Anime News Service - November 1-14 Anime News

11-14-05 (10:15PM EDT)---- CPM Announces Book Sales Director

Central Park Media (CPM) is pleased to announce the appointment of Ali T. Kokmen as Director of Book Sales. Mr. Kokmen was formerly the Sales & Marketing Manager for HarperCollins' Collins Design imprint. Prior to that, he served as Marketing Manager for Watson-Guptill Publications.
In his new capacity at CPM, Mr. Kokmen will be responsible for the North American sales of 40 to 60 new Japanese manga and Korean manhwa titles a year as well as a backlist of more than 200 books. "Graphic novels in general and manga in particular are the fastest-growing and most exciting segment of the publishing industry," he noted, "so I'm especially delighted at the challenge and opportunity of this new position. Our immediate task will be to investigate all options for effective distribution of our books, in the book trade channel and others, and I look forward to building a system that will serve not only the company's current needs but also its future growth."

Central Park Media's Managing Director John O'Donnell said "Central Park Media is one of the oldest manga publishers in America, with more than ten years of experience and expertise. We are committed to bringing the best of Japanese and Korean graphic novels to North America, across all major genres. Having Ali join us to supervise our book trade sales is a part of that commitment."

11-14-05 (9:54AM EDT)---- Latest Drama Based Off Of Saimon Fumi Manga

Karasawa Toshiaki will star in the latest TV drama adaptaion of a Saimon Fumi (Tokyo Love Story) manga. Fuji Television Network will debut the new series "Kobayakawa Shin Ki No Koi " will start in January, 2006. The story will be based around a hospital surgeon. Three tankabon volumes of the manga have been released in Japan, it was serialized in Shogakukan's Big Comic magazine last year.

11-14-05 (8:53AM EDT)---- 71 Year Old Takami Ei Debuts As Professional Singer

Takami Ei is a Japanese actor and writer who is something of a Mr. Rogers type of character. He played the role of 'Noppo-san' for 24 years in a NHK TV program called 'Dekirukana' which was very popular among children. His style in the program was very comical. He put on a droll hat and wore narrow trousers with suspenders. Noppo-san was a character who didn't speak at all, but he was able to make anything with everyday materials. He was very clever with his fingers. He made a house with corrugated cardboard skillfully. He was an idol of all children in Japan. When the final program was broadcast in 1990, he spoke for the first time and surprised a lot of his fans. After that he was eagerly sought after by many schools because he always delivers a stimulating lecture. He was a scriptwriter of the program 'Hirake! Ponkikki' (for children) and was a writer of stories for children. He appeared in a movie 'Tanpopo' and came on the stage of 'Noppo-san-no Kirakira-circus.' He also wrote a book 'Noppo-san-ga-shabetta-hi.' Now at age 71, Takami Ei is set to debut as a professional singer for the first time in January. The debut song titled Grasshopper Monogatari comes via NHK Minnanouta and will be composed by Toshiaki Matsumoto known MISIA's "Everything". The CD will be put on the market together with a special DVD that collects some of his video appearances. Sources: Famous Personages In Japan | Sponichi Annex

11-14-05 (7:16AM EDT)---- Japanese Box Office

Kogyo Tsushinsha released it's tallied figures from the Japanese box office for the weekend of Nov 12-13:
1. Always -Sunset on Third Street-
2. A Moment To Remember
3. The Brothers Grimm
4. Elizabethtown
5. Spring Snow
6. In Her Shoes
7. Tim Burton's Corpse Bride
8. Abudeka
9. Charlie And The Chocolate Factory
10. Mobile Suit Z Gundam 2 -Lovers-

11-14-05 (6:04AM EDT)---- Scorsese Heads To Japan

American director Martin Scorsese is aiming to make Japan-set passion project "Silence" his next film, the helmer declared Sunday at the fifth Marrakech Film Festival in Morocco reports Variety. Adaptation of a Japanese novel by Shusaku Endo is the martyrdom-themed tale of two 17th century Portuguese missionaries who return to Japan to minister to Christians, who've been outlawed. Scorsese has been trying to do the project on and off for around ten years. Project is being moved by Initial Entertainment Group, the same company who are producing Scorsese's current project "The Departed". Both films are expected to be released by Warner Bros.

Source: Dark Horizons- Thanks to Daniel for the link

11-14-05 (6:00AM EDT)---- Seven Seas Adds Webcomics

Hot on the heels of its recent acquisition of Boogiepop, Seven Seas Entertainment announced today that it is expanding its publishing line once again. Fan-favorite webcomics Chugworth Academy, Earthsong, and Inverloch have found a new home with Seven Seas and will be hitting bookstores in mid-2006, the first volumes in a series of full-color trade paperbacks.
"I'm really excited about broadening the market and offering manga-influenced graphic novels in full color," says president Jason DeAngelis. "These particular webcomics are a great complement to our current lineup of original works, and come with an enormous built-in fanbase."
Chugworth Academy (Story by Dave Cheung and Jamal Joseph Jr., Art by Dave Cheung):
A hilariously irreverent online comic strip with an estimated fan base of over 100,000 readers! Beautiful, intelligent, and athletic, Sally has it all, including an idiot boyfriend, Kiyoshi. Along with Kiyoshi’s best friend, the ever-slutty Ellice, and Chloe, Sally's hyperactive cousin, can the four friends navigate their teenage years without going completely mental?
Earthsong (Story & Art by Lady Yates):
Rated #1 webcomic on Buzzcomix.net! A young woman named Willow awakens to find herself on a mystical world with no memory of her former life. She soon discovers that not only are the residents of this world fantastical creatures of ancient lore, but the planet itself is alive and conscious-and in grave danger!

Inverloch (Story & Art by Sarah Ellerton):
Rated #1 webcomic on Topwebcomics.com and ranked #1 for popularity on Onlinecomics.net. Meet Archeron, an innocent young pup from the horned wolf-like race the "da'kor" After his heart is captivated by a beautiful elf, Archeron leaves behind his peaceful existence forever and sets out on a quest full of danger and unexpected mystery.

11-14-05 (1:40AM EDT)---- Namco Announces COBRA THE ARCADE

Based on the classic Sci-Fi manga / anime created by Buichi Terasawa, Namco has announced the new shooting arcade game "COBRA THE ARCADE" in Japan. The official release is Tuesday, November 15, 2005. Much of the original TV voice cast including Nachi Nozawa will return for the project. The arcade machine utilizes the "Action Pedal System" from "Time Crisis" and a card system that saves your built up character data for later use. Plays will be 200 Yen to start a game and 100 Yen to continue. Terasawa's original manga began running in Shonen Jump in 1977, and it is continuing in "Monthly Comic Flapper" now. Space Adventure Cobra has been translated into ten languages as of 2005 and book sales exceed 30 million copies. For the ultimate Cobra collector, the arcade machine will retail at 1,178,625 Yen. Namco's official website for the game can be seen here.

11-14-05 (1:33AM EDT)---- Animax Comes To Latin America

Forbes reports Sony Pictures Television has launched its new 'Animax' channel for Latin America, specializing in Japanese anime series, dubbed into Spanish and Portuguese. Originally launched in Asia last year, Animax is the first channel totally dedicated to anime. 'The audience in Asia demonstrated an unprecedented rate of acceptance toward the channel,' said TC Schultz, Sony's vice president for international channels. 'The number of home subscribers has increased from one mln when it was first introduced, to 21 mln subscribers to date,' Schultz said. In a statement the company called anime 'the biggest hit in television since reality TV', generating sales of 4.5 bln usd of related merchandise, games and videos.

11-14-05 (12:49AM EDT)---- NEW WORDS Release Schedule

After the debut issue of Newtype spinoff magazine NEW WORDS hits the market in Japan later this month it will goto a quarterly release from there, taking the shape of a supplement to Kadokawa's mainline moving pictures' publication. It's worth noting the only other character magazine currently sold in Japan aimed at adults is Nikkei BP's "Nikkei Characters".

11-14-05 (12:14AM EDT)---- Disappearance Diary Could Become Drama

Mangaka and Author Azuma Hideo has mentioned in his website's "schedule" section that he received an offer to have his work his "Shisso Nikki" (Disappearance Diary) adapted to a TV drama. There are no further details. Azuma was the winner of The Excellence Prize at the 34th Japan Cartoonists Association Awards and his book is an autobiographical account of the two times he disappeared from his home (effectively becoming homeless) plus his later battles with alcoholism at an alcohol rehabilitation center. His Vagabond status (both times) only came to an end when he was caught by the police. Instead of taking a serious approach to the matter, however, Azuma depicts the events in a disarmingly comical and light-hearted tone. He's said to be even geekier and more eccentric than director Hideki Anno and has developed several gag/nonsense and lolicon manga (he was partly responsible for the bishojo manga boom today). His past works include Ochamegami Monogatari Korokoro Poron and Nanako SOS.

11-13-05 (10:52PM EDT)---- Drudge: Drones 'To Fly Over Cities'

Matt Drudge is reporting tonight that the US government contractor Honeywell is developing small flying drones that could soon be seen over battlefields in a war application and above American cities in a civilian law enforcement role.

11-13-05 (10:14PM EDT)---- Studio Ghibli Produces ALWAYS Commerical Spot

It's been revealed Studio Ghibli has produced a television commercial for last weekend's Japanese boxoffice champion 1 Always -Sunset on Third Street-. This is only the third such commercial outside of their own property cache that the studio has tackled. The other 2 were Akira Kurosawa's "No, Not Yet" (1993) and "Shall we dance?" (1996). The spot was released at the end of October, Ghibli producer Toshio Suzuki was consulted on the project. r is under construction.

11-13-05 (9:41PM EDT)---- Sakakibara Kikai Unveils LAND WALKER

After 2 years of development, 32 year old Nagumo Masaki of Saitama, Japan-based Sakakibara Kikai has created his own real world mobile suit. Called LAND WALKER, the mecha was shown off this weekend at the commerce and industry trade fair Collabo Saitama. Trial rides were being carried out and a moving target was setup to demonstrate the unit's air guns that shoot rubber balls. The engineer / inventor based his design for LAND WALKER on various animarions he saw in Japan while growing up as a child. Masaki told the Saitama Newspaper he took pains with transportation to the event because the 3-meter tall mech would be considered a traffic violation if he simply walked it down the street. The leg "walking" is broken down into 4 directions (front, back, left and right) controlled by foot pedals, this is further wired through a computer conrolled solution provided by P.A. Technology to control balance. As a result, when moving, the operation of the gun that has clung to a right and left main body can be operated by both hands. What passes for arms on this model are 2 compressed air cannons powered by 100vAC Batteries: a Vulcan gatling style cannon on the right and a Shotgun style cannon on the left, are controlled by hand grips from inside the cockpit. Further, it's mentioned on the official site that this is just a developmental "proof of concept" type of machine and a further evolution could possibly yield a true "fighting game" style robot. The total height is 3m 40cm, total weight is 1000kgw, Land Walker can hold 1 person (the operator), Power comes from a 250cc 4 stroke engine, land speed is 1.5 km/h, specially installed equipment includes cockpit monitor. You can view a video clip of the machine walking here and shooting it's airball cannons here. Masaki says he built LAND WALKER as a pure toy at first with no plans to sell or mass produce it although he was approached reportedly by several interested parties. That said one unit apparantly ended up on the Yahoo Japan auction block last month in October, the starting bid was 36 million Yen.

11-13-05 (6:21AM EDT)---- iPOD Anime In The News

Both The New York Times and Animation Insider have articles this weekend following Central Park Media's move to be the first company to provide anime content for Apple's handheld video device.

11-13-05 (5:25AM EDT)---- Final Zettai-Shonen Episode

Otaku No Video catapulted into 2005! I'm thinking of the live action otaku interview scene with the guy who has 1000's of videos (none of which he watches anymore) and is hooked into the tape trading network and then one of his tape trading buddies calls him on the phone to tell him to start taping. Well, hang out on some anime otaku blog sites like Rakugakidou and you'll find otaku are passing this kind of program schedule taping advice around these days. Today's example: The final episode of Zettai-Shonen broadcasting November 19th on NHK BS2 at 8:06 will be 40 seconds longer than usual 25 minutes running time.

