16-31 AUGUST 2003 NEWS

31 August 2003 (last update for the day)

  • The October 2003 issue of Megami Magazine (published yesterday) reports that the Mezzo TV series is set to commence broadcast in the early (northern) spring of 2004. 13 episodes. Source: Moon Phase.
     
  • And from Megami Magazine as well, the Bindume Yousei (Bottle Fairy) TV anime will be 13 episodes long, each episode 15 minutes in duration. You'll find the Magi-Cu Premium magazine website for the series here. Source: Moon Phase. This series will commence broadcast in this (northern) autumn.
     
  • A three volume OVA based on the computer game Interlude is to be produced by Toei Animation and released in the (northern) winter of 2004. Presumably that means this coming winter. Source: Moon Phase (presumably from Megami Magazine as well). I don't think Interlude is an adult game, but even if it's not, it's at least a bishoujo game. the Playstation 2 version of the game will be released on 2 October 2003.
     
  • Sorry, some of what I wrote about the new Hanaukyo Maid Tai anime was slightly misleading. I've corrected it and added a bit more info.
     
  • By now, you would've realised that when I write "More later" or something like that, it means "more later unless I fall asleep first".
     
  • The Peacemaker Kurogane website has updated. Source: Rakuga Kidou. The anime will commence broadcast on TV Asahi on 7 October 2003.
     
  • side=2 has a report on the Rondo Robe Circus 2003 2nd Flight event, at which Pioneer has announced more Hanaukyo Maid Tai anime. This series won't be broadcast until 2004. More details will be published in the next issue of Monthly Champion magazine (on sale 6 September 2003). Source: Tentative Name. Moon Phase points out that the original series was released by Pony Canyon. The new anime will be released by Pioneer/Rondo Robe.
     
  • Also announced at the same event was the news that the Maria-sama ga Miteru anime, based on the novel series by Konno Oyuki, will be broadcast in the (northern) winter of 2004. Source: side=2 and Tentative Name.

30 August 2003 (third early update)

  • Corrected what I wrote about Murakami Takashi.
     
  • A couple of days ago, Woody Desu posted to the Anime on DVD forums that the Korean region 3 DVD of the Korean anime movie Wonderful Days will be released on 4 September 2003 and it'll have English subtitles. I have yet to read a review of this movie that said it was even average, let alone good. Still, the trailers looked good, so I'll probably end up picking up this title some time. Since I won't have high expectations for it, hopefully I'll be pleasantly surprised ^_^;;
     
  • SilverStar also posted to the AoD forums release details for volume 1 of Full Metal Panic? Fumoffu. There'll be a regular edition and a limited edition. To add to Silver Star's info, the limited edition will come with three figures (Chidori Kaname, SD Arm Slave, Bonta-kun figure) and the CD will be a spoken word CD (Tessa no Kanchou Nikki -Tessa's Captain's Log). And remember the rumour about an episode not being broadcast? Well, Paper Moon in its release details states that volume 1 of the DVD will contain the first two broadcast episodes as well as two episodes ("Dakyou Muyo no Hostage" and "Sore Chigau no Hostility") which the maker told them could not be broadcast. Each episode is roughly 15 minutes long, so running time on the DVD is 50 minutes. Source: Moon Phase. Does that mean one or two unbroadcast "episodes"? Well, episodes 1 and 2 were broadcast in one block, similar to one 30 minute episode. But I can't bothered looking into the detail of that point - main thing to understand is that the second 25 minutes on the DVD have previously not been broadcast. BTW, the title of the first unbroadcast episode "Dakyou Muyo no Hostage" (No Need for Compromise Hostage - I can't be bothered trying to translate the title properly) seems to give credence to the rumour that the original broadcast date of 4 August 2003 was put back because of a kidnapping in Japan at the time.
     
  • Animaxis.com has an English language report on toy company Takara taking a majority shareholding in Broccoli and plans to create a new original character. Broccoli created the Dejiko character and Di Gi Charat anime.
     
  • No news yesterday - fell asleep.
     
  • Animaxis.com has an English language report that Hollywood plans to make a movie based on the manga Skyhigh by Takahashi Tsutomu (serialised in Young Jump manga magazine).
     
