Anime News Service - January 27-31 Anime News

1-31-03---- Anime Nation Enters Production Arena With Risky Safety Acquisition

Anime Nation is proud to announce its entry into the official translation and distribution of Japanese animation, more commonly known as "anime," in the American marketplace with the acquisition of "Omishi Magical Theater: Risky Safety" (Omishi Mahou Gekijou Risky Safety). AnimeNation is committed to bringing this wonderful and charming contemporary classic to English speaking viewers with a DVD exclusive release that will appeal to casual anime viewers and attract devoted anime aficionados. Risky Safety will be the debut release from newly created AN Entertainment, AnimeNationis home entertainment subsidiary devoted to providing Japanese animation to English speaking viewers.

ABOUT RISKY SAFETY: Broadcast on Japanese television between October 1999 and April 2000, Risky Safety is a gorgeously visual and emotionally touching humorous drama unlike anything else ever released in America before. The Risky Safety story revolves around junior high school girl Moe Katsuragi who is first introduced deeply saddened over her perception that the boy she likes has no interest in her. At the depths of Moe's despair, the tiny apprentice death spirit Risky appears before her, urging Moe to give in to sadness and give up her soul. Matters become confused when Moe discovers that the little devil Risky actually shares a body with the clumsy but pure hearted apprentice angel Safety. The tug-of-war over Moe's soul between devilish Risky and angelic Safety sets in motion a funny and touching 24 episode tale of fate, love, friendship, the cosmic balance of the universe, and even a few giant monsters!

In the tradition of Buena Vista distributed anime titles including Kiki's Delivery Service and Spirited Away, Risky Safety is an inspiring and heartwarming story suitable for family viewing. At the same time, Risky Safety includes enough elements of traditional imported Japanese anime to appeal to even the most seasoned and selective anime fan. Risky Safety is based on a comic book story created by Ray Omishi, the creator of popular and successful anime series Sorcerer Hunters. Risky Safety also features a memorable theme song performed by fan favorite vocalist Maaya Sakamoto, the singer responsible for theme songs to popular anime imports including Escaflowne, Lodoss War, Card Captor Sakura, and RahXephon. The Risky Safety animation was created by Studio A.P.P.P., the veteran Japanese studio responsible for breakthrough hit anime titles including Robot Carnival and Jojo's Bizarre Adventures. The all-star Japanese voice cast includes veteran actors Maaya Sakamoto, Kikuko Inoue, Horie Yui, Rumi Kasahara, and Yuri Shiratori.

For images and additional detail about Omishi Magical Theater Risky Safety, visit the official English language Risky Safety website at RiskySafety.com.

ABOUT THE RISKY SAFETY DVD: AnimeNation is committed to providing discriminating anime viewers with an authentic and credible presentation of this imported Japanese series. To that end, AN Entertainmentis three volume Risky Safety DVD release will contain both English language audio and the original Japanese audio track with optional English subtitles. The subtitles will be adapted from a thoroughly researched "fansub" script- a dialogue script transcribed by devoted anime fans emphasizing translation accuracy and veracity to the original Japanese dialogue. Viewers that prefer English language dialogue will find Risky Safety immediately accessible and highly entertaining, especially supplemented with the extensive bonus liner notes detailing cultural and translation details that will be included on the AN Entertainment DVDs. The Risky Safety DVDs will also be packed with value-added bonus features including staff and cast biographies, trailers, image galleries, reversible DVD covers, and more. AnimeNation's goal is to produce an archival, reference quality DVD release of Risky Safety that will keep viewers of all ages enthralled, and meet the high standards expected by die-hard anime fans and connoisseur of fine imported film.

1-31-03---- Saiyuki Release updates From ADVFilms

HOUSTON, January 30, 2003-ADV Films today announced an April 29, 2003 release for Saiyuki: The Journey Begins, first volume of the thrilling, humorous, wildly entertaining, 50-episode anime saga.

The first iterations of the Saiyuki tale were animated in the late 1960s, and based on the 16th-century Chinese novel Xiyouji, by Wu Cheng-En; ADV Films' release of Saiyuki is based on a manga by Kazuya Minekura, and directed by Hayato Date.

Special Edition Available! ADV's release of Saiyuki: The Journey Begins will be available in two versions: as a DVD in its standard case, or as a special edition, including the DVD, a t-shirt and a custom series art box, sized to hold the first six volumes of the series.

The Story: Once, demons and man lived together in harmony. But when a band of rogue demonic forces sought to resurrect a diabolical monster, dark spiritual energy began to cover the land-and the demons decided mankind was no longer friend, but food. Now, it's up to a renegade priest, a monkey king, a lecherous water sprite, and a sympathetic demon to stop the resurrection and return harmony to the dangerous land.

