The results of Animefringe's poll for The Top 25
Must-Visit Anime Websites are now available in the
latest issue of Animefringe: Online Anime Magazine.
Find out what the sites are that every otaku should
have book-marked and learn why they are so cool.
Also, full results of the poll are available at the end
of the article. But, remember the Top 25 is just
one part of our spectacular One Year Anniversary
issue!
Anime Fringe
This weekend's (12/30) Saturday Anime lineups: (All Times Eastern Standard Time)
Tekken: The Motion Picture - 07:40 AM Encore Action Channel
Macross II: Lover's Again - 10:45 AM Encore Action Channel
Tekken: The Motion Picture - 05:00 PM Encore Action Channel
This weekend's (12/31) Sunday / New Year's Eve Anime lineups: (All Times Eastern Standard Time)
Macross II: Lover's Again - 12:00 AM Encore Action Channel
Darkside Blues - 07:20 AM Encore Action Channel
Darkside Blues - 05:00 PM Encore Action Channel
This weekend's (1/1) Monday / New Year's Day Anime lineups: (All Times Eastern Standard Time)
Darkside Blues - 07:20 AM Encore Action Channel
Patlabor: The Mobile Police - 06:30 AM Encore Action Channel
Shadow Skill: Part 1 - 08:10 AM Encore Action Channel
Shadow Skill: Part 2 - 09:00 AM Encore Action Channel
Sol Bianca - 10:15 AM Encore Action Channel
DNA Sights 999.9 - 11:15 AM Encore Action Channel
Ghost In The Shell - 12:05 PM Encore Action Channel
Patlabor 2: The Movie - 01:30 PM Encore Action Channel
Patlabor: The Mobile Police - 03:20 PM Encore Action Channel
Shadow Skill: Part 1 - 05:00 PM Encore Action Channel
Shadow Skill: Part 2 - 05:50 PM Encore Action Channel
DNA Sights 999.9 - 07:10 PM Encore Action Channel
Ghost In The Shell - 08:00 PM Encore Action Channel
Psycho Diver - 09:20 PM Encore Action Channel
Patlabor 2: The Movie - 10:10 PM Encore Action Channel
Guests so far include (there will be more, but Japanese guests are currently celebrating their holidays and will not get back with us until mid January.):
TIFFANY GRANT - Voice actress, "Evangelion", "Gunsmith Cats" and much more!
NEWTEK - the CGI Company that handles computer animation programs such as LightWave will do demos of various programs for us during the weekend.
STEVE BENNETT - Animator for Urusei Yatsura, Final Yamato, and many other shows
STUDIO IRONCAT - We don't know which artists will attend yet, but we'll let you know.
BEN DUNN - Head of Antarctic Press
ANTARCTIC PRESS - will be represented by the likes of: JOE WELTJENS, DOUG DLIN, TED NOMURA, and more!
ELIN WINKLER - President, Radio Comix, has her own comic line!
RADIO COMIX will be represented by names such as: PAT DUKE, DEAN HSIEH, WILL ALLISON, BRANDON GRAHAM, PAUL WAY, EDDIE PERKINS, DIANA SPRINKLE and more!
VALKYRIE GAMES - Stellar Horizons game developer
RODNEY CASTON - host of www.fansubs.net for fan subtitlers
LEE W MADISON - Artist responsible for all the cool Badge Art A-Kon has had for the last 11 years, as well as Staff T-Shirt designs.
NEWTON EWELL - Game design artist, fine art and fine anime illustrator, mech designer, and all around swell guy. (we haven't actually ASKED him yet, but it wouldn't be an A-Kon without him!)
SOME FEATURES So Far:
* Anime cel painting workshops conducted by animator Steve Bennett ($5 materials fee-pay at the door-gets you paints, acetate, brushes, all that you need to create your own cel!)
* Computer Animation demos & classes with NewTek!
* 'AniName That Tune' - how fast can you identify your fav. Tunes?
* 'Anime Match Game' - was great fun last year, is back again!
