Akadot's parent company, Digital Manga, Inc., has split from its business partner, Broccoli Co. Ltd. For Digital Manga to focus on its licensing and publishing ventures, the company opted to give Broccoli control of the production division, Synch-Point.
On the topic of a possible FLCL Box Shizuki Yamashita of Anime Gamers mentioned the third disc will hopefully be released with box. The sales of discs one and two will affect the possibility of a box release and if it's done it will probably be exclusive to Anime Gamers online or retail stores.
A review of the American release of the Card Captor Sakura Movie can be viewed here.
The Za Manga exhibition at Magma Clerkenwell
From March 11 to April 12
"Will be featured: 19 original works by Manga artists, incl. Range Murata, Yutaka Izubuchi, Shou Tajima, Akemi Takada. - Posters - 4000 rare Manga publications - a variety of Manga memorabilia, a lot of it featuring Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi (mobilie phone straps, tin cans, characters, toys, t-shirts, towels, badges, key holders, etc) - Manga dolls"
http://www.magmabooks.com/content/service/gallery.html
http://www.zamanga.com
Just wanted to give you a heads-up about this. The Mobile Suit Gundam: 08th MS Team movie, entitled Miller's Report, that was released by Bandai this past Tuesday contains a glitch of sorts. The English audio track contains an interesting reverberation or echoing sort of distortion that results in all the characters sounding like they're speaking into tin cans, and many of the sound effects are accompanied by a metallic buzz. The English track is not unwatchable, but it's fairly annoying to do so. The entire English track is affected.
Thanks to Daniel for the news
Courtesy to Natsume Maya for the news
Key Animator "Kimagure Orange Road"
Key Animator OVA-Series "Oh! My Goddess"
Storyboardauthor and Technik Director "Kareshi Kanojo no Jijou (KareKano)"
Key Animator TV-Series "Fushigi no Umi no Nadia"
Assistant Director TV-Series "Neon Genesis Evangelion"
Director of both "Neon Genesis Evangelion Movies"
Author and Director of "FLCL"
For more information: www.connichi.de
Source: Natsume Maya
"According to what I hear, they have plans to launch i-mode service perhaps this year," Keiji Tachikawa, president and chief executive of NTT DoCoMo, told Reuters in an interview at the Cellular Telecommunications Industry Association. "I think 3G will be implemented starting next year 2003," he added. Tachikawa, speaking through an interpreter, said he believed U.S. consumers will be just as attracted to Internet services on cell phones as Japanese consumers despite the views of many U.S. analysts who believe DoCoMo succeeded in Japan for culture-specific reasons. "People talk about the difference of cultures, but I think there are many similarities beyond differences. That is why Japanese animated cartoons or games are accepted globally," he said.
At the same time, he said it was unlikely that the U.S. wireless industry would be able to interest consumers in complex 3G applications without introducing simpler features first. In Japan, for example, customers were initially attracted by the ability to send e-mail, download the latest news, or retrieve stock or restaurant information. He said melodic ring tones and downloadable screen images also attracted consumers. Tachikawa believes U.S. consumers will be drawn to using the mobile Internet through similar features. "Even in Japan, when we were about to start the i-mode service, people were skeptical because nobody thought that users would use such services, but it turned out that this had a huge acceptance by the market," he said, referring to doubts here that consumers will pay for Internet services on their cell phones. Of the 50,000 content features DoCoMo offers on its i-mode service, the company will introduce in the United States only the applications that it expects will be most attractive to Americans. However, he pointed out that DoCoMo does not have an exclusive agreement with its application developers, so they would be free to form partnerships with other U.S. operators if they desired. Tachikawa said the key to DoCoMo's success in Japan was due to the mutually beneficial relationships formed among itself, application developers and consumers. "The triangle cannot be established if only one player succeeds," he said, adding that the same principle would apply in the United States.
The angel Gabriel, with her unique costume and bodyline, spreadable wings, and an even more impressive bust stands 7” tall with a 9” wingspan. Polno, the demonic generalissimo, stands 7” tall with an impressive wingspan as well of 10 ½”! Both PVC figurines come with bases and removable caps. Sculpted by Toui Fujiura and shipping in blister card packaging for a SRP of $17.99 each. Look for Special Editions of Bastard Series 1 Figures in the May issue of Previews. These may include Dark Schneider Deluxe TRANSLUCENT Majin and a Mikael RED DRESS VARIANT.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
ADV FILMS GOES BACK TO PRESS FOR ANOTHER RUN OF NEW GENERATION: THE ROBOTECH LEGACY COLLECTION 7
NEW SLIPCASES WILL FEATURE THE REGULAR EDITION GREEN COLOR SCHEME IN PLACE OF THE LIMITED EDITION GOLD SLIPCASES
HOUSTON, March 21, 2002 - ADV FILMS has announced they are going back to press for a second run of the New Generation: The Robotech Legacy Collection 7. The initial run of the three-DVD box set featured a gold-colored slipcase in place of the green slipcase pictured in print advertisements and sold with the previous New Generation: The Robotech Legacy Collection 6 released in February. The second wave of box sets will feature the traditional green packaging, keeping it consistent with the color scheme for Collection 6.
