Anime News Service - January 5 Anime News

1-5-05

- Those who view anime using the DIVX video codec may be interested to learn AMD has announced announced Athlon 64 processors will be built to support the upcoming DivX Connected Certification Program from DivXNetworks, Inc. The DivX Connected Program is a comprehensive technology initiative that connects digital media from the PC to consumer electronics products throughout the home. best-in-class performance to meet the intense processing demands of streaming digital content.
- In the aftermath of the great Sumatra earthquake and Indian Ocean Tsunami 11 days ago, Japan is among the nations seeking to account for missing citizens. Asahi News covers the current search for an unaccounted for 244 and mentions an instance Referring to the difficulty of getting accurate numbers, a ministry official recounted one instance in which Referring to the difficulty of getting accurate numbers, a ministry official recounted one instance in which .."frantic family members sought assistance in tracing a relative. It turned out the person in question was actually holed up at a coffee shop in Japan of all places. The establishment allows customers to linger, sometimes for hours, while they leaf through manga comics."
- Japan Today's Executive Impact section profiles Emiko Miki of Universal Planner. The company was in the US media recently regarding a backpack promotional device designed with a 7 inch LCD screen.
- The official website for Full Metal Alchemist and the Broken Angel Sony's PlayStation 2. has been launched at www.square-enix.com/games/FMA.
- Animation Insider has Q4 ratings for the WB and breaks down the still strong stats for Pokemon and Yugioh!
- The Daily Telegraph talks Living With Robots and how anime exposure has broken down the man machine barrier in one instance.
- The Washington Times goes further in depth on the Japanese Language Japan/US Embassy release posted early today (full statement available in English here). According to Japan's ambassador in Washington, Ryozo Kato, Japanese cultural influence in the United States is "on the rise." "It seems like some Japanese cultural forms have a stealth capability, as if they are invisible and separate from economic influence," he told the Japan Now newsletter. He cited the popular Japanese cartoon characters in the Anime and Manga series. "Japanese art, not traditional but contemporary art, ... and athletes are doing quite well and are accepted in the U.S.," he said. "This is a good thing because, in the end, I believe that the strength of the U.S.-Japan relationship comes down to people-to-people communication and mutual respect."
- The Hampton Roads Daily Press covers Shabu Shabu, the latest trend in Japanese cooking.
- The West Liberty Index has an article on the WLHS Anime Club and how the group is seeking recognition by the school.

1-5-05---- Wandaba Style English Voice Cast Chat

will be starting off 2005 with a special chat session with the cast from ADV's latest anime series, Wandaba Style. Come join us as we welcome voice actresses Monica Rial, Kira Vincent Davis, Nancy Novotny, Hilary Haag, and voice actor/series director John Swasey on Friday, January 7th at 8 pm ET/5 pm PT. This will be Monica's third chat session with AnimationHQ and the first for Kira, Nancy, Hilary, and John. The chat session will be a moderated event. For further information about our guests, instructions on how to reach our chatroom, or to connect directly to the chat itself, visit AnimationHQ's "Current Events" page at http://AnimationHQ.net/v2/features/events.htm.

1-5-05---- ADV Moeyo Ken: A Clash From The Past Release

The blazing samurai babes of the Mobile Shinsengumi prepare to do battle on January 11, 2005 with release of the action/adventure story Moeyo Ken: A Clash From the Past. Created by Ouji Hiroi (Sakura Wars) and featuring character design by Rumiko Takahashi (Ranma 1/2, Inuyasha), this exciting tale follows the adventures of the reckless female trio, the Mobile Shinsengumi, during the momentous Meiji Period, one of the most bloody and eventful eras in Japanese history. These sexy samurai sweethearts certainly have their work cut out for them as they furiously battle to protect Kyoto from evil spirits and strange supernatural phenomenon! This series is perfect for fans of historical action/adventure series such as Saiyuki, Sakura Wars and Inuyasha.

This is one thankless job, and it doesnft even pay the bills! Kondou Yuuko, Hijikata Toshie and Okita Kaoru are trying to follow in their fathersf footsteps as loyal samurai warriors in the Mobile Shinsengumi, but times sure have changed. If their enemies donft wipe them out first, this bumbling trio might just do the job themselves. Can these sword-wielding cuties rescue their reputation while saving Kyoto? Find out as the Japan of the past goes to war with the present and these battling beauties take on the ghosts, goblins, and gods of yesteryear! Moeyo Ken: A Clash From the Past (SRP $29.98) is a DVD-only release containing four complete episodes in both English 5.1 and Japanese 2.0 language versions with English subtitles. Extras include: reversible cover, production art, character sketches, 3D model art, clean opening and closing animation and ADV previews.

