Natsume Goushin Ryu 1-15 October 2003 news

1-15 OCTOBER 2003 NEWS

15 October 2003 (last update for the day)

An anime I haven't gotten around to mentioning is Omoikkiri Kagaku Adventure So Nanda! Commenced broadcast on 5 October 2003. Website is here.
ZDNet Japan as a photo report of items on display at this year's Plamodel Radicon Show. Click on the pics on the ZDNet Japan link for more pics. Source: Ma-ten. Among the items is this Michelle Chan statue from R.O.D - The TV -. 8,000 yen from Yamato.
ZDNet Japan reports that M3 Entertainment will release its Windows desktop accessory CD-ROM Uchuu no Stellvia The Great Collection on 28 November 2003. Contents include 98 voice files, 100 wallpapers, icons, mouse pointer, screensaver, calendar, design works, mini-games etc. First pressing will come with original pin badge. Price 4,800 yen. Source: Moon Phase.
The Asahi Shimbun reports that the Japanese government is planning to promote "contents business", ie content-based/intellectual property industries such as anime, movies, games and music. Measures will be aimed at increasing opportunities for training and education, and facilitating financing of works as well as strengthening anti-piracy measures. The annual Japanese domestic contents industry is 11,000,000,000 yen in size, twice that of the nation's steel industry. Source: Rakuga Kidou.
To commemorate the release of the Nausicaa DVD on 19 November 2003, Tokuma Shoten is releasing limited sets of the Kaze no Tani no Nausicaa manga or film comics with "Torumekia War Version" cases to house the manga/comics at the end of October. You can choose from the manga version: seven wideban B5 size volumes of the manga in a box, ISBN 4-19-210010-X. Or the film comic version: four B6 size volumes in a box, ISBN 4-19-210011-8. Each boxed set costs 2,648 yen (excluding tax). Source: ultimatum.
Fuji TV webpage for R.O.D - The TV -, which commences terrestrial broadcast today (actually very early morning 16 October 2003). Source: Magicalantique.com.
On 12 October 2003, I wrote about the limited edition version of volume 4 of Shibata Ami's manga Papuwa coming with a Tano-kun mobile phone strap. Toranoana has a pic of the strap here.
And on the same day, I also wrote about the limited edition of volume 3 of Fujishiro Ken's manga Nagasarete Airantou coming with a figure of Suzu and Tonkatsu. Toranoana has a pic of the figure here. Seems a bit mean to call a pig "Tonkatsu" ^_^;; The figure is cute, though ^_^
Gundam Seed chess pieces. Click on the Javascript link on that page to view the various pieces. There are fourteen types of figure, two of which are secret. Source: Hobby Search.
Hayashibara Megumi's new album will be released on 7 January 2004, price 3,150 yen (including tax). Title undetermined. Source: animate Web Mail Order.
The Kimi ga Nozomu Eien Mayauru no Okurimono Set will be released on 23 January 2004, containing the first four episodes of the TV anime. First pressing will come with picture book and reversible jacket. Price 12,075 yen (including tax)?! Source: animate Web Mail Order.
Otherwise, it looks like you can just buy regular DVD volume releases of Kimi ga Nozomu Eien. Fansite Kiminozo News states gives the following release schedule:
Volumes 1 and 2 to be released 23 January 2004
Volume 3 to be released 25 February 2004
Volume 4 to be released 25 March 2004.
Price for each volume will be 5,500 yen (excluding tax).

14 October 2003 (second update)

Maybe a bit more later. Still busy.
Sorry, typo with my 11 October 2003. Director of the Spirit movie should be Sugiyama Keiichi, not Suiyama Keiichi. I've corrected my earlier post. Sorry for all the typos recently m(_ _)m It seems to be a combination of fast typing, slow computer application, a cheap/unresponsive keyboard, my workload and my laziness -_- Common typos are missing "s", "g", "h" and "n" letters. Anyway, if anything looks like a typo, it's probably a typo. If you read news somewhere else which is different from what I type up, I recommend you follow the other website, whether it's an apparent typo or a bigger discrepancy.
Tokuma Shoten will publish "fa documenta Murata Range - 001+002 collection catalogue -" in December 2003. Murata Range (most recently noted for character designs in Last Exile) has designed various products recently, including watches, boots and clohing. This first limited edition mook will contain illustrations from which such designs originated, as well as description of the finished products. The book will come with mobile telephone strap designed by Murata, some sort of paper pattern sheet and something else I can't work out ^_^;; Sounds like more a design book than an artbook. On the other hand, the standard edition of Murata's second artbook futurhythm will be published by Wani Magazine in mid-December 2003, price 3,800 yen (excluding tax). May not be as exclusive as the first edition, but it's cheaper than the 9,500 yen (exlcuding tax) for the first edition. Source: Mangaoh Club.
The official Ai Yori Aoshi ~ Enishi ~ website has updated with DVD and CD release info, so I'll consolidate the info here. As I previously wrote, volume 1 of the DVD will be released on 21 December 2003, price 5,000 yen (excluding tax). First pressing (catalogue number GNBA-1009 ~~GNBA-9~~) will come with box illustrated by mangaka Fumizuki Kou to hold the first three volumes of this six volume series and an Aoi-chan self-righting doll. The official website calls the Aoi-chan doll a "desktop balloon pop". I think both descriptions could be correct, but calling it a "balloon pop" conjures up images of a cheaper item to me. Furthermore, the official website states that the first pressing of volume 1 will also come with desktop calendar, character postcard and postcard holder. Regular edition catalogue number for volume 1 is GNBA-1011. DVD release details for the rest of the series:
Volume 2 to be released 23 January 2004.
Volume 3 to be released 25 February 2004.
Volume 4 to be released 21 March 2004. There'll be a first pressing version of this volume. I presume it'll at least come with box to hold the last three volumes.
Volume 5 to be released 23 April 2004.
Volume 6 to be released 21 May 2004.
Each volume will contain two episodes and cost 5,000 yen (excluding tax).
I've previously written about the OST - see my 2 and 10 October 2003 entries. Two more CDs are scheduled for release. Given that their titles contain the word "Gekiban", I assume they'll be predominantly drama CDs, though they will contain at least a character song each. Anyway, volume 2 "Take" is to be released on 21 December 2003, catalogue number GNCA-1009, and volume 3 "Ume" is to be released on 23 January 2004, catalogue number GNCA-1010. Each CD will cost 2,500 yen (excluding tax) and first pressing of each will come special jacket sticker.
Source: Moon Phase. (Catalogue number updated 18 October 2003.)
Impress Corporation reports that the release of the Kaze no Tani no Nausicaa Collector's Box has been put back from 19 November 2003 to 5 December 2003. The regular edition DVD and the Nausicaa Figure Set version will still be released on 19 November 2003. For more release details, see my 26 July 2003 entry, but remember the pseudo-stereo soundtrack will no longer be included. Source: Rakuga Kidou.
That shop poster I saw which suggested that the R.O.D - The TV - DVD release was to commence on 27 November 2003 seems to have been an old-ish one: it referred to terrestrial broadcast commencing on 8 October 2003. (Terrestrial broadcast will now commence tomorrow).

