16-31 JULY 2002 NEWS

30 July 2002

• Yay, I managed to update this site on two consecutive days for the first time in a long while ^_^ Not much news, though ^_^;;
   
• One alternative for English translated manga may be the Singaporean company Chuang Yi Publishing. For example, Chuang Yi is up to volume 7 of Slam Dunk and volume 6 of Love Hina. I understand that these versions are licensed. I've also heard that some Singaporean versions of manga may not have perfect English spelling or grammar, although I don't know whether that was in relation to Chuang Yi's releases or perhaps some other company's.
   
• A trailer for the Pia Carrot e Youkoso!! movie, to be released in September 2002, can now be downloaded from the official website. Source: infoanime.com.
   
• The Emotion 20 Shuunen Kinen Theme Collection TV Hen two CD set is now available for pre-order at CD Japan and will contain 35 songs from various Emotion shows. Mangazoo states that the limited edition first pressing of the CD (different catalogue number) will come with a third bonus 8cm CD containing TV size versions of 14 of the songs. Source: infoanime.com.

29 July 2002

• The DTS version of Akira is now available for pre-order at CD Japan. Looks like it'll be a limited edition item as well.
   
• For the Gundam otaku, the Gundam Emblem Collection will be released by Kodansha on 28 August 2002, price 2,000 yen (excluding tax). This 64 page all-colour book will contain 223 emblems and markings from the Gundam series and will come with a 7 colour original Slegger Lau emblem, all in a video casette case. ISBN: 4063580075.
   
• Enix's website for its manga magazine G Fantasy has TV commercials for the Silent Mobius Tales manga available for download. For more details on the manga, see my 18 April 2002 entry. Source: Moonphase.
   
• The official website for the Beyblade movie Bakuten Shoot Beyblade 2002 Takao vs Daichi is now up. The movie's season commences on 17 August 2002. Source: TA Group BBS. A trailer will be available for download in due course.

27 July 2002

• On 17 and 22 May 2002, I wrote about the three DVD box sets for the Azumanga Daioh TV series. Now it looks like there'll be a release of the individual DVDs as well:
  Volume 1, release date 2 October 2002, price 6,825 yen (including tax)
  Volume 2, release date 6 November 2002, price 6,825 yen (including tax)
  Volume 3, release date 4 December 2002, price 5,775 yen (including tax)
  Volume 4, release date 8 January 2003, price 5,775 yen (including tax)
  Volume 5, release date 5 February 2003, price 5,775 yen (including tax)
  Volume 6, release date 5 March 2003, price 5,775 yen (including tax)
  Source: Animate Yokohama.
   
• Similarly with the release of Rikujyou Bouei Tai Mao-chan (Ground Defense Force Mao-chan). There'll be individual volumes on sale, as well as three limited edition box sets as well. The first box set, also called the Mao-chan Pack, will be released on 23 October 2002, contain 9 episodes and come with a mousepad, alarm clock, booklet and cardboard figures. Details for the other box sets and volumes:
  Volume 1, release date 23 October 2002, price 5,040 yen (including tax)
  Volume 2, release date 22 November 2002, price 4,410 yen (including tax)
  DVD Box 2 (Misora-chan Pack), release date 25 December 2002, price 13,440 yen (including tax)
  Volume 3, release date 25 December 2002, price 5,040 yen (including tax)
  Volume 4, release date 22 January 2003, price 4,410 yen (including tax)
  DVD Box 3 (Shirubii-chan Pack), release date 26 February 2003, price 13,440 yen (including tax)
  Volume 5, release date 26 February 2003, price 4,410 yen (including tax)
  Volume 6, release at the end of March 2003, price 4,410 yen (including tax)
  Source: Animate Yokohama.
   
• Volume 1 of the TV anime series Samurai Deeper Kyo will be released on 23 October 2002 too. Each volume will cost 4,179 yen (including tax). The later volumes' release dates are:
  Volume 2 - 22 November 2002
  Volume 3 - 25 December 2002
  Volume 4 - 22 January 2003
  Volume 5 - 26 February 2003
  Volume 6 - end of March 2003
  Volume 7 - end of April 2003
  Volume 8 - end of May 2003
  Volume 9 - end of June 2003
  Source: Animate Yokohama.
   
