Anime News Service - January 9-15 Anime News

1-15-00---- New Transformers Toy Line

A new Transformers toy line titled "Transformers: Car Robots" were displayed at a recent Japanese convention / trade show. A successor to the current "Beast Wars Metals", the toy line may be adapted to it's own TV series featuring a nature vs technology theme. This time around it will be more robotic Cybertrons (Autobots) V.S. more beast-like Destrons (Predacons). So far, the line features Cybertrons led by FireConvoy (Optimus Pyre a firetruck Optimus), Mach Alert, Wild Ride, and Speed Breaker. Gigatron, leader of the Destrons, and others.

For Toy Images: Here And the Below Link

Source: Axalon Underground

1-15-00---- New Anime TV Series In Japan In February

Oja-Majo Doremi (Begins: Feb. 6th | At: 8:30 | On: TV Asahi)
Miami Guns (Begins: Feb. 5th | At: 25:45 | On: TBS)
Nyani Ga Nyander Nyander Kamen (Begins: Feb. 6th | At: 7:00 | On: TV Asahi)

1-15-00---- McFarlane Anime Toy Line Update

McFarlane Toys's upcoming Anime toy line of action figures will include Tetsuo (Akira), Keneda (Akira), Keneda's motorcycle (Akira), Vash the Stampede (Trigun), and Ryoko (Tenchi Muyo). Other characters / mecha are expected to be added to the line in the future.

Source: Toy Mania

1-15-00---- Ikue Otani's "Viento"

Ikue Otani, Japanese seiyuu of Pikachu in the Pokemon TV Series + Movie released her first original 9-track album, "Viento", on Nov. 26th. Otani's other voice work can be seen in the Hime-Chan No Ribbon series.

Source: J-Dream Direct Newsletter J-Dream Web

1-15-00---- Nihon Animation Opens Shop In Tokyo

Production company, Nihon Animation recently opened a new store dealing in character goods at it's marketing headquarters in Ginza, Tokyo. The shop sells merchandise such as stuffed dolls, stationaries, VCRs, calendars etc. relating to their titles such as "Araiguma Rascal (Rascal the Racoon)" and Haha wo Tazunete 3000-ri (3000 miles in the search of Mother)". Nihon Animation's classic titles and are currently regaining popularity in Japan.

Source: J-Dream Direct Newsletter J-Dream Web

1-15-00---- Anime / Manga Gaming

Konami's upcoming arcade music game, Pop N' Anime, will feature songs from Anime Movies, TV Series, and OAV's, including: Dragon Ball Z, Vampire Hunter D, Sailor Moon, Cutie Honey, Galaxy Express 999, Getta Robo and others. Video clips of the anime will display with the coresponding song. Pop 'N Anime will appear in Japanese arcades in the spring.

Bandai's WonderSwan fighting title, Pocket Fighter will be one of the first to fully support the WonderGate modem, and feature a network battle mode, allowing modem battles, and letting players post their high scores on the nationwide Japanese scoreboard. Pocket Fighter is out in Japan on April 6th, listing for 3800 Yen.

1-15-00---- J-Idol Hikaru Utada's "First Love" Chosen As Opener For Tournament

J-Pop Idol, Hikaru Utada's song, "First Love" has been chosen to be used in the opening ceremonies of The 72nd National Invitational High School Baseball Tournament which begins March 25th and runs for eleven days at the Hanshin Koshien Stadium in Nishinomiya, Hyogo Prefecture.

1-15-00---- Hello Kitty Inncident In Singapore: Update

An inncident Thursday spurred by a McDonald's restaurant promotion in Singapore offering limited edition Hello Kitty related toys reportedly had customers pressed against the glass door of one restaurant which shattered under the preasure of the crowd. The resulting flying glass and stampede injured seven people, half of the total injured were hurt to such a degree that they required immediate hospitalization.

1-14-00---- Region 1 Anime DVD News

AnimEigo's Robert Woodhead annouced via their company's DVD mailing list that the Urusei Yatsura DVD boxed set for a possible release late next month.

Dubbed-Subbed VHS and DVD versions of Manga Entertainments's release of Hayao Miyazaki's Castle of Cagliostro are now set for an April release.