* 'Japanimayhem' - the rousing tongue-in-cheek look at the anime world in a 'killer' card game
* Sunday Banquet With The Stars & A-Kon anime awards ceremony! 5th Annual!
* Cram packed dealers room-149 tables crammed with stuff!
* 3 24-hr Video theaters, and a couple side theaters
* CLUB J-POP - hear the latest in Japanese music hosted by Radio Wasabi (called CLUB WASABI for this year's Kon!)
* Parties, fellowship, fans, etc.
* Live Sushi Demo - see how that fish is really cut up! And eat the samples! Seminar conducted by Tokyo One Japanese Restaurant chefs.
* Martial Arts Stage Fighting Demo - see actual Hollywood actors conduct seminars on how to do real stage fighting, with weapons and hand-to-hand - make your cosplay presentations look REAL!
* Cosplay makeup demo- learn how to make prosthetics and apply them properly to bring your characters to life - hosted by an actual Hollywood makeup artist and an actor who has been every alien in the book! Watch an actual anime character come to life in 3-D on a real human body (looks lots different than 2-D on paper!)
* Komik Market - THE place to find cool new clubs, small press comics, personalized artwork, etc.
* Model Contest (handled by AVD)- bring your entries!
* Live Action Games (Animania, Maximum Comics' games, Night of the Yakuza, Vampire, etc. )
* 24 hr. RPG and CCG Gaming
* Battletech (by Mechwarriors Guild)
* Fan Video Contest
* Opening Ceremony with cool stuff
* FREE PRIZE PACK for pre-registered folks (all kinds of goodies)
* Costume Contest on Saturday Night
* DANCE on Saturday night by RFO
* KARAOKE on Friday Night!
* Prizes, Giveaways galore!
* Panels, discussions with guests, industry professionals, etc.
* Displays from anime companies
* KAOS Room - 24 hr. Networked, Computerized Gaming room
* Commemorative T-shirt (designer TBA)
* Panel topics including Fan Fiction, Internet, Fan Subbers, Translating, New Releases, Voice Acting class, CGI demos, etc.
* Art Show & Auction -over 18,000 square feet!
* Fan Sponsored Video Room
* More as we get it confirmed! (there is a possibility of a live J-Pop band performance at this year's con - more on that as it is developed.)
--------------------
CHILDREN'S PROGRAMMING:
In response to the high number of children showing up these days, we've added this special place for the littles to have fun, see some video, and play (and to allow their parents to play too!). Potty-trained up to age 8 will be handled in this place, juice/snacks provided, they will do crafts, etc. There will be 2 4-hr. sessions each day, and a child may be signed up for only one session per day. If there is call for it, we may have a shift in the evening as well. Details will be ironed out and posted as available. There is no charge for this service, but donations will be welcome, as will snacks, toys or video lent to the room for the kids to play with, etc. We apologize for the confusion in last year's programming of this room. We have rectified the situation.
More detail, including prices, hotle bookings and online ticket purchases at A-Kon's website : http://www.a-kon.com or e-mail info@a-kon.com
Source: Nikkei Sangyo Newspaper, December 8, 2000
Source: Neptune Media
Source: Anihabara
The US version of Sega's Dreamcast online RPG Phantasy Star Online will be coming out on February 6, the online server will be open on the same date, and Sega of America is not planning to charge for the PSO online battle services.
Capcom will release Street Fighter Zero 3 for Matching Service in Japan on February 8, 2001, for 3800 yen. This version will have an enhanced Dramatic Battle Mode, in which you can freely select any characters for the 2 VS 1 battle. During the network battles, you can also send instant messages to the opponent, you can send instant messages by pressing direction button and Start together, such as "It will be tricky", "Victory!", "Hey" and so on.
Shoeisha will release a Limited Edition of their Dreamcast 3D action shooting game Macross M3 on February 22, for 6800 yen, which includes an original illustration box, and one of the 3 main character lamination card. You can also enter a lucky draw to win one of the following items: Macross VF-1S Garage Kit (Macross Prize, One); Complete Transformation VF-11B Sanda Bolt Yamato Model (Max Prize, 50); and VF-1A,VF-1J & VF-1S plastic toy model kit (Miria Prize,150); Macross M3 CD (Memorial Prize, 100). The winners will be announced in the Dreamcast magazine and the D-Direct / Shoeisha homepage on March 30, 2001.
