Hiatari Ryoukou!
Episode 1
Kasumi: MORIO Yumi
Yuusuke: MITSUYA Yuuji
Shin: SHIOZAWA Kaneto
Ariyama: HAYASHIYA Kobuhei
Makoto: NANBA Katsuhiro
Chigusa: KOMIYA Kazue
Girl A: HAYASHI Yuuko
Girl B: TAKAYAMA Yukari
Master Keaton
Chapter 1: Mystery Man
Keaton Taiichi: INOUE Norihiro
Sofia: SHINOHARA Emi
Daniel O'Connell: TSUJI Shinpachi
Leon Papas: SUGOU
Ox Payer: YAMANO
Marcus: OOKI Tamio
taxi driver: NISHIMURA
college student: MAKISHIMA Naoki
female college student: FUKUSHIMA Nanako
college staff: AMADA
underling: ISHII Kouji
Narration: Keaton YAMADA
On the Simpsons that aired today, they had a reference to anime. The Simpsons go to an animation convention, and Bart's watching what he calls "Japanimation". And they show some guy in a samurai outfit shooting a net that ensnares a girl with the Kusanagai(of GITS) haircut. But her legs turn into metal fins and they spin out. And then the guy turns into some shoes and runs away.
Source: DBZ Kingdom
Source: DBZ Kingdom
"He [Sakaguchi] didn't want to pursue a story that appeals only to a younger
audience. And we feel that by creating a PG-13 feature...certainly we're not
going to do an R feature, that's too huge of a risk. But by creating
something that will pass as a PG-13, we can still appeal to a wider
audience, and yet still not be impacted by the content being too immature.
We will be able to tell the story that the director really wanted to be able
to tell. So it is very important for us to be able to create it as a PG-13
movie, and the thought of appealing to a younger audience never crossed our
minds."
They also add a link to a longer interview w/ him at:
http://www.gamers.com/news/488302
Enix announced that they have shipped a total of 4 million copies of their hit PlayStation RPG Dragon Quest VII in Japan, since its release on August 26, 2000. DQ7 is now the biggest selling PlayStation game in Japan and the best selling title in the Dragon Quest series.
Square has announced its sales statistics and plans for the stock holders in Japan. The software performance is better than expected for the year, Final Fantasy IX has sold 2.82 million copies in Japan, and Gekikuukan Pro Baseball for PS2 has sold 650,000 copies. The software sales in oversea has significantly increased, Parasite Eve II has sold 570,000 copies in US, Vagrant Story has sold 500,000 copies, and Chrono Cross has sold 410,000 copies in the fall. They are expecting the oversea market to continue to expand next year.
Nec Interchannel announced that they are porting the two popular Sega Saturn title to PlayStation. Both Sentimental Graffiti and Sentimental Graffiti: Promise are scheduled for release in March, for 5800 yen and 3800 yen respectively.
Konami has announced yet another Gameboy Advance launch title in Japan, called Yugioh Dungeondice Monsters, a board game based on the ultra popular anime Yugioh. In this game you roll the dice, summon monsters to produce a path and dungeon for you in the board, and defeat the opponents and their dungeons in the board. Each die carries different LV point and crest symbol, there are 5 crest symbols in the game: Summon, Attack, Defense, Progress, Magic and Trap, different combinations of dice will give you different actions. Once a monster is summoned, you can command it to combat against enemy's monsters and dungeons in the board. Over 100 monsters are included in the game, several new elements are added to the game, including the ability to bargain with the rivals.
Nintendo has confirmed the release date of the two GameBoy Color Zelda action roleplaying games. Both Legend of Zelda: Mystical Acorn - Chapter of Gaia and Chapter of Earth are scheduled for release in Japan on February 27, for 3800 yen each. The two games are connected to each other, you can import save data from one of the other version to unlock additional paths and secrets in the game.
