Anime News Service - January 21-23 Anime News
1-23-00---- Bandai Entertainment News Out Of L.A. Science Fiction And Comic Con
Bandai Entertainment announced at it's press conference for Mobile Suit Gundam Wing this afternoon that the Gundam Wing TV series will begin airing daily (on weekdays) on the American cable TV Cartoon Network, begining March 6th at 5:30 P.M. ET. The version airing in this timeslot will be edited, however in a very interesting move (and exciting one for fans), two uncut episodes will air as part of Cartoon Network's Saturday Toonami Midnight Runs. Bandai pointed out that the three volume Gundam Wing: Endless Waltz OVA series will be aired and see VHS video release.A side note to the Gundam announcements: Bandai's representative indicated that the Vision Of Escaflowne TV Series could see a Region 1 DVD release as early as a June or July release with an English dub soundtrack.
1-23-00---- Manga Exposition In The Netherlands
An Manga exposition will be held at the Kunsthal in
Rotterdam, Netherlands, titled "Manga from 1945 until now" starting March 26th.
Opening times of the Kunsthal are Tuesday - Saturday from 10:00 to 17:00 and
on Sunday from 11:00 to 17:00, the Kunsthal is located at the Westzeedijk
341 (near Dijkzicht Hospital and the Euromast).
The exposition is a part of the celebration of 400 years relations between
the Netherlands and Japan this year. 400 years ago in 1600 A.D., a ship called the
"De Liefde" beached itself near Nagasaki. Japan allowed the Dutch to open a
tradingpost on a artifical island called Decima in Nagasaki wich was the
start of 400 years of relations between the two countries.
More information can
be found at www.kunsthal.nl/manga.html and www.kunsthal.nl
1-23-00---- Nazca Clips Show In Malcom In The Middle
Clips from Pioneer's Nazca TV series were shown tonight on the American Fox Television Network's sitcom, Malcom in the Middle. One clip showed the character Shiogami, and another of a blond haired skateboarder-character from the third episode of the series.1-23-00---- Ranma 1/2 / Tenchi TV Series Region 1 Release Details
Anime Fan is reporting that Pioneer plans to release the Region 1 DVD Ranma 1/2 OVA box set on April 25th for around the same cost of the Region 1 Tenchi OVA box set ($120). It's a possibility that the Tenchi Universe TV series will see a summer release as a box set. Pioneer has made an allusion to another possible summer release, however no other official details have been given. 1-23-00---- Horrifying Pokemon Related Assault In Las Vegas
Two teenagers allegedly used Pokemon trading cards to lure at least eight young boys to a mobile home for sex, Las Vegas police said Friday. One 18, and 16 year-old male were arrested on charges including sexual assault. Police said the assaults on boys age 8 to 11 apparently had been going on for several months before they were tipped off by a parent.
Source: The Washington Post
1-23-00---- Ayanext Industry and Piracy Panel Trasncript
Animeijin has posted a transcript of the Ayanext Industry and Piracy Panel held on Nov. 6th, 1999 at the Ayanext
anime convention in Birmingham, U.K., the panel was intended for the discussion of piracy and other issues regarding anime in the United Kingdom. 1-23-00---- Pokemon Center Tokyo
Located in the Nihonbashi business district in Tokyo, the Pokemon Center Tokyo store, which first opened April 1998, specializes in Pokemon merchandise of all kinds. The store is quite popular, attracting around 1,500 visitors per-day during the weekdays and between 3,000 - 4,000 visitors on the weekends, on many occasions it has had to limit the number of people entering the store at one time. Over the Japanese school summer vacation this year, customers reportedly had to wait for up to two hours just to get in, during the Christmas '99 season in the wait was reportedly one hour. The store sells around 1,500 Pokemon-related products including game cards, stationery, confectioneries and many others. Among it's most popular offerings are exclusive items depicting the store's mascot's: Pikachu, Charmander, and Poliwhirl. An estimated 30% of the Pokemon Center's clientele are foreigners. This is understandable, taking into account Pokemon's phenomenal success in other parts of the world and the fact that almost all of the store's products are only available domestically within Japan. Buses carrying groups of tourists often make stops at the Center, the largest number of foreign visitors come from the United States, it's not unusual for these visitors to purchase several dozen items at once. On a recent visit to Tokyo, Actor Bruce Willis reportedly bought a suitcase's worth of Pokemon merchandise for his daughter.
