In addition, Bandai America will unveil a new toy property based on the television series created by sister company Bandai Entertainment Incorporated, a leading provider of anime home entertainment. Entitled D.I.C.E. (DNA Integrated Cybernetic Enterprises), the homegrown brand is set to conquer the boys�f category with action figures, vehicles and role-play items, as well as additional licensed products.

�gWe are aggressively expanding the reach of our brands into new categories and toy aisles. Power Rangers will see a major expansion in its role-play toys and Strawberry Shortcake is growing into the baby dolls aisle, capitalizing on a popular play pattern among girls. In addition, we are increasing our recently established collectible games division with some exciting new licenses,�h said Bill Beebe, senior vice president of sales and marketing, Bandai America Incorporated. �gBandai America is also gearing up for the launch of D.I.C.E., which is extremely unique in that the animation, toys and video games are all being created by the various divisions of one company.�h

Power Rangers SPD
Known for protecting the Earth from evil, a new team of Power Rangers is here to stop a mysterious wave of crime that has engulfed the world. The Interplanetary Chief of Police has hired five top-notch teenage officers to take on the case as Power Rangers Space Patrol Delta.

For more than 13 years, Power Rangers has remained one of the top boys�f action brands as a result of its dynamic toy line and use of popular themes that resonate with kids. To support the new police-themed season, Bandai America is introducing a massive line of toys, including a major expansion in the role-play category, new novelty figures, and more cycles and ATVs that are featured in the show. The new season debuts in February 2005, airing 17 times a week on ABC Kids and the Jetix boys action block on ABC Family and Toon Disney.

D.I.C.E.
A new brand from Bandai America, D.I.C.E. is a futuristic adventure with loads of transforming dinobreakers based on the dynamic entertainment property developed by sister company Bandai Entertainment Inc. and airing on Cartoon Network. D.I.C.E. (DNA Integrated Cybernetic Enterprises) is a large corporation established to deal with emergencies occurring throughout the Sarbylion galaxy. D.I.C.E. F-99 is the only unit comprised entirely of highly trained kids. When a problem arises, the team is called to the rescue and they get the job done with the help of their Dinobreakers. Bandai America�fs lineup includes 4.5�h action figures, 12�h electronic action figures and a variety of role-play items including electronic swords and �gGild Suit�h costume accessories. The heart of the property lies in the vehicles, with Machine Runners, Attackers and Defenders capable of transforming to �gdino�h mode when needed. Bandai Video Games will also release a title based on the D.I.C.E. property in the Fall.

Gundam Seed
For more than 25 years, the legendary Japanese property Gundam has engaged fans throughout the world with intricate plots, amazing animation and technological designs of futuristic mobile suits that push the envelope. Bandai America marks the sixth year of the property in the U.S. with the extension of the Gundam Seed toy line. The TV series of the same name, which is the latest in the Gundam series, is different from past incarnations due to its stand-alone storyline, making it ideal for new fans to discover the franchise. The product line features an expanded collection of Battle-Scarred action figures and the action figure model kits that have anchored the property since its inception. Bandai America�fs cards division also plans to expand its recently released Gundam War collectible card game later in the year.

Tamagotchi Connection Version 2
The virtual pet phenomenon that swept the nation in the mid-1990s made its highly awaited return last year as one of the top holiday must-haves. In 2005, the popular egg-shaped toy that simulates the life cycle of a real pet is back with new colors, games, features and more interactivity than ever before. In addition to the infrared technology that allows Tamagotchi Connection owners to �gconnect�h with others to create successive new generations, you can now earn �gGotchi�h points which can be used to shop for special treats, items and food. The new version also includes secret codes that can be unlocked by pushing a special sequence of buttons, which then allows you to shop for a unique item not available through Gotchi points. If you unlock all the secret codes, your Tamagotchi becomes immortal and a next generation is guaranteed. Special two-packs, called Tamagotchi Connection Best Friends Forever, will be available with a special gift so that best friends can immediately start sharing treats and interacting.

