Gonzo screened some world premiere footage of Vandread at AX 2000 that showed some very impressive CGI animation of the mecha and outer space warfare. Now a fuller preview trailer, showing characters, mecha and going more into the storyline has been uploaded to the official Vandread website and can be accessed here.
Gaijin representatives deny that they are violating any copyrights, claiming that they haven't made any money from their site. The website recently posted the following:
"Arnold's lawyers have demanded that Gaijin a Go-go remove this commercial and any material related to Arnie or DirectTV. You have until August 10th to view the commercial" They have also posted a chronology of evvents from their perspective here.
Anime fans may be interested to learn that DirecTV ads featuring Arnold Schwarzenegger have ran in Newtype Magazine and can be seen in the July 1998 issue on page 39.
Working Designs has pushed back it's release of Lunar 2: Eternal Blue Complete for PSX to November. Arc The Lad Collection has also been pushed back to a first quarter 2001release. Working Designs revealed plans to release a "mystery" Play Station 2 title sometime close to launch.
The Mars Colony And Palisades Team Up For Ninja Scroll Action Figures!
Beginning in early 2001 the combined forces of The Mars Colony and Palisades Marketing will begin releasing several ultra cool products based upon Yoshiaki Kawajiri’s cult classic anime feature 'Ninja Scroll'. “From the first time I saw Ninja Scroll I thought these characters would be perfect for an action figure line. Now I'm fortunate enough to be help make this “fan boys” dream come true,” said Mike Renegar, Palisades Executive Vice President.
Steve Ortiz, Vice President of The Mars Colony, stated, "We are honored to be working with Animation Studio Mad House on this the first of several lines based on Mr. Kawajiri's master works. Furthermore, to be working with Palisades, a company which sets the standards for detail and quality in this industry, assures that this will be one of the best anime lines ever produced!" Still in it's planning stages, the first action figure line-up will include Jubei, the reluctant hero for hire, Kagero, the brooding female ninja of the Koga clan, Tessai, the stony monstrosity with a boomerang sword, Shijima, master of stealth and misdirection who strikes from the shadows with his metal claw and Mushizo, the disfigured dwarf that houses a swarm of wasps in his misshapen back.
In addition to the action figures, which are being designed using Kawajiri’s artwork as a guide, Mars colony and Palisades plans to release high end resin statues, wall scrolls and a collectible lunch box. This first in the highly detailed resin series will be Jubei and his arch rival Lord Gemma, the undying commander of the Devils of Kimon. The resins will be the first product to be released some time this winter.
Street Fighter II the Movie is out in Japan on DVD September 20th. Special additions to the disc include a 45-minute Street Fighter video game documentary titled "Street Fighter II - The History"; also a music video-style grouping of clips from the SFII Film playing to the movie's theme - Shinohara Ryoko's "Itoshisa to setsunasa to kokorozuyosa to"; Movie trailers and commercials are also included. The disc has a running time of 152 minutes. This DVD includes the proof mark mentioned above that is needed to attach to the mail in card included with the Street Fighter Zero OAV to mail in and obtain the Street Fighter phone card. Sountrack is in Dolby Digital Stereo, The movie is formatted in Widescreen. The retail price on this disc is 5040 Yen.
- Blood The Last Vampire (50 minutes) could play back to back as part of a U.S. theatrical
re-release of Ghost in the Shell; if Manga decides not to take that route then Blood will be released
direct to video.
- Evangelion Movie: slated for late February/early March release; using TV (ADV) voice
cast; will be released in a 2 - disc DVD box set; VHS - as 2 tapes.
- Evangelion Movie is being released in art house theaters for fans to see on big screen.
- Possibility of Devilman OAV on TV (HBO/Showtime); Manga may be doing the
subtitled (just got the subtitled rights) on DVD possibly.
- Manga is working on the X movie dub; coming out Halloween; no DVD date is set
(Manga's contract states they have to wait for the Japanese to make their DVD
release first).
- Giant Robo DVD collection box may be on the way soon.
