Samurai X (also known as Rurouni Kenshin) is an extraordinarily popular international franchise, including both a television series and four OVAs. The OVAs, which appeared after the television series, expand on and detail the background and history of the eponymous 19th-century samurai assassin.
Kenshin is a wanderer, a lost soul, cursed to seek atonement for his life in the bloody trade of the samurai, known throughout all Japan as the Hitokiri Battousai ("sword-bearing master assassin"). The peacetime after a long war to overthrow a corrupt government has brought no peace to Kenshin, despite a vow to draw his sword only for the protection of those in need. Now his wife Kaoru steadfastly awaits his return, mourning his absence as well as that of their son, Kenji. Will Kenshin return before she dies of grief? The past meets the present fifteen years since Kenshin left.
Samurai X: Reflection Director’s Cut ($29.98 SRP) is a DVD-only release with a 98-minute feature, including both English 5.1 and Japanese 5.1 language versions with English subtitles. Extras include: interviews with the original Japanese vocal cast, clean opening and closing animation, production sketches (video), commentary with J Shanon Weaver (Kenshin), Gray Haddock (Sanosuke) & Katherine Catmull (Kaoru), a reversible cover and ADV previews.
Manga Entertainment is proud to release a newly re-mastered Special Edition DVD of the anime feature film that took the world by storm in 1996 -- Ghost in the Shell. Nearly decade after the film’s creation, the characters, settings and ideas in this unprecedented, mesmerizing cinematic masterpiece resonate in Hollywood films such as “The Matrix” and the works of James Cameron (Titanic, Aliens, The Terminator) who describes Ghost in the Shell as “stunning…the first truly adult animation film to reach a level of literary and visual excellence”. Based on the ground-breaking comic book by Masamune Shirow, veteran director Mamoru Oshii skillfully created a movie that questions the very essence of human existence in the fast-paced world of the information age and produced one of the leading Japanese animation films of all time.
Seamlessly merging traditional cel animation with state-of-the-art computer graphic imagery, Ghost in the Shell challenged the boundaries of mainstream animation with its detailed artistic expression and uniquely intelligent story line. Winner of the 1997 World Animation Celebration Awards for “Best Theatrical Feature Film” & “Best Director of a Theatrical Feature Film,” Ghost in the Shell has since become a an international phenomenon, spawning not only a second theatrical feature (Ghost in the Shell: Innocence currently being distributed throughout the U.S. by Dreamwork’s Go-Fish label) but an animated Television series, Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex (currently distributed by Manga Entertainment), a PlayStation2 videogame, a second comic book series (Ghost in the Shell: Man Machine Interface published in the U.S. by Dark Horse Comics) and countless pieces of merchandise.
Synopsis: In 2029 – A female cybernetic government agent, Major Motoko Kusanagi, and the Internal Bureau of Investigations are hot on the trail of "The Puppet Master", a mysterious and threatening computer virus capable of infiltrating human hosts. Together, with her fellow agents from Section 9, they embark on a high-tech race against time to capture the omnipresent entity.
“Ghost in the Shell – Special Edition” Studio: Manga Entertainment Sales & Distribution: Anchor Bay Entertainment Street Date: January 11, 2005 Pre-Book Date: December 11, 2004 Running Time: 120 minutes Suggested Retail Price: $34.98 Barcode: 0 1313 82004-9 5 Selection # M2004
Disc One: Digitally Re-mastered Anamorphic Widescreen Feature, Custom Motion Interactive Menus English 6.1 DTS-ES Surround, English 5.1 Dolby Digital-EX Surround Japanese 6.1 DTS-ES Surround, Japanese 5.1 Dolby Digital-EX Surround Spanish Dolby Digital Stereo, French Dolby Digital Stereo, Italian Dolby Digital Stereo German Dolby Digital Stereo, English Subtitles
Disc Two: Character Dossiers, Creator Biography, Director Biography, Digital Works Production Report, Ghost in the Shell Trailers, Previews, DVD Catalog & Web Links
As a gift to you, we've decided to extend our registration deadline and allow everyone a chance to save money through the holiday season. Register before January 1st for an incredible savings on membership. Only $30 for adults and $20 for children (7-12) for a 3-day pass!