• Volume 2 of TV anime series Asagiri no Miko will be released on 6 November 2002, price 5,250 yen (including tax). The first pressing will come with a box. Later volumes will cost the same and will be released as follows:
  Volume 3 - 4 December 2002
  Volume 4 - 8 January 2003
  Volume 5 - 5 February 2003
  Volume 6 - 5 March 2003
  Source: Animate Yokohama.
   
• The Gundam Fix Box is listed at Mangaoh as having its release put back from 2 August 2002 to 26 August 2002. For more information on this item, see my 9 April 2002 entry.
   
• For those who purchased the Fushigi no Umi no Nadia Collector's Disc CD-ROM, released on 19 July 2002, one of the wallpapers was omitted from the disc. You can download it from GAiNAX's support page here. For more on the CD-ROM, see my 17 and 18 June 2002 entries.
   
• Fans of the TV series Tokyo Mew Mew may be happy to learn that you can now watch it on the internet via free streaming download at OCN Broadband Media. You'll need to register with OCN, but registration is free (though the page is in Japanese). Only episode 1 is up at the moment. Unfortuntely my connection isn't fast enough to get more than sound... ;_; Source: Tentative Name.
   
• Pioneer's website for the upcoming TV anime Haibane Renmei, is now up. Source: infoanime.com.
   
• Sponichi Annex reports that Buena Vista Entertainment is advising retailers that the image quality and colour tone of the Sen to Chihiro no Kamikakushi DVD cannot be guaranteed if it is played on personal computers or through an AV selector (whatever that is ^_^;; ). The Buena Vista recommends that the DVD be played on dedicated DVD players. Source: Ma-ten.
   
• Mangaoh states that issue 1 of Media Work's Dengeki AniMaga animation magazine will be published on 10 August 2002, at a price of 980 yen. Included will be a Pitaten mousepad.
   
• More details are now available for the Vandread Gekitou Hen DVD to be released on 25 October 2002. It'll be approximately 85 minutes long. Details:
  Limited edition version-
  Price 8,500 yen (excluding tax)
  Comes with and Vandread vocal collection album (11 songs, being 8 songs from the two series and Taidou Hen, vocal and karaoke versions of the main theme for Gekitou Hen and finally a piano version of the main theme from the second series), 170 page full colour Vandread Art Collection, reversible DVD jacket, box, three trading cards and liner notes.
  Regular edition-
  Price 6,800 yen (excluding tax)
  Comes with liner notes.
  Source: Moonphase.
   
• A limited edition version of volume 1 of the manga Kidou Senshi Gundam Wakaki Suisei no Shouzou (by Kitazume Hiroyuki and serialised in Kadokawa Shoten's Gundam Ace magazine) will be released on 19 November 2002. It'll come with a figure of Haman Karn. Price 1,300 yen (excluding tax). Pre-order deadline is 23 August 2002. Source: Ma-ten.

25 July 2002

• Sorry, been sleeping a lot ^_^;;
   
• Thanks to Aurealis of the AoD forums for providing a bit of confirmation of the news regarding the DTS version of Akira to be released on 25 November 2002 ^_^/
   
• Yay! My package from Mangaoh Club arrived, including the concluding volume 4 of R.O.D (the manga) and volume 8 of Tenjou Tenge ^_^ The story needs more of Maya at this point ^_- BTW, in the yon-koma section at the end of the TenTen tankouban, there's reference to (and small photos of) an upcoming Natsume Maya "official figure" by Miyagawa Takeshi ^_^ Looks different from the Maya and Aya statues in the May 2002 issue of Previews (thanks to k_sempai for pointing out the latter info to me). More recently, Miyagawa has produced a number of Card Captor Sakura and Chobits figures.
   
• I also managed to snap up sale copies of the Shin KOR Madoka's Piano Files Image Mini Album CD and Golden Boy OST CD, both of which I've been looking for for years ^_^
   
• Thanks to everyone who visits this page, there've now been about 7,000 requests for this page since I started counting. I love youse all (yes, even the dub-watchers) ^_^/ Well, maybe not those who don't give a satisfactory answer to this psychological test, which is doing the rounds on email. The number of visitors is relatively small, I guess (I don't know this kind of stuff), but I kinda prefer keeping it a cosy little site - keeps the ISP bills away ^_^
   