Most Popular Purchases At Pokemon Center Tokyo:
1. Pokemon Card Game
2. Pokemon Center Original Confectioneries
3. Pokemon Badges
1-23-00---- Nazca / Malcom In The Middle Update
As was reported earlier, clips of Pioneer's Nazca TV series, will be appearing on the prime time American Fox-TV-network comedy, Malcolm In The Middle. The clips from Nazca will be incorporated into the new opening sequence for
the series having the title character, Malcolm, channel surfing through some of his
favorite TV shows which will include Nazca. Information on when the new opening will premiere on Fox is currently unknown, however, there is a possibility it could show tonight
(Sunday, January 23rd 8:30 P.M. ET): Jonathan Klein,
Vice President of New Generation Pictures, has confirmed from Pioneer that the master tapes with the clips requested have been sent to Fox. New Generation Pictures has produced the sub, dub and Region 1 DVD versions of Nazca for Pioneer. The following questions were posed to him with some very enlightening answers.
Anime News Service: How was the decision of the incorporation of Nazca clips into Malcolm In The Middle reached? Were any of the actors, script writers, or production staff involved in the series a fan of Nazca, or Anime in-general?
Jonathan Klein: Somebody involved with Nazca sent an early screener to one of the people
working on Malcolm in The Middle. He liked it so much that he wanted to
incorporate it in the opening sequence as one of Malcolm's favorite TV
shows. They originally had it in the opening but then they did some test
screening and some test group member said something like they thought the
show was too immature. The execs at Fox freaked and decided to cut out
anything they thought was too immature, including Nazca from the opening.
Then for some reason which I do not know, they changed their mind and
decided to put it back in.
ANS: Is there a possibility we may see more Nazca or other Anime clips in
the series [Malcolm in the Middle] in the future?
Mr. Klein: I've been told by the person who works on Malcolm in the Middle that
originally they wanted to use Akira, but that was before he saw Nazca. He once told me that if he could, he would like to have Nazca be Malcolm's favorite show and it would appear in the show's storyline from time to time (besides being in the opening). Now I don't know if that will ever happen, we will just have to wait and see.
1-23-00---- Card Captor Sakura Region 1 DVD Confirmation
Save Our Sailors is reporting via their news ticker that a representative for Canadian-based, North American Card Captor Sakura TV series rights holder, Nelvana, has allegedly confirmed with them that the company will be producing english subtitled DVDs of the series. On Dec. 24th, an alleged e-mail to fan, Derek Sherman, from Nelvana Distribution Manager P. James Dye was posted on the internet. Excerpting:
"A subtitled, unmolested
version is currently underway and will be made available in both Canada and the United
States. It will be of a quality acceptable for DVD duplicates."
Nelvana has not since refuted details in this e-mail, this new information from S.O.S would seem to confirm a possible official public standing of Nelvana on it's future plans for CCS.
1-22-00---- New Godzilla Figure
Japanese toy company,
Nostalgic Heroes is planning to release a Godzilla figure in an opaque and clear versions. 1-22-00---- Jin-Roh In France - Anime Movie Prioduction Problems
Production I.G.'s Jin-Roh was released into a total of 25 theaters across France on Nov. 17th. In other parts of Europe, The film was a popular addition of a recent Film festival in Portugual, it will show at the International Film Festival, occuring in Rotterdam, Netherlands from Jan. 6th - Feb. 6th. Although unofficial, it's believed that Jin-Roh will finally show in Japn in the fall. Japan's Anime movie industry consists of many titles whose production have reportedly faced production / distribution woes including Ghost In The Shell, Memories, Mamoru Oshii / Bandai Visual's G.R.M. (now on indefinite production hiatus), Katsuhiro Otomo / Bandai Visual's Steam Boy, Hiroyuki Yamaga / Gainax's Aoki Uru (Blue Uru) (now reportedly planned for TV-broadcasting), Sunrise's G-Savior, Production I.G.'s Blood (expected to show in Jaapnese
theaters in the fall), Fumihiko Takayama / Bandai Visual's Patlabor 13, and Rintaro / Bandai Visual's Metropolis.
Source: J-Dream Direct Newsletter J-Dream Web
1-22-00---- Me Gumi No Daigo: The Movie
Based on the popular manga circulated in Shonen Sunday by Masato Soda, Me Gumi Mo Daigo has been adapted into an Anime theatrical feature, directed by Shin Nishizawa with animation produced by Sunrise. The manga was known for its main character, Daigo Asahina, a hot-blooded trouble maker who joined a fire fighting squad in his city. The motion picture version had it's debut at Shonen Sunday's 40th
anniversary event this past summer, Okage Summer!! Nippon Zenkoku Sunday
Festival!! (Thanks to You!! All Japan Sunday Festival!!).
