16-30 NOVEMBER 2002 NEWS

23 November 2002

• My grandfather passed away today, the only grandparent I ever knew. He was loving and loved. I don't think he felt any pain at the end, and that's all you can really hope for at that stage. While his condition was terminal, he didn't seem in such bad shape to me a couple of weeks back, so this news is a bit sudden. At least he can rest in peace now. And at least my parents were able to get to see him one last time. When someone's approaching the end of their life, don't delay what you intend to do, as their condition can deterioriate quite quickly.
  It may be cliched, but my grandfather was a simple man, and had simple tastes. He seemed to favour me a bit, though I'm not sure why. His experiences in life were a bit mixed, from being beaten by the Japanese in the War during his youth, to a comfortable life with his family after his retirement. In all, I'd like to think he lived a full life and enjoyed it (perhaps a bit too much at times). He would've liked to have visited Australia again, though. It's strange, earlier this year, I was thinking of taking him on a holiday later in the year. It remained a thought, and I never acted on it. I got busy at work. And then they discovered his cancer. My philosophy is to try to live life so that there's no regrets, but maybe I'll regret that I didn't do anything earlier.

21 November 2002

• A preview is now up for the upcoming OVA series Space Pirate Captain Harlock ~ The Endless Odyssey ~. Click on the "A Preview" section (of course). Only the Pre-release trailer is up for now. Source: Moonphase.
   
• A second Chobits desktop accessory CD will go on sale. The Digital Fan Box 2 will be released on 13 December 2002. It'll contain voice data, database, mascot characters, calendar, CD player, launcher(?) and icons. For Japanese Windows 95/98/Me/NT4.0/2000/XP. First pressing will come with schedule calendar in a CD case, original CD jacket, picture label, postcard and coaster. Source: Moonphase.
   
• Shueisha has a site up for the manga Okusama wa Joshi Kousei by Kobayashi Hiyoko. There's a web comic with poor animation. And those who've purchased volume 1 of the manga or volumes 1 or 2 of the novelisation can download screensavers and a wallpaper by entering the full ISBN from the back of the volume. Each ISBN gives access to a specific screensaver/wallpaper. Source: ultimatum half edition.
   
• More details on the box set release of three live action movies by Oshii Mamoru. The Oshii Mamoru Cinema Trilogy will have audio commentary. Further, the fourth (special) DVD in the box will be approximately 90 minutes in length and include the document movie "Dog Days After - Onna-tachi no Oshii Mamoru", "making of" video for Kerberos, the BGV(?) "Dog Days", design stills, etc. The special CD will be an "OST Best" with tracks selected by Kawai Kenji from all three movies and will be approximately 45 minutes long. The booklet will be 64 or 72 pages long. Catalogue number BCBJ-1519. For more details, see my 26 October 2002 entry. No mention of English subtitles.
   
• The DVD for the 1993 BonoBono movie will be released on 25 February 2002 with Dolby Surround sound. Catalogue number BCBA-1561, price 4,800 yen (excluding tax).
   
• The Arcade Gamer Fubuki Ichigeki de Clear Box will cost 3,800 yen. For more details, see my 17 November 2002 entry. Source: Bandai.
   
• Sorry, I'll probably just leave news at this for now. More tomorrow (or Saturday).

20 November 2002 (early update)

• Firstly I need to point out that the source of the updated information yesterday for the R.O.D TV anime was Moonphase. In my haste, I forgot to credit the information. Sorry m(_ _)m I've now made the proper attribution to yesterday's news.
   
• Thanks again to Adam T, this time for pointing out that (i) further release details for Millennium Actress can be found on Bandai's online catalogue here (Collection Box) and here (regular edition) and (ii) the DVD release will have English subtitles. From those further details, you'll note that:
  - the Collection Box comes with a second disc containing the 30 minute "making of" (no mention of subtitles for that disc)
  - the movie itself will be Dolby Digital (5.1ch), double layered, anamorphic letterboxed; the Collection Box special disc will be stereo, single layer, 4:3 aspect ratio
  - the regular edition book will come with explanation book as well.
   
