Natsume Goushin Ryu 16-31 October 2003 news

16-31 OCTOBER 2003 NEWS

30 October 2003 (fourth update)

Would like to type up more, but I must leave it at this for now.
For the 30th anniversary of the Tezuka Osamu's manga Black Jack, Akita Shoten is releasing the All Colour Version Black Jack. This is just a single volume collecting together 11 all colour stories from the manga previously serialised in Weekly Shonen Champion magazine. On sale 18 December 2003, price 2,310 yen (including tax). Plus, a Black Jack TV special will be broadcast on 22 December 2003. This will be a two hour special, comprising four 30 minute stories, supervised by Tezuka's son Tezuka Makoto. Source: ultimatum. The anniversary date is 5 November 2003.
Updated the NHK news.
The sequel TV anime Chojushin Gravion Zwei will be broadcast on Kids Station and Chiba TV in January 2004. Source: Moon Phase.
Monthly manga magazine Dengeki Comic Gao! announces that Gonzo's original TV anime Bakuretsu Tenshi (Exploding Angel) will be broadcast in the coming (northern) spring. And it looks like a manga adaptation will be serialised in Comic Gao! Source: ultimatum. Described as a "Tokyo Western"...
The Mainichi Shimbun reports that NHK is planning a "new anime work development project" - a medium or long term project aimed at creating anime works which can be watched by a family (the anime is to be broadcast during the "golden time" viewing range of 7-10pm) and discussed between the generations. Each episode will be 30 minutes. Stories will be classics, modern or original works, with the first work planned for broadcast in the coming (northern) spring. It's also hoped that the animation medium will help overcome the language barrier and give the works international potential. Update: meanwhile, the Sankei Shimbun reports that a 13 episode TV anime based on Tezuka Osamu's manga Hi no Tori (Bird of Fire/Phoenix) will be broadcast by NHK in the (northern) spring. The anime will feature BGM based on music that Tezuka liked, such as Beethoven and Chinese musical instruments like the erhu. And another Mainichi Shimbun report states that the anime will be produced by Tezuka Production and will be broadcast in Hi-Vision quality with 5.1 channel sound. Source: TA Group BBS. Part of NHK's project...? BTW, there was also a Hi no Tori movie back in about 1980.
Infoseek anime reports that the live action Devilman movie is scheduled for theatrical release in the (northern) summer next year, with relative newcomer Izaki Hisato (19 years old) in the title role. While live action, it'll also incorporate CG animation ~~animation and CG~~ (as seems to be de rigeur nowadays). To be directed by Nasu Hiroyuki. (Updated 1 November 2003.)
I've been away from the keyboard for a few days, but today as I was typing up some news, my computer froze. So things are getting back to normal... -_-
Bandai has pointed out that some copies of volume 6 of Wolf's Rain DVD (on sale 24 October 2003) unfortunately do not include the 12 page explanatory booklet. Enquiries should be directed to their customer centre on 03-5828-7582... Source: Digital Beat.
I have no idea whether this is news or not, since I don't keep up with events in the US, but goo anime cites a Sankei Sports article that theatrical release of Tokyo Godfathers in the US will be brought forward to December 2003 in the hope of helping it obtain an Oscar nomination.
A while back, Mangaoh Club listed a Hauru no Ogoku Shiro (Howl's Moving Castle) Image Album being released on 3 December 2003, catalogue number TKCA-72620, price 2,857 yen (excluding tax). It still has the same listing, but Musicmarket has the CD as being released on 21 January 2004.
Been meaning to type this up for a while, so it's no longer news, but there'll be three versions of volume 4 of the KaleidoStar DVD released on 25 December 2003. The regular edition will cost 5,800 yen (excluding tax). The first pressing limited edition will cost 7,800 yen (excluding tax) and come with the same sort of bonus items and packaging as the previous volumes. Then the Golden Phoenix limited edition version will also come with OST (15 tracks) and box to hold the first four volumes of the DVD release. Price 9,800 yen (excluding tax). Source: Chara-Ani.com.
Been extremely busy recently, hence the lack of updates. But at present, I'm only "mostly" extremely busy, so I'll take a short break to type up a bit of news.
On 25 October 2003 I wrote about episode 1 of the new series Ai Yori Aoshi ~ Enishi ~ being distributed free over the internet by animate.tv. The relevant page is now up. Click on the dark blue button "play" towards the bottom right o that page. The episode will be available until 28 November 2003.
Tomorrow's Halloween, isn't it? The only time of the year in Western (mainly North American) society when it's considered anywhere near socially acceptable to cosplay. Except perhaps if you're going to watch a sports game, eg baseball. At those times, maybe it's okay to dress up as a Conehead etc...
A Canadian wins the world janken championships. Well, rock, paper, scissors anyway. The report is from Auntie (the Australian Broadcasting Corporation).
A GiTS:SAC special DVD will be released in February 2004. Don't ask me what it'll contain. I have no further details at present.
Got my R.O.D - The TV - volume 1 DVD \^_^/ First pressing (of course). Comes in nice slimline case for the space conscious. Overall, similar to the original OVA series in packaging - you get original draft character designs for Anita. Menu system reminds me of the OVA too. Less extras, though: this time no design works on the DVD as there were on the OVA. Does include the next episode previews which appeared in the terrestrial broadcast, though (or perhaps extended versions). On the DVD, they start using the OP with new animation right from episode 2, unlike in the original PPV broadcast. Guest commentary on this DVD from Saitou Chiwa (seiyuu for Anita). Unfortunately, I'm not so impressed with the video quality of the DVD. It's grainy, particularly where there are dark or grey scenes. And I suspect the picture is interlaced. But I'm no video expert. Oh yeah, almost forgot: did people notice some of the book titles at the Three Sister's home in episode 1? There was a Tenchi Muyo book, or at least that was the title. Studio Orphee has worked on Tenchi Muyo in the past. Also a book titled "Masunori's Directing World". Masunori Kouji is the director of the series.