SNK has announced yet another new title for the system, it is a stripping mahjong called Super Real Mahjong from Seta. SNK said "NeoGeo Pocket development has not been finished! We promise you providing high quality entertainment, and satisfaction! There is every reason to do so ..."
Source: The Magic Box
It should be noted that this could be good news, supporting previous word that Toho was planning on taking more time in crafting the third film, which may be hitting screens in Japan in spring 2002.
Capcom will release the 3rd chapter of the Dreamcast bi-monthly RPG El Dorado Gate Vol. 3 in Japan on February 2, for 2800 yen. This time the game will contain only two episodes (7th and 8th chapter), but the seventh chapter is a special long volume. The two stories in volume 3 are: Pamela - the person who succeeds Ogre's soul, and Kanan's second story, after she survived the death sentence, with the mystery power of the cursed mask.
Nec Interchannel announced they are porting the popular PC love adventure game Canvas: Motif Sepia Color to Dreamcast, the DC port will feature a new character and scenario, the game will be released on April 5, 2001. Other than Canvas, the popular Saturn and Gameboy Color love adventure game Pia Carrot is also coming to Dreamcast, Nec Interchannel will release Welcome to Pia Carrot 2.5 for Dreamcast in Japan next spring.
Source: The Magic Box
Figures.com reports that Gamepen has contacted Sega's Public Relations Staff about the release for the DreamCast Broadhand Adapter(Modem). Sega responded stating "It Will Be Available On January 9th, 2001.", but they also mentioned that you could only purchase the product from the official Sega site until March of 2001, when they will ship the product to retail stores to sell.
Also from AOD, According to a post on their forum, a customer service representitive at AnimEigo has mentioned that indicated the 2nd Urusei Yatsura box set (TV volumes 6-10) won't be ready until March and not the tentative January release.
Source: The Gaming Intelligence Agency
Ashita No Joe DVD-BOX 2 - running time is 575 minutes, each of the 4 discs is disc is one layer. Audio is in Dolby NR digital (stereo). Retail price is 29,800 Yen. Extras include a 52 page heavily illustrated color booklet.
Rose Of Vesailles DVD-BOX 2 has a listed running time of 500 minutes, each of the 4 discs in the set is single layer. Audio is Dolby NR digital (monaural). Retail price is 25,800, extras include a 52 page all color booklet page color booklet.
While the very recent 1st-3rd special release Gundam Movies continue to dominate most stores' top 5 selling titles in Tokyo, already appearing in a few shops are DVD release flyers with images for the Gundam Movies F91 and Char's Counter Attack. On March 25 both movies are due. Release details for Char's Counter Attack are as follows: The disc has a running time of 120 minutes in Dolby NR digital (stereo). In dual layer, it will retail 6,000 Yen. Extras are booklet. F91 has a running time of 120 minutes in Dolby NR digital (stereo). Retail is 6000 Yen, Extra is a booklet. the market. Character of bosom oak such as "Fist of the Great Bear" and "Joe tomorrow" 1000 volume in space <"> (*ya*) though the typing software made ‚ð theme is popular. (*mat*)" became typing software in this December. The stage setting is space battleship <"> (*yama*) which drew the desperate fight with the white comet empire.
Several studios are already taking action. Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) released "Vertical Limit" on December 8 in the US on December 9 in Japan. "Charlie's Angels" was released in 30 countries including Japan and Europe within 1 week after the US release. Universal Studio will release "Grinch" in 100 countries within 1 month after the US release. In the past, it took studios 4 - 6 months. This gave studios time to evaluate domestic box office results and formulate overseas release strategies. Studios expect costs will rise as much as 30% due to intensive amount of work required for a simultaneous release worldwide.