Enter the world of Saiyuki! A unique universe of beauty and betrayal, where sacred scrolls battle enchanted weaponry and where dragons can transform into jeeps. A land of magic and menace, where four reluctant heroes are just as concerned about having a good time, a stiff drink, and a beautiful woman as they are about saving the world...

Saiyuki: The Journey Begins (SRP $29.98; special edition $44.98) is a DVD-only release, including both English- and Japanese-language versions of the title. Extras include clean opening and closing animations; historical background; production sketches; a Saiyuki trailer and ADV Previews.

SAIYUKI: THE JOURNEY BEGINS Running Time: 125 minutes; Age Rating: 15+ Pre-Book Date: 4/1/03 Street Date: 4/29/03 Format SRP DVD $29.98 DVD + Custom Series Art Box + T-Shirt $44.98

1-31-03---- AnimeBB Revamps

TALLAHASSEE, FL. January 31st, 2003 – AnimeBB.ORG of the AnimeBB Networks, announced the official release of AnimeBB V2.0 PHP. Since its opening in October 2001, the site has averaged well over 1 million hits and 30 thousand page views.
“We are happy by the current status of AnimeBB and the release of our newest version to the public.” said Lloyd Romero, AnimeBB Administrator and Founder. “We look to the future to provide the best possible experience that is finely tuned for even the most hardcore anime viewer.”
Since the downfall of Saiyan.NET and AnimeBB.NET, AnimeBB.ORG has gotten back on its feet and has been through many struggles. In the year 2003, the site promises more updates as well as more sections for the disposal of its users.
The new key features of this PHP version include:
Improved Forums
Fully interactive forums for general to individualized anime discussions.
AnimeBB Episode Database
Designed to attain a full list of all episode titles for a specific anime.
Improved Imagecenter
Allows for viewing of anime images as well as an interactive fanart section.
FanFIC Section
Writers can now rejoice as a new database for anime fiction authors to display their works.
In addition the site promises to open a wide range of other features in the coming months. Their on going mission to improve the forums is also stated as one of their key goals in 2003. Anime DVD reviews as well as Music Video Reviews are also in the works.
URL: http://www.animebb.org

1-30-03---- Kia Asamiya Crosses Over To Mainstream Comics

CENTRAL PARK MEDIA'S FAMED MANGA ARTIST KIA ASAMIYA CROSSES OVER TO MAINSTREAM COMICS

Move Increases Fan Base For DARK ANGEL And NADESICO Graphic Novels

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

New York, NY (January 30, 2003) - Manga Artist Kia Asamiya, already well-known to American manga fans for his work on such Central Park Media released epics as Dark Angel and Nadesico, has recently come to the attention of mainstream American comic book fans for his work on Marvel Comic's Uncanny X-Men and the upcoming DC Comic's graphic novel release Batman: Child of Dreams.

According to Sam Napolitano, Director of Sales for Central Park Media, "Nadesico and Dark Angel have always been popular titles with our core customer base. We have recently seen an increase in sales for both graphic novel series, which we attribute to Kia Asamiya's growing popularity among the American fan base." "It would behoove retailers to cross merchandise Nadesico and Dark Angel with Batman: Child of Dreams."

Nadesico Nadesico is a comedic, sci-fi space opera featuring a rag tag crew consisting of a child prodigy, hard-core anime fans, and high school sweethearts. There is trouble in the outer solar system and it's up to the crew of the space battleship Nadesico to kick some butt!

TITLE: Nadesico, Book 1 Nadesico, Book 2 CATALOG#: CMX 06241, 208 pages CMX 06242, 208 pages

TITLE: Nadesico, Book 3 Nadesico, Book 4 CATALOG#: CMX 06243, 176 pages CMX 62404G, 208 pages

SRP PRICE: $15.95 each

Dark Angel Dark Angel is Kia Asamiya's epic sword and sorcery masterwork about a young inexperienced warrior named Dark that has to come to terms with his destiny as a guardian of the world.

