AUGUST
- OCTOBER 2004 NEWS
31 October 2004
- Updated. Minor updates to what I've written
before...
- Umm, you know how I said I wasn't going to update
much until November...? ^_^;; Well, I was hoping
my heavy workload would be over by the Friday
just past. Unfortunately, it's not over yet, and
I'm not sure when it'll continue until. I won't
be as busy as I have been for the past couple of
months, and I'm not sure how busy I'll be from
now on. If I'm lucky, I may be able to start
updating this site again shortly. If not, it may
not be until December, if not January 2005, if
not February 2005 ;_; Also, after all this work,
I need a holiday... -_- Another friend is getting
married, again in Singapore. Why do my friends
like to get married in Singapore? In this case,
neither my friend nor her fiance live in
Singapore. They live in Sydney. Still, they've
decided to get married in Singapore ^_^;; I hate
having to wear formal clothes at any time; do you
know how it feels wearing formal clothing in a
hot and humid country like Singapore? -_- Oh
well, still, it provides an opportunity to have a
holiday ^_^ While I'm at it, I'll see if I can't
slip in a side trip to Japan or South Korea or
something ^_^ But I digress... the really
heavy workload is over now (I took Friday
evening, Saturday and most of today off \^_^/ )
but I'll still be busy for now, and then
hopefully I'll be overseas in January, so I'm not
sure when I'll be able to get back to updating
this page properly. Sorry m(_ _)m
- Due to work commitments, I haven't been keeping
up with things anime and manga. Well, not much,
anyway. I've tried to keep up with my purchases -
no matter what, the shopping must continue ^_^;;
The other pleasure I allowed myself was to attend
a performance of Carmina Burana, the classical
composition by Carl Orff, back in late July.
Tickets went on sale last year, but since I could
see my work getting heavy, I thought I'd leave
the booking til later when I'd have a better idea
of which day I might be free. In July I suddenly
realised I hadn't booked a ticket yet - by then
the three performances were all sold out ;_;
Who'd think classical music performances would
sell out? ;_; Then again, this was the first ever
production featuring the combined talents of the
West Australian Symphony Orchestra, West
Australian Ballet and the West Australian Opera,
as part of the centenary celebrations of His
Majesty's Theatre in Western Australia - one of
two last remaining "His Majesty's"
Theatres in the world (the other being in
Scotland, I believe). But as luck would have it,
I was able to secure a cancelled booking for a
seat \^_^/ And as luck would have it again, as I
rushed to the theatre from work that night, I
walked into the theatre minutes before the
curtain rose and was able to snatch up the very
last program booklet they had on sale \^_^/ Tough
luck for the lady who walked in only seconds
behind me :P There was a Noh performance in
October, which also featured an introductory
seminar on the Japanese artform, but
unfortunately I was too busy with work to attend
that one... ;_;
- I got my first edition limited edition version of
volume 4 of the manga Ibara no Ou (King of Thorn)
by Iwahara
Yuji, which comes with diorama featuring main
character Kasumi. Also got my first edition
limited edition version of the manga Ichigeki
Sacchuu!! Hoihoi-san (Interceptor-doll Hoihoi-san)
by Tanaka
Kunihiko (of Ruin
Explorers Fam and Ihrlie fame). The limited
edition version came with different manga cover
and 10 minute OVA DVD. Looks like the limited
edition version sold out pretty quickly and is
worth a bit more nowadays ^_^
- Got my copy of Oh! great's manga volume Naked
Star. It contains one new story but otherwise
basically collects together almost all of Oh!
great's miscellaneous works (whether for adult or
general audiences) previously published in
various places: his G^3 doujinshi volumes, Comic
Rei-shiki magazine, Manga Hot Milk magazine,
Monthly Shonen Ace magazine, Ultrajump Megamix
volume 1. The only finished manga of his which
I'm aware of which is not in this compilation is
A+ (A Plus), which was published in an issue of
Weekly Shonen Magazine in 2000. The G^3 volume 1
doujinshi also had a manga in an unfinished form.
- On Tenjou Tenge: there was no
chapter of the manga in the November 2004 issue
of Ultrajump
magazine (published in October) nor will there be
a chapter in the December 2004 issue (published
on 19 November 2004). However, the December 2004
issue will instead come with a TenTen pinup and
rather than a chapter of the normal manga, it'll
contain a "bangai hen"
(ie something outside the normal TenTen story -
eg it could be some TenTen side story, or TenTen
parody or something). The Shueisha
website for the manga has also updated with a
wallpaper you can download, but
you need to enter a password available in
November 2004 issue of Ultrajump magazine, which
I don't have yet ;_;
- The December 2004 issue of Ultrajump magazine (to
be published on 19 November 2004) will also come
with an article on South Korean game
creator/artist Kim Hyung Tae in the wake
of the release in Japan of the game Magna Carta
(for Playstation 2) on 11 November 2004.
Furthmore, on 25 December 2004, enterbrain in
Japan will publish the mook Kim Hyung Tae
Gashuu (art collection) "Oxide 2x"
(pronounced "Oxide 2 ecks" if you get
my meaning), price 2,625 yen (including tax), 176
pages. Apparently it'll be like the original
Korean book Oxide but with additional pages. B5
size, which doesn't seem that large if you ask me...
If you like Kim's artwork, you can download
three wallpapers from the official
Japanese website for the Magna Carta game linked
above by clicking on the "extra" button
on that site, then the first button that appears
thereafter. And if you buy the Magna Carta game
for Playstation 2, looks like it'll come with a
44 page of illustrations and design works (while
stocks last).
- I picked up volume 8 of the Ikki Tousen
manga by Shiozaki Yuji. His artwork gets
better and better, though the characters often
look too posed. I also thought I'd try out the
much maligned English translated/adapted
version "Battle Vixens" by TokyoPop, so
I picked up volume 4. It sucketh mightily. That's
not a translation - that's a disgrace. Here's a
sample for comparison purposes:
Ikki Tousen manga volume 4, original version
(rough-ish translation by me)-
Page 79, panel 3- Choushou: N-No, two years ago...
there was an omen that a toushi would
come to the Hyakkuhekitou lodged here
and draw it out easily . The omen that troubled
times would be visited upon this age...