- Street Fighter Alpha VHS release date is Nov. 28th; DVD will be released a month after that.
- Manga is making inroads inti clothing and apparel markets.
- In Early December - every day for 2 hours, there will be a moderated chat
room; where Manga will take any suggestions.
- Manga may acquire a new Lupin title.
- Castle of Cagliostro did very well for them
- Fist of the North Star TV series will be continued until episode 12;
will be shown on HBO; 1st 12 episodes will be on DVD (release date is
mid-late January 2001); Manga has an option to pick up the rest of the 156
episodes.
- Eva Movie for DVD release is taking a long time to get extra material; lot of extras
for movie like storyboards, cels, interviews, etc.; everything is
signed, waiting on materials for DVD.
- Wings of Honemaisse DVD will be released November 28th, 2000.
- Manga has the rights to the Macross Plus Movie; they're trying to get back
the original voice actors/actresses to dub it in English.
- Shadow Skill OVA DVD will begin release in mid January (both volumes on 1 DVD).
For November a new OAV by Deen is out entitled R.O.D.S, not much at all is known on this title at this time, but more info will be posted as it is made available.
Phantom Buster Miko (Reinou Tantei Miko) is a sexually charged horror action / adventure OVA being distributed by Maxam. Volume # 1 runs 30 minutes, it is being released both on VHS and DVD on August 25th with a retail price of 6,800 Yen. Featured on the DVD is a Dolby Digital soundtrack, there is a reservation campaign associated with the DVD release, where the purchaser can obtain a transparant case. Production associated with this title is as follows:
Original Work: Juichi Ogi
Director: Hiroshi Furuhashi
Script: Tetsuo Tanaka
Character Designs / Drawing Supervision: Masashi Kojima
Animation Producer: Waki Noguchi
Art Supervisior: Masashi Katahira
Photography Supervision: Yoshihiro Sekitani
Sound Supervision: Yasunori Honda
1) YUA TV won't go into dubbing production until the spring (we need to do translation/subtitle production earlier than that, of course)
2) M-2K hasn't finalized the plans for the upgrade path on BGC; what I stated was my best guess of how it would work.
3) The revised BGC DVD will have all the music videos from 2032/2033 plus a bonus - scans of all the "settei" production drawings we have of BGC (tons of them!), many never before published.
Regarding UY-DVD status, I'll be making an announcement tomorrow on that, most likely. There has been progress.
Viz Communications:
- Ranma 1/2 TV DVD's beginning next year ("many episodes per disc")
- Revolutionary Girl Utena Comic will be released in December 2000.
- Dead or Alive (movie)
- Viz has no plans as of yet to release past VHS dub releases to DVD.
- On dub versions of Maison Ikkoku ("I believe that that has reached its conclusion."). "Naturally, we would like to put that on DVD as well."
- If initial Maison Ikkoku on DVD interest is high, Viz may continue with dubbing.
- Viz admits that they have started to edit Pokemon and Dragonball Z comics due to pressure from parental groups. They don't know if their graphic novels will also be the edited version.
- Ayashi no Ceres Video Release: 3 episodes per DVD. Planned release in Spring 2001; comic release date is the beginning 2001.
- Galaxy Express on DVD and Viz: "We really hope we can. We want to - desperately."
- Ranma 1/2 TV DVD's: 1st 18 episodes will be on 4 DVD's. Takahashi interview may be included as an extra.
Bandai Entertainment:
- Brain Powered: new expanded release; 7 episodes on 1 VHS tape: $29.98.
- September 2000: Outlaw Star on DVD is in October now.
- October 2000: Escaflowne VHS dubbed and DVD uncut; Outlaw Star DVD - 9 eps per disc; Blue Submarine #4 conclusion.
- November 2000: Tenamonya Voyagers - DVD only release.
- Trying to sell Outlaw Star to be broadcast.
- Jubei-chan in English language DVD track is Dolby Digital 5.1 because it is their "top-top guy's" favorite series.