Manga Entertainments's release of Perfect Blue on DVD is now set for April 25th.

The Right Stuf is reporting that Neon Genesis Evangelion Collection 0:1 DVD has been delayed until February 20th because of mastering problems.

1-14-00---- Tokyo Gallery Hosting Anime Exhibit

Gallery Cest Rare, Sendagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo, is currently home to an exhibit featuring many well-crafted sculptures depicting classic Anime characters including Astroboy, Kimba the White Lion, and Gigantor. Exhibit creators, Satoru Okada and Akira Yamaura who are both members of Kawasaki-based artists' group Yume Kobo Highlight found inspiration for their sculptures from watching classic Anime films in their childhood.
Mr. Okada dedicated close-to three hours each day on the creation of 12 figures of various sizes while working on his other job as an automobile body painter. Each sculpture was molded with plaster, coated with repairing materials made from polyester and then filed with sandpaper to be colored. He estimates a month's amount of work would have gone into completing an average 5 feet tall sculpture. Yamaura created 10 figures for the exhibition, mostly depicting characters from creator Osamu Tezuka's Anime including Astroboy. The exhibition will run through January 16th.

1-14-00---- Anime / Manga Gaming

Tecmo will port it's Gameboy Color title, Monster Farm: Battle Cards (Monster Rancher: Battle Cards), to PSX for Japanese release on March 23rd, for 5800 Yen. Those pre-ordering will receive a special disc, which gives players secret monsters not available elsewhere.

The Naomi/Dreamcast "Marvel v.s. Capcom 2: New Age of Heroes" will utilize a new communication battle mode, allowing those using either two platforms to engage cross-battle matches. Interestingly, there will be special playable characters exclusive to each platform. Both ports will share 18 common characters (Naomi will feature 10 exclusive characters, DC will feature 6 exclusive characters). Also of note, the Naomi version will feature 24 hidden characters, the DC port will feature 16. Hidden characters will be time locked and not be selectable until the game has seen a certain amount of play-time.

Sony Computer Entertainment America announced that total sales of PSX during the holiday reached $1.5 billion U.S. (50% over Sony's prediction), over 15.1 million game software were sold during December 1999 (twice as much as N64 and 10 times more than DC). Sony has sold close to 3 million PSX units in the past two months. The current North American user-base of PSX is estimated at 25 million.

U.S. retailer + developer reports indicate the N64 market is declining. Contributing factors are cited as including competition from Nintendo's GameBoy Color, Sega's Dreamcast, and PSX; and lack of variety of system software.

1-14-00---- Hello Kitty Mania Sweeping Singapore

The Japanese character / series, Hello Kitty is reportedly reaching new heights of popularity in the Southeast-Asian country of Singapore. Japanese Hello Kitty merchandise is quicly becoming hot and highly sought after collectors-items resulting in traffic inncidents, fighting, and multiple injury reports. A Singapore-only McDonald's restaurant promotion (running since Jan. 1), has began offering Hello Kitty, a cartoon cat, and Dear Daniel in wedding clothing to customers.

1-14-00---- South Korean Animation Industry Data

-South Korean produces about 30% of the world's animation (coming in 3rd behind the U.S and Japan for overall animation producing nation worldwide).
-The South Korean government estimates the industry (comprising about 200 animation production studios employing 20,000 people) earned $85 million in overseas revenue in 1998, primarily from subcontract work for foreign producers.
-The domestic South Korean market produced 317 billion won ($281 million) in revenue in 1997.
-South Korea's share of global subcontracting work is down to about 40% from 80% in the mid-1980s. This is forcing the industry to focus on producing original works for export.
-The South Korean government would like to to develop animation as a major industry producing high-quality product. The Korean Film Commission currently provides subsidies of up to 10 billion won a year to boost the industry.
-The Ministry of Culture and Tourism requires South Korean broadcasters to devote at least 35% of animation programming time to home-grown productions. This figure will rise to 50% next year.
-Dooly The Dinosaur, one of the most-popular South Korean comic book series was adapted to animated-film by Seoul Movie in 1996. A TV series is currently in the works. Dooly merchandise sales have made an estimated 2 billion won in revenue to-date. In 1999, German media group Beta acquired distribution rights to the film in Germany for $250,000.
-In 1999, Sunwoo Entertainment and Korea Broadcasting Co. co-produced the 26-episode "Milo's Bug Quest" TV series which was three years in production costing $6.5 million (the most expensive animated production ever in South Korea). U.S. distribution company Fremantle recently purchased the right to sell the series in the U.S. + Sunwoo has deals to distribute the series in about 20 European countries.

