1-15 AUGUST 2002 NEWS

15 August 2002

  • Sankei Sports reports that the manga Tensai Yanagisawa-kyouju no Seikatsu (The Life of Gifted Professor Yanagisawa) by mangaka Yamashita Kazumi (and serialised in Kodansha's manga magazine Weekly Morning) is to be made into a live-action dorama series on Fuji TV. This dorama about the Professor and his family will commence broadcast on 16 October 2002. In the lead role of the very proper professor will be Matsumoto Koshiro. Source: Aniota.
     
  • Not only is OCN Broadband Media streaming Tokyo Mew Mew over the internet (see my 27 July 2002 entry, though only episode 1 is up at the moment), but now Nifty has also started streaming the same TV anime. Episodes one to four are now available to watch, however you'll need to register with Nifty. Further, the Nifty service will only be free for the month of August; after that there'll be a monthly fee payable. In return for the fee, members will not only be able to view the anime but also have access to wallpapers, screensavers and other items. Or, there are also free trailers available for download on this page on the site. Simply scroll down to the pink box in the middle of the page, select whether you wish to view the promo movie, the trailer for episode two, three or four and click on either the narrow-band or broadband buttons.
     
  • Kyoto Animation has updated its website with details of seven anime in planning. Munto is currently in production. Also in scheduled are Kanpeki! Perfect Half (Flawless! Perfect Half) to be directed by Ishihara Tatsuya, 0 no Ryouiki (Domain of 0) to be directed by Yoneda Mitsuyoshi, Brian Sasha (? - can't make sense out of the katakana ^_^;; ) to be directed by Ikeda Akiko, Alice in the Darkness to be directed by Takemoto Yasuhiro, Teito Tantei Zeo (Imperial Capital Detective Zeo) to be directed by Atani Tomoe and Yuuki Shinsei Garuzeon (Brave Machine New Garuzeon) to be directed by Kitanohara Koushou. Source: Moonphase.
     
  • Today: a special trailer edition of the news ^_^ Firstly, 15 and 30 second ads for the Rurouni Kenshin Seisou Hen Special Edition DVD are now up at Sony's site. None of what is shown seems like new footage, though, dammit >_<
     
  • A trailer is also now up at the Bakuten Shoot Beyblade 2002 Takao vs Daichi movie website. You can download the trailer on this page. The movie will open in two days' time. Source: Moonphase.
     
  • Also, as Anime News Network has mentioned, Bandai's site for the Macross Zero OVA is now up. Click on the ad for the 20th Anniversary Premium Collection DVD towards the bottom right hand corner of the page, and this will open up a new page. Click on the "CM Check!" icon towards the bottom of that page and you'll see a taste of what's to come, as previewed in the Premium Collection DVD ^_^

13 August 2002

  • Sorry, forgot to mention that Bandai's release page has updated with the DVD release of the TV anime series Witch Hunter Robin will commence on 25 November 2002. Volume 1 will be in Dolby Digital Stereo, contain two episodes and cost 5,000 yen (excluding tax). The first pressing will come with an art panel with stand.
     
  • Tired... I need a holiday... -_-
     
  • TV Tokyo's website for the Naruto TV series is now up. Source: Ma-ten. Nothing to see yet, though.
     
  • The official SaiKano site has updated with details of the DVD release:
    Volume 1
    To be released 28 November 2002
    Special edition - catalogue number TBD-3000, price 5,800 yen (excluding tax)
    Regular edition - catalogue number TBD-3001, price 2,800 yen (excluding tax)
    Contains one episode. No details yet what the special edition will contain.
    Volumes 2-5
    To be released monthly thereafter, to contain three episodes each, price 5,800 yen (excluding tax) each.
    Source: Moonphase.
     
  • Sorry, a few corrections to yesterday's news. I need to proof-read my work -_- Main ones are to make it express that Project Gen is working on the English translation of the manga Barefoot Gen and that the TV anime Naruto is set to commence on 3 October 2002, not 2003. I've now made the corrections to yesterday's entries. Sorry for any inconvenience caused m(_ _)m

12 August 2002

  • Looks like Abe Yoshitoshi's new TV anime series Hibane Renmei will commence broadcast in October 2002 and will be 13 episodes in length. Source: TA Group BBS.
     