This gives you access to everything at the convention for less than a 1-day Saturday membership! After January 1, rates will rise, so hurry and take advantage of this offer. Happy Holidays from the staff at AnimeNEXT! http://www.animenext.org/register
* ANIMENEXT 2004 ATTENDANCE INFORMATION
3401 people attended AnimeNEXT in 2004! It's no wonder the place was packed! Our new venue, the Meadowlands Expo Center will provide us with much more breathing room. We wonder how many people will attend in 2005? Here's the breakdown for 2004:
57% of our attendees live in NJ (Go Jersey!) 33% of our attendees live in NY (What's up with that, NY?) 05% of our attendees live in PA (Not a bad showing) 02% of our attendees live in CT 01% of our attendees live in MA
We also had attendees from the following states: MD, VA, DE, AZ, MN, RI, MO, IL, IN, FL, CA, DC, NH, ND, NV, OK, SC, TN, and TX. That's 24 of the 50 states, plus we had people from Canada and Britain. That's pretty amazing!
Anime content will include Japanese animated films from the ’20s, ’30s, ’40s by masters such as Noboru Ofuji, Masaoka Kenzo, Yasuji Murata. On Sunday 23 of January 2005, Future Film Festival and Musica! (Repubblica) will present the first edition of The Cosplay Contest. Occuring during the closing evening party, the coolest costumes will be awarded by an expert jury.
Capcom Figure Collection: DarkStalkers - Morrigan & Lilith Miniature Collectible Figures Continuing with last year’s highly successful Capcom Figure Collection: Street Fighter II - Chun-Li and Cammy, Yamato is pleased to place the spotlight on DarkStalkers’ Queen of Vampires, Morrigan, and everyone’s nightmare of a little sister, Lilith. As before, this six piece assortment features a pair of figures fashioned by three of the leading Japanese “garage kit” artists. Standing at approximately 5” in height and sealed in a blister card, these beautiful ladies are sure to sweep their way into your heart and leave you hungry for more.
Please Teacher – Mizuho in Space Suit Resin Statue Teleporting to a specialty shop near you is the new Please Teacher! Mizuho Kazami in Space Suit Resin Statue. This eloquent sculpture by Toy Fujiura features the title character from Bandai Entertainment’s popular series Please Teacher! dressed to the nines in her skin tight, black space suit with revealing midriff beneath her flowing red hair and purple eyes. Measuring approximately 5.25” in length, Mizuho Kazami in Space Suit comes sealed in collector’s style closed box. This is one space explorer that belongs in your constellation!
SIF EX: Love Hina Again - Naru, Mutsumi, Motoko & Shinobu PVC Statues Story! Image! Figure! EX A Yamato Original! Relive all the fun, the charm, and misadventures of Bandai Entertainment’s wonderful anime OVA, Love Hina Again with an all-new line of collectible PVC statues of some of the Hinata Hot Springs most memorable occupants. Available individually are Naru, Motoko, Mutsumi, and Shinobu, each pre-painted and wearing their unique hot springs bathing apparel. Each figure either sits, lies, or stands between 3.25” and 8.50” tall and comes sealed in collector’s style window box with display base. Items sold separately.
SIF EX: ROD the TV – Maggie PVC Statue Torn from the pages of R•O•D the TV (distributed by Geneon Entertainment and featured on G4TechTV’s Anime Unleashed), the Paper Sisters second sibling Maggie is making her way to the U.S.! Standing approximately 7.25” tall, this attractively detailed PVC statue by Miki Ousaka of Cherry Blossom High displays Maggie ready for battle, pre-posed with the same stern and serious attitude that shines so brightly in the popular anime series. Maggie comes pre-painted with a display stand, sealed in collector’s style window box. It’s like a reading rainbow filled with adventure, excitement, imagination.