• JVC/Victor Entertainment's "Victor Internet Station" is here with, among other things, a two minute commercial for various anime, and a Macross the Tribute Live! broadcast. The commercial can be viewed at any time, however the Macross performance will be available at 11pm on 29 November 2002 (presumably Japan time). Source: Aniota. Broadband challenged people will probably have a hard time seeing/hearing anything.
   
• Portion of the song Yaneura no Chizu (Map of the Attic) can be downloaded from Studio21-NET's page on .wma and real formats. Just click on the Works button, then go to the section titled Rabsaris New Song. The song was composed by Tenmon and is sung by Low, the same combination on Shinkai Makoto's Hoshi no Koe ~ The voices of a distant star ~. Source: Moonphase.
   
• I've previously written about the Oh! Super Milk-chan: Milk no IT Kakumei Shockwave animation. Further Shockwave animations can be viewed at the same site here. Apart from the Super Milk-chan, the most popular anime on the site appears the Catman episodes. Source: Moonphase.
   
• TV Tokyo's website for the anime Shutsugeki! Machine Robo Rescue is now up. Source: Moonphase. The anime commences broadcast on 8 January 2003.
   
• The long dormant official website for Rikujyou Bouei Tai Mao-chan (Ground Defense Force Mao-chan) has been updated. Source: Moonphase. Other official websites for the anime can be found here and here.
   
• In the lead up to the release of the new Yokohama Kaidashi Kikou (Yokohama Shopping Travelogue) OVA series "Quiet Country Cafe", Sony is periodically publishing some screenshots on this page. Source: Moonphase.

19 November 2002 (final update for the day)

• Nifty Animation Online points out that the Sony related broadband site Morrich has a Yokohama Kaidashi Kikou (Yokohama Shopping Travelogue) Special available for free download. The 14 minute special includes introduction to the world in which the anime is set, the characters and a clip of the new OVA series to be released in the coming months. The special will be available until 25 December 2002 and is a 500kbps clip, which means I almost certainly won't be able to view it >_< To view it, click on the "Video Clip 24" button on the top right hand corner of the Morrich homepage, then click on the (mini) guide to bring up the options of clips to view and find the Yokohama clip. If you can't read the Japanese, it should be the title above the "Morrich Creator Awards" clips. Hope that helps.
   
• Updated the info on the new R.O.D anime.
   
• A pic from the new Astroboy anime? For more on the broadcast, see my 17 November 2002 entry.
   
• Paper Moon has details for the DVD release of Millennium Actress: it'll be released on DVD on 25 February 2003. There will be two versions:
  Collection Box (first pressing limited edition)
       Catalogue number BCBA-1546
       Price 12,800 yen
       Comes with approximately 400 page book of storyboards and design works, explanatory book, postcard book, special towel and box illustrated by Kon Satoshi.
  DVD will have "making of" and trailers.
  Regular edition
       Catalogue number BCBA-1547
       Price 4,800 yen
       DVD will have trailers.
  Source: Aniota. No mention of subtitles at this point, but I doubt such a feature would be important to a store like Paper Moon.
   
• The January 2003 issue of Ultrajump magazine, on sale 19 December 2002, will come with a Tenjou Tenge bandana illustrated by Oh!great. See this ad for the January issue. Source: ultimatum half edition.
   
• The new R.O.D anime will be a TV series. You can see the silhouettes of three figures on the main page of the official R.O.D site. They seem to me to fit the three Paper Sisters from the new Read Or Dream manga in monthly manga magazine Ultrajump. The figure on the left looks like the eldest sister Michelle with her long wavy hair, Anita would be the youngest sister in the middle with her hair in buns, and (if I'm right) Maggie's the tall, short-haired sister on the right. Based on the first chapter of the manga, that would mean no Yomiko... More information will be posted to the official site on 10 December 2002. UPDATE from Moonphase: it seems from the December 2002 issue of Ultrajump (on sale today) that the main staff from the original OVA series will return, including director Masunori Kouji, script by Kurata Hideyuki and character designs by Ishihama Masahi based on designs by Uon Taraku. Further, manga is stated to be by Ayanaga Ran. This seems to confirm that the anime will be about the three Paper Sisters.
   
• Speaking of Ultrajump, the release of the Ultrajump Megamix vol. 1 anthology manga (with short story "S - song of sapphire star -" by Oh!great) has been put back to 17 January 2003. On the other hand, I can now tell you that the title for the Matsumoto (Agharta) Takaharu manga in the anthology will be "i/o". Source: Mangaoh Club.
   