  • Mangaoh Club has a few more details on the Himekuri Azumanga 2004 (2004 Azumanga Daioh Block Calendar). It'll be A6 in size and price will be 1,500 yen (excluding tax). To be released 20 January 2004.
     
  • goo Anime is hosting the preview for the Tenchi Muyo! Ryo-Ohki 3rd OVA series as well. Basically the same preview as on the official website, but larger window size (and smaller file size as well).
     
  • NHK's website for the upcoming anime version of Planetes (based on the manga by Yukimura Makoto) has a preview for download from the main page (see the Real and Windows icons on that page). Source: Aniota. The series will commence broadcast on 4 October 2003.
     
  • Updated: thinking back on it, the article doesn't say it's a replica of the ko2-chan sculpture which was auctioned off. It just says it's a ko2-chan figure. Could be a different pose etc. So I've amended what I wrote... Sorry for any inconvenience caused...
    Back on 16 May 2003, I wrote about one of otaku artist Murakami Takashi's works ko2-chan (Miss ko2) selling at Christie's for US$567,500. Now's your chance to own a ko2-chan figure mini-replica of the figure. The October 2003 issue of art magazine Bijutsu Techou will be its 55th anniversary issue. To celebrate, the magazine will run a feature on the birth of Neo-Venus - the form of beauty in the 21st century. Where to for Japanese art after the otaku generation? Included will be a BT version figure of ko2-chan made by Kaiyodo. (Needless to say, I don't think it'll be 2 metres in height like the original sculpture). Looks like this figure will be a toy marketed with some foodstuff (presumably a snackfood) this coming (northern) winter. However, the BT version of the figure will be a limited version with different colouring and blonde hair. The magazine will also have an article on this food toy project. This special issue of the magazine will retail at the higher than usual price of 2,000 yen (including tax). Source: Source: Aniota.

28 August 2003 (third update)

  • Actually, I think I'll leave things at that for today.
     
  • The TV Tokyo has announced that the anime Chou Hoshigami(?) Granseizer will commence broadcast on 4 October 2003. Source: Aniota. Looks like the second series of Takahashi Rumiko Gekijo (Theatre) will commence on 4 October 2003 as well, and, if I haven't mentioned it before, the second series of KaleidoStar will commence on 4 October 2003.
     
  • Updated the Gunparade March news.
     
  • More details on volume 1 of the upcoming anime Tenbatsu Angel Rabbie (Divine Punishment Angel Rabbie). As previously mentioned, it'll be released on 4 December 2003. Media Factory now states that price will be 5,800 yen, duration will be 30 minutes and first pressing will come with a Rusty/Lasty Fasun (spelling?) figure. Humanity makes much progress through a combination of science and magic, until a large war breaks out. Many years later, the magical city of Sosarium (constructed on the Moon) sends an agent down to Earth to make sure history does not repeat itself as civilisation starts to rebuilt itself. That agent is known as an "Angel" (presumably Rusty/Lasty). Source: alternative-live. As mentioned on 17 August 2003, it seems that volume 1 will be released as an OVA with the format of the rest of the series dependent on sales of the first volume.
     
  • On 14 August 2003, I wrote about the release details for volume 1 of the Happy Lesson Advance Complete Edition DVD release, as stated on the Animate Web Mail Order site. At the time I wrote the limited edition version would come with a "character box". Paper Moon states that instead of coming with a character box (whatever that may be), it'll come with a character book. Was I mistaken earlier in the month? Or did Animate make the mistake. Well, as I mentioned earlier, navigating the new Animate website is a pain in the butt, so I'm not going to try to confirm exactly what Animate wrote. Anyway, I think "character book" is correct. The book will be 148 pages, and will feature Ichimonji Mutsuki. It'll contain illustrations, character introduction, interview, staff comments, other cast members' comments on Mutsuki, serialised novel by Yoshioka Takao, storyboards for episode 1, script for episode 1, etc. BTW, volume 1 of the DVD will contain only episode 1, and the new scene in this complete edition DVD will involve Minaduki. I've now updated my 14 August 2003 entry.
     
