsuki "Iggy" Takeuchi) and contains four complex tread tires, four water tread tires as well as ZipZaps' fastest motors (28,000 RPM and 34,000 RPM). Each body kit also contains collector trading cards featuring the Initial D character and car. RadioShack will also offer a bundled package of the first three installations of the Initial D Manga series for $19.99.
Tsukasa Kotobuki - Character designer for Saber Marionette J, Cyber Team in Akihabara, etc. Yoshiaki Iwasaki - Director of Love Hina, Turn A Gundam, etc. Rica Matsumoto - Voice actress of many roles, but best known for the role of Satoshi (Ash) from Pokemon. Masao Maruyama - Founder of Madhouse Studios and a producer with long experience in the Japanese animation industry. Itsuro Kawasaki - Director of Please Save My Earth, Arc the Lad, Wild Arms and storyboarder for Martian Succesor Nadesico. Kristine Sa - Musician with a wide international following. Brian Drummond - American voice actor with roles in Reboot, G.I. Joe Extreme, Vegeta in Dragon Ball Z, etc. Mandy Bonhomme - American voice actress with roles in Revolutionary Girl Utena, His & Her Circumstances and as Sue in Pokemon.
Source: Anime Love via Daniel
FRIDAY, JULY 18
- The Final Fantasy Ball: Year 2 – from 8 p.m. to midnight on Friday, July 18 – is a ballroom-style, formal dance with an anime/video game related mission: to immerse its guests in the water-filled world so colorfully depicted in the recent Final Fantasy X and X-2 video games. Fully-costumed cast members, portraying the games’ characters, will mingle with guests and act out key scenes from its dramatic and popular storyline. Formal and/or appropriate costume dress is required. The doors will open at 7 p.m. Admission to the Final Fantasy Ball is separate from METROCON admission, and a limited number of tickets will be available at-the-door for $7 per person. For more information, including dress code and costume guidelines, visit the METROCON site, www.metroconventions.com, and the official Final Fantasy Ball site, www.FinalFantasyBall.com.
- The party will continue after the Final Fantasy Ball with Club METRO, as DJ Shadowfax spins three hours of retro, techno, trance and rave tracks and gives con-goers a preview of Saturday night’s J-pop/J-rock themed Matsuri Dance. Admission to Club METRO is included with Friday and weekend tickets to METROCON and/or with admission to the Final Fantasy Ball.
SATURDAY, JULY 20
- The Matsuri Dance – starting at 9:30 p.m. on Saturday, July 20 – takes its name from the Japanese word for “festival” and will celebrate Asian dance music. DJs Yanagi and Shadowfax have teamed up to form MoMatsu and will bring METROCON guests both fan favorites and the latest anime, J-pop and J-Rock hits via a 10,000-watt professional, club-quality sound system and computer-controlled lightshow. Admission to the Matsuri Dance is included with both Saturday and weekend tickets to METROCON.
Gutsoon! Entertainment launched Raijin Comics in December 2002 and quickly signed distribution deals with Ingram Periodicals and Diamond Comics placing Raijin Comics in many comic, specialty and bookstores. Commencing in December of 2003, Raijin Comics will now be available to consumers in a variety of national major retail chains including 7-11 Stores, AM-PM, Sam Goody, Wherehouse, Suncoast, Musicland and many others. Raijin Comics retails for $5.95.
"This new distribution deal was the next step in our growth plans for the U.S.," said Horie Nobuhiko, Chairman and CEO Gutsoon! Entertainment. "Our partnership with Kable News ensures that Raijin Comics will be more accessible to manga readers everywhere in more mainstream locations."
Kable News Company is a National and International distributor of Periodicals and has been a leading national distributor for over 70 years. Kable, in addition to providing newsstand distribution services, also provides subscription and product fulfillment services.