• Something I've never gotten around to doing is properly giving credit for the sources of my news (the Japanese fan news pages I visit). I should've done this a long time ago, particularly since one of my favourite shows on Australian TV is Mediawatch, which scrutinises media reporting standards in Australia, but in an entertaining manner. Sounds like a fun show, huh? ^_- (You can watch it on the net, or just read the articles, just go to the link above). However, while I've been meaning to give proper credit, I always saw my site as just a little patch of virtual real estate on the farthest reaches of the internet. Anyway, from today, I hope to cite my sources much more comprehensively. Sorry I didn't do this earlier. Please don't hate me  m(_ _)m
   
• Sorry for all the editorial stuff today. On to the news... chapters 1 and 2 of story 2 of the "3D sound novel" Kamakur@ Love are now up. Chapters 3 and 4 are scheduled to go on line on 9 August 2002. For more info, see my entry on 31 May 2002.
   
• The September 2002 issue of Megami magazine (volume 28, to be released 30 July 2002) will have an article on Urushihara Satoshi's upcoming anime Front Innocent. But as noted on 14 June 2002, this will be an adult anime.
   
• Chara-Ani.com lists the Anime Data Collection volumes 2 and 3 as coming out on 2 August 2002, price 10,200 yen each (excluding tax). These software packages will contain episodes 2 and 3 of the Takada Akemi OVA Mahou Shoujo Mai. For more info, see my 25 and 27 June 2002 entries.
   
• E.goo reports that the Bomberman Jetters TV anime series will commence broadcast in October 2002. Prior to that, the Bomberman Jetters manga will commence serialisation in the September issue of Shogakukan's Monthly Korokoro Comic.
   
• Nifty Animation Online reports that those who purchase first pressings of all six volumes of the TV anime series Oh Dorobou Jing (King of Bandit Jing) can apply for a box to hold all the DVDs. Then again, Animate Yokohama suggests that the bonus item is some kind of binder... Volumes 1 and 2 go on sale on 7 August 2002.
   
• The webpage for the Chobits CD-ROM Chobits Digital FanBox is now up. The CD-ROM, for Windows 95/98/Me/2000/XP, will include character voice data, character profiles, storyboards, design illustrations, movie clips of noted scenes and desktop accessories such as wallpapers, clock, mouse pointer, and screensaver. On sale 6 November 2002, price 5,800 yen (excluding tax). The first pressing will come with bonus items including picture label disc, promotion card, PC emblem sticker set and mousepad. Source: Moonphase.
   
• Don't know if this was reported at Anime Expo 2002, but Abe (serial experiments lain) Yoshitoshi mentions on his Japanese website that his TV anime series Haibane Renmei will commence broadcast this (northern) autumn. Source: Moonphase. Some of the pics in Abe's CG library seem to be related, such as these: 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5.
   
• Two preview Flash movies for the manga Pilgrim Jäger (by Ubukata Tou and Itou Mami and serialised in Young King Ours manga mangazine) can be viewed at the official website for the manga. Source: Moonphase. Set in 16th century Renaissance Italy, Adele and Karin are two female entertainers with special abilities in this dark action fantasy manga.

23 July 2002

• A preview for the OVA series Futari Ecchi (volume one of which will be released in three days time), can be downloaded here.
   
• Doraemon World has announced that a 24th Doraemon movie will be produced. Released is scheduled for the (northern) spring of 2003. The theme of this movie will be the wind. Doraemon and friends visit the Village of Wind.
   
• Another Nikkei Net report states that the Ghost in the Shell TV series will have a new story by Shirow Masamune and will be 26 episodes in length.
   
• With the current fan dissatisfaction with the red tint in the Sen to Chihiro no Kamikakushi DVD, here's another report, this time by Mainichi Interactive, which also suggests that the red tint is intentional, and further that Ghibli currently has no plans to change the colour tone and re-release the DVD.
   
• Apparently a low-priced, 2 disc DTS version of Akira will be released by Pioneer on 25 November 2002. Price will be 3,800 yen.
   
• For fans of mangaka Shinohara Chie, a limited edition Sora wa Akai Kawa no Hitori Special Box will be released by Shogakukan in mid-February 2003. The item will include an art collection, a drama CD, a set of playing cards bearing illustrations of characters from the manga, Aslan soft-toy, Kail's choker and perfume bottle. Price will be 12,000 yen (excluding tax).
   