Source: Far Eastern Economic Review

1-14-00---- Anime Character Kits To Ship In January

Anime related character figure kits to be released in Japan in January:

Lain (1/8th Scale)
Iwakura Lain Pajama Version (Amie Grand, resin-cast figure kit, wgt. 200 g) 7800 Yen

Dokuro Nina Action Figure (Fewture)
Blue (posable action-figure, lgth: 18.00cm, Wgt: 310 g) 2780 Yen
Purple (posable action-figure, lgth: 18.00cm, Wgt: 310 g) 2780 Yen

Shiranui Mai Action Doll (Mitsuboshi, doll, fabric clothes, lgth: 28.00cm, Wgt: 310 g) 10800 Yen

Nadesico
Mascot Ruri & Yukina (Kurushima, fixed-pose resin, Wgt: 220 g) 7800 Yen
Hoshino Ruri Special 2 (Musashiya, 1/5th Scale, fixed-pose resin-cast, Wgt: 590 g) 14800 Yen

Hokuto No Ken (Kaiyodo)
Kaioh Action Figure (Action Figure, Wgt: 400 g) 3200 Yen

Tenshi Ni Narumon (Man Friday 1/6th Scale)
Silky (Swimsuits, fixed-pose resin-cast, Wgt: 250 g) 9000 Yen

Starship Girl Yamamoto Yoko (Man Friday 1/8th Scale)
Yamamoto Yoko (fixed-pose resin-cast, Wgt: 250 g) 7800 Yen

Galaxy Express 999 (Marmit)
Young Queen Emeraldas (Completed, Doll, real fabric clothing, Wgt: 280 g) 5800 Y

Toshinden 2 (Mitsuboshi)
Ellis Action Doll (Doll, real fabric clothing, Lgth: 26.00cm, Wgt: 360 g) 5800 Yen
Sofia Action Doll (Doll, real fabric clothing, Lgth: 26.00cm, Wgt: 360 g) 5800 Yen
Tracy Action Doll (Doll, real fabric clothing, Lgth: 26.00cm, Wgt: 360 g) 5800 Yen

Virtua Fighter (Mitsuboshi)
Sarah Bryant Action Doll (Doll, real fabric clothing, Lgth: 27.00cm, Wgt: 310 g) 9800 Yen
Pai Chan Action Doll (Doll, real fabric clothing, Lgth: 27.00cm, Wgt: 310 g) 9800 Yen

Eberouge (Mitsuboshi)
Neusch Action Doll (Doll, real fabric clothing, Lgth: 26.00cm, Wgt: 350 g) 6800 Yen
Ertz Action Doll (Doll, real fabric clothing, Lgth: 26.00cm, Wgt: 350 g) 6800 Yen

Last Bronx (Mitsuboshi)
Lisa Kusanami Action Doll (Doll, real fabric clothing, Lgth: 28.00cm, Wgt: 370 g) 9800 Yen
Nagi Houjou Action Doll (Doll, real fabric clothing, Lgth: 28.00cm, Wgt: 370 g) 9800 Yen
Yoko Minatono Action Doll (Doll, real fabric clothing, Lgth: 28.00cm, Wgt: 370 g) 9800 Yen

Atelier Marie (Mitsuboshi)
Marlorne Action Doll (Doll, real fabric clothing, Lgth: 28.00cm, Wgt: 470 g) 12800 Yen

Innocent Tears
Kujou Sara (1/8th Scale, fixed-pose resin-cast, 25cm high, Wgt: 230 g) 11000 Yen

Pia Carrot (Wave 1/6th Scale)
Aisawa Tomomi (Completed, Lgth: 22.00cm, Wgt: 350 g) 6800 Yen

