AnimeNation Anime News Blog

As of the 26th, Sen to Chihiro no Kamikakushi officially broke the Japanese box-office attendance record formerly held by Titanic. In only 10 weeks, it reached 16,878,000 million tickets sold, topping Titanic’s mark of 16,831,000 that took 62 weeks to set. Spirited Away is expected to break Titanic’s record as highest gorssing film ever released in Japan sometime in November. Currently, although more people have seen Spirited Away in Japanese theaters than paid to see Titanic, Titanic was attended mainly by adult viewers that paid higher ticket prices than the majority child audiences that attend Spirited Away screenings and pay a lower admission price.

Article courtesy of Michiko Ito.

According to the Japanese Vampire Hunter D homepage and advertisements in the current issue of Newtype magazine, the new Vampire Hunter D film, known in the US as Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust, will be released to the Japanese home video rental market in English language and Japanese dubbed versions on October 17th, and released for sale in December.

Media Blasters has announced that the complete DVD versions of the action OAV series Cleopatra DC and the high-shcool comedy Madonna will both be released on January 29th for $24.95 and $29.95 respectively. Both DVDs will be subtitled only. A subtitled only live-action DVD titled simply “Cosplay” will also debut on the 29th for $29.95.

Yaoi fans will look forward to the American debut of the Level C OAV. This homosexual love story is based on manga by Aoi Futaba and Kurenai Mitsuba. The 35 minute OAV will be released on subtitled only DVD for $24.95 on the 29th.

The Kite “Director’s Cut” will premier on bilingual DVD on the 29th at $29.95. This adults-only version of Kite restores the original Japanese scene sequence that was altered for the all-audiences American version, and restores nearly all of the sex from the Japanese version.

Celebrated director Takeshi Miike’s outrageous and ultra-violent live-action film Fudoh: The Next Generation, will also premier on subtitled only DVD on the 29th.

Presumably to tie in with the American debut of the Pokemon Gold & Silver Gameboy games, the Viz home video release of the Pokemon “Orange Islands” episodes were skipped over. Now, to rectify this absence, Viz has announced a single massive DVD to fill in the gap. The Pokemon: Adventures in the Orange Islands DVD will contain a full 12 episodes on one DVD disc and retail for only $24.95. The disc will be available on November 27th.

According to Anime on DVD Central Park Media has revealed that they now posses the English language translation and distribution rights to the 4 episode Geobreeders II OAV series released in Japan last year.

According to Ain’t It Cool News, reports that the 52 episode Turn A Gundam TV series will be re-edited into two separate theatrical films (screening at different times) for release in Japanese theaters in February. (Ain’t It Cool News reports the title as “Turn V Gundam.” We assume that this is actually “Turn A Gundam.”)

SNK of Japan and Korean partner Eolith have released the first details and images of King of Fighters 2001. Madman’s Cafe has published the images and a detailed translation of all of the game’s new features and character names. (Thanks to Metrokard2 for the notice)

The Magic Box has published the first two images of the full 3D Star Ocean 3 role-playing game in the works for the Playstation 2.

The Japanese GameSpot site has published new images of the upcoming Soul Calibur 2.

According to Ain’t It Cool News, after seeing his little known but stunning Japanese action/horror film Versus, executives of New Line Cinema have offered director Ryuhei Kitamura the job of director on the American “Freddy vs. Jason” movie. The report has no confirmation nor is there any word on Kitamura’s reaction.

Question:
We all know that Star Wars was a huge hit here in the western world, but was it really that inspirational over in Japan? I’ve noticed that a lot of anime tend to have “magical” or “energy” swords like the ones found in Tenchi and Slayers, for example. Since Star Wars introduced the light sabre, I was wondering if Japanese animation was inspired by the light sabres found in Star Wars or if the “energy” swords found in anime were derived and rose to popularity through something other than Star Wars.

(more…)

The Gaming Intelligence Agency has posted the first 30 second trailer for the upcoming Final Fantasy Unlimited anime TV series from Gonzo Studios. The series is scheduled to premier on the TV Tokyo network in Japan next Tuesday.

Pioneer has announced an Akira fan art contest encouraging fans to create an original Akira movie poster. Three grand prize winners will receive a Pioneer DVD player and have their original art published on the official Akira movie website. The deadline for entry submissions is October 8th. For more information read the official submission rules.

AD Vision has re-vamped the Spriggan official website and added downloadable computer wallpapers, information, and both 30 second and 120 second trailers for the acclaimed action film from 1998. Furthermore, another date has been added to the film’s theatrical tour. The film will play at the AMC theater in Burbank, California beginning October 12th.

According to a translation provided to Anime News Service, the new character introduced in the upcoming second Rurouni Kenshin OAV series is Himura Kenji, the only son of Himura Kenshin and Kaoru Kamiya.

According to Anime on DVD, CPM has confirmed plans for a second volume of Mobile Police Patlabor TV episodes on DVD. CPM initially announced earlier this year that the DVD release of the Patlabor TV series would only be supported if, and as long as, sales of the first and any possible subsequent volumes, warranted continued support of the series. CPM has not yet committed to any DVD volumes of Patlabor beyond DVD volume 2.

Working Designs, famous for their deluxe video game packaging, “unique” translations, and their perpetual release delays, has finally revealed the first images and concrete details of the Arc the Lad Collection for the PSone. Working Designs is probably quite accurately referring to the set as the “largest console-based RPG anthology ever released in the world.” The Collection will include all three Japanese Arc the Lad strategy RPGs, a hardcover instruction manual, Arc the Lad Monster Arena, a “making of” disc, 21 mini character standees, 4 four “analog thumb button covers,” and an embossed memory card case. Pre-ordering the $74.99 set will also guarantee a limited edition Arc the Lad pocket watch in its own custom case. Accompanying the release of the game will be two hardcover strategy guides cover games 1-2 and 3 respectively. The images published by the GIA must be seen to be believed.

The Arc the Lad anime TV series currently being released in America by AD Vision is a loose adaptation of the second Arc the Lad game.