Anime News Service - August 26 - September 5 Anime News

9-5-00---- Tonari No Yamada-kun DVD Options

According to a Japanese ditributor for Anime Nation, Studio Ghibli's Tonari no Yamada-kun (My Neighbors the Yamadas) movie, out on VHS & DVD in Japan on November 17th will include Japanese dialogue with optional English, French and Chinese subtitles as options on the DVD release.

9-5-00---- Wicked City Special Edition DVD Release Details

Excerpted from the official Urban Vision release:

Wicked City Special Edition DVD
Pre-Book: 10/6/00•Street Date: 11/7/00

There is Earth, our familiar world, and then there is the Black World, a parallel dimension that very few people are aware of. For centuries, a pact between the two worlds has been observed to maintain peace, and terms must be renegotiated soon to continue the relative harmony.

This time around, there is a militant faction that will stop at nothing to prevent the signing of a new treaty for interdimensional peace. Taki of the human world and Makie of the Black World, two agents of the elite organization known as the Black Guards defenders of the balance between the two worlds are charged with insuring the success of the treaty. It’s non-stop action as these two race to consummate the peace treaty in time as wicked special effects and tremendous animation depict chaotic fight scenes bursting with energy. Everyone is waiting, either in anticipation or fear, for the final outcome!

· Airing on Cinemax!
· Interview with the world-renowned director, Yoshiaki Kawajiri!
· Remastered in 5.1! (SURROUND)
· Character biographies!
· Dual language options for English and Japanese!
· Original theatrical trailer!
· UV Weblink!

TRT: approximately 90 minutes
Not rated; contains violence, nudity, sexual situations. Suggested for mature audiences.

Based On the Novel Written By: Hideyuki Kikuchi
Directed By: Yoshiaki Kawajiri
Screenplay: Kisei Choo
English Language Version Directed By: Carl Macek

Genre: Horror/Thriller
Copyright: 1992 Japan Home Video Co. LTD. All rights reserved.
Pre-book: 10/6/00 Street Date: 11/7/00
Suggested Retail Price: $29.95
Catalog Numbers: UV1065
ISBN: 1-890603-65-1
UPC: 638652-10650-6

9-5-00---- Bandai November Releases

Bandai Entertainment has sent out a release of it's titles coming out in November, you can read it here.

9-5-00---- Bandai Visual News

October 25th Japanese Releases:

- Gundam 08th M.S. Team DVD volumes 1 and 2 (each 75 minutes / dual layer with Dolby digital, Dolby Surround Sound) Retail - 6,000 Yen each
- Ayashi No Ceres volume 1 DVD (90 minutes / Dolby digital (stereo) / dual layer) - 5,800
- Ayashi No Ceres volume 1 VHS (45 minutes / stereo hi-fi) - 2,900 Yen
- Crest Of Star Boundary - Special Compilation DVD (90 minutes / Dolby digital stereo) - 6,000 Yen
- Crest Of Star Boundary - Special Compilation - VHS (90 minutes / stereo hi-fi) - 6,000 Yen
- Dancouger DVD complete box 1 (542 minutes / dual layer / Dolby digital stereo) - 28,000 Yen

Misc. News:

Sunrise is launching a new online service in Japan - http://www.hi-nobori.net/

9-4-00---- C.B. Cebulski Interview

Sequential Tart has interviewed Fanboy Entertainment's C.B. Cebulski, it can be read here.

9-4-00---- New Generation Pictures Chat Transcript

From the news release:

The chat transcript for our 7/27 chat with New Generation Pictures has just been posted at http://anime.about.com/blnewgentrans2_1.htm.

In this chat, New Generation Pictures discusses their just released title Nanako's Amazing Adventures, the continuing work on 3x3 Eyes, Nazca, and other current projects. A good deal of time was spent discussing the trials of voice acting, working with named actors, and what is involved in producing a quality dub (from scripting to recruiting).