With the advent of new technology, overseas customers can order hot new home video releases prior to the film’s domestic release. This was a primary reason that the major U.S. studios supported the implementation of region coding on dvds. It remains to be seen if this will signal the end of region coding. Many foreign DVDs are being released with English subtitles. However, in many cases, only U.S. consumers with a "region free" DVD player are able to view these DVDs. Foreign movie fans can only hope that this will signal an end to region coding.
Another reason for modifying release schedules is that a great amount of information on new movies is flooding through movie companies' homepages and other web sites. Bad word of mouth could devastate a film’s box office when released overseas. It is expected that development of digital distribution technologies should hasten implementation.
Source: Neptune Media
Konami will release Genso SuikoGaiden Vol. 2 for PlayStation in March 2001. The sequel of the Suikoden side story adventure game. There will be 4 episodes in the game, the main character is still Nash from Genso SuikoGaiden Vol. 1, in this game you will encounter many characters from the Suikoden series. You can use the save data of Suikoden 1 & 2 in this game.
Bandai announced that they have shipped 350,000 copies of their highly anticipated PlayStation 2 action game Mobile Suit Gundam, and the whole shipment has sold out in 4 days. Bandai is expecting to ship a total of 500,000 copies of the game by the end of March 2001.
Nintendo of Japan has confirmed the official launch details of the Gameboy Advance. The new 32-bit handheld will launch in Japan on March 21, for 9800 yen. There will be 4 launch titles from Nintendo, including Super Mario Kart Advance, F-Zero for Gameboy Advance, Napoleon, and Kuru Kuru Kururin. Each game will retail for 4800 yen.
Source: The Magic Box
The GIA has a report on more details behind Square's upcoming FF8 RPG here.
The GIA secondly has A brief MP3 clip of Phantasy Star Online's Opening theme, which can also be heard in the game's Japanese commercial. 75 seconds long, the clip begins with an orchestral medley from Phantasy Star 2's opening, moves to an aria, then again back to orchestral. Check it out here.
Thirdly, The GIA has details of a A new release date for Sega's Sakura Taisen 3 RPG. The 3 GD-ROM game is due out in Japan in March.
A launch sale commemoration / concert event for Next Ltd's Space Battleship Yamato Typing Wave Motion computer software was held in Akihabara Sunday, December 17th. The event reportedly drew fans from Osaka and other cities.
Digital Character creators Broccoli have announced a new bishonen (beautiful boy) character expansion to it's Aquarian Age card game. The male characters take a dramatic turn for the game which had previously included only Bishoujo (Beautiful Girl) characters. A new rule set that will allow begining users to easily move into gameplay has also been adopted. 70 unique cards make up this set, a pack of 12 cards retails at 400 Yen and a box of 15 packs will sale for 6000 Yen. Sale of the new cards begin from January 20th.Update on the previously announced planned Digi Charat PC adventure game "Digi Charat Fantaga". Taking place in Akihabara and other areas. Nine original characters will be present, look for the Japanese release in February for Windows 98/Me.
IN THIS MONTH'S ISSUE OF NEWTYPE ONLINE (www.newtype-net.com)
FOR THE BARREL
We are doing an interesting feature on the first entry of characters! What
was "For The Barrel" made for in the first place? Where is it going to? (see
Special Topics)
FOR THE BARREL: UPDATE!
We've got a message again from Gichi Ohtsuka. Check this out!! (see Special
Topics)
AVALON
Instead of "SAIYUKI", which had been cancelled for the copyright reason,, we
are continuing to present "AVALON" on January site. Get a lot of fun out of
Mamoru Oshii's world!
HOW TO ART
This time Akemi Takada, well-known illustrator, was wholeheartedly called on
to teach us her refined sense of touches. (see How to Art)
ART GALLERY
Thank you for sending your art works continuously !
Eight masterworks are on stand-by to show off ! (see Art Gallery)
CONFIDENTIAL FILE
We've got a Christmas present for you! That is Newtype's original wall paper
with its logo on it!
VOICE YOUR OPINIONS!
We ask you new questions. Feel free to answer it. So go to 'Talk on NT' (in
NT Forum), and give it anything you want to say!
