David Williams of ADV Films has confirmed for Anime on DVD that the Neon Genesis Evangelion Perfect Collection DVD boxed set will retail for $169.98 beginning on April 9th. The set will contain all 8 Evangelion DVDs, including the re-mastered volume 1, all with slightly re-designed sleeves with matching spines. Detail on a deluxe “Premium” edition of the DVD set will be forthcoming soon.
Akadot has published a brief update on the status of the tentative American produced English language version of Newtype Magazine. Mentions of negotiations with the Japanese publishers, financial viability assessments, waiting “for the green light to shine,” and an image of a Newtype mock-up issue developed for proposal to Kadokawa Shoten seem to suggest that the American publication is still in the possibility stage rather than the confirmed production stage.
Source: Anime News Network
Reminding everyone that the company still produces more than just Beat Mania games, Konami has revealed its first two 1:1 scale action figures based on the popular Tokimeki Memorial dating simulation video game franchise. The two girl figures feature 14 points of articulation and authentic cloth clothes. Each figure retails as 450,000 yen, roughly $3,370 each in American dollars.
Source: Anime News Service
The Gaming Intelligence Agency has learned that Squaresoft has copyrighted the names “Chrono Break” and “Unlimited SaGa” for use in electronic optical media, suggesting that plans are now underway for a new game in the Saga series and finally a direct sequel to Chrono Trigger.
CORRECTION: In reference to the following article, Anime on DVD has confirmed that the Animation Magazine article used its quotes without fully explaining their context. It’s now been clarified that the music in the Initial D animation would be changed only for a hypothetical American TV broadcast. The confirmed American Initial D home video release will include the original Japanese music.
According to a new article published by Animation Magazine, TOKYOPOP has plans to record entirely new American pop music for the domestic release of the Initial D animation. The Japanese version of Initial D makes extensive use of dozens of immensely popular, mostly Japanese language “Euro-beat” dance-pop songs performed by best-selling Japanese and European groups including Move, Max Coveri, Edo Boys, and Dave Rogers.
Samurai Girl: Real Bout High School will premier on American home video on May 22nd.
Source: Anime on DVD
Mooto! Ojamajo Doremi ended with episode 50 on January 27th. The first episode of the fourth Doremi season/series, Ojamajo Doremi Dokan! will premier on February 3rd.
Hellsing concluded with episode 13, broadcast on January 16th. Vandread Second Stage ended with episode 13 broadcast on January 18th. Comet-san concluded with episode 43 broadcast on January 20th. Offside will end on episode 39, scheduled for broadcast on January 31st.
Raxephon broadcast its first episode on January 21st. Kanon premiers on January 30th. The second Galaxy Angel TV series premiers on February 3rd.
According to a rumor published by Anime News Service, last year’s popular Noir TV series will be getting new animation. The format (TV, OAV, movie) has not yet been revealed.
A new Initial D Battle Stage special (the second such special) will air on Japanese Sky PerfecTV satellite television on February 1st. The movie length special will summarize the major street races from the two TV series. Rather than simply using clips from the TV series, the new special will entirely re-animate all of the original CG car and background footage with new state-of-the-art computer graphics rendering. The special will also feature entirely new Super Eurobeat music and guest commentary from legendary “drift racer” Keiichi Tsuchiya. The DVD version of the TV special will be available for rental in Japan in March and sale in May.
Source: Anime News Service
The official FUNimation anime page has published a page introducing “Fruits Basket” (In Katakana the title is spelled “Fu-ru-tsu Ba-su-ke-to,” so it’s arguable whether the proper title is “Fruit” or “Fruits.”) that explains the show’s popularity in Japan and provides a brief story introduction. The page also confirms that the series will premier in America this year.
Source: Anime on DVD
Question:
I’ve noticed in Zoids New Century Zero and in Gundam Wing/Endless Waltz the most powerful mecha are ending in “zero.” Example: Liger Zero and Wing Zero. I’m wondering if there is any special meaning behind the word “zero” in a name?
According to Anime News Service, the upcoming Metropolis DVD from Columbia Pictures will include a trailer for the Cowboy Bebop: Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door motion picture, practically confirming that Columbia has secured the American distribution rights to the film.
Columbia is pulling out all the stops for the genuinely special special edition Metropolis DVD that will feature the film in anamorphic widescreen and optional pan & scan; optional English, French & Spanish subtitles; optional English & French dubbed versions; Japanese and English Dolby 5.1 and Japanese DTS 5.1 audio track; and a mini DVD including a “Making of Metropolis” featurette, interview with Rin Taro and Katsuhiro Otomo, history of Tezuka’s Metropolis manga, Japanese & American theatrical trailers, animation comparisons, Tezuka biography, production notes, and bonus trailers for Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within and the Cowboy Bebop movie.
The official Buena Vista Home Entertainment homepage has updated its listing for the out of print Kiki’s Delivery Service VHS release with an option for consumers to vote for a VHS or DVD re-release and add suggestions for what should be included in any possible re-release or DVD version.
Source: Anime on DVD
AD Vision has announced that the first season of Sailormoon will be transferred onto American DVD beginning with Sailor Moon: A Heroine is Chosen & Sailor Moon: Sailor Scouts to the Rescue. Both 6 episode volumes will be dubbed only and will retail at $14.98 each starting on April 16th.
Source: Anime on DVD
Pioneer has opened its official American homepage devoted to the upcoming American DVD release of Hayao Miyazaki’s 1984 television series Meitantei Holmes, under the title Sherlock Hound.
Source: Anime News Network
According to rumor, Miramax Films has plans to butcher Hong Kong’s highest ever grossing film for its American release. The action/comedy Shoalin Soccer will reportedly be re-titled “Kung Fu Soccer,” have over 20 minutes of footage removed and have its original musical score replaced with American urban/rap music for its American release from Miramax.
Korean J-pop star BoA (not to be confused with the British group of the same name that performed the opening theme for Serial Experiments Lain), will play the role of Natsuki Mogi, Takumi Fujiwara’s girlfriend, in the live-action Initial D movie. Japanese entertainment label Avex is both the owner of the Initial D animation and BoA’s record label.
The successful Japanese horror film from 2000, Another Heaven, will be the first Japanese horror film released in America by Fangoria magazine. The film, written and directed by Jouji Iida, the director of Spiral (one of the sequels to The Ring), will premier on American subtitled-only VHS and DVD in July.
The popular new-wave ninja/action film Red Shadow (Aka Kage) from last year will premier on Japanese Region 2 special edition DVD with optional English subtitles on April 21st.
Although Hideo (Ring, Ring 2) Nakata’s latest supernatural suspense film, Honogurai Mizu No Soko Kara, just opened in Japanese theaters this week, rights to produce an American remake have already been secured. According to Kung Fu Cult Cinema, Fox has obtained the American re-make rights. According to Ain’t It Cool News, it is Disney’s Dimension Films that has licensed the re-make rights.
Source: Kung Fu Cult Cinema
Earlier this week at a press conference in Beijing, Jet Li confirmed that Miramax Films had withdrawn its plans to produce an American Tibetan monk in New York themed film to star Li. Miramax apparently had decided that the story was not marketable enough to American film-goers. Jet Li held his press conference to announce that he would continue with plans to produce the film by financing the production himself along with personal friends.
Source: Ain’t It Cool News