13 October 2003

Further to my post yesterday about the limited edition version of volume 3 of Fujishiro Ken's manga Nagasarete Airantou, Keibunsha states that the figure will be one of Suzu with Tonkatsu. Source: ultimatum.
Graphical Corporation Crowd Inc. states on its website that the TV anime Mahou Shoujo Tai is planned for broadcast in April 2004. This will be Studio 4°C's first TV anime. Source: Moon Phase.

12 October 2003 (second update)

That's it for today. I'll deal with the rest when I have more time.
Bandai has commercials available for streaming download for the GiTS:SAC Official Log volume 1 (to be released on 24 October 2003) and Macross Zero volume 3 (to be released 28 November 2003). There are two ads for the Official Log. A 30 second ad at the top of the left hand column and a 15 secod ad at the top of the right hand column. The Macross Zero ad is the other new ad, second from the top of the left hand column. Source: Aniota.
Kenneth Lee, late of TokyoPop and more recently found at the Anime on DVD forums points out an error with my 8 October 2003 entry. The Shirow Masamune's poster collection Togi-hime Zoushi should be stated to be released on 5 December 2003, not 2004. I've now corrected the entry. Sorry for any inconvenience. Thanks, Kenneth!
Square Enix's website for Hagane no Renkinjutsushi (Full Metal Alchemist). Source: ultimatum. The original manga is published by Square Enix.
Volume 4 of Shibata Ami's manga Papuwa will be published by Square Enix on 21 February 2004. There'll be a limited edition version which will cost 933 yen (excluding tax) and will come with Tano-kun mobile phone strap. Source: Mangaoh Club.
Volume 3 of Fujishiro Ken's manga Nagasarete Airantou will be published by Square Enix on 21 February 2004 as well. There'll be a limited edition version which will cost 1,219 yen (excluding tax) and will come 105mm tall painted PVC figure of Suzu. Source: Mangaoh Club.
An anime based on the series of children's picture books Kaiketsu Zorori by Hara Yutaka is to be produced and broadcast in the (northern) spring of 2004. Source: ultimatum. I'm assuming it'll be a kodomo anime and so won't be covering it much on these pages...

11 October 2003 (fourth early update)

Maybe more at the end of the day. Still a few minor things I think I'll type up.
Been busy just trying to type everything up so I haven't included as many links for reference as I normally do.
News from the three anime magazines usually published around this time (Newtype, Animage and Animedia, I think):

The AIC original work Burn-up Scramble will commence broadcast in January 2004.

Hikari to Mizu no Daphne (I'm not sure about the last word) will commence broadcast in January 2004. Original work and draft character designs by mangaka Shiki Satoshi.

Gonzo will produce a movie "Spirit". Director Sugiyama Keiichi, script Murai Sadayuki, character design Ogata Kouji. (So the news I wrote back on 28 April 2003 turned out to be true, though no confirmation it'll be released in 2004). Is this Gonzo's first movie? (Updated 14 October 2003: should be Sugiyama, not Suiyama).

KSS OVA Wind ~ a breath of heart ~ (based on school love story computer game) will be six volumes, commencing release in the coming (northern) spring.
Source: Moon Phase.
News from the November 2003 issue of Comptiq magazine (published recently):

The OVA Tenbatsu Angel Rabbie (Divine Punishment Angel Rabbie) will be broadcast on TV, although it is not yet certain whether this will be before or after te DVD release. For release details for volume 1, see my 28 August 2003 entry but remember that release date has been put back to 23 January 2004.

The official title for the Raimu (Lime) iro Senkitan OVA will be Raimu iro Senkitan Jun (Pure). Three volumes, to be released in 2004.