11-13-05 (3:38AM EDT)---- Nerima Daikon Brothers Update

There seems to be some conflicting information on when Director Shinichi Watanabe (Excel Saga) and Studio Hibari's musical comedy TV anime series, Nerima Daikon Brothers will officially debut. Aniplex's Mail Magazine ANI-(C)OM No. 18 mentions a January, 2006 broadcast start. On the other hand, an Anime Web Style article dated 05.10.26 (where you can apparantly see the first rough character sketches from the work btw) says the series will start running from the spring of 2006.

11-13-05 (12:48AM EDT)---- Update: Otona Version Of Newtype To Be Released In Japan

Kadokawa has announced the first issue of their Newtype magazine spinoff NewWords will go on sale in Japan on November 25th, retailing at 580 Yen. The magazine launch commemorates Newtype's 20th anniversary and it's being marketed as an "otona" (adult) publication catering to the sense of values and lifestyle of that audience. It will cover moving pictures entertainment including live action films, animation and games. The first issue will be bundled with a BLOOD+ UMD. It remains to be seen whether content from the new magazine will make it into the Korean or American versions of Newtype.

11-12-05 (2:26PM EDT)---- Miyazaki's Son To Direct Next Ghibli Film

According to Ryoko Toyama's post to the Hayao Miyazaki Mailing List:
I've just returned from Mr. Suzuki's talk at Meiji University. According to him, Ghibli's next film will be directed by Goro MIYAZAKI, a son of Miyazaki. Goro Miyazaki had been the director of Ghibli Musuem until recently. The film will be released in the summer of 2006. Details will be announced on Dec. 13th from Toho. According to Mr. Suzuki, Miyazaki-San is "still fiecercely against the idea."

11-11-05 (11:13PM EDT)---- Maid Home Service

The Japanese Maid industry has taken another turn. Hiroshima-based www.cosp-life.jp is now offering their "Maid Takuhai" service which litteraly brings cosplay maids into your own house to serve you. They will play games with you, tell you a story, help with housework and more. But the move has generated alot of controversy since these young cosplay girls are already the object of lust from the hard moe and naughty tentacles otaku crowd just by doing their thing safe in the trappings of a maid cafe. The website mentions the maids will not perform sexual services.

11-11-05 (11:02PM EDT)---- Pretty Cure Movie 2 Site

The official website for Toei Animation's upcoming Pretty Cure Max Heart II theatrical release is now live.

11-11-05 (10:54PM EDT)---- 370 Million Chinese Watch Animation

There was a symposium held on the 11th that discussed the large amount of pirate anime works in China. Chinese authorities have reportedly been responding well adopting possible countermeasures. It was presumed that the population which regularly views animation in China sits around 370 million people.

11-11-05 (10:35PM EDT)---- Lemon Angel Project Presite

The official presite for the forthcoming TV series Lemon Angel Project is now live. The broadcast has been set for January, 2006 on Anime Tamashii affiliates.

11-11-05 (10:33PM EDT)---- Binchoutan Trailer

The TBS website for the forthcoming Binchoutan TV series has updated with a second video trailer.

11-11-05 (8:35PM EDT)---- Sailor Moon Music Composer Arrested On Drug Charge

The Mainichi Reports Masaki Araki, the man who penned the monster-selling hit animation theme songs for "Sailor Moon" and "Crayon Shin-chan," has been arrested for possessing speed, police said Saturday.

11-11-05 (8:32PM EDT)---- Fake News Report On Tite Kubo Tax Evasion

Apparently, someone in Japan recently attributed a fake Infoseek news article mentioning Bleach creator Tite Kubo was being charged with tax evasion. The page in question has been pulled.

11-11-05 (8:13PM EDT)---- Mini OP/ED: In Defense Of The Licensors

Licensing and copyright issues are in the news today and the parties involved are not important, here's what is: In the United States, whenever a company pays money for the exclusive distribution and marketing rights of a property in a certain market they basically control all aspects of that property as defined by their contract terms until the contract runs out. That's the bottom line. Challenging the language used in a cease and desist demand ("pirated" and "unauthorized") is irrelevant because they control copyright and distribution of all products related to the property in question. If you happen to be selling a 100% legit product from even the native market of the license's origin they still hold domain in this market to stop the sell of that product as it competes with their license. It's as simple as that. I am really surprised to even see this issue being made public and think the move is very unprofessional, the arena of this discussion should be limited to the parties involved only. And if the cited party thinks they can challenge the domain of the copyright holder's claims there are courts and attorneys for that. However, I believe after much wasted resources you will just find out the hard way that the licensor was 100% in the legal right the entire time. The strategy of making this issue public and turning it over to the fans for debate is equally futile and honestly pretty immature, because guess what? It doesn't matter if the fans argue the issue until they are blue in the face, sure it may be news to them that a licensor can do something like this since it's not usually discussed but their opinions are in no way going to touch the powers the licensor enjoys. And one more thing, no one buys CD's anymore anyways, they download the music illegally off the internet!

11-11-05 (7:52PM EDT)---- Most Popular Japanese Words Of 2005

A good cultural snapshot of what ideas are floating about in a society's mass consciousness at any time are the popular words it's people happen to be using. JIYUKOKUMINSHA keeps tabs on these things and released a list of 60 new words it considers to be the most important to emerge in Japan over the year. Web visitors are asked to vote on these words so an actual list of importance by nomination can finally be created. So what made the list? There's a good mix here of new slang, government related and technology related terms and surprisingly a lot of offerings from the otaku / anime and manga realms as well. For fun, just read the list verbatim at first and see which words you recognize (I think a good many of you will be surprised at just how many you already know). Then, you can view the expanded definitions here:

Aichi Expo, iPOD, Akushitsu Juutaku Reform, Aza-su, Asbestos Higai, Atama Gaii Nin, Warui Nin No---, Asshou, Uchimizu Daisakusen, Oni Yome, Ohitorisama, Karuku Yabai!, Kansei Dangou, Kanten Recipe (Mataha Harusame Noodle), Cool Biz, Kuno Ichi Kouho, Koizumi Gekijou, Koizumi Children / Koizumi Sisters, Kosodate Shien, Saodake Ya Hanaze Tsubure Nainoka?, JFK (Uiriamusu, Fujikawa, Kubota), Shikaku, Janga, Janga, Shoku Iku, Joseisenyousharyou, Standing Bar (Tachi Nomiya), Sengo 60 Nen, Soutei Nai (Soto), Dai 3 No Beer, --Tan, Choi Mote, Choi Waru, Deep Impact, Tekitaiteki Baishuu, Densha Otoko, Namara / Sennai, 20xx Nen Mondai (...6,7,8 Nen Nado), Nikkin Kyouiku, Net Shinjuu, Nou Chikara, Noma Neko, Hard Gay, Hai X5 Aruaru Tankentai, Hirari Man, Hiruzu Zoku, Phishing, fo---!, Fuyuu Sou, Burogu, Heisei No Dai Gappei, Post Koizumi (Asa Kaki Yasushi San), Bobby Magic, White Bracelet, Mushiking, Murakami Fund, Maid Cafe, Hou-e--, Mottainai (Seishin, Undou), Yuusei Min'eika, LOHAS.

11-11-05 (10:16AM EDT)---- Kotencotenco Balloon

GP GATE has taken an interesting approach in marketing it's Kotencotenco anime / manga property by contstructing a hot air balloon that stands 20 meters high when fully inflated. They've taken the balloon and costumed characters from the anime around to elementary schools across Japan, incorporating it into a "balloon classroom" program that teaches children about the science and physics of balloons via on-site training. The company distributed about 38,000 traffic safety videos featuring the character to schools by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology.

11-11-05 (10:12AM EDT)---- Totoro DVD Sales Examined Over 200 Weeks

Oricon Style has taken a look at the sales performance of the DVD release of My Neigbor Totoro over a period of 200 weeks in Japan. The disc has consistantly topped Oricon's charts of DVD sales since it's release. Additionally, 992 people were surveyed by the group and Totoro came in 1st place when it came to a "DVD that one wants to watch with parents". It was the second most frequent response for "DVD that one doesn't get tired of watching no matter how many times it's viewed".

11-11-05 (9:25AM EDT)---- Full Metal Alchemist UMD / DVD Release

Sony Music has announced their home video rollout for this past summer's Full Metal Alchimst movie "Conqueror of Shambala Gekijyouban Hagane no Renkinjutsushi - Shanbara wo Yuku Mono". To go on sale January 25th, 2006, a "Complete Production Limited Edition" DVD (8,925 Yen), "Regular Version" DVD (3,990 Yen) and "UMD Video Version" (3,990 Yen) will be sold. Of note on the limited edition is English subtitled / audio commentary, 2 omake discs and guide book. During it's theatrical run the film drew 1.1 million in attendence, and a profit of 1.3 billion Yen. Manga sales for 12 volumes on the market has exceeded 19 million copies and of the 13 volumes of the TV anime put on the market, sales have exceeded one million units.

11-11-05 (8:45AM EDT)---- Makai Senki Disgaea

The official website for Nippon Ichi Software's upcoming Makai Senki Disgaea animation has gone online at akaitsuki.net. The work will be based on the NIPPON ICHI SOFTWARE INC game of the same title. A manga version will be serialized in Dengeki Maoh magazine, you can view a preview here. Anime version staff include director Ihazama Kiyotaka, series composition by Tomioka Atsushikou, character designs by Kano Akira, animation production by OLM.

11-11-05 (8:34AM EDT)---- New Trailers

The 2nd video trailer for the upcoming TV series Tactical Roar has hit the web. Vintage Dragonball movie fans can enjoy 4 new video clips for Toei Animation's upcoming DRAGONBALL: THE MOVIES DVD BOX. The second flash intro for the upcoming Black Jack "Two Doctors" movie has been uploaded.

11-11-05 (8:29AM EDT)---- Hiro Takahashi Dies

Musician Hiro Takahashi died on November 4th of multiple organ failure due to complications from a retroperitoneal tumor, he was 41 years old. Takahashi joined the group "Tulip" as vocalist in 1987 and played with them for two years. To anime fans he will be known by his musical compositions (including ending theme) for the 2003 Bottle Fairy TV series (DVD 1 is due in America on Nov. 22nd). He also performed ending themes 2-3 for the Yu Yu Hakusho TV series. He's probably best known for the Yu Yu Hakusho ED theme song "Unbalanced Na Kiss Woshite".

11-11-05 (7:44AM EDT)---- Comike 69 Catalog

Print and CD-ROM Catalogcovers for Comike 69 to occur at Big Sight on December 29-30th 2005 have been uploaded to the web. The print version will go on sale December 10th with the CD-ROM following to market on December 17. Mitsumi Misato and her CUT A DASH!! have been selected as the feature cover artist and work. Comike is Japan's premiere dojinshi (fan produced manga) festival, occurng in summer and winter each year. Attendence wise it has the highest average turnout for any comic related event in the world. Japan's future mangaka stars are often discovered among the 1000's of artists that exhibit their works there. Consequently, tomorrows anime hits often originate from the manga of these artists.

11-11-05 (5:08AM EDT)---- Bikkuri-Man Revival

2005 is the 20th anniversary since Bikkuri-Man's debut in Japan. Confectionary maker Lotte has commemorated the date by relreleasing some of their original minicake and sticker snacks. "Encore Version Of Bikkuri-Man 20th Anniversary" was released to the Japanese market on the 15th. Sales are limited to metropolitan areas for a limited time, the price for each snack is 80 Yen a piece (excluding tax). Western myth and the legend, are a major part of the storyline of the franchise and when the sncaks were originally sold in 1985 their comical design won popularity with school children, even developing even into a social phenomenon. This commodity is a reprint of the series of the original Akuma VS Tenshi Shiru packs which include one sticker in each bag of chocolate wafers as omake. 100 stickers were reprinted from the originals in July of this year and there are 16 additional stickers for this "encore version", 14 character stickers of the TV animation version are being added on top of this to yield a grand total of 130 available to be uncovered by collectors. The size of each sticker is 48mm, according to the original specs. Some characters such as "Vampire Hood" and "Bump Peter" are getting stickers for the first time ever in the release. Likewise the anime TV series has been rerelased on DVD this year from Toei Video. DVD Vol. 1, originally sold in March is being repackaged and on December 9 for 36,750 yen. Volume 2 is due in April, 2006. The original manga serialized in Shogakukan's 'Coro Coro Comics' magazine in 1991 is being republished by www.fukkan.com in December.