- Possible plans to distribute the Escaflowne movie in U.S. theaters; if TV does well, chances are good.
- Release schedule is every 2 months for Gundam Wing DVD; March/June 2001 may change because they will release the original Gundam at that time.
- Endless Waltz OAV DVD in February 2001 "uncut unmolested"; movie included on the DVD set. VHS dub will be the Cartoon Network edit.
- Gundam 0083 -Gundam 0080 will be released on DVD next year.
- "There will be no subtitled VHS from Bandai from now on."
- Silent Mobius on DVD "will have to wait a few years."
- Planned February 2001 release date for "Saber Marionette J" on DVD in English, Japanese, & Spanish.
- "Escaflowne" DVD will be uncut (no Fox opening) with sub and dub, tarot card, and interviews; Fox will air a English techno version of the opening; Fox may not be showing the first episode (except in flashbacks). Buyers can save up UPC's from tapes/DVD's to mail in for a set of Tarot cards. US DVD covers will be some of the rental release covers that were in Japan.
- Cartoon Network may be interested in original Gundam.
- No Escaflowne toys planned, but Bandai does have the license for it and the toys for the US may be released.
- Cowboy Bebop DVD's are doing "very, very well"; "much better than VHS". Gundam, however, is doing "very, very well" in VHS, "much better than DVD". Mainstream audiences are going for Gundam.
- Bandai is trying to get soundtracks for "Escaflowne" and "Cowboy Bebop".
- G Savior is a Gundam CGI/live action hybrid TV series; Bandai is not thinking about this series yet.
INDUSTRY:
- Kare Kano Anime - not this year; DVD will be day and date. They will have a sub.
- From ADV Films: DVD sometime next year for Nadia of Blue Water; later than Nadia for City Hunter TV.
- ADV: Just proofed the first DVD for Nadeisco.
- Media Blasters: Maho Tsukai Tai - Rayearth will be finished first (in November) - sub VHS tape also; will be starting in February/March 2001.
- Opinion: VHS Video as a format will be history in 2 years.
- AD Vision has two 26 episode TV series that they have sold for broadcast. They will be announcing it in a couple of months.
- Animeigo: 4 DVD set for Bubblegum Crisis from M2K upgrade for approximately $20 if you trade in the original 3 DVD BGC set. Extras will include all the music videos, lyrics, artwork, and much, much more.
- AnimEigo: Otaku No Video DVD is very high in priority. They will have physical liner notes.
- Before Christmas, ADV Music Label will be launched; they currently have the Irresponsible Captain Tylor soundtrack.
- The Irresponsible Captain Tylor DVD's may not come out. Jeff Thmopson of the Right Stuf suggest a petition drive to persuade tRSi management to do so.
ADV Films
- Encore cable - will be showing an unannounced title. Working on 2 - 3 other titles with 2 - 3 different broadcast networks.
- Blue Seed on 2 DVD's planned.
- ADV is thinking about releasing subtitled-only DVD's.
- Codename Robotech (expanded Gloval's Report episode) will be out sometime before Christmas in VHS dub only. This was actually shown in some markets and was used to sell the show to initially to TV stations. The rest of Robotech will be in DVD only.
- Cutey Honey will be released on DVD in 2 discs. Is scheduled for production soon.
- "You're Under Arrest" Movie may be released in theaters. No current release date.
- Neon Genesis Evangelion DVD disc number 2 currently in production. They are not using the same production house that did the first DVD. They plan to put each DVD into production every 3 days after the 2nd disc turns out properly.
- They have talked about re-doing the 1st Neon Genesis Evangelion DVD. No decision has been made.
- 2 volumes of Lost Universe are out in September.
ANIMEIGO:
- Animeigo acquires "You're Under Arrest" TV series. It will be released both subbed and dubbed on DVD only with the original American voice actors and actresses from the YUA OAV (Carolina Coast). Production will start in February 2001, immediately after Macross. They stated it will probably take about a year to finish. Tokyo Broadcasting System has retained the rights for the broadcast rights of this series. AnimEigo is very interested in doing an excellent dub because of this possibility.