Sega has released some new info on Shenmue II for Dreamcast, in this game the hero will encounter a new female character with red hair in Hong Kong, she will play an important role in the game. Further details of Shenmue II will be revealed in Shenmue The Movie on January 12 in Japan. Also a movie trailer of the game will be included in the upcoming Dreamcast fighting game Fighting Viper 2.
Sega has announced a definite release date for their highly anticipated Dreamcast dramatic adventure game Sakura Taisen 3: Hometown Paris is burning, the game is now set for release on March 22 in Japan, for 7800 yen. The 3rd installment of the Sakura Taisen series will feature several new systems, including Analogue LIPS (express the strength of the feelings), ARMS (makes the simulation combats more action oriented), Portable Movie Tron (receive additional information when Visual Memory is inserted in the controller), Neo CG (a new technique to combine CG and animated cartoon together to further enhance the visual).
Source: The Magic Box
YOSHITOSHI ABE SIGNS WITH FANBOY ENTERTAINMENT Serial Experiments LAIN Creator To Produce Two New Comics
Tokyo, Japan - Fanboy Entertainment is pleased to announce that award-winning Japanese illustrator Yoshitoshi ABe has joined the ranks of their growing lineup of creators. Mr. ABe, the designer of the hit anime series Serial Experiment LAIN, will be producing two new comic projects with Fanboy in 2001.
April will see the release of ESSENCE: The Art of Yoshitoshi Abe. ESSENCE is a 72 page perfect bound, prestige format collection spotlighting the best of Yoshitoshi ABe's manga, game and anime artwork. Written, drawn and designed entirely by Yoshitoshi ABe himself, ESSENCE is an incredibly beautiful collection which puts the work of one of Japan most acclaimed illustrators in the hands of his American fans and followers. His sensitive linework and attention to detail were first seen in Serial Experiments LAIN, the hit anime series of last year. Since then, ABe's art has been becoming more readily available, seen on posters, lunchboxes and lithographs, but never in print... until now! ESSENCE will feature new manga short stories, character designs, figure studies, rejected anime and game ideas and designs as well a few surprises ABe has chosen to include for his Western fans. This collection is sure to appeal to everyone as ABe's style has been praised many Western critics and mimicked by artists as well. ESSENCE will feature black and white interiors with full color front back and inside covers. It will be printed on high quality #80 Smooth Offset paper and feature glossy UV coated card stock covers at Yoshitoshi ABefs request and he will be personally overseeing the entire design and production of ESSENCE.
Following ESSENCE in May will be Yoshitoshi ABefs new one-shot manga WHITE RAIN. WHITE RAIN will be a self-contained 48 page perfect bound comic that tells the tale of two twin girls living in a post-apocalyptic world. It will be written and drawn by ABe himself and combine his unique writing style and detailed artwork in a gorgeous sequential story.
"We couldnft be happier that Yoshitoshi ABe has tapped Fanboy to publish his beautiful manga work here in the United States.", commented Fanboy Entertainment publisher C.B. CebulskiD"Renowned for his work on LAIN, ABe-sensei is one of Japanfs top illustrators and we are honored we will be able to bring more of his art to manga and anime fans across the globe. The back-to-back publication of ESSENCE and WHITE RAIN will serve as a one-two punch. ESSENCE will introduce readers to the many styles and facets of Abe-senseifs art and leave them wanting more. Then they will pick up WHITE RAIN and be blown away by how he puts it all together. I just wish we didnft have to wait three months. I want to publish these books NOW!!"
For a peak at the cover art for ESSENCE, be sure to visit http://www.fanboyinc.com/essence.jpg
January 4, 2001 For Immediate Release Ardith Sanitago Tel: 310.397.4713 ext. 111
Blue Submarine #6 Month at akadot.com
LOS ANGELES, CA- January 5 will officially kick off akadot.com's "Blue Submarine #6" month. Each Friday of the month akadot will post exclusive production notes from the groundbreaking Bandai release "Blue Submarine No. 6." Received from Japan’s Gonzo Digimation, these images have never before been released in America, and include detailed mechanical specs as well as character design sketches. The new leader in anime news on the net, akadot keeps fans plugged in with daily updates, exclusives and behind the scenes information.