Daniel Byrne, Kable's Executive Director of Business Development states - "Kable is very excited about our new partnership with Gutsoon! Entertainment. From the outset, we have been very pleased with the quality of Raijin Comics. The sales results reported from both Ingram Periodicals and Diamond Comics have been outstanding. Our goal is help Raijin Comics reach its' next sales goal by placing Raijin Comics in every major discount, supermarket, convenience and drug chain throughout the United States and Canada. We firmly believe that the newsstand launch of Raijin Comics will be one of the most exciting new launches our industry has experienced in the last ten years".
ABOUT MIAMI GUNS
Yao Sakurakouji is the self-absorbed and short tempered daughter of one of Miami's richest and most powerful families. When she decides to join the police force, she's partnered with the sullen and slightly psychotic Lu Amano. Together the pair declare war on Miami's criminals, Yao's mysterious father, their own police force, and any and everyone else foolish enough to stand in their way!
First broadcast on southern Japanese television in early 2000, the 13 episode series was rebroadcast in the Tokyo area in the fall of 2000. The animation was adapted from Takeaki Momose's original manga by Group TAC, the studio responsible for anime series including Those Who Hunt Elves, Saiyuki, Oruchuban Ebichu, Ippatsu Kikimusume, and all of the Street Fighter anime. The animation was directed by Yoshitaka Koyama, the director of the Rune Soldier Louie anime TV series. Notable voice actors on the production included Megumi Toyoguchi (Yumi Oomura in Chobits, Mimiru in .hack//SIGN, Parfet Balblair in Vandread), Yukari Tamura (Ichigo Morino in Please Teacher, Ranpha Framboises in Galaxy Angel, Misha in PitaTen), Mitsuru Ogata (Lupin the 3rd: Dead or Alive, Millennium Actress, Burn Up W, Pokemon), and Rie Tanaka (Machela in Wild Arms, Saki in Steel Angel Kurumi, Chii in Chobits, and Koyomi "Yomi" Mizuhara in Azumanga Daioh).
For images and more information about Miami Guns, visit the series' two official Japanese homepages from original broadcaster MBS and distributor Toho:
http://www.toho-a-park.com/character/miami/
ABOUT THE MIAMI GUNS RELEASE
AN Entertainment will tentatively begin the domestic DVD only release of Miami Guns in mid 2004. The AN Entertainment Miami Guns DVDs will contain bilingual audio with optional English subtitles and accurate, authentic dialogue translations transcribed in cooperation with the original Japanese producers. The AN Entertainment Miami Guns DVDs will also feature extensive supplemental material including original Japanese music videos, TV spots, cast interviews, translation notes and much more.
Anime Expo, Anaheim, CA (July 4, 2003) Tokyopop manga pop quiz: what do goth, hip-hop and virtual reality have in common? They're all exciting elements found throughout the pages of ShutterBox, @Large and World of Hartz, three new TOKYOPOP graphic novels readers won't want to miss. In its continuing pursuit of the best manga on the planet, TOKYOPOP found these fantastic series from creators right here in the United States. Enter one pair of wildly-creative goths, a hip-hop artist with true street cred and a video game aficionado who lives his work, and the result is pure and simple: Kick-ass manga.
ShutterBox (Romance / Fantasy, Volume 1 of 4: 10/7/03) Like a photograph, love develops in darkness. From Tavisha and Rikki Simons of Studio Tavicat comes this first American shojo series-a clever and eerie ethereal story about a teen girl whose dream world finds a way of spiriting her away to a supernatural reality. By day, Megan Amano is a Santa Monica college student. By night, she's an exchange student at a university for the Afterlife. When Megan's dreams bring her in contact with what could be her soul mate, she is overpowered by the connection and becomes determined to find him. What she discovers from behind the lens of her camera is an unraveling of another world and its chilling and powerful mysteries. In addition to voice acting, color work and design projects, the talented husband-wife team of Tavicat has created over 30 original comic books for the U.S. market.
