Anime News Service - February 11-14 Anime News

2-14- 00---- More DVD News Out Of Katsucon

- Anime On DVD is reporting that According to the ADV panel at Katsucon, ADV's Rurouni Kenshin OVA/Movie acquisitions will be released on three DVDs'. The Three three discs will include the movie on one disc, the first two episodes of the OAV on another DVD, and the third and fourth episodes on the third disc.

ADV's new DVD catalogue reportedly lists the following DVD releases minus release dates: Battle Angel, Blue Seed 1 & 2 (4 eps each), BGC Tokyo 2040 1 Genesis & 2 Crusade (4 eps each), Burn Up W (all 4 eps), Cutey Honey (4 eps), Destroy All Monsters, DP Flash: 1 Angels in Trouble & 2 Angels retribution (3 eps each), Gamera, Gasaraki 1-3 (4-3-3), Gunsmith Cats (all 3), Eva 1-3 (4 eps each), Legend of Crystania: The Motion Picture, Lost Universe (4 eps), Martian Successor Nadesico (4 eps), Ninja Resurrection, Plastic Little, Princess Nine 1st Inning (3 eps), Queen Emeraldas, Ruin Explorers (4 eps), Sakura Diaries 1-4 (3 eps each), Sakura Wars (4 eps), Rurouni Kenshin (no ep count given), Slayers: The Motion Picture, Sonic The Hedgehog: The Movie, Sorceror Hunters (4 eps), Tekken: The Motion Picture.

The list also includes All Purpose Cultural Cat Girl Nuku Nuku - The Movie and Golden Boy, but according to an ADV representitive: for various reason these titles should not be on the list.

2-14-00---- Some Japanese Toys Hormone Disruptive?

The association of toy manufacturers claims it has been marking toys that pass safety guidelines, however, there are currently no regulations or guidelines on the use of endocrine disrupting chemicals. The 580 toymakers that make up the association have will reportedly present a new set of guidelines by April of this year that would require manufacturers to disclose the chemicals and materials used in toys for ages 3 and under.

Source: Asahi Shimbun

2-14-00---- Pokemon Fashion Show

Pokemon Think Chip Figures were showcased that allow the upload and download of training and past battle experience along with the Pokemon Think Chip Battle Stadium, a real life Dexter, The Talking Pokedex, which includes statistics, training exercises and attack sounds for Pokemon.

Nintendo's N64 Pokemon Stadium game was previewed, it allows players to battle with their Pokemon Red, Blue and Yellow trained Pokemon characters from Gameboy. Pokemon Gold and Silver, for Gameboy Color were also previewed with a current U.S. release slated for Fall.

2-13-00---- Neon Genesis Evangelion U.S. Broadcast Premiere

2- 13-00---- Top Anime DVD Sales (Japan) (As Of 2-14)

2-13-00---- Top Manga Sales (Japan) (As Of 2-14)

2-13-00---- Top Video Game Sales (Japan) (As Of 2-14)

2-13-00---- Top J-Pop Album Sales (Japan) (As Of 2- 14)

2-13-00---- Top J-Pop Single Sales (Japan) (As Of 2-14)

2-13-00---- Well Known Japanese Voice Actress Dies

A complete list of her voice roles can be seen at:
www.win.ne.jp/~doi/seiyuu/niiyama-shiho.html

2-13-00---- Anime / Manga Gaming

Capcom plans to release their new PSX RPG, Breath Of Fire IV, in Japan on April 27th, listing for 5800 Yen.

Capcom's 3D action / adventure Rockman game, Rockman Dash Episode 2: Great Expectations (Megaman Legends 2) is out on PSX in Japan on April 20th, listing at 5800 Yen.

2-13-00---- J-Pop / Seiyuu News

2-12-00---- A.D.V. Announcements At Katsucon

ADV has also announced the acquisition of Martian Successor Nadesico The Movie: Prince of Darkness. Release of the film is slated to follow the completion TV series video release.

Other recent acquisitions include Arc the Lad, Chivass (Shibasu 1, 2, 3), Power Stone, and Excel Saga.