The evening will include personal appearances by Martin Blacker (Joe Saeba) and Pam Ribon (Kaori). Witness their first introductions to the public. Also joining will be Jana Brockman (Sandra) and David R. Jarrott (Chief).
Come be a part of a great night.
For more information and directions, check out the Alamo web site at www.drafthouse.com
The first of these are the Morphing Skin figures which were announced last year; these will come with a regular Saiyan figure, and an additional Super Saiyan “skin” which can be put on the figure to simulate the transformation into Super Saiyan. From accounts, the concept seems similar to the one used with this year’s X-Men: The Movie Mystique figure, which came with a Wolverine “skin”.
Also, Irwin plans to launch a “double punch” line of figures, as well as a complete line of 9 inch collectable figures. There is also some mention of vehicles for the 5 inch figures, we’ll have to wait and see.
In addition, Irwin is also branching into the kidplay market with items such as a full-size scouter, with lights and voice-activated disc launcher, and a dragon radar, with “ball detection and simulated tracking”.
The latest Jojo's Bizzare Adventure title from Capcom is tentatively being titled Jojo's Bizarre Adventure: Chapter Five. Some sources suggest that this entry will be 3D and is being developed for the PS2 (or its arcade counterpart).
Mad Man's Cafe has posted this interview with Capcom VS SNK developers Yoshihiro Sudo and Hideako Itsuno. Also, Mad Man's is reporting that The Korean Game Company Eolith claims to have acquired the license to develop future King OF Fighters games. The current series is currently scheduled to cease in 2001. License will include characters, backgrounds, and source code. SNK has promised to support Eolith by providing technology required, providing staff members who have worked throughout KOF1994-2000.
Hey all!!
This is the producer/Host of Anime TV, a public access TV show about Japanese Animation and Japanese Music that airs on Manhattan's cable access network, MNN. Due to a scheduling mistake, the episode of Anime TV that was supposed to be aired last Saturday, at 9:30 PM on Time warner channel 57, will be aired at 11:30 PM on T. W. channel 34!! So now your asking yourself, "What does that have to do with me? I don't live in Manhattan!!" here is where the reason I'm sending this email out to all of you comes into play! Currently MNN does live web cast of one of their channels, and guess which channel it is ??? YUP you guest it! Channel 34!! SOOOOOO this Friday night at 11:30 PM if you go to MNN.org you will be able to watch AnimeTV as its web cast for the first (and possibly only) time to the entire world!!!! Although it may not be the best EP of ATV it will be the best chance you have to watch it. So clear up your schedules and get ready to watch ATV this Friday!!! I hope you see me then ^_^;;
Akito
http://animetv.4dw.com
PS The only catch I see is that you have to have quick time, if you already have it, cool!! If not and you want to watch Anime TV you need to download it ^_^;;
Kishin Corps - Geo-Armor DVD (Hyb)
Date Available - Apr 24 2001
Format - Hybrid
240 Minutes
Publisher - PIONEER
Normal Price: $24.98
Sale Price: $22.49
Moldiver Perfect Collection DVD (Hyb)
Tokyo, 2045 - Young Hiroshi Ozora, a Technical Development Engineer at frontier technology conglomerate ZIC, creates a super-suit which bends the laws of physics and makes him feasibly the strongest superhero of all time. Quickly his exploits earn him the name 'Captain Tokyo' as he becomes a media darling.
At the same time, the Dolls, a group of deadly, but glamorous teleporting female androids under the control of a mysterious evil scientist calling himself Dr. Machinegal, embark on a wierd crime spree. Moldiver foils their first attempt to steal a classic formula 1 race car from ZIC's race queen contest.
The winner of that contest just happens to be Mirai Ozora, college student, mall-rat and younger sister of Hiroshi. She's decided that its up to her to discover the secret identity of this mystery hero! And the answer could be more surprising than she ever imagined...
