Anime News Service - November 6 - 10 Anime News

11-10-00---- Anime / Manga Fans Matchmaking Site Launches

November 10, 2000

Eternal Senshi Productions is proud to announce the launch of its latest online project, Anime Love (www.anime-love.com), the Internet's first singles/matchmaking community for anime fans!

Services of the program include:
€ Simple search function for members who meet your criteria
€ Browse all member profiles
€ Photo and .wav sound file upload capability
€ Anonymous messaging within the program

Anime Love also features other sections, including featured member profiles, Otaku Dating Tips, an advice column and other fun things for your entertainment.

There is absolutely no cost to participate! In order to become a member you must be at least 18 years of age. For those under 18 there is a Teen section in the forums where teens can chat and leave messages for pen pals.

Eternal Senshi Productions is composed of three anime domain Web sites, eternalsenshi.net, sailorstarlights.com, and now anime-love.com. The sites feature popular items as anime fan art, profiles on popular anime characters, anime shrines, image galleries, multimedia, fanfiction, DVD reviews, contest and online shopping.

11-10-00---- Violent Video Games In Japan Article

USA Today is running this article titled "Japan struggles with violent games Lack of ratings frustrates some creators" in which Rockman / Megaman project designer Keiji Inafune comments on the topic.

11-10-00---- Cartoonist Brest 2000 Event In France

Over this weekend, Nov. 10-12 the second Japanese Animation festival, "Cartoonist" will take place in Brest, France. A guest of honor at this festival is Nobuteru Yuki (Gunnm). Anime being screened includes the Escaflowne Movie (in Japanese with French subtitles). There's a drawing and signing session of Nobuteru Yuki on Sunday.

Location Info:
CARTOONIST BREST 2000
Palais des Congres "Le Quartz"
2, Avenue Clemanceau
29000 BREST
FRANCE

11-10-00---- Space Battleship Yamato Typing Game

NEXT is set to release Space Battleship Yamato Typing Wave Motion Gun, a new Yamato typing game for Win 95 - ME platforms in Japan on Dec. 6th with an MSRP of 4900 Yen. The first in a new series of typing software, classic elements from Leiji Matsumoto's SciFi epic are imcorporated into the package, including 3D CGI movies, original sound effects.

11-10-00---- Dragonball Z News

Exceprted from the official FUNimation Dragonball Newsletter:

Two words: Video Game. That‚s right, Infogrames/GT Interactive is beginning work on DBZ Video Games. The games will be for Playstation 1 & 2 and Color Gameboy. Be prepared because the games are coming in 2001.

FUNimation has just acquired permission to produce and release Movies 4, 5 and 6 which are titled in the Japanese as "Super Saiyan Goku", "Cooler‚s Revenge" and "Attack! 1,000,000 Power Warriors". The Movies will be released to home video sometime in 2001.

Also new exciting DBZ Squeezies will be in the market soon. SS Goku, Vegeta and Piccolo are the featured Squeezie Characters. You can kick, punch, throw, drop or smash these guys and they will always be ready for battle.

DBZ Club Shirts will flash into stores December 1st. They are unlike any other DBZ shirts and are some of the coolest shirts you will ever lay eyes on. They will be available at Musicland, Hot Topic and Gadzooks.

We have received a lot of questions about where to find the new DBZ Long Sleeved Shirts that are out. These shirts are available at Target, Walmart, the DBZ Store and Kmart. (You have to look for the shirts at Kmart because they are not in plain sight, but these new shirts are at Kmart.)

11-10-00---- Bad Dog Bites ADV Screenings

ADV Films has announced via their website that due to a turnout crowd at a local Austin screening of Samurai X, the company will host a new string of public screenings at Bad Dog Comedy Club. According to ADV's writeup, The Bad Dog is a new and very popular club in Austin that presents nationally recognized comedians, as well as screenings of independent and cult films in their state-of-the-art theater. The first screening will be on Friday, November 17. ADV will be presenting City Hunter: Bay City Wars and City Hunter: Million Dollar Conspiracy. Admission is open to anyone 18 years old and up and drinks will be available.

11-10-00---- Starblazers DVD 2 Date

The Right Stuf is listing a 12/8 release date for Voyager Entertainment's second 100 minute long Starblazers DVD volume. The disc will retail at $29.99.