Here is the original press release for the chat:

New Generation talks about Nanako with Anime.About.Com

Amazing Nurse Nanako will be released this month! Mad Scientists! Giant Robots! International Intrigue! and a pretty girl!! To celebrate and to answer fans questions about this new title, Jonathan Klein of New Generation Pictures and Talesin Jaffe an independent voice director will be joining us at Anime.About.Com for a chat. New Generation Pictures are the folks who have subtitled over 50 different titles for Pioneer, Urban Vision, Central Park Media, and the Right Stuff. Recently, they began dubbing for Pioneer.

Thanks.

Glenn & Kristyn,
http://anime.about.com/

9-4-00---- 8th Hiroshima International Animation Festival Awards

The 8th Hiroshima international Animation Festival selected the following award winners from 59 countries and 1,231 works:

Grand Prize: When the Day Breaks (Canada) Wendy Tilby (Canada) Amanda Forbis (Canada)
Hiroshima Prize: One Day a Man Bought a House (Norway) Pjotr Sapegin (Norway)
Debut Prize: Existence (Republic of Korea) Myung-ha Lee (Republic of Korea)
Renzo Kinoshita Prize: Village of Idiots (Canada) Eugene Fedorenko (Canada)
Rose Newlove (Canada)
Special Prize of the Year 2000 (Audience Prize): At the Ends of the Earth (France) Konstantin Bronzit (Russia)
Special International Jury Prize: The Periwig - Maker (Germany) Steffen Schaffler (Germany)
In Dividu (Croatia) Nicole Hewitt (Croatia)
The Suspect (Portugal) Jose Miguel Ribeiro (Portugal)
Viola (Estonia) Priit Tender (Estonia)
At the Ends of the Earth (France) Konstantin Bronzit (France)
The Golden Calf (Italy) Alvise Renzini (Italy)
Special Prize: 3 Misses (The Netherlands) Paul Driessen (The Netherlands)
The Old Man and the Sea (Canada,Japan,Russia) Alexander Petrov (Russia)
Flying Nansen (U.S.A) Igor Kovalyov(U.S.A)
Ferment (U.K.) Tim MacMillaniU.K.)
My Grandmother Ironed the King's Shirts (Canada) Torill Kove (Canada)
My Father's Story (U.S.A) Mary Kocol (U.S.A)
Keeping Mum (France) Jean - Luc Greco (France)
Catherine Buffat (France)
Humdrum (U.K.) Peter Peake (U.K.)

9-3-00---- New Getter Robo OVA Series

A new 4-volume Getter Robo OVA Series "True Getter Robo Anti Getter Robo" is in the works in Japan from Bandai Visual, Ken Ishikawa is again heading production. The 1st 30 minute OVA volume is out in Japan on VHS and DVD December 21st at a retail price of 2,000 Yen.

Future volume release details:

2nd volume February 25th - 2001 / 2,800 Yen
3rd volume April 25th - 2001 / 2,800 Yen
4th volume June 25th - 2001 / 2,800 Yen

9-2-00---- Clamp Update

Print News:
- On September 25th Kodansha will release Young Magazine which features "Sayobitsusu".
- On October 6th from Kadokawa, Mystery DX (cover by Clamp) is out featuring "Legitimate Drug".
- On October 24th from Kadokawa, ASUKA is out magazine featuring " X".
- October 26th from Kadokawa, Shonen Ace is released featuring "ANGELIC LAYER"
- Card Captor Sakura animation comics volume 9 is out September 5th retailing at 660 Yen. Cover by Hisashi Takahashi.

Goods News:
- At the upcoming Tokyo Game Show 2000 Fall (Sept 3rd-24th) the Kodansha publishers, Ltd. booth will have the following limited goods: Card Captor Sakura Mount - telephone card, Sayobitsusu telephone card, Sayobitsusu clear poster.

9-2-00---- Ah! My Goddess Okinawa Tour

In commenoration of the Japanese thaetrical premiere of the Ah! Megami-sama movie on 10/21, a Memorial Special event "Okinawa Moonlight Talk Tour" will be held on 11/3-5 (3 days 2 nights) in Okinawa, Japan. Those who sign up for the tour (150 max participants) will attend the seiyuu cinema visit in a cinema in Naha City, recieve a movie cel, will attend the seiyuu (Inoue Kikuko, Touma Yumi, Hisakawa Aya) Star Light talk show event in Moon Beach.

