Anime News Service - August 2-3 Anime News

8-3-04

- Donga.com from Korea has the piece "Let Me Play You Animation Theme Songs in Jazz". Therein, Pianist Han Choong-wan, a 43-year-old professor at the Seoul Institute of the Arts, is mentioned as holding a concert for children and youths. His concert, “Perky Jazz Stories Told by the Pianist Daddy,” will be held at the Chongdong Theater from August 7 until August 22. Among the songs be played are some from well known Japanese cartoons.
- Fangoria has part 2 of it's Shocking Cinema article posted which continue's the horror magazine's exclusive interview with Takashi Miike.
- Korea's Oh My News examines avatar computer culture.
- Canada's National Post has an in-depth post on the new Courtney Love manga Princess Ai.
- Computer Graphics World (CGW) magazine has teamed up with BigDigit.com to sponsor a new design contest at SIGGRAPH 2004 in Los Angeles--the World’s Smallest Animation Festival. The event is designed to showcase innovative digital media produced for small-format mobile phones and communications-enabled mobile devices. In addition to the contest, the sponsors said the event will include daily presentations of made-for-mobile films, TV series, cartoons and music videos produced by many of the leading artists in this emerging field. The work will be shown on wide-screen plasma displays, and will be available for viewing on mobile devices at the CGW booth. On Thursday, Aug. 12, the winner of the contest will be announced at the booth. In addition to winning prizes donated by Motorola, NVIDIA, Newtek and mFlix, the winning entry will also be featured in the BigDigit.com library, which is available for license by mobile phone operators and device makers. Entrants will be accepted in the following categories: Animated Game Art; Anime; Characters; Animated Series; Animated Feature; and Viral (MMS). There is no entry fee for the competition and winners will be chosen by an independent panel of judges.
Source: Imaging IQ
- Gamepro reviews Nintendo's GBA release of Ham Ham Games.
- The Detroit News reviews the final volume of Heat Guy J on DVD.
- The Ventura Daily Star has an article today entitle "Girlie Manga."
- Springfield, Illinois' State Journal Register is carrying an article entitled Made in Japan which looks at the popualrity of anime throughout the local area of metro and suburban Springfield and beyond.
- News that is quite litteraly eveywhere this morning is the Famed director George Lucas' has instructe his studio Lucasfilm is moving forward with plans to develop its own slate of computer-animated projects, announcing today the formation of an animation facility in Singapore.... "I've been a fan of Asian animation and illustration all my life," George Lucas said. "Asian cinema has had a particularly big impact on a lot of my work. When we began thinking about developing new ways to explore the craft of animation, it seemed a natural step to combine the two. By having a base in Singapore, we can create a new style of animation that will blend East and West and offer something not seen before."
Source: Thanks to Daniel for this item from Yahoo News | Other Sources: Reuters | The New York Times | Channel News Asia (Singapore)
- www.indiantelevision.com reports the recently launched Animax channel in the sub-continent is soon to add 4 new mascot characters to appear in 30-40 second spots to supplant the 2 existing ones, Quu and Tee who are the sole survivors of two warring clans from another dimension. Animax Asia’s VP programming and production Betty Tsui was quoted in a media report as saying that Quu and Tee were a part of Animax Asia's continuous efforts to engage viewers and keep them entertained. With regard to the four new characters that they would be launching later this year, Tsui said that their introduction process will be carefully planned so that the viewers not only become familiar with them but would also look forward to seeing more of them both on and off-air. The launch of the original vignettes coincides with the start of the Animax Hong Kong Comics Festival - Summer Funtasy 2004 event in Hong Kong which was held from 30 July to 3 August.

8-3-04---- Exclusive: Penguin - Digital Manga To Publish Manga For Children And Adults

Penguin Group USA has signed a three year deal to publish manga with Digital Manga Inc. (www.emanga.com) The deal was brokered by Eloise Flood, Publisher of Razorbill, the newly launched teen imprint from Penguin (www.penguin.com) Young Readers Group and Hikaru Sasahara, CEO of Digital Manga Inc.