MANGA ARTIST KIA ASAMIYA Page 2

TITLE: Dark Angel Book 1: The Path to Destiny CATALOG#: CMX 06231, 208 pages

TITLE: Dark Angel Book 2: White Tiger's Battle Cry CATALOG#: CMX 06232, 160 pages

TITLE: Dark Angel Book 3: Leen's Destiny - Path of the Blue Dragon CATALOG#: CMX 06233, 176 pages

TITLE: Dark Angel Book 4: Legend of the Sacred Beast CATALOG#: CMX 62304G, 192 pages

TITLE: Dark Angel Book 5: Legend of the Sacred Beast II CATALOG#: CMX 62305G, 208 pages

SRP PRICE: $15.95 each

1-30-03---- ADV Gets Exposure On Cartoon Network

HOUSTON, [DATE TK], 2003-Episodes from four ADV Films titles-Neon Genesis Evangelion, Dai-Guard, Martian Successor Nadesico and the Harmony Gold production Robotech-will be featured as part of Cartoon Network's first-ever Giant Robot Week, to air Monday, Feb. 24 through Friday, Feb. 28, 2003. Giant Robot Week, on the air 4-5 p.m. during the Toonami afternoon action-adventure block, celebrates the "giant fighting robot" anime genre.

In the press release announcing Giant Robot Week, Cartoon Network noted the quality of the selected ADV Films titles, and the fact that Giant Robot Week will mark the first-ever appearance of Dai-Guard and Martian Successor Nadesico on national television.

1-29-03---- New From Media Blasters

From www.media-blasters.com via Daniel:

MEDIA BLASTERS STARTS ITS FIRST IN-HOUSE HORROR MOVIE PRODUCTION FOR 2003!! Looking for talented actors and crew personnel for all positions. If you are interested, email Carl Morano or call (212) 868-0991 Ext. 240

Also of interest is that they've licensed Samurai Deeper Kyo and the Twelve Kingdoms, and they've updated their 2003 theatrical releases.

1-29-03---- Tokyopop Street Fury Chrome Release Exposes Import Car Scene

Los Angeles, CA (January 28, 2003)—Promising to be the high-octane series’ most exciting installment yet, Street Fury: Chrome is TOKYOPOP’s answer to all things cars. Add a little danger, some smokin’ hot women and a few celebrities, then give it all an import focus, and you’ve got one sizzling 60-minute special guaranteed to rev the pulse of any car enthusiast. Hip-hop’s Redman introduces the action with his own freestyle description of Street Fury: Chrome.

Available on March 11, TOKYOPOP’s Street Fury: Chrome takes viewers to some of the country’s hottest import auto shows, gets them behind the scenes with the cars of The Fast and the Furious and puts them right in the action of real-life Southern California street racing. Featured special appearances include sexy Daisy Fuentes (formerly of MTV’s “House of Style”) and famed car creator George Barris (XXX fame), among others. The DVD also includes a sizzling model shoot photo gallery, car gallery, Initial D music video, GTO “School’s in Session” music video and previews of other hot upcoming TOKYOPOP releases at an MSRP of $19.99.

1-29-03---- 3rd Love Hina Statue Coming From Tokyo Mint In July

Tokyo Mint, LLC has announced that the third statue in its exclusive line of Love Hina collectible statues will be Aoyama Motoko with Sword. This statue will be the first of this character, and the first at the larger 1/6 scale; it stands a full 13" high. The North American edition will be 600, the same edition size as Tokyo Mint's sold out Naru Narusegawa Bikini statue, which was released in December 2002. Each statue displays on a wooden base, and comes carefully packaged in a color box (Japanese packaging with Tokyo Mint edition labeling). MSRP will be $139.

Tokyo Mint, LLC has the rights to release a series of cold-cast resin statues based on Love Hina, a successful manga (comic) and anime (animated series) from Japan. Love Hina is a romantic comedy manga series created by Akamatsu Ken which appeared in Shukan Shonen magazine and has been collected in fourteen volumes, which have sold over 6 million copies in Japan. In 2000, Love Hina was made into a popular anime series produced by Xebec for TV Tokyo. In 2002, the property was launched in America, with the manga released by Tokyopop, the anime on DVD by Bandai, and posters from 1000 Editions.

1-29-03---- Latin America Developments

Courtesy to Cesar De La Cruz:Televix makes important announcements about deals in last year:

Acquired distribution rights of new 52 episodes of Inu yasha, actually running in Cartoon Network Latin America, and that completes 104 episodes to broadcast. Also, acquired the rights to distribute in theaters, two Inu yasha's movies in all Latin America, to be premiere in next third trimester this year.

Also, acquired the rights for Ninja Boys, a series with more than 300 episodes in format of 10 or 30 minutes, and broadcasted in Japan last seven years. Well, that seems to be Nintama Rantaro. It was premiered in 2000 and 2001 in Mexico, Chile and Venezuela as Ninja Boy or Ninja Boys, even Ninja Rantaro.

