1-15 JUNE 2002 NEWS
15 June 2002
- The official TV Tokyo website
for Dragon Drive, the TV anime
series to commence broadcast in July 2002, is now
up. A preview movie will be available for
download in due course.
- Matsumoto Leiji's 113 episode Ginga
Tetsudo 999 (Galaxy Express 999) TV series will
be released on DVD in 6 parts commencing
19 September 2002:
Ginga Tetsudo 999 Complete DVD box 1 Eien e
no Tabidachi (Departure to Eternity), to be
released 19 September 2002, price 20,790 yen (including
tax), first pressing comes with mother's keepsake
pendant
Ginga Tetsudo 999 Complete DVD box 2 Shinku
no Onna Kaizoku (Crimson Female Pirates), to
be released November 2002, price 26,040 yen (including
tax), first pressing comes with 999 train pin
badge
Ginga Tetsudo 999 Complete DVD box 3 Warukure
no Majo (Valkyrie Witch), to be released
January 2003, price 26,040 yen (including tax),
first pressing comes with 999 train pin badge
Ginga Tetsudo 999 Complete DVD box 4 999 no
Hanran (999 Rebellion), to be released March
2003, price 26,040 yen (including tax), first
pressing comes with the Conductor's hat pin badge
Ginga Tetsudo 999 Complete DVD box 5 Jikan
Shiro no Kaizoku (Pirates of the Time Castle),
to be released May 2003, price 26,040 yen (including
tax), first pressing comes with Doctor Ban
pendant
Ginga Tetsudo 999 Complete DVD box 6 Mugen e
no Tabidachi (Departure to Infinity), to be
released July 2003, price 26,040 yen (including
tax), first pressing comes with special disc (presumably
a DVD?)
14 June 2002
- I hate computer crashes >_<
- The first pressing of volume 1 of Tenshi
na Konamaiki will come with a mousepad.
Details:
Catalogue number SDV-2661
To be released 21 August 2002
Price 3,000 yen (excluding tax)
Contains two episodes.
- Volume 1 of Tokyo Mew Mew will
be released on 21 August 2002. Apparently it'll
be 150 minutes long - will that mean 6 episodes?
Price 4,800 yen (excluding tax).
- Also to be released on that day will be volume 1
of the new Captain Tsubasa TV series, Captain
Tsubasa ~ Road to Sky ~. Catalogue
number AVBA-14445, price 4,500 yen (excluding tax).
- A two episode OVA version of Mizuiro,
the Dreamcast school love simulation game is to
be released. Volume 1 will be released on 23
August 2002. Price 5,800 yen (excluding tax).
- 25 August 2002 sees the release of the Sakura
Tsuushin (Sakura Diaries) OVA Complete DVD
Collection. Price 22,800 yen (excluding
tax). 270 minutes, containing all 12 episodes and
unreleased scenes. I don't know much about this
series, but could the "unreleased"
scenes refer to the LD version of the anime, or
are there additional scenes which didn't appear
in the LD version either...?
- Volume 1 of Kinnikuman II Sei (Kinnikuman
Second Generation) will be released on 21
September 2002, price 5,800 yen (excluding tax),
95 minutes.
- The Galaxy Express 999 movie DVD box set is now
out of print. But each of the three movies Ginga
Tetsudo 999 (Galaxy Express 999) (128
minutes), Sayonara Ginga Tetsudo 999 ~
Andromeda Shukakueki ~ (Adieu Galaxy
Express 999 ~ Terminus Andromeda) (130 minutes)
and Ginga Tetsudo Eternal Fantasy
(55 minutes) will be released separated on 21
October 2002, price 4,500 yen (excluding tax).
- Just a reminder that episode or "log" 1
of the Blame! web anime is now
available for download (24Mb) from the official site.
However, you need to register and there's a
suggestion that only the first episode is free (to
commemorate the opening of the site). In
addition, you'll have to use the Get Media Player
(or if you already have Get Media, you'll need to
install the Blame! link).
- It's not particularly new news, but the Earth Work
website, of which Urushihara Satoshi is one of
the three members, reports that one of
Urushihara's current projects is Front
Innocent, an adult anime in which Urushihara will
make his directorial debut. Production
is underway but is currently in the storyboarding
stage.
- Idea Factory is working on a Playstation 2
adventure/simulation game Gakuen
Toshi Vara Noir ~ Kingdom of Chaos the Universe ~
(University Town Vara Noir), to be released in
the (northern) summer. Looks like an anime
version is being planned as well.