@Large (Action / Adventure / Comedy, Volume 1 of 3: 10/7/03) The very first hip-hop manga ever, @Large is the brainchild of Ahmed Hoke, a graffiti specialist, video game artist and an urban art pro. This poignant series blends street culture with storytelling in a manga format. The nexus of LA vice and hip-hop life is @Large, an Internet gaming cafe with a notorious recording studio upstairs. Its lounges are filled with geeks, rappers, techno-ninjas, thugs, wannabes and undercover cops. The story revolves around a crew of kids known as DNA as they attempt to navigate through the trials of adolescence, gain street fame and survive the ever-present threat of the underworld. When they encounter the murderous mob figures behind the recording studio, the DNA crew must use their wits, street smarts, and their best resource-each other-to avoid certain doom. The results can be bone-chillin' funny and side-splittin' sick.
World of Hartz (Action / Adventure, Volume 1: 10/7/03) What if the virtual world was all too real? This is the question posed by Terrence Walker's World of Hartz, the exciting new manga in which a dangerous web of international conspiracy lurks behind an online computer game. The story's teen hero, Han, has no idea what kind of challenge awaits him when he takes up the World of Hartz game system as a way of scoring with girls online. His growing reputation as the best Hartz player leads to a job offer from the game developer. Once on the inside, he finds out that there is a lot more going on than simple harmless fun. He must confront the totally addictive and powerful game before it destroys his friends... and possibly the entire world. Terrence Walker got his start drawing newspaper comics. In addition to his manga talents, he is also an accomplished anime creator with rich experience in producing video game graphics, sound and programming.
Stellar Line-Up Also Includes A.I. Love You, Psychic Academy, Pitaten, Get Backers, B'TX and Mahoromatic: Automatic Maiden
Anime Expo, Anaheim, CA (July 4, 2003)?#1 U.S. manga publisher TOKYOPOP Inc. is pleased to announce the acquisition of Fruits Basket, as part of its star-studded 2004 manga release schedule. This highly anticipated series joins A.I. Love You, Psychic Academy, Pitaten, Get Backers, B'TX and Mahoromatic: Automatic Maiden to create a line-up of seven titles with something for everyone. Drama, romance, comedy, action, sci-fi and fantasy converge with the following exciting manga:
Fruits Basket (Drama / Romance / Comedy) TOKYOPOP was flooded with requests for this fan-favorite manga by Natsuki Takaya. Already a popular anime series, Fruits Basket is the funny and touching story of Tohru Honda, an orphaned high school freshman girl who is rescued from homelessness by a strange and enigmatic family with a big secret: the Sohmas are possessed by spirits of the Chinese Zodiac. As strange as her new household is, the humble Tohru is quite thankful for this family's generosity and tries desperately to keep their secret... never fully aware of the profound impact she has on them.
A.I. Love You (Romance / Comedy) From Ken Akamatsu-the creator of mega-hit Love Hina-comes this tale about love in the technological age. Hitoshi Koube is your average teenage computer genius... 100% brainpower, 0% social life. That is, until he designs the ultimate artificial intelligence (A.I.) program-the only "girl" who will talk to him. When this program comes to life, Hitoshi is forever changed, and the outcome is a series of hilarious mishaps in one guy's ultimate pursuit of love.
Psychic Academy (Sci-Fi / Fantasy) Escaflowne creator Katsu Aki delivers this unique manga about Zero, a psychic whose defeat of an evil demon lord has earned him quite the reputation. He accepts a teaching position at the prestigious Psychic Academy, a school for gifted psychokinetic youngsters wishing to hone their abilities. Among the student body is Zero's little brother Ai Shiomi, a rather meek boy with no confidence in his skills, despite his parents' prodding and his filial reputation. Could both brothers be destined for greatness or is this student-teacher relationship doomed from the start?
Pitaten (Comedy / Romance) Koge Donbo (Digi Charat) is the creative mind behind Pitaten, a story about Kotarou Higuchi-an elementary school student whose mother died and whose father is often away on business. Doing his best (and failing) to pass the entrance exams for middle school, Kotarou's life is made even harder when his new neighbor Misha won't leave him alone. She claims that she is an angel and will do her best to protect him, but she may just drive him crazy first.