1-14-00---- Anime Model Kits To Ship in January

Anime related model kits to be released in Japan In January:

Gundam 0079 (Bandai)
Z'Gock Action Figure 1000 Yen

Votoms
Scopedog Turbo Custom Action Figure (Kaiyodo 1/35th Scale, ) 2980 Yen
Berserga WP (MO Craft 1/48th Scale) 5000 Yen
Diving Beetle (MO Craft 1/48th Scale) 5000 Yen

Five Star Stories (Kaiyodo 1/144th Scale)
The Empress Flame Action Figure 2980 Yen

SF3D (Nitto 1/20th Scale)
P.K.A (Panzer Kampf Anzug) 1200 Yen

Galaxy Express 999 (1/1700th Scale)
Arcadia (Completed) 4800 Yen

1-13-00---- Manga DVD Relaeases

Confirmed are the following Region 1 American DVD releases from Manga Entertainment:

Blackjack DVD - 04/25/00
Castle Of Cagliostro DVD - 03/28/00
Devilman: Part 1 & 2 DVD - 03/28/00
Patlabor 1 DVD - 04/25/00
Patlabor 2 DVD - 04/25/00
Perfect Blue DVD - 04/25/00
Wings Of Honneamise DVD - 04/25/00

Source: DVD Animania

1-13-00---- Production I.G. To Produce American Nine Rings of the Wu-Tang

Japan based CG studio, Production I.G., will reportedly be producing an American adapted film version of Nine Rings of the Wu-Tang, with script written by Tab Murphy (Tarzan).

1-13-00---- Anime / Manga Gaming

Konami is reportedly producing two new animation related "Pop n' Music" arcade titles, "Pop n' Anime" and "Pop n' Disney".

Bandai's Gundam Side Story: "Rise from the Ashes" for Dreamcast will be released in America featuring a new English voice cast, under the new title Gundam Side Story: 0079, it's currently undecided if "Rise from the Ashes" will be used as the subtitle.

SNK's Dreamcast King of Fighters '99: Evolution will include Extra Striker characters not found in the arcade version. Confirmed are Daimon, 95 Kyo, Billy Kane, Yumazaki, and Chizuru, Athena. You can play as hidden characters Kyo, Iori, and Krizalid from the start, and some characters will have special costumes (ie: Athena and Kyo). KOF '99 Evolution will also include a Survival Mode, Time Attack and Endless Mode.

Capcom has officially announced a Naomi-based Power Stone 2 title for arcade and Dreamcast release in Japan this spring. Changes include a switch to 4 players fighting per game; 4 new characters including Julia, Pete, a Gunman and a Princess. VMS suport will be added to the Arcade, allowing info exchange between the Naomi and Dreamcast versions.

SNK's Neo Geo Pocket Color port of Last Blade is out in Japan on March 16th, listing at 3800 Yen.

Samsung will launch a new DVD based 3D game console, titled Extiva, in the U.S. in March retailing at $499. Samsung expects to sell 500,000 Extiva consoles this year.

1-12-00---- Manga Sets Initial American X Theater Dates

Manga Entertainment has released a short list of preliminary Amrican theatrical dates for Clamp's X The Motion Picture. All dates, cities and theaters are subject to change. More information regarding dates is to be forthcoming:

OPENS | THEATER | CITY | STATE
MAR 10 Varsity Theatre Seattle, WA
MAR 24 Cinema Village New York, NY
MAR 24-30 Nuart Theatre Los Angeles, CA
APR 7-13 Ken Cinema San Diego, CA
APR 21 Lumiere Theatre San Francisco, CA
APR 21-25 UC Theatre Berkeley, CA
APR 21 Rafael Film Center San Rafael, CA
APR 21 Camera Cinemas San Jose, CA

1-11-00---- Burger King President Resigns In Wake Of Pokemon Debacle

Burger King Restaurants North American Division President, Paul Clayton, announced his resignation earlier this week, in the wake of recent controversies involving Burger King's now notorious Pokemon promotion, which has led to the chain's involvement in several in lawsuits and accusations regarding it's kids meal toys. The toys are blamed for at least one death and may be involved in other injuries and accidents. While Clayton has officially denied that his decision was linked to his handling of the recent Pokemon toy campaign, Federal officials have accused Burger King of being too slow in recalling the millions of containers after the initial accidents were reported, some point out this may have been a factor in his resignation.