11-10-00---- G-Saviour Model Kit

Hobby Link Japan currently lists a kit release of a 1/144 G-Saviuor kit for Jan/2001 - 1500 Yen. This is the first listed model based on the Live Action / CGI Gundam Movie G-Saviour.

11-10-00---- Bandai Press Releases

Bandai Entertainment has released several press announcements for Gundam Wing, Jubei Chan, Saber Marionette J and more which can be read here.

11-10-00---- Anime Focus Of Local Newscast

A report on the popularity of anime with teenagers was featured last night (November 9th) on the Philadelphia, PA based WTXF FOX 29.

11-10-00---- Avalon Clip

A video clip of Mamoru Oshii's new Sci-Fi Project , Avalon can be viewed at the link.

11-10-00---- Animate Opening Date Tentative

According to the managers of Animate! USA, the dates for their grand opening in December are "tentative" and more concrete dates will be provided once they are available.

11-9-00---- New Kannon Goods

Alchemist will be selling new goods based on NEC Interchannel's Dreamcast title Kanon at Chara Fes 2000 Autumn. The 3 new items include:

A Plastic Wrapped Poster (vol. 2, vol. 3) - 1500 Yen each
A Whisper Card vol. 2 (5 varieties; each with a different character) -1500 Yen each
And an "Air" Plastic Wrapped Poster (vol. 2, vol. 3) - 1500 Yen each

11-9-00---- Audio Exposition 2000 At Big Site

Audiophiles in and out of the corporate world will descend on Tokyo Big Site expo grounds over November 16th - 19th for Audio Exposition 2000. There, representitves from more than 80 companies, will have products on display, showcasing the latest technological achievements in the field.

A few touted items that will headup the "hot" roster will be several entries to the DVD Audio and Super-Audio CD market. BS Digital broadcasters and MP3 Audio player manufatures are also expecting high interest in their products.

11-9-00---- Escaflowne Okinawa Screening

Studio Sunrise's Escaflowne Movie will screen as part of a 50th anniversary commemoration of the Ryuu projection company in Okinawa, Japan over a period of time from Dec. 23 - Jan. 12.

11-9-00---- Pirate Anime FAQ

Joe Curzon of Anime Digital has compiled a Pirate Anime FAQ listing info and contacts around anti-piracy + organizations involved with anime / manga.

11-9-00---- Anime / Manga Gaming

Bandai has announced that they will be releasing a Limited Edition of their upcoming PlayStation 2 robot action game Mobile Suit Gundam on December 21. The Limited Edition will include a specially made crystal clear MS Selection RX-78-2 Gundam figure. The story takes place in the time of 0079, the action stages will take place in a variety of locations, such as town, deserts, and jungles. There will be over 40 minutes of CG movie and remake animation movie sequences throughout the game.

Capcom has confirmed that their highly anticipated PlayStation 2 survival adventure game Onimusha: Warlord is scheduled to release in Japan on January 25, for 7800 yen, in DVD-ROM. A special DVD-ROM The Making of Onimusha will be packaged with the first shipment of the game.

Capcom will release two new Dreamcast titles exclusively at Sega's online store D-Direct, the games are Super Street Fighter IIX for Matching Service and Jojo's Bizarre Adventure: For Matching Service on December 22. If you order SSFIIX, Jojo, Netto de Tennis or Vampire Chronicle online at D-Direct between November 24 to December 15, you will receive the games in Christmas wrappings, plus a free Capcom Christmas Card (only in Japan).

Source: The Magic Box

11-8-00---- KTEH To Broadcast Dirty Pair Flash

San Jose based public broadcaster KTEH will air Dirty Pair Flash #1-#4 Subtitled on Sunday, December 10th from 8:30 - 11:00 pm. The block is part of a pledge drive at the KTEH station.