The movie started running in Japanese theaters at Shinjuku Pikadery 3
on Jan. 22nd. The theater is selling limited edition merchandise that was originally available at the Shonen Sunday Event. Source: J-Dream Direct Newsletter J-Dream Web
1-22-00---- More Info On Caviar
Update on the recently announced new multimedia / videogame company, Caviar, established by the six corporations [Tokuma Shoten [who owns Studio Ghibli], Tohoku Shinsha [who produces foreign TV programs],
Nippon Television [a top Japanese commercial broadcaster],
FM Tokyo [a leading Japanese FM radio station aimed at young people], Mitsubishi Shoji [a leading Japanese industrial giant], and Amuse Capital [a venture
capital firm in the computer field]. Caviar will adapt various in-house products / licenses of the six above corporations and develop software based on them. The company has appointed Hayao Nakayama as it's president. Software titles on the drawing board include a game based on Hayao Miyazaki / Studio Ghibli's Mononoke Hime. Source: J-Dream Direct Newsletter J-Dream Web
1-22-00---- Mori No Densetsu Exhibition at Tezuka Memorial Hall
A Mori No Densetsu (Legend of Forest) Exhibition is currently being held at the Osamu Tezuka Memorial Hall in Takarazuka, Hyogo Prefecture, Japan from Jan. 1st-April 25th. Mori No Densetsu is a serial anime movie that Tezuka was planning. The movie was under
production using cells, dolls, sand and other materials, however, due
to shortage of funds, only the first and the fourth chapters were completed. The event
introduces the history of the two chapters and the unique filming techniques used in this anime production.Source: J-Dream Direct Newsletter J-Dream Web
1-22-00---- MPAA Rates X R
In the latest film and video classifications released by the Motion Picture Association of America, Manga Entertainment's release of Clamp / Madhouse's X has received an R rating "for violence/gore and some nudity."1-22-00---- Manga Seeker Retruns
The Manga Seeker search engine is now back online after 1 year of shutdown.
The engine is accessible at: www.mangaseeker.com and www.mangacenter.com
1-22-00---- Mobile Suit Gundam Wing Event At L.A. Science
Fiction and Comic Con
Bandai Entertainment will be hosting an advanced screening of Mobile Suit Gundam Wing on Sunday January 23, 2000 at the Los Angeles Science
Fiction and Comic Con. Located at the Shrine Auditorium in Downtown
Los Angeles, across from the USC campus, a full day of programming
is slated beginning with Gundam 0080: War in the Pocket, Gundam Wing,
and Gundam 0083: Stardust Memory.
There will also be a special panel hosted by Bandai Entertainment to answer
some of details and questions regarding Gundam Wing and other Bandai
Entertainment releases. Goto Anime Village & L.A. Sc-Fi & Comic Con for further
information.
1-22-00---- Anime / Manga Gaming
ASCII / Yuke's Beserk Dreamcast title, will be released by Eidos in America on March 29th. Eidos has not confirmed the possibility, game may receive a name change upon domestic release.
Game Arts upcoming Dreamcast RPG, Grandia II, will feature vastly improved graphics over the original, new storyline, characters, and settings. The story occurs in a world where evil has taken over heaven during a war between gods of good and evil. Main characters include a young hunter, Ryudo, a priestess, Elena, and another female, Millenia. Up to 4 characters can fight in battles.
Sega of Japan announced that their Dreamcast Network members have increased to 500,000, indicating over 30% of the Dreamcast owners are using their Dreamcast to access the internet in Japan.
1-21-00---- Anime At NATPE
Some interesting anime selections have found their way to this year's NATPE (National Association of Television Programming Executives) syndication trade fair in New Orleans. Keep in mind the below Anime, are not neccesarily being marketed to TV broadcasters, some are seeking video distributors.
From Tokyo Broadcasting Systems: "Sorcerous Stabber Orphen", "Cyber Team
in Akihabara".
From Kodansha: "Oh My Goddess! The Movie", "The Adventures of
Mini-Goddesses" (description: "wacky diets, flights into outer space,
treasure hunts and a monster called Gabira are part of this wacky comedy
series"), "Barbapapa", and "Naughty Monty".