Get Backers (Action) Written by Yuka Aoki and illustrated by Rando Ayamine, Get Backers is the "electrifying" story of two rather unique superheroes: Ginji Amano has the ability to generate electric eel-like currents with his body. Ban Mido is armed with the mysterious "Evil Eye," which can create illusions in the minds of his opponents. Together, they make up the team of retrievers known as the Get Backers. Their goal: to get back anything that's been taken. Their success rate: almost 100%!
B'TX (Action / Fantasy) In this futuristic adventure-created by Masami Kurumada (Saint Seiya)-readers follow the exciting quest of one man as he desperately attempts to rescue his brother who has been abducted by the relentless Machine Empire. As Kotaro's life hangs in the balance, his brother Teppei's only hope is to join forces with X, one of several highly advanced, artificially intelligent machines known as B'Ts (pronounced "beats").
Mahoromatic: Automatic Maiden (Romance / Comedy) The brainchild of writer Bunjuro Nukayama and illustrator Bow Ditama, this manga spawned a hit anime from Gainax, creators of Evangelion. Mahoromatic is the tender and funny story of a former female battle android who must decide what to do with the remaining 398 days of her life. In Mahoro's case, the answer is simple: she'll work as a maid for a boy named Suguru Misato until he falls hopelessly in love with her.
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As Robert Woodhead would say, "I can neither confirm nor deny" the following. This information was taken (and possibly mistaken) as various booths and panels, so take it with a grain of salt:
CPM has finally gotten the dvd rights to Black Jack, including the oavs released after the vhs versions from CPM. Expect it sometime next year.
Urban Vision's release of Ninja Scroll tv to television or cable outlets depends on how they can accomodate the violent content. (They've also taken my suggestion to include liner notes on Yagyu Jubei on future dvd's into consideration.) Vampire Hunter: Bloodlust Redux(i.e. with the Japanese extras) should be out next year. The company is still re-negotiating most of their licenses. They do have the dvd rights to the Cockpit; however, low vhs sales have discouraged them releasing it on dvd. (The company encourages fans to buy the vhs tapes to help create a demand for the dvd version.)
Manga has stated a full-length sequel to Blood is in the works. I.G. is working on the script, as of now, while Manga is negotiating the rights to the film. (Speaking of I.G., a rep at the Hongo panel has stated the Snake Plissken anime is in pre-production.)
Media Blasters has the extras found in the Dutch version of Ichi the Killer. They may lose the license to Riki Oh however.
Bandai said their upcoming Lupin game will be dub-only. They not only have the rights to the GameCube, but the PS2 One Piece game as well. However, they're still negotiating with Sony and Nintendo on the U.S. releases. No word on whether the GITS: Sac and Blood PS2 games will be released here.
Animeigo has stated the reason they haven't decided to broadcast their anime is that it's expensive for them. They're looking into other licenses, but their main goal is to finish Urusei Yatsura and the KOR oavs and movie. A Lone Wolf and Cub boxset is a possibility. Samurai movies such as Lady Snowblood (the movie Princess Blade is based on)depend on the success of Lone Wolf and Zatoichi.
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...Quentin Tarantino is back - and he's as bloody as ever. The...scribe has finally completed his long-awaited fourth feature film...and in the tradition of Reservoir Dogs, Pulp Fiction and Jackie Brown, it will be a bloody affair - except this time Quentin's demanding extra-special fluids. He says, "I'm really particular about the blood, so we're using a mixture depending on the scenes. I say, 'I don't want horror movie blood, alright? I want Samurai blood.' You can't pour this raspberry pancake syrup on a sword and have it look good. You have to have this special kind of blood that you only see in samurai movies."