11-8-00---- Manga Announces U.S. Release Of Street Fighter Zero

Excerpted from the official press release from Manga Entertainment:

MANGA ENTERTAINMENT AND CAPCOM (JAPAN) CO-PRODUCE THE NEXT STAGE IN THE AMAZING STREET FIGHTER SERIES

ON DVD AND VHS - JANUARY 30, 2001

Chicago, IL (November 8, 2000), Manga Entertainment, in association with Capcom Co., LTD., is excited to announce the latest Street Fighter animated movie - Street Fighter 'Alpha' (aka 'Zero', in Japan). Following the successful line of US Street Fighter products including the Sony PlayStation, Sega Saturn, and Nintendo Game Boy SF 'Alpha' video games and Manga's popular Street Fighter IIV VHS series, Street Fighter 'Alpha' will smash into video stores on DVD and VHS (dub and sub formats) on January 30, 2001. This highly anticipated and action-packed martial arts anime feature continues the adventures of the popular Ken, Ryu and Chun Li animated characters while introducing some charismatic new ones based on the game.

In Street Fighter 'Alpha', a black cloud hangs over Ken and Ryu's reunion. Brought together by the mysterious death of their master, the two warriors must overcome a challenge unlike any they've faced before.

Increasingly disturbed by the dark energies building within him, Ryu is unexpectedly confronted with the appearance of Shun - a boy claiming to be the long-lost brother he never knew. Soon, signs of their common lineage are revealed as Shun enters a martial arts competition and manifests the same fearsome Dark Hadou. But before Ryu has the chance to consider whether Shun's timely appearance might be more than coincidental, agents of the insidious Shadowlaw organization kidnap the boy. To recover the child, Ryu must undertake the ultimate journey of self-discovery and learn to control the power threatening to consume him. But with his confidence waning, will he have what it takes to confront Akuma - the vicious lord of the Dark Hadou himself? Find out as allies old and new join forces against a sinister new threat in the pulse-pounding sequel to the phenomenally popular Street Fighter IIV Series.

DVD features include: Audio- English Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound, Japanese Dolby Pro-Logic Surround, Video- Digitally re-mastered 4x3 (full screen version), Languages - In English, Japanese and Japanese with English subtitles. Bonus programs include: Interviews of voice actors and directors, original Japanese movie trailer, "The Making of Street Fighter Alpha" short film, character bios, photo gallery, creative staff journal, Manga DVD catalog, Manga trailers and web links.

Be on the lookout for complete Street Fighter IIV TV series coming out on DVD February 27, 2000.

Street Fighter Alpha
(c) CAPCOM/Polydor K.K./Manga Entertainment
Street date: January 30, 2001 Pre-book Date: December 11, 2000 Running
Time: 90 minutes
DVD: $29.95 UPC:
6-60200-4061-2-7 Order number: MANGA 4061
DUB: $19.95 UPC: 6-60200-4064-3-1 Order number: MANGA 4064
SUB: $24.95 UPC: 6-60200-4061-3-4 Order number: MANGA 4063

11-8-00---- Dragon Quest Card Game News

A card game based on the popular Akira Toriyama / Enix RPG Dragon Quest 7 is being marketed in Japan, a "Booster Pack" to the game goes on sale on Nov. 11 at 1500 Yen.

11-8-00---- Amano's World News

Excerpted from the Amano's World Website Announcement List:

There are a couple new things we wanted to let you know about amanosworld.com.

The first is the addition to the weekly amano section for this week. BATTY is a new character on which Amano is having a lot of fun working. We hope to have some fun things to show you with BATTY in the future. If you like the image of the week, it is also available in several formats for your computer desktop wallpaper in the weekly amano section.

The other news is that the forum is finally up. We look forward to some good conversation about Amano's work and we would appreciate any comments that you have on the site. You can find the forums in the amano's fans section or you can reach them directly at http://www.amanosworld.com/forum/

Thank you,
Amanosworld.com staff

11-7-00---- US-Japan Expo Information

Jesse Mai has submitted the following info on the US-Japan Expo 2000:

US-JAPAN EXPO 2000

The US-Japan Expo 2000 will be held at the LA Convention Center from November 17-19. This year, the cultural exhibition will offer some Special Events along with its traditional demonstrations, arts, crafts, etc.