26 October 2003 (third update)

Still haven't caught up with everything I want to type up, but I'll leave the rest for the next few days.
The January 2004 issue of Afternoon manga magazine (to be published 25 November 2003) will come with a special cover for volume 27 of the Aa Megami-sama (Oh My Goddess) manga.
It's been announced by Kodansha's manga magazine Kiss that the shoujo manga Cosme no Mahou (Cosmetics no Mahou) by Aikawa Momoko will be adapted into a live action dorama series to be broadcast on TBS starting 5 January 2004.
Gentosa Comics' new shoujo manga magazine Spica will commence publication with volume 1 on 28 October 2003. This magazine will be published quarterly, on the 28th day of January, April, July and October. Price 680 yen. Source: ultimatum.
Mangaka Shiki Satoshi has stated on his website that the original TV anime Hikari to Mizu no Daphne (still not sure about the last word) will commence broadcast in the early (northern) spring of 2004. It had been stated in the anime magazines earlier this month that it would be broadcast in January 2004. Shiki, who wrote the manga Kamikaze, also states on his homepage that his new manga will commence serialisation in the early (northern) spring of 2004. Source: ultimatum.
Volume 1 of Ginga Tetsudo Monogatari (The Galaxy Railways) will be released on 21 December 2003. There'll be a first pressing limited edition deluxe version, catalogue number OPSDB-21, price 6,800 yen (excluding tax), which will come with a six-hole binder in which to keep the SDF Misson Reports which will come with each volume. The regular edition will have catalogue number OPSDA-1, price 6,800 yen (excluding tax). This series will comprise 13 volumes in total. Source: Mangaoh Club.
Volume 1 of the upcoming (three volume) OVA series Moekan (Moekko Company) will be released on 19 December 2003. As previously stated, there'll be a limited edition version, catalogue number KSXA-24634, price 7,800 yen (excluding tax) which will come with CD and mousepad. The CD will include mini-drama and interview among other things. The regular edition will have catalogue number KSXA-24631, price 5,000 yen (excluding tax). Source: Mangaoh Club. Looks like there'll be a limited edition version of each volume of this series.
There's some Amano Yoshitaka DVD titled "Mateki" (Magic Flute) to be released on 17 December 2003, catalogue number COWC-509, price 9,500 yen (excluding tax). Actually, it'll be three DVDs. Source: Mangaoh Club. Don't know what the contents will be, but Amano released an artbook with the same title back in October 2001. Perhaps another collection of the artist's illustrations set to music, like his Karei naru Gensoubi no Sekai series of DVDs (CD Japan's details for volume 1 of that series is here)?
The second Green Green Character DVD will be released on 17 December 2003, catalogue number PCBG-50456, price 2,800 yen (excluding tax). This time the DVD will focus on Futaba & Chigusa. Source: Mangaoh Club. I presume contents will be similar to the Sanae & Wakana DVD to be released on 19 November 2003 - for details of that DVD, see my 2 October 2003 entry.
Volume 2 of the OVA Kidou Shinsen Gumi Moeyoken will be released on 17 December 2003 and, as with volume 1, first pressing will come with figure. The first pressing limited edition version has catalogue number PCBX-50546, price 6,800 yen (excluding tax). Regular edition has catalogue number PCBX-50542, price 4,700 yen (excluding tax). Source: Mangaoh Club.
More on the limited edition version of volume 9 of the Eva manga with Rei action figure. The figure has been created by Masaki Apsy, whose got this page up on his website devoted to the figure. Furthermore, Kadokawa Shoten, publishers of the manga, have a page up for the limited edition release as well. The limited edition version will be released in early April 2004, whereas the regular edition of the manga will be published in mid April. Source: Tentative Name. The Kadokawa webpage also points out that the December 2003 issue of Newtype magazine, on sale 10 November 2003, will contain a 10 page section on Eva, an Eva trading card, and come with DVD containing clips from the Evangelion 2 game to be released on 20 November 2003.