Panel 5- Ryomou: Master [or teacher], what's that
strange ki?!
Page 80, panel 1- Choushou: Ryomou, take this
girl back to the house.
Ryomou: B-But, Master.
Battle Vixens manga volume 4, English adapted
version-
Page 93, panel 3- Choushou: Two years past... the
omen... "Big of breast and small of brain, a
toushi will come, the Hyakuhekitou to free."
I thought they were yankin' my chain! Her?! This
"Chrissy" in training?! Even her ki
screams "bimbo!"
Panel 5- Ryoumo: Master! I sense a disturbance in
the force!
Page 94 panel 1- Choushou: Take her inside. And
never quote Star Wars to me again.
Ryoumo: But... something comes...
Well, you get the idea. I don't think I'll bother
buying the rest of the English adaptation -
reading it was sort of... annoying and
unsatisfying. BTW, sorry, I'm not up to date with
US vernacular: what's a "Chrissy"?
- I watched Millennial Actress again recently (over
a few occasions). Better than Tokyo Godfathers
IMO. In fact, if I had to pick a favourite anime
movie (I don't normally think about things like
favourite series, favourite character, favourite
song etc), it would have to be Millennial Actress.
I've also got the Millennial
Actress visual book which was released by Madhouse (who
did the animation production). An excellent book
of scenes from the movie (albeit small pics),
background explanations, interviews, lineart etc.
Two thirds of the text also has English
translation, including an interesting interview
with director Kon
Satoshi. The book can be a bit hard to track
down, but worth the effort IMO.
- Got my copy of "robot"
volume 1, edited by Murata Range. Cover
illustration by Murata, first short manga is by
Murata but it's only four pages long and has
about seven words of text. The book is a nice A4
size and full colour. Haven't had time to read
though it (except the seven words in Murata's
manga ^_^ ) but I note that "robot"
volume 2 will be released in January 2005.
- Managed to get a copy of the Matsumoto
Izumi Official Fanbook
Volume 1 "Recurrence" which
was released at Comic Market 66 (ie back in
August). The contents are mainly comprised of a
long interview with Matsumoto (who is of course
the mangaka who created Kimagure Orange Road),
illustrations including a few of Kasuga Kyosuke's
mother and an early KOR manga in rough form
featuring a Hiyama Kenji (originally planned as
Hikaru's older brother and a rival for Kyosuke)
and Akemi (Kyosuke's mother, who is alive in this
early draft).
- The Genshiken
TV anime has started \^_^/ From what I've
heard, the anime seems to pretty much follow the
manga. I hope they include the chapter from
volume 4 of the manga where Kanako (the
Genshiken's resident cosplayer) falls sick and
non-otaku Saki has to fill in for her - that's a
great scene ^_^ I've seen one episode of the
anime. One thing which struck me was the
backgrounds - they're done by Studio Easter (sp?).
Easter has fast become my favourite animation
production company for backgrounds (based on its
work for Genshiken and R.O.D - The TV -) - their
backgrounds are exquisite. Too bad I can't find a
website for the company... Anyway, back to
Genshiken: volume 5 of the manga
by Kio Shimoku will be published by Kodansha on
22 November 2004 (price 530 yen including tax). First
edition will come with a bookmark. As
with volume 4, there are four different types of
bookmark, so you have to buy multiple copies if
you want to collect all the bookmarks -_- Also on
22 November 2004 Kodansha will publish the "Genshiken
Official Book", price 980 yen (including
tax). BTW, I note that the Genshiken manga
has been licensed by Del
Rey for publication in English
starting April 2005. In the Genshiken manga
Kujibiki Unbalance (KujiAn) is a manga that all
the club members read. In the Genshiken anime,
KujiAn is an anime that all the club members
watch. A KujiAn
anime has been created as well. Mainly it
just appears in the Genshiken anime as the show
which the characters watch, like Gekigangar 3
appears in the Nadesico anime. However, three
KujiAn episodes have been animated (1, 21 - a
digest episode - and 25 - effectively the final
episode of the series) and will be released as
OVAs - apparently only available by buying the
three DVD box sets for Genshiken (as opposed to
the individual DVD volumes). I'm not going to set
out the release details for the DVDs, by now you
get that info elsewhere. I got my copy of the
December 2004 issue of Afternoon
magazine (published 25 October 2004), which came
with a bonus DVD containing the first half of
episode 1 of the Genshiken anime, the first half
of episode 1 of the Kujibiki Unbalance OVA (albeit
with advertising text scrolling across the bottom
of the screen) and a couple of trailers for
Shinkai Makoto's upcoming anime Kumo no Mukou,
Yakusoku no Bassho "The place promised in
our early days" (which has been licensed
in the US by ADV
Films). Oh yeah, back on 22, 23 and 24
October 2004 there was the Tokyo International
Entertainment Market 2004 convention. A
friend picked up the Genshiken and KujiAn design
works collections for me there \^_^/
- To matters Shirow Masamune. His
final booklet poster was enclosed with issue
number 20 of Uppers
magazine (published in early October IIRC). The
following issue 21 (published a week or two back)
was the final issue of Uppers magazine, which has
stopped publication after about six and half
years. Details about the release of the Galgrease
artbooks are still unclear.
- Got a copy of the Kawamoto Toshihiro
Cowboy Bebop Illustrations ~ The Wind ~ artbook,
which was published about a week ago. ISBN 4-7973-2781-2,
price 2,800 yen (excluding tax), from Softbank
Publishing. A thick book but actually only 144
pages (the paper must be thick). Even so, it's
packed with 276 rough sketches and finished
works, mostly finished works. Art from the TV
series, movie and a few for the game as well.
Furthermore all text in this book is bilingual
Japanese and English (except for two pages of
interviews). If you want Cowboy Bebop artwork,
this is the book to get. Kawamoto was of course
the character designer for the series.