• Sorry for lack of update yesterday. I haven't been feeling 100% lately.
   
• Nifty Animation Online reports that the currently airing TV anime Shin Seiki Den Mars will be released by the new Albatros label "Albatros Anime". The 13 episode series will be released over seven DVD volumes, two episodes per volumes, with the final volume containing episode 13 and approximately 30 minutes of bonus clips. Release details:
  Volumes 1 & 2 to be released 21 February 2003
  Volumes 3 & 4 to be released 21 March 2003
  Volumes 5 & 6 to be released 25 April 2003
  Catalogue numbers PAND-5001 to PAND-5007, price 5,800 yen (excluding yen) each. DVD will come with full colour picture label, trading card and clear Amaray case. Bonus clips to be included (it's not clear to me whether some of these will appear on the each volume or all will be on the final volume 7) are next episode previews, commercials for the series, promotion clip, design stills, creditless OP and ED, staff and cast interviews, etc.
   
• The spy TV anime L/R will commence broadcast in January 2003 on Fuji TV. However, Pioneer's Rondo Robe label has announced that on 23 November 2002 a pilot film for the anime will be broadcast on Anime TV. Source: Magicalantique.
   
• Shirow Masamune's short manga Pile Up, previously published in Uppers magazine in 1987, will be published as a volume by Kodansha on 6 December 2002, tentative price 1,905 yen. 60 pages with an omake 10 pages. A CD-ROM is included but looks like it'll contain the same contents as the book. Source: Mangaoh Club. 1,905 yen seems pretty pricey, but I'll probably end up ordering it anyway >_<
   
• And speaking of Shirow, I note issue no. 23 (of 2002) of Uppers magazine has another "Booklet Poster" of his. (The link will probably become obsolete in a couple of weeks). See my 26 October 2002 entry for a description of this A3 poster. This will be poster number 5. Poster number 4 was included with issue number 21 of Uppers.
   
• That's all for today. More tomorrow (if I'm not too tired).

17 November 2002 (second update)

• I'll leave it at this today. More tomorrow.
   
• TV Tokyo's website for the anime Pokemon Advanced Generation, to commence broadcast on 21 November 2002, is now up. Source: Ma-ten.
   
• Sony's website for the upcoming OVA series Submarine 707R (707 Revolution) is also now up. This OVA series, based on the manga by Ozawa Satoru, who also wrote the manga Ao no Rokugo (Blue Submarine No. 6), will comprise two volumes to be released in the northern (summer) of 2003. First pressing bonuses and price are yet to be determined. Source: Ma-ten.
   
• Hakusensha's monthly magazine Moe has announced that a new Stray Sheep no Po anime will commence broadcast at the end of this year on Fuji TV. Source: TA Group BBS. The earlier anime has been licensed by Tokyopop.
   
• According to the latest issue of Newtype (Japan), Wolf's Rain will commence broadcast on Fuji TV on 6 January 2003 and be 26 episodes, with music by Kanno Yoko. Source: TA Group BBS.
   
• Nifty Animation Online reports that the new Astroboy TV anime Astroboy - Tetsuwan Atom will commence broadcast on 7 April 2003 (the birthday of Astroboy). However, in recognition of the debut of the original series on 1 January 1963 forty years ago, the first episode of the new series will be broadcast on Animax on 1 January 2003 in English with Japanese subtitles.
   
• Just point out that volume 1 of the Memories Off 2nd OVA series "Manatsu no Naka de..." will come with a box to hold all three volumes of the series. Further, there'll be a limited edition of volume 1 as well, which will also include a Shirakawa Hotaru figure. CD Japan has English language details up here (limited edition) and here (regular edition).
   
• Nifty Animation Online points out that the title of the RahXephon movie (to be released in the (northern) spring will be RahXephon Tagen Hensoukyoku (Pluralistic Variation).
   
• It's been announced on CLAMP's website that a Chobits original art book will be published, with illustrations from the manga, goods, DVD, CDs, postcards etc and commentary. A bonus item is also planned for the first edition. Release date and price have yet to be announced. Further, the official site also states that Kodansha will publish a Chobits fanbook in the early (norther) spring of 2003. Source: ultimatum half edition.
   