The KSS OVA "Phantom - Phantom of Inferno" release date has been put back from December 2003 to the (northern) spring next year.
Source: Moon Phase.
A 2 channel post from 7 October 2003 states that following news is announced in an advance copy of the latest issue of Dragon Age manga magazine (on sale on the tenth of each month):
- Broadcast of the Chrono Crusade anime has been put back from this (northern) autumn to the winter.
- The next issue (ie to be published on 10 November 2003) will have details on a new work from Yamada Norie and Yoshizuki Kimuchi, the pair who brought you the Mahou Tsukai ni Taisetsu na Koto ~ Someday's Dreamers manga and anime. Title has yet to be determined. I'm presuming this will be news of a new manga, not anime.
Source: Moon Phase.
Broccoli has announced that the Aquarian Age Saga II ~ Don't forget me... ~ OVA will finally be released on 21 November 2003. There'll be a limited edition version and a regular edition. Both will come with OST CD, two promotion cards illustrated by Mikimoto Haruhiko and eight page booklet. Regular edition will cost 8,800 yen (excluding tax). Limited edition will cost 12,800 (excluding tax) and will also come with three premium decks and a platinum pack (not sure what the last two items are exactly - rarer cards for the trading card game...?). Source: Moon Phase.
Sony's website for King of Bandit Jing has states that the Seventh Heaven OVA will also tell the story of how a young Jing met Keel. Source: Moon Phase. For release details for volume 1, out 26 December 2003, see my 4 October 2003 entry.
The top page of m.o.e's website has updated with a second character for the original TV anime which the company is currently working on, to be broadcast next year. Source: Moon Phase. Character design by Oshima Miwa. With a company name like "m.o.e" and character designs like that, I assume it'll be another moe anime.
Fuji TV has a webpage up for the currently running TV anime Gilgamesh. Source: Moon Phase.
DVD release schedule for UFO Princess Walkure, Jyuuni Tsuki no Yasoukyoku (December Nocturne):
Volume 1 - 20 December 2003 (there'll be a limited edition version and a regular edition - see my 2 October 2003 entry)
Volume 2 - 23 January 2004 (will come with to hold all six volumes and OVA)
Volume 3 - 25 February 2004
Volume 4 - 25 March 2004
Volume 5 - 23 April 2004
Volume 6 - 25 May 2004
Each volume will contain two episodes, cost 5,800 yen (except the limited edition volume 1) and come with reversible jacket, trading card, picture labelled disc and eight page booklet. Source: Paper Moon.
Volume 1 of Godanner is to be released on 19 December 2003, catalogue number THD-12241, price 5,800 yen. Volume 2 is to be released on 23 January 2004 - there'll be a limited edition and a regular edition of that volume. The limited edition of volume 2 will come with figure and box to hold all six volumes in the series, price 7,000 yen. The regular edition will cost 5,800 yen. Source: Paper Moon.
JVC Music has a webpage up for the anime Mujin Wakusei Survive (Uninhabited Planet Survive), where you can sample the ED. Source: Moon Phase. The show will start broadcast on NHK on 16 October 2003.
Marvelous Entertainment has updated its webpage for the upcoming OVA Kidou Shinsen Gumi Moeyoken. There's a small pic of the figure which will come with the limited edition version of volume 1. Note also that volume 1 will be 30 minutes long, but volumes 2 to 4 will be 23 minutes long. Source: Moon Phase. For release details, see my 2 October 2003 entry.
To be released on 24 October 2003 is the DVD of the Mahoromatic TV Special which was broadcast in August. CD Japan has the release details here. Note that the DVD includes the Motto Utsukushii Mono Saimatsu Special (digest episode) which was broadcast on 19 December 2002. GAiNAX has announced that the DVD will come with a set of 27(!) postcards. Source: Moon Phase.
TV Tokyo's website for F-Zero Falcon Densetsu is now officially open. Source: Moon Phase.
JVC Music's webpage for Gungrave has opened up more sections as well. Source: Moon Phase. The trailer just links to the TV Tokyo trailer, though.
Fuji TV webpage for the TV anime Ginga Tetsudo Monogatari (The Galaxy Railways). Source: Aniota BBS.
Mainichi Shimbun report that a 30 year old former office worker was arrested on charges of stealing approximately 1,270 articles (such sailor fuku) from 54 schools (primary schools and high schools). The accused was apprehended by staff at a Hakodate senior high school on 1 September 2003. Police search of the accused's home found 13 boxes and about 1,270 articles (value approximately 1.5 million yen) such as sailor fuku, recorders (the musical instruments), notebooks etc. The accused confessed to having an interest in female school students. This Asahi.com report states that this stealing spree seems to have started in April 1996. Source: Aniota. Creepy. Hmm, did Anime News Network report on this before?
Updated the Murakami Takashi info.
2003 Saga International Balloon Fiesta to be held at Yoyogi Park in Tokyo from 30 October 2003 to 3 November 2003. Try the Doraemon air balloon (named "Baruemon") at the event. See this Tokyo Metropolitan Government report for a pic. Source: Aniota.
I never noticed this before, but I'm slow: the Google hacker's version. Source: Aniota.
The Japanese website for the full CG movie Kaena: The Prophecy. A French-Japanese co-production. Source: Aniota. Not much to see at present. There's also the Playstation 2 game to be released in the (northern) spring of 2004.
A Daily Sports online article: Futabasha, publisher of the Crayon Shin-chan manga, state that copyright contraventions regarding the Crayon Shin-chan character in China are estimated to translate into damages of up to 100 million yuan (approximately 1.4 thousand million yen). The contraventions are not only pirate editions of the manga but also VCDs, toys and unauthorised use of images on mobile telephones, clothing etc. Sale of licensed goods commenced in January 2002 as a countermeasure, with the authorised edition of the manga selling for 8.8 yuan (approximately 120 yen), close to the price of pirate editions. Source: Ma-ten.
Back on 30 August 2003, I wrote about otaku artist Murakami Takashi creating figures to be sold with some food item this (northern) winter. ZDNet Japan now has an article on the plan, known as "Murakami Takashi no Superflatmuseum". The toys will be available at convenience stores across Japan from 8 December 2003. Previously, Murakami's artworks have been auctioned off at Christies for prices like US$567,500 and US$380,000. Now here's your chance to own a (copy of a) Murakami piece for only 350 yen per toy. You can see pics of the range of toys which Murakami has developed for this project on the page linked above. Back on 30 August 2003 I couldn't be certain whether the Miss ko2 figure would be a replica of the original which sold for US$567,500. Judging by the pics, it looks like the toy version will be basically the same but with the pose only slightly altered (and of course, must smaller). There'll also be a copy of the Hiropon artwork (the original of which sold for US$380,000). The first release of the toys will be a range of ten figures. Furthermore Roppongi Hills in Tokyo will offer the "Roppongi Hills Edition" from 18 October 2003: a range of six toys, some of which are a different colour version to the regular edition. Source: Ma-ten. I'm assuming it's one of those deals where you buy a box of some snack and there's a figure inside, so you can't choose the figure you want. ie if you're lookin for the Miss ko2 or Hiropon figures, you'll probably need to buy a few packets of the snack before you chance upon those figures.
Impress Corporation also has a report on Murakami Takashi no Superflatmuseum, where you can view larger pics of each figure (click on each pic for an enlargement). The figures will be produced by Kaiyodo. Each of the ten toys will be a limited edition of 30,000. The Roppongi Hills Edition of six toys are a limited edition o 15,000 each. This report also confirms that some of the figures in Roppongi Hills Edition don't appear in the regular convenience store edition. There was also a New York Edition of the toys, which were sold during the Geisai event in September. Source: Aniota.
Alfa System has a website up for the upcoming Shin Seiki Evangelion 2 computer game for the Playstation 2. Source: Ma-ten. The game is set to be released in November 2003. Alfa System is the company developing the game.
This Comptiq report shows a pic of the characters for Kon Satoshi's upcoming TV anime Mousou Dairinin. Character design by Ando Masahi of Studio Ghibli. The anime will be produced by Madhouse. Source: alternative-live. Broadcast will commence on WOWOW in February 2004.