- Got issue number 1 (October 2004, published on 10
September 2004) of the new magazine Pash!
which describes itself as dealing with "cute
characters, hobbies, goodies, animation films and
more! A brand-new subculture magazine for
*adult women only*". Not too
different from other magazines, but in this case
the target market is adult women. For example,
main features in this issue are Full Metal
Alchemist and Gundam Seed Destiny and the
magazine covers the usual stuff like anime, games
(including boys' love games), interviews with
seiyuu, stage events (eg Prince of Tennis etc),
upcoming movies (including live action), music (fandom
related and otherwise), DVDs, books, manga, toys.
In addition, there are sections on "Cute
Guys on TV" (live action doramas), live
action TV shows and dolls.
- There's other stuff which I've bought and news
which I've come across in the past three months
or so that I've been away from this website, but
I can't remember it at present ^_^;;
25 September 2004
- Going to be very busy again. I expect even less
updates than what I'm doing now. To repeat,
probably won't update much until November...
- For Evangelion (and Keroro Gunso - Sgt Frog)
fans, the December 2004 issue of Shonen
Ace-A magazine (on sale 26 October 2004) will
come with a coupon to apply for an Asuka
action figure by Masaki
Apsy, who also created the Rei
action figure which came with the first
limited edition of volume 9 of the Evangelion
manga. Here's another
pic of the Asuka figure. Note: the magazine
does not come with the figure -
instead, the magazine will contain a coupon.
You'll need to cut out the coupon and send it in
(with money - it's not a freebie) to purchase the
figure. Source: Mangaoh Club.
Presumably applications won't be accepted from
overseas... The December 2004 issue will
also come with an Afro Gunso strap.
- The December 2004 issue of Comic Gum
magazine (on sale 26 October 2004) will
come with a box to hold all eight volumes of the
Mahoromatic manga. Source: Mangaoh Club.
- No release details yet, but I might as well post
it up before I get really busy. Tenjou
Tenge figures to be released by Kaiyodo
(and avex) in future. Exhibited at the recent
summer Wonder Festival 2004, the figures consist
of:
Action
figures sculpted by Yamaguchi Katsuhisa.
Display
models sculpted by Miyagawa
Takeshi (who created the figures for the
limited edition versions of volumes 9 and 12 of
the manga). Pic of the faces here.
Busts
by Enoki Tomohide.
Display models sculpted by Bome
of Natsume Maya and Natsume Aya.
As stated above, no release dates nor prices are
available at present. Source: Shokugan
Honpo. (The Tenjou Tenge figures appear on this
page of the Shokugan Honpo website. Note the figures
from Kurosawa Akira movies on that page
as well ^_^ The diorama there is a scene from the
Yojimbo movie ^_^ ). This page on the Omakezuki Takara
no Ukifune website has more pics of the
Tenjou Tenge figures (see the second group of
photos, click on them for enlargements). BTW, I
like this Robin
Sena figure (from Witch Hunter Robin)
as well ^_^ (pic linked from the Pure
Plastic Planet website).
22 September 2004
- On 23 August 2004, I wrote about first
pressing of DVD volume 4 of the Tenjou
Tenge anime coming with a box. The
official website states that the box will hold
all (eight) volumes in the series and further
it'll be illustrated by Oh! great \^_^/ Release
details here
at CD Japan's site but note that the release date
may have been put back a month to 25 November
2004 ;_;
- In brief:
- ABC article on "marathon
monks" of Kyoto.
- Volume 8 of the manga Ikki Tousen
by Shiozaki Yuji will be published by Wani Books
on 25 October 2004, price 945 yen (including tax).
- The November 2004 issue of Ultrajump
magazine (on sale around 19 October 2004)
will come with a Tenjou Tenge postcard.
There are four varieties of postcard to collect,
including previously unpublished artwork.
- Final brief article of mine on the anime
industry. This time it's anime
studios, and the article more than a
"brief" while to type up >_< I've
provided links to the four articles on my
homepage, in case for some bizarre reason someone
wants to refer to the articles later. Ciao.
18 September 2004
15 September 2004
11 September 2004
- Sorry, still busy, tired, headaches etc. Haven't
been keeping up with the anime/manga world. May
still be a while before I feel I have the time to
update with any frequency. But never fear, my
online shopping for anime and manga goods
continues unabated ^_^
- As I wrote before, there'll be a limited
edition version of volume 6 of the School Rumble
manga. It'll come with strap figures of
main character Tsukamoto Tenma together with
Karasuma Ooji - ie, figures attached to a strap
which you can presumably use for a mobile phone,
zipper etc. The manga volume will be published on
17 September 2004, limited edition version 1,400
yen, regular edition 410 yen. Source: Mangaoh. The
TV
anime of the series will commence broadcast
on 5 October 2004.
- For Full Metal Alchemist fans, volumes
1 and 2 of the anime comics will be
released in early and mid- December 2004
respectively, prices 1,890 yen and 1,575 yen
respectively (including tax). Each book is B6 in
size, 256 pages. Volume 1 covers episodes
1 to 5, and first edition will come with jigsaw
puzzle of the cover illustration and box to hold
all the anime comics. Volume 2 covers episodes 6
to 9 and first edition will come with jigsaw
puzzle of the cover illustration. Source:
Mangaoh.
- Adults only: for Urushihara
Satoshi fans and figure collectors, the
January 2005 issue of Comic
Tenma magazine published by
Akaneshinsha will come with a PVC figure kit
designed by Urushihara Satoshi (and
sculpted by Merde - hope none of you understand
French ^_^;; ). Note that this is a kit (albeit
pre-painted), not a completed figure. You need to
assemble the figure yourself, but from the looks
of the
ad (which contains nudity - don't click on
the link if you're underage ^_^;; ), it doesn't
look like too much assembly is required. A 70mm 1/8
scale bust of Russian bishoujo maid Irina. Note
also that Comic Tenma is an adult magazine. Not
for kiddies. On sale 13 December 2004, price 990
yen (including tax). Preorder cutoff date is 15
September 2004 so you don't have much time...
Source: Mangaoh.
- Don't know if other websites have mentioned it
but a Fujimishibo will be putting out a new
anime DVD and goods magazine Anicolle
Dragon with issue 1 out on 9 October
2004, price 980 yen (including tax). A4 size, 132
pages (96 in colour, 32 monochrome), planned to
be a quarterly magazine. Seemed to be marketed as
aid to discerning which anime to collect out of
the plethora of anime which is released nowadays.
