While U.S. fans will have to hang on a bit longer for a domestic release of the anime TV series adaptation of Kentaro Miura's very intricately plotted low fantasy manga, Berserk, Japanese fans and importers can look forward to a very special Region 2 DVD Box Set release of the late night anime in March. Topping off the outside box art are totally new illustrations by creator Miura-sensei as well as originally illustrated jackets for each of the 7 DVD cases in this set. Video prints are totally remasted, and animated menus are included on each disc. Of the 7 discs 1 is a special addition with bonus footage. Extras include a illustrated poster and production notes. Those who preorder will also get a very special 2001 illustrated calnder by Miura and bonus book. Retail price is 31,500 Yen and the set will arrive in Japanese retailers on March 20th.Otakon 2001 will be held at the Baltimore Convention Center on the weekend of August 10th through the 12th (Friday, August 10th to Sunday, August 12th). Currently, members can register for $35 by sending a check/money order to:
OTAKON
491 Baltimore Pike #689
Springfield, PA 19064-3810
Available hotels are currently (you MUST mention OTAKON to get the rates):
Holiday Inn: $119/night + tax. Phone: 1-410-685-3500. There are only a few rooms available at this hotel.
Wyndham (formerly the Omni): $119/night + tax. Phone: 1-800-WYNDHAM or 1-410-385-6700. We have a large room block at this hotel. It is not immediately next to the BCC, but is a Nice Hotel which is willing to accommodate the Otaku.
OTAKON is currently engaged in contract negotiations with a few other Inner Harbor hotels, and more information on these arrangements will be forthcoming.
The OTAKON webpage (http://www.otakon.com) will reflect this information soon, and will continue to be updated as the year progresses with Guest of Honor, hotel, and other convention information.
Please direct general inquiries concerning OTAKON 2001 to info@otakon.com Contact information for other departments is currently available on the website.
-----
Jonathan Harmon
Press Dept Head
Otakon 2001
Konami is developing a new Java game version of Dance Dance Reveloution for use on Mobile Phones such as NTT's I-Mode 503 I series. Players will have to match moves on screen with keypad presses and high score can be uploaded to a total internet ranking. Utilization fee of 300 Yen a month is currently being panned and new tunes can be uploaded in the future.
The game is being touted as a "Robot Animation Simulator and features some industry veterans including Character Designer Nobuyoshi Nishimura who worked on Z Gundam for studio Sunrise in 1985, SD Gundam (1989), The Mobile Police Patlabor TV series (as illustration director) in 1989, V Gundam (1993 as illustration director), and Gundam Wing in 1995 (as illustration director). In 1996 he was the character designer and illustration director for Gundam X and joined KCE in 1998 where was a member of the motion crew for Metal Gear Solid for PSX. Mecha Designer, Yoji Shinakawa was the mecha and mechanical designer for Metal Gear Solid, the design of Jehuty and other "orbital frames" find theri roots in his school day sketchbooks.
OVA Production Data:
Director: Tetsuya Watanabe
Scenario: Shin Yoshida
Main, mechanical design: Tsutomu Suzuki/Tsutomu Miyazawa
Production: Sunrise
Sales: VAP
Price: 5,800 Yen
Time: 50 minutes
Release: March 1, 2001 - DVD
A first press premium ZOE package will also be released from March 1st at the retail price of 13,800 Yen. Included is special edit of Z.O.E 2167 IDOLO and PS2 game.
Source: Nihon Keizai Newspaper, December 25, 2000
Source: Neptune Media
Saban has licensed the rights to broadcast and merchandise in the US and Europe to the sci-fi anime series "Cho-hatsumei Boy Kanipan." The broadcast of this series will begin in September 2001 on Fox Kids.
Source: Neptune Media
Heavy Gear: the buzz began to heat up with our announcement in late 1999 of Bandai producing a complete line of action figures based on this Dream Pod 9 popular roleplaying and series of video games. Word of the mighty robot series getting the cartoon treatment only added fuel to the fire. Prototypes for this anticipated property are already DONE, and are aimed to be shown again at this years Toy Fair. Alas, Bandai is waiting to see how this new 'toon fares- thus the fate of this sure to be kick-butt robotic figure line. Stay glued for any breaking developments!