Thanks to Daniel for the news
Today at 2:00 p.m. Pacific, in conjunction with a panel at Anime Expo 2003, FUNimation Productions, Ltd. announced that it has acquired the rights to mega-hit series from Japan, Detective Conan. Detective Conan is the story about a detective named Shinichi Kudo. He is still in high school but he is a crime-solving genius. Shinichi's dream of becoming the best detective in the world takes a step in the wrong direction when a pair of villains unwittingly transform the teen back to his childhood size. Not wanting his best friend, Ran, to know the truth, Shinichi adopts the persona of Detective Conan, a pint-sized detective who must find a way to solve crimes the police can't seem to figure out all the while searching for clues to the men that put him in this form!
FUNimation has also acquired the rights to the first two Detective Conan movies "The Time Bombed Skyscraper" and "The Fourteenth Target." Home video release dates are tentatively scheduled for late Spring 2004.
Detective Conan is one of the highest rated series in Japan, its demographics span from eight to 40 and it is still airing in Japan. FUNimation has big plans for this pint-sized detective and we are very excited to get things going! More information to come as things develop..
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Source: Kahless at sdvanime.com forum via Leon
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Featuring a mix of anime, thriller movies and adventure programming, soon imported a 'Toonami' programming block for its daytime schedule. The success of this anime programming has resulted in the decision to roll it out across the schedule from September.
American viewers may recall it was reported earlier this year by trade magazine TV Week that discussions had been ongoing in regards to a U.S. launch. Mark Lazarus who heads the Turner Entertainment group was quoted by the journal that a CNX American version is "on the list" of new opportunities for the company, but "not imminent." At this point it's not certain what the future holds for possible American Toonami dedicated network offering or if the CNX name change means a possible name change across the board for CNX channels outside of the UK.
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Guest Speakers:
NORIYUKI ABE (Director/Yu Yu Hakusho)
MARI KITAYAMA (Character Designer/Yu Yu Hakusho)
We are pleased to announce that Pierrot is celebrating 25th anniversary this year. Being able to celebrate such a wonderful anniversary, we would like to express our gratitude for the support you gave us. By taking this opportunity, we would promise you that we keep producing more vivid and exciting animations to fulfill your high expectations.
You may have already known some of our programs; such as Fushigi Yugi (1995), GTO (1999), Hikaru no Go (2001) and others. In the panel, we would like to introduce you more of our exciting programs with video clips including our latest ones, Naruto, The Twelve Kingdoms, Tanteigakuen Q and E'S Otherwise. We also give a special section dedicated to the loved Yu Yu Hakusho. Let us show you our brilliant programs! Let's discuss with guest speakers! We would love to share this memorable event with our important audiences.
Not only that we will offer a special give away to the first 600 participants to our panel discussion, but also we will offer participants the chance to win more. So, don't miss this opportunity! Pierrot is looking forward to seeing your cheerful faces at our panel!
Who is Pierrot? Establishment in 1979, Pierrot Co., Ltd. has been producing many successful high quality animations, including science fictions, comedies, fantasies, action-packed cartoons and educational shows. We have produced about 60 television series, 17 theatrical features and 84 original animation videos. These productions have attracted the wide range of audience from toddlers to adults. In order to respond to the high expectations and demands for Japanese Animations, Pierrot has been attending many licensing exhibitions and TV festivals around the globe, introducing its programs to the world audiences.
1) Welcome greeting by YUJI NUNOKAWA (President, Pierrot Co., Ltd.)
2) Pierrot's Opening Themes Collections from the Latest TV Animated Programs (2003)
3) "Yu Yu Hakusho" Special
Guest Speakers:
Noriyuki Abe pre-appointment
Mari Kitayama
Voice Talents for Yu Yu Hakusho - US version pre-appointment
4) Q & A
5) Mini Masquerade Contest with Pierrot Characters
6) Special Give Away
Guest Profile Noriyuki Abe (Director) As you may have already known, Mr. Abe is a director of Yu Yu Hakusho. He has directed many TV animation series such as Flame of Recca, Midori No Makibao, Ninku and GTO. His most recent work is Tanteigakuen Q, which is currently airing in Japan.