10 October 2003 (sixth update)

Still more to write up, since I haven't updated properly in four days now, but I'll leave the rest to tomorrow.
More character designs at the official Yumeria anime website, this time for Nanase, Kuyou and Neneko. Source: Rakuga Kidou. The anime commences broadcast in January 2004. The pencilwork is great.
Volume 1 of the OVA Kingdom of Chaos will be released on 24 October 2003. From now until 23 October 2003, Idea Factory has a 7 minute 51 second preview movie available for download from this page. Source: Rakuga Kidou. Or at least it should have. I can't tell at present, because the server is too busy. Maybe you'll have more luck. For release details for the OVA, see my 1 August 2003 entry.
New Gadguard wallpapers. Source: Rakuga Kidou. You know the drill.
A trailer for the movie Tokyo Godfathers is available for download from the official website. Source: Aniota.
Shogakukan has announced that issue number 20 of Big Comic manga magazine will feature a one-shot manga by Takahashi Rumiko - "Kawaii Hana" (Lovely Flowers). Source: ultimatum.
On 3 August 2003, I wrote about the upcoming magazine Weekly Watashi no Oniichan (Weekly My Big Brother). Media Works now have a page up for the magazine. First issue will be published on 17 January 2004. You can see a pic of the three figures which will come with the first three issues. And at the bottom of the page you can see a pic of the preview figure which will come with the 26 December 2003 issue of Dengeki Moe-oh magazine (price 980 yen including tax). Source: ultimatum. I don't know about you, but this sort of stuff says "lolicon" to me.
Young Animal magazine as a website up for the Ai Yori Aoshi manga (on which the anime is of course based). Source: ultimatum. There's a wallpaper you can download, if you answer the quiz correctly. It wouldn't be nice if I just directly linked to the wallpaper ^_^;;
The magazine also has a website up for the Futari Ecchi manga as well. Source: ultimatum. Volume 1 of the second Futari Ecchi OVA series will be released on 27 November 2003. For release details, see my 19 September 2003 entry.
The November 2003 issue of Newtype the Live (Newtype for tokusatsu shows) states that Kadokawa Shoten is to publish a tokusatsu manga magazine "Tokusatsu Ace" commencing 26 November 2003. The magazine will include manga such as "Ultraman the First" by Takada Yuzo, "Cutey Honey the Movie" (tentative title) by Itoh Shimpei and "Kikaida 02" by Meimu. The first issue will come with a Baltan alien figure (from the Ultraman series). Source: ultimatum (this site used to be called "ultimatum half edition", but now it's just "ultimatum"). BTW, one of the feature articles of the current November 2003 issue of Newtype the Live is on Pretty Guardian Sailormoon.
On 25 September 2003, I wrote about the DVD release of the Nasu ~ Andulusia no Natsu (Eggplant ~ Andulusian Summer) movie. VAP has website up for the movie, which confirms the DVD release details. No real new info, though it does state that the bonus disc which comes with the Collector's Edition will be approximately 60 minutes long.
CD Japan has details on the documentary DVD Lasseter-san Arigatou (Thank You, Lasster-san) to be released on 19 November 2003. The DVD documents the 20 year friendship between John Lasseter and Miyazaki Hayao. The Studio Ghibli website has updated to reveal that this DVD will be in English, with parts in Japanese. Furthermore, it'll have Japanese and English subtitles. Can't say I'm that much of a Ghibli fan as to get this...
Received my Millennium Actress Collection Box DVD today \^_^/ Watched the movie recently and knew that I'd have to get the limited edition DVD release (which comes with English subtitles) of this excellent movie. The box itself is wonderfully elegant - only disappointment is the very crude finishing on the towel which comes with the package. Picked up the CD by Hirasawa Susumu (which comes with short mpg clip). Now to get the artbook... For the past couple of years, most anime hasn't really grabbed my interest - a lot of it unoriginal, forgettable or tending towards the bishoujo. But I guess the reason I continue to watch anime is for the gems like Millennium Actress, or Evangelion, or Haibane Renmei. Currently, I'm taking turns watching a few episodes of Space Runaway Ideon, Neon Genesis Evangelion and RahXephon at a time. Evangelion certainly drew certain concepts from the early 80s TV anime Ideon, just as RahXephon has its parallels to Evangelion. And speaking of Evangelion and RahXephon...