SIF EX: Guilty Gear Isuka – Ino PVC Statue Story! Image! Figure! EX A Yamato Original! Debuting in last year’s exceptionally popular arcade videogame Guilty Gear XX, Ino is a woman whose origins and motives are enigmas wrapped in mysteries. Now this sexy, red leather clad rocker is one of the main stars in Sammy/Sega’s latest installment of the Guilty Gear console series, Guilty Gear Isuka… and the follow-up to Yamato’s Millia Rage PVC Statue. From an original sculpture by Kazunori Oomoto, Ino stands approximately 8.25” in height and comes with display base and her mystical guitar, sealed in a collector’s style window box. She’s gonna’ rock your world!
SIF: Iron Leaguer Miniature Collectible Figures Story! Image! Figure! A Yamato Original! Imagine the ultimate sports team... a team of robots that can take on almost any sport from baseball to football to ice hockey. Mix this idea with the popular “super-deformed” Japanese art style and you have Iron Leaguers! Now the characters from Iron Leaguers can pass, shoot and score their way from the TV into your homes with this new assortment of miniature collectible figures from Yamato’s Story! Image! Figure! line. Each figure stands approximately 4” tall and comes blister packed.
Cyber Formula – Asurada GSX Vehicle Yamato proudly introduces the future of formula car racing… the Asurada GSX! Designed by Shoji Kawamori, this is an amazing 1/24 scale replication of the Asurada GSX from Cyber Formula (available from Bandai Entertainment). The Asurada GSX comes with boost engine, detachable upper body, free-rolling wheels, and a collector’s style display case. Sweet!
For more information, visit the Yamato USA website at www.YamatoToysUSA.com
Targeting the collectors and fans of anime, Jada Toys is proud to announce the release of our Initial D hobby edition diecast. From the hit anime series comes a much awaited new collectable in 1:18 scale cars and their beloved figurines. The Initial D hobby edition vehicles consists of the infamous Toyota Trueno AE6, Nissan Skyline GTR R32, and the Mazda RX-7 FD3S. These are a must have for diehard fans of the runaway hit anime. Just in time for the holidays, look for them at a hobby or collectable store near you on December 11th. For additional information and the hottest news on Jada Toys products, check out www.JadaToys.com.
"We are really pleased to open up the Rising Stars judging to the fans,” comments Rob Valois, TOKYOPOP editor. “Since so many people have been vocal on the message boards and at industry conventions, we're offering them all a chance to shape the future of manga. I'm personally excited to see how the fans' favorite will compare to our own.”
As the U.S. market leader in localized manga and the sponsor of the first-ever manga competition in the country, TOKYOPOP is on a mission to identify and nurture the artists and writers who will define American manga in the years ahead. A manga revolution is sweeping the U.S., and a new generation is being inspired by this innovative art form. The essence of manga is not restricted to work from to its birthplace in Japan—it can embrace Western characters, storylines and culture. TOKYOPOP’s expanded competition invites creators living in America and working in English to submit their work. The top seven entries, as selected by TOKYOPOP's editorial staff and the on-line People’s Choice selection, will receive monetary prizes and be published by the fifth Rising Stars of Manga anthology. In addition, all the winners will have an exclusive opportunity to pitch a full-length manga story idea to TOKYOPOP executives for possible development as a graphic novel series. Entrants are encouraged to submit content from all genres—comedy, drama, horror, science fiction, action, fantasy, romance—and even under-represented subjects such as political, historical or instructional manga. Complete details for the fifth Rising Stars of Manga competition are available NOW on TOKYOPOP’s website at: www.tokyopop.com/news/mangatalent/index.php.
All eyes are on Japan these days. Animation, fashion and food trends. We are beginning to see a new wave of Japanese style fashion infiltrating the US consciousness. High profile artists such as Gwen Stefani are showing a decidedly Harajuku look, and the up coming release of the Memoirs of a Geisha movie is sure to spark a deep interest in Geisha and Japan inspired fashions. Gaijin Geisha offers an ever changing collection of hand made tsumami kanzashi. Traditional hair pins worn by the Geisha in Japan. One of the few places to sell these hair ornaments outside of Japan, and one of even fewer to make them.