1-11-00---- News From Japan

Glancing over various February 2000 issues of many major Anime / Manga related Japanese magazines: A Shugogetten OAV is in the works. The A.L.I.C.E Movie is set for release February 5th. A second Card Captor Sakura movie is planned for summer. The third Pokemon movie out this summer will include another short, "Pichuu to Pikachuu". The Ah! My Goddess Movie will see release this year. The Malice@Doll OAV is set for release in May. The JIN-ROH Movie will be released in Japanese theaters in early summer.

1-11-00---- Animedia Top Anime Movies Of 1999

Animedia has released it's top 10 Anime films of 1999 in the Feb. 2000 issue. 1. Pokemon 35 oku
2. Conan 14.5
3. Tonari no Yamada-kun 8
4. Toei anime fair (spring) 6.5
5. Crayon Shin-chan 5
6. Kindaichi Shounen 2.5
7. Card Captor Sakura 2
8. Toei anime fair (summer) 1.5
9. Taiho Shichauzo 1
9. Utena/Akiba Dennougumi 1
11. Marco 0.9

Source: Animedia Magazine

1-11-00---- Pokemon / Princess Mononoke American Boxoffice Update

Pokemon: The First Movie, in it's 9th week of release in North America drew in $103,643 over this past weekend, dropping it from #33 to the #45 on the Daily Variety movie chart. To-date, Pokemon has grossed $84,286,792. In it's 7th week of expanded release, The Princess Mononoke (which is in it's 11th week of release total) pulled in somewhere under $32,000 keeping it somewhere below #60 and off the chart. To-date Miramax's limited Mononoke release has estimatedly grossed somewhere over $2,332,000.

1-11-00---- U.K. Ghost In The Shell DVD

Manga Entertainment's U.K. release of Ghost In The Shell On DVD is currently scheduled for February. The DVD contains a digitally remastered copy of the film with English and Japanese soundtracks and English subtitles, a complete movie production report "The Making of Ghost in the Shell", and the Palm Hyperactive DVD content including "A Guide to Ghost in the Shell".

1-11-00---- Anime / Manga Gaming

SNK's arcade-exact PSX port of The King of Fighters '99 is scheduled for a Japanese release, March 23rd, listing at 5800 Yen. This comes one week ahead of the DC pot's release.

Sony will release a PocketStation game creation tool for PSX called Pocket Jiman (The Proud PocketStaton), in Japan, on Jan. 13, listing at 3800 Yen. This tool allows users to easily create their own mini games such as RPG's complete with opening, game content and endings. Upon completion the game can be saved to the PocketStation for play or exchanged with friends. There are 40 sample Pocketstation games included that one can play or modify.

A spokesman of Sega of America has commented on Sega's reaction to the recently introduced Dreamcast Mod Chip. Their reatiion is reportedly is very calm, they feel that the Mod Chip will not affect Dreamcast software or console sales, as there are only a few plants worldwide that can produce GD-ROM software.

Konami plans to release the first append disc for Tokimeki Memorial 2, "Separate Volume Hibikino Watcher Vol. 1: Mireniam", in Japan, in early Feb., listing at 1900 Yen. The append will enable several other characters to speak to you in different voice inflections based on actions performed in TM 2.

SNK will port their Neo Geo arcade action shooter, Metal Slug X to PSX, with a scheduled Japanese release date of March 30, the title will list at 5800 Yen.

SNK will their Neo Geo action shooting game, "Twinkle Star Sprites", to Dreamcast, with a scheduled Japanese release date of March 23, the title will list at 2800 Yen. The DC version will feature new additions not found in the original.