  • People suffering Shinsen Gumi withdrawal symptoms, the October 2003 issue of Comic Blade magazine has announced that the anime version of Peacemaker Kurogane (based on the manga by Kurono Nanae) will commence broadcast on TV Asahi on 7 October 2003 (actually early on 8 October 2003). Source: TA Group BBS. More Kondo, Okita and Saitou...
     
  • It's apparently been announced on the AT-X website that it will commence broadcast of the mecha anime Godannar on 1 October 2003. Source: TA Group BBS. I couldn't find the announcement myself, though.
     
  • Media Works has announced that the Himekuri Azumanga 2004 (2004 Azumanga Daioh Block Calendar) will be released on 20 January 2004. Source: ultimatum half edition. Other details are unknown at present.
     
  • Looks like the animate.tv website could be distributing the Gunparade March TV series free over the internet. Unfortunately, I can't confirm this because lately I've been having problems accessing the animate.tv website. Anyway, the animate.tv report can be found here. Source: Magicalantique.com. Update: Aniota states that the 12 episodes will be available from 1 September 2003 to 31 October 2003.
     
  • Well, I might not have the best anime news page, but I reckon I've got the sleepiest one ^_^;;
     
  • I note that CD Japan has details up for the release of the live action movie Azumi, based on the manga of the same name by Koyama Yu. There'll be a regular edition and a deluxe limited edition. Note that the DVD is stated to come with English subtitles. AV Express states that the second disc in the deluxe edition will contain deleted scenes apart from "making of" etc.
     
  • DVD Catalog the Blame! Ver.0.11: salvaged disc by Cibo DVD among its releases for 24 October 2003, price 4,700 yen. Hmm, I thought it was supposed to be on sale only through the official Blame! website >_< Anyway, I've already got my copy. For more info about the DVD, see my 25 April 2003 entry.
     
  • Back on 20 August 2003 I wrote about the Sakurano Minene Gashuu (Art Collection). Mangaoh Club has updated with more details on the artbook. It'll have the title "Days of Moonlight". Plus, there'll be a boxed deluxe limited edition (5,000 copies) available on 3 October 2003. Compared to the regular edition, this limited edition will be "colour page 170% over". It'll also come with five special memorial reproductions of illustrations from the start of chapter 1 of the Mamotte Shugogetten! (Guardian Angel Getten) manga. Price of the limited edition will be 5,695 yen. Ouch. On the other hand, sounds like it'll be a pretty hefty package. Regular edition will still be published by Mag Garden at the end of October 2003. Price of that edition has now become clear: 2,980 yen.
     
  • The first three of Shirow Masamune Galgrease booklet poster collections Hellhound, Wild Wet West and Galhound will be published by Kodansha on 17 September 2003, price 667 yen each (excluding tax). Source: Mangaoh Club. Wow, so it seems the information I posted up on 28 July 2003 was largely correct (slight change in price). See that entry for more info. However, I note that Shirow fansite Project Shirow states in its news archive that the book will be A5 size (see its 18 August 2003 entry). My understanding was that the books would be roughly B4 size while the illustration cards would be the smaller A5 size (A5 is the size of the booklet posters when folded up). However, Project Shirow's news had the benefit of issue 17 of Uppers magazine, whereas my copy of that issue will hopefully only ship tomorrow. (Note Project Shirow also states the publication date will be 20 September, not 17 September).
     
  • The ABC (Australian Broadcasting Corporation) reports that Australia has recorded its biggest ever quarterly current account deficit. I'm proud to contribute to that deficit with my importation of manga and anime DVDs ^_^;; Just added the Shirow booklet poster collections to my orders today as well ^_^;;

27 August 2003

  • So tired. I'm going to lie down for a while. If I fall asleep, there'll be no news for today. Otherwise, I'll type up some news later...

26 August 2003 (third update)

  • Sorry, just going to leave it at this for today. Were a few more minor bits and pieces, but I can't be bothered to write about them :P
     
  • Kodansha's October 2003 manga release list is now up. Among the titles are volume 3 of Air Gear by Oh! great (17 October 2003, price 390 yen), volume 2 of Tsubasa by CLAMP (17 October 2003, price 390 yen - there'll also be a Deluxe Edition published on the same day but price is as yet undetermined), volume 2 of xxxHolic by CLAMP (17 October 2003, price 533 yen), and the concluding volumes 6 and 7 of Kamikaze by Shiki Satoshi (both on 23 October 2003, price 781 yen each).
     