Kadokawa Shoten will release the Shin Seiki Evangelion Kanzen Tokuhon (Complete Book) on 31 October 2003, price 952 yen (excluding tax). This is basically a special edition of Newtype magazine and will come with a special DVD with promotion video and interviews etc. It'll contain commentary on the 26 TV episodes, details and commentary on the characters and Angels and latest info on the Playstation 2 game Shin Seiki Evangelion 2. Source: Mangaoh Club. Sounds like a re-hash of info to me. Then again, that may not stop me buying it... ^_^;;
Media Factory will published a book titled "Complete RahXephon" on 25 November 2003, price 2,300 yen (excluding tax). Source: Mangaoh Club.
Mangaoh Club states that Sakamoto Maaya's new album Shonen Arisu will contain all new songs including the theme song "03" to the short film "03+ (03 Cross)" which she'll star in. The CD will be produced by Kanno Yoko. For release details on the CD, see my 8 October 2003. The DVD for 03+ will be released on the same day.
On 8 October 2003, I wrote about Shirow Masamune's poster collection Togi-hime Zoushi (tentative title). Kodansha now has a page up for the poster collection, which states that the clear file will be A3 in size.
DVD volume 1 of Hagane no Renkinjutsushi (Full Metal Alchemist) is to be released on 17 December 2003, price 3,990 yen. First pressing will come with "super jewel case", bonus disc and booklet. Catalogue number SVWB-1641. Source: Animate Web Mail Order.
Volume 1 of the DVD release of Peacemaker Kurogane will be released on 21 December 2003, price 2,100 yen. There'll be some first pressing limited edition bonus, but I don't know what it will be. Source: Animate Web Mail Order. For 2,100 yen, I can't imagine it'll be anything amazing, though.
Animaxis.com has an English language report that a Saint Seiya movie is to be released in February 2004. Check it out here.
Animaxis also has a report about the CEO of Production IG being elected Japan's nominee for Entrepreneur of the Year.
I finally picked up a copy of the song Tentoumushi no Samba (the song played during the wedding scene in the Evangelion TV series). Yay, my collection of Evangelion music is now complete, including all BGM such as the music playing on Shinji's S-DAT player \^_^/ Unfortunately, it's not the version of the Tentoumushi no Samba actually used in the TV series (IIRC, that version was sung by some of the seiyuu from the series) but it's better than nothing.
As previously reported, first pressing of volume 5 of the DVD release of Texhnolyze will come with box (and character card). Neowing states that it'll be released on 21 November 2003, catalogue number PIBA-1430, price 5,700 yen (excluding tax).
Volume 2 of R.O.D - The TV - will contain episodes 3 to 5. Source: Neowing. To be released 27 November 2003. At least it won't be two episodes for each volume. For release details, see my 2 October 2003 entry.
Volume 1 of the DVD release of Ai Yori Aoshi ~ Enishi ~ will be released on 21 December 2003. First pressing will come with box illustrated by mangaka Fumizuki Kou to hold the first three volumes of this six volume series and an Aoi-chan self-righting doll. Catalogue number GNBA-1009 ~~GNBA-9~~ (note the new Geneon serial number), price 5,000 yen (excluding tax). Source: Neowing. (Catalogue number updated 18 October 2003.)
On 2 October 2003, I also wrote about the Ai Yori Aoshi ~ Enishi ~ OST, to be released on 27 November 2003. Tentative title will be "Matsu" (at least, that's how I read the kanji). Neowing states that, while it'll contain the OP and ED (both "TV size"), note that it'll also come with some drama tracks. Then again, as I wrote, note that the first pressing limited edition version will come with CD-box.

8 October 2003 (second update)

More to type up - but I'll have to leave the rest to some other day...
Lego Tachikoma. Lego Fuchikoma. Source: Tentative Name. From the webpage C no Ryouiki, where you can find other stuff, like a Lego Totoro setting.
I'm tired of being so tired. Workload is immense. Looking forward to weekend, even though I know I'll have to work the weekend anyway -_-
Shirow Masamune's poster collection Togi-hime Zoushi (tentative title) is to be released 5 December 2003 ~~2004~~, price 2,857 yen (excluding tax). This will contain 12 full colour A3 size posters, a clearfile and 2004 calendar sticker(s). First limited edition will come with an additional A3 size poster. Source: Mangaoh Club. (Updated 12 October 2003 to correct the year of publication.)
Sakamoto Maaya fans: her forthcoming fourth album will be titled Shonen Arisu (Shonen Alice?). To be released 10 December 2003, catalogue number VICL-61165, price 2,900 yen (excluding tax). Source: Mangaoh Club.
Mangaoh Club also lists volume 2 of R.O.D - The TV - as being released on 27 November 2003, not volume 1. Hopefully this means my fear that the release of the series on DVD would be put back to November was unfounded.