Bandai will host a Gundam Wing Plaza, where there will be Gundam model kit workshops, a gaming area for the "Side Story 79" and new "Gundam Battle Assault" games, and screenings of Bandai titles! Nintendo will be showcasing Pikachu and the Pikachu car, along with the "Pokemon Gold & Silver" games! Pioneer will also be on hand to assist in the numerous door prizes that will be given out! The Mandarake anime merchandise chain is reported to be attending as well! Plus, the girls of Sailor Jamboree (http://www.sailorjamboree.com/) have promised to attend and are inviting anime fans to show up in costume, too!

In non-anime US-Japan Expo news, look forward to the special appearances by famous Iron Chef Morimoto and the popular band Hiroshima!

Tickets can still be pre-purchased for $6 (at-the-door admission is $8). See the US-Japan Expo 2000 site for more details: http://www.us-japanexpo.com/

11-7-00---- Wicked City Special Site

Urban Vision has setup an official website in commemoration of it's Wicked City SE DVD replete with image gallery, trailer, and synopsis. Users wishing to view the bonus material must find the password, which is only available on the DVD itself.

11-7-00---- A-kon Release

Project A-kon has circulated this release announcment with full details as the currently stand in regards to this year's convention.

11-7-00---- Tokyo International Film Festival Awards

2000 Tokyo International Film Festival Awards Data:

Tokyo Grand Prix - Love's a Bitch - Cash Prize10 million yen
Special Jury Prize - Virgin Stripped Bare by Her Bachelors
Best Director Award - Alejandro Gonzales Inarritu / Love's a Bitch
Best Screenplay Award - Stuart Blumberg / Keeping the Faith
Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role - Jennifer Jason Leigh / The King is Alive
Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role - Moussa Maaskri / Mondialito
Best Artistic Contribution Award - One More Day - Ritual

The Governor of Tokyo Award was also presented to the winners of the Tokyo Grand Prix and that of the Best Director Award.

11-7-00---- Anime / Manga Gaming

A newly formed company called BrezzaSoft Corporation announced the development of the next The King of Fighters arcade title in Japan. Brezza Soft is currently looking for developers for their new project. It seems like this is the new company formed by ex-SNK developers (and perhaps funded by Capcom), and they have acquired the rights of KOF from SNK.

Sega / WOW Entertainment will release a Limited Box version of the Dreamcast anime quiz game Ah! My Goddess in Japan on November 30, for 8800 yen. The Limited Box version will come with a collection of goodies, including specially made stamp set, sitting figures, stickers, cushion and an extra GD-ROM which contains music, TVCM and a preview of the upcoming Ah! My Goddess movie. The Dreamcast port of the game will also feature two extra characters, one new episode, 3 new levels and extra voice samples not found in the arcade original.

Source: The Magic Box

11-7-00---- Bio Hunter Special Edition DVD Release Details

Excerpted from the official press release:

BIO HUNTER SPECIAL EDITION DVD FROM THE DIRECTOR OF WICKED CITY AND NINJA SCROLL!
In Stores January 30, 2001

“A mix of the bizarre, noir… hyper-real, fusing mythical lore with earthly science to tantalize fears of both.” AKADOT.COM

People infected with a genetic code-altering virus, known as the Demon Virus, suffer horrific physical and mental changes, rendering them something more, and less, than human. They become monsters with demonic powers. One monster in particular terrorizes the streets of Tokyo, feasting on the livers of innocent women. A famed psychic holds the secret to the identity and purpose of this monster, and now he is marked for death. The Bio Hunters must get to the psychic and his beautiful daughter before it is too late!

Yoshiaki Kawajiri’s (Ninja Scroll, Wicked City) masterful writing brings Fujihiko Hosono’s popular comic book to life with style and suspense. Two molecular biologists, Komada and Koshigaya, the Bio Hunters, possess a secret weapon Komada, infected with the virus, has the remarkable ability to control the virus within his body. He can also detect the virus in others, and destroy it. The Bio Hunters must race against time, risking both their lives and Komada’s humanity, to stop the “Demon Virus” from taking over the city. Bio Hunter is a complex adventure, filled with plot twists and pulse-pounding action.

Special Features include:
· Digitally Remastered in 5.1!
· UV Trailers!
· UV Website Info!
· Dual Language Options for English and Japanese!
· Original Storyboard Images!