The cover article for volume 1 will be Fafnir,
with additional feature articles on Girls Bravo,
DearS and Galaxy Angel. Looks like each issue
will come with a DVD with samples of various
anime and special "messages" (ie
presumably interviews with cast or staff). The
volume 1 DVD will be about 40 minutes long and
will deal with 10 works. There will also be
limited edition goods available only by mail
order through the magazine (but unlikely to be
much use to people living outside Japan). I
presume the title is short for "Anime
Collector Dragon" magazine. Well, if Newtype
USA only includes DVDs with subscriptions now,
you could always try an issue of Anicolle Dragon...
Source: Mangaoh.
31 August 2004
- Busy again. Won't type up much today.
- The A$ slipped again today. Buying 78.422
Japanese yen.
- Starting 21 September 2004 will be the Weekly
Gundam Fact File magazine, published
each Wednesday. First issue will be 290 yen,
subsequent issues 560 yen. Will cover all the
Gundam series, planned to be a total of 100
issues. First issue will come with a binder.
Eight main sections: mecha file, personal file,
theory of MS deployment, UC chronology,
historical focus (on important events), UC Guide
(introduction to the UC Gundam world - army
units, uniforms, politics, customs etc), series
outside the UC world (introduction to the mecha,
characters and themes of each series), Gundam
glossary. Source: Mangaoh Club.
- A couple more packages arrived today \^_^/
Included was the final volume 3 of the tokusatsu
series Evolver. I got my bonus book for
purchasing all three DVD volumes from Jungle as
well \^_^/
- Mainichi
Shimbun's English language website presently
has a pic of a bejewelled platinum Hello Kitty
figure (41mm tall) worth 10.5 million yen. See
also here.
Pics probably won't be up for long...
30 August 2004
- I seem to be getting further behind in the news...
;_; More to type up but no time... See youse.
- Sankei
Sports reports that Miura Rieko, the
voice of Yomiko Readman, is to appear naked in a
photobook. Again ^_^;; (She appeared
naked in the photobook Hugs which was published
in 2001.) This new book will be published on 10
September 2004, titled "Gekkan (Monthly)
Miura Rieko", price 980 yen. The book will
be produced by Australian Christopher Doyle (the
best cinematographer in Asia - known for his work
with Hong Kong director Wong Kar Wai - but a
terrible actor ^_^;; ). To tie in with the
photobook, a DVD with the same title will be
released on 29 September 2004. Source: Tentative
Name.
- The October 2004 issue of Comic
Beam magazine (on sale 11 September 2004)
will contain information about an anime
version of the manga Emma to be produced.
Or at least apparently one of publisher
Enterbrain's webpages originally stated this fact
(the webpage was changed soon after). Emma is a
manga by Mori
Kaoru set in Victorian Britain at the end of
the 19th century, a romance about the maid Emma
and the aristocrat William. Source: Tentative
Name.
- TBS Anime Festa 2004's website
for the upcoming Oh! My Goddess TV anime.
Nothing to see at present though.
- Received one of my orders today. Among the stuff
was the MariMite Premium Book. I nice little book
including design works data etc. Shame it's only
pocket book sized.
- infoseek
anime cites an NTT Publishing report on
Wonder Festival 2004 (Summer). Note the Asuka
Langley figure in the first photo. Seems to be an
interesting merger of Asuka and Eva Unit 02...
- The October 2004 issue of Comic Birz manga
magazine (on sale today) has announced that the Rozen
Maiden TV anime will commence
broadcast on 7 Ocober 2004 at 1.55am on TBS.
Source: Chuosha.
The manga version of Rozen Maiden is serialised
in Comic Birz.
- On 7 July 2004 I wrote about the next three
issues of Dengeki Animaga magazine (starting with
today's issue) coming with figures. Issue number
14 (on sale 30 October 2004) will come with
Futakoi figures. Now the October 2004 issue of Dengeki
G's magazine (on sale today) has
announced that its January 2005 and February 2005
issues (on sale 30 November 2004 and end
of December 2004 respectively) will come
with Futakoi
figures as well. The January 2005 issue
will come with Shirogane Shoujyu figure while the
February 2005 issue will come with sister
Shirogae Sara figure. Source: Chuosha.
Dengeki
G's is a game magazine. BTW, if you visit the
Dengeki
Animaga website you can see a pic of the Maya
figure which comes with today's issue. Note that
today's issue comes with a Tenjou Tenge poster as
well \^_^/
- VAP has a website
up for Otogizoushi. DVD
release will commence 25 November 2004 (eight
volumes in total). There'll be a first
pressing limited edition version of volume 1
as well as a regular edition. First pressing
limited edition version will come with case,
bonus disc and booklet, price 6,300 yen (including
tax). Regular edition will cost 5,040 yen (including
tax). Volume 1 will contain three episodes.
- Official
website for the Basilisk - Koga
Ninpou Chou TV anime which will commence
broadcast in April 2005. The manga version (based
on the original novel) finished serialisation in
Uppers magazine not too long ago.
- The A$ today is buying 78.562 Japanese yen. An
ever so slight dip, perhaps caused by the
uncertainty of a national election in the coming
weeks...
- The DVD for the Ryokan-san anime
(about the 18th/19th century Buddhist monk) will
be released by Toho on 10 December 2004, price 4,725
yen (including tax). Source: dvd
catalog.
29 August 2004
- Fourth update. That's all for today. Sorry, still
very much behind in the news.
- Anime
ga aru Seikatsu has a list up of anime
which will be broadcast
in October 2004. Including anime
which is already on the air, they are:
Mondays 00.00 Chiba TV - Genshiken
(commencing 10 October 2004)
Mondays 00.15 Chiba TV - Kujibiki
Unbalance (commencing 10 October 2004)Mondays
00.30 Chiba TV - Ryuusei Sentai MusuMET
(commencing 3 October 2004)
Mondays 18.30 TV Tokyo - Get Ride!