6 October 2003 (third update)

Totoro's neighbours band together. The movie Tonari no Totoro (My Neighbour Totoro) is set in the Higashi Murayama area of Tokyo. The Yomiuri Online reports that plans to construct a four storey, 48 unit apartment complex in the woods of Sayama Hills have been met with a petition of approximately 3,000 signatures from residents in the neighbourhood (Totoro's neighbourhood ^_^ ) to halt the construction to preserve what they call "Totoro's forest". Source: Aniota.
For fans of Kotoko, Geneon and I've have each announced the release of Kotoko's first original album in the (northern) spring of 2004. The album will be produced by I've. Source: Moon Phase.
From the November 2003 issue of Monthly Shonen Champion manga magazine, news on the new series of Hanaukyo Maid Tai: official title will be "Hanaukyo Maid Tai La Verite", keywords for the series will be "a true smile", apparently it will be able to be enjoyed by those who haven't seen the original series. Source: Moon Phase. The new series is coming in 2004.
Back on 2 October 2003, I wrote about the company Seven Eight stating on its website that there'd be a sequel to the Triangle Heart ~ Sweet Songs Forever ~ OVA series. That webpage no longer has the same statement - was it an error or did the company prematurely announce the news? Source: Moon Phase.
The official website for the anime Tenbatsu Angel Rabbie (Divine Punishment Angel Rabbie) is now open. Source: Moon Phase. For release details, see my 2 October 2003 entry. The first pressing version of volume 1 with figure will be limited to 10,000 sets. Official romaji rendering of the main character's name appears to be Lasty Farson.
Starchild has a website up for the Gekijoban DVD Box to be released on 21 December 2003. For release details, see my 4 October 2003 entry. The box set will be a limited edition of 20,000 units. Source: Moon Phase.
The movie Tokyo Godfathers will be released theatrically in Japan on 8 November 2003 according to the news page on the official website. Source: Ma-ten.
It's stated on the official Komugi-chan website that release of volume 4 of Nurse Witch Komugi-chan Magical te has been put back from 21 November 2003 to 21 December 2003. Source: Moon Phase. For release details, see my 2 and 22 September 2003 news.
Volume 8 of the manga Sakigake!! Cromartie Koukou by Nonaka Eiji will be published by Kodansha on 17 November 2003. There'll be a limited edition which will come with CD-ROM. Price has yet to be determined. Source: Mangaoh Club. I don't know what the contents of the CD-ROM will be either. The anime based on the manga started broadcast a few days ago.
Hobby Search lists more Rurouni Kenshin figures coming from Yamato Toys in December 2003. Hard to be certain from the black and white pic, but I think the five figures will be Shinomori Aoshi, Hiko Seijuro, Seta Soujiro, Shishio Makoto and perhaps Himura Battousai. The original series of figures (the Kenshin Gumi) can be found here.
The official website for the Yumeria anime (to commence broadcast in January 2004) has updated with some character designs for the anime version of Mone (the girl from the dreamworld) and Tomokazu's classmate Agatsuma Miduki. ie the first two characters from the left when you click on the characters link on the website. Nice artwork. Source: Rakuga Kidou. As previously stated, other images on the website are currently from the computer game.
Got my Wonderful Days DVD, which comes with English subtitles. I didn't think it was as bad as some people have made out, but then again, I popped the DVD into the player with no expectations whatsoever. Animation was fine, though it certainly feels like the FMV from a computer game at times. The CG animation was good, the 2D animation somewhat flawed at times. I don't speak Korean, but I thought perhaps some of the voice acting (mainly the children) was a bit weak. The Korean language gives the movie a bit of an exotic feel, though. Plot was nothing particularly original or engaging, the characters were two-dimensional (if you'll forgive that description in this context), but in the end there was enough to see me through to the end. Not too dissimilar from any Hollywood movie based on a computer game in that respect. The movie's fine enough if you don't want to tax the brain. There's a lot of Japanese animation which is average, so I don't think Wonderful Days is that far behind Japanese anime, though you'd expect more from a big budget movie. I look forward to seeing more animation from Korea in future. With this movie, I guess the animation was supposed to be big drawcard, and there's a lot of focus on that. But I think I'll be listening to the understated soundtrack long after I've finished with the movie. I got the Wonderful Days special edition OST, which comes with postcards and VCD (trailers, highlight scenes, making of etc) in a nice little box. I love some of the music from this movie, though some of it I could do without :P

5 October 2003

Maybe more later. Maybe not. One or two items that I'm in a hurry to type up...
Back on 16 September 2003, I wrote about the Gekijoban DVD box, containing the Nadesico movie, Utena movie and the Cyber Team in Akihabara movie. Paper Moon has more details on the release. I'll consolidate the details here. To be released 21 December 2003, catalogue number KIBA-9979, price 9,800 yen. The DVDs will be picture labelled and come in a three-panel digipak illustrated by the character designers for each movie. The Nadesico movie will be a new high definition 24p telecine anamorphic remaster. The Utena movie will feature 5.1ch Dolby Digital sound. Source: Rakuga Kidou.
The November 2003 issue of manga magazine Comic Flapper (published today) has announced that a TV anime based on the manga Area 88 by Shintani Kaoru is to be broadcast by TV Asahi and Animax in the coming (northern) spring. The anime will be produced by Group Tac with direction by Imakake Isamu and character design by Koujina Hiroshi. Source: Moon Phase. There was an Area 88 movie/OVA series released back in 1985-6.

