"I was talking to the reporter about how Initial D in Japan used Avex Trax as a launching point to infuse the show with many of the top Japanese artists and a way to introduce new, hip music. I said, naturally, we have an opportunity to the same *IF IT GOT ON TV.*" Ken told us he had "always planned to release the Unedited, Untouched Original Japanese version of Initial D on DVD, with original music intact".
When asked about the potential of Tokyopop acquiring / releasing the currently in-production Live Action HK Initial D film featuring Jackie Chan as executive producer, we received the follwoing reply: "We can't say anything on the live-action movie but if further details develop, we'll be sure to let you know.."
Ebert's partner on the program, Mr. Roeper issued a negative review for Metropolis, noting the character design, movement, animation, and found the plot far fetched and boring.
The program airs weekly in most TV markets around the country. The review is the second on the show.
Excerpted from the Agape Press Article:
A national fast-food chain has stopped a promotion featuring cards that resemble tarot cards, which are associated with the occult.
Earlier this week, AgapePress reported on a promotion at Taco Bell that involved occult symbols. The company's "Cardcaptors" program involved the use of "Clow Cards," which are similar in appearance to tarot cards used in occult practices. Following that report, Taco Bell's national promotions director Lori Gannon says the company has halted the program following customers' complaints. She says it was a mistake. "It's a cartoon program that's not meant to have anything to do with witchcraft, but we do see how consumers thought [the promotion] could have been misconstrued as that," Gannon says. "So we took a look at the items and we've held them all at the distribution center -- we're not sending them to our restaurants any more and pretty much have ended the program."
Official Homepage: http://www.mediaworks.co.jp/topics/pitaten/pitaten.html
The Metropolis website (http://www.spe.sony.com/cthv/metropolis/) mentions that the movie will expand to Honolulu at the Varsity on February 8. Also, in in
credible news, the movie is being shown at the Mann Chinese 6 on Hollywood Blvd this weekend at 11:40, 2:15, 4:50, 7:30, 10:00, and 12:15 A.M. for Saturday. Now the reason it's incredible-for non-Angelenos-is because the Mann Chinese Theater only shows mainstream films-NOTHING independent! Not to mention that it's right across the street from the El Capitan, which caters to Disney films. So I'm definitely interested to know whether the presence of Metropolis will cut in on the Mouse's turf. I will admit the theater presented Shrek last year, but Shrek was a film with hype. Metropolis only has word-of-mouth going for it. So in conclusion, does this move mean Hollywood is ready to accept anime?
Official Site: www.jolf.co.jp/tcs/
"The 2002 Asia Business Conference in conjunction with VIZ Communications presents
ANIME NIGHT
Rumiko Takahashi's Ranma 1/2 Feb 6, 8-10pm Haas School of Business Cheit Hall San Francisco, CA
Free Admission
Experience Asian pop culture with Rumiko Takahashi's Ranma 1/2!
"In the the greater Tokyo area, martial artist Soun Tendo operates a dojo training students in the Anything-Goes Martial Arts technique. (The dojo does not appear to be doing terribly well, as we almost never see any students actually training there.) To ensure that his family continues in the traditional martial arts, Soun makes plans with his old friend Genma Saotome that Genma's son Ranma (also a practitioner of the Anything-Goes School) marry one of his three daughters-19-year-old Kasumi, 17-year-old Nabiki, or 16-year-old Akane-and thus carry on the dojo together.
"Unfortunately, when Genma and his son show up at the dojo's doorstep, it appears that they have both fallen victim to a curse at a mysterious Chinese training ground known as Jusenkyo. As a result of falling in one of the springs, whenever they are splashed with cold water, they each change into the last being that drowned in the spring ages ago. In Ranma's case, this means he turns into a busty, red-headed young girl, while Genma transforms into a panda. Hot water will reverse the effect, but only until the next time...
"Ranma 1/2 is the most popular manga by Rumiko Takahashi, the most popular female comic artist in the world.
"It's zany martial arts, teen romance, and comedy like you've never seen before. Join Ranma, Akane, P-chan and the rest of the cast in a whirlwind of exciting adventures in comic book, graphic novel, video series and full length animated movie forms."
Finally a tentative American release date for the film has been rumored as fall 2002, possibly September or October.
It should be noted that the above info should be regarded as strict rumor at this point.
This post to Nausicaa.net states that the region 2 dvd of Porco Rosso will include the rare French dub. Helen McCarthy mentions in "Hayao Miyazaki Master of Japanese Animation: Films, Themes and Artistry" (mentions that Miyazaki prefered the French dub over the Japanese one.
You can now get wallpaper of each of the main Lupin characters-starting with Zenigata-at http://www.lupin-3rd.net/03/03_fu/present.cgi .