The deal is a three year co-publishing venture. Penguin Group USA has committed to publishing 8-10 titles the first year and 15-20 per year thereafter. The first line is slated to launch in late Spring 2005. Razorbill will publish children’s and young adult titles. Adult books will be published by Leslie Gelbman, President and Publisher of the Berkley Publishing Group.

Doug Whiteman, President of Penguin Young Readers Group has this to say about venturing into this relatively new publishing genre, "We are really happy to be in the manga business alongside Digital Manga Inc. We did a lot of research in an effort to find the right partner for our entry into this genre, and I feel sure that we have selected the ideal company in DMI." Eloise Flood, Publisher of Razorbill adds, "We’ve watched with awe as manga has exploded on the American scene, and now we’re very excited to enter the arena ourselves—especially with a partner as knowledgeable and well connected in the Japanese market as Digital Manga Inc."

Leslie Gelbman, President and Publisher of the Berkley Publishing Group, says, "Partnership with Digital Manga, Inc. gives us the advantage of entering the manga market confident that our books in this new format will be of the highest quality, in both content and production values." Hikaru Sasahara, CEO of Digital Manga Inc. says, "Penguin has been a major powerhouse in the publishing industry. I believe our partnership with them will further strengthen manga among the core market as well as in the mainstream market. We are very certain that this bond will enable us to become the most successful manga publisher not only in the U.S. but overseas as well."

8-3-04---- New Lucasfilm Studio Will Blend Japanese - Western Animation Styles

The International Herald Tribune interviewed Micheline Chau, the president and chief operating officer of Lucasfilm on Monday and has learned the company hopes to utilize it's new Asian studio to develop games and movies that blended traditional Western animation with Japanese anime. "You are seeing a whole generation of young Americans being exposed to Japanese-style anime," Chau said. Besides, she said, "we always wanted to head in this direction."