Street fashion in Japan is about mixing chic and kitsch, high fashion with street finds. Gaijin Geisha takes this idea of high art and low art to create a dynamic line with an emphasis on fun and originality. Where silk is the star of our Kanzashi section. Resin, glitter and a rainbow of faux fur create a playground of fun and original accessories. Sparkling wrist cuffs made with Chopstick wrappers and Swarovski crystals. Shishi Lions play happily across the front of sweatshop free tank tops. Exciting designs that capture current interests in Japan, and the playful irreverent mood of these fun street fashions. Come check us out and get ahead of the trend!
Deepak said, "As the narrow walls of nationalism come down, and as a new collective humanity, we break through our tribal identities, Asia will become the home of the entertainment, media and business activities of the world. Through the studio, we plan to reinvigorate some of civilization's greatest mythologies, to tap into the primal energies of India and Asia's great tradition of storytelling. The Super-Powers of tomorrow will not be defined by their military prowess but by their cultural contribution and we firmly believe our new venture will be at the vanguard of this global, cultural and economic shift."
"Similar to the phenomenon we have seen with Japanese anime and manga, which has influenced virtually every aspect of popular media today, our mission is to reinvent contemporary Indian popular art and permeate this new style and vision throughout the globe," said Gotham Ent. Group ceo, Sharad Devarajan.
Shekhar said, "Comics are becoming the new pop art. The new pop communication. The new drug. This is not just comics, but a breathtaking new multi-media format. Comics are the new culture."
Source: Silver Bullet Comics
Next month’s tournaments include the highly popular Vs. System $1 million Pro Circuit. The second of four annual stops, the Pro Circuit tournament at Gen Con So Cal will allow super hero trading card game fans to put their skills to the test and compete for over $250,000 in cash prizes. The main event will begin on Friday and Saturday, December 3 and 4, with the finals running on Sunday, December 5. Players in the Pro Circuit Tournaments are qualified entrants, who have won a previous Pro Circuit Qualifier Tournament at the local level, or by earning an invitation based on their UDE rating. Players can also earn a spot by winning one of the “Last Chance Tournaments” on Thursday, December 2.
It’s Marvel vs. DC in UDE’s $10,000 Vs. System Convention Championship at Gen Con So Cal. Vs. System pros can put their favorite comic characters to the test as they compete in UDE’s new $10,000 Convention Championship format. Vs. System fans are encouraged to bring their pure DC or Marvel decks on Saturday, December 4 at 9 a.m. and compete against others in their deck bracket for $5,000 in cash prizes. On Sunday, December 5, the winners of each bracket will face-off and battle for double the prize money for those players in their bracket.
Also next month, Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG enthusiasts will have a chance to be a part of one of the largest Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG events in history with UDE’s first-ever Shonen Jump Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG Championship Tournament. This advanced format tournament will be held on Saturday, December 4 at 1 p.m., and Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG fans will have a chance to win the incredibly popular and powerful “Cyber-stein” card – which will be the first time ever officially printed outside of Japan. The top winner of the tournament will win a trophy, the exclusive “Cyber-stein” card, a sheet of uncut foil rares from Rise of Destiny, and a Dell Inspiron XPS gaming laptop.
The second place finisher will receive a new “Slim” Playstation 2 game console and a brand new Nintendo DS gaming system; the third through fourth place finishers will be awarded a new “Slim” Playstation 2 game console; fifth through eighth place winners will receive brand new Nintendo DS gaming system; and all top-eight contenders will be awarded an invite to the upcoming Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG National Championships in 2005.
Southern California’s best Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG Duelists will also have tons of chances to win an invitation to the upcoming Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG National Championship event as UDE hosts Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG Regional Championship Tournaments on Friday, December 3 at 4 p.m., Saturday, December 4 at 1 p.m., and Sunday, December 5 at 10 a.m. The top four winners of each tournament will be awarded an invite to the upcoming Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG National Championship Tournament in 2005.