The February 8 issue of Entertainment Weekly puts Crouching Tiger in the list of the 25 [I can't remember the exact phrase, so bear with me.] Modern Love Movies.
Also new is a fun listing of the Top Ten Things the Anime Community Wished They had Heard in the State of the Union speech of George W. Bush .
Shipping in case packs of 1 for a MSRP:$99.99 second quarter 2002.
Images can be seen at The Magic Box here.
The second Dragon Ball Z game title for GBA is a trading card game called Dragon Ball Z: Collectible Card Game, scheduled to release in US this June. The game will be virtually identical to the widely popular trading card game. In the game each player selects a character and a deck of cards that best fits the character, then you can use different attacks, defensive skills and strategies to win the match. In order to win the match, you must either keep your cards until the opponent runs out of card, maintain the highest personality points after the battles, or acquire the seven Dragon Ball or Namek Dragon Ball cards.
Hey there, all you Animefringers! It's now February 1, 2002, and our February issue is up and available for your reading pleasure.
Here let's take a peek into what we have ready for this month...
Cover Feature: Great Teacher Onizuka Eikichi Onizuka was like most people in their twenties... he had no idea what he wanted from his life, no real direction. That is, until he got it in his head that he wanted to shack up with some high school girls. What's an ex-biker in college to do? What else... become a teacher so he can seduce some fresh jailbait.
Fanboys and Fangirls - Symptoms and Diagnosis They are one of the greater mysteries of otakudom. Ever wondered what made that cute cosplayer tick? Or that person who uses quotes from anime in every single conversation, and sneers at you when you don't know what they're from? Our fledgling Animefringe reporter, Alex Brotman, brings us a full-fledged expose on the intricacies of fandom. Use caution when you read this... you might find out some things about yourself that you're not prepared to know.
Plus... we've got a special Valentine's edition of the insanely popular editorial Chasing Otakuism, some of the latest Briefs from around the world, and a slew of hot new reviews including one on the first volume of the brand new Rurouni Kenshin: Seisou Hen OVA series. All this plus so much more. Check out why don't ya?
I cannot maintain the site any longer because of the over-transfer rate.
The site will be renewed one of these days.
Source: http://128.121.124.39/archive1999/vitagraph.htm#audition
Check out a review of the Japanese-French co-production "H Story" at AICN and a review of Suicide Club, Avalon, and Pulse at AICN.
"Although it's still unclear what exactly THE MATRIX fans can expect with the premiere of the prequel series of animated shorts, called ANIMATRIX, more details about the mysterious project are coming to light. In an interview with WIZARD magazine, MATRIX producer Joel Silver revealed MATRIX creators Andy and Larry Wachowski will write half of the 10 shorts, with Japanese anime masters including Yoshiaki Jawajiri (VAMPIRE HUNTER D: BLOODLUST) and Mahiro Maeda (BLUE SUBMARINE NO. 6) whose short will be animated by the same house that did FINAL FANTASY: THE SPIRIT WITHIN. What's more, the shorts now have a vague release window: this fall. They're expected to hit the web first then be collected on a DVD at some later date."
And Gamespot mentions that Sega is developing a Crazy Taxi 3 for X Box.
Thanks to Daniel for the links
From the release:Famed Japanese artist Yoshitaka Amano, who has recently broken into American Comics with Sandman: The Dream Hunters from DC Comics and Elektra & Wolverine: The Redeemer from Marvel Comics, has donated an original Elektra painting to ACTOR’s next charity auction. The auction will take place at the Orlando MegaCon at the Orange County Convention Center from February 22-24, 2002.
The piece is the very first Elektra painting Amano ever did, and to this point has only been seen in Previews as a promotional piece for the Elektra & Wolverine: The Redeemer series. More importantly, Amano, who has a dedicated following both in America and in Japan, is letting go of one of his paintings for the first time in 20 years.
"I have always admired American comics since the time of 10-cent comics," said Amano. "I used to go to second-hand bookstores in Kanda, the part of Tokyo known for great bookstores and special collections of rare books, in search of good art. I have always had special feelings towards this culture, and all my animation work has been heavily influenced by American comics, 100%. So it means a lot to be able to contribute to the community I grew up with. I want to expect something good would come out of this, not only within this industry, but something influential to the outer world. I would like ACTOR to be influential not only in the American comics industry, but also for others."
Related Links: ACTOR Comic Fund
MegaCon
The Full Press Release Can Be Read Here
The Digital Bits Rumor Mill states that Spriggan will be on dvd in April, and that Rhino will bring out a 5 volume boxset of the first season of Transformers around that time. (16 episodes)
You can read about the Ichi the Killer premiere, a review of Avalon which suggests it still is in Polish, and a Zhang Zhiyi Visa commercial at http://www.aint-it-cool-news.com/display.cgi?id=11392
"CHORO Q" is the car of the toy put on the market from TAKARA.