Created and animated by internationally acclaimed animation studio, BONES, Inc. (Cowboy Bebop the Movie, Scrapped Princess, Full Metal Alchemist) ? �eEureka Seven�f, the production boasts an extremely exciting line-up of creative talent including the young talented director - Tomoki Kyoda (Rahxephon), veteran mechanical designer - Shoji Kawamori (Macross, Macross Plus), and veteran character designer - Kenichi Yoshida (Cowboy Bebop the Movie). �eBandai Entertainment is extremely excited to be part of such an epic production and along with all of our �eEureka Seven�f partners, can�ft wait for its distribution domestically in Japan and later on for the International market�h, says Ken Iyadomi, Executive Vice President of Bandai Entertainment, Inc.

The story of �eEureka Seven�f centers on Renton, a young man who occasionally helps out his father as a mechanic. But Renton�fs feelings of dissatisfaction and frustration grows as his mundane and routine work clouds his visions for his future and begins to dream about flying around the world. It isn�ft until one day, a large human-like mech falls from the sky in front of young Renton and appearing from the depths of the machine is a beautiful young girl named Eureka. And as she asks the dumbfounded Renton for repairs, the two will embark upon a fantastic journey into the unknown.

�gEureka Seven�h comprises of several partners and includes the entire Bandai Group whose mission is to develop mid to long-term �gcontents projects�h, focusing on cross media platform collaboration of animation, video games, action figures, and the development of new products and merchandise. Bandai Entertainment will be the central company focusing on the �gEureka Seven�h animation and will handle 3rd party licensing.

Along with the animated series for �eEureka Seven�f, the video game will depart in their respective project with new characters and storyline paralleling the television series. Bandai Corp. President & CEO Takeo Takasu�fs comments, �gAs Project Eureka officially begins in April, with the strong force and partnership we have with production members and affiliate, we are able to accomplish multiple product businesses centered around the animation. As a Bandai Group, we will fully expand the business potential of Eureka Seven through product development, high-quality image distribution, broadband transmission and many other strong entertainment elements�h. here will also be merchandise development such as plastic models, action figures, playing cards, apparel, and snacks. As part of the �gEureka Seven�h project, Kadokawa Shoten Inc. will release a comic series based on the TV animation in the �gGekkan Shonen Ace�h with Sony Music Group partnering to create music for the animation and video game portion. Sony Music Entertainment Inc. is expected to release a CD of the theme songs, and Aniplex Inc. will release a CD of the animation music. In addition, many other companies will also contribute to the numerous product/merchandise expansion based on �eEureka Seven�f.

Based on the manga by popular artist Yukiru Sugisaki and produced by Dentsu (Angelic Layer), Kadokawa Shoten (Full Metal Panic!), TV Tokyo (Cowboy Bebop) and Xebec (Sorcerer Hunters), this star-crossed adventure series puts a whole new twist on the classic themes of unrequited love and secret identity. DNAngel follows Daisuke�fs story of self-discovery, the pursuit of true love and the experience of sharing his identity with the legendary art thief Phantom Dark.

The Story: Poor Daisuke Niwa is just a regular kid with some extraordinary DNA. As if growing up wasn�ft hard enough already! Now he has to carry out super secret thefts as the Phantom Thief Dark too. He�fs got plenty of obstacles along the way as well. The girl he loves is in love with his alter ego�c His classmate is set on destroying the Phantom Thief, in other words�chim. His Dad jumps back into his life after being gone for years�cAnd on top of all that he has a lovesick rabbit! DNAngel: Facets of Darkness, Volume 3 (SRP $29.98 DVD) is a DVD-only release containing 4 complete episodes with both English 5.1 and Japanese 2.0 language versions with English subtitles. Extras include: Clean opening and closing animation, voice actor commentary with Kelly Manison (Eiko) & Andy McAvin (Kosuke), DNAngel Talk 1: Miya Irino & Shunichi Miyamoto, DNAngel Japanese ADR session, DNAngel Unplugged: If I Could Be With You�c, and ADV previews.

The Crash Media Group's anime division Anime Crash will be giving special sneak previews of Shiden at anime conventions and trade shows across North America and Asia in 2005. "I didn't want to make something that would only be available in Japan first and then for the rest of the world as a second thought " said Mr. Ikeda speaking through a translator, "I wanted to do something greater that had never been done before." Crash Media Group Managing Director Scott C Mauriello went on to add "Ikeda-san has honored my organization. As a child I loved Speed Racer so how could I let such a great creator down?". Mauriello went on to add "We will bring it to the fullest potential on all levels and are very happy to be the first American anime company to participate in the actual design and production of an anime as it is made and branded from the ground up."