25 October 2003 (eighth update)

Maybe more later if I can be bothered. Still a number of things I've been meaning to type up for some days now...
The TV anime of Yugo (based on the manga by Akana Shuu and Makari Shinji) will commence broadcast on Kids Station in February 2004. 13 episodes. There'll be a Pakistan story arc and a Russia story arc. In what's hyped as a first in anime history, there'll be two directors. Does that just mean one director for the Pakistan arc and one for the Russia arc...? Source: Moon Phase. For more info on this manga, see my 5 June 2003 entry.
Manga magazine Comic Gum has announced that the official title of the 12 episode TV anime based on the "Kita e" series of bishoujo computer games will be "Kita e. ~ Diamond Dust Drops ~". Animation by Studio Deen, directed by Bob Shirahata (Gravitation) and character design by Chiba Michinori (Mahou Tsukai ni Taisetsu na Koto ~ Someday's Dreamers). Source: Moon Phase. Broadcast of the anime will commence in January 2004.
The anime Pugyuru (based on the manga by Konno Tohiro, serialised in Kodansha's monthly manga magazine Magazine Z) will be broadcast in the (northern) spring of 2004. Source: Moon Phase.
Updated the Eva manga news.
Volume 9 of the Shin Seiki Evangelion manga by Sadamoto Yoshiyuki will be published in early April 2004. As previously reported, the first limited edition will come with Rei action figure. Price 1,700 yen (excluding tax). The Rei figure will be 110mm tall, have 16 joints, so I guess it's poseable, and will come with entry plug seat. Pics here and here. Source: Mangaoh Club. Update: Moon Phase points out that the GAiNAX website has updated with news of the limited edition manga as well. You can bigger and more pics on GAiNAX's report.
I should've realised when I heard Luna in the live action Pretty Guardian Sailormoon was a plushie/CG cat: now you can buy the Luna soft toy. Hobby Japan has the details here.
The latest news on Shirow Masamune's Galgrease 001 Wild Wet West Gashuu (Art Collection) is that it'll be 56 pages, rather than the previously announced 52. Still B2 in size. The second and third books in the series will be Galgrease 002 Hellhound-01 and Galgrease 002 Hellhound-02. Source: Uppers magazine.
Sorry, I was going to update the Patlabor news with more specs of the DVD releases, but having a look at them, there wasn't anything that seemed worthwhile for me to type up.
Volume 1 of the upcoming (three volume) OVA series Moekan (Moekko Company) will come with booklet, CD and mousepad. Source: Moon Phase. Moekan is based on an adult maid adventure computer game of the same name. The series is set to commence release in the (northern) winter, but I haven't news of the title for a while.
The Nurse Witch Komugi-chan Magical te comical adventure game for the Playstation 2 will be released in (northern) winter by KID. As with other Komugi-chan releases, there'll be a first pressing limited edition version. This time, it'll cost 10,800 yen (excluding tax) and will come with Komugi-chan figure and short music CD. See here for the figure. Regular edition will cost 6,800 yen (excluding tax). Source: Moon Phase. Yeah, I know the title should be "Magi-karte" but I still can't be bothered changing what I wrote before...
Movie website museum K states that Oshii Mamoru's movie Innocence will be threatrically released in Japan on 6 March 2004. Source: Aniota BBS. The website also states that the Studio Ghibli movie Hauru no Ogoku Shiro (Howl's Moving Castle) will be theatrically released on 17 July 2004.