11-11-05 (5:08AM EDT)---- Anime Inspired Concept Car

SIVAX showed off their anime-inspiresd roadster, XTILE in the Tokyo Motor Show (October 19 - November 6) it the Carrozzeria Corner. XTILE was first shown in Paris in 2004 as the second release of their "Streeter" series. Response has a pic of the car being shown off in Tokyo.

11-11-05 (4:56AM EDT)---- Ayumi Hamasaki On Shin Onimusha

Capcom announced their PS2 title Shin Onimusha: DAWN OF DREAMS will go on sale in Japan January 26, 2006 for 7,329 Yen. J-Pop diva Ayumi Hamasaki will participate in the production, offering up two music tracks for the game, the opening theme "Startin'" and ending theme "Rainy day". These will be entirely new songs written by the artist. A video message was delivered by Ayumi Hamasaki at the Nov. 9 event.

11-11-05 (1:10AM EDT)---- Ge Ge Ge No Kitaro DVD Revival

The Ge Ge Ge No Kitaro TV animation broadcast from 1968 to 1998 is coming to DVD in Japan in the srping of 2006. For the first time ever, all four series will be availble on the market as part of a single DVD BOX from Pony Canyon. The 3rd series broadcast in 1985 is considered by many as the definitve anime expression. It drew an average audience rating of 23.3% with a peak of 29.6%. It also beat out all rivals of the time in ratings such as Dragonball and Fist Of The Northstar. The retail is 78,750 Yen. You can find out more details at www.kitaro-dvd.com which launches on the 18th of this month. This year marks the 40th anniversary since the manga serial debuted in Kodansha's Weekly Shonen Magazine.

11-10-05 (7:15PM EDT)---- Fafner Special

Starchild's official Fafner website updated with news of a Fafner special to air at the end of the year, the title is "Soukyuu No Fafner Right Of Left".

11-10-05 (9:08AM EDT)---- 300,000 Yen Gundam Model Damage Fraud

An employee of the Japan Post Osaka audit room is suspected of pulling off a swindle of more than 300,000 Yen. He's accused of being involved in a plot that had an aquaintance sending a Gundam model through the post, then the suspect appraised the damage at 300,000 Yen and issued a check. He was arrested by the Osaka Prefecture Police on the 10th. 300,000 Yen happens to be the usual highest amount of damaged package compensation offered by the post. The man may be involved in other similar swindles. The case has been turned over to the local police and prosecutors.
Source: Sankei Shimbun

11-10-05 (8:29AM EDT)---- WOWOW Ergo Proxy Site

WOWOW has officially launched it's website for the upcoming Manglobe TV series Ergo Proxy. You can view a new 30 video preview clip there.

11-10-05 (2:29AM EDT)---- Kuitan Drama

NTV is working on a drama adaptation of Daisuke Terasawa's "Kuitan: Casefiles Of The Gourmet Detecitve" manga. The TV series serial which starts in January will star Higashiyama Noriyuki. The original comc runs in Kodansha's Evening magazine. The storyline focuses on a brilliant detective who is constantly eating ramen and other foods everywhere he goes solving mysteries. Actor Higashiyama mentioened he has been keeping a solid figure of about 60 kilos even tackling a triathlon done in the U.S. at Honolulu in April. He came in 53rd place out of 105 entrants.

11-10-05 (1:40AM EDT)---- Soreyuke! Tetsuyuki Susumu

The tentatively titled Soreyuke! Tetsuyuki Susumu TV series will begin broadcasting on TV Tokyo from Saturday, January 7, 2006. 52 30 minute episodes are scheduled. Production is being headed up by Weve, Directing is Kiyoshi Fukumoto (Inu Yasha, Tenchi Muyo, Sergeant Kororo), Series Composition is by Takashi Yamada, Animation Production is by Studio Comet.

11-10-05 (12:39AM EDT)---- Utaware Rumono TV Update

Gaku Iwasa of OLM is AP on the forthcoming Utaware Rumono anime TV series, his past resume includes working on the Berserk and Pokemon animations. He recently updated his online diary with news on the project's production. As far as the show's content goes, the staff is targeting a close association with the original game by Aquaplus. He says the current feeling of the work is a split between that of Berserk Miziru. Finally, production on ten epsiodes are complete.

11-10-05 (12:14AM EDT)---- Experimental Broadcast Techniques

It's been revealed that 3 TV anime works co-produced by SKYPerfecTV's Well Think subsidiary will be getting a broadcast distribution spread in some new and unique ways. The past saw the traditional method of one show being broadcast exclusively on a single network or even the more recent method of a show getting a Terrestrial and Satellite broadcast. Now, Jigoku Shoujo, which began airing in Japan in early October, is getting 2 major terrestrial (5.00 on Saturday - Tokyo MX, 1.55 on Saturday - MBS) and 2 satellite (6.30 on Friday - Animax, Midnight on Tuesday - Kids Station (SKYPerfecTV CS)) network distribution channels. Further breaking from tradition, the broadcasts will sometimes fall on the same day on competeing networks. SKYPerfecTV has admitted they are trying to construct a new broadcasting form with the move. A representative of the network told Japanese newspaper, The Daily Yomiuri that the terrestrial broadcast audience rating has fallen off in recent years because of the influence of the falling birthrate, and the withdrawal tendency from prime time TV continues in the country. So many of the broadcast times for Jigoku Shoujo fall in the late night. Well Think is a newcomer to anime production and, up to now, has invested in movies such as "Negotiator", TV dramas and the ASTRO baseball team. It's also emphasized that via this method the broadcasting cost is cut by 1/5th.
Source: Daily Yomiuri

11-9-05 (4:41AM EDT)---- Nerima Daikon Brothers Update

Nerima Daikon Brothers is being developed as a TV animation series by Aniplex & Studio Hibari. Nabeshin himself, Watanabe Shinichi (Excel Saga) will be directing. Urasawa Yoshio will provide the script. The official website flash intro mentions the series will be "a musical anime from the staff that brought you Hare Tokidoki Buta (Tokyo Pig)'". Another describes it as a "grated musical" (referring grated daikon). The manga debuted in the December issue of Rush and is by Kondou Takamitsu and Studio Hibari.

11-9-05 (3:30AM EDT)---- New Bleach ED Theme

Japanese guitar girl YUI who debuted in February of this year with "feel my soul" has her third single "LIFE" hitting the market on November 9. Sony Music Online Japan is streaming the music video clip for 36 hours at www.sonymusic.co.jp. "LIFE" will become the new ending theme to the TV Tokyo broadcast "BLEACH" animation.

11-9-05 (3:08AM EDT)---- Grenoble Foot 38 Manga Mascots

Index Corporation has established the official Japanese site for the Ligue 2 Orange division French professional football team Grenoble Foot "GF38" at www.gf38.jp/. The company invested in the team in 2005. Additionally, Captain Tsubasa mangaka Yoichi Takahashi is develping original manga style characterizations of the team players in a poject that will be carried out in Japan and France simultaneously. Website readers and fans are being asked to name Takahashi's original GF38 characters. The manga characters will be used as mascots to develop an positive PR identity for GF38 that will extend to ads, product sales and mobile contents.

11-9-05 (2:48AM EDT)---- Astroboy Sneakers In America And Europe

A collaboration between shoemaker Asics' Onitsuka Tiger brand and Tezuka Productions will see a set of shoes produced themed after the Osamu Tezuka icon. The shoe styling will be done by famed fashion designer Hiroaki Ohya. Sales will be executed in direct-management and the select shops in Europe and America next February. The sneakers were unveiled at the Japan Fashion Week in Tokyo on November 5th as part of the Astroboy By OHYA Collection.

11-9-05 (1:57AM EDT)---- Sony Points

In Japan, the Sony group unveiled their new Sony Point system. Points can be earned by customers that can then be used to get things like electronics, games and animation titles.

11-9-05 (1:43AM EDT)---- Dragonball History Site

Toei Animation has launched a special 'Movie Version DRAGON BALL HISTORY' website in commemoration of the sale it's 'Movie Version Dragonball DVD-BOX'. The stories, characters, and foonotes etc. of of 17 feature film works can be found there. The DVD BOX hits the market in Japan on March 24, 2006.

11-9-05 (1:20AM EDT)---- Sasami-Mahou Shoujo Club Site

Following a few heavy days of net rumor in Japan, VAP has come online with an official website for the fortcoming Sasami-Mahou Shoujo Club TV anime. Shoji Hara's character designs which radically depart from the Masaki Kajishima originals (which almost every other Tenchi spinoff have been closely based on) have made for some interesting BBS and Blog discussion amongst fans around the world. On the Japanese web scene some who claim to have been close to the project have said the chara designs actually underwent some changes before the final designs were settled on. Link Source: Moonphase

11-9-05 (12:47AM EDT)---- No Animation In Sight For NHK Ni Youkoso!

Despit a heavy fan following in Japan and many expectations a transition to animation was forthcoming, Shonen Ace's January, 2006 issue mentions writer Ooiwa Kenji and artist Takimoto Tatsuhiko's NHK Ni Youkoso! (Welcome To NHK!) will not be animated.

11-9-05 (12:41AM EDT)---- Rec TV

2 new details on the forthcoming REC TV animation. Broadcasting has been scheduled in 2006 via TBS. Character Matsumaru Fumihiko will be voiced by Homura Makoto.

11-9-05 (12:06AM EDT)---- Lemon Angel Project

The Lemon Angel Project TV series will broadcast via Anime Tamashii in January, 2006. Original story by AMG Entertainment, General Project Chief is Shuzo Noguchi, Character Designs by Yukari Watanabe, Director is Chibadai Suke, Animation Production by Radix.

11-8-05 (11:19PM EDT)---- Witch Blade Anime Update

American comic studio Top Cow first broke the news GONZO will adapting it's Witch Blade title to an animated TV series at Wizard World Chicago in August. Some major staff details have broke out in Japan. Directing will be industry veteran Yoshimitsu Ohashi who has an extensive background working on horror anime. Character Designs will be provided by Uno Makoto. Series Composition and Screenplay will be headed by Yasuko Kobayashi. Historical Investigation and Concept Design comes courtesy Ogura Shinya. Animation production by GONZO, SKYPerfecTV! and Uerushinku.

11-8-05 (10:20PM EDT)---- Meine Liebe TV Series Sequel

Konami is cooking up a major cross media project called Ginyuu Mokujiroku Meine Liebe Wieder. This will be a sequel to the 2004 Meine Liebe fantasy genre TV animation. Broadcast has been scheduled for Animax starting January 22, 2006. Much of the staff and cast from 1st TV series will return. Directing will be Minako Shiba (Noir), Series Script is by Akemi Omode, Original Character Designs based on those by Kaori Yuki will be carried out by newcomers Shiba Minako and Yamashita Yoroko, Concept Design is by Koezuka Seishi and Mari Yuuichi. Animation Production is by Bee Train, Konami and Rondo Robe. Cast includes Takahiro Sakurai as Orpherus, Tomokazu Seki as Eduard, Toshihiko Seki as Ludwig, Souichiro Hoshi as Camus, Akira Ishida as Naoji and Takehito Koyasu as Sir Isaac. Game and comic adaptations of this same property will be forthcoming.

11-8-05 (9:48PM EDT)---- Rabugetsu Chu TV Series

Creator Koizumi Marie's Rabugetsu Chu will become a late night TV anime in 2006. The director will be Mitsuhiro Togo, Animation Production will be handled by RADIX and Ariko System.