Digimon: the cartoon is a mega-success, and you just can't get that darn theme song out of your head once you've heard it (Digimon..digital monsters...). Another steaming hot product and voted the #6 top-selling male action toy brand of 2000 by the NPD Group, Digimon will digivolve into 2001 with Digimon Zero-Two and Three figure lines.
Gundam- saving the best for last. 2000 marked the Gundam US Invasion, making the cartoon, model kits, and figure line one of the hottest collectible items to grace these shores in some time. Bandai will continue this trend into 2001 with (drum roll)- MS Gundam model kits and action figures! Based on the series that started it all, with such popular Gundams as the RX-77 Gundam, Zaku II, Zogg, and Z'Gok, this line promises to be a hit.
Tecmo has just announced that a brand new Monster Rancher game (Monster Farm in Japan), tentatively titled Monster Rancher Mania, is currently in development for the 32-bit Gameboy Advance handheld. The new game won't be a direct sequel to the PlayStation breeding sims -- that game is on its way to the PlayStation 2. Tecmo is touting the new game as a strategy title. Details are all but nonexistent at this point, but the company claims that the game will stick closer to the gameplay of the PlayStation games, while adding in a brand new battle system. Expect to see the familiar Monster Rancher creatures return, hopefully accompanied by the charm and deep gameplay that made the breeding sim one of the few to step out of the shadow of Pokémon. The game is currently early in development and pending final concept approval from Nintendo. However, Tecmo has stated it should be ready in time for the US launch of the Game Boy Advance.
Update on Konami's forthcoming MGS 2 demo in March. From the main menu, a "Previous Story" mode can be accessed. Similar to the "Previous Operations" briefing in the first MGS, players can read a text summary of Snake's past exploits. Also offered is a "Special" mode, which displays a movie and explanation of each of Snake's 32 moves, many of which are new in the sequel. Some of the new moves, such as the ability to dangle from ledges or make enemies surrender at gunpoint, were previously revealed in the various trailers. Others abilities, such as using enemies for human shields, are new to the demo. Each move is also given a difficulty rating, so you'll have an idea of how hard it is to accomplish successfully within the game.
Those eagerly awaiting the American release of Dance Dance Revolution may now have to wait a little longer. Though Konami announced at their first annual Gamer's Day in December that the game would arrive in February of this year, the most recent update to the company's release calendar now has it listed for a Spring date.
Outlaw Star, which only has two Japanese seasons under its belt, will likely debut this month in Cartoon's Toonami block, while fall 2001 should see the addition of year-old shows Big O and Pilot Candidate. While the deal hadn't officially closed at press time, Bandai and Cartoon were in the final throes of partnering up for all three shows.
Sunrise also produced the 13 x half-hour Big O, a grittier anime offering centering around a city whose denizens have collectively lost their memories. Under police rule, the city is protected by a Batman-cum-James Bond character who brings in the Big O, a massive robot from the past, to help keep the peace. Bandai executive VP Ken Iyadomi says Big O has a very American feel, similar to that of Batman: The Animated Series-not surprising since Sunrise also did some production work on the comic-based toon.
A co-pro between Bandai Visual and Xebec, the TV production unit of Japan's Production IG (best known for Ghost in the Shell), 12 x half-hour Pilot Candidate is set in a school for spaceship pilots. Headed by a hotshot flyer named Zero, the pilots-in-training race to complete their driver's ed in time to save planet Zion from enemy attack. Unlike most other sci-fi anime series, Pilot's ships are rendered in CGI.
Like most imported anime properties, the new Bandai three-pack is undergoing a localization process to ensure the content is appropriate not only for Western sensibilities, but more specifically for the seven to 13 demo Toonami targets. In their original Japanese formats, these anime properties are geared towards a 13-plus age range. Iyadomi says the plus plays host to a huge group, with anime popularity generally peaking at age 15 and tapering down by age 17 and 18. Each show's North American incarnation runs between US$15,000 and US$20,000 per episode.