  • Kodansha's monthly manga magazine Magazine Z has announced that the manga Pugyuru by Konno Tohiro is to be animated. The manga is serialised in Magazine Z of course. Source: ultimatum half edition.
     
  • The next issue of Shueisha's manga magazine Super Jump (on sale tomorrow) will contain information about the Ring ni Kakero 1 anime. Ring ni Kakero is a manga by Kurumada Masami (of Saint Seiya fame). Source: Moon Phase.
     
  • Busy, so I'll try to be a bit briefer today.
     
  • TV Tokyo's website for F-Zero Falcon Densetsu is now up though there's just the single page at present. Source: Moon Phase. The TV anime will commence broadcast on 7 October 2003.
     
  • Volume 1 of the anime Ikki Tousen will be released on 22 November 2003, catalogue number ZMBZ-1670, price 2,800 yen (excluding tax). It'll contain just episode 1, however first pressing will come with special disc containing:
    - the Club AT-X special which included post-recording report, cast and staff interviews;
    - previously unreleased clip of the photography sessions using a model for the battle scenes (I think basically this will be footage of when they got a model to dress up in school uniform and then photographed her performing high kicks etc to use as reference for rendering the anime and panty shots...);
    - Asano Masumi character song recording clip (Asano voices Sonsaku Hakufu in the show);
    - original promotion clip;
    - creditless OP & ED;
    - broadcast ads and DVD sale ads.
    Release schedule for the later volumes:
    Volume 2 to be released 20 December 2003, catalogue number ZMBZ-1671, first pressing will come with box illustrated by mangaka Shiozaki Yuji.
    Volume 3 to be released 23 January 2004, catalogue number ZMBZ-1672.
    Volume 4 to be released 25 February 2004, catalogue number ZMBZ-1673.
    Volume 5 to be released 25 March 2004, catalogue number ZMBZ-1674, first pressing will come with box illustrated by Shiozaki.
    Volume 6 to be released 23 April 2004, catalogue number ZMBZ-1675.
    Volume 7 to be released 25 May 2004, catalogue number ZMBZ-1676.
    Volumes 2 to 7 will each contain two episodes and will each cost 5,800 yen (excluding tax). In addition, first pressing of all seven volumes will come with reversible jacket illustrated by Shiozaki and Hasegawa Shinya (character designer for the anime). Source: Moon Phase.

25 August 2003 (third update)

  • A few minor things, but I think I'll leave those til tomorrow...
     
  • In this 2 channel thread, there's apparent confirmation from an advance copy of Monthly Shonen Ace-A (on sale tomorrow) that the manga Teizokurei Daydream (Vulgar Ghost Daydream), original story by Okuse Saki, manga by Meguro Sankichi, will be animated as an OVA. Release will commence in the (northern) winter. Series composition will be by Charlie Kanemaki. On his website, Kanemaki states that he's working on the series composition and script for a four volume occult series. Presumably that'll be Teizokurei Daydream. Source: Moon Phase.
     
  • From the same 2 channel thread comes news that the next issue of Shonen Ace will contain a big announcement regarding the GAiNAX/Karakura Shinji manga Boukyaku no Senritsu (Melody of Oblivion) which is serialised in that magazine. Source: Moon Phase. Given GAiNAX's last big announcement, I hope it's not news of a computer game...
     
  • Production IG's Japanese website has updated with its own details for the GiTS:SAC Official Log 1 DVD to be released on 24 October 2003. Some of the details differ from the details published by Bandai and which I reported on in my 22 July 2003 entry. In particular, catalogue number is stated to be BCBA-1461, not BCBA-1761, and the book is stated to be 144 pages long, but 162 pages. Source: Moon Phase. On the other hand, Production IG states that this DVD will include highlight scenes from the first 19 episodes and the book will contain introduction to the first 19 episodes. If there are to be 52 episodes in total, then I'd think there'll probably be a total of three volumes of these Official Log DVD and book sets.
     