11-8-05 (6:38PM EDT)---- Kage Kara Mamoru! TV Series Update

A few new details are out on the coming Kage Kara Mamoru! TV Series due to begin in January. Directing will be Fujimoto Yoshitaka (he's tackling the director's role for Girls' High School Students and Tactical Roar also currently), Scenario will be by Kingetsu Ryunosuke, Kakihara Yuuko, Toshimitsu Takeuchi and Hirota Takeshi. Character Designs come via Watanabe Natsuki. Animation by Group Tac.

11-8-05 (5:32PM EDT)---- Inukami! TV Series

Mamizu Arisawa's Inukami! novel will become a TV animation with a broadcast scheduled for Spring, 2006. The story was adapted to manga form illustrated by Matsuzawa Mami with story by Mamizu Arisawa and published in Japan from the December 2005 issue of Dengeki GAO. A number of the staff are coming from the Mahou Shoujo Lyrical Nanoha A's TV series. Directing will be Keizou Kusakawa, Series Compostion will be provided by Tamai Nagai, Character Designs will come courtesy Shinpei Tomooka, Animation Production will done by Sebunakusu. Lead character, Youko, will be voiced by Horie Yui. In advance of the Tv series a number of vocal drama character CD's are planned. Inukami! is described as a high-tension comedy centering on a dog god trainer and dog god. The official Japanese website is inukami.jp although it has not yet launched.

11-8-05 (4:51PM EDT)---- Ghibli Films To Screen On Turner Classic Movies

Toonzone reports each Thursday in January, TCM will present classic Ghibli animation. Each film will be presented first in its English-dubbed format, with an encore presented later with the original Japanese-language track. The only exception to this rule will be Only Yesterday, which will only be presented in the original Japanese-language track. TCM’s telecast of each movie will be introduced by animation director John Lasseter (Toy Story), who directed the English-language track on Spirited Away. He is also executive vice president, creative, and a founding member of Pixar Animation Studios. The following is the complete, official schedule of the Ghibli presentations on TCM:

Thursday, January 5
8:00pm: Spirited Away (2002 - English-language version)
10:15pm: Princess Mononoke (1997 - English-language version)
1:00am: Spirited Away (2002 - Japanese-language version)
3:15am: Princess Mononoke (1997 - Japanese-language version)

Thursday, January 12
8:00pm: Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind (1984 - English-language version)
10:00pm: Castle in the Sky (1986 - English-language version)
12:15am: Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind (1984 - Japanese-language version)
2:15am: Castle in the Sky (1986 - Japanese-language version)

Thursday, January 19
8:00pm: My Neighbor Totoro (1988 - English-language version)
9:30pm: Porco Rosso (1992 - English-language version)
11:15pm: Whisper of the Heart (1995 - English-language version)
1:15am: My Neighbor Totoro (1988 - Japanese-language version)
2:45am: Porco Rosso (1992 - Japanese-language version)
4:30am: Whisper of the Heart (1995 - Japanese-language version)

Thursday, January 26
8:00pm: Only Yesterday (1991 - Japanese-language version only)
10:15pm: Pom Poko (1994 - English-language version)
12:30am: Only Yesterday (1991 - Japanese-language version)
2:45am: Pom Poko (1994 - Japanese-language version)

11-8-05 (3:45AM EDT)---- Novel Pulled For Appropriations

Publisher Hara Shobo has announced that after finding appropriated expressions in their novel Dare Notameno Aya Shoku (Ayaori), they are discontinuing publication and recalling all copies from retail. The copied expressions were found to have been pointed out online and originated from Jun Mihara's manga Hamidashikko published by Hakusensha. The author of the novel, Mr. Asuka admitted to the act and an apology was issued on Hara Shobo's website.

11-7-05 (9:44PM EDT)---- Tezuka Is Dead

There's a new book making waves in Japan by author Go Ito called Tezuka Is Dead: Postmodernist And Modernist Approaches To Japanese Manga. The title seems to be a play on Friedrich Nietzsche's "god is dead" quote and the fact that legendary creator Osamu Tezuka is known as "manga no kage samma" (the god of manga). The book's premise looks at the "Tezuka Belief" of animation / comics production and examines the almost supernatural power the master wielded within both industries while he was alive. It's mentioned the state of these industries were entirely different before Tezuka's professional dominance took hold and indeed following his demise. The phenomena is said to be hardly talked about because his influence was so strong. Manga existed in Japan popularly before Tezuka but his influence and movie techniques were considered precedent-setting and revolutionary. However, after Tezuka's death in 1989, manga in the 90's was seen by some critics as trivial. Ito asks if there are manga titles being talked about as much these days as there were in Tezuka's time. He points out the quality in manga expression has undergone a true paradigm shift in these 15 years since Tezuka's death. One such phenomena that has emerged in the manga field in this period is MOE which is being pursued in such a way as to satisfy some pseudo love demand in readers. Ito says this is part of "change in sensibilities" from the sense of a conventional manga reader though this is a degeneration of the medium. NTT Publishes the book, it hit the market in Japan on Sept. 26th and is priced at 2520 Yen.

11-7-05 (9:19PM EDT)---- Electronic Paper Technology Advances

Science Central and The New Zealand Herald have 2 very informative articles on the advancement of Electronic Paper technology being made in Japan and beyond.

11-7-05 (8:48PM EDT)---- Manga Coming To US Paper Funny Pages

CBS News is running an AP article that mentions in January, the Sunday funnies of several major North American newspapers will have doe-eyed women in frilly outfits, effeminate long-haired heroes and other trademark images of the Japanese comic style. The reason? Newspaper editors want to attract more young readers. A study released earlier this year by the Carnegie Corporation put the age of newspaper readers at 53 and climbing _ hardly a recipe for circulation growth. "We thought if teens and young kids are reading manga, then why don't we get something in the paper that teens want to read?" said John Glynn, vice president at Universal Press Syndicate, which distributes comics and columns globally to newspapers. "Newspapers are being seen as their parents' medium." "The newspapers want the manga more even than we want the newspapers," says Stuart Levy, chief executive of TOKYOPOP Inc., which publishes the cartoon strips that will be carried. "Newspapers are looking for new fresh ways to appeal to young people." Van Von Hunter and Peach Fuzz will be syndicated. "Van Von Hunter," by Ron Kaulfersch and Mike Schwark, is a horror spoof about a warrior and his female sidekick who dress in Gothic-inspired costumes and are on a mission to fight evil. The quirky "Peach Fuzz" explores conflicting views of reality. It depicts 9-year-old Amanda's desire to become friends with her pet ferret, Peach, who harbors delusions of being a pampered, veil-donning princess. The article mentions Stu Levy's next project will be offering an English-language manga service on the Web that will allow people to view the comics online or download them onto their mobile phones to read on the go.

11-7-05 (8:45PM EDT)---- Kameo Animation

Maxmedia has optioned the rights to use Kameo: Elements of Power for an animated feature. Sunmin Park, co-writter and director of the Korean anime Sky Blue, will head the project, producing alongside Jungmin Ethan Park. Production is set to begin next year. Source: Joystiq

11-7-05 (8:45PM EDT)---- Hininden -Gausu-

Galge has some details and images from Pink Pineapple's upcoming Hentai OAV Hininden -Gausu-. Volume 1 is set for release in Japan December 22nd. The project is being headed up by Rin Shin of Words Worth fame. Animation will be produced by ARMS.

11-7-05 (6:57PM EDT)---- Keroro / Zerori Site

The official website for the upcoming Sergeant Keroro / Zerori double theatrical feature is now up. The film opens on March 11, 2006. www.kerozoro-movie.net

11-7-05 (6:34PM EDT)---- Japanese Box Office

Kogyo Tsushinsha posted it's Japanese weekend box ofice rankings for Nov 5-6:
1 Always -Sunset on Third Street-
2. A Moment To Remember
3. The Brothers Grimm
4. Spring Snow
5. Tim Burton's Corpse Bride
6. Charlie And The Chocolate Factory
7. Abudeka
8. Mobile Suit Z Gundam 2 -Lovers-
9. Takeshis'
10. Saw2

11-7-05 (4:12PM EDT)---- New Tenchi Sequel: Sasami-Mahou Shoujo Club

Although not yet formally announced, a new spinoff TV animation to Masaki Kajishima and AIC Animation's popular and long running Tenchi Muyo franchise is now in production in Japan. Titled Sasami - Mahou Shoujo Club, the series will focus on the alternate universe ego of the youngest member of the Tenchi family, Sasami Masaki. The new work will be a spinoff, if not outright sequel to 1996's Magical Girl Pretty Sammy OAV and 1997' Magical Project S TV which portray Sasami in the light of a spoofish magical girl superhero (ala Sailor Moon). The original story will be done by AIC-beSTACK, Series Director will be Nobuhiro Takamoto (Tenchi In Tokyo, Wandaba Style), Series Composition will be provided by Okada Takasato, Character Design and Total Art Supervision will be handled by Shoji Hara (Wandaba Style), Animation Production comes courtesy of AIC Spirits. Although no official word has been released on the new animation, a recent new post to The Official Japanese Tenchi Muyo Website indicates some new information on the Tenchi universe could be announced in November. According to our sources, production is considerably advanced on the series with as many as 10 episodes already completed. Broadcast could come as soon as January 2006.

11-7-05 (5:15AM EDT)---- BEAT DOWN Manga Online

Capcom has been serializing manga related to it's upcoming PS2/Xbox action game 'BEAT DOWN' on the official game website. The story is an original one created for the web by the original author of the series that runs in "Young King".

11-7-05 (5:07AM EDT)---- Yaoh Drama

TOKIO's Masahiro Matsuoka will star in a 2 hour TBS drama adaptation of "Yaoh"(Knight King). The broadcast will be this January. The storyline is adapted from the manga of the same name by Inoue Noriyoshi which serialized in Weekly Young Jump in January, 2003. Sales have exceeded one million copies. 10 volumes are currently on the market with vol. 11 coming December 19th. Matsuoka originally starred in a YAOH one shot TV movie broadcast in May. It enjoyed wide success and thus this new series was decided on.

11-7-05 (4:41AM EDT)---- Singer Minako Honda Dies

The popular Japanese singer / musician and actress Minako Honda died in Japan on the sixth of complications related to acute myelogenous leukemia. She was widely known for her leading role in the musical "Miss Saigon". She was 38 years old. Her funeral will take place in Asaka City on the ninth. She debuted in 1985 with "Vacation Of Murderous Intent" and won the Japan Record Grand Prix rookie of the year award. Honda played lead roles in musicals including "Les Miserables", "Fiddler On The Roof", and "The King And I". She was diagnosed in January of this year with leukemia and had been hospitalized. Chemotherapy etc. was effective, and she was relesased to go home at the end of July. However, after a relapse in September, she was hospitalized again. To anime fans she was known for theme song contributions to Ashita No Nadja, Hunter X Hunter and Magic Knight Rayearth 2.

11-7-05 (3:10AM EDT)---- ALWAYS Sanchoume No Yuuhi Movie

The stage greeting on the first day of opening to the public for the movie ALWAYS Sanchoume no Yuuhi was held in Yurakucho on the 5th. Based on the popular manga, director Yamazaki Takashi was on hand to discuss the project's development. Stars Yoshio Kahidetaka, Shinichi Tsutsumi and Horikita Maki also made an appearance. Director Yamazaki Takashi described the film as "A movie by Japanese for the Japanese". ALWAYS opened on 271 screens this weekend via Toho. Returns in excess of two billion Yen is expected during the theater campaign.

11-7-05 (2:58AM EDT)---- Toei Animation DVD Site

Nippon Columbia Music Entertainment, Inc has launched an official website for Toei Animation's DVD releases at: http://columbia.jp/dvd/titles/toeidvd/.

11-7-05 (2:35AM EDT)---- Toshiko Takagi Honored

Avon Awards To Women will honor WWII Tokyo fire bombing survivor Toshiko Takagi by presenting her with their "Woman's Grand Prize". Based on a best-selling book she wrote of the experince in 1977, an animated film was produced this year called Rabbit Of Glass, it has been screening around Japan since May. Takagi is among several women to be recognized in the 27th holding of the ceremony. The medal will be awarded at the even held in Tokyo on the tenth of this month.