Date Available - Apr 24 2001
Format - Hybrid
Genre - Action
180 Minutes
Publisher - PIONEER
Year Created - 1993
Normal Price: $19.98
Sale Price: $17.99
Excerpted from a post to the Anime On DVD Forum:
Okay this is a full post of their latest listings, please note quite a few are VHS (Sorry but just posting full thing instead of editing): The following is new release information for Media Blasters Titles with a Street date in April 2001. Media Blasters is exhibiting at VSDA Jan 7-9. Be sure to stop by booth #657 and ask about our show specials. Thank you
Ruroni Kenshin: Shadow of The Wolf DVD
AnimeWorks 100 Min Cat #RKDVD-2006 UPC# 6-31595-20067-6
Pre-Book Date: 03/20/2001
Street Date: 04/24/2001
SRP $29.95
Description:
You've seen Kenshin's past, now experience his future. His Peaceful Life in Tokyo Has been shattered by the threat of National revolution, so Himura Kenshin picks up his sword and becomes a wanderer once more. Leaving behind everyone he loves in Tokyo, Kenshin plunges into the dark world of the Juppon Gatana, a merciless group of assassins and swordsmen. They plan to end the Meji completely, replacing it with a reign of tyranny and violence. Kenshin is surrounded and must match gazes with the crimson eye of insanity. The new Battosai Shishio.
Episodes 28-31
Magic Knight Rayearth II (Memorial Collection 2) DVD
AnimeWorks 725 Min. Cat.# MKRDVD-017 UPC# 6-31595-01727-4
Pre-Book Date: 03/20/2001
Street Date: 04/24/2001
SRP: $199.95
Description:
Magic Knight Rayearth continues as Hikaru, Umi, and Fuu defeat the very person they had been sent to rescue, Princess Emeraude. Filled with regret, the three were finally able to leave Cephiro and return to their families in Tokyo. Now the three girls have been summoned back to Cephiro by an unknown force, and they will have to complete a new quest if they ever want to return home again. Cephiro is crumbling without a Pillar, and the Magic Knights must find a new candidate before the world is completely destroyed. To make things worse, invaders from the three neighboring countries of Autozam, Chizeta, and Fahren have arrived in Cephiro with their eyes on the Pillar! Now the girls must fight, and once again their opponents are not only monsters, but desperate people with hopes and dreams of their own. Will they bring themselves to find someone for the most sorrowful position in Cephiro, or will the Magic Knights and the invaders alike be swallowed by the mysterious darkness know as Lady Debonair.
This April Dark Horse comics will be releasing Blade of the Immortal: Gathering 13, The Blade of the Immortal: Heart of Darkness trade paperback, Gunsmith Cats: Mister V 6 , Lone Wolf and Cub Volume 8: Chains of the Kurokuwa, Oh My Goddess! Part X 2, Rockstar Games' Oni 2, Super Manga Blast!, and Usagi Yojimbo 46.
A company called Charmed Max will be releasing King of Fighters Zillion 1, based on the fighting game, with Chinese text, and King of Fighters Zillion: Ultimate Illustration Collection #1.
Central Park Media will be releasing CPM 5th Anniversary Pack 1, Dark Angel 23, Geobreeders 25, Legend of Lemnear Volume 3 trade paperback, Lodoss War: Chronicles Heroic Knight 7, Martian Successor Nadesico 22, Maxion 16, Princess Prince, Time Traveler Ai 18 and Weather Woman 8 (and a variant cover version). The CPM 5th Anniversary Pack feature ten comics: the Project A-Ko Ashcan Preview plus comics from all of CPM's first series: both A-ko series, both M.D. Geist series, two CyberCity series, Armored Trooper Votoms, and Gall Force, plus, posters from A-ko, Votoms, M.D. Geist, and Cyber City, and an exclusive phone card issued as a convention special five years ago featuring the martial arts ninja anime, Akai Hayate.
Fanboy Comics will be releasing Comp Kia Asamiya Sketch Collection, Mobius Klein 3 and Spellbound: Magic of Love 2.