12 June 2002
- I hate power surges >_<
- GAiNAX has announced
that work is underway on Shin Seiki
Evangelion Koutetsu no Girlfriend 2nd (Neon
Genesis Evangelion Girlfriend of Steel 2nd). This
will be an adventure game for Windows XP/ME/98.
Storyline could be based on the "alternate
universe" sequence of the final TV episode
of the anime, where Shinji and Asuka are
childhood friends and Rei's a new transfer
student.
- The Happy Lesson page
has updated with further details of the bonus
goods included with the TV series DVDs (including
pictures of the figures). Volume 6 will contain
episode 11 and a previously un-broadcast episode.
In addition to the box and extra items included
with the deluxe edition of volume 1, each DVD
volume (to be released approximately one month
apart) will come with a character CD and postcard.
The deluxe edition of each volume will have the
character CD and postcard but will also include a
figure and trading card. The final volume 7 (both
regular and deluxe editions) won't have a
character CD but what will be included in its
place has yet to be revealed. In addition, those
who purchase a complete set of the deluxe edition
DVDs will be able to apply for a set of
five items: figure of Kanna, special DVD (with 3
minute chibi character anime and seiyuu secret
video), group photo of the seiyuu, animation cel
of the TV anime series (an in-between cel, not a
key cel - and applicants will not be able to
choose their cel) and a trading card (Nakagawa
Akiko cosplaying as Kanna). Applications must be
postmarked by the end of April 2003 and I presume
there will be a fee involved as well. For more
details, particularly regarding volume 1, see my
26 May 2002 entry.
- Here's a news report on Miyazaki Hayao and Sen
to Chihiro no Kamikakushi, particularly
in relation to the awarding of the Golden Bear in
Berlin. Clips from the movie are shown. As
before, you probably need Javascript or something
enabled, and thanks again to my friend Yankumi
for encoding the clip ^_^ Just click on the words
below:
Watch my Video
11 June 2002
10 June 2002
- Late update - fell asleep.
- This month's (July) issue of Animedia
magazine comes with a Rave mousepad (among
other things).
- The official website for the Overman
King Gainer TV anime series is now
up. Not much to see, though. Similarly, the
official website for Yokohama
Kaidashi Kikou (Yokohama Shopping
Travelogue) is also up.
- A different sort of web-anime. Blood
Sucker is an anime by Tatsubon, created
using animated gifs. Check it
out here.
9 June 2002
- Been busy again recently. Thankfully there
hasn't been that much news recently either ^_^
- Volume 8 of the manga Tenjou Tenge is due
out on 19 July 2002 (price 530 yen
including tax). The R.O.D manga volumes in the
past have come out within about a month of the
Tenjou Tenge tankouban, so volume 4 of R.O.D will
probably be released in August 2002.
- A 15th anniversary book will be released
by Production IG. Titled "Kiseki
(Locus) Production IG 1988-2002", it'll
contain production stills, design works,
illustrations, various data, discussions between
staff (including Oshii Mamoru and Ishikawa
Mitsuhisa) and staff interviews. Details:
To be released 25 September 2002
ISBN 4-04-853517-X
Price 3,500 yen
Published by Kadokawa Shoten
- The TV anime series Fortune
Dogs is to commence
broadcast on TV Tokyo on 4 July 2002 (and
on AT-X
on 8 July 2002).
- The TA Group fansite reports
that the Oobari Masami TV anime series
Chojushin Gravion is set to air in the (northern)
autumn. The animation of this series was
first reported in 1999 and Oobari's 1999 website
for the show can be found here.
- TA
Group also questions whether the upcoming TV
anime series Boukensha (The Adventurer), to
commence broadcast in the (northern) autumn,
may not be the 1992 work Christopher Columbus. It
seems a picture of the show in an anime magazine
credited copyright to "Nippon Animation Co
Ltd 1992". Looking at Nippon
Animation's product list, item no. 75 "Christopher
Columbus", a 26 episode series in Heisei 4 (1992),
has no listed air date and no broadcasting TV
network.
- On 29 May 2002, Anime
News Service reported about Matsumoto
Leiji (as Tochiro) appearing with
Kimura Takuya (as Captain Harlock) on
the variety show SMAP x SMAP. For those
who are interested, after learning a bit more
about movie clips, I've finally uploaded the
clips for the two episodes. I don't know much
about computers, so I hope the following links
will work. Please don't distribute the clips. Again,
many thanks to my friend Yankumi for encoding the
clips for me - I really appreciate it
m(_ _)m
The first set of links may give a better picture,
but if you have any trouble viewing the picture,
try the second set of links. Oh yeah, you may
need Javascript or something activated on your
computer (I think). Fingers crossed...