Finally, ADV will be entering the Anime Music arena, with plans to release soundtracks from a wide range of anime titles at the rate of approximately four per month. Releases will consist of the pressing of existing Japanese soundtracks, as well as soundtracks from ADV's original animation projects such as SiN. Most releases will be priced at $14.00 U.S. The first four releases from ADV Music will be: The Akira Symphonic Soundtrack, Macross II OST, Macross Plus OST, and Macross Plus OST 2, with a release to be set soon.

2-12-00---- Katsucon DVD News

Here are the major DVD highlights:

AnimEigo:

-Urusei Yatsura is "no more than 2 months" away (worst case scenario) from its initial DVD release. This was one of the biggest concerns the audience had.
-Oh My Goddess! on DVD is "a year or so" away.
-When asked about the release date of the Macross DVD's, Shin stated, "I don't know, but..." he was hoping to have a DVD-RAM copy to display starting at one of the summer cons.

The Right Stuf

-The Irresponsible Captain Tylor TV series will be planned for DVD the moment dubs are done (currently listed as March 28th). They have not decided whether to do it themselves or to outsource it (which he admitted would be much faster).
-Kareshi Kanojo No Jijou (aka His and Her Circumstances) will be attempted for a simultaneous DVD release. Jeff said he doubts this will happen.

Source: Anime On DVD

2-12-00---- Saturday's Katsucon Highlights

- Artist / Character Designer, Yoshitaka Amano mentioned:

"I have a deadline by the end of next week to finish three characters for Final Fantasy 9."

"I just like to draw. You know how kids like to draw? I never grew up from that point."

Amano admitted he was a lazy type who barely went to work, but discovered American comics around that time and his career changed because of that inspiration.

- Ryo Ramiya and Hiroyuki Utatane presented a pannel discussing Japanese erotica:

"You have to write what people want." "You have to get their attention," Utatane said. He spoke on the many facets of producing erotic anime, his works include Countdown and Temptation, with a new creation, Seraphic Panther, soon to be released.

Ramiya draws erotic pinups, but likes to collect more girlish things - such as merchandise from the Powerpuff Girls. Her enjoyment of Sailor Moon led Ramiya to draw a Sailor Moon fanzine once.

- Chris Oarr, executive director of The Comic Book Legal Defense Fund had a warned fans at his pannel that the uninhibited nature of some anime and manga is drawing attention from those who want to shut it down, especially those who still hold the belief that all comics and cartoons should be for children only.

Oarr mentioned an inncident in Corpus Christi, Texas, where a police vice officer went to several comics special stores and told them they had to remove all anime labeled "18 and over" to remove those videos, or face arrest. "Every six months or so he has a new anti-smut campaign...it's frightening to think this may happen to you," said Oarr. The fund director said this sort of crackdown is part of a larger effort to repress anything that offends a few who have "...a cultural agenda. They can't win their cases on obscenity, so they're attacking it as `harmful to minors.' They're hiding behind the children - and they're having some effect."

Source: Fan's View

2-12-00---- Bandai Entertainment To Relaunch Websites

2-12-00---- Macross Plus Toys In May

Source: EX

2-12-00---- Anime / Manga Gaming

EX reports that Big West has authorized Shoeisha to develop a PSX Macross Plus game with a planned Spring release in Japan.

Sony Computer Entertainment has revealed more specifics on the Playstation 2 DVD drive's capabilities. These include multi language, multi angle, multi story, features and Optical / Digital output of Dolby Digital, DTS Digital, and surround sound protocols. Upgrading the functions of the PSX2 DVD drive will be possible by upgrading the firmware.

2-11-00---- Anime / Manga Gaming

A new arcade game, released in Japan earlier this month called Sabumarin Kyaccha (Submarine Catcher), allows players to catch live lobsters and other sea creatures in an artificially created marine enviroment by maneuvering a small crane. The game is currently drawing fire from animal rights activists, who say the game torments living creatures. The game's maker claims it is no crueler than fishing in a pond to have, they have sold 100 of the arcade games, which cost 1.8 million Yen each.

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