Based On The Comic By: Fujihiko Hosono (“Comic Burger” SCHOLAR)
Directed By: Yuzo Sato
Supervisor/Writer: Yoshiaki Kawajiri
Produced By: Mataichiro Yamamoto, Masao Maruyama and Naoko Takahashi

Genre: Horror/Thriller
Not rated; contains violence, nudity, sexual situations. Suggested for mature audiences. TRT: approximately 60 minutes
©1995 FUJIHIKO HOSONO/COMIC BURGER/TOEI VIDEO/GOODHILL VISION/BMG JAPAN All rights reserved.

11-6-00---- A-Kon 12 Announced

America's oldest Anime convention, Project A-kon, has announced details around it's 12th annual event. The con will take place in two hotels, the Westin Park Central and the Sheraton Park Central in Dallas, Texas - June 1-3, 2001. Guests are expected to be announced shortly.

11-6-00---- Gundam Toy News

3 Deluxe figures with more accesories of Altron, Death Scythe Hell and Wing Zero can currently be found on retailer shelves in the U.S. In a somewhat unexpected move, Bandai America has also released MSIA Death Scythe, Sandrock, Shenlong, Heavy Arms, and Tallgeese figures.

11-6-00---- WOWOW Launches i-Mode Service

BS Digital Broadcaster WOWOW announced the launch of it's i-Mode mobile phone internet contents service "I-WOWOW" on November 6 in Japan. The service is free of charge and offers the broadcasting schedule for the network, soon users will be able to search for a program based on the keyword of a genre, an actor name, or director etc..

11-6-00---- Classic Manga Revisited

Manga published in monthly - weekly boy's magazines in the latter half of the 1940's is being offered online via subscription in Japan by Sanseido Bookstores via their "Retro Cartoon Pavilion" which launched Friday, November 3. Works being offered as part of the weekly service of 30 pages for 200 Yen include Harimao and Kyojin. More works are to be added to the lineup in the future.

11-6-00---- Anime Music News

The Drama CD "Sound Theater - Angel Game Preserve CD drama star Hades chapter 1" created by Kaori Yuki is out December 21 retailing at 2,913 Yen, it includes a scenario booklet and first presses include a illustration seal. Featured on the CD are seiyuu Kenji Nojima, Yuko Miyamura, Hideyuki Tanaka and others. Script is by Hajime Morie and distributuion is by King Records.

11-6-00---- Import Children's Program Stir In The UK

The UK's London Sunday Express newspaper is reporting that British Culture Secretary Chris Smith is expected to demand the UK's TV regulators and watchdogs to cut the number of "trashy cartoons" that makeup the majority of children's programming. It's hoped that these programs would be substituted with more "educational" material. The newspaper quoted a senior government source as mentioneing the policy as being aimed at the "increasing number of cheap American imports, mainly cartoons and frequently involving product placement. The most obvious examples are Transformers, Power Rangers and Pokémon."

11-6-00---- Maison Ikkoku DVD Petition

Scott Melot of The Maison Ikkoku Alliance (MIA) has drawn up a petition with the goal to help convince Viz Video, a subsidiary of Shogakukan Inc., to release Maison Ikkoku onto DVD.

11-6-00---- Animate Store In L.A.

Excerpted from the info release:

The popular anime merchandise store chain from Japan, Animate!, will be opening its first store in North America this December. The location of the store will be in Los Angeles, specifically:

7314 Melrose Avenue
(between La Brea and Fairfax)
Los Angeles, California 90046-7513
323-934-0500

The current plan is to open the store on December 1, but the actual grand opening is scheduled for December 23, just before Christmas. The managers are inviting all anime fans in the area to come support the December 23 grand opening. Enthusiastic cosplayers are especially welcomed to appear.

The Los Angeles Animate! store will represent the second time a famous anime store from Japan has crossed the Pacific to the United States. Mandarake has also opened a North American store in Southern California within the past year or so:

21515 South Western Avenue
Torrance, California 90501
(310) 212-0777
MandarakeLA@aol.com
http://www.mandarakela.com/

Currently, there is no web site or e-mail address available for Animate! USA, but perhaps you can find more information with the phone number provided.

Our anime society acquired this information after being approached by representatives from Pioneer and Animate! this past week. We are currently seeking to contact various anime clubs within Southern California to help promote the store and its grand opening. We also plan to post this information on our homepage within the coming weeks.

