Question:
I would like to know what the difference is between DVD regions and how this effects a DVD player. Does one need different DVD players? Does a DVD player adjust to each DVD? Can a Playstation 2 play all DVD regions?
AnimEigo revealed at this past weekend’s Animazement convention that they are in the process of licensing the original Spirit of Wonder OAV again “and they say that should happen by next summer.” The Spirit of Wonder DVD was apparently taken out of print because AnimEigo’s distribution license to the series expired.
Bandai has announced that the box and any premium items or bonuses included in the upcoming Cowboy Bebop DVD boxed set will not be made available separately to fans that have already purchased the individual 6 Cowboy Bebop DVDs.
Tokyopop has confirmed that they have acquired the translation and publication rights to the Marmalade Boy and Kodomo no Omocha manga series.
Source: Anime on DVD
The Magic Box has posted new screenshots and detail on the previously unseen Final Fantasy X character Seymour, his background, and his relationship to Yuna. The Gaming Intelligence Agency has provided links to new gameplay clips and the new Flash intro to Final Fantasy X from the official PlayOnline site.
The Magic Box has also uncovered screenshots of character portraits from the upcoming Tekken 4, including the new character Dean Earwicker.
Capcom has announced its financial expectations for the fiscal year beginning in April 2001 and ending in March of 2002. Capcom will release 39 software titles in the first half of the fiscal year, and 33 titles in the second half of the financial year. This is broken down thusly:
PC/Other - 19 games
PlayStation 2 - 13 games
GameBoy Advance/Color - 12 games
Dreamcast - 11 games
PlayStation - 10 games
XBox - 5 games
GameCube/N64 - 2 games
Source: The Magic Box
GameSpot has compiled a list of American Dreamcast games still scheduled for release between now and this fall. Although the Dreamcast is on its last leg, there are still a significant number of major software titles due for US release including Crazy Taxi 2, Shenmue 2, Sonic Adventure 2, Last Blade: Final Edition, Guilty Gear X, Half Life, Evil Twin, and Phantasy Star Online Ver. 2.
Question:
Why do anime series like Trigun that are incredibly successful have only 26 episodes and no sequels or movies when they would easily make money?
To celebrate Memorial Day, both the AnimeNation main office and retail store will be closed on Monday, May 28th.
Anihabara has posted short descriptions of a handful of the new television anime series scheduled to premier in Japan in early July.
Fruit Basket (TV TOKYO)
Stories about a girl and her strange family who transform into animals when they hold a woman. Directed by Akitaro Daichi, director of Kodomo no Omocha, Jubei-chan and Kuromi-chan.
Cosmo Warrior Zero (AT-X)
In the latest work from Reiji Matsumoto, the Cosmo Warrior Zero is appointed to hunt down and exterminate the rebellious space pirate Captain Harlock.
Shaman King (TV TOKYO)
Yoh seeks to become the Shaman King by allowing ghosts to possess his body and fight in the Shaman Fight tournament.
I-MY-ME Strawberry Egg (unscrambled WOWOW)
Amawa Hibiki is a is a hot-blooded female teacher, but all the girl students love her. Directed by Yuuji Yamaguchi, director of Angel Links.
Mahou Shoujo Neko Taruto [Magic Cat Girl Taruto]
Stories of a cat eared girl who studies magic.
The official Dragonball Z homepage has announced that the American fifth season of Dragonball Z will begin airing on the Cartoon Network on September 3rd. In the meantime, the original Dragonball series will debut on the Cartoon Network on June 25th.
In a new interview with Financial Times Magazine, Sony Computer Entertainment president Ken Kutaragi stated that, “Microsoft was finished before it even got started… They have no games. Microsoft has put itself out of the game. Retailers in the US are already disappointed. Microsoft does not understand the entertainment business.” Regarding Microsoft’s presentation at E3, Kutaragi said, “The processing speed of their console is not fast enough and the graphics were rough.” Kutaragi is already predicting that this fall Sony will dominate 70 percent of the next generation console market, with the remaining 30 percent controlled by Nintendo’s Game Cube. Microsoft representatives have declined to respond to Sony’s attack.
Source: GameSpot
To commemorate the 10th anniversary of the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise, Sega has announced plans to release a special Dreamcast Sonic bundle in America. The package will include a Dreamcast console, copies of Sonic Adventure and Sonic Shuffle, a Sonic Adventure 2 demo, a “Sonic blue” VMU and retail for only $119.95.
Sonic Adventure 2 will be released in Japan on June 23rd, the exact 10th anniversary of the debut of the original Sonic the Hedgehog game. The game will be released in Japan initially in a special, limited edition package available only on June 23rd and 24th. The “Sonic Birthday Package” will include a copy of Sonic Adventure 2, a copy of the game’s soundtrack, commemorative gold coin and booklet on the history of the Sonic games all packaged in a blue gatefold box.
Source: GameSpot
Figures.com has uncovered early details for Art Asylum’s line of domestic Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon action figures due out in October.
Li Mu Bai, originally portrayed by Chow Yun Fat, will be clothed in his traditional Wudan uniform and include the Green Destiny sword, a bamboo stick, and Wudan sword. A “bamboo forest” base” will support the figure, as if Li Mu Bai is floating on the bamboo tree.
Yui Hsui Lien, originally played by Michelle Yeoh will be garbed in her Sun Security uniform. Accessories include sword and Green Destiny carrying case. Her base is the room where the Green Destiny sword lies. You can display Jen Yu’s base in front of this one to create a doorway to Yui Hsui Lien’s base.
Jen (Zhang Zi Yi) in ninja disguise will include a removable ninja mask, sheath for the Green Destiny sword, and Wudan sword. Her base is a doorway with all the designs seen in the movie, similar to the doorway that lead to the room where the magical Green Destiny sword was displayed.
Lo (Chang Chen), also known as the Dark Cloud, decked out in his desert thief clothing, will come equipped with his sword. His base will be a desert scene, where he can be displayed on a desert cliff.
Question:
Do American Anime distributors only bring in anime that were famous in Japan? What were some of the most successful and popular anime in Japan? Like a top 5 or something. Like what anime had the most fan base in Japan.
A press conference in Tokyo on May 10th revealed that Leiji Matsumoto will personally supervise production of the Cosmo Warrior Zero television anime series, based on the Playstation game of the same name. The series is scheduled to last for 13 half-hour episodes.
Source: Anime News Service
Nintendo revealed at E3 that the Game Cube will debut in Japan on September 14th and in North America on November 5th at a domestic retail price of $199.95. The Xbox will debut in the US three days later and retail for $299, the extra $100 accounting for the built in modem, 10 gig hard drive and DVD player. Sony plans to remain competitive by focusing on releasing quality software in quantity. No plans for a price reduction for the PS2 were announced, but a PS2 package that includes Gran Turismo A-Spec for the reduced price of $329.95 will be released on July 10th.
The general consensus among E3 attendees, based on the presentations by both Nintendo and Microsoft, was that the Game Cube will be a solid hit while the Xbox may be facing a tougher road than Microsoft anticipates. With under 6 months to go before release, Nintendo’s display featured playable, polished demo versions of Luigi’s Mansion, Pikmin, Super Smash Brothers 2, Star Wars: Rogue Squadron 2, Star Fox Adventures: Dinosaur Planet and Wave Race. Microsoft displayed or had playable versions of an equally impressive number of titles, but the general opinion was that Microsoft’s offerings seemed rough hewn and still far from finished perfection.
