Anime News Service - February 2-4 Anime News

2-4-05 (12:15PM EST)---- Bandai Networks Announces 11% Profits Loss

Mobile contents provider Bandai Networks has announced their nonconsolidated financial results for the period of April-December 2004. The company earned 1,229,000,000 Yen during that time, it represnets an 11% decrease on the same period last year. Development costs of media has increased with ever advancing mobile phone technology.

2-4-05 (12:10PM EST)---- Weekly Japanese Box Office Ranking

While we've covered the previous weekend's box office results, Kogyo Tsushinsha also tracks weekly (7 day period) box office results and for the period of Jan 22 - 28 Howl's Moving Castle is also ranking # 3 behind Ocean's 12 and Year One in the North.

2-4-05 (11:30AM EST)---- Pink Pineapple / Green Bunny Status

There's been some concern in corners of fandom in Japan recently on the status of hentai anime producers Green Bunny and Pink Pineapple. The interest has stemmed from reported recent hard economic times for the adult animation sector. Observers have pointed to inactivity regarding the regular updates of both sites over the last few months. Pink Pineapple's site has not seen an update since September while www.green-bunny.com, which had recieved it's last addition in December just got an update yesterday.

2-4-05 (8:26AM EST)---- Innocence Oscar Comment

Sean Axmaker mentions the following for the Best Animated Film category under the header, "They Wuz Robbed" at Movies.MSN.Com: - Animated Film -- Anyone who has seen "Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence" knows that that it is a more ambitious and adventurous film than the tongue-in-cheek "Shark Tale" and "Shrek 2." Thanks To Daniel for sending in this news item.

2-4-05 (8:23AM EST)---- Disney To Adapt Kiki Novels

Jeff Stockwell has been hired by Walt Disney pictures to adapt "Kiki's Delivery Service," the Japanese series of books by Eiko Kadano. The story revolves around a 13-year-old witch Kiki who moves to the city with her talking cat Jiji where she lands a job in the local bakery. But Kiki's powers are not refined, and the adventures and scrapes she gets into show she has a lot of growing up to do. Susan Montford, Don Murphy and Mark Gordon will produce. Source: Cinescape Special thanks to Daniel for the news item

2-4-05 (12:13AM EST)---- ADV Films Announces E's Otherwise

Get ready for a psychic onslaught as ADV Films, North America’s #1 distributor of anime, unleashes the first volume of the new hit series E’s Otherwise (pronounced “s” otherwise”) on February 15, 2005. A psychically charged, high-energy adventure story focused around the future of human evolution and its possible consequences, E’s Otherwise is based on the hit comic series that original appeared in G Fantasy Monthly. The spectacular, state of the art animation was directed by Masami Shimoda (Macross 7, Saber Marionette J) and produced by Studio Pierrot (Saiyuki, Naruto).

The newest and deadliest weapon of the future has arrived, and it’s more powerful than ever before. The next stage of human evolution, a race of “metahumans” with powerful psychic abilities, has begun to appear on Earth. These mutants, known as the “E’s”, have the ability to convert thought to energy. A special elite force of E’s has been formed to help maintain law and order, but will these powerful psychics use their abilities to save the world, or control it? E’s Otherwise, Operation: Gald City ($29.98 SRP) is a DVD-only release containing five complete episodes presented in English 5.1 and Japanese 2.0 with English subtitles. Extras include: clean opening and closing animations, Japanese promo spots, production sketches and ADV previews.

2-4-05 (12:11AM EST)---- JAST Announces Sagara Family

PCR Distributing/JAST USA, the largest distributor of Japanese dating-sim games for adults, announced the immediate availability of The Sagara Family, an interactive anime-style game for adults ported to English by G-Collections. Featuring a bizarre interactive story in which you find yourself surrounded by the beautiful members of the all-female Sagaras, this new dating-sim game appeals to mature fans of Japan's famous "hentai" erotic art style.
The Sagara Family is an interactive PC game in which you interact with pretty anime girls as you move through the game story, making choices that affect the game outcome. When your father suggests that you live with a family while attending university in Tokyo, you didn't really have an opinion one way or the other, until you found out that the Sagara Family is comprised of nothing but women: four beautiful daughters and their sexy widowed mother! Not only is everyone in the house a beautiful female, they're not used to having men around, so they don't know how to act around one. This will no doubt cause any number of interesting situations to pop up.
Ever since the first computers with color displays appeared in the early 1980s, Japan has had a strong tradition of creating PC games for adults. Games often explore various fetishes, such as sexy maids who serve the player's every wish, harems of beautiful anime girls, or girls in unlikely costumes. These interactive games feature multiple endings with each character, allowing the player to play again and again.