9-2-00---- Aika On German TV

Another broadcast note from Germany, on Saturday September the 9th, VOX will broadcast "AGENT AIKA - The Movie Edition" at 10.10pm GMT, (Japan 1998, Directed by K.Nishijima, 100 min).

9-2-00---- Tri-Zenon

Hitting the airwaves in Japan this fall is a new Sci-Fi adventure TV series from industry veteran Katsumi Hasegawa (The Slayers, Slayers Next, El Hazard, Knights of Ramune, Hyper Speed GranDoll) and Takashi Watanabe (Slayers) titled Tri-Zenon. The new series has been in conception for 3 years, production is being handled by TBS.

The story centers on the the mecha Tri-Zenon and the crew of the battleship Touun (Akira, Kana (seiyuu Megumi Hayashibara), Ai, gentarou, gon, sae, ryouko) as they graple with an unkown alien intelligence. Premiere is set for TBS in Japan October 14th (Saturday) 17:30 - 18:00.

9-1-00---- Tylor DVD Addition

According to The Right Stuf's official Irresponsible Captain Tylor site, 750 orders via the site are needed to cover production costs of for the DVD's. Those buying via the web route willrecieve extras including a "I made the Tylor DVD's Happen" T-Shirt and other incentives.

9-1-00---- Tezuka Wave Summer 2001

The new animated film Metropolis, based on Osamu Tezuka's creation is slated for a Japanese theatrical release in June of 2001 from Toho. Katsuhiro Otomo, the director of Akira is collaborating on the project being produced by Madhouse and Sony Pictures is planning an international distribution. Also next summer from Colombia Pictures, the Hollywood motion picture based on Tezuka's classic Astroboy (Tetsuwan Atom) will be released nationwide to U.S. theaters.

9-1-00---- Urusei Yatsura DVD's Shipping Again

Excerpted from the Animeigo Mailing List:

The UY DVDs are shipping again. Here's a copy of the letter that we included with them, to update people. We will start shipping replacement discs to those of you who got bad discs (and told us about them!) on Tuesday.

Dear Valued (and Patient!) UY DVD Customer

Enclosed, please find our newly pressed Urusei Yatsura TV Box Set (Vols. 1 - 5), plus an extra copy of Disc 2, which comes from a separate pressing.

As you may have heard, we experienced some peculiar manufacturing problems which affected playability of the UY disks for some people.

It should be noted that hundreds of customers, and one seriously demanding individual, namely myself, are already enjoying their DVD set without one single glitch. However, because the Urusei Yatsura DVD Sets are limited edition items, we felt compelled to investigate and correct any potential problems and make sure that all the sets we shipped were as perfect as humanly possible.

During an intensive investigation into this matter, we discovered the following:

* a portion of the components used to make the disks were defective.
* the molding equipment occasionally malfunctioned during manufacturing.
* the quality control system was malfunctioning intermittently, causing defective disks to leave the pressing plant. Human errors also contributed to the problem.

In other words, what happened was a classic demonstration of Murphy's Law - "Whatever can go wrong, will." We then had the entire set remanufactured, eliminating almost all the manufacturing problems. But even after that, many of the disc 2's we received contained some slight substrate defects in many of the newly pressed disks, which required yet another pressing of those discs! That's why you are receiving a second disc 2. The one inside the box set should be discarded and replaced by the extra one that comes in the white cardboard sleeve. We've also included an extra packaging insert that replaces the one currently in the disc 3 case, to correct a spelling error that managed to get past our legion of proof-readers.

No AnimEigo DVD product gets released until we have extensively tested production samples on many DVD players. We revised our DVD masters a number of times before duplication to ensure compatibility with popular DVD players. While it is impossible for any DVD producer to guarantee full-compatibility with all DVD players (early generation machines in particular have some "quirks"), we are confident that our disks will play error-free on almost all players. If you have any problems with your DVD set, please contact us and we'll try to help you resolve them.