Source: Cool Japanese Toys
The CD Single for the TV anime featuring main theme by Masami Okui is out on February 7th at 971 Yen as well as the ED theme "" I D'LOVE YOU TO TOUCH ME". The BGM Sountrack is due on March 7th, retailing at 2913 Yen, featured here are of course original score from the anime and vocal songs by both Okui and series seiyuu Megumi Hayashibara.
Source: Figures.com
Konami is currently developing a new PSX music game, Beatmania: The Sound of Tokyo, featuring songs from the popular Japanese band. The game will be released on March 29, 2001.
Sega has announced the delay plagued Sakura Taisen 3: Hometown Paris is Burning for DC release in Japan in March 2001.
Sega is working on a sequel to their Dreamcast adventure game Love Hina, called Love Hina: With a Smile Again, scheduled to release in Japan in March 2001. The story is based on the popular anime of the same name, the game will have network support, for users to download additional features from the internet.
Konami announced that they will begin to provide the online music service for mobile phone over the internet, called Dancing Karaoke D Kara. Users can enjoy both karaoke and Dance Dance Revolution at the same time over the internet, by downloading the music right from their cellular phones, you can also play the finger dancing version of DDR on the mobile phones. Each song will cost around 150 yen, there will be over 16,000 songs available at the Konami Music Online website, and 60 new songs will be added monthly.
Source: The Magic Box
Asamiya
Abe
Taniguchi
Gontaro
Torres
Miyazawa
Levins
Hernandez
faerber
Patton
Yakkel
Masik
-On page 8 of the recently released gigantic 2001 Right Stuf Catalog, it is mentioned that the company is currently in the process of preparing it for a U.S. VHS / DVD release:
Please be aware that the guy who does the catalog is also doing a whole bunch of work on that too, so it might take a while. Trust us ... he's very aware of how cool this show is and doesn't plan on taking any shortcuts on it.
The Opening theme single SAMURAI, goes on sale in Japan January 24 at 1,050 Yen from Victor. Ending theme single "Shape of flower" is out on the 21st February, at 1,050 also from Victor.
-Digital Art [ Interactive ] section
Grand prix: 'Dragonquest VII Warriors of Eden'
-Digital art [ Not Interactive ] section
Excellent prize: 'Avalon'
Oshii Mamoru
-Animation section
Grand prix: BLOOD THE LAST VAMPIRE
Hiroyuki Kitakubo (selected from 148 animation works entered)
-Manga section
Grand prix: 'Vagabond'
Takehiko Inoue
Source: UMJAMS Anime News
January 5th will mark the reurn of Gonzo's Blue Submarine #6 to Cartoon Network. The mini-series will run 180 minutes from 4:00 PM-7:00 (ET/PT).
Also, DBZ: Dead Zone airs this Friday, Dec. 29th from 6:00 to 7:00 PM (ET/PT).
Source: DBZ Kingdom
Tecmo released new info on their upcoming PS2 breed & battle game Monster Farm, scheduled to release in Japan in March. This time the game will use a new graphic engine to make the characters and animation more cartoony, like an anime movie. There are new monsters from the Gameboy Color game Solomon (Monster Rancher Explorer in US). Because now the PS2 can read both CD-ROM and DVD-ROM, you can acquire special monsters with some rare discs.
Shoeisha has released new info on their Dreamcast flight shooting game Macross M3, scheduled to release in Japan on February 22, for 6800 yen. This 3D shooter is mission based, during each stage, you can transform between a robot and a fighting jet. A Plus-In System is featured in the game, you can purchase special function chips and install them into your airframe. Each of the 3 main characters, Max, Miria and Moaramia will have his / her own special techniques.
Sega has given an official name to the sequel of Shenmue, it is now called Shenmue II.
Source: The Magic Box
The 1998 Touch Movie 'Miss Lonely Yesterday' has just been announced to be released in Japan via single layer DVD from VAP on February 21st at 4800 Yen. The disc has listed running time of 93 minutes.
Participating artis include
L'arc-en-ciel
Ami Susuki
Puffy
TM Revolution
Denki Groove
Judy and Mary
Hysteric Blue
and many more...
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