Amdriver
Mondays 19.00 NTV - Black Jack (commencing
11 October 2004)
Mondays 24.00 Channel NECO - Kannaduki no
Miko (commencing 4 October 2004)
Mondays 24.00 Kids Station - Uta ~ Kata
(commencing 25 October 2004)
Tuesdays 1.00 TV Tokyo - Fantastic
Children (commencing 4 October 2004)
Tuesdays 1.30 TV Tokyo - Tsukiyomi ~ Moon
Phase ~ (commencing 4 October 2004)
Tuesdays 18.00 TV Tokyo - School Rumble
(commencing 5 October 2004)
Tuesdays 18.30 TV Tokyo - Bleach
(commencing 5 October 2004)
Tuesdays 19.00 TV Tokyo - Yakitate!!
Japan (commencing 5 October 2004)
Wednesdays 0.40 NTV - Monster
Wednesdays 1.00 TV Tokyo - Haruka naru
Toki no Naka de ~ Hachiyou Shou ~ (commencing
5 October 2004)
Wednesdays 1.10 NTV - Otogizoushi
Wednesdays 1.30 TV Tokyo - tactics
(commencing 5 October 2004)
Wednesdays -- TV Asahi - Gankutsuou (The
Count of Monte Christo) (commencing
October 2004)
Wednesdays 18.30 TV Tokyo - Yu-Gi-Oh Duel
Monsters Genex (commencing 6 October
2004)
Wednesdays 19.00 TV Tokyo - Prince of
Tennis
Wednesdays 19.27 TV Tokyo - Naruto
Thursdays 1.00 TV Tokyo - Futakoi
(kanji) (commencing 6 October 2004)
Thursdays 1.15 TV Tokyo - Futakoi
(kana) (commencing 6 October 2004)
Thursdays 1.30 TV Tokyo - Beck (commencing
6 October 2004)
Thursdays 18.00 TV Tokyo - Onmyou
Taisenki (commencing 30 September 2004)
Thursdays 18.30 TV Tokyo - Bouken Ou Beet
(Beet the Vandel Buster) (commencing 30
September 2004)
Fridays 0.30 WOWOW - Grenadier ~ Hohoemi
no Senshi ~ (commencing 14 October 2004)
Fridays 0.30 Kids Station - Final
Approach (commencing 7 October 2004)
Fridays 0.45 Kids Station - W ~ Wish ~
(commencing 7 October 2004)
Fridays 1.30 TV Tokyo - My - HiME
(commencing 30 September 2004)
Fridays 2.12 TV Asahi - Kurau Phantom
Memory
Saturdays 8.06 NHK BS2 - Gakuen Alice
(commencing 30 October 2004)
Saturdays 18.00 TBS - Kidou Senshi Gundam
Seed Destiny (commencing 9 October 2004)
Saturdays 18.00 NHK Educational - Major
(commencing 9 October 2004)
Saturdays -- Sky Perfect! - Windy Tale
Fuujin Monogatari (commencing 11
September 2004)
Saturdays -- AT-X - To Heart ~ Remember
My Memories ~ (commencing 2 October 2004)
Sundays 8.30 TV Tokyo - Zoids Fuzors
(commencing 3 October 2004)
Sundays 8.30 TV Asahi - Futari wa Pretty
Cure
Sundays 9.00 Fuji TV - Konjiki no Gash
Bell!!
Source: Rakuga
Kidou. I haven't tried to independently
confirm those times and dates ^_^ Monster is
already running, but aside from that, I can't say
the rest of the list really interests me. As an
anime and manga fan perhaps I might have a look
at Genshiken and Kujibiki Unbalance. Or Beck.
Possibly Bleach.
- TV anime Onmyou Taisenki will
commence broadcast on TV Tokyo on 30 September
2004. TV Tokyo's website is here,
but there's not much to see at present. See also
Bandai's related webpage.
Source: ultimatum.
- The November 2004 issue of monthly Dengeki
Comic Gao! magazine (on sale 27 September
2004) will see the start of Koge
Donbo's new manga Koihime
Soushi (tentative title). Source: ultimatum.
- The TV anime of Zipang will
commence broadcast on 7 October 2004 on TBS. TBS'
website for the anime is here,
though there's not much to see at present.
Direction and series composition by Furuhashi
Kazuhiro, main character design by Umakoshi
Yoshihiko, main mecha design by Obara Shouhei(?),
music by Sahashi Toshihiko, animation production
by Studio Deen. Source: TA
Group BBS.
- Old ITmedia
report stating that Gundam Seed Destiny
is to commence broadcast on 9 October 2004.
Source: Reinbo
Actress.
- TAB Pro's website states
that a Bleach TV anime will
commence broadcast on TV Tokyo at 6.30pm on 5
October 2004. Source: Reinbo
Actress.
- An anime movie titled "Nagasaki 1945
~ Anzerasu no Kane" (don't know how
to render the katakana "anzerasu") will
be released next year, the 60th anniversary of
the dropping of the atomic bomb on the Japanese
city. Director will be Arihara Seiji, director of
movies on the themes of war and peace. The movie
will focus on the doctors immediately after the
bomb is dropped. Source: Nifty
Animation Online.
- Official
website for Shinkai Makoto's upcoming anime Kumo
no Mukou, Yakusoku no Bassho "The place
promised in our early days". There
are two new trailers
there for download. Source: Nifty
Animation Online. The anime is set to be
released in the (northern) autumn of 2004.
- My - HiME will commence
broadcast on 30 September 2004 on TV Tokyo.
Source: Chuosha.
- The CD single for the OP & ED for the
upcoming TV anime of School Rumble,
performed by Horie Yui with Unscandal, will be
released on 27 October 2004. There'll be a limited
edition version (with promotion DVD) and
regular edition. Limited edition catalogue number
KICM-93085, price 1,890 yen (including tax).
Regular edition catalogue number KICM-3085, price
1,050 yen (including tax). Source: Mangaoh Club.
- Kouda Mariko will release a new CD single
on 3 November 2004, title yet undetermined.
There'll be a limited edition version (with
music clip DVD) and a regular edition.
Limited edition catalogue number KICM-91122,
price 1,890 yen (including tax). Regular edition
catalogue number KICM-1122, price is also stated
to be 1,890 yen (including tax) but I wonder if
that might not be a mistake...? Source: Mangaoh Club.