Official Orikasa Fumiko website with Geneon. Source: alternative-live. She's had various roles in anime like Millennium Actress (Chiyoko), Figure 17 (Hikaru), SaiKano (Chise) etc. Her first single, the ED to Tsuki-hime, will be released on 6 November 2003.
Speaking of Shingetsutan Tsuki-hime, the official website has been updated, with a couple of wallpapers being available for download. Click on the "Special" section. Source: Rakuga Kidou.
The weekly change of wallpapers at the Gadguard website. Source: Rakuga Kidou.
Monthly manga magazine Magazine Z has announced that it's March 2004 issue (to be published 26 January 2004) will see the start of Kakinouchi Narumi's new manga "Yakushiji Ryoko no Kaiki Jikenbo - Matenrou -" (The Strange Case Files of Yakushiji Ryoko - Skyscraper -). This will be a manga adaptation of the novel of the same name in the Yakushiji Ryoko novel series by Tanaka Yoshiki (which Kakinouchi happens to do the illustrations for). Source: ultimatum. A story of the beautiful police superintendent Yakushiji Ryoko. Kakinouchi would be known for manga such as Shaolin Sisters and Vampire Princess Miyu published in English by TokyoPop.
animate.tv has announced that it will be distributing episode 1 of the new series Ai Yori Aoshi ~ Enishi ~ free over the internet (by streaming download) from 30 October 2003 to 28 November 2003. Source: Magicalantique.com. The official website for the anime makes the same announcement.
"Fly Me to the Sailormoon": Toei's website for the live action Pretty Guardian Sailormoon TV series. Source: Tentative Name.
Updated the Patlabor news.
Volume 8 of Last Exile will be released on 21 February 2004. As with volume 1 of the DVD release, there'll be a first pressing limited edition version which comes with figure (of Lavi and Chibi Lavi), mousepad and box to hold volumes 8 to 13. There'll also be the first pressing limited edition version which comes with box (and not figure nor mousepad). And finally there'll be the regular edition. CD Japan has the release details: limited edition with box and figure and mousepad, limited edition with box, regular edition.
The first two Patlabor movies will be re-released on 23 January 2004. There'll be a limited edition version (to be produced for a limited period only) and a regular edition of each movie. CD Japan has the release details here: Patlabor movie limited edition, Patlabor movie regular edition, Patlabor 2 movie limited edition, Patlabor 2 movie regular edition.
In addition, following on the GiTS:SAC Official Log DVD and book releases, Bandai will release the Patlabor Movie Archives and Patlabor OVA & TV Archives on 25 February 2004. Each will come as DVD and book and will constitute official guides - the Movie Archives will deal with the four theatrical releases (including Mini-Pato) and the OVA & TV Archives will deal with the 20 OVA episodes and 47 TV episodes. Price of each 5,040 yen (including tax).
Volume 1 of the currently airing anime Popolo Crois will be released on 26 December 2003. CD Japan's release details can be found here.
As I previously wrote, Hayashibara Megumi's new album (currently untitled) will be released on 7 January 2004. CD Japan's release details reveal that it will come with a DVD with two music videos.