It appears in a CHORO Q town! The electromobile of TAKARA is the orthodox school of W suspension equipment.
TAKARA, a toy maker, announced that it puts on the market from the new company "a CHORO Q auto-repair shop" which will establish an electromobile "Q-CAR" in development and February as entertainment goods for the adults who make it bear a close resemblance to the popular toy "CHOROQ" of the company.
Having been announced this time is two kinds, "Modern Times" and "2010" (it calls all tentatively), and it is all one-person riding. On the theme of "the car of the eco-friendly future", "Modern Times" is the model with which the cute design which CHORO Q has though it is the style which harnessed the modern taste of an old good time and "2010" makes a concept "the sports car of the future drawn on a dream" was united. Sale is a schedule from the beginning of autumn, and the selling price is undecided.
All use electricity for fuel by highest speed 60 km/h. Home 100V wall socket is used for charge, and a run of about 80km of maximum is possible at one charge. For the size of full length x full x quantity, "Modern Times" is 1,930x1,020x1,560 (mm), and "2010" is 2,040x1,046x1,154 (mm). As for wheel length, both sides are 1,280mm. a main battery -- a sealed type -- it is lead battery 12Vx42Ahx6 piece (72V), and the auxiliary battery has become 12Vx28Ahx1 piece (12V) The four-flower double wish bone is adopted as the suspension, and it is compatible in a degree of comfort and stability, and also the direct drive system by the motor by which the drive system was built in the rear wheel is adopted. A body is a product made of resin, and the aluminum alloy is used for the frame of a body, and it is designed so that it may play a role also in the weight side which is a big problem for an electromobile.
-Q-CAR main ability tables-
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
--
Form EW-10
Name (temporary) Modern Times 2010,
Classification or range Bicycle with the first sort motor (four flowers),
Kind of fuel Electricity
Top speed (advance km/h) 50,
Top speed (sternway km/h) 15,
Maximum freight (kg) 30,
Minimum turning radius (m) 2.6
Charge mileage (km) 80 (30 km/h constant ground regularity),
Full length (mm) 1930 2040
Full (mm) 1020 1046
height (mm) 1560 1154
wheel length (mm) 1280
Main battery 12Vx42Ahx1 piece (72V),
Auxiliary battery 12Vx28Ahx1 piece (12V),
Charge equipment control system 3 stage constant current voltage charge,
control system Four-flower drum brake (front oil and rear oil pressure -
mechanical),
A motor and drive system Rear wheel wheel in direct drive,
A motor and rated output (kW) 0.29x2 pieces,
Standard charge time (h) 8,
* "2010" is the same as that of "Modern Times" except full length, full, and $BA4(B quantity.
Since a distinction top is classified into a bicycle with the first sort motor (four flowers), although it usually needs automobile license for operation, an automobile inspection / garage proof / specific duty / income tax is excellent also in needlessness and economical efficiency.
putting on the market -- "a CHORO Q auto-repair shop" -- the goods but produced by collaboration with the cox to whom Q-CAR itself mainly deals with the tuning for domestic of the German vehicle -- it is -- the way of thinking as a toy maker of TAKARA, and a cox's business showings -- it is expectable to become the highly complete goods with which a certain vehicles tuning technology became fruitful
The merit of the financial side that the image as the point which can be charged by home 100V although a price is also undecided at the schedule of autumn this year, and a clean electromobile which does not take out an exhaust gas, and the automobile inspection / garage proof / specific duty / income tax of sale are unnecessary may also become a hot-selling product more than imagination conjointly.
Source: http://channel.goo.ne.jp/news/mycom/it/20020124/20020124-08.html | http://pcweb.mycom.co.jp/news/2002/01/23/19.html
A Q-CAR picture is here.
http://pcweb.mycom.co.jp/news/2002/01/23/19.html
TAKARA
http://www.takaratoys.co.jp/top.html
Also according to RTM: CHICAGO, Jan. 29 -- Racing Champions announced today that it is entering into a licensing agreement with Nintendo of America Inc. and Nintendo Power magazine to produce collectible figures and vehicles based on certain properties from popular Nintendo video games such as Luigi's Mansion, Legend of Zelda, and Metroid. These collectibles may also be packaged with Nintendo GameCube, Game Boy Advance and Game Boy Color trademarks. Racing Champions' newly formed JoyRide Studios group is developing these products, which are planned for release in July 2002. These JoyRide Studios' branded products are primarily targeted to video game players and will be packaged with special "strategies and tricks" from the experts at Nintendo Power magazine, the official source for Nintendo platform and game information.
The rest of the release can be seen here.
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