- The A$ yesterday was buying 78.700 Japanese yen (credit
card exchange rate).
- A new Stratos 4
OVA series will be released in the (northern)
spring of 2005. Further, the Special
Fan Disc II, being a first pressing limited
edition item, will come with box to hold the new
OVA as well and a mini-vignette(?) of the four
main girls. Contents of DVD will be travelogue by
staff and cast of a trip to Hamamatsu, a new
short anime (four parts), more mecha commentary
by Okabe Isaku, and info on the new OVA series.
Source: Bandai Visual's Digital
Beat.
- Official
website for upcoming TV anime Uta ~
Kata. To commence broadcast in October
2004.
- Official
fan website for the upcoming TV anime
of "Haruka
naru Toki no Naka de ~
Hachiyou Shou ~". To commence
broadcast on TV Tokyo on 5 October 2004. TV
Tokyo's website for the anime is up here,
but there's not much to see at present.
- Old news, but an Asahi Shimbu English
language article on the size of the
otaku industry in Japan. Manga otaku
make up 16% of the manga market in Japan (measured
in terms of sales).
- The live action Casshern movie will be
released on DVD on 23 October 2004. CD
Japan has the details up here
and states that it'll come with English
subtitles.
28 August 2004
- Second update. The second update is only brief.
Feeling tired. Going to lie down. Perhaps no
further update until tomorrow...
- Although I haven't updated much this week, you'll
be happy to know I've had a very productive and
fruitful week securing various goods in Japan
\^_^/ Further, about four packages should now be
en route to me ^_^
- Yesterday one Australian dollar was buying 77.218
Japanese yen (at a typical credit card rate, not
the inter-bank rate), finding a more stable
position after sliding against the Greenback
during the week. Which is slightly better news if
you live in Australia ^_^ Don't forget to read
the disclaimer at the bottom of this page...
- First pressing of DVD volume 2 of Kurau
Phantom Memory will come with box to hold four
volumes. First pressing of volume 5 will also
come with a box, to hold the final five
volumes. To be released 25 November 2004 and 25
February 2005 respectively, each price 5,250 yen.
Source: Musicmarket.
- Neon Genesis Evangelion: The End of
Evangelion will be broadcast in
Australia on SBS this Thursday 2 September 2004
at 10.10pm. IIRC Death and Rebirth was broadcast
subtitled, so I assume EoE will be the subtitled
version as well (subtitled by SBS).
- Been busy. Plus caught a bit of a bug at the
start of the week, so I was feeling tired and
getting headaches.
- According to a post to the Evangelion
Mailing List by Bochan_Bird, the
December 2004 issue of Shonen
Ace-A manga magazine
(on sale 26 October 2004) will come with
a figure of Asuka Langley.
- A two
hour special episode of the live
action dorama adaptation of Ace wo Nerae!
(Aim for the Ace!) is to be broadcast on 23
September 2004 starting at 8 on TV Asahi. Title
will be "Ace wo Nerae! ~ Kiseki e no Chousen
~".
- DVD volume 1 of Mahou Shoujo Arusu
will be released on 22 October 2004, price 5,040
yen (including tax), containing four episodes. A
seven volume release. First pressing will
come with a special figure and a box to hold all
seven volumes. Source: dvd
catalog.
- DVD volume 7 of Hikari to Mizu no Daphne
(Daphne in the Brilliant Blue) will be
released on 22 October 2004, price 6,090 yen (including
tax), containing two episodes. First
pressing will come with a special disc and box
(presumably to hold the last five volumes of the
DVD). Source: dvd
catalog. CD Japan states
that the special disc will contain a previously
unbroadcast episode.
- DVD volume 1 of "Ninin ga Shinobuden
(2 x 2 = Shinobuden) ~ the Nonsense Kunoichi
Fiction" will be released on 22
October 2004, price 5,800 yen (including tax),
containing two episodes. It'll come with omake CD
and box to hold all volumes. Source: dvd
catalog.
- A Stratos
4 Special Fan Disc II
will be released on DVD on 23 December 2004,
price 6,090 yen (including tax). Source: dvd
catalog. The contents of the first Fan Disc
seem to have been spread across the individual
volumes of the R1 Bandai release. I wonder if the
company will do the same with the release of the
OVA series (assuming it's licensed the OVA)?
- DVD volume 1 of the adult
OVA Front Innocent will be released
on 25 October 2004. There'll be a first pressing
limited edition version and a regular edition. First
pressing limited edition version will
come with special outer case illustrated by
director Urushihara Satoshi and a booklet:
catalogue number HODA8, price 7,980 yen (including
tax). Regular edition catalogue number HODA6,
price 7,140 yen (including tax). Source: Mangaoh Club.
Previously it looked like it was going to be a
single volume release - now it looks like it'll
be two volumes.
- Media Works will published an Onegai
Twins Official Fan Book Lien on 30
September 2004, price 2,756 yen (including tax).
Source: Mangaoh
Club.
- Just as the October 2004 issue of monthly
Dengeki Comic Gao! magazine came with a
figure of Ren from DearS,
the November 2004 issue of the
same magazine will come with a 11.5cm
tall PVC figure of Miu from DearS. To be
published on 27 September 2004, price 750 yen.
Source: Mangaoh
Club.
- I'll just mention the Watase Yuu Perfect
World Fushigi Yuugi magazine again.
Volume 2 was published two days ago, price 690
yen (including tax). Contained 80 new pages of
the Fushigi Yuugi Genbu Kaiden manga as well as a
reprint of chapters 8 to 14 of the FY manga. Also
includes discussion with Watase and comes with
card collection for the seven Seishi and
illustration postcard book. Source: Mangaoh Club.
- On 8 November 2003 I referred to 360
voice actors suing a production company.
Animaxis.com
now has an English language report
up that the court has upheld the
actors' case.
- Animaxis also has an article
up about the fact that companies are
now providing insurance to anime-related
companies in relation to licensing products
overseas.
- In addition, Animaxis has an old article
up about the novel Basilisk by Yamada
Fuutarou being adapted into TV anime by Gonzo
and the particular financing method. Basilisk has
previously spawned a number of manga adaptations.