11-7-05 (2:32AM EDT)---- Gundam Art Exhibition Opens

The Mainichi Daily News English edition talks about "Gundam Generating Futures," an exhibition featuring works related to the enormously popular "Gundam" anime character and created by young artists, attracted huge crowds to its opening Sunday at the Ueno Royal Museum in Tokyo. Fans packed to see the exhibition, which includes a full-scale replica of a core fighter like those found in the Gundam series, as well as paintings, manga and sculptures.

11-7-05 (1:30AM EDT)---- Yomigaeru Sora -Rescue Wings- TV Series

Bandai Visual's upcoming Yomigaeru Sora -Rescue Wings- TV animation has been designated an official start date in the wee hours of the morning at 25:30 when it begins broadcasting on TV Tokyo in January, 2006. The animation is based on the manga by Tommy Ohtsuka. You can now view a streaming trailer at the official website.

11-7-05 (1:10AM EDT)---- Kage Kara Mamoru! TV Series

It's been revealed Kage Kara Mamoru! will become a new TV anime series. The manga just started serializing in Comic Flapper from the November issue (released in Japan on 10/5). The comic version is illustrated by Madara Sai with a story provided by Tarou Achi. The broadcast start has been set for TV Tokyo and Television Osaka from January 7th, 2006 at 26:50 (TV Tokyo) and 27:10 (TV Osaka). It's said the TV animation has been in the planning stages for a long time although the official green light came only in about the middle of last month.

11-7-05 (1:00AM EDT)---- New Game Trailers

You can check out streaming trailers for Namco's X-Box 360 release of Ridge Racer 6 here and SEGA / SNK Playmore's Samurai Spirits: Tenka Ichi Kenkakuden for Atomiswave here.

11-5-05 (3:11PM EDT)---- Oricon Girls' Best Comic Ranking

Oricon recently took a poll of the readers of it's "Oricon Style" publication. 1137 responded to the question of "Top 10 Girls' Manga". Taking first place was Ai Yazawa's NANA. It's said the voting for the title broke through sexual boundries as well with many guy votes. In 2nd place was Yoko Kamio's Hana Yori Dango. Arriving at 3rd is Chika Umino's Honey And Clover. Runners up included 4. nodame kantabire, 5. tenshi nankajanai, 6. kareshikanojo no jijou, 7. renai katarogu, 8. garasu no kamen, 9. furutsubasuketto, 10. chibimaru ko chan.

11-5-05 (2:45PM EDT)---- Japan Robot Festival

The Japan Robot Festival has kicked off in Toyama city on the third. 50 state-of-the-art models including Honda's "Asimo", "Palo" and Sony's "Aibo" will be there. Rescue Robo "T-52 dragon", one of the world's largest is also being exhibited at the show. An Astroboy character show will occur Sunday, the sixth. It's said some of Japan's premiere mechanical designers are at the event.

11-5-05 (2:45PM EDT)---- Sega To Halt Sales Of Dino King Battle Card Game

Sega has went to the Tokyo District Court on Nov. 4th, saying Taito's Dino King Battle Card Game violates their patent issued for 'Beetle King Mushiking'. Sega says the dinosaur drawn on the card on the screen has appeared in Taito's version. They are trying to get the court to block the sales.

11-5-05 (2:44PM EDT)---- Gegege No Kitaro Train Stations

On Thursday at Yonago Station in Tottori Prefecture it was announced 16 stations of the JR boundary line connected to Sakaiminato would get pet names based on characters from Shigeru Mizuki's Gegege no Kitaro manga. , and completion and the unveiling ceremony such as the station name boards were held at Yonago Station on the third. Yonago, the home station of the author was pet-named "Ratman Station". A bronze statue of Kitaro was unveiled at the station.

11-5-05 (2:22PM EDT)---- Devil Man Manga Offered For Cell Phones

NTT Solmare has began offering Go Nagai's Devil man manga to cellular phone users in Japan. The official release is November 7th via the "Comic i" and "Comic Seymour" sites. "Comic i" is an i-mode site setup by NTT DoCoMo. You need the following model phones to access it: FOMA900i, 901i, 901is, and 700i series. "Comic Seymour" is Vodafone site and you need these phones to access it: 902T, 902SH, 802SH. Not only will users be able to read the manga in a traditional format but each story will be enhanced with sound effect and vibration features of each phone. More of the mangaka's titles are expected to be added in the future.

11-4-05 (8:33PM EDT)---- Kashimashi Garu Mitsu Garu TV Date

The New TV animation series Kashimashi Garu Mitsu Garu has been given an official broadcast start date of January, 2006. The broadcasting station will also be announced soon. The official website is http://kasimasi.com/.

11-4-05 (8:29PM EDT)---- Tiger Mask II DVD Release Cancelled

Marvelous Entertainment announced they are discontinuing the planned December DVD release of Tiger Mask Second Generation.

1-4-05 (8:21PM EDT)---- Toshio Suzuki Lecture

Studio Ghibli President and Representative Director Toshio Suzuki will condicte a lecture at the Meiji University in Tokyo on Saturday, November 12th. Suzkuki was producer on the films Princess Mononoke, Spirited Away, Howl's Moving Castle and was joint producer on Mamoru Oshii's GITS2: Innocence. The lecture is open to the public to the first 1000 people, you must preregister to gain entrance at the University's website.

11-4-05 (12:00PM EDT)---- WOWOW's Dengeki Light Novel Gekijou

WOWOW will try a new program concept in January, 2006 called "Dengeki Light Novel Gekijou" (Electric Shock Light Novel Theater). The idea is to take well known Light Novel genre titles by popular authors and adapt them to short anime TV series of 6 episdes each (12 eps. total will make up the program). The first part of this theater will be composed of anime series based on Tsumugu Hashimoto's novel Hanbun No Gatsu Ganoboru Sora (Looking Up At The Half Moon). The original work was illustrated by Yamamoto Keiji and released by Media Works and Dengeki Bunkokan.

Confirmed staff on the anime version include Director Yukihiro Matsshita, Kouzan Katsuhiko who's providing script, Character Designer Mitsuru Ohara and animation production by Group Tac and Pony Canyon. The story tells of secrets of a hospitalized teen and companions. The second part of the light novel theater will be a series based on K-Ske Hasegawa's novel Shinigamino Baraddo (Momo The Girl God Of Death). Originally illustrated by Nanakusa the book was published by Media Works and Dengeki Bunkokan. Confirmed staff include Director Tomomi Mochizuki, Series Writer Reiko Yoshida, Character Design by Hiroyuki Horiuchi and Animation Production by Group Tac, Gin Gaya and Pony Canyon. True to the English subtitle, Momo is a female grim reaper, the plot explores the realtionships between her and her victims.

11-3-05 (6:44PM EDT)---- Cyndi Lauper Meets With Puffy AmiYumi

American singer Cyndi Lauper is in Tokyo this week to meet with Puffy AmiYumi (Sankei Sports has a picture of them together). Puffy recorded a track on her new covers album "The Body Acoustic" which releases in Japan on the 9th. It was the first time the 3 girls met in person. Lauper said she saw the advertisement of the animated cartoon Hi Hi PUFFY AMIYUMI around New York. When Cyndi requested a handshake, Ami Onuki said she was deeply moved because she jhad listened to Lauper since she first was interested in western style music as a school child. Cyndi did a live concert for J-WAVE on Thursday, about 2000 people gathered. She said she would return to Japan in April.

11-3-05 (2:54PM EDT)---- Longest Running Manga Serials

What is the reigning longest running manga serial published in Japan? Coming in first place is Osamu Akimoto's Kochira Katsushika-ku Kamearikouen-mae Hashutsujo (1976-) (This is the Police Station in Front of Kameari Park in Katsushika Ward) with 146 volumes released (vol. 147 will hit the market soon). Arriving in second place is Takao Saito's Golgo 13 (1968-) which has 138 volumes released. Runners up include Kazuo Koike's Jitte Monogatari (110 volumes), Biminbo (92 volumes), Abusan (84 volumes) and Haguregumo (80 volumes), Jojo No Kimyou Na Bouken (80 volumes), Kotaro Makaritooru (80 volumes), Minami No Teiou (78 volumes), Shizuka Naru Don 74 (volumes), Hajime No Ippo (73 volumes), Keirin Yarou (56 volumes), Yousei Kuni No Kishi (51 volumes), Ouke No Monshou (50 volumes), Garasu No Kamen (42 volumes).

11-3-05 (2:19PM EDT)---- Ishihara Satomi To Star In N's Darama

Japanese actress Ishihara Satomi will star in Fuji Television's upcoming drama "N's (nurse)". The series will start airing on January 10th 2006. This will be the first drama role for the actress. The story tells of passionate nurse who fights against the manager of a hospital and doctors who thinks medical treatment is mere business. N's is based on the popular manga by Koshino Ryou titled N's Aoi and serialized in Kodansha's Morning magazine.

11-3-05 (2:01PM EDT)---- Aiko And Mero In Crayon Shinchan

It's been revealed Japanese snowboarding star Mero Imai and Skiing champ Aiko Uemura will voice characterizations of themselves in an upcoming episode of the Crayon Shinchan TV series. The roles come as part of a public service for the Ski Association of Japan. The episode "Let's go skiing (temporary title)" will broadcast in front of the Turin Olympics. It's said that the skiing population in Japan has been reduced by half from 15 million in the latter half of the 1970's to only seven million people now.

11-3-05 (1:46PM EDT)---- First Original Manga To Be Marketed On Cell Phones

In an industry first BitWay and Kodansha are teaming up to offer mobile phone delivery of two full-color manga works on the 16th of November. mune kyun keiji 2 miruku cc and hou eru majan nyuumon moejan! will be offered to third generation Vodafone units, expanding to NTT DoCoMo and KDDI by next January. Serials will cost 105 Yen each.

11-3-05 (1:20PM EDT)---- Gackt In Dirge Of Cerberus

Watch Impress mentions reports Japanese rocker Gackt will provide music themes for the upcoming Square / Enix Game Final Fantasy VII: Dirge Of Cerberus. Addtionally he will also appear in the game as a character.

11-3-05 (1:09PM EDT)---- Moegaku Video

The official website for the Moe English learning software Moegaku has uploaded windows video files of the game's OP and commercial ad.

11-3-05 (12:47PM EDT)---- Visit With Kojima

Konami TV has video of one lucky French fan who got to meet with Metal Gear creator Hideo Kojima in Japan.

1-3-05 (12:02PM EDT)---- Gundam Otaku To Blast Off In Fall 2006

Former Livedoor Director Daisuke Enomoto announced he will depart into space next autumn as the fourth Russian Space Tourist. Enomoto will stay in the International Space Station for about 1 week when his Soyuz rocket docks with it after a launch from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakstan. He contracted the 20 million dollar trip with the USA based Space Adventures last November. His medical inspection has been completed and training in Russia was started in October. He reiterated plans to build a Gundam model and cosplay while in space. Only 6 Japanese have ever been launched into orbit.

11-3-05 (11:40AM EDT)---- DICE Airs In Japan

Animax mentions Bandai Entertainment and Xebec's TV collaboration DICE is scheduled to air under the title "Dinobreaker" from Tuesday, Dec. 6th at 18:30. The work first aired in the U.S. in 2004. The Japanese dubbing and packaging is being handled by the network as it's debut "Animax Original Anime".

11-3-05 (11:27AM EDT)---- Free Anime Stream

Gyao Animation has began freely streaming episodes of the anime TV series kaitei shounen marin, toppojijo and kurenai sanshirou. supa fisshingu guranda musashi begins running Nov. 11th.