Finally, closed a deal with Nickelodeon Latin America to broadcast the second season on Yu Gi Oh!, the 4kids version, beginning next April.

Ko Films Distribution offers to TV networks, the broadcast rights of I Love BuBu Chacha, and Muchikko, in format of 26 x 30 mins. And 49 x 1 hr. , respectively. Also offers productions of Octapixx and Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Until now, there's no information about deals made with any networks. Source: Produ.com

Source: www.geocities.com/notianime

1-28-03---- Dragonball GT Volumes Arrive In America

Thanks to Dustin of www.degenerationz.com for this news:

FUNimation's official DBGT release dates for the first four volumes.
Volume One: Dragonball GT: Baby Saga: Affliction - April 15th.
Volume Two: Dragonball GT: Baby Saga: Incubation - April 15th.
Volume Three: Dragonball GT: Baby Saga: Creation - May 20th.
Volume Four: Dragonball GT: Baby Saga: Proliferation - May 20th.

1-28-03---- First Anime Multicover TV Guides Coming

The Feb. 1-7 issue of TV Guide has a special article on the card game and anime. Of interest to collectors is that the magazine itself will have three different covers from the anime.

Thanks to Daniel for the news.

1-28-03---- Fast And The Furious 2 Trailer

Even ahead of the debut of a video teaser from the official website, www.thefastandthefurious.com, Yahoo has managed to score the first look at the film.

1-27-03---- Japan GT Championships Broadcast In USA

Amid little advertisement, the American based cable network, Speed Channel has began broadcasting detailed review programs of Japan's Autobacs JGTC season auto races. The broadcast marks an American TV debut for this type of racing which features some of Japan's star drivers including Drift King Keiichi Tsuchiya (who served as supervisor on the Initial D anime) and many of the cast of The Best Motoring Videos. Look for it on Speed running in 3 30 minute segments on Mondays 9:00 pm - 10:30 pm and repeated from 2:00 am - 3:30 am Eastern Time.

1-27-03--- Animatrix Release

The Digital Bits has the Animatrix release date listed as June 3rd, 2003. Thans to Daniel for the info.

1-27-03---- Jump Editor Death Details

Akadot has obtaied some new and exclusive data on the recent sudden and quite tragic loss of Shonen Jump Japan Editor Toshimasa Takahashi. Checkout the piece here.

1-27-03---- Bandai Offers Games For Sprint Phones

The Consumer Electronics Show held in early Januray saw Bandai America and Sprint introduce a new line of wireless games for Sprint's PCS Vision suite of services. The new line-up of wireless games includes several that are based on popular Bandai toys, such as the Mobile Suit Gundam series. Sprint, which operates the largest all-digital, all-CDMA Third-Generation (3G) wireless network in the United States, is the first U.S. wireless carrier to offer games from Bandai. Games available at launch include Gundam Space Assault, Snowboarding and Hare Hockey, which have gained significant popularity in Japan through development of Bandai Networks Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of Bandai.

PCS Vision includes services that allow customers to browse the Internet wirelessly; take and transfer digital pictures on select Vision phones; check personal and corporate e-mail; and download polyphonic ringers and full-color, graphically-rich games and screen savers. "Wireless games allow our customers to have fun in an otherwise wasted moment -- on a device they always have with them," said Chip Novick, vice president of consumer marketing for the PCS division of Sprint. "Being the world's third-largest toy company, Bandai understands what people want to do for fun. Sprint is taking Bandai's expertise wireless and extending its portfolio into new areas of gaming."

"Bandai is very excited to partner with Sprint because it is one of the foremost 3G wireless carriers in the US," comments Masao Ohata, vice president of Network Entertainment for Bandai America Incorporated. "We are committed to offer top quality wireless entertainment that can be played on Vision-enabled PCS Phones by families anywhere on the enhanced Sprint Nationwide PCS Network."

Bandai games can be found in the Games folder on PCS Vision handsets.

For more information: www.BandaiWireless.com

1-27-03---- Anime Love Returns

Thanks to Daniel for this news:

Update January 26, 2003, 9:30 p.m.

We have new Love Senshi and (S)he Said ... columns up for your reading pleasure!

A-KON OR BUST!!! We here at Anime Love want to spread the word more about this Web site! And to do that we will be attending Project A-Kon in Dallas, Texas, May 30-June 1! And we need your help! We want to buy an advertisement in the convention's program book to boost our exposure, and to have a gathering of people who come to this Web site so everyone can meet and have fun! We need your support in financing this project (since the webmaster is poor.) Our goal is $150 for the cost of the ad, food for the party, and prizes.