The Sagara Family is translated into English, and the game graphics are 100% uncensored (the original Japan release has mosaics over the game graphics, in accordance with Japanese law). The game makes use of Virtual-Mate, an on-line registration system that requires an Internet connection when launched. Because of the Virtual-Mate system, which has reduced software piracy, the game has been released at the new lower price of $39.95 (other have been released at $49.95 list).

2-4-05 (12:08AM EST)---- Yoko Ishida At Anime Boston 2005

The New England Anime Society is proud to announce that Yoko Ishida will be attending and performing in concert at Anime Boston 2005.
Mention "Yoko Ishida" and fans will think of her remarkably beautiful voice that has glowingly enhanced the opening and closing credits of many popular anime shows. Singing has always come naturally for the vocalist/songwriter, from her childhood days to the time she was discovered at an anime singer contest. That early breakthrough opportunity got Yoko into the music industry and eventually resulted in her pro debut song, "Maiden's Policy" for the Sailor Moon R TV series.
Blessed with an endearing, expressive singer's voice and a dynamic range, Yoko was selected as the featured vocalist on Geneon Japan's Para Para Max CD series. From there, she emerged as one of the anime industrys' most prolific and outstanding female singers, performing the memorable theme songs to series such as Pretear, A Little Snow Fairy Sugar, Ai Yori Aoshi, Petite Princess Yucie, Gunparade March, Ai Yori Aoshi~Enishi~ and Texhnolyze. Yoko's first solo album, "sweets," was unveiled in 2003, and had the unique distinction of being released both in Japan and the U.S. that same year to anime fans.
In 2004, Yoko's popularity skyrocketed even higher, as she performed the theme song to the new GAINAX series, This Ugly and Beautiful World and launched the "Hyper Yocomix" album, featuring popular anime songs set to a Eurobeat mix. Yoko was "discovered" once again, this time by a U.S. video game producer, who had attended her summer concert and presented her the opportunity to perform the ending theme song, "Foolish Dreams" on Vivendi Universal Games' Red Ninja: End of Honor. When she's not practicing in a studio, Yoko can be found as an assistant host for a popular radio broadcast program (Okui Masami Kiss 3) with friend and colleague Masami Okui.

With her recent theme song performance for the new Ah! My Goddess TV series and her next anticipated album, "Yoko Ishida - All of Me") set for release in Japan on March 2005 (and May 2005 in the U.S.), Yoko continues to be a stand out performer/entertainer whose success can be directly linked to both her musical talents and her loyal fans.

2-4-05 (12:05AM EST)---- MO Otaku Club Article

Missouri's Sun-News Of Northland has a report on a local Otaku club which is putting folks closer in touch wwith Japanese culture.

2-3-05 (11:40AM EST)---- The Howl That Could Have Been

Digimon Adventure Director Mamoru Hosoda was originally attached to direct the animated film adaptation of Diana Wynn Jones's Howl's Moving Castle in spring 2003 but left the production midway. Director Hayao Miyazaki picked up the reigns on the project that writer Yoshida Reiko and Hosoda were developing. Miyazaki's name is singularly attributed with the credit for the existing film's script.

2-3-05 (11:18AM EST)---- Yakitate!! Japan Bread

To commemorate the TV series launch, Lawson convenience stores has been marketing bread specially themed around Takashi Hashiguchi's Yakitate!! manga originally released by Shogakukan in 2001. The storyline deals with the quest of a young baker who seeks to create the perfect bread which can represent Japan on the international stage. The animation began running on TV Tokyo on Tuesdays in October. 14 types of bread have been released to the store chain synchronized with the bread that dominates the content of the TV storyline. The bread is being released bi-weekly.