11-3-05 (10:55AM EDT)---- Anime / Manga Gaming

IT Media has some images from SEGA's Private Show 2005 Autumn where they announced After Burner Climax, Metal Slug 6 and Virtua Fighter 5.
Rakuten has details of Konami's Gradius Portable, set to release to PSP on February 9th, 2006. The game will include past titles Gradius I-IV. An emulator style instant save and pause system can be done from the pause screen at anytime during game play. Additionally, some omake media will be included on the UMD such as original video from GRADIUS DELUXE PACK (PS), GRADIUS III&IV (PS2) and GRADIUS (PS). A music gallery is also added covering Gradius, Gradius II, Gradius III and Gradius IV. The music from the X68000 edition of Gradius and Gradius II has also been added.

11-3-05 (10:43AM EDT)---- Gundam SEED Destiny Complete Best Debuts

Oricon reports that the new CD release, Gundam SEED DESTINY Complete Best has debuted in second place on it's daily album chart. The opening and ending themes by TM Revolution and Hitomi Takahashi that became number 1 hits are collected on the CD. A complete best album was released for the Gundam SEED TV series in 2003 which also hit second place, with 332,000 units sold.

11-2-05 (11:11PM EDT)---- Be Beautiful Announces New Yaoi Manga

Be Beautiful, North America's leading yaoi graphic novel publisher, made news this weekend at Yaoi-Con 2005 in San Francisco, CA, announcing four new releases in its yaoi line, a new Signature Edition DVD of Kizuna: Bonds of Love, based on the best-selling yaoi graphic novel of all time, and a special contest letting fans name yaoi superstar Ms. Kazuma Kodaka's newest work.
To a packed house of energetic fans, Be Beautiful's publisher, Masumi Homma O'Donnell, spoke about Be Beautiful's rapid growth and current status as the foremost North American yaoi publisher, and the constant, overwhelming support the imprint has received from readers every step of the way. "There is no question that American readers love the yaoi genre, and that yaoi is becoming accepted within the mainstream markets," she said, referring to the female-oriented illustrated romantic graphic novel genre featuring "impossibly beautiful men."
Introducing Ms. Kazuma Kodaka, author of Kizuna: Bonds of Love and Japan's best-selling yaoi author, Ms. O'Donnell noted that the ten volume Kizuna series has been reprinted over 35 times since its first publication in 1992, resulting in sales in excess of ten million units, making Kizuna the best-selling yaoi graphic novel in Japanese publishing history. In addition to the US and Japanese editions, Kizuna has been translated into various Asian languages, and in Italian and German editions for the European markets. "I am happy to be able to show my work to English-speaking readers," Ms. Kodaka commented. "It has always been my dream to share my vision with a world-wide audience." Showing its continued dedication to both yaoi manga and Yaoi-Con, Be Beautiful unveiled five of its 2006 releases for the first time:
Midaresomenishi:
A tale of samurai love by Kizuna author and Yaoi-Con 2005 Guest of Honor Kazuma Kodaka, Ms. Kodaka herself made a surprise appearance at the Be Beautiful panel to make this announcement. Midaresomenishi is the story of the samurai Shirou, a man with violently red hair and a temper to match. Shirou is sent away to become a priest, but bandits capture him and his brother, Fujimaru, along the way. Shirou submits to becoming the bandit leader's love slave in order to spare his brother punishment; however, the event leaves Shirou forever changed. Midaresomenishi follows Shirou and his sexual odyssey throughout feudal Japan in search of the one man who can tame him. Violent, tragic, beautiful, and graphic, Midaresomenishi is the story of a man who lives by the sword and dies for love.
Midaresomenishi is coming in 2006, but before it does, Be Beautiful is giving fans a chance to be involved in the book's creation, allowing visitors to http://www.bebeautifulmanga.com/ to vote for one of three possible English titles. The poll is open until December 1, 2005 with the winning name to be announced the following day. One lucky voter will be selected to win the eight-foot Midaresomenishi banner unveiled at Be Beautiful's Yaoi-Con panel, autographed by author Kazuma Kodaka.
Boku No Koe:
From Youka Nitta, author of Embracing Love. Boku No Koe follows a young voice actor who dreams of making it big in the industry, but when he finally gets his chance he gets cold feet. Surrounded by voice acting legends, he can't help but feel insignificant. Will his seniors take him in and show him everything they know about voice acting -- and love?
YEBISU Celebrities:
By Shinri Fuwa. At a design firm called Yebisu Graphics, only the best ? and the best looking ? are accepted. It's a place for classy design, classy society, and classy love affairs. The cute new part-timer, Haruka Fujinami, happens to catch his boss's eye. Is he only getting teased, or is there something more between them?
Play Boy Blues:
By Shiuko Kano. Junsuke is the number one companion in a host club where Shinobu used to work. They have been in a relationship for a year, but as they start to get serious, Shinobu questions his commitment. With Junsuke's active lead, their relation has developed significantly but is sometimes disturbed by jealousy and pride. Where is their love going to end up with?

Kizuna: Signature Edition DVD:
Both episodes of Be Beautiful's Kizuna OVA will be made available in a special Signature Edition in March 2006. Collecting both volumes into one, the Signature Edition includes a special audio commentary by Kazuma Kodaka, a video interview with Kodaka, footage of her Japan Society and Kinokuniya appearances, and -- for the first time -- an English-language audio track in addition to the Japanese.

11-2-05 (10:53PM EDT)---- TYO Establishes Animation Course

TYO will start a new course dealing with animation in the Department of Art at Nihon University. The Department consists of eight subjects such as movie, art and literature, plays, and broadcasting. Names such as Yoshiyuki Tomino, Noboru Ishiguro, Junichi Sato, Shi Aoyama and Kentaro Miura were all graduates of the school.

11-2-05 (10:17PM EDT)---- Nihonbashi Becomes Otaku's Sacred Ground In Osaka

We previously reported that Osaka's Nihonbashi district was rapidly becoming the Suginami of the region with many CG animation companies setting up shop there. Now Asahi Shimbun reports it has rapidly become the Akihabara of Osaka as well. According to their report, Otaku hobby shops, maid coffee shops, specialty merchandise stores etc. have all sprung up in the area. In all it's currently estimated that there are about 50 otaku related shops in Nihonbashi, accounting for about 10 percent of all shops there. An Information paper called "Otamapp" is published every other month listing many spots of interest. First was published in July, 5,000 copies were said to have disappeared in one week. The area got it's big start as an "electric town" in the 1940's where many shops sold radio parts. Computers were sold there in the 1980's. The specialty store of the Otaku hobby increased rapidly from the end of the 90's.

11-2-05 (9:52PM EDT)---- Teacher Designed Cardgame Takes Off

Asahi Shimbun reports a Japanese teacher designed his own "History Character" and "Administrative Division" cardgames and they've been picked up in elementary schools nationwide. Tsutomu Mitsuhashi (39) of Chiba prefecture got the idea when the Pokemon trading card craze took off several years ago. The cards use a combat system that lets players work in teams. He handrew illustrations for more than 140 types of cards during the winter break last year. 20,000 cards were sold in April when a company, shingakusha sold it via the direct sale of the school for 350 Yen each. It is said that one hundred poem-cards with will hit the market in December.

11-2-05 (9:14PM EDT)---- China Needs 150,000 Workers In Animation Industry

According to a statement released by The embassy of the people's republic of China in Japan the nations of China, Japan and South Korea have come to a new cooperation agreement which will hopefully strengthen their respective animation industries. It's said China currently has about 10,000 people working in animation in the country while the demand for that type of talent had gone up to 150,000 people. The statement was issued from Chengdu on November 1st. It was agreed the special talent of the cultural industry of China, especially the talent of the animated cartoon is very insufficient, and a big support of South Korea and Japan is hoped for in respect of the talent training now.

11-2-05 (8:47PM EDT)---- Comic SEED Publication Suspended

Penguin Shobo announced they are indefinitely suspending the publication of Comic SEED. The move comes as the company's Penguin Bookstore Ltd. is liquidated. Additionally on Thursday it was revealed the HP will not be able to be updated in the future and all contents will be removed. The following statement was issued: "Thank you truly for the readers' strong rootings over three years." Serials published in the monthly manga anthology included hanamusubi by nakashima chizuna, arufa +a by kohi, -hitaki- by haruo and yaezaki kaoru, shiritsu irodori ryou koukou chou nouryoku bu by ishida akira, yoikonomirai! by kiduki akira, gemuya san by harukaze michinin, akeometsu! by kazumi yoshiyuki, yuai etoranze by seise hiroki, taigan jouju komomodesho! by marunosuke, not simple by ono natsume, anshanka by sai maya, rili:f by kanou matsuru and w-edge by chuushin akira.

Although not mentioned officially, it's been reported via some blogs that the bookstore had suddenly declared bankruptcy. According to those same sources prospects of a restart for the magazine are not high. All book titles released through the publisher are expected to fall out of print as well.

11-2-05 (8:35PM EDT)---- Totoro Lawn Art

The Daily Tohoku reports a PTA has produced lawn art associated to Hayao Miyazaki's My Neighbor Totoro in the yards of five households and the schoolyard of a local elementary school in Japan. The theme is the cat bus from the film. The size of the art produced is 50 meters in width and 40 meters in length. The outline was drawn with vinyl tape in the first ten days of October, and fertilizer was added along the line.� As a result, the part where the fertilizer was laid gradually turned blue. Production was postponed because the state of turf was bad last year though this school made the schoolyard a lawn in 2001 managed by the "Mowing corps" organized by PTA etc. The plan was to produce lawn art at the same time each year. The character for "Welcome Home" was added under the picture of the cat bus.

11-2-05 (8:33PM EDT)---- Mega Hobby Tsubasa Chronicle Figures

Mega Hobby is gearing up to release a series of high quality Tsubasa Chronicle figures in November based on the popular CLAMP Manga and anime TV series. The set includes characters Sakura, Shou Ookami, Kuro Kou, Mokona and Tomoyo. The 120mm tall figures will sale for 630 Yen each. Sale has been scheduled nationwide in Japan among large animation and hobby shops.

11-2-05 (8:10PM EDT)---- Limited Edition Zac II Model

Famitsu mentions Bandai Network's LaLaBit Market is gearing up to release a 1/12 assembly type model kit 'HY2M 1/12 MS-06S ZAKUII 2005 REAL COLOR VERSION'. The model is of the Zac II MS piloted by Char in the Mobile Suit Gundam series. It will be a limited edition release with only 350 units to be produced. The price is 260,000 Yen. The assembled product is 1.47m tall and about 30kg in weight. Attached with easch is a "Metal premium plate with serial number".

11-2-05 (7:25PM EDT)---- Monster Farm 5 To Be Bundled With OAV

Tecmo has announced the latest version of it's popular Monster Farm virtual pet fighter / rpg will include a DVD featuring a special OAV. Known as Monster Rancher in the USA, Monster Farm 5: Circus Caravan will hist retailers across Japan on Wednesday, November 16. A 5 minute video clip along with 2 other video previews of the OAV and game can be streamed here. Actress Kumiko Endo is taking charge of the voice of the hero Jurio. It's said a special monster appears in the game when the DVD is used.

11-2-05 (7:58PM EDT)---- Tokimeki Coming To PSP

Konami Style has some details on their long running dating sim Tokimeki Memorial which will be soon coming to PSP. It carries the subtitle of Forever With You and is scheduled to release in the spring of 2006.

11-2-05 (7:17PM EDT)---- Saitama City Awarded

Saitama City has been selected to receive the Manga No Nichi Bunka Taishou for 2005. The prize is awarded to the person or team that contributed to the spread and development of manga production. An awards ceremony was held in Tokyo on the 31st. In the past, Kochi Prefecture etc. that sponsored "Cartoon Koshien" took the prize established in 2003 by the Japan Cartoonists Association which consists of three publishing companies.