- Bubble Gum Crisis is going to air on Encore next month.
- Kodomo no Omocha is "on our radar screen". Hana Yori Dango "is also on our radar screen".
PIONEER:
- October: 3x3 Eyes (all 7 epiosdes); VHS box set (2 tapes) + 2 tapes (3 episodes) in November; DVD box before (Dec. 26, 2000).
- Fushigi Yuugi 2nd season on DVD will be released before Thanksgiving. OVA's will be sold in early November. OVA will be coming out in only 1 episode for the first tape. 2 episodes per tape will be done for the other 4 episodes. OVA DVD's will be done later. Omakes will be included in the release.
- Akira. A new dub will be produced. Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtracks will be made for both English and Japanese audio. 2 versions will be released - movie only and special edition version. Trying to do a theatrical or TV release first. It will be a year from the signing of the contract until the final product is completed.
- November 2000 - Hyper Dolls and Phantom Quest Corps at $14.98 on DVD (possibly).
- Sailor Moon S and SS TV have been picked up. 3 episodes a tape on dubbed VHS (Cartoon Network version). Subtitled uncut version on VHS. Dual language uncut on DVD. Uncut Dubbed VHS possible.
- El Hazard OAV on DVD is on hold.
- Pioneer is trying to get the Serieal Experiments Lain DVD box set out before Christmas.
- Magical Project S TV series (26 episodes): mPioneer may produce English dub for possible DVD release.
- On Pioneer music label: "Looking to re-launch the music line possibly at the end of next year."
Bandai revealed they are developing a PS 2 Mobile Suit Gundam title based on the original TV series / movies. Japanese release is set for sometime in December.
Flint, the Time Detective additional release information
The Right Stuf International, Inc.
Flint, the Time Detective 1
"The Blast from the Past"
Pre-book date: 10/3/2000 * Street date: 10/24/2000
Approximately 90 minutes
English Dubbed VHS
Catalog#: RS7101
UPC#: 7-42617-71013-1
ISBN: 1-57032-061-1
Suggested Rating: ALL AGES
Genre: Adventure
SRP: $14.98
DVD for this title is day and date!
English Dubbed DVD
Catalog#: RSDVD2101
UPC#: 7-42617-21012-9
ISBN: 1-57032-877-3
Suggested Rating: ALL AGES
Genre: Adventure
SRP: $14.98
Contains Chapter Stops, original Flint sales trailer.
He's a caveman in the 25th century and his dad is part of a stone axe. If you think that's a little unusual, you're right ... but so's everything about Flint: The Time Detective! Discovered during an acheological dig by someone who knows far more about him than they should, Flint is brought to the Bureau of Time and Space Investigations. Flint is de-fossilized but Dr. Goodman is less successful with his dad. Still, all is not right with the world: with time travel common enough to be available to everyone, criminals are using this awesome power for their own ends. One of them has actually fundamentally altered the way time works throughout the universe ... which will have profound consequences! It's up to the newly deputized Flint and his friends to locate the timeshifters scattered throughout the world and throughout time! If they fail, the universe is doomed! Contains "Hammerhead Rock", "Jitter Bug" and "Eldora" (episodes 1~3).
Flint, the Time Detective 2
"The Power of Good"
Pre-book date: 10/3/2000 * Street date: 10/24/2000
Approximately 90 minutes
English Dubbed VHS
Catalog#: RS7102
UPC#: 7-42617-71023-0
ISBN: 1-57032-062-4
Suggested Rating: ALL AGES
Genre: Adventure
SRP: $14.98
DVD for this title is day and date!