In closing, we are extremely thankful for your patience and support during this unexpected situation. We have learned many important lessons from this experience, and hope that future AnimEigo DVD releases will be less "exciting".

Sincerely Yours,

Shin Kurokawa Producer, AnimEigo, Inc. shin@animeigo.com

-----

Troubleshooting Tips

We expect that the vast majority of you will have no problems with your DVD set. But if you do have some problems, these tips may help solve the problem -- and if they don't, having done them will help us help you zero in on the problem and get things working.

Disks must be clean. Dust, fingerprints, dirt, scratches... all can be detrimental to not only the disk but also the player's pickup mechanism. Remember that the 'pits' on a DVD are much tinier than those on Compact Disks. There are many consumer products that are used to clean DVDs, but a few drops of water and a soft paper towel should also work well.

Try another player. There have been many, many players produced in the last few years whose firmware does not implement the DVD specs correctly, and DVDs that push the limit of the medium (as we do with our subtitles) can have problems running on them.

Computer DVD drives with software emulators are the worst offenders. We do not recommend using such players with our DVDs. We also do not recommend using the Apex, discontinued DIVX, and "chipped" players.

A number of player manufacturers have released firmware updates. Also, the pick-up mechanism of a DVD player is extremely sensitive, so the players should be maintained according to the manufacturer's recommendations.

Because there are so many variables, the most basic test you can do to determine if the problem is a player problem or a disc problem is to simply test the disc in a different brand of player. The easiest way to do this test is to visit your local electronics store and ask them to pop the disc in and test it on a decent DVD player (such as a Sony).

If the problem is repeatable on another player of a different brand, then it's almost certainly a random manufacturing defect in the disc itself. If it isn't repeatable, then it's almost certainly a player problem.

In either case, contact us at dvdsupport@animeigo.com and we'll try and help out, either by sending you a new disc, or trying to find a workaround for the problem.

9-1-00---- Irresponsible Captain Tylor DVD's Announced

Posted to the Right Stuf Website

Irresponsible Captain Tylor TV DVD Box Set
Publisher - RIGHT STUF
Date Available - Dec 31, 2000
Format - Hybrid
Genre - Science Fiction/Comedy
650 Minutes
Rating - 15+
Year Created - 1994
Vol. 1-4 [DVD9]

Irresponsible Captain Tylor TV: Collection 1 DVD
Publisher - RIGHT STUF
Date Available - Dec 31, 2000
Format - Hybrid
Genre - Science Fiction/Comedy
175 Minutes
Rating - 15+
Year Created - 1994
[DVD9]

Irresponsible Captain Tylor TV: Collection 2 DVD
Publisher - RIGHT STUF
Date Available - Dec 31, 2000
Format - Hybrid
Genre - Science Fiction/Comedy
175 Minutes
Rating - 15+
Year Created - 1994
[DVD9]

Irresponsible Captain Tylor TV: Collection 3 DVD
Publisher - RIGHT STUF
Date Available - Dec 31, 2000
Format - Hybrid
Genre - Science Fiction/Comedy
150 Minutes
Rating - 15+
Year Created - 1994
[DVD9]

Irresponsible Captain Tylor TV: Collection 4 DVD
Publisher - RIGHT STUF
Date Available - Dec 31, 2000
Format - Hybrid
Genre - Science Fiction/Comedy
150 Minutes
Rating - 15+
Year Created - 1994
[DVD 9]

9-1-00---- Hiroshima Animation Festival

The 8th Hiroshima International Animation Festival was held in Japan Aug. 24-28. 1, 231 animation works from 59 countries 1,231 were showcased.

9-1-00---- Hajime No Ippo TV Series

George Morikawa's Hajime no Ippo (The First Step) manga published by Kodansha in Shonen Magazine is headed for a TV series anime adaptation in Japan. The new series will premiere on NTV October 3rd at 25:20. A PlayStation 2 game based on the series is set for a Dec. 14th release as well. Hajime no Ippo focuses on a young boxer.

9-1-00---- Article - 'Anime Nation: Japan's Animation Set To Explode In America'

U-Wire is running an article on the current state of anime in the US. You can view it here.