Click these words
for episode 1
Click these words
for episode 2
Click these words
for episode one
Click these words
for episode two
Kimura Takuya is a very popular idol singer,
actor and entertainer. As a singer, he's a member
of the very popular J-pop group SMAP. Anime fans
may recall that SMAP performed the opening and
ending songs to Hime-chan no Ribbon (and made an
animated appearance in the show). Episode 30 of
Kodomo no Omocha (Child's Toy) also featured a
"Kimuchi Takuya" and "SNYAP".
As an actor, Kimura played the lead role in the
hit dorama Long Vacation - readers of the GTO
manga will note references to that live-action
series (IIRC, in volume 1 of the manga, Onizuka
tries to impress a girl by telling her he wrote
the screenplay for Long Vacation).
6 June 2002
- Sorry for lack of update yesterday. Been too busy.
I shouldn't even be making an update today...
- Received the third and final volume of Chikyu
Misaki (by Iwahara Yuuji) yesterday, yay!
^_^ Also, got the June issue of Ultrajump (published
20 May 2002, with cover by Oh!great). It has the
last chapter of the R.O.D manga.
Looks like next month, a new manga by
Utatane Hiroyuki titled Tengoku ~ Heaven's Prison
~ will commence serialisation in its
place. And got volume 2 of the colourful otomeX
magazine ("the new style 'heroine'
magazine"), with its R.O.D article. No time
really go through any of those books/magazines
yet, though -_-
- Speaking of Ultrajump, KSS has a webpage
up for its yet to be released 3 episode OVA
series Happy World!, based on
the manga serialised in Ultrajump.
- The special July 2002 issue (zoukangou) of manga
magazine Young
King Ours, on sale 12 June 2002,
will come with an Asagiri no Miko
mousepad. A TV anime series of the manga
will be broadcast in Japan later this year. Note
that the mousepad will come with the special July
2002 issue, not the regular July 2002 issue.
- In mid-July 2002, Media Works will be releasing a
Urushihara Satoshi artbook, Growlanser
Character Collection, price 1,600 yen (excluding
tax).
- The yon-koma (4 panel comic) of Animation
Seisaku Shinkou Kuromi (Animation Runner Kuromi)
has been running in the back pages of Animage for
some time now. However, the Yumeta Company
website has now announced
that a manga version of the work
will begin serialisation with the first issue of
new magazine Toramaga by Eichi
Publication, to be published on 29 June 2002.
With the original work by Daichi Akitaro and
Yumeta Company, the manga will be by Watanabe
Hajime, character designer for the OVA. On the
Yumeta page, click on the pic for an enlargement.
- First there was the debable with the AT-X
announcement and then retraction of its Space
Pirate Captain Harlock broadcast. Now
the VAP website for the anime is missing.
Is this a precursor to a site renewal, or is
there a problem with the release?
- On the Weekly Shonen Sunday website, manga author
Kumeta Kouji has anounced in his article
that his manga Katte
ni Kaizou, serialised in that
magazine, is to be animated.
- The commencement of the web anime version
of Blame!,
serialised in monthly manga magazine Afternoon,
has been put back from its
originally announced 7 June 2002 date. No new
date seems to have been set yet.
4 June 2002
- The homepage for Media
Factory is now up, containing mainly
release details for its products. Media Factory
produces anime including RahXephon and Vandread.
A link page for its anime series can be found here.
- Yahoo
Japan reports that yesterday, Gonzo
Digimation announced a new storage system
for full digital animation to decrease workload
and production time after collaboration
with IBM Japan. The Gonzo Digimation Holdings
group is one of the few companies in the industry
which can carry out all the stages of production
in-house, from planning to animation to editing.
However, because many people (up to 50 or 60) may
be employed to create different parts of the
animation, data management is important when it
comes to combining the different sections into
one work. Since the original animation is deleted
as the editing is completed, the storage server
is used as a temporary work area and must be
accessed frequently. A 30 minute TV episode of
digital animation might require 30-50Gb of
storage space, whereas a movie might require 300Gb.
Particularly with upcoming works like Yousei
Sentou Yukikaze, billed as a high quality
production, a huge amount of data would have to
be handled, which called for a new storage system
to be developed. A lot of processing is required,
and it is common for the system to run 24 days a
day in the labour-intensive creation of digital
animation. To meet these requirements, Gonzo is
using IBM's NAS 300G file server, which, with a
capacity of 4.3Tb (terabytes) and ultra high
speed processing, is able to operate 365 days a
year, 24 hours a day. Creative staff can backup
data without stopping work, and even though more
than 50 creators may be working at once, the new
system can remain stable.