Source: Anime Love

1-27-03---- Asian Cinema At Berlinale 2003

According to the release courtesy Daniel:
With director Mabel Cheung and producer Alex Law, Jackie Chan will present the documentary Traces of the Dragon: Jackie Chan and his Lost Family (Hong Kong, China), which will open the Panorama Dokumente series.
Within the scope of the retrospective for Yasujiro Ozu's 100th birthday, the Panorama will present Akibiyori (Late Autumn, Japan 1960).
PTU, Hong Kong 2003, Johnnie To, 85 min., 35mm
Chinese Odyssey 2002 (Tian xia wu shuang), Hong Kong 2002, Jeff Lau, 84 min., 35mm
Infernal Affairs (Wu jian dao), Hong Kong 2002, Andrew Lau Wai-Keung, Alan Mak Siu-Fai, 98 min., 35mm
Aku ingin menciummu sekali saja (Bird Man Tale), Indonesia 2003, Garin Nugroho, 90 min., 35mm
Koufuku no kane (The Blessing Bell), Japan 2002, Sabu, 87 min., 35mm
Border Line, Japan 2002, Lee Sang-il, 118 min., 35mm
Ogawa puro homonki (A Visit to Ogawa Productions), Japan 1981, Oshige Jun'ichiro, 61 min., 16mm
Aji (Dream Cuisine), Japan 2003, Li Ying, 134 min., 35mm
Mil-ae (Ardor), Korea 2002, Byun Young-joo, 110 min., 35mm
Kim Gina-eui bidio ilgi (Gina Kim's Video Diary), Korea/USA 2002, Gina Kim, 157 min., DigiBeta
Boksoneun naegut (Sympathy for Mr Vengeance), Korea 2002, Park Chan-uk, 117 min., 35mm

Tribute to Shaw Brothers:
Kingdom and the Beauty (Jiang shan mei ren), restored version, Hong Kong 1959, Li Han-hsiang, 99 min., 35mm
Come Drink with Me (Da zui jia), restored version, Hong Kong 1966, King Hu, 94 min., 35mm
Hong Kong Nocturne (Xiang jiang hua yue ye), Hong Kong 1966, Inoue Umetsugu, 128 min., 35mm
Intimate Confessions of a Chinese Courtesan (Ai nu), Hong Kong 1972, Chu Yuan, 90 min., 35mm
The 36th Chamber of Shaolin (Shao lin sa liu fang), restored version, Hong Kong 1978, Liu Chia-liang, 115 min., 35mm

1-27-03---- Hikaru Utada Net Concert Draws 1,000,000 Viewers

A live concert by pop star Hikaru "Hikki" Utada recently broadcast on the Internet free of charge drew about 1 million hits, apparently a record in Japan, officials of her record label Toshiba-EMI Ltd said Thursday. The company, which runs Utada's official web site, carried the one-hour concert last Sunday to coincide with the singer's 20th birthday. (Kyodo News)

1-27-03---- Sen To Chihiro Broadcast Shatters Audience Viewership Record In Japan

Yukio-san (The Dead Shot Club) in Yokohama City sends us the following:

The audience rating of the movie "Spirited Away" (Sen to Chihiro no kamikakushi:Director Hayao Miyazaki) broadcast by 24 day and night by the Nippon Television Network system broke audience rating record of televising of the movie in television. The audience rating was 46.9%. The old highest was 44.7% of "KitaKitsyne monogatari" (The tales of A north fox) (it will broadcast by the Fuji Television system for 79 years). Announcement of Video Research.

Source: Goo News

1-27-03---- Anime Checklist

Giuseppe Albanese in Italy has written in to inform us of his new web project, Anime Checklist, which contains figures on anime produced in Japan since 1917. Italy

1-27-03---- Spirited Away Arrival Scores Big With TN Fan Community

After a public response, anime fans in of all places Chattanooga, Tennessee get their wish. Spirited Away will be part of the line-up of the Chattanooga Independent Film Series. It will be shown at the Bijou 7 downtown March 21-27. One group that appears to be the most vocal about this are the listeners to an anime based show locally called the "Sushi Bar" on 91.5 FM WAWL. An independent radio station affiliated with Chattanooga State Technical Community College. The show can be heard Sunday Nights starting at 10. Hosted by DJ Johnny Otaku, The Sushi Bar music block has been on the air for close to two years. It's part of Johnny's normal show where for two hours he plays anime, J-Pop and J-rock music. Johnny says he plans on having promos and some tie-ins affiliated with the movie. He says he's excited about Spirited Away playing here and that his phones have been ringing off the hook in regards to the news.

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