Mari Kitayama (Character Designer) Ms. Kitayama is a character designer for popular TV animation Yu Yu Hakusho. Also, she worked for Flame of Recca, and Tokyo Mew Mew. She is known as one of the best character designer in Japan.
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“Our plan for the Yu Yu Hakusho TCG is two-pronged,” Jonathan Quesenberry, Score Entertainment’s Director of Marketing said. “On the one hand, we have a video demo for our game distributed on Yu Yu (Hakusho) DVD’s and commercial TV spots to support mass market efforts. And on the other hand, we have our plans for a high-octane Pre-Launch Kit to drive support at the hobby retail level.”
The mass market game demo will be included as a special feature on upcoming Yu Yu Hakusho DVD’s, starting in September of this year. Fans of this anime will get a first hand look at how the game is played and see how closely it ties in with the show. To further augment its impact, Score Entertainment will run television spots during the 4th quarter of 2003 to support a strong holiday push.
On the hobby retail side, there will be more than 500,000 “demo decks” to be distributed through various pop-culture venues starting in July at Comic Con International, Gen Con and Wizard World Chicago. These decks will be a self-contained learning tool showcasing the cards and the game. The Pre-Launch Kits will be aimed at jump-starting the player community surrounding hobby stores. It will include everything the Retailer needs to firmly establish the game in their environment and help initiate supporting activities. These kits are expected to have demo packs and a copy of the video demo, posters, window clings, T-shirts and more.
“These initiatives will send our game into overdrive,” stated Quesenberry. “This is a game which stands poised to make a lasting impact on the marketplace as we know it.”
The Yu Yu Hakusho TCG is scheduled to make its grand premiere September 15th of this year. For the latest details, visit www.YuYuHakushoTCG.com.
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Directed by Hiroshi Watanabe (Orphen, Kiki's Delivery Service) King of Bandit Jing is based upon a manga of the same title by Yuichi Kumakura, detailing the adventures of Jing, a youthful and charming Robin Hood-esque bandit who travels from town to town, stealing valuables and hearts in equal measure. Along for the ride is his randy wiseacre bird companion, Kir, who's constantly getting the pair into difficulties.
Collector's Edition Available! ADV's release of King of Bandit Jing will be available in two versions: as a DVD in its standard case, or as a collectors' edition including the DVD and a custom series art box, sized to hold the entire series.
The Story: Hide your coin pouches! No priceless bauble or exquisite jewel is safe from the leering eyes and stealthy hands of Jing, the King of Bandits. With a heart of gold and a wisecracking, girl-crazy bird sidekick, Jing steals his way through one exciting adventure after another!
"The Capital of Thieves" We meet our intrepid heroes in the notorious Capital of Thieves, home of the fabled Double Mermaids, a treasure under guard by the city's evil mayor! Jing will do anything to retrieve the prize, but this jewel isn't quite what everyone expects!
"The Ghost Ship of Blue Hawaii" Jing and Kir arrive in Blue Hawaii, a harbor town terrorized by a ghost ship. With the help of a local cop named Rose, whose father has fallen prey to the spell, Jing and Kir infiltrate the ship and expose it for what it really is in this parable of human greed.
"The Adonis Capital of Time" (Parts 1 & 2) Join Jing and Kir on a quest to steal the grapes of time! Or will they get embroiled in a plot to liberate the people from the tyranny of the wicked Master Gear? Can they restore peace in a town cursed by the Demon of Time or will the clock run out for them all?
King of Bandit Jing (SRP $29.98 DVD only; $39.98 Collectors' Edition) is a DVD-only release, including four complete episodes. Includes both English- and Japanese-language versions, and English subtitles. Extras include: a printed insert; production sketches; clean opening and closing animation; and ADV previews.