2-3-05 (10:41AM EST)---- Doraemon iPod Mini

Limited Quantities of 1000 special Doraemon themed iPod Minis will be sold in Japan via the Doraemon's Bell online shop. The blue colored unit will include a laser etched Doraemon image, 5 different wheel stickers, and black illustrated pouch. Retailing at 37,800 Yen, reservations will begin being taken on the site at 10:00AM, February 4th.

2-3-05 (9:36AM EST)---- Gundam SEED PC Accesories

Media Kite is marketing 2 new Gundam SEED PC software titles in Japan. The typing game is titled "Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Cinema Typing 1+2 Complete Version" and desktop accessories collection "Mobile Suit Gundam SEED PC Accessories Collection" The typing version will include vocal tracks by the actual TV series seiyuu. Scenario composer Chiaki Morosawa will direct the special storyline of the release. Retail is 4980 Yen when it hits the market on February 18. Compatible with Windows98/98SE/2000/XP. A Pentium 800 Mhz PC is reccomented and 256MB of ram along with 2GB of HD space. The Mobile Suit Gundam SEED PC Accessories Collection will include 100 wallpapers, 24 desktop characters, and 102 screen savers. A special library function will allow users to retrieve the voice clips of 45 characters that can be used for Windows events such as mail delivery. Retail is 3480 Yen and the release is February 18. System requirements call for Windows98/98SE/2000/XP, a PentiumIII/800Mhz, 256MB of RAM and a 2 GIG HD capacity. Screenshots are available at IT Media.

2-3-05 (9:30AM EST)---- NERV Zippo Lighters

Gainax has commisioned limited edition serial number stamped red on silvery white and lacquer black NERV Zippo lighters. The set will include an aluminum case. Retail is 21,000 Yen.

2-3-05 (9:11AM EST)---- Tales Of Phantasia OVA Release

The official Tales Of Phantasia OVA website has added release data for volumes 3-4 of the series. #3 is due on DVD in Japan on 5/25 with #4 following on 7/22.

2-3-05 (9:06AM EST)---- Aquarion Video Clip

Animate has posted a Windows Media video clip from the upcoming Aquarion TV sERIES.

2-3-05 (9:04AM EST)---- AIR BGM

BGM music from the upcoming AIR Movie has been posted to the official website. You can listen to 2 track samples at the link.

2-3-05 (8:39AM EST)---- Manhwa Becoming Major Export

Korea's Joongang Daily reports the Korean comic book industry is enjoying a boom in the United States and Europe, with exports, which only totaled $70 million in 2002, hitting $600 million last year. Daiwon CI Inc. has sold 60 million copies of the cartoon series "Ragnarok" in the United States, and the total royalties earned there, and in France, Germany and Italy, amount to 200 million won ($195,000) a year. Jeong Hyeong-cheol of the Korea Culture and Content Agency mentions "Currently, the Japanese and Korean comic markets can be described as being at an ‘80 to 20' ratio. 20' ratio. In five years, however, it will soon become 70 to 30." He predicted that the annual profit from the exports of Korean comics would be between $10 million and $15 million by then.

2-3-05 (8:30AM EST)---- Comics That Draw Girls

The Los Angeles Times has a focus piece on Shoujo manga being published in the USA and yet another view on how many women are flocking to buy it. Interesting numbers here including quote on manga titles to be dstributed this year. 400 manga releases are attributed to Tokyopop over the coming year with more than half being aimed at females. According to Viz, they have 140 manga titles in the pipes. Tokyopop's Rising Stars of Manga contests reportedly get about 1,000 entries each time they are running.

2-3-05 (7:50AM EST)---- Onegai Twins PVC

Kotobukiya has images and details on their latest One Coin Figure Series PVC offering, Onegai Twins. The figures are a set of 6+ 1 secret figure and are 80mm in height. Each one has an individual piece of set which can connect together to form a massive scene. Release is planned for March at 6,300 Yen.

2-3-05 (7:40AM EST)---- Latest Ultraman Movie Announced

A 2006 release has been given for the next Ultraman Movie which was just announced in Kobe.