4 October 2003 (fourth update)

A bit more on the live action Sailormoon (see below). A friend who's a Sailormoon fan watched it and liked it (though I don't know whether my friend liked the karaoke session scene ^_^;; ).
Sony's website for King of Bandit Jing has announced that volume 1 of the Seventh Prison/7th Heaven OVA series (based on that arc of the manga by Kumakura Yuichi) will be released on 26 December 2003, catalogue number SVWB-1557, price 4,500 yen (excluding tax). First pressing will come with some bonus item. Source: Moon Phase. Should be a three volume release.
According to Sankei Sports, the Yakult Swallows baseball team in Japan has announced that, for the coming season, the image character for its fanclub will be Asakura Minami from the baseball manga Touch by Adachi Mitsuru. Seems Adachi is a Swallows fan. Another manga-baseball connection, this time from the Daily Sports paper: in the lead up to this year's baseball championship, Takahashi Rumiko has been rendering illustrations of Lum-chan (from the manga Urusei Yatsura, of course) for the Daily Sports to support the Hanshin Tigers. Seems Takahashi is a Tigers fan. Source: Aniota. The Tigers won the Central League pennant this year, which fact I noticed appeared in various Japanese fansites. And the fact that thousands of fans jumped into the canal a weeks back to celebrate seems to have made sports news worldwide.
The Battle Programmer Shirase website has updated again, including story summary and character info. Source: Aniota. A hacker calling himself America Ou (King) steals a supercomputer during transport from Japan to the US. Using the supercomputer to develop a virus, America Ou plans to destroy a building (? I think I read that correctly... ^_^;; ) It's up to Battle Programmer Shirase to save the day, battling the supercomputer with his mobile telephone... BTW, the title for episode 1 is "Enter the BPS! i-mode vs supercomputer: America King appears as well! No. 1" As far as I'm aware, normally "i-mode" is written in romaji, but in this case, "i" is written in hiragana.
Studio 4ºC states on one of its websites that in that it's currently working on a movie Mind Game, which Yuasa Masaaki will direct. Source: Aniota.
You may have heard of Namco's game Taiko no Tatsujin - an arcade game but also available for the Playstation 2. A rhythm game based on Japanese taiko drumming - you have to bang the drum in time with the signals which appear across the screen. A special drum and set of drumsticks are available as controllers for the Playstation 2 and in the game. The game featured all sorts of Japanese music, including some anime music. Now Impress Corporation reports a version featuring only songs from anime and tokusatsu hero shows is set to be released on 18 December 2003. Tentative title is Taiko no Tatsujin Waku Waku Anime Matsuri. Price is just 3,500 yen but the game is planned to include (what seems to be me to be a lower number of ) 15 to 20 songs. Scheduled for inclusion are songs such as the One Piece ED, Kochi Kame OP, Konjiki no Gash Bell!! OP and Naruto OP. Source: Aniota.
TV Tokyo's website for the new Popolo Crois series is now officially open. Source: alterative-live.
Too tired again yesterday.
Hmm, initial reports of this morning's broadcast of episode 1 of the live-action dorama Pretty Guardian Sailormoon don't sound too encouraging... "Shocking" seems to be the adjective of choice among those who've seen it.
I thought I saw a shop poster for the DVD release of R.O.D - The TV - which suggested volume 1 would be come out on 27 November 2003. Hope that's not true... I haven't seen any websites put back the release date from the original 22 October 2003 yet. Animate recently listed volume 2 as coming out on 27 November 2003.
Bookstore Manga no Mori has a listing of November 2003 publications. Source: ultimatum half edition. Among the books scheduled for release is an Nanase Aoi artbook Angel Flavor, to be published 25 November 2003, price 2,200 yen.
For lovers of Mikimoto Haruhiko's work, Kadokawa Shoten will release an artbook Innocence in November 2003, with over 100 illustrations of his work from Macross to Kidou Senshi Gundam Ecole du Ciel. B4 size, ISBN 4-04-853663-X-C0076, price 3,800 yen. Although Kadokawa's own information linked above gives no definite date for publication, Manga no Mori states it'll be 25 November 2003.
New set of wallpapers available for download at the official Gadguard website. Source: Rakuga Kidou. Just click on the words "Download Page". As previously stated, the wallpapers will change each week.
On 2 October 2003 I wrote about the first pressing limited edition Takahashi Rumiko Gekijo (Theatre) DVD box set. Neowing states that this item will come with an special copy of Takahashi's manga "Higaeri no Yume", which has not previously been collected into any of the Takahashi Rumiko Gekijo tankoubon.