8-3-04---- Tokyo Style Festival In Stockholm, Sweeden

In one way or another, Japanese animation, anime, has now been a feature on the Western cultural and media landscape for close to forty years. But one of the most frustrating things about being an anime fan is being thoroughly unable to explain the reason for the obsession to the rest of the world in terms they will actually understand. To celebrate this creative part of Japanese culture TOKYO STYLE IN STOCKHOLM invites you to the wonderful world of anime culture at Old Konstfack.
TOKYO STYLE IN STOCKHOLM is a huge cultural festival between August 5-10 in Stockholm Sweden. We celebrate Japanese culture on all levels and in all cultural areas. Film, art, dance, music, martial arts, literature, architecture and much more will be represented in lots of events throughout Stockholm. Urbanism is the main theme, but you will find events from all areas of Japanese culture. Japanese animation is not only known for kid’s animation such as "Pokémon" and "Spirited away". It is also known for it’ s complex stories, wide spectrum of genres and to have had an inscrutable influence over various art fields, such as seen in the movie "Matrix" and in the collaboration between Louis Vuitton and Takashi Murakami in fashion.
Together with the Association of Japanese Animations we create the exhibition "Japan Anime Now" in which you can see posters, original cells, figures and much more from popular anime series. Of course there will also be film screenings, a big cosplay contest on Sunday the 8th, workshops, anime stuff for sale and a great kid’s corner with lots of games, the latest in anime entertainment, adventures and lots of great prizes to win. The Tokyo Foundation also invites you to join three seminars under the theme "Tokyo Anime Today" on Saturday the 7th. Two focusing on the creative process of anime and one on the business model of large anime series. There will be something for everyone at Old Konstfack! Don't miss the animefestival at Draken Cinema, for the big kids. Sake tasting, Metal Gear Solid 3 - release and tournament on the big screen and lots of cool live bands and DJ's and VJ's from Japan. Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The event is sponsored by the Association of Japanese Animations and the Tokyo Foundation For more information you can look at www.tokyostyle.se or contact Kim Ahlström at kim@animanga.nu or David Igra at david@igra.se Here is the full prgoram for the anime festival at TOKYO STYLE IN STOCKHOLM. For the full program on other areas please look at www.tokyostyle.se At old Konstfack, Valhallavägen 191, Subway station Karlaplan
Every day (August 5-10) • "Japan Anime Now" - Big anime exhibition from The Association of Japanese Animations, an organisation consisting of 37 Japan's largest anime production companies. Company presentations, film screenings, cells, storyboards, figures and drawings from famous anime series. Read further down for a complete list of comapnies, series and movies that will be present. • Presentation of last year's winners at the Tokyo International Film Festival • Anime installation by the hyper media artist Tsuyoshi Takashiro who has produced Luis Vuitton anime with Takashi Murakami • Work shop: Clay Animation. Make your own animation in clay. Everyone is welcome to participate! • Children's corner with games, film screenings and great prizes to win. • Inflatable trampoline tower in the shape of a pokéball from Pokémon • Sales of anime stuff • Free entrance!
Thursday August 5 10:30 Press conference. Only for press and invited. Are you a member of the press and want to come? Send an e-mail to Annika Kopp at Patriksson Communication, annika@patrikssoncommunication.com 15:00 Konstfack opens for the public 17:00 Konstfack closes for the day
Friday August 6 • Work shop: Chikara Matsumoto with his band Organ-o-rounge. Live animation and the band improvises music for the evolving animation. Everyone is invited to participate! • Work shop: Traditional cell animation with students from Konstfack's Department of Animation and Animated Film 10:00 Konstfack opens for the day 15:00 Movie Screening: JIN-ROH (http://www.jin-roh.net/) - written by Mamoru Oshii who directed Ghost in the Shell 17:00 Konstfack closes for the day
Saturday August 7 10:00 Konstfack opens for the day 10:00-12:00 "Tokyo Anime Today", symposium by The Tokyo Foundation, se further down for a description and list of participants 13:00-15:00 "Tokyo Anime Today", symposium by The Tokyo Foundation, se further down for a description and list of participants 16:00-18:00 "Tokyo Anime Today", symposium by The Tokyo Foundation, se further down for a description and list of participants 18:00 Konstfack closes for the day
Sunday August 8 • Cosplay festival and contest • Kite festival at Gärdet, right next to old Konstfack • Work shop: Character and manga drawing with B e a, Kuma-ko, who drew Tokyo Style in Stockholm's manga mascot. Everyone is welcome to participate! B e a is also exhibiting her manga characters at Artmakers, Köpmangatan 3, during Tokyo Style in Stockholm 10:00 Konstfack opens for the day 15:00-16:00 Registration for the cosplay contest. Everyone is invited to participate! Rules can be found at http://www.reflective.nu/saumaheim/tscos-index.html (Swedish only, contact nefalia@reflective.nu if you have any questions) 18:00-20:00 Cosplay parade and prize ceremony 20:00 Konstfack closes for the day
Monday August 9 10:00 Konstfack opens for the day 16:00 Konstfack closes for the day 17:00 Industry gathering for people in the animation and movie industry. Only for invited and press. Arranged together with The Association of Japanese Animations and The Tokyo Foundation. Working at a company in the animation or movie industry or looking what Japanese animation has to offer and haven't received an invitation? Contact Kim Ahlström at kim@animanga.nu before Friday August 6.
Tuesday August 10 • Last day to look at the exhibition! 10:00 Konstfack opens for the day 17:00 Konstfack closes for the last time
At Draken Cinema, Fridhemsplan 25-29 Friday August 6: 18:00-01:00 Saturday August 6: 13:00-01:00 Sunday August 8: 13:00-20:00

Entrance fee 1 day: 150 SEK 2 days: 250 SEK 3 days: 350 SEK Preorder tickets at info@offix.se and pay in the door, or book directly at Biljett Direkt www.ticnet.se

8-2-04---- Initial D Diecast And Model Kit Cars Coming

Jada Toys is proud to announce the release of our Initial D® line of die-cast. From the hit anime series comes a new line of 1:64, 1:24, and 1:18 scale die-cast cars, model kits, and collectible figures. The product launch will include such vehicles as the infamous Toyota Trueno AE86, Mazda RX-7 FD3S, Mazda RX-7 FC3S, and Nissan Skyline GTR R32.

At the Jada official website - www.jadatoys.com, one can find images of their 1:64 and 1:24 deicast cars and 1:24 model kit cars with initial d character figurines.