  • The two and a half minute CG anime Mai may mind! by Tsuji Kyohei is now available for download. Just click on the Mai may mind! graphic. This will start up a 1.1Mb Flash introduction. The menu is the bar with the three black dots on the right. The top dot will describe design and the story characters. The middle dot will discuss production of the anime and the bottom dot will download the main 4.7Mb Quicktime movie. Finally, the musical note at the bottom of the bar will turn music on, while the rest to the [13/8/01 edit: right] of it will turn music off. And the coda symbol will end the program. Source: Moonphase.
     
  • After the broadcast of episodes 1 and 2 of Weißkreuz Gluhen in September 2002, Kids Station has announced that broadcast of the TV series will commence in earnest in November 2002. The announcement page also has pics for three new characters. Source: Moonphase.
     
  • The official website for the CG anime movie Xevious, which commenced its season this month, is now up. Xevious is based on the old 1980s computer game. Source: Moonphase.
     
  • The next manga by Iwahara Yuuji will be Ibara no Ou (King of Thorns?) and will commence serialisation in the October 2002 issue of monthly Comic Beam. You can view initial designs at the top of this page on Iwahara's website. Moonphase.
     
  • 6 August 2002 marked the 57th anniversary of the dropping of the atomic bomb on Hiroshima. Asahi.com reports that Project Gen (formed by Japanese and US volunteers in 1976) is now 80% of the way through the English translation of Hadashi no Gen (Barefoot Gen) manga by Nakazawa Keiji, which tells the story of young boy Nakaoka Gen living in WWII Japan. It is expected that translation will be completed next year, the 30th year since the manga commenced serialisation in Weekly Shonen Jump. By 1976, four of the ten volumes had been translated, however translation was interrupted. Furthermore, some anti-US dialogue was censored out. Source: Aniota.
     
  • The October, November and December 2002 issues of Newtype will come with a DVD each. As a result, the price of those issues will rise by about 100 yen each. Contents of the October issue DVD (on sale 10 September 2002) will be:
    Super Dimension Fortress Macross, episode 1 "Booby Trap"
    Trailer for the upcoming OVA Macross Zero
    Segment in which Kiddy Grade seiyuu check out HDD and DVD
    Segment on the DVD visual database used by Kawamori Shoji in Macross Zero
    Trailers for King Gainer, Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex, Witch Hunter Robin, Heat Guy J, The Big O - Second Season, Dragon Drive
    Chikyuu Bouei Kazoku (Earth Defence Family) DVD promotion
    Sentou Yousei Yukikaze (Battle Fairy Yukikaze) making video
    Trailer for Millennium Actress
    Source: TA Group.
     
  • Looks like rumours of a TV anime version of the manga Naruto have been confirmed by the current issue of Weekly Shonen Jump (combined issues 37 and 38) and it's to commence broadcast on TV Tokyo on 3 October 2002, with production by Studio Perriot. Source: TA Group.
     
  • Just got the CD soundtrack for 12 Kokuki, which comes in a DVD case. One of the leaflets in the case mentions that volume 1 of the DVD is slated for release on 17 October 2002, price 3,800 yen (excluding tax), containing two episodes. But if the series is going to be 39 episodes long, I hope it's not going to be two episodes per volume... ^_^;; Nice soundtrack, BTW.
     
  • Also, after the repeat broadcast of the first story arc, the next part of the 12 Kokuki story will continue broadcast on 3 September 2002. Source: Ma-ten.
     
  • Sunrise has announced that all 13 episodes of the Big O (First Season) will be broadcast starting October 2002, to be followed by the Second Season. A special website for the show will open on 10 September 2002. Source: infoanime.com.
     
  • ZDNet Japan reports that Asmik Ace Entertainment is to release a Lupin III adventure game for the Gamecube in December 2002. Players will take the part of a boy who meets Lupin. All the usual suspects will also make an appearance, with the same voice cast as for the TV anime series. Price has yet to be determined. Source: Ma-ten.

10 August 2002

  • Matsumoto Leiji has lent the space battleship Yamato to an advertising campaign of the car maintenance company Car Convenience Club Co. Ltd. In the "Yamato Vehicle Inspection" commercial, the great space battleship docks for a quick inspection prior to its mission to save the Earth. The official site for the Yamato advertising campaign can be found here, with the commercial on this page. As production of the Great Galaxy Series anime is currently underway by Venture Soft (see my 19 July 2002 entry), the design of the Yamato seen in the advertising campaign will be similar to that of the ship in the anime.
     
  • Chapter 3 of story 2 of Kamakur@ Love is now up. Chapter 4 is now due out on 16 August 2002. For more info, see my entry on 31 May 2002.
     
  • Animaxis now has English language details for the Tenchi Muyo! Juu Shuunen Kinen (10th Anniversary Memorial) DVD Box to be released in March 2003.
     