- The shop also points
out that promo clips are available
for download for the upcoming TV
anime versions of Genshiken and Kujibiki
Unbalance.
- Old news, but ABC in Australia reports
on fake Yu-Gi-Oh trading cards seized by
Customs in Australia.
- Exclusive to Animate
is the DVD Hunter x Hunter A Longing for
Phalcnothdk. To be released 20 December
2004, price 7,140 yen (including tax). Is this
one of those live action performances...?
- DVD volume 1 of the Akane Maniax OVA
will be released on 25 November 2004, catalogue
number ZMBZ-2046, price 6,090 yen (including tax).
First pressing limited edition will come
with a Rumbling
Angel figure of Akane, Rumbling
Angel trading card, picture label, reversible
jacket and booklet. This will be a three volume
OVA. Those who purchase all three volumes will be
able to apply for a soundtrack CD and a chance to
attend a "secret live" performance.
Volumes 2 and 3 will also come with a figure.
Visit this
Animate page for a pic of all the figures.
- The manga Tsukiyomi ~ Moon Phase ~
(by Arima Keitaro, serialised in Monthly Comic Gum
magazine) is to be adapted
into a TV anime to commence
broadcast on TV Tokyo on 4 October 2004. Director
will be Shinbou Akiyuki, character design by
Aizawa Masahiro, music by Kume Daisuku, animation
production by Shaft, produced by Victor
Entertainment. Not to be confused with the Moon
Phase fan news website...
- Kodansha has set out its shonen
manga and shoujo
manga releases for October
2004. Among those items is the Art
of Steamboy book, to be released 22
October 2004, price undetermined.
- The website for the Air movie
updated earlier in the month with a TV
commercial for download.
The movie was to be released in the (northern)
autumn of 2004, but now it looks like it'll be
early 2005. Advance tickets are
now available in two flavours: regular (1,300 yen
including tax) and with bonus picture-labelled
DVD. The bonus DVD version itself has
three flavours, seen on this page.
Version 1 comes in a digipak (with space for
three discs), catalogue number AIR-0001, price 3,000
yen (including tax). Versions 2 and 3 each come
in a jewel case, catalogue numbers AIR-0002 and
AIR-0003 respectively, price 2,500 yen (including
tax) each. Contents on each DVD are the same:
image clip, interview with seiyuu, two versions
of a TV commercial for the movie. The DVD
version item will be available for a limited time
only: until 19 September 2004. Available
at selected stores including Animate, Comic
Toranoana and Gamers.
See also this Toranoana
page for a slightly larger pic of the discs.
- CD Japan has details
up for the Girls Bravo DVD
Box 1. To add to that, the first
pressing limited edition DVD Box 2
will be released in December 2004 (24 December
2004 I think). It'll contain volumes 5 and 6 to
round out the "first season" and come
with figure. Price 9,240 yen (including
tax). If you collect all four boxes (presumably
the "second season" will be released
over two boxes as well), you can complete a
diorama with the figures. Buying boxes 3 and 4
will also give you a complete set of 36 trading
cards (you get 12 with box 1). Source: Chara-Ani.com.
- Volume 6 of the School Rumble manga
will be published on 17 September 2004. There'll
be a limited edition version,
price 1,400 yen (including tax). Sorry, I'm
having a bit of trouble finding out what the
bonus item(s) will be ^_^;; Source: Manga no Mori.
The TV anime of the series will commence
broadcast in the (northern) autumn.
- I fought my way back to equal first place in the
footy tipping last week \^_^/ Then this week, my
rival and I probably picked the same teams for
this final week - save for last night's match,
when Carlton beat Collingwood 108 to 107.
Unfortunately I picked Collingwood... -_- Second
again! ;_; I've never been so sad to see
Collingwood lose a match in my life.
23 August 2004
- Second update. Sorry, I'm too tired today, so
that's all I'm doing to type up today. And did
some shopping online :P
- Volume 10 of the Keroro Gunso (Sgt Frog)
manga by Yoshizaki Mine will be released
in February 2005. There'll be a limited
edition version which comes with Natsumi figure,
price 1,785 yen (including tax). The figure will
be a "powered Natsumi", but by changing
parts you can turn it into a figure of Natsumi in
her swimsuit ^_^;; This limited edition version
will also feature an original cover for the manga.
Source: Manga
no Mori.
- A pic of the Air Gear 2005 calendar.
Visit this
page showing Kodansha's 2005 calendars.
Ignore all the other CLAMP, Negima, School Rumble
etc calendars and scroll down to the Air Gear pic.
Then click on the orange button in the corner of
the Air Gear pic. A new window will pop up
showing you what a "stand type"
calendar is.
- A few more upcoming releases which I can't be
bothered going into in detail. CD Japan
lists the first pressing of DVD volume 4
of the Tenjou Tenge anime as coming with
a box. Secondly, the first pressing of
the Madlax OST 2 CD will come with a
mousepad.
- Various DVD and CD releases (or
more details regarding them) have been announced
in the month since I stopped updating. I'm not
going to go over them - it'd be waste of my time.
You can find the details on places like the AoD
Forums, or by checking out somewhere like CD
Japan. I'll just mention that those upcoming
releases include:
Hitsuji no Uta Memorial Box in December (3 DVDs
featuring a "director's cut" of the OVA
and 4 CDs)
Monster DVD Box 1
Kita e ~ Diamond Dust Drops ~ DVD Box 2 (a first
pressing limited edition item)
Howl's Moving Castle CD OST
Appleseed movie DVD (Collector's Edition and
regular edition)
DVD volumes 1 to 3 of Galaxy Angel X (there's as
a limited edition Special Pack including all
three volumes)
GiTS:SAC 2nd GIG Official Log 1
DVD volume 1 of Soukyuu no Fafnir - Dead
Aggressor
6 volume DVD release for Maria-sama ga Miteru ~
Haru ~ (there'll be Collector's Editions and
regular editions again)
7 volume DVD release of elfen lied (first
pressing of volume 1 will come with box and CD
soundtrack)
the remastered version of Top wo Nerae! (Gunbuster)
9 volume DVD release of Kurau Phantom Memory
5 volume DVD release of Kyou Kara Maoh!