2-3-05 (7:30AM EST)---- Chinese Version Of Ultraman Launched

An original Chinese franchise of the popular Ultraman TV series was announced Thursday in Japan. Production is getting underway, with broadcast to begin there in a year's time. Titled "Ultra Hero", the actors, setting and story will be localized to the region. Ultraman Tiga aired in China in recent years and while the Chinese dubbing was popualr it' been judged that developing original characters for the market was vital to succeed in the competitive character business there. A Chinese operation and joint venture company were established in the country to facilitate the effort. Ultra Hero will be only the first product out of the new firm, with additional ones to follow. Part of the reason in the move lies in vast trademark and copyright infringements which have appeared related to Ultraman via counterfeit goods, so copyright management is a key aim.

2-2-05 (11:45PM EST)---- Battle Royale American Rights Status

Regular contributor Daniel Zelter writes in mentioning he just got off the phone with a representative from Tartan Films USA who said that they're still trying to convince Toei to give them the American rights to the Battle Royale films. They were very successful for Tartan in the UK, where they do have the rights, and are hoping they can get the opportunity to release it in the U.S.

2-2-05 (11:33PM EST)---- CPM Rolls Out Shadow Star Narutaru

Central Park Media announced the April release of Shadow Star Narutaru, a brand new anime series from the screenwriter of Serial Experiments Lain and the animation director of Nadia: Secret of Blue Water.
Shadow Star Narutaru, based on the long running hit manga, will make its debut as a special limited edition box set priced at $34.95 SRP. Quantities of this box set are limited and will contain a Shadow Star Narutaru 1 (episodes 1-4) DVD and an exclusive Shadow Star Narutaru T-shirt packed in a limited edition collector’s slipcase that will hold future volumes of this series.
This sci-fi action adventure will also be available as a single DVD priced at $29.95 SRP, containing the following DVD bonus materials: Character Designs, Original Japanese Shadow Star Narutaru Trailer, Character Summaries, and much, much, more! Shadow Star Narutaru 1 will have audio tracks in both English and Japanese with English subtitles, a pre-order date of March 15, 2005 and a street date of April 12, 2005.
Shadow Star Narutaru 1 Limited Edition Box Set with T-Shirt Shiina nearly died when the current swept her out to sea. Instead, she was rescued by a mysterious star-shaped creature and plunged into a strange adventure! Her new friend Hoshimaru leads her into a maelstrom of alien attacks and to a secret society of psychic children. Is Shiina destined to become one of them? And is her new pet truly a friend, or a threat to all humanity?
Running time: 100 minutes Genre: Science Fiction Rating: 16UP WEA Selection: 752459 SRP: $34.95 UPC: 7-19987-24592-1
Shadow Star Narutaru 1 Shiina nearly died when the current swept her out to sea. Instead, she was rescued by a mysterious star-shaped creature and plunged into a strange adventure! Her new friend Hoshimaru leads her into a maelstrom of alien attacks and to a secret society of psychic children. Is Shiina destined to become one of them? And is her new pet truly a friend, or a threat to all humanity?

Running time: 100 minutes Genre: Science Fiction Rating: 16UP WEA Selection: 752471 SRP: $29.95 UPC: 7-19987-24712-3

2-2-05---- Itochu / Time Warner Deal Update

Asahi News (Japanese) has some new details on the recently announced animation deal between Itochu and Time Warner. Firstly, the paper notes it is unusual for foreign capital to shoulder the risk of a venture such as this involving a Japanese work. The first work from the tie-up will telecast around next spring

2-2-05---- Stars And Stripes: "Mecha: Could It Be The Soldier Of The Future? "

The European edition of the major United States military publication Stars And Stripes has an article on the real world viability of mecha on the battlefield. The piece looks at Carlos Owens' 18-foot tall in Alaska. Berkeley Lower Extremities Exoskeleton, or BLEEX. Owens comments on DARPA's human exo skeleton, BLEEX. "If I had $50 million, I could do something a lot better than some overrated servo legs," he says. The folks at DARPA know of Owens, too. "We' fve gotten a few calls about it," says John Main, the scientist in charge of exoskeletons there. He forwarded questions to DARPA public affairs.