2 October 2003 (fourth update)

Just added links to a lot of my news. Remember that all Pioneer URLs should now change to Geneon. Sorry if I've made lots of typos... ^_^;;
Volume 3 of the OVA Triangle Heart ~ Sweet Songs Forever ~ will be released on 27 November 2003. You can view some screenshots here. For release details, see my 30 May 2003 entry. Further, the company Seven Eight states on its website that there'll be a sequel to the four volume OVA series. Source: Moon Phase.
TV Tokyo's website for Takahashi Rumiko Gekijo Mermaid's Forest is now up. Source: Moon Phase. The series commences broadcast on 4 October 2003.
Studio Pierrot has a website up for Saiyuki Reload, which commenced broadcast today. Meanwhile, TV Tokyo's website for the TV series is now officially open as well. Source: Moon Phase.
The TV anime Mujin Wakusei Survive (Uninhabited Planet Survive) will commence broadcast on 16 October 2003.
The UFO Princess Walkure, Jyuuni Tsuki no Yasoukyoku (December Nocturne) series will commence broadcast on Chiba TV tomorrow. Media Factory has announced that Volume 1 of the DVD release will hit the stores on 20 December 2003 and contain the first two episodes. There'll be a first pressing limited edition version and a regular edition. The regular edition will cost 5,800 yen and come with reversible jacket, trading card, picture labelled disc and eight page booklet. The limited edition version will come with the same items but in addition will come with original drama CD, 40 page design works booklet and three clear postcards. Price of the limited edition version will be 7,800 yen. Source: Moon Phase.
As stated on 30 September 2003, volume 1 of the anime Tenbatsu Angel Rabbie (Divine Punishment Angel Rabbie) will now be released on 23 January 2004. For a pic of the figure which comes with the first pressing, see Media Factory's news page. The figure is shown in the lower half of the page. For more release details, see my 28 August 2003 entry. Source: Moon Phase.
Apparently the real opening credits sequence has finally appeared with the broadcast of episodes 5 and 6 of R.O.D - The TV -. And it includes a silhouette of Yomiko as well. Meanwhile, Anita builds up an impressive collection of frog goods ^_^
Avex has webpage up for the new anime series Yami to Boushi to Hon no Tabibito, set to commence broadcast on MBS today (actually early morning 3 October 2003). Orbit Soft also have a webpage up for the series (I presume Orbit Soft is the company which made the original computer game on which the anime is based). Source: TA Group BBS. Further, Moon Phase poins out that Studio Deen's website for the anime has updated. But it's all just text (broadcast times, staff and cast details).
Akita Shoten's December publication schedule is up. Source: ultimatum half edition. Among the titles is Tomizawa (Alien 9) Hitoshi's new manga BR /Blitz Royale, volume 1 of which is to be published on 18 December 2003, price 540 yen (including tax).
Volume 5 of Isshiki Makoto's manga Hanada Shonen Shi (on which the TV anime of the same name is based) will be released in the (northern) winter. There'll be a limited edition of 9,000 copies which will come with a 10cm figure of Ichiro.
The Gundam Officials.com website is advertising the Gundam Seed Official File range of books. Volume 3 of the Character issue and volume 3 of the Mecha issue were both published in September. First edition of both come with a bonus item. In the case of the Character issue, the first edition will come with Nicol's Memorial (piano) Score for the song "Namida no Thema (The Thema of a Tear)".
In issue number 19 of Young Magazine Uppers, Oshikawa Untaro's manga "Fujimi de Fujinami" features Saddam Hussein.
Finally got my Shirow Masamune Galgrease 1st series Poster Books. Yep, just the previously published booklet posters and eight trading cards in each Poster "Book". Shirow's poster collection Togi-hime Zoushi (tentative title) is to be released in 2004. This will contain 12 A3 size posters.
Got my CD single of the R.O.D - The TV - ED "Moments in the Sun" by kazami with Home Grown. First pressing came with a sticker of the Paper Sisters \^_^/ My first CCCD CD >_< What a pain, I can't listen to it when I'm at my computer. When I get the time, I'll have to record it to my drive the hard way.
Picked up volume 2 of the manga Ibara no Ou (King of Thorn) by Iwahara Yuji \^_^/ Something which wouldn't be bad if adapted into an anime. I've also ordered the November 2003 issue of Monthly Comic Beam manga magazine, to be published 11 October 2003. That issue will come with a special cover for volume 2 of the Ibara no Ou manga \^_^/
For Green Green fans, the Green Green Character DVD Sanae & Wakana will be released on 19 November 2003. It'll contain a short story about Sanae and Wakana, "character plan" clip (whatever that is) and other contents. First pressing will come with a trading card. For more details see CD Japan's listing. Source: Animate and Mangaoh Club.
Meanwhile volume 4 of the DVD release of the Green Green TV series will be out on 3 December 2003. CD Japan's listing is here. First pressing will come with trading card, postcard and box to hold all the volumes in the series. Source: Animate.
More details on the release of volume 1 of the OVA Kidou Shinsen Gumi Moeyoken on 19 November 2003. There'll be a first pressing limited edition version and a regular edition. The links above are for CD Japan's listings. The first pressing limited edition version will come with figure. I'm not certain, but it may be that each of the four volumes will have a limited edition version. Source: Animate.
Volumes 2 and 3 of R.O.D - The TV - will be released on 27 November 2003 and 17 December 2003 respectively. Price 6,000 yen each. First pressing of each will come with pinup card, super jewel case and pinup. Source: Animate.
For Ai Yori Aoshi fans, of which there seem no shortage, the Ai Yori Aoshi ~ Enishi ~ OST will be released on 27 November 2003 by Geneon, price 2,913 yen. There'll be a first pressing limited edition version and a regular edition. The limited edition version will come with a CD-box. I can't say for certain whether this box will hold more than the OST itself or whether it's simply nicer presentation (the box will be illustrated by mangaka Fumizuki Kou), but I think it's the former, and I do note that Mangaoh Club states that this will be volume 1 of the OST... Catalogue number for the limited edition is GNCA-1007, while catalogue number for the regular edition is GNCA-1008. Source: Animate and Mangaoh Club.
Geneon will release the Shingetsutan Tsuki-hime OST 1 on 10 December 2003, price 2,913 yen. First pressing (catalogue number PICA-1293) will come with a sleeve to house the CD. Regular edition catalogue number is PICA-1289. Source: Animate and Mangaoh Club.
The first season of Takahashi Rumiko Gekijo (Theatre) will be released on DVD on 17 December 2003. There'll be four individual volumes, each containing three episodes, catalogue numbers PCBE-50701, 50714-6, price 5,800 yen each. Otherwise you can purcase the first pressing limited edition DVD box for 23,200 yen, catalogue number PCBE-60031. Source: Mangaoh Club.
Yesterday: busy; tried. Actually, recently I've been real busy with work. So if I post less often over the next few weeks, you'll know why.

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