A TREE OF PALME FEB. 13, 15 & 16 at ALAMO DOWNTOWN

"a dazzling allegorical science-fantasy tale" (FPS Magazine) "It is a serious anime that can change not only your perception of anime, but also of the meaning of your life." (Victor Eisenberg, Big Apple Anime Fest)

An animator whose credits include the anime essentials AKIRA, NAUSICAA, NEO-TOKYO and ROBOT CARNIVAL, Takashi Nakamura spent ten years developing PALME with a crew of 500 and a mix of 2Dcel and 3D animation. In this dark retelling of the 'Pinocchio' story, Palme is a puppet made out of a special wood called Kuroppo wood, and given life with a mystical sap that works as blood. Initially created to care for his makers ailing wife, Palme becomes despondent and eventually lifeless when she dies. One day a madwoman from the Underground City of Tamas shows up at the cottage and charges Palme with returning the sacred Egg of Toutoback to her homeland. Mistaking her for his dead mistress, he springs to life to carry out her wishes. He starts off on a perilous journey that sees him team up with a rag-tag group of orphans that he rescues from the slave-trade. He meets the abused waif Popo and falls in love with her, and is determined to become human to win her affection. But Palme is naive and too socially inexperienced to handle matters of the heart responsibly, and succumbs to anger and resentment over his inhuman condition. Worse still, he does not realize that the Egghe is carrying is a tool of mass destruction. The animation is top notch, with vintage character design and impressive landscapes that recall Mamoru (ANGEL'S EGG) Oshii's work. Alternately poignant and horrifying, Palme's existential crisis soon supplants his original mission, and he is willing to destroy himself and the underground city to become human. Ironically, this tendency toward destruction is his most human quality of all. (Kier-La Janisse)

SKY BLUE (AKA WONDERFUL DAYS) D. Moon-saeng Kim South Korea 2003 English Language 35mm 90min. PG STARTS ALAMO SOUTH LAMAR MARCH 4th!

It's the year 2142 A.D., and the collapse of human civilization in the wake of ecological catastrophe is already a distant memory. Whats left of our species is confined to its holdout in the South Pacific, though you wouldnt know it from the eternal rain, cold and darkness. The lucky ones live in ECOBAN, a hermetic, high-tech city powered by DELOS, a system that converts pollution to fuel. The others are the Marrians, the outsiders survivingand plottingin the foul shadow of the unattainable ECOBAN. But DELOS is running out of fuel, and the solution will wipe out the Marrians.

"Cruising the Anime City: An Otaku Guide to Neo Tokyo," put out by Berkeley publisher Stone Bridge Press covers everything the modern otaku (super-fan) would want to know about: from manga, toys, idols, anime, games, movies, cosplay, and Comiket. All of this covered with entertaining, readable text from people who really love what they're writing about, and even filled with helpful maps and charts, some of which have been presented in English for the very first time. A must-read if you'd like to see another side of Tokyo you would have definitely missed. As an added bonus we'll be giving away actual artifacts used in the creation of the book, including: toys, comics, doujinshi (self-published comics/zines), idol cards, curios, and other ephemera, as well as copies of the book!

About the Authors: Patrick Macias is the author of "TokyoScope: the Japanese Cult Film Companion" (Cadence Books), a contributor to the San Francisco Bay Guardian, and a columnist for the Japanese toy magazine Figure King. Tomohiro Machiyama is the author of "Book of the Otaku," which helped to popularize the word 'Otaku' in Japan. One of Japan's most respected cultural commentators, Machiyama is also the founding editor of Eiga Hi-Ho (Movie Treasures) magazine.

Movielink will add 25 anime downloads, some containing multiple episodes, spanning various genres such as comedy, action/adventure, science fiction, horror, romance and mystery. Hits including Dominion Tank Police, Hyperspeed Grandoll, Demon City Shinjuku and DNA2 are several of the new titles available for download. All Central Park Media anime will be presented in the English dub format.

�gCentral Park Media brings a large and diverse catalogue of premier anime content to Movielink,�h said Jessica Algazi, Vice President of Content, Movielink. �gAnime is a hot genre and we are pleased to expand our offering through this relationship.�h

�gWe are thrilled to expand our distribution reach through Movielink and provide their customers with our most popular anime hits in various genres,�h said Newton Grant, Business Development Manager, Central Park Media.