23 October 2003 (fifth update)

Fell asleep yesterday before I could update more. Still more to type up, but I'm going to leave that to tomorrow or the weekend. Too tired...
Klockworx has a webpage up for UFO Princess Walkure, Jyuuni Tsuki no Yasoukyoku (December Nocturne), but there's not much to see. Source: Moon Phase.
AtEntertainment Co. has details up for the release of the Futari Ecchi 2nd Season OVA. Strangely, it doesn't appear that the release date for volume 1 "White Lovers" is stated. Anyway, I presume it'll still be 27 November 2003. Catalogue number BBBA-3731, 30 minutes duration, standard 4:3 aspect ratio, single layer, stereo sound, price 5,800 yen. Volume 2 "Yuura in Costume" will be released 22 January 2004, with the same specifications. Source: Moon Phase.
JC Staff has its own website up for the currently airing Shingetsutan Tsuki-hime. Source: Moon Phase.
M3 Entertainment now has a webpage up for its Windows desktop accessory CD-ROM Uchuu no Stellvia The Great Collection. Some slight changes to the contents which I previously wrote about. Approximately 100 wallpapers, 96 voice files, mouse pointers, screensavers, calendar, design works, non-telop OP from the anime, glossary of terms and two mini-games. First pressing will come with original Foundation II pin badge. For Windows 98SE/2000/Me/XP. On sale 28 November 2003, price 4,800 yen. Source: Moon Phase.
TV Asahi's website for the upcoming TV anime Bobobobo Bobobo is now open. And then there's Bobobo.com. Source: Moon Phase. The anime will commence broadcast on 8 November 2003.
Toho has announced that a twelfth Crayon Shin-chan movie is to be produced, to be released theatrically in April 2004. Source: Ma-ten.
The official website for the magazine Weekly Watashi no Oniichan (Weekly My Big Brother) is now up. Source: Ma-ten. Official English title for the manga appears to be "Weekly Dearest My Brother". Nothing to see at present.
TV Tokyo has a website up for the TV anime Omoikkiri Kagaku Adventure So Nanda! which commenced broadcast a couple of weeks back. Source: Ma-ten. Nothing to see at present here either.
Updated the Cutey Honey news.
goo anime cites a Sankei Sports report that filming of the live action Cutey Honey movie finished last month. It is hoped that the movie will be released theatrically in May 2004. Meanwhile, alternative-live points out GAiNAX's own report, which simply states that the movie will likely be released in the (northern) summer of 2004. Although a live action movie, GAiNAX in their blurb refer to incorporating an anime technique which they call "Honeymation".
Been sorting out some of my holiday plans today. Still deciding whether to stop off in Japan for a few days or not. Whatever happens, I'll be gone for December 2003 and early January 2004, so no updates during that period. If some clumsy Australian crashes into you on the ski slopes of North America, that could be me ^_^;; You probably think I'm joking about crashing into people... ^_^;; I come from snow-challenged nation.
But the most important thing that happened today was that my order shipped, including volume 1 of R.O.D - The TV - \^_^/ among other goodies.
Not news, but Hobby Search lists the completed version of the Nancy Makuhari resin model by Kotobukiya as being released in December 2003, price 12,800 yen. IIRC, Previews mentioned the item being available in North America in January 2004 (and it's probably cheaper to get it that way). Nancy's from R.O.D, of course.
Yamato's completed Noir resin models of Mireille Bouquet and Yuumura Kirika are to be released in January 2004, each about 26 cm tall and 14,800 yen in price. Source: Hobby Search.