The second pressing also gives ADV a chance to correct an error made with the original gold packaging. On the back of the slipcase, in the text passage listing the special features for the DVD extras disc available exclusively with the box set, video clips from fan convention RoboCon 10 are listed as being a part of Collection 7. Due to clearance issues, ADV was not able to acquire the footage for the set. The new green slipcase will not include the footage either, and the incorrect listing will be removed.
3 discs will be produced by director Shinichiro Watanabe, and include personally selected music in this musical collage. 50 tunes will span these 3 CD's. The 4th disc features tracks elected by Nabeshin & Yoko with Frognation. Some mentioned are from the Seat Belts Live 2001 EARTH GIRLS ARE EASY performance. Movie and background tracks are also to be included. The special 8cm CD includes newly recorded tunes 2 tune.. Finally, a luxurious 52 page booklet rounds out the set. This Box will be limited in production to December 2002.
Source: CowboyBebop.com
HRP-2's design has been compared to Honda's ASIMO, the physical appearance of some areas are similar and in some areas HRP-2 ws designed to surpass the Honda design such as degrees of articulation in key joints. Intel's Pentium III 1gHz chip (FC-PGA) serves as a key brain component with storage being handled on a silicon disk of 1GB. Networking is possible via radio LAN, as for the OS, ART-LINUX is adopted. In September it is expected that the first production model HRP-2 will be created incorporating a number of the physical asthetics in the original Izubuchi Yutaka design. With the number of advanced human type robots increasing in Japan, it was hoped that bringing the animation mecha designers touch onboard this project would lead to a radically unique and popular looking design. HRP-2 will show at ROBODEX 2002 in Yokohama from March 28th-31st.
Source: Watch Impress (Images)
Jamie has done characters in Weiss Kreuz (aka Knight Hunters)- Omi, Magic User's Club- Takeo, and Demon Fighter Kocho- Kosaku. If you aren't familiar with his work, check out his resume at http://www.angelfire.com/ny5/JMcGsite/actresume.html.
For directions on getting to the chat, follow the link http://AnimationHQ.net/events.htm and you can also reply with any questions or post them on the forum where this information is posted daily (http://Forums.AnimationHQ.net)
"RTL2 announced that Yugi-Oh will be airing from autumn on their channel."
ANS spoke with a representitive of Sony's American AIBO distributor on the possibility of a U.S. release, at this time there was no information available. While maintaining the high standards of technology and quality the 4X will massively depart in the price category, a Sony representitve mentioned it would reatil on par with a luxury car. One Japanese report mentioned the 4X would be close to the Toyota Celsior in price when it finally hits the market.
Basic structure has followed the SDR-3X e.g., the architecture "OPEN-R", is adopted even with the AIBO for the entertainment robot which in the base, the 64bit RISC processor ×2, the SONY individual Aperios is adopted to the OS in the CPU. As for memory 128MB (64MB×2) with, as for supply medium of program memory stick (16MB). The big modification point from the SDR-3X entails the mechanical controls. On the 4X, 38 points have improved the efficiency of the joint control mechanism actuators which are controlled by "real-time integrated adaptive control system". Essentially all joint data is renewed in real time.
With the addition of the real-time integrated adaptive control system the 4X cannot only traverse irregular land and 2 foot walking in the inclined plane, control and attitude retention became possible.
* Approximately undeveloped area walking which corresponds to the unevenness aspect to the 10mm is possible.
* Approximately 10 degrees walking and climbing of the inclined plane are possible.
* When external force joins, the evasion movement which avoids inversion execution.
* When inverting, as the attitude which is suited for shocking evasion is kept to control the joint softly, impact relief.
In addition, two CCD cameras (1/5 inches 11,000,000 pixels) are loaded onto the head, making use of the parallax of two cameras, it reached the point where distance to subject can be detected. The 4x can detect objects on the plane within it's walking path and plan a new path around them.
Speech recognition technology and audio formation technology are also adopted, control technology of conversation and conduct which are based on memory is implemented. From the input picture of the CCD camera, the 4X can identify and recognize 10 unique faces. The robot can also dance and sing to music, it has a 60,000 word vocabulary. Sony will show thenew creation at ROBODEX 2002 from March 28th to the 31st days.