1-21-00---- Science And Anime: Japanese Robots Finding More Applications
In Japan, robots are more and more taking on roles often assigned to them in popular Anime / Manga. A security robot, Guardrobo C2, is currently completing tests in a Tokyo TV station, it will go into full-scale production with applications in the private & public sectors in 2001. Guardrobo patrols on it's own, with a preprogrammed map and sensors. It can detect fires and potentially scare away intruders with a loud synthesized voice, that yells "Kora!" (Hey you!) or "Dorobo!" (Burglar!)
Secom Co. is developing a robot, with the tentative name, My Spoon. It's task is providing assistance in aiding disabled people with eating.
An amusement park in Otaru, Hokkaido, is home to a robot programmed to entertain people, it can tell up to 20 different jokes, depending on how many coins you're willing to pop-in. Osaka-based designer, Daihen Corp., plans to produce more robots with entertainment applications in the future.
1-21-00---- Sanrio Throws Valentine Love Love Party
Puroland, Hello Kity creator, Sanrio's theme park, is hosting a "Valentine Love Love Party" in Feb. for 175 couples to be chosen by random drawing.
1-21-00---- Batman Beyond Movie Trailer
Another Universe has posted the Batman Beyond Movie Trailer you can view it here. The direct -to-video movie, is produced by Japanese Animation studio, Tokyo Movie Shinsha (TMS). The film is said to have a fair budget, and currently has a U.S. video release of of Nov. 7th. There's a chance it could be shown in North American theaters.
.1-21-00---- European Film Festival
The International Film Festival, occuring in Rotterdam, Netherlands from Jan. 6th - Feb. 6th will include a focus on Japanese cinema and anime. Blue Submarine No. 6, Serial Experiments Lain, and Cowboy Bebop are all scheduled to be featured. Mamoru Oshii will be a featured director, with many of his films, including Ghost in the Shell, the Patlabor films, and Jin-Roh scheduled for screening. Visit the official site for more information. Source: Anime Nation
1-21-00---- Princess Mononoke Region 1 DVD Rumor
According to the The Digital Bits Rumor Mill the Princess Mononoke will see a Region 1 DVD release in May. There is currently no official from Buena Vista it's receiving DVD licensing rights.Source: The Digital Bits Rumor Mill & DVD Animania
1-21-00---- J-Pop Producer Asked To Write Song For G-8 Summit
Japanese Pop music producer, Tetsuya Komuro, has reportedly accepted a request from Japanese Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi on Friday to write a theme song for July's G-8 summit of major industrialized nations in Okinawa. Obuchi asked Komuro via telphone to write ''a song that would be loved by everyone.'' According to officials Komuro replied he will do his best.
1-21-00---- Anime / Manga Gaming
Imagineer will release an Append CD for their popular PSX sim, Medalot R, called "Medalot R & Part Collection". The disc is scheduled for release in Japan on March 9th, listing at 2980 Yen, it will include additional characters, new gear parts, and PocketStation support.Atlus plans to bring their PSX musical drama RPG, Marl Kingdom's Puppet Princess to the U.S., under the title "Rhapsody". Release is scheduled for May.
A number of Japanese companies are exploring new applications for Sega Dreamcast. Titus Net and Sega of Japan are working on a new Cable Internet service in Japan, allowing the Dreamcast to access the internet using a cable modem.
CSK Corporation recently announced that they are testing a new high speed Dreamcast home information terminal with 500 Japanese families in the Kansai region of Japan. The testing will be done in various cities from Feb. 1 - Aug. 31st.
Nintendo has announced The Legend of Zelda: The Mask of Mujula for N64 will be released in Japan on April 27th, listing at 6800 Yen. In the game, Link can utilize different abilities by wearing different masks.
1-21-00---- Dragonball Z Article
This Dallas Observer article on Dragonball Z takes readers to the headquarters of North American Dragonball license-holder FUNimation in Fort Worth, Texas.1-20-00---- Viz Announces Release Of Secret Comics
Viz Comics has announced the release of Secret Comics Japan, an anthology of the underground-style taboo-breaking comics by a new generation of authors.
Pieces appearing in the collection were chosen by Chikao Shiratori, former editor of Garo magazine (a premiere underground Japanese manga magazine, running since 1964).
"This is not market-driven weekly manga drawn by artists
with 10 assistants; this is not wanna-be mainstream fan
comics based on anime and video games."From the surreally beautiful to the graphically gruesome, this book will be of interest to all fans of cutting-edge art and comics." Viz Comics' stated "These are works from an entirely different culture than American underground comics – modern manga drawn by artists parodying and defying their own culture twisting its excesses, expressing their own desires."
Weighing in at 200 pages, Secret Comics Japan ships May 2000 with a retail price of
$19.95.
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