Source: Anihabara
There will be another Anime Night on the channel VOX. The date is 26.1. This one will be about 5 Hours again. They haven't told us which Movies they will show, but there will be only Sci-Fi Anime.
Source: Anihabara
Source: Anihabara
Source: Anihabara
Mooootto! Oja-Majo Doremi (Sun 8:30, TV Asahi)
The third series of Oja-Majo Doremi. They will be confectioners this time. And a new character, Asuka,Momoko-chan joins Oja-Majo's party.
Anime Movies in January
Initial D- Third Stage (Jan.13 Touei)
Takumi begins to tune his father's car by himself. That's caused by a change of Takumi's mind. Driving is not just for fun, because he wishes to be a proffesional racer now.
There are no detail info now, but Angelic Layer by CLAMP will be anime.
Touch special will be aired in early in the next year(century?). Uesugi Tatsuya will join an American minor baseball team, talked about dissolution for its weakness...
New Animes in January
Chikyu Bouei Kazoku[Earth Deffence Family] (Jan.9 18:30, WOWOW[free])
It was a ordinary family, except for bad terms between parents and a wicked son. One day, they received an anonymous message, which commanded to protect the earth....
Zoids in the New Century - Zero (Jan.6 18:00, TBS)
Days have past and past from the age of wars. Zoids Battle becomes sports, and players are called "warriors".
Bakuten Shoot - Beiblade (Jan.8 18:00, TV TOKYO)
Beigoma is Japanese small top. However, Beiblade is a special top which can change parts to spin better, and virtual characters are living in there. Boys play Beiblade and make friends.
Hakaima Sadamitsu [Sadamitsu the Destroyer] (Jan.17, WOWOW[free])
Fights between Sadamitsu and space criminals.
Grappler Touga (Jan.8, TV TOKYO)
Touga fights and fights to beat fis father, who is called the strongest man.
Source: Anihabara
Source: IGN PS2
Konami will release Monster Guardians for Gameboy Advance at launch in Japan on March 21. One of the first simulation RPG title for the 32-bit handheld. In this game you are a monster training, your mission is to capture the monsters and train them to be your partner. You can bring up to 4 monsters to battle, as the level of the monsters increase, you can fusion two or more monsters into an even more powerful form. This game will also support the Mobile Adapter GB, allowing you to purchase new items and exchange new monsters over the internet.
Konami will release Monster Guardians for Gameboy Advance at launch in Japan on March 21. One of the first simulation RPG title for the 32-bit handheld. In this game you are a monster training, your mission is to capture the monsters and train them to be your partner. You can bring up to 4 monsters to battle, as the level of the monsters increase, you can fusion two or more monsters into an even more powerful form. This game will also support the Mobile Adapter GB, allowing you to purchase new items and exchange new monsters over the internet. Konami is working on another new Gameboy Advance RPG called Get Backers, the story is based on the popular Japanese action comic of the same name. In this game you play as the Get Backers, your job is to go through different adventure to help your client to retrieve things that are stolen or lost. This time in the game you will encounter the challenge from a national criminal organization. No release date is set for this title.
After the Disney dancing games hit PS and N64 version, Konami decided to bring the game to GameBoy Color, Dance Dance Revolution GB Disney is scheduled to release in Japan on March 29, for 4800 yen. A special "dancing pad" will be packaged with the game, which you can put on top of the Gameboy Color control buttons to make the game easier to control.
Banpresto announced there will be a Limited Edition of their upcoming PlayStation game Super Robot Taisen Alpha Gaiden. The Limited Edition will come with an illustration board with 16 original Super Robot Taisen illustrations, a special binder, transparent case, and memory card holder. The regular version will retail for 6980 yen, and the Limited version will retail for 9800 yen.