1-5-05---- Starz Upgrades On Demand Service

Starz Entertainment Group LLC (SEG) today announced plans to roll out an upgraded version of its Starz On Demand (www.starzondemand.com) service during the first quarter of 2005. The enhancements will include additional, exclusive programming not available on the linear channels as well as improved navigational devices and on-screen features. New categories with enhanced on-screen menu categories and sub-categories will include Anime - "Cutting-edge Japanese animated movies and series".

1-5-05

- A DVD BOX encapsulating the performance of the Sakura Taisen Spring Kayou Show will be released in Japan March 31st. The Sakura Taisen New Year performance is scheduled to occur at the Aoyama Theater 7th - 10th of January. The show has became somewhat a tradition for the seiyuu involved and is going into it's 5th year. The DVD2 piece set and a gorgeous privilege goods will retail at 10,290 Yen. Source: Dengeki Online
- Ikebukuro's Sunshine City mall will host the "Broccoli Festival Of The New Year January 8-9. Beginners courses and play of card games such as Aquarian Age, Ragnarok Online Card Game, Rambling angel, and Lycee will take place on the eighth. Then on the 9th, a new title symposium will be held featuring Mr, Goto. GATV will do public recordings of radio programs.
Source: IT Media.
- Media Magic has released the mobile phone application program "Escape Nerv Headquarters" to their site for EZweb "Eva & Animated Cartoon @GAINAX" from January 1. Also, "Child's English word" was added to site for i-mode "Animated cartoon iGAINAX" on the third. In the game you take on the character of Ryouga and must search for the key to a door, then unlocking it and thus attempting the escape from the Nerv headquarters. Meanwhile the game "Child's English Word" for i-mode focuses on studying the English alphabet and answering questions. Both games are 210 Yen.
Source: IT Media
- Watch Impress has screenshots and some details on Konami's upcoming Y's RPG for PSP. The original January release date has been postponed indefinetely. 6 Y's RPGs were put on the market by Falcom from 1987. The Fan following for Y's has gown fairly high and they are eagerly anticipating this game's release in Japan.
- TV Tokyo has posted it's official site for the upcoming JC STAFF anime TV series Starship Operators.
- The Official site for the animation Genki: Extend (www.jinki.info) has been renewed. The site is now enhanced with a flash intro and main menu.
- Banpresto will release the 1st DVD volume of it's Super Robot Taisen OG (Original Gneration) animation in Japan May 27th. Although the game series has been heavy on drawing from existing licenses such as Gundam in the past this animation will be based on the GBA releases, incorporating only Banpresto's original content such as pilot Kyouske Namb and personal troopers such as Alto Climbing Irons. Three volumes are scheduled to be put on the market. A Limited Edition release will be bundled with an action figure and Special Disc of personal trooper Weiss Liter. 3,990 Yen will be asked for the regular version with the limited edition fetching 7,140 Yen. Source: Dengeki Online
- Japan is gearing up along the rest of the world for the latest Harry Potter novel due in the summer of 2005. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince will go on sale at 12:01 a.m. on July 16 in the United States, Britain and four other countries excluding Japan. The firm that localizes the series there records that the series has sold 19.6 million copies. The number of adults who read fantasy novels in Japan has reportedly increased recently. Brtish fantasy has especially bennefitted with the release of Howl's Moving Castle.
Source: Business-i
- The Japanese Embassy In The USA has released a statement looking forward to a renewal of US / Japan relations with the coming of the new year. 2005 will mark the 150th anniversary of the amity treaty signing as well as 60 years since the end of World War 2. The "Japan Cool" phenomenon is mentioned as strengthening the cultural relationship and includes animated cartoons, games and even the Baseball players Ichiro and Matsui.
- Jai animated cartoon dot and "Fuji @ game" just launched an online campaign to mark the 15th anniversary of of the Chibimaruko animation. A special mobile phone site was established and a commemorative phone strap is being offered to subscribers. Access info will be broadcast along with "Chibimaruko SP" on Fuji, January 9th. Source: IT Media
- NHK TV has announced it's popular annual Red And White New Year's Music Special saw it's lowest ratings ever this year. The figure dropped a reported six points or more since last year's broadcast. en exceeded 70% was not able to exceed 50 as many as the second that rose % until the first half of the 80's after 00 years. Source: Asahi Japan
- Nikkan Sports has a report on how some Tokyo Disneyland visitor's personal information may have been leaked out.