  • Sony's official website for the TV anime series based on the manga Spiral ~ Suiri no Kizuna ~ is now up.
     
  • I wish I knew more about html. Then I wouldn't need to rely on FrontPage Express and its periodical crashing >_<
     
  • GAiNAX has announced that the release of the Abenobashi Digital Shotengai CD-ROM will be delayed. No date has been given to replace the original release date of 30 August 2002.
     
  • The official website for the anime version of Mahou Tsukai ni Taisetsu na Koto ~ Someday's Dreamers is now up. This will be a TV anime series to commence broadcast in 2003. Source: infoanime.com.
     
  • The Mainichi Shimbun reports Shueisha has decided to stop serialisation of Shimabukuro Mitsutoshi's manga Sekimatsu Leader Den Takeshi! (serialised in Weekly Shonen Jump) in the light of Shimabukuro's arrest (see my 8 August 2002 entry). The 13 August 2002 issue of Weekly Shonen Jump will be the last issue to contain the manga. Furthermore, the schedule release of volume 25 of the tankouban for the manga will be stopped, as will the shipment of any more copies of volumes 1 to 24. Source: Aniota.
     
  • JVC Music's website for the OVA series Sentou Yousei Yukikaze (Battle Fairy Yukikaze), volume 1 of which will be released on 25 August 2002, is now up. Source: Moonphase.

8 August 2002

  • The TV anime version of the manga Spiral ~ Suiri no Kizuna ~ (serialised in Monthly Shonen Gangan, with story by Shirodaira Kyou and art by Mizuno Eita) will commence broadcast on 1 October 2002 on TV Tokyo. Source: Moonphase.
     
  • CD Japan has on its listings the OVA Koroshi-ya 1 (Ichi the Killer) Episode 0, to be released on 27 September 2002. As the description states: "The anime is based on the action/violence manga by Hideo Yamamoto. The show picks up [where] the live action film ended, and [follows] Ichi's story of becoming a killer. Takashi Miike, the director of the live action film, stars as the voice of Kakihara." Unlike the live action movie, this OVA will not have as much mature content. Source: infoanime.com. You'll find a review of the live action movie on the Anime News Service site, on the left hand side of the main page.
     
  • According to Reinbo Actress, The Big O is to commence broadcast in Japan in October 2002. Source: TA Group BBS.
     
  • A TV series based on the novel Platonic Chain, by Watanabe Kouji and serialised in Weekly Famitsu, (edit 18 September 2002: has been) animated using full 3D CG by the company ACiD, with character designs by Okazaki Takeshi. This will comprise five short stories about three girls Hitomi, Rika and Kanae and will be set in the Shibuya district of Tokyo in the future when mobile telephones have expanded functions. The anime is also planned to be distributed online. Source: TA Group BBS and Eizo Shimbun.
     
  • Watanabe and Okazaki also worked together to produce the colour sci-fi manga @Run-city, previously serialised in Shogakukan's manga magazine Ikki. That story is also being turned into a TV series. Source: TA Group BBS and ACiD.
     
  • animate.tv states that November 2002 will see the start of the TV anime series Piano, following the popularity of the drama CD. Also in the works are a manga (to be authored by Terao Naomi and serialised in Dengeki Comic Gao) and an internet radio program "Kawasumi Ayako's Piano" (to be distributed by animate.tv). Character designs will be by Fujishima Kosuke (Ah! My Goddess). Source: TA Group BBS.
     
  • This coming (northern) winter, animate.tv will also release it's first production Vie Durant, an eight episode web anime about seven vampires. Source: TA Group BBS.
     
  • The UN Development Programme's 2002 report is out, including Human Development Indicators, seen as a sort of ranking of the best places in the world to live. Australia ranks fifth, just ahead of the United States again (in sixth place). I'm sure Australia would've done even better if not for the fact that it's so hard to get anime or manga here ^_^
     
  • I notice one of the translators on KareKano (His and Her Circumstances) was formerly a fansubber. Always nice to see fans turn their hobby into something more. And from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign as well. I studied at UIUC for a short while, and stayed at the "Six Pack" ^_^
     
  • Takara will release a Playstation adventure RPG based on the TV anime Tokyo Mew Mew in December 2002. Price 4,980 yen. Source: Ma-ten.
     