Tecmo will release a new PlayStation 3D action game called Monster Farm: Ruins in the Air in March, for 2800 yen. The Japanese version of Monster Rancher Hop-A-Bout, featuring over 100 stages.
Capcom announced a new adventure novel for both PS and DC called Bounty Hunter Sara: Lord of the Holy Mountain. The first game in the Flagship Works series. The story takes place in Neo Tokyo in 2026, in which you play as Sara the bounty hunter, to pursue the mob leader Lord of the Holy Mountain. Similar to other digital novel titles, you will have to select different dialogues and choices to proceed the story, and there will be multiple endings to the main story. (From GameSpot)
Sega announced that they will be putting out two different Limited Editions of Sakura Taisen 3 for Dreamcast on March 22. Sakura Taisen 3 Limited Edition A will have a specially made musicbox, while Limited Edition B will come with a special Visual Memory card. Both packages will retail for 9800 yen each.
Update on the Dead or Alive movie from Mindfire Entertainment. The movie will be a live action film, carrying a PG-13 rating. The film will feature Hong Kong type martial art action scenes, similar to The Matrix. The story will focus on many of the game's female protagonists like Helena, Tina and Kasumi. (From Fastest Game News Online)
Source: Magic Box
Great Saiyaman – Opening Ceremony VHS ………. 1/23/01
Great Saiyaman -- Final Round VHS ………………. 1/23/01
Bardock Special – The Father of Goku DVD ……… 1/30/01
Imperfect Cell – 17’s End VHS ……………………… 2/20/01
Imperfect Cell – Hunt For 18 VHS ………………….. 2/20/01
Great Saiyaman – Gohan’s Secret VHS …………… 3/20/01
Great Saiyaman – Declaration VHS ………………… 3/20/01
Opening Ceremony and Final Round chronicle the Kai Tournament, the fighting contest in the afterworld. In this tournament, King Kai sets his greatest fighter, Goku, against the champions from the other three corners of the universe. Will Goku be victorious, or will he fall before the mysterious Paikuu-Han?
The Bardock Special tells the story of Bardock, Goku’s father. A Saiyan, Bardock is a bloodthirsty warrior until a man on a planet he is about to destroy gives him the power to see the future. After this, he begins a crusade to stop Frieza from destroying Planet Vegeta. Will he succeed?
17’s End and Hunt For 18 detail Cell’s quest to absorb the androids, to gain his perfect form. While these episodes have aired already on Cartoon Network, this will be your chance to own the special uncut versions on VHS.
Gohan’s Secret and Declaration will usher in a new part of Dragonball Z, as Gohan starts at Orange Star High School. In order to fight crime in the city, Gohan adopts the secret identity of the Great Saiyaman, champion of justice! But will the city’s other champion of justice, Videl (Mr. Satan’s, or Hercule’s, daughter), unmask him?
Each VHS tape will be available in Edited and Uncut versions.
Aaron Schatz wrote in September 1999 "It's a little early to declare Dragonball Z the next Pokemon, but a rise to #5 indicates a very hot item. If your kids aren't already talking about Dragonball Z, it looks like they will be soon." But now we can say Dragonball Z is the next Pokemon. I knew DBZ had to reach #1 sometime, and after 72 weeks of being on the charts it finaly has.
Source: DBZ Kingdom
This month two new releases in Bandai's SUPER DEFORMED GUNDAM line will debut. If the MOBILE SUIT IN ACTION version of BIG ZAM was a little too big for you, then you can get this smaller version for 280 Yen. Also soon to be released is a SD version of WING GUNDAM ZERO for 350 Yen.
Source: Cool Japanese Toys
Ft. Worth, TX - Dragon Ball Z began 2001 in a clear leadership position, as internet search firms Lycos and Yahoo today announced that Dragonball dramatically moved into the #1 position of the weekly Lycos Top 50 and daily Yahoo Buzz Index, both closely watched monitors of Internet interest.