• Yomiuri Online reports that Kubo Masahiko, former sub-editor of Kodansha's Shonen Magazine, was today found guilty of the charge of possession of cannibis and sentenced by the Nagoya District Court. Judge Tezuka Minori sentenced Kubo (36) to one year's prison, with a three year stay of execution. The prosecution had sought a one year's imprisonment. For more on the case, see my 29 June 2002 and 21 May 2002 entries.
   
• Kahoku Online Network reports that police today charged Izumitani Munenobu (36) with theft of Sailor Moon animation cels. The unemployed Izumitani is said to have sworn an affidavit to the effect that he liked anime but stole the cels to pay his living expenses. Izumitani is alleged to have broken the window of a Toei warehouse in Nerima to gain entry and to have stolen approximately ten cels with a value of 4,500,000 yen. Police also investigating another approximately 70 cels of works including Dragonball and Candy Candy which are missing.

21 July 2002

• The upcoming TV anime series Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex, will commence broadcast in October 2002. Nikkei Net reports that this series will cost 800 million yen, about twice the cost of a standard TV anime series. Three subsidiaries of Bandai are financing this series: Bandai Visual, Bandai Entertainment (California) and Dentsu. Oh, and music will be by Kanno Yoko.
   
• AkibaTV.com currently has a short 4 minute video article on adult yaoi/"boy's love" games for girls. The software producer featured in the article is Black "H" Box and their game EXodus. There's a small trial version of EXodus available from the company's website, but don't expect to see anything ecchi in the trial version.
   
• The two CLAMP illustration books CLAMP no E Shigoto North Side and CLAMP no E Shigoto South Side will be released on 21 and 22 August 2002 respectively. The former will be published by Kodansha, cost approximately 2,000-2,100 yen (excluding tax) and include art from Clover and Magic Knights Rayearth among other titles. The latter will bepublished by Kadokawa Shoten, cost 2,500 yen (excluding tax) and include art from Clamp School Detectives, Wish and Fushigi no Kuni no Miyuki-chan among other titles. For more information on the books, see CLAMP's miscellanous topics page.
   
• Nippon Animation has announced that it will be releasing a Rascal movie. In 1977, Nippon Animation also made a 52 episode TV anime series Araiguma Rascal, based upon the 1963 novel Rascal: A Memoir of a Better Era by US author Sterling North. Those watching Neko no Ongaeshi at the cinemas this (northern) summer may see a trailer for the Rascal movie.

19 July 2002

• Venture Soft has announced that production of the TV series Great Galaxy Series ~ Great Yamato Arc ~ 7 vs 7 (provisional title) is underway. This is different from the New Space Battleship Yamato manga which is serialised in Shogakukan's Comic Gotta magazine and features original story and designs by Matsumoto Leiji. Nor is production of the New Space Battleship Yamato anime yet underway. The 52 episode Great Galaxy Series will use a fusion of CG techniques and animation techniques and one of its themes will be the growth of the young crew of the Great Yamato, including main character Oki. The year is 3199 and the Milky Way galaxy is engaged in an unprecedented war with the Metanoids. Against the onslaught of the Metanoids, the Great Yamato is called into action.
   
• The Vandread Gekitou Hen episode is to be broadcast on Sky Perfect TV's pay per view service between 14 and 30 September 2002 prior to the DVD release on 25 October 2002.
   
• The official homepage for the upcoming Pia Carrot movie is now up here. The title of the movie has been slightly altered to "Pia Carrot e Youkoso!! ~Sayaka no Koi Monogatari~" (Sayaka's Love Story). Based on the computer game series, this movie will feature a new character and new story and is planned for release in September 2002.
   
• More details are out for the upcoming Macross Zero OVA release. Details for volume 1:
  To be released 25 October 2002
  Catalogue number BCBA-1332
  Price 5,000 yen
  Approximately 30 minutes, Dolby Digital sound (5.1 and stereo), single layer, 16:9 anamorphic aspect ratio
  Billed as a movie quality OVA, eight years have passed since war broke out after the famous alien spaceship crashed on Earth in 1999. In those years, veteran pilots have fallen one by one and now teenagers take to the battlefield. Young UN F-14 pilot Kudo Shin crash lands on a deserted island in the South Pacific. However, an unusual energy reading is detected on the island and soon UN and anti-UN forces are fighting for control of the island, thought to hold the legacy of technology (Protoculture) bought by the aliens to Earth in ancient times. Kudo was not to know that this was the start of important event that was to be erased from the annals of history...
  This Bandai page currently has a few pics in the second box from the left.
   