  • You may note that I've written the name "Moon Phase" instead of "Moonphase" this time. I think some sites refer to it as "Moonphase", but after looking at the graphic on the website, I figure the more correct form is "Moon Phase", so I'll start using that from now on. Sorry for getting it wrong in the first place m(_ _)m I won't be going back to correct all the previous occasions on which I've used the "Moonphase" spelling - there's just too many of them. Please forgive my laziness m(_ _)m No disrespect is intended. Similarly, I guess the correct name for the Aniota website is probably Flat-Crax, but that main news section is subtitled "Aniota News", and many sites refer to it as such, so I'll continue to call it that... And while I'm at it, another site which I cite every now and then is titled something like "Guendina News". But I'm not certain how to render the hiragana - it looks like "Guendina" to me, but I think it's a reference to some computer game. Since I don't know the official spelling, I usually just go by the domain name "Magicalantique.com".
     
  • Accordingly to the Rakuga Kidou website, the reason there's been no release of Hand Maid Mai volume 2 and 3 is that the company Five Ways which financed the production (and which I think may make adult anime or videos amongst other things) has gone bankrupt.
     
  • The Steam Boy official website has updated with two 30 second trailers for download. Source: Aniota BBS. The movie will be released theatrically in 2004.
     
  • Nikkan Sports News reports that the Atashi'n chi movie will be released theatrically in Japan on 6 December 2003. Source: Ma-ten.
      
  • Bishoujo anime Kimi ga Nozomu Eien will commence broadcast on TV Saitama on 4 October 2003 (actually very early 5 October 2003), it's been announced on the official website. Source: TA Group BBS.
     
  • Potamani: a love simulation computer game with a difference. Instead of computer graphics, this game has photos of a woman cosplaying. Available on CD-R, price 1,500 yen. For Windows 98SE/Me/2000/XP computers. It's described as an interactive photo novel and Potan-chan (cosplay) photo collection. Click on the first photo for a Flash sample of the game, though note that the game will have BGM, sound effects and full voice. Source: Tentative Name. Note also that the logo for the game is just a tentative one scratched up over five minutes ^_^;;
     
  • Volume 1 of R.O.D - The TV - will be released on 22 October 2003, catalogue number SVWB-1661, price 5,040 yen (including tax). First pressing will come with a "super jewel case" and a pin-up illustrated by Uon Taraku (who did the original character designs). There'll be nine volumes in total, with one volume being released each month. Volume 2 will be released on 27 November 2003 and volume 3 on 17 December 2003. Source: Animate Web Mail Order. 26 episodes, nine DVD volumes, I guess that'll mean eight volumes with three episodes and one with two episodes. The TV series commences regular broadcast on 1 October 2003 with the preview broadcast of episodes 1 to 4 over the month of September on a pay per view channel.

24 August 2003 (second early update)

  • Back in July 2002 I wrote about the independent anime Kentou Miko Kobushi-chan (Fighting Shrine Maiden Kobushi-chan) by Okina-san. Well, it's finally been completed and the net version (15 minutes 16 seconds) is available for download here, together with two other short movies involving Kobushi-chan. Source: Rakuga Kidou. This is an independent anime - don't expect a professional quality work. But there's lots of good action and the direction is excellent IMO. Unfortunately window size of the clips are small, but I guess that's to encourage people to buy it when it's released. Hopefully a store like Jungle SCS will stock it in due course.
     
  • New Quicktime trailer for the upcoming sci-fi anime movie Ougon no Hou (The Golden Laws), which is to be released theatrically on 11 October 2003. Source: Aniota. For more info, see my 1 August 2003 entry.
     
  • Large pic of the live action Sailormoon cast. The article itself is about the recent spate of live action movies and series based on old anime or manga, said to be due in part to the fact that film-makers are in their 30s and 40s - such characters were their heroes in their youth, in part to character recognition (easier to market known works) and in part to advances in CG. Source: Aniota.
     
  • Five years after the original series, a new anime series of Popolo Crois Monogatari (Popolo Crois Story) will be broadcast on TV Tokyo commencing 5 October 2003. Seiyuu cast is said to be the same. Character designs by Fukushima Atsuko (who did the draft designs at least for the original anime). Source: TA Group BBS. The anime is based on the original manga by Tamori Yohsuke. More adventures in the magical land of Popolo Crois.
     