Below are specs and other points of interest of the 4X:
- Control of real-time walking operation pattern formation (Real-time Gait Pattern Generation Control)
On the basis of the information from the sensor, being adapted to circumstance, the step, walking period, variable it does revolving angle, and the like forms necessary walking operational pattern at actual time. Became dynamically stability and soft unrestricted walking possible.
- Actual worldwide spacial perception technology (Real-world Space Perception Technology)
Distance detection to subject becomes possible depending upon two CCD cameras which are equipped in the head, can recognize the floor face and the distance et cetera to the obstacle. By the fact that the information is utilized, the route which avoids the obstacle was formed automatically, it became possible to walk. In addition, it is possible also to detect the direction of the sound source with seven microphones which are equipped in the head.
- Multiple modal human interaction technology
(Multi-modal Human Interaction Technology)
1. Private detection and identification study technology
From the midst of the complicated background the face (the front face) it detects and identifies. In addition, it can remember the face up to maximum of 10 with learning function. Furthermore, also it is possible to identify it is who with sound.
2. Continual speech recognition and unknown language acquisition
Using wireless LAN function, the speech recognition with the continual speech of large vocabulary outside by being linked with the computer which is connected, is possible. In addition studying the word which is not in the dictionary anew, it can remember.
3. Is based on memory the conversational and conduct control technology
The long-term memory function which remembers the face via the communication where the person by conversation and the like in addition to the short-term memory function which transitory remembers the person and the place et cetera of the thing which are obtained from the CCD camera, is deeper and name et cetera is loaded. In long-term memory, also the feelings information in the time of communication is remembered. By the fact that short-term * long-term memory is utilized, more complicated conversation and conduct are actualized.
4. Speech synthesis and singing formation
Entertainment characteristic it has improved by the utterance which is adjusted to speech and the systemic operation which include feeling. By the fact that the data it inputs music and the lyric, it is possible to form the singing which includes vibrato due to speech synthesis.
5) Safety design for communication of person
E.g., it hits to the communication of the person, the structure of the joint which such as the hand is difficult to be put it adopts, the design which is considered safely has done.
6) Improvement of the expression power with degree of free addition
4 axes, degree of freedom of 1 axis was added to the wrist anew in the head, expression power was raised. Furthermore, becoming independent, it has possessed the operational possible 5 fingers in the hand.
7) Efficiency improvement of small-sized actuator
By starting torque approximately 30%, by rated torque approximately 15%, approximately 20%, it improved respectively at efficiency technology is announced in comparison with the small-sized actuator which is used with the SDR-3X which in November of 2000, it actualized maneuverability and the responsiveness which are superior.
8) Special Drawing Right motion creator (Special Drawing Right Motion Creator)
Using the personal computer, and can form colorful operation such as dance simply compile it is the software system which. It is possible automatic revision function in order to prevent inversion vis-a-vis the input of the creator to be included by this software, to draw up complicated operation easily.
Main specification of experimental model " SDR-4X "
CPU 64 bit RISC processor (×2)
Processor storage 64MB DRAM (×2)
Operating system Aperios (the SONY individual real time OS)
Robot control architecture OPEN - r
Control supervisor supply medium 16MB memory stick
Joint freedom Head: 4 degrees of freedom and torso: 2 degrees of freedom and arm: 5 degrees of freedom (×2) leg section: 6 degrees of freedom (×2), the hand: Independent 5 finger (×2) total 38 freedom
Sensor section Range sensor Infrared ray system: Head x1, both hands x2, total 3
Accelerating sensor Trunk: X, Y, Z/3 axis and both feet: X, Y/2 axis
Angular velocity sensor Trunk: X, Y, Z/3 axis
Foot bottom sensor Power sensor (one foot 4 X 2 = total 8)
Temperature sensor For outside (×4), for inside (×2)
Touch sensor Head Impact rubber
Knob Seat switch
Both hands Seat switch (×2)
Both shoulders Takt switch (×2)
Picture input 11 ten thousand pixel 1/5 inch CCD color cameras (×2)
Audio input Microphone (×7)
Voice response Speaker
Input/output section PC card slot (type II) (×1) memory stick slot (×1)
Indication Eye LED 4096 colors (combination of RGB each 16 stages)
Ear LED 1 color 16 gradation
Power LED 2 colors (with simultaneous illumination 3 colors), operation * charge state indication
Walking speed The highest approximately 6m / minute (irregular land) step: 10cm, walking period: 1.0 seconds / step)
The highest approximately 20m / minute (horizontality * even road surface) step: 6.5cm, walking period: 0.20 seconds / step)
Undeveloped area walking ability Degree of evenness: 10 mm unevenness road surface
(It does not slide in under condition)
Degree of tilt: Inclined road surface to approximately 10 degrees
(It does not slide in under condition)
Mass Approximately 6.5kg (at the time of battery and memory loading)
External size (height * width * depth) Approximately 580 X 260 X 190 mm
An AP image can be viewed here.