11-2-05 (6:43PM EDT)---- FAVO Comic Pack

For the aspiring digital manga artists out there WACOM has just announced a November 4th release in Japan for their low priced FAVO Comic Pack. The set is composed of a pen, A6 size tablet and six software titles for comics / illustration creation etc. A retail price has been set at 8,988 Yen. The set iscompatible with Windows 98 SE/Me/2000/XP. The pen tablet set is marketed towards illustration creation fans. The set has been the continuous leader in sales for six months, since it's first relase. The pen and tablet included is an evolution of a previous release which had about 60% customer base in women aged 10-20's. Moreover, four of the six bundled software titles are upgraded and support was added for the newest functions. The tablet includes a scroll wheel which controls image's orientation. Reading resolution is plus or minus 0.5mm and the speed of reading is 100 points or less/sec in 0.0125mm. The pen relies on pressure to draw and includes an eraser. The interface is USB. Software titles bundled include Full spec version paint software "Pixia" for Wacom, graphic tool "ComicStudio" only for the cartoon of Selshis, and The watercolor soft "Watercolor LITE", etc. The guide book by five artists including the CG making technique is attached to Pixia.

11-2-05 (6:31PM EDT)---- Cup Noodle In Space

PCWEB mentions a new commercial spot for Cup Noodle partially filmed on the International Space Station. The theme of the CM spot is "NO BORDER" and has a soundtrack by Mr.Children. Therein Russian cosmonauts Valery Tokarev Sergei Krikalev filmed parts of the commercial in the Zvezda module. A Soyuz rocket took up the movie camera material, the cup noodle, and the 2 cosmonauts on October 1 this year. The commercial was filmed in orbit and the tape returned to Earth on the 11th. It is said that there was a big restriction in the machinary that can be brought into space because of the special environment. Likewise, Nissin Foods had to make a special verison of Cup Noodle for the space shot because the usual recipe would scatter, possibly breaking down peripheral machine parts. A Sony HDV camcoder "HVR-Z1J" was used to film the CM. The cosmonauts were directed in how to film the scenes needed via real time video link. After it's development in 1971, Cup Noodle has been put on the market in 80 countries (some have special localized flavors). Total sales have reached as many as 23 billion food items.

11-2-05 (5:56PM EDT)---- Rakugo Tennyo Oyui

On August 31 in Asakusa the production announcement for the new TV animation Rakugo Tennyo Oyui was made. The Project commemorates the 75th anniversary of the Shadan Houjin Rakugo Geijutsu Kyoukai's (traditional comic story telling art society) establishment. The society was created to preserve the handed down Japanese traditional performing art of comic story to future generations. Focusing on variety hall performances in Tokyo, about 100 comic storytellers are currently actve within the organization. Norihiro Takamoto has been confirmed as director on the new series, well known seiyuu Noda Junko and Sachiko Kojima will star.

11-2-05 (4:41PM EDT)---- Daibuster Chara Sketches

Web Anime Style has posted some of Yoshiyuki Sadamoto's original sketches of the character Nono from the Daibuster OAV.

11-2-05 (4:30PM EDT)---- Yurikamome Gets Mascot

If you've ever been out to Tokyo Big Sight and the artifical island of Daiba for events such as the Tokyo Anime Fair or Comike chances are you took the Yurikamome Line train to get there. Originating from Shimbashi station, Yurikamome offers one of the most breathtaking visual experiences to be had in Tokyo as it winds it's way through Minato-ku, across the famed Rainbow Bridge and finally winding up at Ariake station. The train itself was Tokyo's first fully automated transit system, controlled entirely by computers with no drivers on board. It doesn't rely on traditional rails but rides an elevated concrete track on two rows of rubber wheels. Now Tokyo Waterfront New Transit Yurikamome has appointed a new mascot to represent their transit system. Yurimo is a black-headed seagull (yurikamome in Japanese) which commonly resides in Tokyo Bay and is the official prefectural bird. The mascot was announced at a ceremony at the Yurikamome Shinbashi station (Minato Ward) on the 30th. There was a naming contest for the character which started in August and the winner of a 50,000 Yen prize and railway / hotel vouchers was 14 year old Isamu Fukuhara of Adachi Ward. According to the company, there were 9,361 entries submitted and 120 of those suggested the name Yurimo. Although the line currently reaches Daiba via a single route, a new portion of track is being constructed now that will connect Ariake station back to the mainland via to Toyosu (Koto Ward) on the Tokyo Metro Yurakucho Line. Construction will wrap in March, 2006.

11-2-05 (3:36PM EDT)---- Gaiking Web

TV Asahi's official Gaiking website has opened.

11-2-05 (3:36PM EDT)---- TFC Marks Down Saikano DVD's

TOHOKUSHINSHA FILM CORPORATION (www.tfc.co.jp) announced the Saikano TV animation will be released to DVD at new low price in the "She The Ultimate Weapon-Special Value BOX-" to be released January 27, 2006. The 6 disk set (5 TV and one omake disc) will retail at 15,750 Yen. The old price for the previous DVD release was about 30,000 Yen. Original creator Shin Takahashi will do an original illustration for the BOX. Saikano serialized from January, 2000 to October, 2001 in weekly "Big Comic Spirits" published by Shogakukan. 3.5 million copies of the seven volume tankabon were sold.

11-2-05 (2:25PM EDT)---- Maiahi No Doragostea Din Tei-Love Murder Threat Tie-in

As we had previously reported, an animation released by AVEX entitled "Maiahi no Doragostea Din Tei-Love" had recently come under fire in Japan. According to an anti alcohol / drugs civic group, a portion of the animation promotes heavy drinking and have demanded it's deletion. The animatiion features the popular character nomaneko. It was announced on September 30th that Avex's application for a registered trademark on the character would be withdrawn. Protests came due to the cat's resemblence to the 2ch mascot.

Now a 23 year old suspect has been arrested in Tokyo's Koto Ward Shirakawa for allegedly posting threats to the popular Japanese internet board 2 channel. The threats refer to murdering an employee of the Japanese record label AVEX. The same suspect reportedly also made posts about killing Sendai fourth grade elementary school girls. When the suspect's personal computer was confiscated and searched a record was found of a post to two channel from September mentioning "The employee of AVEX is murdered with cutlery". What's more the suspect mentioned being repulsed by the use of the 2ch mascot Nomaneko in the label's release of Maiahi no Doragostea Din Tei-Love.

11-2-05 (2:13PM EDT)---- Americans Access Anime "Underground"

The Daily Yomiuri has an article on the digital "underground" of anime on the internet. It's mentioned that specialty sites related to the download of Japanese animation media have been springing up rapidly. 1 such site was said to get 17 million hits in 1 and a half years. File sharing and copyright issues are also discussed.

11-2-05 (1:58PM EDT)---- Salt Lake City's First Anime Store

The Salt Lake City Tribune has a report on the city's first anime specialty retailer, Tokyo's Anime House.

11-2-05 (1:52PM EDT)---- Hi Hi Puffy AmiYumi Float In Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade

www.macysparade.com
For Puffy AmiYumi, the Japanese rock phenomenon whose imaginary exploits are immortalized weekly in the hit Cartoon Network original series Hi Hi Puffy AmiYumi- what could possibly be next? A custom-built float for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, of course, where they will perform live to an audience of over 50 million viewers.. The vibrant Hi Hi Puffy AmiYumi float, which will feature the performers as well as giant-sized, puppet versions of their cartoon alter-egos, is the latest Macy's Parade entrant for Cartoon Network. As Ami and Yumi glide down Broadway on Thanksgiving Day, their presence will mark the beginning of a spirited holiday licensing and merchandising campaign headlined by a global partnership with toy giant Mattel.
Designed and crafted by the magic-making artists at the Macy's Parade Studio, the Hi Hi Puffy AmiYumi float is modeled after the cartoon duo's decked-out, mystical tour bus. A life-sized puppet of well-intentioned but stingy, band manager Kaz, will be piloting the musical bus and large bobble-head editions of the duo's favorite felines, Jeng Kan and Tekirai, are also on board. The real-life Ami and Yumi will not only dazzle fans with their music as the float cruises through Manhattan, they will also perform a 90-second song in front of Macy's -- Herald Square, the World's Largest Store and the heart and center of the Parade. Every year some 2.5 million people line the streets of New York to view the Parade in person and another 50 million tune in to watch it on television.
"The Macy's Parade is one of the most respected and adored American institutions," said Dennis Adamovich, senior vice president of marketing for Cartoon Network. "Perhaps the most highly anticipated event of the holiday season, the Parade also provides a spectacular platform for us to present and celebrate our popular cartoon characters with a large family audience. Puffy AmiYumi fans will also enjoy a rare treat - seeing the band perform live on television for millions of people."
"We are delighted to be a part of this wonderful family tradition," said Kim McQuilken, executive vice president of Cartoon Network Sales and Marketing. "The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade is a perfect way to celebrate the start of this festive season. In addition, the exposure we can offer our licensing partners at this event is unprecedented and frankly, matchless. It's a great opportunity to launch this budding franchise and entertain Puffy fans nationwide."
"For everyone in the Macy's organization, one of the highlights of the current Parade year has been our exciting partnership with Cartoon Network," says Robin Hall, Executive Producer of Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. "This creative collaboration has helped us develop a concept that really breaks the mold; the new Hi Hi Puffy AmiYumi float's unique design and dazzling scale bring a fantastic energy to the Parade."

Fans will be able to recreate their own rocknroll adventures with the Hi Hi Puffy AmiYumi Mattel toy line which will be on shelves nationwide. Fashion dolls in the likeness of Ami and Yumi that sing and speak in both Japanese and English, spunky small dolls inspired by the animated characters, engaging playsets, toys and a "Rockin' World Tour" transforming tour bus are just a few of the items that will available. Through December 15, coupled with another popular Cartoon Network series Codename Kids: Next Door, the Hi Hi Puffy AmiYumi merchandise will be featured in a special, limited-time-only toy shop in the midst of the Toys R Us flagship store in New York's Times Square.

11-2-05 (11:19AM EDT)---- Rockman EX: BEAST Site Launch

The official website for the forthcoming TV series Rockman EX: BEAST is now online at: www.tv-tokyo.co.jp/anime/rockman_beast/.

11-2-05 (11:01AM EDT)---- Blood+ Covered In 'Television'

Kadokawa's weekly 'Television' magazine has given Production I.G.'s Blood+ some major exposure with the #45 issue released on Wednesday in Japan. A 5 page full color feature examines the franchise using 7 keywords.

11-2-05 (10:29AM EDT)---- First Gundam Z Movie DVD Ranks #1

While Gundam Zeta Movie 2 "Lovers" fights it's way up the charts from a 5th place (120 million Yen gross) debut this past weekend, the DVD of the first film "Heirs to the Stars" has been ranked #1 according to the Oricon weekly DVD sales charts for October 24-30th. The actual release was made on October 28th, beating out the Hollywood film Batman Begins which was released to DVD in Japan on the same day. 200,000 copies of the first part of the "new translation" trilogy have been sold according to Bandai Visual. �

11-1-05 (6:35PM EDT)---- Nintama Rantarou Play

A theatrical play based on Soubee Amako's Nintama Rantarou was performed in Hikone City Nose-cho on Ocotber 30th. About 1,350 people attended the show, titled "shinobi tama ran tarou doku take jou no himitsu no dan".

11-1-05 (6:27PM EDT)---- Nagasaki 1945: Angelus No Kane Screens In Hiroshima

Hiroshima City's Salaon Cinemas will debut the animated film, Nagasaki 1945: Angelus No Kane in theater from December 5th. Cinema Caravan which is based in the city has joined the production committee of the project.

11-1-05 (6:08PM EDT)---- Maaya Sakamoto Concert In Roppongi Hills

Fan favorite anime voacalist Maaya Sakamoto performed her first live concert in two years on the open-air stage of Roppongi Hills arena on the 29th of October. About 3000 people turned out. Sakamoto is known for her work in Gundam SEED DESTINY and for dubbing the Japanese voice for Natalie Portman in the recent Star Wars trilogy of films.

11-1-05 (5:41PM EDT)---- Takarazuka Girls' Operetta Troupe Performs In South Korea

Japan's Takarazuka Girls' Operetta Troupe will perform for the first time in South Korea since the end of World War II. Currently scheduled for November 11-13th shows, the troope will put on their most popular stage show ever in the musical drama The Rose Of Versailles. The play is based on the Riyoko Ikeda manga. set in the French court at the time of the French Revolution. The stage drama, first ran from 1974 to 1976, then again in 1988-89, drawing an audience of about 4 million, centers on a royal guard commander who is really a girl who was reared as a boy and who disguises herself as a girl to woo a Swedish count away from Marie Antoinette in an effort to derail some political intrigue in the Palace of Versailles.