Studio Ironcat will be releasing Futaba-Kun Change! Volume 6 # 3, Futaba-Kun Change! Volume 4 graphic novel collection, and Vampire Princess Yui Volume 2 #3.
Tokyo Pop Press will be releasing Cardcaptor Sakura 14, Gundam Wing 12, Gundam Wing Pocket Mixx Vol. 2 (relisting of a previously canceled release), Harlem Beat Pocket Mixx Vol. 6, Miracle Girls 6, Parasyte Mixx Manga Vol. 6, Sailor Moon 29, Saint Tail 5 and Smile Vol. 3 4 .
Viz will be releasing Animerica Extra Vol. 4 4, Aqua Knight Part 3 1, Art of Gundam Wing , Dance Till Tomorrow Vol. 4, Dragonball Part 3 10, Dragonball Z Part 4 4, Dragonball Z Vol. 4 (tpb), Eagle Vol. 14: Confession, El-Hazard: Magninficent World Part 2 2,Gundam Wing: Blind Target 2,Inu-Yasha Part 5 10,Magical Pokemon Journey Part 4 1,Magical Pokemon Journey Vol. 1 (tpb) , Neon Genesis Evangelion Book 5 6, Neon Genesis Evangelion Book 5 (Coll ed.) 6, No Need for Tenchi! Part 10 7, Pokemon Tales 17: Mewtwos Watching You, Pokemon Tales 18: Magnemites Mission 4, Pokemon: Movie 2000, Pulp Vol. 5 4, Ranma 1/2 Part 9 11, and Yellow Caballero: Pikachu's New Partner.
What little Aida did explain of the PS2 disc indicated that it would expand on the alternate camera angles already offered on some DVDs. Users will be able to render and edit certain scenes of the movie in real-time, though presumably without the full graphic detail of the original film.
The full text of the interview can be found on Gamers.com.
According to the Nihon Keizai Shumbun, former Sega president Shoichiro Irimajiri will end his stay with the company later this month. Irimajiri joined Sega from Honda Motor Co. over half a decade ago. Most first heard his name as Tom Kalinske left Sega of America early in the Saturn's life and Irimajiri came on for a brief period to lead the struggling US division. Irimajiri went on to become the president of Sega of Japan, a position which saw him as the face of all things Dreamcast - literally. Irimajiri will, perhaps, best be remembered for his face appearing as part of an early Dreamcast tech demo.
Sega has recently released a new version of the Dreamcast console called the Sakura Taisen Dreamcast for Internet, a limited edition of Dreamcast with the popular Sakura Taisen characters painted on the console. This version of the Dreamcast runs no CD-ROM software, as it only recognize the Dreamcast GD-ROM software and audio CDs, this effectively prevents any pirate Dreamcast CD-ROM games to run on the machine. It is believed that Sega will be replacing the old models of Dreamcast with the new model soon.
Sony announced that the total shipment of PlayStation 2 has reached 4 millions in Japan by the end of 2000, and over 3 million units have shipped out domestically (US and Europe). Currently the worldwide shipment has reached 7 millions, and Sony expects the figure to reach 11 millions by the end of the current year (March 31, 2001). Sony announced that they will begin to focus on net strategy and internet connection equipment for PS2 in 2001.
Konami continues to play music! Three new arcade music & rhythm games are announced by Konami, they are Keyboard Mania 3rd Mix, Guitar Freaks 5th Mix and Drum Mania 4th Mix. All 3 titles are scheduled for release in arcade from late spring to summer, and they will have linkup features to allow the "band play", such as you can play the same songs at the same time across two machines, like a live band in arcade.
Source: The Magic Box
Distribution: Sony Pictures Entertainment
Original Concept: Hajime Yadate
Director: Shinichirou Watanabe
Character Design: Toshihiro Kawamoto
Story: Keiko Nobumoto
Music: Yoko Kanno
All Stories, Graphics And Material © Anime News Service Unless Otherwise Cited
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