9-1-00---- Utena On Stage

A new play adaptation based on the anime / manga Shoujo Kakumei Utena by Chiho Saito is hitting a stage in Tokyo September 30th and Ocotber 1st. The theatrical version is acted out by the play group FANTASY ADVENTURE and being supervised by Utena Movie / TV Series director Kunihiko Ikuhara.

9-1-00---- YTV September Scedule

YTV's online schedule for September has been updated with many additions, you can check it out at www.ytv.com.

8-31-00---- New Movie In Japan - The Aurora Of The Sea

New from VAP and Nippon Television is the first all CGI 35 millimeter Japanese motion picture to arrive in theaters there, it's title is The Aurora Of The Sea.

The time frame spanning from the film's original conception to completion was almost 3 years and an incredible amount of talent (largely from the Anime production industry) has been involved in bringing the project to the big screen.

In the movie's story it is some time in the later 21st century, an excavation base 6500 meters below the ocean's surface is digging deeper and deeper ino the Earth's crust in hopes of finding natural resources. In the process, a radiating bacteria is discovered that begins to attack the base.

Vocal talent includes Megumi Hayashibara.

Production Staff:
Director: Yoshinori Sugaya
Production: Kunisuke Hirabayashi
The script: Shimada Misaru
Music: Amano Masamichi
Character setting: Katsuya Kondo
Art supervisor: Yasuo Amano
Art director: Narita Hiroshi

Ending theme: " aurora of wind "
Song: S.E.S

8-31-00----- Blue Submarine Number 6 To Air In Germany

The TV network VOX in Germany will broadcast the "Movie-Edition" of Blue Submarine No. 6 (1999,Directed by Mahiro Maeda,125 min.), on Saturday, September the 2nd, 10.00pm GMT.

8-30-00---- Manga Entertainment Sponsors Anime At Worldcon

Excerpted from the official press release:

MANGA ENTERTAINMENT IS THE FIRST COMPANY TO SPONSOR ANIME AT "WORLDCON"

August 30, 2000 - For the first time at Worldcon, anime will be showcased for sci-fi fans from around the world courtesy of Manga Entertainment.

Manga Entertainment is sponsoring Worldcon's first 'Anime Room' and presenting 50 films from its catalog to thousands of attendees. Manga is the only anime company attending the Con with a booth in the dealer room to showcase their titles and highlight their fall line-up. Worldcon, the traveling 58th World Science Fiction Convention (Chicon 2000) is at Chicago's Hyatt Regency Hotel this Labor Day weekend (August 31- September 4).

8-30-00---- Cutie Honey ADV Press Release Correction

Excerpted from the info release:

Just wanted to let you know about some changes to the ADV Films November and December release schedules.

I had previously mentioned that the Cutey Honey collection will be re-released on VHS this November and December.

Forget everything you know. This will not be taking place, due to the fact that this title will be released on DVD in the future. We are not sure of the DVD dates yet, but keep watching our website at www.advfilms.com, and you will be the first to know.

Sorry about the mis-information.

Here is a list of the title that have been cancelled:

Cutey Honey: Episodes 1-4
Pre-Book Date: 10/17/00
Street Date: 11/14/00
Approx. 120 minutes; Digitally Mastered VHS Hi-Fi

English- Dubbed VHS
CAT# VHSC/005D
UPC# 702727072932
SRP $19.98

Cutey Honey: Episodes 5-8
Pre-Book Date: 11/7/00
Street Date: 12/5/00
Approx. 120 minutes; Digitally Mastered VHS Hi-Fi

English- Dubbed VHS
CAT# VHSC/006D
UPC# 702727077333
SRP $19.98

8-30-00---- Last Wonderfest Held In Japan?

Fans attending this year's Wonder Festival character / hobby show which was held in Japan the weekend of August 20th were startled to learn that the event's executive director announced that there are no existing plans for the next Wonder Festival (which would otherwise occur this winter). Apparently the decision was reached due to copyright / licensing issues and the fact that the event is organized primarily by the Japanese toy manufacturer Kaiyodo.