8-2-04

- The Daily Telegraph gives a rave review of Ping Pong, the film version.
- Game Industry talks about a range of new Game Cube and GBA titles from Nintendo have led a sofware market recovery in Japan.
- Netjak reviews Naruto Saikyô Ninja Daikesshû 2 for Gameboy Advance.
- IGN interviews Konami's Satoshi Shimomura who produces the Yugi-oh! property for the company.
- The Honolulu Star Bulletin talks to Adrian Tomine who created the Optic Nerve indy comic series in the USA. Currently the author is working on a multi-volume project featuring the work of the great Japanese cartoonist Yoshihiro Tatsumi, which dates to the '50s. "He pioneered a style of Japanese comics called 'gekiga,' which tends to focus on the grim realities of modern life. He's been a favorite of mine for many years, and a big inspiration. There was one English edition of his work published in the '80s, but it was poorly done, and hardly comprehensive. So just as a fan, I've wanted to see more of his work properly translated for a long time now." "I will be serving as the designer and editor of the project (and) I hope people will buy it, because it deserves to be read, and I think it will appeal to fans of modern American 'alternative' comics, even those who think they don't like Japanese comics."
- Ultimate AV reports Florida is going to have it's first HD Film Festival (http://www.hdfest.com/florida.htm) in Fort Lauderdale Friday August 6th at the Sunrise Gateway Theatre, 1820 East Sunrise Blvd, 4pm-7pm. Tickets to the screenings are $10 ($7 student admission) and can be purchased in advance by email. The festival will host the North American Premiere of the Japanese feature film Cynthia: The Service Dog.
- Sequential Tart looks bacxk at A-Kon 15, has a counterpoint column on the "Not Funnies" NY Times piece a while back and finally talks manhwa with Sang-Sun Park at Comi con here.
- The Indianapolis Star has the last films of summer covered in a new article and the list includes "Yu-Gi-Oh! The Movie" where "... Egyptian villain Anubis seeks world domination, but it won't happen if Japanese anime hero Yugi has his way. Aug. 13."
- The San Francisco Chronicle looks at a local DJ school.
- .Knot Magazine's closing column has site contributor Dan mentioning his best guilty pleasure is anime soundtrack music and J-Pop.
- The New York Times looks at July's Nisei Week Japanese festival in Los Angeles and how Japanese Americans pay homage to their roots. The piece also relays the number of Americans who identify themselves as Japanese declined to 796,700 in the 2000 census, from 847,562 in 1990, partly because of low immigration and birth rates.

8-2-04---- Princess Ai Dominates USA Graphic Novel Sales

Princess Ai, TOKYOPOP's new manga co-created by international rock star Courtney Love, hot new creator D.J. Milky and Japanese manga-ka Misaho Kujiradou, is the number one graphic novel in the country. According to Nielsen BookScan sales reports, Princess Ai topped the Adult Fiction Overall Trade Paper Graphic Novels list for the week ending July 25.
The news comes on the heels of San Diego Comic-Con, the largest comic convention in North America, where TOKYOPOP featured its publishing program and future releases. The award-winning publishing company has four manga titles in the most recent BookScan top 10, including Fruits Basket, Kill Me, Kiss Me and D*N*Angel, with Princess Ai standing firm at the top. "Princess Ai's high ranking on Bookscan certainly exemplifies the growing acceptance of manga by a broader consumer audience," said John Parker, TOKYOPOP's President and COO. "We knew we had developed a strong story complemented by brilliant artwork, and seeing it at number one is extremely satisfying. This truly is the summer of Love."

Inspired by Courtney Love and featuring the character design of famed artist Ai Yazawa (Paradise Kiss), the beautiful manga artwork of Misaho Kujiradou and the riveting story of D.J. Milky, Princess Ai chronicles the amazing journey of a mysterious young woman searching for identity and salvation in this world and beyond. After finding herself lost on the cold, hard streets of Tokyo, Ai must piece together clues about who she is, why she's on Earth and the secret of the heart-shaped box she carries. What the princess experiences along the way is an adventure filled with love, chaos and unexpected fame. Princess Ai volume one, "Destitution," was just released this month. Volume two, "Lumination," will be available at bookstores everywhere in February 2005. Animation projects, merchandise and other evolutions of Princess Ai are in the works for the near future.