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Participants need only to visit the Anime Network website (http://www.theanimenetwork.com) and sign up to Demand Their Anime! Networked terminals and hard-copy entry forms will be available at the A.D. Vision, Inc. booth (Anime Expo #607); entries will be collected through December 4, 2003, with prize drawings afterward, and all winners announced on December 18, 2003. Anime Expo attendees will have the chance to check out the grand prize as well: a gleaming new Civic Si is also attending Anime Expo. The sweepstakes bandwagon (and the sporty three-door) will also be attending San Diego Comic-Con, Otakon and other select conventions around the country, with ample opportunities to register to win!
"Fan demand is critical to the success of the network; the more anime fans who log on to tell the cable companies that they want their anime, the stronger we'll be," said Anime Network Chairman and CEO John Ledford. "The DEMAND YOUR ANIME sweepstakes is a chance for us to give something back."
Anime Network President Kevin Corcoran added a reminder about the specific possible upside for sweepstakes entrants. "It's a hot network, and a hot car," said Corcoran. "And as we've been pointing out, your mom really does need her wheels back. We're here to help, but you'll need to DEMAND YOUR ANIME first!"
HOUSTON, July 2, 2003-Anime Network, the first cable channel in North America dedicated to anime (Japanese animation) today announced that the network will launch its Anime in High Definition initiative through a series of exclusive screenings at this weekend's Anime Expo (Anaheim, California July 3-July 6), the nation's largest anime convention.
The screenings, to be held all day, every day during the convention, will be held in the Marriott Grand Ballroom, Salon B. The screenings will include eye-popping content from NOIR, Spriggan, Samurai X, You're Under Arrest and the wildly anticipated series Magical Shopping Street Abenobashi. Admission is free, but requires a ticket, available through the ADV Films/Anime Network booth (#607) or from the Anime Network's team of roving staffers.
Screening attendees will also have the opportunity to register for the Anime Network's "Demand Your Anime" sweepstakes, including a chance to win a 2004 Honda Civic Si!
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Get your Anime Expo weekend started early with some cool Visual Kei J-Rock at the AX Dance. Thursday, July 3rd. Anaheim Hilton ·California Ballroom D (Room capacity about 1140)
BLOOD: 7:00p.m. to 8:00p.m. Duel Jewel: 8:00p.m. to 10:00p.m.
*An encore concert will be presented on Saturday, July 5th at the same location and time.
J-Rock Cosplay events are scheduled for Friday July 4, 2003, from 4:00pm to 6:00pm, Room 304 Anaheim Convention Center (Live Programming 2) J-Rock Event info: http://www.animeexpo.org/cosplay/j-rock.html
Schedule is subject to change...
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ABOUT RISKY SAFETY DVD VOLUME 2
The tale of Risky and Safety, an apprentice death spirit and an angel in training forced to share a single body, proceeds from the distant age of legend to the farthest reaches of outer space! DVD volume 2 deepens and strengthens the relationships between Moe, Risky and Safety, introduces new character Koiuji, the divine caretaker of the local Love Shrine, and reveals the secret reason for Risky and Safety's unusual entanglement. Witty and subtle parodies and references to Star Wars Episode 1, Star Trek, Mobile Suit Gundam, Austin Powers, Rurouni Kenshin and even the era of classic silent cinema will enthrall genre fans. The heartwarming romantic humor of Risky Safety will charm viewers of all ages. For more information about Risky Safety, visit the official RiskySafety.com homepage.
The 80 minute long Risky Safety DVD volume 2 will feature episodes 9-16 with selectable English and Japanese dialogue and optional English subtitles- all carefully translated with AN Entertainment's painstaking attention to detail and accuracy, dub out-takes, extensive translation notes, non-credit ending animation footage, and a reversible "Risky side" and "Safety side." Especially acknowledging the established Risky Safety fan community, the second Risky Safety DVD will also include a bonus gallery of attractive and colorful fan created artwork.
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All three new guests will be participating in panels and special events throughout the course of the convention.
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