8-30-00---- Bandai Entertainment October Releases

Bandai Entertainment has sent out it's releases for October of this year, you can view it here.

8-30-00---- Yami No Matsuei - Descendents Of Darkness TV Series

Asato HisokaA TV series adaptation of Yoko Matsushita's Yami no Matsuei - Descendents of Darkness manga, released by Hakusensha will premiere in Japan on Wowow (unscrambled) October 2nd at 18:30. Satoshi Otsuki will be director on the series, Yumi Nakayama will provide character designs. In the story Tsuzuki Asato and Kurosaki Hisoka, members of the shinigami (elite undead) have the ability to bring souls to the underworld according to the Book of the Dead's decree. The Yami no Matsuei manga is Shoujo genre but has makes some hints of shonen ai, among fans, it's known for it's warm and intricate bishonen characterizations.

8-30-00---- Gravitation TV Series

Based on the bishonen manga by Maki Murakami, Gravitation is being adapted to a new Fall anime TV series to begin October 4th at 18:30 on the Japanese WOWOW (non scrambled) Broadcast sat network.

8-29-00---- New Newtype Online Up

Newtype Online has posted their latest internet issue, it can be read at the link.

8-29-00---- Sydney 2000 Japanime Anime Festival Report

The Japanime Anime Festival that just wrapped up this week in Sydney, Australia drew out a incredible number of attendees. Among the fans who made their way out to the event in the land of Oz was Chris Kuan who lives just outside of the city, he's written up a report off all of the events and you can read it here.

8-29-00---- ADV Films November Releases

ADV has sent out it's releases for November of this year, you can view it here.

8-29-00---- Printing Error Discovered In Viz Gundam Wing Comics

Excerpted from the official press release:

PRINTING ERROR DISCOVERED IN MOBILE SUIT GUNDAM WING, GROUND ZERO; COMIC TO BE REPLACED BY VIZ

San Francisco, CA (8/29/00) - Viz Comics has discovered a printing error in the first issue of the four-part series MOBILE SUIT GUNDAM WING: GROUND ZERO, due to be released on August 30. The color pages of the comic have been printed out of order, which will result in some confusion to fans reading the story. To remedy this, Viz will be destroying the remaining inventory and reprinting the comic. Replacement copies with the color pages correctly placed will be made available free of charge to anyone who purchased the incorrect version.

"We're working with the printer to fix the situation as quickly and painlessly as possible," said Viz senior marketing manager Dallas Middaugh.

Purchasers of the incorrect version can exchange their comic for the reprinted version at the shop where they purchased it. The reprint can be identified by the notation "Original Format" that appears on the cover and will be available by September 20.

The comic may also be exchanged by sending it directly to GUNDAM WING: GROUND ZERO Exchange, Viz Shop-by-Mail, P.O. BOX 77010, San Francisco, CA 94107-1612.

8-29-00---- Right Stuf November Releases

The Right Stuf International has sent out it's releases for November of this year, you can view it here.

8-29-00---- Battlebots

Mecha fans may be interested to learn that a new American live-action reality-based TV seies titled Battlebots will premiere this Wednesday at 10:30PM on the U.S. cable network Comedy Central. In the show, teams construct robotic creations of all shapes and sizes and armed with a slew of lethal weaponry and pit them agasinst one another in an arena. In past similar events some robot creators have taken cues from anime / manga in their designs.

8-28-00---- Trigun Maximum 4th Volume Commemoration Event

Trigun creator Yasuhiro Naito made appearence earlier this month put on by Trigun Maximun manga affiliated Shonen Gahosha to commemorate the release of volume 4 of the manga. The volume was released in July in Japan and retails at 520 Yen.

8-27-00---- Inu Yasha Info Roundup

Production Data For the upcoming Inu-Yasha TV series based on the manga by Rumiko Takahashi:

Music:
Opening song will be performed by V6, the Ending theme will be performed by Dream.

Schedule:
Begins October 16th on Nihon and Yomiuri TV at 7pm on Mondays.