• Yeah, so it's another late update. So sue me.
   
• Yomiko-san, nude desu yo! Zakzak reports that Miura Rieko's photobook Hugs is to be published today. In it, the 28 year old Miura, former member of the group Coco, appears nude for the first time. Miura Reiko is also the seiyuu for Yomiko Readman in R.O.D. In the 160 page book, about 10% of the photos are of nudes. The photos were shot in Amsterdam, known for its "window brothels". Miura had a publicised divorce with rock singer Diamond Yukai last November and also suffered the death of her father this year.
   
• Yay, my order with Mangaoh has shipped, including the August 2002 issue of Ultrajump ^_^ The September 2002 issue of the magazine will come with a Puchimon leisure bag. Puchimon is a manga by Nanase Aoi serialised in monthly Ultrajump. The bag will be illustrated by Nanase.
   
• Nikkei.Net reports that Buena Vista has shipped over 5.5 million copies of Sen to Chihiro no Kamikakushi (3 million DVDs and 2.5 million VHS tapes), making it the highest ever selling movie in Japan. It's already beaten the previous record set by Titanic, which sold over 5 million copies.
   
• JVC's website for Witch Hunter Robin, the TV anime series that recently commenced broadcast, is now up. Not much to hear or do yet, though.
   
• DVD volumes 1 and 2 for the TV series Ojarumaru will be released on 21 September 2002 for 3,500 yen each (catalogue numbers CRBD-2020 and CRBD-2021 respectively). Ojarumaru is the child of an aristocrat in the Heian period of Japan, who timeslips 1,000 years into the present age. Director for the series was Daichi Akitaro and seiyuu include Kotono Mitsuishi.
   
• ZDNet Japan reports that Sega yesterday held a private viewing for media of its on-demand movie/music clip/anime distribution service Cinepolis. Like karaoke rooms, people will be able to hire out the room with sofas and television and then select the show they wish to view. Room charges and equipment vary with the locations. The pics in the report are of the sofa and plasma television at the Ikebukuro location, I presume. The service is being trialled in a few locations until November 2002. Sega is hoping to later establish a Cinepolis corner at its game centres etc.
   
• Shueisha has announced that it will be stopping publication of its magazine Manga Allman with the 17 July 2002 issue to restructure its seinen manga interests. Some of the manga serialised in that magazine will be transferred to other manga magazines in the Shueisha stable, such as Business Jump, Super Jump and Ultrajump.
   
• ZDNet Japan reports that, riding on the success of One Piece, Toei Animation has opened a One Piece character goods specialty shop. Certain One Piece goods will be available only at the store. The store will be moved to various locations and will only be open for a limited time at each location. Pics in the report are of the store when it was open at the Ikebukuro branch of Animate between April and June.
   
• That's all for today. More news tomorrow if I've got the time...

16 July 2002

• An Onegai Teacher Music Clip DVD will be released on 25 November 2002, price 3,800 yen (excluding tax). I don't have any more details at present, though.
   
• Volume 1 of G-on Riders, which just commenced broadcast, will be released on 9 October 2002, 60 minutes, price 5,000 yen (excluding tax). The first pressing will come with a box.
   
• First pressing of the Vandread Gekitou Hen DVD, to be released on 25 October 2002, will include a vocal collection CD among the five bonus items. The DVD itself will be 90 minutes long. For further details, see my 10 July 2002 entry.
   
• Volume 1 of Asagiri no Miko, which recently began broadcast, will be released on 2 October 2002. At a price of 2,800 yen (excluding tax), I expect the DVD will only contain one episode. Volume 1 of Dragon Drive, which has only commenced broadcast a few weeks ago, will be released on 25 October 2002, price 5,000 yen (excluding tax). Finally, volumes 1 and 2 of Full Moon o Sagashite will both be released on 21 December 2002, price 3,800 yen each.
   
• The official website for the second Inu Yasha movie Kagami no Naka no Mugenjo now has three trailers available for download.
   
• Yahoo! Japan reports that Judge Takahashi Hiroshi of the Kanazawa District Court today sentenced 29 year old construction worker Kumamoto Ikuo to 18 months' imprisonment (as sought by the prosecution) with a three year stay of execution. Kumamoto had been charged with accidental homicide for leaving his 19 month old (eldest) daughter in his car while pursuing his passion for reading manga in a manga cafe. His daughter ultimately died from heat stroke.

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