  • Yomuri Online reports that Shimabukuro Mitsutoshi (27), the author of manga Sekimatsu Leader Den Takeshi! (serialised in Shueisha's manga magazine Weekly Shonen Jump) has been arrested on a charge relating to high-school student prostitution. Shimabukuro is alleged to have engaged in indecedent acts with a 16 year old high school student in a hotel in Yokohama on 12 November 2001 and to have passed her 80,000 yen cash. It's claimed that he met the girl through a mobile telephone meeting website, (31 August edit: used a false name, and) purported to be a computer company employee. In 2001, Shimabukuro was awarded the Shogakugan Comic Prize (children's section) for Sekimatsu Leader Den Takeshi! Source: Tentative Name.
     
  • According to the Otomo Katsuhiro database site Apple Paradise, the live action movie So What, based on Otomo's short manga of the same name, will make its DVD debut on 25 October 2002, having previously been released on VHS and LD. Otomo is of course the man behind sci-fi manga and anime Akira. The DVD will be titled the So What Special Edition. Price 4,700 yen (excluding tax), catalogue number BIBJ-3221, approximately 98 minutes with approximately 15 minutes of bonus materials such as a discussion between the staff. The first 5,000 units will also come with a booklet containing the original manga. Source: Aniota.

6 August 2002

  • c_adam2 of the Anime on DVD forums has pointed out that the Tenchi Muyo! Juu Shuunen Kinen (10th Anniversary Memorial) DVD Box (see my 3 August 2002 entry) will contain 25 discs, including the OVA, TV series and movies.
     
  • The VAP site for the TV anime series Wagamama Fairy Mirumo de Pon! is up here. Source: Moonphase.
     
  • Shonen Magazine has announced that the TV anime of the manga Get Backers will commence broadcast on 5 October 2002. Source: Moonphase.
     
  • A full colour version of the pilot independent anime Tatakae (Fight)! Astromasa is now available for download here. Source: Moonphase.

5 August 2002

  • Bandai has today announced that the release of volume 1 of the Macross Zero OVA has been delayed from 25 October 2002 to 21 December 2002. Source: Moonphase.
     
  • Yay! My R1 Escaflowne the Movie Ultimate Edition box arrived (amongst other stuff) ^_^ And the features disc isn't defective ^_^ I also got volume 1 of KareKano with box. Why I chose episodes 1-4 of KareKano as one of my first fansubbing projects I have no idea ^_^;;

4 August 2002

  • Although still only rumour at present, it's been suggested that a TV anime series based on the manga Naruto will commence broadcast in October 2002. Naruto, by Kishimoto Masahi and serialised in Weekly Shonen Jump, tells the story of Uzumaki Naruto, a boy growing up in a ninja village, but with a fox demon sealed within him. Confirmation of the TV series may be forthcoming within the next week. TA Group BBS.
      
  • Volume 9 of the Tenjou Tenge manga (probably due out in December 2002 or so) will come with a Natsume Maya figure created by Miyagawa Takeshi \^_^/ Moulding has been successfully tested and the colour is now being tested. Presumably there'll be a limited edition version of the manga and a regular edition.
     
  • Also, apparently this week's issue of Young Magazine states that the limited edition version of volume 7 of the Chobits manga will come with a figure by the company Kaiyodo. Source: BBS of Miyagawa Takeshi's site T's System. Don't know if this means Miyagawa will have any involvement with this figure, but his Chobits figures are pretty good. Young Magazine is of course the manga magazine which serialises Chobits.
     
  • Busy. Better head off to work now.

3 August 2002

  • The Nippon Animation website for the upcoming TV anime Hungry Heart - Wild Striker is now up. Source: Moonphase.
     
  • The .hack//SIGN OST volume 2 CD is now up on the listings at CD Japan. You can see the details here. The first pressing will come with a box to hold 4 CDs.
     
  • A Tenchi Muyo! Juu Shuunen Kinen (10th Anniversary Memorial) DVD Box will be released on 7 March 2003 with two paperweights, a booklet and a wooden box. This item will be a pre-order item only, though that doesn't mean retail stores won't pre-order a large quantity. Hmm, I wonder if there would be any problems with Customs if the box was wooden. With Australia being an island, quarantine regulations are relatively strict and it's generally prohibited to bring wood products into the country. Oh yeah, price will be 105,000 yen (including tax). Source: Animate Yokohama.
     
  • A Bubblegum Crisis DVD Box will be released on 25 September 2002, containing 4 DVDs. Catalogue number BBBA-9038, price 17,800 yen (excluding tax). Source: Mangaoh Club.
     