22 October 2003 (second update)

Sorry, my head hurts now. More later if the headache goes away...
Volume 4 of the manga Tactics by Kinoshita Sakura and Higashiyama Kazuko will be published by Mag Garden on 10 February 2004. There'll be a limited edition version, price 1,524 yen (excluding tax) which will come with Kantarou figure. Source: Animate. The manga is serialised in Monthly Comic Blade manga magazine.
No sooner had the official Kimi ga Nozomu Eien website publish the DVD release details than they changed the details the next day >_< Sorry, I've been too busy the past few days to post up the change of details. Would've been nice if someone else posted up the details, but don't worry, I do it. Again. The main changes are that in general release dates have been put back two months, the Mayauru no Okurimono Set and the Hontou no Takaramono Set limited sets at the start and end of the DVD release schedule have been changed to include only volumes 1 and 7 respectively (thankfully with a corresponding reduction in price), and the box now comes with first pressing of volume 2 not volume 3. Once again, it's best that I set everything out:
Mayauru no Okurimono Set: first pressing limited edition, to be released on 25 February 2004, contains volume 1 of the DVD with reversible jacket, and picture book "Mayauru no Okurimono", price 6,300 yen (excluding tax).
Volume 1 (regular edition) to be released 25 February 2004, price 5,500 yen (excluding tax).
The picture book Mayauru no Okurimono will be available separately on 25 March 2004, price 1,500 yen (excluding tax). So basically if you want the book as well, it's cheaper to get the limited set - plus you get the reversible jacket.
Volume 2 to be released 25 March 2004, price 5,500 yen (excluding tax). First pressing comes with box to hold all seven volumes and reversible jacket.
Volume 3 to be released 23 April 2004, price 5,500 yen (excluding tax). First pressing comes with reversible jacket and two trading cards.
Volume 4 to be released 25 May 2004, price 5,500 yen (excluding tax). First pressing comes with reversible jacket and two trading cards.
Volume 5 to be released 25 June 2004, price 5,500 yen (excluding tax). First pressing comes with reversible jacket and two trading cards.
Volume 6 to be released 23 July 2004, price 5,500 yen (excluding tax). First pressing comes with reversible jacket.
Hontou no Takaramono Set: first pressing limited edition, to be released on 25 August 2004, contains volume 7 of the DVD with reversible jacket, and picture book "Hontou no Takaramono", price 6,300 yen (excluding tax).
Volume 7 (regular edition) to be released 25 August 2004, price 5,500 yen (excluding tax).
The picture Hontou no Takaramono will be available separately in September 2004, price 1,500 yen (excluding tax).

21 October 2003

Very tired. I'll type up a few things, then go lie down. Which means... I'll probably fall asleep and fail to type up any more today even though I've got more to write about...
VAP's website for the short movie Nasu ~ Andulusia no Natsu (Eggplant ~ Andulusian Summer) has updated with the design of the T-shirt which you get if you purchase the Collector's Edition of the DVD. For release details, see my 25 September 2003 entry.
Kodansha's manga publication list for December 2003 is now up. Among the titles to be released is volume 4 of Oh! great's manga Air Gear, to be published 17 December 2003, price 390 yen. Also listed is some Urushihara Satoshi Gashuu (Art Collection) but price and publication date have yet to be determined. Note that the home page for Urushihara's website (linked above) has updated with a new pic and contains nudity.

20 October 2003

Still extremely busy... -_- Got various things to type up, but I'll leave all but one item for some other day. Hopefully someone else will type up the news sometime. For example, the Patlabor official guide DVDs and other Patlabor re-releases...
For now, the planned official website for Chrono Crusade can be found here. Absolutely nothing to see at present, though. Source: Moon Phase. The TV is scheduled to commence broadcast on 24 November 2003.
Fell asleep yesterday before I could update some more.