3 June 2002
- Today is Foundation Day in Western Australia,
when we celebrate the foundation of the colony in
1829 (and later the State).
- And now for something different. For the first
time, I'm going to try to have a movie clip
available for viewing. I don't know much about
html, as you've probably gathered, so I hope this
works. Anyway, if you click here,
you should see an ad running in Japan which
features snippets of Neko no Ongaeshi.
Hope you enjoy it, but please don't distribute
the clip at this time ^_^ Also, I don't know how
long such a clip will stay up. Depends on the
bill I get from my ISP. I may possibly add other
clips later.
- The upcoming Macross Zero OVA
series will be 5 episodes long, presumably each
episode being 30 minutes in length.
- For those who missed the first pressing limited
edition release of Initial D Third Stage,
it looks like a regular edition will be released
on 21 August 2002. Price 5,800 yen (excluding tax).
- Watase Seizo's work Heart Cocktail Again
is to be made into a TV anime series,
though the episodes will be a short 5 minutes
long. I don't know of a "Heart Cocktail
Again", but Watase's "Heart Cocktail"
romantic manga sold well. As well as being a
manga author, Watase is
an illustrator, and has given exhibitions of his
work, including in the US.
- ZDNet
Japan reports that 19 July 2002 sees the
release of volume 1 of the Tenchi Muyo!
GXP digital accessory collection for Windows.
Over 150 wallpapers featuring scenes from the TV
series will be included. There'll also be
character sound files and design works for
characters and mecha, including some works which
can be rotated 360 degrees. Price will be 5,800
yen. First pressing will come with a "stand
chara pop" (does that mean a "pop-stand"
of a character?)
- Looks like another song collection will be
released for Rurouni Kenshin.
The Complete
CD Box will be released on 18
September 2002, but production will be apparently
limited to preorders only.
2 June 2002 (updated)
- Sorry another late update. Wasn't well today...
Hmm, today's update is on matters legal.
- Don't you hate spam? I don't normally report news
about computer/internet/IT issues, but in what's
being described as a world-first court case in
Western Australia, a marketing company
(The Which Company Pty Ltd, trading as T3Direct)
is suing a man (Joseph McNicol)
for allegedly getting the company listed on an
anti-spam black-list. Here's a link to a
page on the legal
action - as you can see, the litigation has
been mentioned on Yahoo, Slashdot, ZDNet
Australia etc. From those news articles, it
appears that the company alleges that Mr McNicol
sent an unfounded complaint to SPEWS.org (which
publishes a list of IP addresses which are used
for spam) that T3 was sending spam and had thus
"procured, induced, incited, persuaded,
encouraged, organised, facilitated and/or advised"
SPEWS to block T3's IP addresses, causing
disruption to the company's business. Jeremy Malcolm,
the lawyer for the anti-spammer, is a friend of
mine. He's a lawyer, but has been known to watch
the occasional bit of anime, so you know he can't
be all that bad ^_-
- Kahoku
Online Network reports that on 30 May 2002,
the Tokyo District Court awarded 29,500,000 yen
compensation to Mizuki Kyoko against Igarashi
Yumiko and 5 companies for breach of copyright in
the production and sale of Candy Candy
related goods. Candy Candy was a popular shoujo
manga in the late 1970s by Mizuki (story) and
Igarashi (art), and later turned into a TV anime
series. However, Igarashi embarked upon the
venture with the companies without Mizuki's
consent. In making his finding, Judge Mimura
Ryoichi followed the decision of the Supreme
Court in October 2001 in which that court
accepted that Mizuki held the copyright. Damages
were fixed at 3% of total sales by the enterprise.
The dispute between Mizuki and Igarashi has been
in the courts for some years now.
1 June 2002
- Another late update. Nikkei
Net reports that sales of the independent
anime Hoshi no Koe have now [edit:
reached] the 10,000 unit mark. Very impressive
for an anime created by one man (Shinkai Makoto)
on a home personal computer (I think he did
everything except the music and the two female
voices). Further, there were no magazine
advertisements for the release of the DVD, merely
an advance screening in February 2002, publicity
over the internet and some shop posters in the
month prior to release. The first pressing of
DVDs were almost completely sold out on the
release date of 19 April 2002, so another 7,000
units were ordered to be produced. After working
for a game company for five years, Shinkai
resigned his position and shut himself in his
house for seven months to create Hoshi no Koe on
[edit: a G4 Mac] which he purchased two years ago.
Shinkai's next work will be another solo 30
minute work, which he is aiming to complete
within half a year. Of course, there's now a lot
of interest from the Japanese animation industry.
In addition, it's said that a US company is
looking to invest in the work.
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