8-2-04---- Manga Entertainment Dead Leaves Release

Manga Entertainment has once again teamed-up with Japan's revered Production I.G (Kill Bill, Ghost in the Shell, Patlabor 1&2) to create another unique and original anime co-production. The iconoclastic Dead Leaves exhibits Manga's continued commitment into developing new cutting-edge anime films with I.G in the tradition of 2003's acclaimed ethereal period piece Kai Doh Maru and 2001's smash vampire action thriller Blood: the Last Vampire. Named after a fictitious prison in outer space, Dead Leaves displays a new and uncharted dimension of Japanese animation presented in an eye-popping, vibrant and frantically paced action adventure film.
"We wanted to produce a new anime film that was completely different and experimental, something that pushed the envelope of Japanese animated pop culture." says Manga's CEO Marvin Gleicher. "Having seen the incredible original character designs from Imaitoonz and having had such great success with new projects from Production I.G, we green lighted the Dead Leaves project. We are very excited to release this film on DVD this summer."
Imaitoonz is a popular Tokyo based artist who has an extremely diverse portfolio. He is well known for creating original art for animation, character designs, arcade games, packaging, clothing and commercial spots for some of Japan's top companies including Suntory, Sega, Sony, Nike and Reebok. Imaitoonz and his associate Hiroyuki Imaishi created the original character designs for Dead Leaves. He then entered into production with thirty key animators from Production I.G including Takeshi Koike (Animatrix), Yasunori Miyazawa (Millenium Actress), You Yoshinari (Neon Genesis Evangelion) just to name a few. Takeichi Honda, one of Japan’s most blistering young screenplay writers, wrote the script. Complimenting the film is a pulse pounding electronica soundtrack from Yoshihiro Ike (Blood: the Last Vampire.)
This extraordinary new anime film showcases a distinctive style of animation featuring uncanny, fast and furious split screen action combined with a unique color scheme and unconventional character designs. "If you can imagine what an abstract modern art car crash would look like, let’s say by mixing up the art of Peter Max, Andy Warhol, Peter Chung and Todd McFarlane, you may have something that looks like Dead Leaves!" jokes Kaoru Mfaume, Manga's director of acquisitions and producer of the film.
The illustrious story follows main characters Pandy and Retro - two unlikely renegades who awaken naked on Earth with no recollection of their past. After embarking on a devastating crime spree for food, clothing and transportation in downtown Tokyo, they are captured by authorities and sent to the infamous lunar prison called Dead Leaves. After a brief incarceration, they discover that the prison is really a top-secret cloning facility, occupied by villainous prison guards and deformed genetic experiments. High-speed frantic action combined with hyper-violent and semi-humorous chase scenes follow as the two decide to break out of the prison with the aid of their fellow mutant inmates. Boasting an extraordinary cast of characters in a comically abusive and chaotic adventure, Dead Leaves is an unusually fresh anime action film that intentionally rattles the senses.
In celebration of Manga Entertainment's 10th Anniversary this July, the Dead Leaves DVD release will be supported by a summer long Manga marketing campaign which will include summer convention screenings and promotional giveaways, consumer print advertising and web events. Manga has also teamed up with Japan's cult toy company Medicom Toys to create a Kubrick Dead Leaves toy line. A limited release of the Kubrick Dead Leaves toys featuring main characters Pandy, Retro and Chinko will be available on-line at www.manga.com where fans can also find ‘Limited Edition’ Dead Leaves merchandise and watch for an exclusive all day ‘free broadcast’ of the film in its entirety on September 28th. Look for Dead Leaves to wow animation fans everywhere this summer.

Dead Leaves will be distributed by Anchor Bay Entertainment. Street Date: September 28th, 2004 Pre-Book Date: August 31st 2004 Movie Running Time: 50 minutes SRP: $24.98 Unrated. Suggested 17+. Contains graphic violence, brief nudity, language and mature content. Parental discretion advised. Barcode: 01313 82001-9 8 Selection #: M2001 DVD Features: 16x9 anamorphic widescreen, English & Japanese Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound, English subtitles, Scene Index. DVD Bonus Features: 30 minutes of additional ancillary materials will include a documentary, movie premiere party, theatrical opening, video diaries with director and creative staff, photo gallery, original trailers, interactive game and Manga previews.

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