  • Volume 3 of the Cosplay Complex OVA will be released on 25 September 2002. A limited edition first pressing version will be available, which, similarly to previous volumes, will come with cosplay jacket and kisekae (dress up?) plates for Sachiko and Reika. Catalogue number BIBA-3143 (limited edition), BIBA-3123 (regular edition), price 5,800 yen excluding tax (limited edition), 4,800 yen excluding tax (regular edition). Source: Mangaoh Club.
     
  • The first pressing of the Nurse Witch Komugi-chan ~ Magical te volume 2 DVD will come with a Koyori-chan figure, more "aid" goods and a Mugi chart. To be released 22 November 2002, price 6,090 (including tax). Source: Animate Yokohama.

1 August 2002

  • Idea Factory will release its Playstation 2 adventure/simulation game Gakuen Toshi Vara Noir ~ Kingdom of Chaos the Universe ~ (University Town Vara Noir) on 24 October 2002. This will tie in with the release of the two volumes of the OVA version on 23 October 2002 and 27 November 2002. Details:
    Catalogue number KIBA-808 (volume 1 DVD), KIBA-809 (volume 2 DVD)
    Price 4,935 yen each (including tax)
    Each volume approximately 60 minutes
    Source: Moonphase.
     
  • A trailer for episode 2 of the full 3D CG independent anime URDA by Romanov Higa is now available for download until the end of August 2002. The full episode will then be released in September 2002. For more details about the anime and how to view it, see my 7 and 12 May 2002 entries. Source: Moonphase.
     
  • The start date for the broadcast of GAiNAX's TV anime series Puchipuri Yushii has been brought forward from 30 October 2002 to 30 September 2002. Source: Moonphase.
     
  • The official website for Kyoto Animation's Munto anime is now up. Source: Moonphase.
     
  • Web-Newtype reports that the TV anime series Maou Dante (Dante the Devil), based on the manga by Nagai Go, is set to commence broadcast on AT-X on 31 August 2002. Originally, it had been planned for a July 2002 start. Source: infoanime.com.
     
  • The region 2 DVD release of Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex is slated to commence rollout on 21 December 2002. Is this mentioned on the English language page...? Sorry, I'm not keeping up with that page... Also, for those who aren't aware, when I mention any DVD/CD/manga/book/etc releases on this page, they're all release dates in Japan unless otherwise stated ^_^
     
  • The Tokyo Institute of Polytechnics has opened a website in commemoration of its animation course to commence in April 2003, which, IIRC is the first of its kind to be offered by a university. Source: infoanime.com.
     
  • The mystery manga Spiral ~ Suiri no Kizuna ~, serialised in Monthly Shonen Gangan, with story by Shirodaira Kyou and art by Mizuno Eita, is to be animated as a TV series. More details will be released in the September 2002 issue of Gangan. Source: TA Group BBS.
     
  • The soccer TV anime series Hungry Heart - Wild Striker, based on the manga by Takahashi Yoichi of Captain Tsubasa fame (and serialised in Weekly Shonen Champion manga magazine) will commence broadcast on 11 September 2002. Source: TA Group BBS.
     
  • Yomiko-san, mou hitotsu wallpaper desu yo! A new R.O.D wallpaper is available for download from the official Sony website.
     
  • The Sankei Shimbun has reported that Amazon Japan has deleted a number of its customer reviews for the Sen to Chihiro no Kamikakushi DVD which complained of the movie's red tint, citing concerns of possible libel. By 19 July 2002, 25 customer reviews had been posted on Amazon Japan's page for the DVD. By the evening of 30 July 2002, there were only nine reviews, only two of which referred to the colour of the movie. Source: E.goo Anime Square.
     
  • This is not the first time Amazon Japan has been mentioned in a report on the Sen DVD. Back on 26 July 2002, Mainichi Interactive reported that complaints about the colour tone of the movie were still continuing, including on the internet. The Mainichi report stated that by 19 July 2002, 9 of the 16 customer reviews posted on Amazon Japan by that time had referred to the colour problem.
     
  • The Asahi Shimbun has an English language report on the new Astroboy TV series. It's set to commence broadcast on 7 April 2003, Astroboy's birthday. Auditions for a voiceacting role are in motion. For more details, read the full article here. Furthermore, E.goo Anime Square reports that over ten episodes have now been completed. Added to the characters of Astroboy/Atom, his sister Uran-chan and Dr Tenma, there'll be a new robot character. The interview process for voiceacting will span the months of August to October 2002. Apart from securing a role in the anime, Sony Music will also release a debut CD for the successful candidate. Finally, infoanime.com notes that Sony's audition details can be found on this Japanese page.

 

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