19 October 2003 (second update)

This isn't really news, but did you know that when Matsumoto Izumi was first creating his Kimagure Orange Road manga, Hiyama Hikaru wasn't an only child? Back in 1983, before the manga commenced, the prototype scenario also featured a character Hiyama Kenji. He was to be Hikaru's older brother, a cigarette smoking, motorbike riding delinquent, leader of a gang, and Ayukawa Madoka's boyfriend. However, it seems Kenji didn't make it past the editor, so I guess there wouldn't be much left save some character designs. Would've been interesting to see how Matsumoto developed Kasuga Kyosuke's relationship with Hikaru and Madoka if there was Kenji as well... Or maybe leave it to the fanfic writers...
Full size Macross pilot helmet by Yamato. From last week's 2003 Plamodel Radicon Show. Source: Ma-ten.
The OVA Comic Party Revolution will be a two volume release, volume 1 to be released in December 2003, volume 2 in March 2004. Price per volume 5,500 yen. Source: Moon Phase.
The official Kimi ga Nozomu Eien website has updated with DVD release details, which expains the details I posted on 15 October 2003. I wrote of the Mayauru no Okurimono Set containing four episodes but with a high price of 12,075 yen (including tax). This is because that limited set contains volumes 1 and 2 of the DVD plus the picture book (and the reversible jackets). Because there are some new details, it's best that I set out everything again:
Mayauru no Okurimono Set: first pressing limited edition, to be released on 23 January 2004, contains volumes 1 and 2 of the DVD with reversible jackets, and picture book "Mayauru no Okurimono", price 11,500 yen (excluding tax).
Volumes 1 and 2 to be released 23 January 2004, price 5,500 yen (excluding tax) each.
The picture book Mayauru no Okurimono will be available separately on 25 February 2004, price 1,500 yen (excluding tax). So basically if you want the book as well, it's cheaper to get the limited set - plus you get the reversible jackets.
Volume 3 to be released 25 February 2004, price 5,500 yen (excluding tax). First pressing comes with box to hold all seven volumes, reversible jacket and two trading cards.
Volume 4 to be released 25 March 2004, price 5,500 yen (excluding tax). First pressing comes with reversible jacket and two trading cards.
Volume 5 to be released 23 April 2004, price 5,500 yen (excluding tax). First pressing comes with reversible jacket and two trading cards.
Hontou no Takaramono Set: first pressing limited edition, to be released on 25 May 2004, contains volumes 6 and 7 of the DVD with reversible jackets, and picture book "Hontou no Takaramono", price 11,500 yen (excluding tax).
Volumes 6 and 7 to be released 25 May 2004, price 5,500 yen (excluding tax) each.
The picture Hontou no Takaramono will be available separately in June 2004, price 1,500 yen (excluding tax).
Source: Moon Phase.
An ad for volume 7 of Dengeki Ani-Maga magazine (to be published at the end of the month) suggests that an Ichigeki Sacchuu!! Hoihoi-san anime is to be produced, since that title is listed among a number of various anime. Source: Moon Phase. Another anime featuring a little girl and big guns and other weapons (but this time "sacchuu" - killing insects). Ichigeki Sacchuu!! Hoihoi-san is a manga by Tanaka Kunihiko (Ruin Explorers Fam & Ihrie) serialised in Monthly Comic Dengeki Daioh, but has also spawned a computer game and now apparently also an anime. 11.5cm tall female maid robot Hoihoi-san exterminates pests. Could be an OVA, I think. I'd been half expecting a Hoihoi-san anime anyway.

18 October 2003 (fifth early update)

Updated the Oh! great news. Maybe more at the end of the day.
Manga no Mori is releasing an Oh! great Reproduction Original Art Collection on 10 November 2003. A collection of ten A4 size illustrations with a special clear folder included. Price 2,500 yen (excluding tax). Being a Manga no Mori original product, this collection will be available only through Manga no Mori stores. Source: Sa-i. Note that the link above contains mature illustrations. I don't know whether this collection will include Tenjou Tenge or Air Gear illustrations.
Further to my 14 October 2003 entry, tseniv from the AoD forums points out that the official Ai Yori Aoshi ~ Enishi ~ website DVD release details are different from the details I posted up in that the catalogue number for the first pressing version of volume 1 is GNBA-1009, not GNBA-9 as some stores had previously listed. I've now corrected my 10 and 14 October 2003 entries on the topic. Thanks to tseniv, and sorry for the oversight. I sometimes think about setting up this website so that people could post corrections or additional info to my entries. But then I have no idea how to do that, and more importantly, that would mean I would have to check what's posted and since my defining characteristic is laziness, I can't be bothered doing that :P
The top page of m.o.e's website has updated with a third character for the original TV anime which will be broadcast in 2004. Source: Moon Phase. Still no further info about the show.
allcinema online lists character designers on the Cutey Honey live action movie as being Terada Katsuya (Blood: the Last Vampire), Izubuchi Yutaka (director of RahXephon), Sugimura Shinichi and Anno Moyoko (mangaka, wife of Anno Hideaki, who's directing this movie). Source: Aniota.
On 11 September 2003, I wrote about the first pressing goods and pre-order goods which will come with the Evangelion 2 game for the Playstation 2. ZDNet Japan now has a report which shows pics of the postcards which will come with the first pressing and the reversible poster which will come with pre-orders. Source: Rakuga Kidou. Note that only five postcards are shown whereas my earlier report said six postcards. ZDNet Japan also states that those who purchase the game will be able to apply or a limited edition phonecard. I thought I saw some news a few days ago that the game would be released on 20 November 2003, but I'm not really interested in game news, so I didn't follow up on it...
More wallpapers for a limited time at the Gadguard website. Source: Rakuga Kidou.
Sorry, fell asleep yesterday before I could update some more.
On Radio Osaka yesterday, seiyuu Kouda Mariko (Miki in Marmalade Boy) announced that she got married in July this year. Her agency Aoni Production has confirmed this and said Kouda intends to continue working. Source: TA Group BBS.
Enterbrain's now got a website up dedicated to the Bindume Yousei (Bottle Fairy) TV anime. Source: ultimatum. There's also a wallpaper to download, but it's in lzh compressed format. If you have any difficulty de-compressing the file, see my 12 May 2002 entry regarding URDA.