  • gameonline.jp reports on a limited Pokemon Pikachu model VCR to go on sale in November 2003 from Funai. Price 9,980 yen. Source: Ma-ten. I won't go through the specs for the VCR...
     
  • Volume 1 of Tsuruta Kenji's manga Forget Me Not will be published by Kodansha on 22 September 2003, price 857 yen. Tsuruta previously drew the manga Spirit of Wonder, published in English by Dark Horse Comics, and adapted into an OVA. The Forget Me Not manga comes with a reversible jacket. The story of the most un-detective-like detective, Imari Mariel, set in the city of Venice. In addition, there'll be a limited edition box which comes with figure of Mariel (with notebook PC and coffee cup) - on sale at the end of September, price undetermined. This will be a limited edition of 200 copies. Good luck trying to get your hands on one. Source: ultimatum half edition.
     
  • Fell asleep before I could update yesterday -_-

22 August 2003 (fifth update)

  • Yahoo Japan reports that Nakamura Akimasa of the Kuma Kogen Astronomical Observatory in Japan has named two asteroids discovered in 1995 and 1997 "Anpanman" and "Yanase". The names were registered by the International Astronomical Union's Asteroid Centre in the US on 21 August 2003. Yanase Takashi is the author of the Anpanman manga. Nakamura has discovered over 50 asteroids, another of which was subsequently named "Kamenrider". Source: Aniota. Anpanman is the rosy cheeked superhero whose head is made of anpan (red bean paste bread).
     
  • A new cosplay magazine will be published by Media Works on 25 August 2003. Dengeki Layers will contain event reports and photos, discussion about costumes, camera/photography techniques, makeup techniques (including accessories like elf ears etc) and other cosplay related information (cosplay event info, a bit of game and anime info). Price 700 yen (including tax). Volume 1 will come with a paper pattern to make your own Sora no Stellvia uniform. Looks like this will be a quarterly magazine, with issue 2 due out 25 November 2003.
     
  • Fuji TV's website for Full Metal Panic? Fumoffu is now up. Source: Moonphase. The TV series will commence broadcast on late night 25 August 2003/early morning 26 August 2003.
     
  • Broccoli has reported that R.O.D - The TV - will commence terrestrial broadcast on Fuji TV on 1 October 2003 at 26.58 (ie 2.58am on 2 October 2003). Source: Moonphase.
     
  • The four episode TV anime Massugu ni Ikou (Let's Go Straight), which finished broadcast yesterday, will be released on one single DVD on 3 December 2003. First pressing will come with CD of the soundtrack (composed by Oshima Michiru). Other features will include post-recording clip and commentary by the seiyuu, Oshima Michiru music recording clip and interview, ads for the show, non-telop OP and ED, character design works and a secret movie clip. Source: Moonphase.
     
  • Anime makers Studio 4ºC (Memories, parts of the Animatrix) have a new website up. Its previous website it still up, though. Source: Aniota.
     
  • Updated the Evangelion 2 news.
     
  • TV Tokyo's website for the upcoming anime Avenger is now up, though there's just the one page to view at present. Source: TA Group BBS. It'll commence broadcast on 1 October 2003.
     
  • The Lupin III TV special "Otakara Henkyaku Dai-sakusen" (Mission to return the treasure) will be released on DVD on 22 October 2003. There'll be a first pressing limited edition version which will come with soundtrack CD. Catalogue number VPBY-11827, price 6,300 yen. Regular edition catalogue number VPBY-11828, price 4,800 yen. Source: Mangaoh Club.
     
  • Oh! great fansite Sa-i states that volume 3 of Air Gear will be published in October 2003. Sa-i is a wonderful resource of Tenjou Tenge and Oh! great information (in Japanese, at least).
     
  • Evangelion 2. It's been officially announced by GAiNAX that the second half of the Eva Renewal Project is Shin Seiki Evangelion 2 (tentative title), a DVD game for the Playstation 2. To be released in November 2003. To be supervised by Anno Hideaki, produced by Alpha System and marketed through Bandai. Some kind of "Evangelion world simulator". That's it? That's the big announcement?! Ho-hum.
     