• Yes, I'm back at my computer, all's right with the world. But I'm not particularly refreshed...
   
• Tip for those with the handcuff keyring from the You're Under Arrest Theme Song Full Collection CD box: don't try to bring it onto an airplane. Airport security will not allow you to board the plane with it. I guess they consider a single miniature handcuff (which could only fit one finger in it, which doesn't lock/work and which, being a single handcuff, couldn't be attached to something else even if it did work) as some sort of terrorist threat. Yet the cabin crew didn't appear to have any concerns about distributing 300 pairs of stainless steel knives and forks for lunch. Good to see airport security has its priorities right >_<
   
• It's been announced on the official website for Mahou Tsukai ni Taisetsu na Koto ~ Someday's Dreamers that the TV anime will commence broadcast on 9 January 2003 on TV Asahi. Source: Moonphase.
   
• Chapter 2 of story 4 of the "sound novel" Kamakur@ Love is now up. Each instalment of this story always seems to be released late. For more info, see my entry on 31 May 2002.
   
• I think a second ad for the third Tenchi Muyo! Ryoohki OVA series is now up for download. I didn't bother watching the first one myself, not being a big Tenchi Muyo fan.
   
• Animate.tv has announced that a revised final (13th) episode of the TV anime G-on Riders will be distributed freely over the internet, for a limited time from 12 December 2002. Source: ultimatum half edition. I won't be around on 12 December 2002 to post the site where the episode will be available, so you'll have to keep an eye out for it yourselves.
   
• Monthly Champion Red magazine has announced that the new Saint Seiya manga (to commence serialisation in the February 2003 issue, to be published 19 December 2002), will be authored by Okada Megumu. Source: ultimatum half edition. The issue will also include a poster by Kurumada Masami.
   
• Monthly Afternoon manga magazine has announced that the desktop accessory CD-ROM included with the special edition of volume 25 of the Oh! My Goddess manga will now also be sold separately. Price and release date for the separate sale have yet to be announced. For more details about the CD-ROM, see my 8 and 27 October 2002 entries. Source: ultimatum half edition.
   
• Weekly manga magazine Young Jump has announced that the manga Skyhigh by author Takahashi Tsutomu (who also wrote Ice Blade) will be turned into a live action dorama series to commence broadcast on 17 January 2003 on TV Asahi. Source: ultimatum half edition.
   
• I got my copy of issue 1 of Newtype USA. No time to read it properly yet, of course.
   
• An ad for Macross Zero can be downloaded from Bandai's website here. Also recently put up on that page is a commercial for the DVD release of G Gundam.
   
• CharaAni.com reports that the first pressing of each volume of the DVD release of the TV anime Get Backers will come with a clear file. For release details for volume 1, see my 8 October 2002 entry. Catalogue number for that volume will be BCBA-1508. One volume will be released each month thereafter. The first few volumes will contain two episodes. After volume three, each volume will contain three episodes and cost 4,800 yen (excluding tax).
   
• Nifty Animation Online reports that a special Arcade Gamer Fubuki DVD and box will be released. The first pressing limited edition Arcade Gamer Fubuki Ichigeki de Clear Box will contain a special DVD with new and previously unreleased clips among other things and a box to hold all four volumes of the OVA series. The box will be released on 28 March 2003, price has yet to be determined.
   
• According to Animate, it's now been determined that volume 6 of the Mahoromatic manga will be published on 24 January 2003 and that price will be 2,300 yen (excluding tax). Then again, Mangaoh Club has the same price but states that the release date will be the end of February 2003. As reported on 3 October 2002, the first limited edition of the tankouban will come with a 10cm Mahoro figure with stand. For more pics of the Mahoro figure, see here, here and here. The regular edition of the manga will be released on the same day for 950 yen (excluding tax). Looks like the Mahoro figure will be one of a planned set of ten figures. The other nine will be available for sale by mail order through Comic Gum magazine (where the Mahoromatic manga is serialised). Details in the February 2003 issue of Comic Gum (published in December 2002).

Back to archive

Back to latest news

Home

All rights (copyright and otherwise) reserved.