Ojamajo Doremi Na-i-sho OP & ED CD single (limited
edition version comes with DVD)
Peacemaker Kurogane Character Discs (three types)
Source: Mangaoh
Club.
22 August 2004
- Second update. Sorry, that's all for today. Tired.
- After a month without updates, it's hard to know
where to start. So updates will be particularly
slow until I get back into the groove of things
again... First up, I'll just point out a few
recent articles by the English language website
for Animaxis.com:
Episode
1 of Samurai Champloo is available for streaming
download for a limited time.
Using
copyright as collateral to finance the production
of anime. (Actually, although this
is a relatively new way of trying to raise
finance, it's not something that's just developed
over the past month. I can't remember if I've
mentioned it before, but since Animaxis has
written up an article, I'll be lazy and just link
their news.)
A
TV anime based on the boys' love PC game
Sukinamonowa Sukidakara Shouganai!! (SukiShou!!
for short) is to be produced.
- Well, still busy, but not as busy as I was before.
I'm going to start updating again, but for now (perhaps
even until the end of October), updates may still
be erratic and briefer than I'd like. Plus I'm
too tired to go over what's happened in the past
month. I don't know myself what's been going on -
I haven't had the time to keep up with stuff. If
things which I type up seem like old news, you'll
know why. I will try to write up a few brief
articles about the anime industry, but these may
be spread out over a bit of time. They'll just be
brief overviews of the companies involved and
some of their corporate relationships. Don't
expect anything flash.
- Firstly, let's deal with news related to Oh!
great: Tenjou
Tenge anime goods, available from Animate.
There are three types of clear sticker (Maya, Aya
and Nagi) and a pencil board. There'll also be a
fan (the folding type) available in about a
week's time.
- The October 2004 issue of Ultrajump
manga magazine (to be published 18
September 2004) will come with an
alternate version cover for volume 12 of the
Tenjou Tenge manga. Volume 12 was
released just 4 days ago.
- The Tenjou
Tenge anime website has updated with
more details
of "Great Disc 1" CD
to be released at the end of September. It'll
contain character song(s) by Natsume Aya and
Kounoike Chiaki, soundtrack (approximately 20
tracks), mini drama (approximately 15 -20 minutes
long) and two wallpapers. For release details,
see my 12 July 2004 entry.
- As previously stated in early July, an Air
Gear calendar for 2005 will be released
in mid-November 2004 by Kodansha. Price will be 2,100
yen (including tax). Dimensions 210mm x 297mm, 4
pages. This will be a "stand type"
calendar, which I assume means it'll be able to
stand on its own on a desk etc. Source: Mangaoh
Club.
- On 2 and 4 July 2004, I wrote about a book
by Oh! great titled "Shabon"
to be published in September. Looks like the title
has changed to "Naked Star".
As previously stated, to be published by Core
Magazine on 13 September 2004, price 1,050 yen (including
tax). I can't be bothered checking, but I believe
the ISBN is still ISBN 4-87734-756-9. Source: Sa-i.
This will be an adult book - a
collection of short manga stories. Manga no Mori
has a pic of the cover here.
- Ibara no Ou (King of Thorn) goods
at Cospa \^_^/
ie related to the adventure manga by Iwahara
Yuuji. There's a tote bag and a mug cup. There
are also two types of T
shirts available. I don't really like any of
the designs used for the goods or shirts, but
it's still nice to see Ibara no Ou stuff ^_^
- I note that in the end Intron Depot 4 was
released earlier than the Seishinsha website
stated.
- As to writing about the anime industry. Firstly,
here's a brief
look at some of the companies involved in anime
related publishing.
10 August 2004
- Still very busy, but the end is in sight. Last
week I was working until 12.30am at the beginning
of the week, then 1am, by the weekend 2am. Co-workers
took pity on me on Friday and try to buy a lunch
for me -_- This week I'm taking things a bit
easier. Back home by midnight. Meh, having a life
is overrated anyway... The good news is my bosses
are very happy. But not happy enough to pay me
any extra for basically doing three weeks' work
in one week. (21 August 2004: Umm, that should be
1am and 2am... ^_^;; )
- In other news, I have lost my lead in the footy
tipping. Last year you may recall I was in front
from round 2 all the way up to round 21, only to
lose in the final round 22. This year, I've been
in front ever since the first round. Except last
week, with three rounds to go, I stuffed up. In
Australian parlance, I "went down in a
screaming heap" >_<
3 August 2004
- Just really a quick update to say that I still
won't be updating much (or perhaps at all) for
the next fortnight... and to complain about my
life at present. Nowadays my general routine is
that I wake up around 7.30am, go to work, have
lunch (generally), work late, take about two
hours off to rest and have dinner, work until
about 1am then go home, sleep and wake up about 7.30am
again >_<
- I will quickly mention that a Tenjou
Tenge 2005 calendar will be published by
Shueisha on 3 December 2004, price 2,000 yen (including
tax). It'll be seven A3 size posters in a case,
presumably the same sort of format as with the
2004 calendar. Since this'll be a Shueisha
product and since the listing
on Mangaoh Club refers to Oh! great, I assume
the calendar will feature artwork by Oh! great,
rather than anime artwork.
- I'll also mention that a fortnight or so back, I
got my copy of the Tsuya - Nakajima Atsuko Style
artbook. As the title suggests, art by Nakajima
Atsuko. 112 pages, 76 in colour, 36 in black and
white. Lots of You're Under Arrest and Get
Backers illustrations (16 pages and 35 pages
respectively). Also 28 pages dedicate to
miscellaneous series including Peacemaker
Kurogane, Rurouni Kenshin, King of Bandit Jing.
There are probably only three new illustrations
in the book: the cover, one YUA pic and one Get
Backers pic, the latter two done in a rougher
style that Nakajima's normal slick illustrations
- I think she used marker pens for those two
illustrations). There's a 32 page interview with
Nakajima, but it's filled with black and white
pics and design works from YUA (the OVA, the two
TV series and the movie) and from Get Backers -
in fact, there's actually only about 8 pages of
interview text. Price 2,095 yen plus tax, ISBN 4-86127-049-9,
published by Mag Garden.
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