Hopefully, you will agree that this piece of news will be noteworthy for your anime news segment.

Sincerely,

Jesse Mai
Information Officer
Cal Animage Eta - UCLA Japanese Animation Club.
http://www.studentgroups.ucla.edu/anime/

11-6-00---- Right Stuf Tylor DVD Correction

Excerpted from a correction notice sent out by The Right Stuf International:

The following item was announced with an incorrect MSRP. Please note the corrected MSRP below. Our apologies for any inconvenience this may cause.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
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The Irresponsible Captain Tylor TV DVD Collection Box Set
Pre-book date: 12/5/00 - Street date: 12/19/00
Approximately 650 minutes, Digitally mastered DVD Hi-Fi Stereo

DVD version:
Catalog#: RSDVD2005
UPC#: 7-42617-20052-6
Suggested Rating: 13+
Genre: Science Fiction / Comedy
SRP: $129.95

Tylor, a man so complacent that he'd give granite a run for its money, has through a unique set of circumstances been given command of a space cruiser in a time of war. With a crew that hates his guts, a command staff who hates his guts, and an enemy who hates his guts you'd think his time alive would suddenly become quite limited. You'd be wrong, too. Tylor is an enigma, and you'll see why as you follow his adventures in this brilliant series!

Collects all 4 DVDs in a value-priced boxed set!

Special DVD features include Multi-Language (English / Spanish / Japanese with English Subtitles)
Chapter Stops
DVD Weblinks
Image Gallery
Other features may also be included, and if so, they will be posted on our Tylor website at http://www.tylor.com
Note: This DVD is in DVD9 (dual layer) format. It will play in any DVD player.

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11-6-00---- Manga Entertainment Press Releases

Excerpted from the officila releases by Manga Entertainment:

Manga Entertainment Is Proud To Present The Film Roger Ebert Calls "...a visually sensational extravaganza..."

For The First Time On DVD - November 28, 2000

Chicago, IL (November 6, 2000), Manga Entertainment's The Wings of Honneamise, one of their first theatrical releases in America in 1994, is universally acknowledged as one of the finest Japanese animated feature films ever produced. With stunning visuals illustrated by more than 3,000 animators at a cost of over eight hundred million Yen (approx. $8 million), Wings set the record as the largest budget ever for a Japanese animated feature film at the time of production.

Manga Entertainment has digitally re-mastered the film with a 16 X 9 Anamorphic Transfer. The audio features Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound in English, Dolby Surround in Japanese, with the language options of English, Japanese and Japanese with English subtitles. Bonus features include: a newly produced Directors Commentary in Japanese with English subtitles, the original Wings of Honneamise promotional short, a new scene previously only available in Japan, the conceptual artwork and storyboards, a scene index, Manga 2000 previews, Manga Video Fan Club Info and a Manga Web Link.

The Wings of Honneamise is a story of love and political intrigue. Described as a cross between ""An Officer and a Gentleman" and "The Right Stuff." Wings combines stunning animation and a striking original soundtrack by Oscar-winner Ryuichi Sakamoto.

In Wings, the protagonist, Shirotsugh (Shiro) Lhadatt, aspires to be a pilot, but his low academic grades land him in the Royal Space Force - a career dead-end. One night, he meets a beautiful woman distributing religious pamphlets and finds himself drawn to her energy and enthusiasm. This young woman, Riquinni, has a profound influence on Shiro, giving him a new sense of faith and fostering his desire to become the first astronaut in the Royal Space Force. As their relationship develops, Shiro transforms from a down-and-out underachiever to a champion against government corruption and ultimately, a national hero.

In Japan, The Wings of Honneamise was awarded several Best Picture awards from important institutions, including the Japanese anime equivalent to the Academy Award. Other awards are: Best Picture, Japan Anime Award, 1987; Best Picture, Sejun Award, voted annually by Japanese sci-fi writers, 1987; Best Picture, Afteriamge Award, voted annually by the editors of Japan's leading anime magazine.

The total running time is 125 minutes with the suggested retail price of $29.95.