  • Still, some people may be interested in the game. gameonline.jp reports that the display will be a mix of 2D scenes and 3D scenes (eg for movement, battle scenes). You start off playing Shinji but as the game progresses can also control Rei and Asuka. Work on the game is said to be 50% completed. Source: ultimatum half edition. Judging by the photos in Famitsu, looks like the game will be a retelling of the Evangelion story.
     
  • Too tired yesterday. How long will I stay up today before a headache sets in?

20 August 2003 (third update)

  • Today's a pretty important day in the calendar. As you'd all know, it's of course the birthday of that Toudou Gakuen sannensei, kaiden of the Natsume Goushin Ryu, buchou of the Jyukenbu, Natsume Maya \^_^/ Banzai! Banzai! \^_^/
     
  • Fans of Sakurano Minene (author of Mamotte Shugogetten! aka Guardian Angel Getten) will be happy to know that a book of her art, imaginatively titled "Sakurano Minene Gashuu (Art Collection)" will be published by Mag Garden at the end of October 2003. I don't know about the price, though. Source: Mangaoh Club.
     
  • Shogakukan Production will release a mook titled "Blue Note" at the end of September, price 2,600 yen. Even though it's described as a mook, I presume that it'll be the manga Blue Note (pictures by Taiwanese couple Chen Shu Fen and Ping Fan, words by Sakamoto Yuuji, previously published in Shogakukan's manga magazine Ikki). It's just that since Chen Shu Fen and Ping Fan are illustrators rather than mangaka, Blue Note is not your usual sort of manga. Artwork is a bit rougher than the usual beautiful work of the husband and wife team, though. Source: Mangaoh Club.
     
  • I've sometimes wondered about CPM/CPM Manga's motto of "World peace through shared popular culture". A noble if completely fanciful ideal for such a media company. Somehow, I don't think distributing "popular culture" such as Kawarajima Kou's hentai manga "Immoral Angel" is going to contribute to world peace. Misogyny - maybe. World peace - I don't think so :P
     
  • Nonaka Eiji's manga Sakigake!! Cromartie Koukou (Cromartie High School), serialised in Weekly Shonen Magazine, is to be animated. It'll commence broadcast on TV Tokyo on 2 October 2003. TV Tokyo's website for the show is now up here. Production IG is working on the show and has a page up on its Japanese website here. Source: ultimatum half edition.
     
  • Nintendo has announced that an anime based on the F-Zero series of computer games about futuristic racing will commence broadcast on TV Tokyo on 7 October 2003. It'll be titled F-Zero Falcon Densetsu (Falcon Legend). The anime will be produced by Dentsu and Ashi Production. See the page linked above for character and mecha designs. A manga based on F-Zero is also planned. Source: Tentative Name.
     
  • The official website for Blame! has only 100 copies of the Blame! Ver.0.11: salvaged disc by Cibo DVD left for sale. Orders will be accepted until 31 August 2003. For more info about the DVD, see my 25 April 2003 entry.

19 August 2003

18 August 2003 (second update)

  • Note that in the pic on the homepage of the Mezzo TV anime official site, the numberplate of the car states "(To be) broadcast in 2004!" Source: Moonphase.
     
  • Release of the RahXephon movie DVD has been put back from 23 August 2003 to 25 September 2003, it's been announced on the official website. Source: Moonphase.
     
  • The official website for GAiNAX's upcoming anime Kono Miniku mo Utsukushii Sekai (This Ugly and Beautiful World) is now up, but there's nothing to see at present. Source: alternative-live. The show will commence broadcast in 2004. For more details, see my 10 August 2003 entry. Yay, my own English translation of the title is the same as the official English title \^_^/

17 August 2003

  • Looks like volume 1 of the upcoming anime Tenbatsu Angel Rabbie (Divine Punishment Angel Rabbie), the anime based on the computer game Magical Twirler Angel Rabbie, will be released on 4 December 2003. Volume 1 will be released as an OVA, but the format of the rest of the series is undecided - whether it continues as an OVA series or becomes a TV series may depend on sales of the first volume. Source: Moonphase.
     
  • The Mezzo Forte TV series, known as just Mezzo, now has an official website. View a minute long promo movie and download a wallpaper on this page, have a look at the characters. Source: Moonphase.

16 August 2003

  

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