- The Japan Phonograph Record Association released it's estimate sales data for Japan's music industry for 2004. Their data shows profits of an estimated 434.1 billion yen and a 5% decrease in overall sales compared with 2003. Negative market growth for the segment has so far been recorded for the past 6 years in a row. Internet distribution of song files and competeing media for time and money is being looked at as main culprits defeating sales. DVD's related to music represent a 53.2 billion yen share showing a 5% increase compared with the previous year. Source: Asahi Japan
- Renovations that may incorporate Mask Rider and Cyborg 009 (Kikaider) creator Shotaro Ishinomori's characters into the Miyagi Stadium in Sendai City is being advanced according to a new plan proposed to the prefecture on Jan. 4th. 3 Ishimori group companies including "Ishimori Entertainment" (Tokyo) manage the copyright for the late creator's works. Animation characters such as that of Mask Rider are proposed to be projected onto a large-scale screen common in most pro-baseball stadiums. Various animated scenes incorporating the characters will be coordinated to show a corresponding action on the field such as home run, base steal success, fine play, and the pinch-hit etc. Likewise the chara such as "Robocongat" and "Chobingat" will be featured at each entrance of the stadium and halls and even bathrooms will carry the theme. It's hoped that if the plan is successful a stadium experience will be created that can appeal to several generations familiar with the creator's characters. Source: Yahoo Japan
- Sega has announced it's entry into the licensing business of in-house game characters for girls ranging from kindergarten and up. Begining in January the company will team up with apparel manufacturers and cosmetics to produce goods such as clothing and stationery for children. The rollout of the good will commence from April. Sega has had similar success in the boys market releasing the arcade machine Mushiking which went on to become a smash hit with an agressively pursued license cross marketing plan. Doing the same for the young girl segment is being seen as a challenge. Source: Nikkei Net
- Crown Confectionary of South Korea just began marketing cakes made by the Japanese Hokuriku company. Included in each box is a solid model of a different animated character supplied by 1 of 3 companies including Takara. The manufacturer says this the first time such a product has been sold in South Korea. Figures from well known series such as Heidi and Pokemon are included and those animations have been in the country in the past. Five kinds are scheduled to be sold in convenience store by the end of this month. Interestingly, there is anxiety in south Korea about the sales of products of this type as this becuase many forms of Japanese pop culture were restricted until just recently. However, the marketing has worked in other Southeast Asian nations such as Taiwan and Hong Kong. It assumes now as wrapping of Japan, and the display such as raw materials does the seal for putting. Source: Sankei Web
- LEGO mania is currently sweeping Japan and the frenzy has swept beyond the popular building blocks to the ever changing fashion scene on the streets of Tokyo. Lego Japan announced 2005 to be "The Year Of Lego" and plans to sell many new items such as T-Shirts emblazoned with the brand's toy and figure line. A 3,000 Yen T-Shirt featuring a Lego outdoor camping theme featuring animals of the forest and a recreational vehicle was just released. The shirt is printed in green color to enhance the theme. Source: Yahoo Japan
- Sony's Japanese release of Kung Fu Hustle" directed by Stephen Chow (42) is on the way to grossing three billion yen, currently showing on 350 theater screens. The film is expected to beat the box office earnings of Shaolin Soccer. Source: Sponichi Annex
- Toho announced that the number of people in Japan that have seen Director Hayao Miyazaki's film Howl's Moving Castle has reached 10,106,284 as of 2 days ago. people of the number of mobilizations as of two days. Howl opened on November 20th and has ran consecutively in Japanese theaters for 44 days. Toho expects the overall attendance to exceed the 23 million Spirited Away drew. On December 23rd Howl opened in South Korea and 760,000 people rushed to the attendance in the four days following the opening. Source: Nikkan Sports
- According to advertisements running on the network, the broadcast of GAINAX's second Top o nare! 2 installment on ATX has been advanced to Feb 13 in advance of the volume 2 DVD release on February 24. For more information please see the official website.
- A set report for the live-action Aeon Flux can be read at Dark Horizons. An interview with Charlize Theron can be read here. Photos of Theron as Flux can be seen here. Thanks to Daniel for the news link.
- The website for Mahou Shoujo Lyrical Nanoha has updated with details on DVD Volume 2 and CD Soundstage 3 at www.nanoha.com.
- Following Takara's site announcement, TV Aichi has posted it's site for the coming Transformers: Galxy Force Animation.
- Press Action has the article, "Japanese Imperialists with a Brand New Bag" and goes over some of the many influential J-Pop people and concepts that have been unleashed upon the world.

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