English Dubbed DVD
Catalog#: RSDVD2102
UPC#: 7-42617-21022-8
ISBN: 1-57032-878-1
Suggested Rating: ALL AGES
Genre: Adventure
SRP: $14.98
Contains Chapter Stops, original Flint Sales Trailer
By all rights, Flint Hammerhead should be more than a little annoyed at his situation. Turned to stone in the distant past by Petra Fina along with his father Rocky and not discovered until the 25th Century, he's still guarding his charge for reasons that would baffle many. Still, it is this act which prevented Getalong (one of the timeshifters) from falling into Petra's greedy hands! There are many more of these timeshifters scattered throughout history (each with its own unique power), and it's a race between Petra and Flint to find them! If Flint succeeds, they will be collected at the Bureau of Time and Space Investigations and used to repair the damage to the fabric of the universe. If Petra finds them first and stamps them (which not only controls them but turns them evil) then they become a rampaging force which will destroy everything! Contains "Talen", "Mosbee" and "Cocoanaut" (episodes 4~6).
"We are planning to release Kare Kano, Dubbed, Subbed, and on DVD. (DVD may come alittle later than the rest.) We hope to have the first volume out spring of 2001."
Banpresto's upcoming "Super Robot Taisen Compact 2: Chapter of Major Earthquake in Space" for Wonder Swan, will feature characters from 17 anime series. Japanese release is set for the end of August.
Dead Or Alive 2 Dreamcast Seiyuu Data:
Kasumi: Tange Sakura
Gen Fu: Aono Takeshi
Tina: Nagashima Yuko
Zack: Shimada Bin
Jann Lee: Furukawa Toshio
Ayane: Yamazaki Wakana
Hayabusa: Hori Hideyuki
Helena: Koyama Yuka
Bass: Gouri Daisuke
Leon: Totani Kouji
Lei Fang: Touma Yumi
Ein: Midorikawa Hikaru
Tengu: Saka Osamu
Roland: Koyama Yuka
System Voice: Endo Miyako
The original creators of Sorcerer Stabber Orphen have asked ADV to change the name of domestic release to "Orphen: Scion of Sorcery". This is to maintain continuity with Activision's upcoming release of the video game.
C.B. Cebulski of Fanboy mentions: "I just receieved a black and white sketch of the cover art from Saito-sensei and wanted to share it with all of you. I am going to post later versions of the cover as it progresses to give all the fans an inside look as to how Saito-sensei goes about illustrating her amazing color paintings. I hope you all enjoy it! Be sure and let us know what you think. You may be seeing more Chiho Saito projects from Fanboy in the future!
You can view the cover at the following link:
www.fanboyinc.com/spellbound/saitosensei.jpg
"Disney Blinks" is the title to a center front page article in the current Video Store Magazine industry mag. The article suggests that Buena Vista home video executives were not aware that there was interest and an actual demand for a Japanese language version of Princess Mononoke in the US before they were presented with the results of a fan organized letter-writing campaign and internet petition that garnered "4,500 signatures in the first week." The article confirms that the Princess Mononoke DVD has been delayed, but not canceled. "`We were pleasantly surprised by the interest in a Japanese soundtrack,` [said] Buena Vista marketing senior v.p. Robert Chapek. `It`s a fairly recent development, and with an August 29th street date [for the dub-only VHS version], there was no way we could accommodate that [due to the inability to conclude soundtrack negotiations with the Japanese producer in time]. So we had to push it off. We`re fairly confident the [special edition] DVD will be out sometime before the holidays.`"
The recently aired 25 episode Sakura Wars TV series begin's it's release to VHS and DVD video in Japan with volume 1 in both media retailing for 3,800 Yen. The running time is 30 minutes and includes episode 1 of the TV series.
The Gatekeepers TV series also begins it's release run with volume 1 in both media retailing at 6,000 Yen. Running time is 80 mintues.
The first 30 minutes VHS and DVD volumes of Seikai no Senki, the sequel TV series to Sekai no Mansho (soon to be released in the U.S. by Bandai Entertainment) will retail for 3,800 Yen.
An official Japanese-language website for eX-Driver has been created and can be viewed here, there you can find series background and release / goods info.
Shochiku has created an interesting website for the Ah! My Goddess Movie that can be viewed here. The site is in Japanese and includes background on the film and there are two downloadable quicktime video file clips of the Movie.