17 October 2003

Volume 1 of the Jungle wa Itsumo Hare nochi Guu Final OVA series will be released on 21 December 2003. Bandai has now renewed its Guu website to focus on this upcoming OVA series. Many of the sections are still under constructions, but you can see a pic of the Guu bottlecap which will come with the first pressing of volume 1. For more release details, see my 13 August 2003 entry.
It's stated on Sakamoto Maaya's website that she'll be performing the role of Eponine in the Japanese production of the musical Les Miserables. Source: Reinbo Actress. I love Les Mis - I've seen the show in three continents. Of all the female roles in the show, in my experience it's been the Eponine actress who's stood out as the best singer - perhaps because the Eponine character's role is more dramatic and substantial than the heroine Cosette's role. So... I hope Sakamoto pulls it off well. Note that while the production's season will run for most of January (I think), there'll be four women alternating in the role of Eponine. Sakamoto will perform roughly half the shows from 2 to 13 January 2004, so make sure you check before you book your seat ^_^

16 October 2003 (second update)

I'm going to sleep now. I didn't think work could get any more hectic, but I've been flat out this week. Then again, it hasn't been all bad. Some interesting events at work this week... ^_^ Unfortunately, I'm kinda sworn to secrecy, so I can't write about my work with any detail... ^_^;;
On 1 August 2003 I wrote about the Nitroplus the Movie Collection - a collection of opening sequences and demo movies from the games Nitroplus has produced. At the time, the DVD was available at certain events. Now the company has announced a version of the DVD will be available or general sale (eg at games shops) starting 24 October 2003. Contents won't be much different from the original version of the DVD. But price for this general release version will be 2,500 yen - up from 2,000 yen for the original version.
Yomiuri Online reports the president of Marvelous Entertainment's comments on the changing structure of the anime industry in Japan due to the influence of foreign licensing. In the past, investment for anime prodution has primarily come from TV stations, sponsors and toy makers and the TV stations and advertising agencies took charge. But with profits now coming from overseas, anime producers are starting to take charge themselves, opening up the channels for marketing the anime. For example, Marvelous Entertainment's anime Gunslinger Girl cost 13 million yen per episode to produce (total 13 episodes). There have already been orders from Europe and North America in relation to the show - and this has been enough to cover approximately half the production expenses of the anime. On top of that are the Asian market (South Korea, Taiwan, etc) and DVD sales. Source: Rakuga Kidou. So does that mean some company in North America has got Gunslinger Girl...? My bet is on ADV Films, since they've got the manga.
Fujimi's mobile phone mail magazine has announced that the Chrono Crusade TV anime is to commence broadcast on Fuji TV on 24 November 2003. Source: Moon Phase.
The R.O.D - The TV - OP, titled "R.O.D (Instrumental)", is performed by YKZ. YKZ's CD "Expect the Unexpected" will be released by Sony on 19 November 2003, price 2,039 yen. The CD will include the OP. Source: Animate.
And speaking of R.O.D - The TV -, since terrestrial broadcast has started, the official website now has the next episode preview for episode 2 up for download. Check out the pop-up window when you visit the website.
3 December 2003 sees the release of volume 4 of Green Green TV. First pressing comes with box to hold all the DVD volumes, trading card and postcard. Price 5,000 yen. Source: Animate.

Back to archive

Back to latest news

Home