Manga Entertainment Presents

On DVD November 28, 2000

"The perfect feature-film for the action-craving anime fan!" - Fan Magazine

Chicago, IL (November 3, 2000), Manga Entertainment, who theatrically released Macross II: The Movie and the VHS home video version, is now releasing the DVD on November 28, 2000. Macross II: The Movie, is the sequel to Macross: Do You Remember Love?, the first feature based on the most revolutionary Japanese animated TV series ever produced, Superdimensional Fortress Macross. The wildly popular intergalactic battle originated in the television series and was further developed in the first Macross feature.

Macross II: The Movie on DVD is digitally re-mastered in full screen, with crew information, mechanical designs, an image gallery, music video, Manga's 2000 previews, fan club info and web link. Both the Japanese and English audio tracks are in Dolby Stereo in English, Japanese, and Japanese with English subtitles.

Rendered in dazzling Japanese animation, Macross II (aka Lover's Again) advances the action-packed story of Earth's battle against the Zentradi, an alien race of giants bred for war. Macross II picks up the narrative of this episodic adventure series eighty years after the events of Do You Remember Love? in an era of relative peace between Earth and the Zentradi. When alien invaders identified as renegade Zentradi threaten the unstable alliance with the unique "Minmay Attack" -- music that saps the strength of their opponents --the Superdimensional Fortress Macross must be resurrected after generations of inactivity to fight against the enemy forces.

Hibiki Kanzaki, an investigative reporter for Scramble News Network (SNN), is caught in the battle when he inadvertently allies himself with Ishtar, an enigmatic Zentradi princess. Enlisting the help of a spirited Valkyrie pilot Silvie Gena, Hibiki rushes to save Ishtar from imminent reprogramming by hostile Zentradi. Silvie and Hibiki must also broadcast the truth about the Zentradi invasion and convince the powerful military complex U.N. Spacey to reactivate the Macross fortress and defend Earth one more time.

Cleverly blending high-tech warfare and an intriguing romance triangle, Macross II is the most exciting chapter yet in this on-going animated series. The running time is 120 minutes with a retail price of $29.95; Order number is 6-60200-40122-1 Sales order are due November 10th.

11-6-00---- Wicked City SE DVD On Sale Tomorrow

Excerpted from e-mail info sent out by Rhona of Urban Vision:

The Wicked City Special Edition DVD goes on sale nationwide tomorrow! As seen on Cinemax, from the director of Ninja Scroll and Goku:Midnight Eye, this ground-breaking title is hitting stores for the first time ever on DVD!

Special Features include:
An Exclusive Interview with the Director, Yoshiaki Kawajiri!
Character Biographies!
Original Theatrical Trailers!
UV Weblink Featuring Bonus Material!
Remastered in 5.1!
Dual Language Options for English and Japanese!

Don't miss out!

11-6-00---- "Yawara-chan" Honored By Prime Minister

As previously reported in September, Japan's Ryoko Tamura defeated Russian champion Lioubov Brouletova in a 36-second women's Judo match to capture a gold medal in the women's 48-kilogram category at the Olympic games in Sydney, Australia. Nicknamed "Yawara-chan", Tamura was twice denied the gold medal in previous year's Olympic games in Barcelona and Atlanta.

On Monday In Japan, Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori honored Tamura with an official commendation in a ceremony held at his official residence where the 25 year-old judoka was presented with a certificate and a plaque. Tamura mentioned after the ceremony that she was proud to have received the commendation by Mori who is a fan of sports. She also made the comment that at next year's Judo world championships, she hopes to achieve her fifth successive victory.

Tamura was nicknamed "Yawara-chan" after the popular manga series about a young female judo champ following her first victory as a 15-year-old high school girl, she attributes the name to her styling of a ribbon in her hair, and the fact that she had won a gold medal, just like the Yawara manga character. A journalist covering her first win wrote that her victory was like a story out of a comic book.

11-6-00---- Uri Geller Sues Nintendo Over Pokemon Character - Update

As reported several months ago, Israeli born intuitive Uri Geller is suing Pocket Monster creators Nintendo Co. Ltd over debasing his name by creating a character for the series named Yun Geller. The character holds a spoon and employs psychic powers that are used to induce headaches in victims. Geller filed a lawsuit against Nintendo of America for hundreds of millions of dollars on Wednesday in the U.S. District Court in Los Angeles.

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