1-10-00---- McFarlane Toys Anime / Manga License Status

American Toy company, McFarlane Toys is reportedly taking a strong look at Anime & Manga in selecting potential toy lines for the future. Confirmed licenses for lines based on Katsuhiro Otomo's Akira and Hayao Miyazaki's Mononoke Hime, seem to to indicate a move toward creating toys based on well-known, large budget style Anime features. The Akira line is reportedly off the ground, however, release of figures from Mononoke Hime may be postponed indefinetly as the company is dealing with snags in the approvals process.

1-9-00---- Top Anime LD Sales (Japan) (As Of 1-3)

1. Card Captor Sakura Vol. 13
2. Sakura Taisen Gokajukuran Episode 1
3. To Heart 7
4. Master Keaton File 7
5. You're Under Arrest Special 5
6. Queen Emeraldas Vol. 4 Siren no Megami
7. Nanako Kaitaishinsho Opr. IV Fire-Crackers
8. Betterman 5
9. Starship Girl Yamamoto Yohko TV: Mission 4

1-9-00---- Top Anime DVD Sales (Japan) (As Of 1-3)

1. Dual! Parallel Trouble Adventure: Vision 7
2. Card Captor Sakura Vol. 13
3. Gundam 0080: War In The Pocket Vol. 1

1-9-00---- Top Manga Sales (Japan) (As Of 1-3)

1. Sora Wa Akaikawa No Hotori 19
2. Neon Genesis Evangelion 5
3. Yukan-Club 18
4. Yami No Matsuei 8
5. Yasha 7
6. Kenshinkaden Rurouni Kenshin Guide Book
7. A Cheeky Angel 2
8. JaJa Uma Groomin Up! 21
9. Kinnikuman Second Generation 7
10. Yamadataro Monogatari 11
11. Shoot! -Atsuki Challenge- 10
12. One Piece 11
13. Ouke No Monsho 42
14. Oishinbo 73
15. Card Captor Sakura 10
16. Touring Express 28
17. Monkey Turn 11
18. Mars Side Story
19. Ayashi No Ceres 13
20. Ren-Ai Catalog 14

1-9-00---- Top Video Game Sales (Japan) (As Of 1-3)

1. Valkyrie Profile - PSX
2. Pokemon Gold - GB
3. Pokemon Silver - GB
4. Mario Party 2 - N64
5. Gran Turismo 2 - PSX
6. Donkey Kong 64 - N64
7. Momotaro Dentetsu V - PSX
8. Chocobo Collection - PSX
9. Crash Bandicoot Racing - PSX
10. Digimon World Digital Card Battle - PSX
11. Chocobo Stallion - PSX
12. Shenmue Chapter 1: Yokosuka - DC
13. Parasyite Eve 2 - PSX
14. Muscle Ranking Vol. 1 - PSX
15. D2 - DC
16. Yugi-Oh Shin Monsters Duel Monsters - PSX
17. Nainai No Mei Tantei - PSX
18. Jikkyou Powerful Pro-Yakyuu '99 Kettei-Ban - PSX
19. Choujyou Kessen Saikyou Fighters SNK VS. CAPCOM - NGP
20. Biohazard 2: Value Plus - DC

1-9-00---- Top J-Pop Album Sales (Japan) (As Of 1-3)

1. "Carry On My Way - "SPEED"
2. "Recycle: Greatest Hits Of Spitz" - Spitz
3. "Magnum Collection 1999 Dear" - Masaharu Fukuyama
4. "Best Of Best All Singles Collection" - Maki Ooguro
5. "Nagabuchi Tuyoshi Acorstic Oreno Taiyou" - Tuyoshi Nagabuchi
6. "Max 6 Best Hit's In The World '99" - Various Artists
7. "Chage & Aska Very Best Roll Over 20th" - Chage & Aska
8. "Loveppears" - Ayumi Hamasaki
9. "Music D." - Koumi Hirose
10. "Micro Maximum" - Back Drop Bomb
11. "Dance Dance Revolution 3rd Mix" - Various Artists
12. "Absolute Ego" - Aco
13. "On The Street Corner 3" - Taturou Yamashita
14. "Flash In Japan" - Eikichi Yazawa
15. "Sukinahito Kirorono Sora" - Kiroro
16. "Heavy Gauge" - Glay
17. "Muzai Moratorium" - Ringo Shena
18. "Yuzuen" - Yuzu

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