For information on additional tournaments, Upper Deck Entertainment, and its products, Internet users can log onto www.upperdeckentertainment.com
“Thanks to the internet, the world is shrinking and musical borders are disappearing,” says Ludlow. “In Asia, musical exchange among countries is common. For example, Korean teen phenom Boa Kwon often holds the top position on the Japanese pop (Jpop) chart. Japanese superstar Ayumi Hamasaki is commonly heard in Hong Kong, and Taiwanese radio will feature songs in Japanese, Korean, Mandarin, Cantonese and English.”
While radio stations across Asia play English-language artists alongside Asian hits, there is almost no reciprocation here. It isn’t for a lack of good music. When you consider that Southeast and Eastern Asia, have nearly a third of the world’s population, and the Japanese music market alone is 1/3 the size of the US market, it should come as no surprise that there are plenty of artists that know how to craft a good pop tune.
That said, Asian pop can take some getting used to. Female Jpop singers often strike American ears as overly shrill and frenetic, while Chinese ballads seem like a throwback to an earlier, more innocent era – but with modern stylings. “I happen to think love songs are better when you don’t understand the words,” jokes Ludlow, who is himself an American Caucasian. “Songs that I didn’t like when I first discovered Asian pop are now among my favorites – I’ve undergone a shift in my taste. It reminds me of the punk songs that once sounded harsh and now seem tame.”
But will it ever play in Peoria? “It is happening more and more.” Many American kids already know some Asian Pop hits through video games and anime. They may not be able to name the artists, but they certainly know the songs (at least the English translations). This year, Japan’s top R&B singer, Hikaru Utada released her US debut album on Island/Def Jam records, and her song “Devil Inside” reached #2 on the Billboard dance chart. The Cartoon Network has created a new prime-time series based on Japan’s best selling pop duo, Puffy Amiyumi. Meanwhile, Chinese artists have been selling out arenas in Las Vegas and San Francisco. Albeit to predominantly Chinese-American crowds.
But the internet is where the curious listener goes to proactively explore Asian music. Asian music has become a genre on the internet, along with its sub genres, Jpop, Cpop, Kpop and Tpop – Japanese, Chinese, Korean and Thai pop, respectively. In reality, these aren’t genres, but rather geographic and linguistic divisions. All countries produce their own take on pop, rock, R&B, hip-hop and dance music. There are even Chinese songs that fit the American country-music format. “On Pop Goes Asia, we play all genres of music and try to alternate languages on every song. There’s something for everyone to love (and hate)”.
The commercial was produced utilizing footage from RUMBLE PAK's mainstream release-concert event on October 24, 2004, called RUMBLE INVASION. The commercial also features the single "Watching Goodwill Hunting" from the debut self-titled CD of the rock band, Ludo. The band makes an appearance in the commercial. eigoMANGA is currently broadcasting the commercial on its website and is allowing fans to download or link to the commercial to publish on their own websites. Fans are also encouraged to send state their feedback in order for the company to refine the commercial before its official television broadcast to select television markets within December.
In Neo Tokyo, otaku dress up cosplay style for real, fans crowd cons to buy and trade, and anime soundtracks are heard in concert halls. Neo Tokyo is where anime has become both urban fashion and cultural zeitgeist. Featuring interviews with tastemakers, authors Patrick Macias and Tomohiro Machiyama cover studios, toys, museums, games, film "locations," music, plus where to hang and how to cruise.
"American Patrick Macias and Japanese Tomohiro Machiyama are your super team-up guides to this alternate pop-culture dimension next door," says Japan Edge co-author Carl Gustav Horn. "They drop anecdotes that will make you gape and treasure maps to stores that will make you start booking your airline tickets now." For anime fans, gamers, pop idol worshippers, fashion freaks, cosplayers, toy collectors, movie nuts, or just the curious, Cruising the Anime City takes you to Neo Tokyo, the pop cultural homeland of otaku around the world. Patrick Macias is a specialist in Asian film and Japanese pop culture, is also author of TokyoScope.
Tomohiro Machiyama, a movie critic and journalist, helped popularize the word "otaku." Cruising the Anime City: An Otaku Guide to Neo Tokyo retails for US$16.95. It is 144 pp., paperback, with 100+ color photos & maps. ISBN 1-880656-88-4. See www.stonebridge.com for other books on anime, manga, and more.
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