AnimeNation Anime News Blog

The official Japanese homepage for Ryuhei Kitamura’s live-action action/martial arts/horror/fantasy/gore film Versus has updated with detailed information on the upcoming Japanese DVD release of the film. Contrary to previous reports, the Japanese Region 2 encoded DVD will include optional English subtitles! Additional supplementary features include running audio commentary from the director and staff, a 27 minute documentary on the making of the film, a 7 minute long “Versus Side Story ‘Nervous’” preview, and 4 minutes of theatrical trailers and commercials.

American re-makes of classic contemporary Japanese horror films seem to be the current order of the day. However, the result of this new trend is American fans being denied the original Japanese films. DreamWorks is currently filming the American re-make of The Ring, while no plans for an American release of the original Japanese film have been announced. As previously reported in the AnimeNation news, Dimension Films has plans re-make Ryuhei Kitamura’s Versus while simultaneously burying the original Japanese film in America. Likewise previously reported by the AnimeNation news page, Dimension Films also has plans to have Wes Craven helm an American re-make of Kiyoshi Kurosawa’s Pulse. However, Ain’t It Cool News now reports that Dimension Films will most likely squash any American distribution of the original Japanese version of Pulse so as not to compete with their American re-make.

Question:
I’m a huge fan of anime, and I would most likely move to Japan because of anime and video games. I watch pretty much any anime I can get my hands on, and I realized that there isn’t any American made anime. Now I may be mistaken, but I’ve never really seen any American made anime. Is there any? Are there any plans for American anime shows?

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Now that Candidate for Goddess has premiered on the Cartoon Network’s Adult Swim program, Anime News Network has published a list of alterations made to the first episode that include fairly extensive digital editing and re-drawing of the original Japanese animation to suit American audiences.

19 year old J-pop goddess Utada Hikaru has signed a recording contract with Island Def Jam Records to produce a new CD for American release.

Born in New York in 1983, “Hikki” as she is known by her fans, spent most of her life in Japan and is fluent in both Japanese and English. She currently attends college at Columbia University in New York City. Her 1999 CD “First Love” holds the record as best selling CD ever in Japan, with her second album, Distance, not far behind.

Source: Anime News Service

Toho is heavily promoting the latest Godzilla film, “Godzilla, Mothra and King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-Out Attack,” at the American Film Market trade show going on this week in Santa Monica, California, hoping for a positive response leading to an American distribution license. Ain’t It Cool News has published a short but highly positive review of the film.

The Magic Box has reprinted images and screenshots of the 4 new characters that will appear in Guilty Gear XX, scheduled for release to Japanese arcades this spring.

Squaresoft has announced that Final Fantasy XI will go on sale in Japan on April 27th at 6800 yen. The first two months of online play are free, followed by a monthly 500 yen access charge. According to rumor, Square and Sega will be joining forces to release an arcade version of Final Fantasy XI identical to the PS2 version. Players with a memory card and some time to spare will be able to log-in to their home game from any arcade.

Source: The Magic Box

Capcom’s Virtual-On style arcade Gundam game “Mobile Suit Gundam: Federation Vs Zion” will be released for the Dreamcast on April 11th. The 6800 yen double disc set will include the original Federation Vs Zion 3D fighting simulation game and the upgraded Federation Vs Zion DX game.

Magic Box has published impressive screenshots of Capcom’s upcoming Xbox shooting/mecha simulation game Tekki, and even more impressive images of the massive “realistic” controller which includes 2 control sticks, and over 40 buttons, dials and levers!

Source: The Magic Box

Question:
I don’t get it! I love DB and DBZ but people call me a “newbie” when ever I say that I like them. I think that I have made my way far out of the newbie rank! I’ve watch Evangelion, Akira, Robotech, Cowboy Bebop, Outlaw Star, Tenchi, Roujin Z, Lain, and just about every Gundam saga (gotta love Gundam!) and more than that! But if I bring up anything about DBZ, I’m a newbie all of a sudden! I just want to know why that is because I think I am anything but a newbie!

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At the ultimate pinnacle of anime fandom releases, Legend of the Galactic Heroes has been announced for limited edition DVD release as a single collectors item set to be released in segments. The 45 disc set will contain all of the existing LoGH anime including the 110 episode TV series, the prequel OAV, the 52 episode side story series and both motion pictures and sell for 231,000 yen (at current exchange rate slightly over $1,700 American). The set is available only via internet order through Ginei.com and orders will only be accepted from consumers living in Japan.

One month short of two years after the TV series concluded, Bandai Entertainment has announced that a concluding 13th episode of Megami Kohousei (Candidate for Goddess/Pilot Candidates) will premier on Japanese home video on May 25th. The 25 minute long episode will retail for 3,800 yen on DVD.

JVD has officially announced that the fifth Urotsukidoji OAV series, titled “The Urotsuki,” will debut on Japanese home video on May 3rd. This three episode series appears to be a direct sequel to the first two OAV series. The official site is available here, but does contain some adult images not suitable for all visitors.

A new Taiho Shichauzo TV special has been announced. The 25 minute long You’re Under Arrest: No Mercy! will air on Japanese television on March 29th then retail for 3800 yen on DVD the following month.

Source: Anime News Service

Contrary to yesterday’s news update which stated that the second Armitage the 3rd movie would be released in 3 different versions, Anime on DVD has learned that the film will actually be released in 4 different versions.

The film itself on a bare-bones DVD will retail for $19.98. A “Special Edition” DVD includes an additional 35 minutes of supplemental features and a booklet for an additional $10.

A 2 disc set of both Armitage movies will include the $29.98 Dual Matrix Special Edition and the Polymatrix movie for an additional $10 making the 2 disc Armitage movies set retail at $39.98. The Polymatrix DVD normally retails at $14.98 alone.

The Dual Matrix limited edition boxed set will include the Special Edition DVD with a variant version of the McFarlane Toys Armitage figure and a metal Armitage lunch box for $49.98.

In a move welcomed by many anime fans, AD Vision has announced that the 6 episode Golden Boy OAV series will be released on two DVDs beginning on April 23rd. “Golden Boy: Treasure Hunt” will contain bilingual OAV episodes 1-3 and retail for $29.98.

Source: Anime on DVD

According to the Hollywood Reporter, American production studio Crystal Sky, in association with Japan’s GaGa Communications, has acquired the rights to produce a $60 million American live action theatrical adaptation of the Tekken video game series.

EuroGamer has reprinted the official press release from New Line Films announcing New Line’s new plans to develop a live action film and possible film franchise based on the new PS2 riot simulation action game State of Emergency. Ironically this story about “social and economic chaos” in an “Orwellian future” will be produced by the team responsible for the “American Pie” movies.

Question:
I have heard rumors that there is going to be more New Cutey Honey. Is it true? I sure hope so! Honey is my favorite anime character!

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