11-1-05 (5:25PM EDT)---- Kadokawa Shoten Announces Overseas Movie Strategy

The 3 movie companies of the Kadokawa group (Kadokawa Movie, Kadokawa Herald and Asmik Ace) announced their new overseas strategy "Global Kadokawa Film Project 2006" in Tokyo on October 28th. According to the plan, the producer who handled Academy Award winning work "Chicago" and the Weinstein brother's new company "Weinstein Companies" will make films based on several of their properties such as Koji Suzuki's short story "Drift Ship" and the popular comic "Tomy" in the United States. The CN Gamera collaboration was announced at the event as was the Korean co-production of "Chakushin Ari Final".

11-1-05 (5:22PM EDT)---- Seiyuu Storybook Reading Tour

Longtime anime seiyuu Miyazawa Tadashi is part of a new seiyuu caravan which going around to Japanese schools and doing public readings of picture books. The group recently visited a Tottori area school on the 26th of October. Three voice actors active in TV animation roles will visit 19 venues through November 10.

11-1-05 (4:28PM EDT)---- Kanzen Maid Sengen

For those outside the loop, Japan's housemaid craze has spawned the first maid idol singing unit to enjoy large success. Kanzen Maid Sengen "Complete Housemaid Declaration" is composed of nine popular housemaids who worked various Akihabara cafes. Now the group has performed their first live campus festival at Nihon University on the 29th of October. About 1500 attended the event. The group announced their debut in Tokyo July 9th and went on to perform their first street live July 10th and release 2 singles to the market. The group's members are: Yuri, Emi, Hitomi, Chihiro, Konomi, Kozue, Rion, Ringo, Hime, Hinaki and Hou. Sankei Promotion Advance manages the unit.

11-1-05 (4:00PM EDT)---- Nakagoshi Earthquake Manga

Japan's Great Nakagoshi Earthquake that measured seven on the rictor scale occured in Niigata Prefecture on October 23, 2004. Now, one year later Nagaoka's Kabasawa Hiromi who gave birth to her second daughter on the day following the quake will publish a new docu-manga story based on the experience Kodansha's Nov. 1 issue of BE-LOVE magazine. The title of the story will be Tenshi Ga Kure Ta Egao (Smile That The Angel Gave).

11-1-05 (3:42PM EDT)---- Shoko Hamada Cosplay Declaration

Japanese idol and model Shoko Hamada was out at electronics stores in Tokyo's Akihabara for the commemoration sale of her new DVD "Shokoratie". She said she was trying to stay in shape and will not stop cosplaying even though she's growing up. Hamada turns 20 years old on New Year's Day 2006. View some pics of her at the event on Sponichi Annex.

11-1-05 (3:09PM EDT)---- Kodansha's e-Manga

Japanese publisher Kodansha has released a monthly web manga magazine called e-Manga since 1997. You can view the November, 2005 issue (Vol.64) at the above link. Therein you can find many free manga serials.

11-1-05 (3:06PM EDT)---- Bobby Valentine Featured In Manga

It's been announced that the story of former MLB player and current Japanese team manager Robert Valentine will be portrayed in a new manga. Valentine heads the Chiba Lotte Marines led the team to to a second-place finish in 1995. The baseball veteran will be featured in Yamada Rejii's Zetsubou Ni Kiku Ku Suri (One On One), serialized in Shogakukan's Weekly Young Sunday. The manga is known for including various famous people within it's storyline in an interview style setting and has featured such well known names as Yoko Onno and Osamu Tezuka in the past. The official serial website is here. On a side note, Bobby Valentine told Yahoo News he was happy managing in Japan according to an October 22nd article.

11-1-05 (2:01PM EDT)---- Akino Arai 20th Anniversary

Akino Arai is a well known anime singer, song-writer, and lyricst. She's composed the soundtracks to Outlaw Star and Noir but is probably best known outside of Japan for her work with Yoko Kanno on the Macross Plus soundtrack. For that OVA series / Movie Arai contributed very well recognized tunes such as Idol Talk, Voices and Wanna Be An Angel. We's now coming up on the 20 years since her professional debut in 1986, with the song "Beautiful Planet". A special 20th anniversary album is being produced titled Sora No Uta. The release of a special CD+DVD combo is set for 11.23 at a 3,500 Yen retail. The CD only release will occur on the same day for 3,045 Yen. The tracklist is as follows: 1. sarii no biidama 2. kakusei toshi 3. voices 4. super toniku 5. kouseki rajio 6. hiru no tsuki 7. Moon Light Anthem 1991 8. Silent Stream 9. neko no shinzou 10. gareki no rakuen 11. Satellite Song 12. natsukashii uchuu (umi) 13. kirei na kanjou 14. furu purachina 15. Wanna Be An Angel. 16. sora no uta ver.

11-1-05 (1:43PM EDT)---- Lupin III Site Relaunch

The official Japanese Lupin III website has been revamped at www.lupin-3rd.net.

11-1-05 (1:35PM EDT)---- Fans To Idols

Asian Week has an article by Ray Nagar which talks about Geneon Entertainment USA's Anime Expo Idol competition.

11-1-05 (1:31PM EDT)---- HKBN Digital Offers Animax

IPTV reports HKBN (Hong Kong Broadband Network) has launched a service called "HKBN Digital TV". The basic package now includes eight movie and drama channels. Among them: Animax - A highly popular Japanese animation channel dedicated to animation fans of all ages. The line-up includes Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ, Princess Sarah, Captain Tsubasa and Detective Conan.

11-1-05 (1:01PM EDT)---- World's Largest Anime DVD Shopping Guide Launches

Shoppertron, the world's largest fan focused Shopping network, is please to announce the launch of our latest shoppers guide to Anime DVDs and Movies with more than 4000 titles listed.

Shoppertron is the world's largest shopping guide to the Anime DVDs, Movies and special edition sets. Shoppers can search and locate the best prices across more than 4200 items on 240 products at 31 online retails stores in just a 1 click! The service allows Anime fans to find the best stores and prices carrying their favorite Anime titles. Visitors can also track new releases, pre-orders and save even more with our exclusive super deals listings. If that's not enough, shoppers who can't find what you are looking for can login to our shopping forums and talk with other fans about Anime and other related topics. Shoppertron is now live and available to the public on the Internet at: http://Anime.Shoppertron.com

11-1-05 (11:16AM EDT)---- Takara To Sell All Broccoli Stock

After last Monday's move by Takara to sell roughly 20% of it's 51.6% stake in Broccoli, the company has revealed on Tuesday, plans to sell the reaming shares sometime in November. It is expected that transfers will be made to several other companies, such as Asian Groove Inc. Takara was the largest shareholder in Broccoli, claiming 51% or more of issued shares. Takara is currently advancing the arrangement of amalgamation with Tommy in March of next year.

11-1-05 (10:30AM EDT)---- Evangelion Perfume

Would you rather smell like Rei Ayanami or Asuka Langley? Now Bandai Network's LaLa Bit Market gives you the option with the just announced eau de toilette (designer perfume) related to the 2 Evangelion characters. Both fragrances were created by aroma professionals and mixed based on the personality and image of the series' teen female leads. The Ayamani Rei fragrance is said to smell lik Marine floral that changes an artificial feel to that of motherhood. The Asuka Langley fragrance is said to smell like a spicy floral that carries the impression of transience somewhere based from two facades. The perfume is unisex and can be used by men and women. The bottle is designed like an entry plug with Ayamani Rei's stamped 00 and colored a pearl white and Asuka Langley's stamped 02 and colored a red pearl. The NERV marque is stamped on top of the bottle's cap. The price is like the designer brands too, with a retail of 8400 Yen for an 18mL bottle of each respectively. Production will be done in stages based on the orders received. Sale begins on November 1.

11-1-05 (10:19AM EDT)---- Tactical Roar Web

The official website of the coming ACTAS, Inc. / Bandai Visual animation series Tactical Roar has gone live at www.tactical-roar.com. Broadcasting begins from January, 2006 in Japan. New details on staff have been posted such as director Fujimoto Yoshitaka, series writer Hyoudou Hajime, character designer and total art supervisor Itou Takeshi, concept supervisor Ogura Shinya, mecha designer takakura takeshi and series music composer Nanase Hikari.

11-1-05 (9:46AM EDT)---- Evangelion Radio Special

The radio programs "Shin Seiki Evangelion: The Tenth Anniversary" and The "Tenth Shin Seiki Evangelion Anniversary Special Show" will be broadcast in the Kanto region November 2 and in the Kansai district November 3. Scedule is as follows: RF radio Japan 27:00-28:00 on Wednesday, November 2; Radio Osaka Thursday, 3rd 24:00 of November-25:00. Special guests on the show include Megumi Hayashibara (Rei Ayanami), Kotono Mitsuishi (Katsuragi Misato), Yuko Miyamura (Souryu Asuka Langley), King Records Managing Director Toshimichi Otsuki, Kadokawa Shoten Managing Director Shinichiro Inoue and Head of Kadokawa Shoten's anime / manga division magazine group Takashi Watanabe.

11-1-05 (9:40AM EDT)---- XXXHOLiC Movie Preview

In addition to a confirmed TV series release, Production I.G. has uploaded a Web Pamphlet from their recent Production I.G Exhibition held at Shibuya Parco on Friday, October 21. Five works were featured there by the studio. One is titled "Theater Version XXXHOLiC: Midsummer Night Dream".

11-1-05 (9:38AM EDT)---- My Santa Always Video Sample

A 30 second video preview for the forthcoming My Santa Always DVD BOX has been uploaded to the Three Fat Samurai Website.

11-1-05 (9:06AM EDT)---- Toei Animation Retrospective

Hiroshima Animation Biennale 2006 has announced the 50 year history of Toei Animation will be examined in a feature project to be shown at the event when it's held this July-August. The festival is held once every two years alongside the Hiroshima International Animation Festival that is one of the four largest of it's type in the world. Current hits such as Pretty Cure all the way back to Hakujaden (which became Japan's first all color feature length animation film, produced in 1958) will be covered.

11-1-05 (8:01AM EDT)---- Working Conditions Of Japan's Animators Investigated

Geidankyo (Nihon Geino Jitsuenka Dantai Kyogikai) is an organization formed by performing artists in Japan. It's mission is to represent it's 71 member organizations and their individual members, for the purpose of improving the skills, social status and welfare of all performers, and to contribute to the betterment of Japanese culture. The group recently conducted it's bi-decadel (5 year) survey of it's various team organizations related to artists, actors, singers etc..

Animators were included for the first time this year. The investigation vote was distributed to 307 people, and 83 people answered. The average working hours of Japan's animators according to their investigation was 10.2 hours on the average during a day, and the estimate became 250 hours during the month. A average annual income, of less than 1 million Yen, was reported by 26.8%, 1 million to less than 1 million Yen was reported by 19.6% and 2 million to less than three million Yen was claimed by 18.6%. Two out of three people claimed less than a three million Yen income. 80% were found to work according to the payment scheme that compensates animators for each cel drawn at an aaverage compensation rate of 186.9 Yen on the average. A less than one million Yen annual salary was reported by 73.7% of this type of animator. 78.4% answered that they "had pride" when embarking upon animation as a career, and as for the rewards 49.5% have answered, "It is not convincing amount". Unemployment and the pension are admitted by 90% to be "Enough". According to Geidankyo, public entertainment culture promotion director, Shigeru Yamato, The improvement of labor conditions for Japan's animators is an important problem.
Source: The Daily Yomiuri

11-1-05 (7:55AM EDT)---- NEO Magazine Launches

The official website of UK based Neo Magazine is now online. The magazine is focused on anime, manga and game content catering to the youth audience.

Questions,Comments,News Submissions

Back To Anime News Service