Yahoo reported Dragon Ball Z is #1 on its Daily Buzz Index for January 7th. For the week ended January 7th, the Lycos Top 50 announced Dragonball is #1, some 34% ahead of Britney Spears at second, 72% more than Napster in third, and far beyond Pokemon, finishing sixth. The Yahoo Buzz is located at http://buzz.yahoo.com and the Lycos Top 50 at http://50.lycos.com.
In addition, the Yahoo’s Television Buzz Index ranked Dragon Ball Z #1 on TV, where it is the #1 series on the Cartoon Network’s famed after school Toonami Block. Yahoo said Dragon Ball Z had a TV Buzz score of 203.89, more than triple second place finisher Pamela Anderson at 58.25 and more than quadruple the 44.63 for the People’s Choice Awards, at third. Regarding its Buzz Index, Yahoo said, “A subject’s buzz score is the percentage of users searching for that subject on a given day.”
Aaron Schatz, author of the Lycos 50 report, said, “It looks like Dragonball is in for a long ride at the top.” Since Lycos initiated its much-watched weekly Top 50 List, Dragon Ball Z has been a mainstay on the list and for the past 71 weeks has been in the top eight, usually near the top spot. For the week ended January 7th, Dragonball took the #1 spot, confirming the strong 2000 showing, for which Dragonball finished as the second most searched, behind Spears, and Lycos also announced Dragonball was the #1 Fad Online for 2000, a year in which it drew more than double Pokemon’s searches.
Gen Fukunaga, President of FUNimation Productions, Ltd., licensor and producer of the Japanese anime Dragon Ball Z television series in America, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and soon South Africa, said, “With sensational growth in 2000, Dragon Ball Z is poised for major gains in 2001. Kids have embraced Dragon Ball Z through the wonderfully enchanting TV storylines and toys.”
The Top 10 spots of the Lycos Top 50 list for the week ended January 7, 2001, are:
1. DRAGONBALL 6. Pokemon
2. Britney Spears 7. Final Fantasy
3. Napster 8. Las Vegas
4. New Year 9. The IRS
5. U.S. Postal Service 10. NFL
The Top 10 of the Yahoo Buzz Index for January 7, 2001, are:
1. DRAGON BALL Z 6. Eminem
2. Napster 7. Kate Spade
3. Playstation 2 8. National Football League
4. Britney Spears 9. Las Vegas
5. World Wrestling Federation 10. NSYNC (Pokemon was 11th)
The Yahoo TV Buzz Index Top 10 had Dragon Ball Z #1, with Pamela Anderson 2nd; People’s Choice Awards in 3rd; The Simpsons, 4th; Survivor: Australian Outback at 5th; Sailor Moon, 6th; Friends was 7th; Buffy the Vampire Slayer finished 8th; The X-Files was 9th, and South Park was 10th.
The www.dragonballz.com website averages more than 2.7 million hits per day and membership in Club Z has surpassed 400,000 children, with between 1,000 and 2,000 more joining each day. A licensing program with more than 80 licensees in a wide variety of categories supports Dragon Ball Z, said Fukunaga. Master toy licensee Irwin Toy will launch a major Dragon Ball Z line at Toy Fair 2001, with a multi-million-dollar advertising, marketing and promotional campaign to support its expanded line of new action figures, play sets, vehicles and accessories. FUNimation markets Dragon Ball Z videos, consistently ranking in the Top 10 of Video Business Magazine. Among other licensees are Infogrames/GT Interactive for interactive entertainment software and Score Collectible Card Games.
FUNimation Productions Ltd., based in Fort Worth, Texas, was founded in 1994 to introduce Dragon Ball TV series to America. A full service production, licensing, Internet and home video distribution company, FUNimation focuses on quality entertainment properties. In addition to Dragon Ball Z, FUNimation represents other properties, including Chuck E. Cheese.
1)The director of the recent Gamera films will be directing a Godzilla film, which is supposed to be "dark".
2)"Toho studios has applied for Godzilla to be the longest film series based on one character for the Guinness Book of World Records."