Animation Production by Sunrise:

Producer Suwa Michihito (Yomiuri TV) Tomioka Hideyuki (Sunrise)
Director Ikeda Masashi
Character Design Hishinuma Yoshihito
Art Director Ikeda Shigemi
Photography Director Oogami Youichi
Editor Tsurubuchi Tomoaki
Sound Director Tsuruoka Youta
Planning Suwa Michihito (Yomiuri TV) Ueda Masuo (Sunrise)

Seiyuu:
Inuyasha - Yamaguchi Kappei
Kagome - Yukino Satsuki

8-26-00---- Anime / Manga Gaming

Enix is developing a Gameboy Color RPG based on the Magic Circle Guru Guru series titled Doki Legend Guru Guru Magic, the Japanese release is set for winter.

Media Factory is producing Super Robot Pinball for Gameboy Color, it will include characters from the Super Robot Taisen series. Japanese release is set for December.

8-26-00---- Media Blasters DVD December

Media Blasters is shooting for a December U.S. DVD release of it's recent acquisitions Demon Fighter Kocho, Gestalt, Fake and Gappa.

8-26-00---- Bandai Saber Marrionette DVD Release News

Bandai Entertainment, at this weekend's CNAnime convention, has announced that Saber Marionette J will be released on DVD in early 2001 with J Again and J to X following it. The Saber Marionette R DVD's are currently on hold and could see a release after the release of one or more of the above series'.

8-26-00---- Viz Article

The San Jose Mercury News is running an article today (on the front page) on Viz Communications, you can read it here.

8-26-00---- J-pop Concert In South Korea First Since Lifting Of Ban

J-pop duo Chage & Aska are currently performing a series of concerts in Seoul, South Korea with proceeds going toward charity. The first concert on Saturday attracted an estimated 10,000 people, this is the first performance held by Japanese entertainers since a June decision by the South Korean government lifted a restriction limiting concert audiences to under 2,000.

8-26-00---- Anime / Manga Gaming

Litteraly hours after it's release, reports are being made of incidents in Tokyo where Akira Toriyama / Enix's PSX RPG Dragon Quest 7 is being stolen from kids by individuals on motorcycles. Similar occurances of this type of theft were reported upon the release of the Plastation 2 console and the PSX RPG Final Fantasy 9 in Japan.

Emuunlim has a posted a review of an all region/MP3/VCD/DVD player by Shinco that has a built-in Sega Megadrive (Genesis) emulator, you can read the review here

8-26-00---- Manga Creators Discuss Copyright Issues For The 21st Century

A gathering of manga creators including such well known names as Leiji Matsumoto was held in Japan May 26th to discuss the copyright and property rights facing the Manga industry in the 21st century. Issues such as second hand manga shops, comic festivals, and the internet were discussed. It has been suggested that a manga copyright organization be established to represent creators and the interests of the industry, a similar organization named JASRAC, already exists to represent the Japanese music industry.

8-26-00---- Viz December 2000 Releases

Viz has sent out their release list for December, you can read it here.

8-26-00---- Animazement 2001 Announced

From the info release:

Greetings from North Carolina!

For those of you who did not get a flyer at this year's Otakon, we'd like to announce this year's convention.

Animazement will take place May 25-27, 2001 at the Sheraton Imperial Hotel in Durham, North Carolina. (The new hotel is less than 3 miles from the Raleigh-Durham International Airport)

Hotel room rates are $85 per night (before tax) for 1-4 people.

Also, this year, Japan Travel Advisor (they prefer JTA for short) will be offering to help find discount airfares for those wishing to travel by air. Please check out http://www.japantravel.com to request information. Mr. Akira Negi is the contact for JTA.

A side note for those who have been asking about the Yuu Watase original "Ayashi No Ceres" sketch we have available for auction, our web site http://www.animazement.org has the details. We also have some items from Ms. Chiho Saito as well as an autograph from Mr. Akira Kamiya, voice of Ryo Saeba from "City Hunter" and Roy Focker of "Macross."

We are looking forward to another spectacular convention. If you have attended in the past, you know that we always have some fun surprises, and we plan to make sure that this year's convention provides a few. :)

Joe Maxwell
Animazement 2001
May 25-27, 2001
http://www.animazement.org

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