Fourth-generation or 4G technology would carry information about 260 times faster than NTT DoCoMo's 3G service, the only commercial 3G service in the world. In October, DoCoMo began 3G, which relays information at about 40 times the speed of current cell phones and includes a videophone. Video on 4G will be as good as high-definition television or more than double the resolution of regular TVs, DoCoMo said. The experimental 4G system will begin testing key technologies by this summer, the Tokyo-based company said. DoCoMo hopes to start offering 4G commercially by 2010.
Lee referred to the project as a game, rather than an anime, so while it's uncertain whether the corresponding animated series will also be brought to the US, the PS2 RPG is definitely a lock for an American release. Interestingly, although the earlier projected release date for .hack was October, Lee mentioned that it would "take like a year to record all of [the voice acting]," which would either indicate that the release date has been pushed back or that the project will, like its Japanese counterpart, be released in serial installments.
Source: Magic Box
Source: Natsume Maya
"The heroes from your favorite series are headed to the big screen. 20th Century FOX announced the acquisition of feature film rights to the "DragonBall" property, and is planning for its studio division, FOX 2000, to develop a live action movie based on the property. This is very exciting news for Dragon Ball Z fans.
"FUNimation Vice President and Producer Daniel Cocanougher had this to say: "FUNimation is very excited to be working with FOX in their production of a live-action Dragon Ball Z Feature Film. FOX plans to place this movie on a fast-track production schedule, and may have a movie released as early as Fall 2003 or Summer 2004. FOX is an excellent movie studio, producing such huge hits as X-Men and Star Wars, among many others. They feel that this project will not end with one movie, but will become a major, multi-picture franchise like Star Wars. Clearly, this is a remarkable upward turning point for the Dragon Ball Z property. It will also be very interesting for all Dragon Ball Z fans to try to predict the names of the stars, the director and producers, and the storyline that will be used. FUNimation plans for its web site, www.dragonballz.com, to be the focal point of information on the production of the movie and all the fan events leading up to it. We would like to thank all the Dragon Ball Z fans worldwide for creating the excitement that allows such a major announcement as this-the new, completely original, live-action movie: Dragon Ball Z."
Stay plugged in here for all the latest from FUNimation."
Thanks to Natsume Maya for the news
Source: Natsume Maya
How Long Can Takezo Survive When He is Hunted Like a Wolf? VAGABOND, VOLUME 2 GRAPHIC NOVEL
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - March 19, 2002 - Viz Communications, Inc. today announced the June release of Vagabond, Volume 2 by Takehiko Inoue, Japan's most-popular and best-selling artist to date. Critically acclaimed since its comic release in December 2001, Vagabond is a historic feudal story with incredibly lifelike, detailed artwork. Volume 2 features 240 black-and-white pages in its original unflopped (reads from the Japanese traditional right to left) format for $12.95 U.S. ($20.95 Canada).
Takezo finds himself a hunted man after escaping from his village, and the samurai authorities, along with their posse, are hot on his heels. Among them is the great swordsman, Tsujikaze Kohei, who would like nothing better than to put the fugitive to the test. But even if Takezo can elude his stalkers, he may find forest perils he does not even suspect! Will bold young Takezo be able fight his way to freedom?
Author and artist Takehiko Inoue was born in Kagoshima prefecture in 1967. His first major success-the hugely popular 31-volume long basketball manga Slam Dunk-sold over 100 million copies worldwide and catapulted him into the top ranks of Japanese manga artists. Since its release, every tankoban (Japanese graphic novel) of Vagabond has been on the top ten best seller's lists in Japan with over 22 million volumes in print. Inoue received the 2000 Media Arts award for manga from the Japanese Ministry of Culture and the Kodansha award for best manga for his work on Vagabond. Inoue has also received the prestigious Tezuka award for his previous work. Besides manga, Inoue also worked on character design for the Playstation basketball game One on One.
About Vagabond
Adapted from Eiji Yoshikawa's hugely popular fictionalized biography
Musashi, and depicting the life and times of real-life "sword saint"
Miyamoto Musashi, Vagabond takes place in Tokugawa Era Japan, where a new
government has taken power and the land is in disarray. Amidst the turmoil,
Takezo, a young ronin, sets out on a journey throughout Japan seeking out
opponents both strong and skilled, prepared to slay anyone who might get in
his way. His hunger for battle turns into a spiritual journey towards
perfect mental and physical skill with the eccentric Zen monk, Takuan, as
his guide and Takezo soon evolves into Miyamoto Mushashi-one of the greatest
swordsman ever to walk the Earth.
Source: Natsume Maya
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