3)"World famous magician Tenko Hikita has officially got engaged with Jean Claude Van Damme. They are involved in a relationship for 5 years and Hikita has so far received an ocean-cruiser, a Rolls Royce and a house from Van Damme. There will be two wedding ceremonies taking place, one in US and another in Japan. Their honeymoon will be a space trip.
4)"The Cartoon Network for Spanish language America will be airing , Card Captor Sakura (named Sakura Card Captors), in a uncut, unedited, original Japanese version directly translated to Spanish, distinct from the Nelvana version."
In an Exclusive interview with ANS and Akadot.com in Tokyo this past week, popular Shoujo Kakumei Utena and Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon director Kunihiko Ikuhara made reflections on his past works, and layed out his present and more distant career plans. After concluding the Schell Bullet project with Five Star Stories Creator Mamoru Nagano (and actually having a singing role in the chorus of the recently released Schell Bullet CD), the director mentioned he has no current or short-term future animation projects on the table at this time. Beyond Animation, Ikuhara-sensei will be making a series of moves that could well impact the future of the work we will see from him, not all of which can be revealed at this time. U.S. fans may be pleased to learn that very soon the director will move to the western United States where he will live for an extended period, broadening his English skills and doing other things that will be announced on this site in the coming weeks. Look for information and images from our meeting in the next several days. An in-depth interview article with Mr. Ikuhara probing his thoughts on past works and present motivations can be read at Akadot.com very soon.
AnimEigo New Release Bulletin
January and February 2001 Releases
Please add the following titles to all listings, new release bulletins and purchasing systems.
Spirit of Wonder-Miss China's Ring DVD
Sometime during the late 19th century, a young Asian girl has made a place for herself in a seaside town as owner and operator of the Tenkai Restaurant and Boarding House. Yet "Miss China" as the locals call her, is in the dumps. She's got a Mad Scientist called Breckenridge living upstairs who is chronically late with the rent, and she's pining for Jim, a handsome watchmaker's apprentice whom she mistakenly believes is pursuing the local flower girl. But this isn't our world. It is a world that has the Spirit of Wonder, where every so often, just occasionally mind you, amazing things happen. The Mad Scientist actually has come up with an incredible invention, and Jim has an unbelievable plan to use it to give Miss China the most beautiful ring in all the world.
AV200-061 * Spirit of Wonder-Miss China's Ring * DVD * $24.95
Subtitled in English with Japanese Language * Dubbed in English
UPC 7-37187-00337-0 * ISBN 1-56567-288-7 * Available Now!
Urusei Yatsura TV Series 1 DVD
When the Oni, a mysterious race of Aliens, come to repossess the Earth, they give us one chance to save our planet - a champion, selected at random, must defeat their princess, Lum, in their national sport--Tag! Unfortunately for Earth, the champion turns out to be Ataru Moroboshi, a lecherous lad whose lack of luck is legendary. When Ataru lays eyes on the curvaceous Lum, he readily agrees to take on the task of touching her horns. Alas, when the contest begins, he finds out that the Oni forgot to mention one small matter-Lum can fly! When all seems lost, his girlfriend Shinobu promises to marry him if he wins. Win he does, but Lum misinterprets his victory cry as a proposal of marriage--to her! Now Lum's living in his closet, planning their wedding, and zapping him with high-voltage electricity if he even looks at another woman. His girlfriend isn't sure if she's been jilted or saved from a life of misery; his Lum-crazed schoolmates are plotting to get him "out of the way;" his parents are loudly wishing he'd never been born; and to top it all off, a demented Buddhist Monk has been seen lurking around the neighborhood mumbling something about evil spirits and curses. Then Lum's friends and relatives start visiting, and things start to get really weird!
AV000-101 * Urusei Yatsura TV Series 1 * DVD * Subtitled in English with Japanese Language * UPC 7-37187-00330-1 * ISBN 1-56567-277-1 * $24.95 Prebook 1/25/01 * Street 2/27/01
All Stories, Graphics And Material © Anime News Service Unless Otherwise Cited
Questions,Comments,News Submissions