2-2-05---- Anime Leads Japanese Film Market In 2004

Updating our previous report, according to detailed figures just out from the Motion Picture Producers Association of Japan, Anime continued to be a vital sector of the Japanese Movie industry in 2004. Of the top 20 grossing Japanese films of the year, anime or anime-related works took 11 spots, and 40.3 billion Yen of the overall gross (about 60%). Following is the complete list:
1. Howl's Moving Castle - 20 billion Yen
2. Sekai No Chuushin De Ai Wosakebu - 8.5 billion
3. Ima Ai Niyukimasu - 4.8 billion
4. Pokemon Advance Generation - 4.3 billion
5. Doraemon Nobi Ta No Wannyan Jikuu Den - 3 billion
6. Meitantei Conan Gin Tsubasa No Kijutsushi - 2.8 billion
7. Cel - 2.2 billion
8. Swing Girls - 2.1 billion
9. NINxNIN Ninja Hattori THE MOVIE - 1.9 billion
10. Han Ochi - 1.9 billion
11. One Piece The Movie Norowa Reta Seiken 1.8.
12. Umi Saru - 1.9 billion
13. Casshern - 1.5 billion
14. Chakushin Ari 1.5 billion
15. Gekijouban Naruto Dai Katsugeki! - 1.3 billion
16. Gojira x Mosura x Mekagojira - 1.3 billion
17. Crayon Shinchan Arashi Wo Yobu! - 1.2 billion
18. Steamboy - 1.1 billion
19. Kai Nats- 1.0 billion
20. Innocence - 1.0 billion

2-2-05---- Howl Tops Korean Boxoffice In January

The Korea Herald reports South Korean films saw their box-office performance decline in January. According to the movie industry data compiled by CJ CGV, a major multiplex chain in Korea, Korean movies accounted for a 24 percent share in Seoul and 29.6 percent nationwide in January. In January, Japanese animation feature "Howl's Moving Castle" topped the box office chart, followed by "Alexander," "Ocean's Twelve," "National Treasure," "Kung Fu Hustle."

2-2-05---- Howl Premiere In Los Angeles

Nausicaa.net reports Hollywood's El Capitan Theater (owned and operated by Disney) is listing Howl's Moving Castle under June 10. Currently this would represent the American premiere for the film. Thanks to Daniel for sending in the news.

2-2-05---- New Gachapon Machines Being Tested

am3 Inc. just wrapped testing on it's next-generation anime vending machines, "Advance Gachapon" in 13 Kanto region stores across Japan. Via one of the machines you can acquire one TV series episode on an Advance Card (IC) for 300 Yen. These can then be played on a Gameboy Advance, SP or DS handheld. Official service will be announced based on the test response. Test media were limited to Pokemon and Detective Conan.

2-2-05---- GONZO Announces Further Project Solty Staff

GONZO updated information on it's latest animation work, Project Solty, at www.solty.net. Additional staff details can be gathered there: Art Setting: Sato Hajime (The Big O - Witch Hunter Robin), Concept Design: Range Murata (Last Exile - Spy Fiction), Original Concept Shuzilow.HA / GONZO. In addition to these new names, the following have already been announced: Scenario: Kimuranobo (HIME/DANDOH), Character Design: Shuzilow.HA (Tsimbeshirez), Original Concept Design: Kenichi Sonoda (Gunsmith Cats, Bubblegum Crisis, Riding Bean).

2-2-05---- Secret Origin Of A Fangirl

Sequential Tart looks at the secret origin of an American fangirl.

2-2-05---- Angel Heart TV Site

YTV has posted the pre-site for Tsukasa Hojo's Angel Heart TV animation adaptation at: www.ytv.co.jp/angelheart. Look for it to flesh out with content soon.

2-2-05---- Top 2 Vol. 2 Video

Gainax's official Top On Nare! 2 website has added commercial video for the 2nd OVA in Real and Windows Media formats.

2-2-05---- Eureka 7 Video

After the big announcement in Japan on Monday, MBS has uploaded clips of the coming Eureka 7 anime TV series in Windows Media and Real formats.

2-2-05---- Fushigi Hoshi No Futago Hime In April

The upcoming spring anime TV season continues to take shape with news that the magical girls series Fushigi Hoshi No Futago Hime starts it's run on Saturday, April 2nd at 10:00 AM on TV Tokyo. The official website can be viewed at futagohime.jp.

2-2-05---- Uekino Housoku Broadcast Start

News has come out via Shogakukan's just released Sunday No. 10 that Uekino Housoku the anime TV series begins airing Monday, April 4 at 6:30 PM. Also a new serialization of the work will run in the magazine from the spring.

Questions,Comments,News Submissions

Back To Anime News Service