Sources: Bandai Visual, Shochiku Ah! Megami Sama Website, eX-Driver Website
Source: www.broccoli.co.jp
NEC Interchannel has plans to develop Sentimental Prelude fir Dreamcast as a prequel to Sentimental Graffiti.
As previously mentioned, "Ao no Rokugo Antarctica", a PSX adaption of Gonzo's 4-part OAV Blue Submarine No. 6 is scheduled to be released in Japan September 28th in a double disc set. A limited edition DVD and VHS video "Ao no Rokugo Digital Plus" recently went on sale and included info on characters and mecha designs in the Game.
The replacement uy dvd disks should be in by end of the week. The complete
sets should be here no later than Monday of next week. We will resume
shipping immediately upon receipt.
GScube Full System Specs:
CPU: 128-Bit Emotion Engine X 16
Processor clock speed: 249.912 Mhz
RAM: Direct rd ram
RAM Memory: 2 GB (128 MB x 16)
Memory Bus Bandwidth: 50.3 GB/ Second (3.1 GB/ second x 16)
Floating Point Arithmetic Capacity: 97.5 Giga Flops (6.1 GFLOPS x 16)
3D CG Coordinate Operational Capacity: 1,040,000,000 polygons/second (65,000,000 P/S x 16)
Graphics: Graphicis Synthesizer 1 - 32 x 16
Clock Frequency: 147.456 Mhz
VRAM Capacity: 512 MB (32 MB mixed loading x 16)
VRAM Bandwidth: 755 GB/ second (47.2 GB/ second x 16)
Pixel Filling Rate: 37.7 GB/ second (2.36 GB/ second x 16)
Largest Polygon Drawing Performance: 1,200,000,000 polygons / second (73,700,000 P/S x 16)
Largest Indicatory Color Cumber: 32 bits (RGBA: each 8 bits)
Z buffer: 32 bits
Largest Indicatory Resolution: 1,080 / 60 p (1,920 x 1, 080 and 60 FPS, progressive)
Sound: Emotion Engine Audio
Installed Sound Channels: 16
Sampling Frequency: 48 Khz.
Output Data Length: 16 bits
Output Data Format: AES/EBU Digital Audio
Host Interface 32 BIT Parallel Buses For 1024 BIT/ Control Of Data
Peak Transfer Rate: 2.4 GB/ second
External Size: 424 x 424 x 424 mm
Mass: 48 kg
Power Source: 100 - 240 V 50/60 Hz.
Source: Animejin
Source: Animejin
Japanese game pulisher Atlas and publishing giant Kadokawa Shoten have struck a deal in Japan and will be working on a new joint venture. One of the resulting products will be a PS2 version of Megami Tensei. Other DVD software is also expected to be developed under the alliance.
Sega's is developing a Dreamcast love-sim based Love Hina that will be released in Japan September 28th, with a retail price of 5800 Yen.
Newtype magazine, the market leader in anime information from Kadokawa Shoten, launches its official English language website for overseas fans!
HOMEPAGE: http://www.newtype-net.com
Dear Everyone,
Here at last is the long-awaited official English language site of Newtype, the top brand name for information on Japanese animation. At last, Newtype has an international edition online!
We plan to give you the latest information on world-famous anime and its creators, just as we do in the original Japanese edition of our magazine - with fun, with excitement, in style! You've never seen a website quite like this before, so don't miss it!
We want to hear your opinions and your ideas. Here in the land of the Rising Sun, we're waiting to welcome you to our site, so if at first you can't connect, keep on trying!
Yorito Shiraishi,
Editor-in-chief, Newtype Magazine
The Osaka-based firm will produce original pictures (designs) for the project and provide production capital (estimated at 2 billion Yen) which Lucas Film will then animate. The Star Wars director himself will serve as executive producer on Mirun.
Lucas could be invited to Osaka as early as September to sign a contract on the tie-up.
Source: Daily Yomiuri
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