AnimeNation Anime News Blog

According to the official Japanese Tenchi-Web homepage, the first episodes of Tenchi Muyo GXP, which aired at midnight on April 2nd, earned an impressive 4.3% view market share. 4.3% is double or more the ratings of other late night anime series such as Aquarian Age, Kanon, and Sugar and actually on par with the average ratings earned by less popular prime-time anime programs like Super GALS! Kotobuki Ran, Cyborg 009, Galaxy Angel, and Hajime no Ippo.

Source: Anime News Service

Question:
I recently saw Gall Force: Eternal Story as subtitled by US Manga Corps. I really enjoyed it, but I don’t quite get the ending. How can all of the main characters be alive on planet Terra if all but a few of them died defending their ship from the Paranoids?

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Gamers is sponsoring a new Di-Gi-Charat art contest through the end of the month. For more information check out the entry guidelines.

The Cartoon Network is sponsoring a contest that will send one grand prize winner to the Metreon Festival of Anime in San Francisco. Code words will be broadcast this week during the midnight run of Toonami on the Cartoon Network. These code words must be input on the official Toonami page to enter the contest. The daily code word can also be found hidden on the official contest entry page.

Source: Anime News Network

Ain’t It Cool News has published a glowing review of Spirited Away from its American theatrical premier last weekend. The review contains small spoilers largely related to the early part of the film and what was revealed in the movie’s various trailers. Fans that don’t want to know anything at about the film in advance of watching it for themselves, though, are advised not to read.

The Asian publication of Time Magazine has published a new series of articles featuring Asian “heroes,” role models and influential figures. Anime fans may be particularly interested in William Gibson’s reverence for “Japan’s most famous man” Takeshi Kitano, an inspiring discussion on the longevity and influence of Doraemon, and a respectful look at Hong Kong’s favorite son, Jackie Chan.

Source: Anime News Service

Even before the system’s May 3rd launch, Nintendo has announced that the GameCube will debut in Europe at a price of 199 euros, instead of the originally anticipated 249 euros. The price cut announcement follows closely on the heels of Microsoft’s recent decision to drastically reduce the retail price of the Xbox in Europe. Sony has not yet announced plans for a price cut in the Playstation 2 system anywhere.

Source: GameSpot

Question:
Is there a place on the internet where you can legitimately buy a Region 2 DVD player?

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AD Vision officially confirmed at last weekend’s Anime Central convention that they have acquired the English language translation and distribution license to the Noir, Full Metal Panic, Angelic Layer and Najica Dengeki Sakusen anime TV series and Majinkaiser OAV series. Angelic Layer, produced by Madhouse Studios and based on manga by CLAMP, is a 26 episodes series loosely based on the “collect and battle” genre popularized by Pokemon. Najica, also from last year, is a 12 episode TV series from the production staff of Aika loosely set in the same continuity as Aika. Majinkaiser is the new, currently ongoing Mazinger super robot OAV series.

Noir is anticipated for American release probably either late this year or sometime next year. The remainder of these new announcements will probably be released sometime later.

AD Vision has announced plans for domestic soundtrack releases for Princess Nine, the Nadesico Movie, Ninja Resurrection (Makai Tenshou), Nuku Nuku and Giant Robo.

Source: Anime on DVD

AnimEigo announced at last weekend’s Anime Central convention that they will be releasing new, previously unreleased episodes of Urusei Yatsura in America next year, along with a DVD treatment of UY movie 1 with a new dub track. If the dub of UY movie 1 goes over well, the other films will also be dubbed.

Before the individual 9 DVDs discs are released to retail sale, the Macross series will be released to retailers in three 3-disc DVD boxed sets.

The You’re Under Arrest TV series will premier in America on four 4 DVD boxed sets. The first 3 boxed sets will include 3 discs of episodes and 1 disc of supplemental material. The final boxed set will be entirely YUA episodes.

Source: Anime News Network

Although no dates have been announced yet, CPM seems to have confirmed that Shoujo Kakumei Utena TV episodes 14-39 will be released in America on 4 DVDs.

The Record of Lodoss War OAV series DVD boxed set will be re-mastered and rereleased tentatively in July.

CPM will apparently soon be announcing a trade-in program for their upcoming re-mastered re-release of the first Slayers DVD boxed set. The existing Slayers DVD set suffers from an audio flaw noticeable when the DVDs are played in surround sound. CPM will be offering some sort of program allowing consumers that own the original set to mail in the defective discs along with money to cover return shipping and receive in return replacement re-mastered discs and a discount coupon that more than makes up for the cost of shipping.

Source: Anime on DVD

According to Media Blasters president John Sirabella, the staff of OLM Studios is considering the possibility of creating more Kenpu Denki Berserk animation; however, at present there are no confirmed plans for more Berserk anime.

Based on the success of Weiss Kreuz and its beautiful young male characters, Media Blasters is apparently considering licensing the popular yaoi (male homosexuality themed) anime series Gravitation.

Source: Anime on DVD

Right Stuf International announced at last weekend’s Anime Central convention that they have acquired the English language translation and distribution license to the entire Comic Party anime TV series- the 13 TV episodes and 4 short “Special” episodes. Based on a PC and Dreamcast game, the Comic Party TV series from last summer is a story about a Japanese high-school age boy who becomes immersed in the Japanese doujinshi (fan produced comics) and anime fandom scene. The series was long thought of as never destined for American release because of its heavy emphasis on Japanese culture and society and its extensive parodies and references to other anime shows and characters, especially those owned by Leaf and KSS Studios.

Source: Anime on DVD

Right Stuf International announced at last weekend’s Anime Central convention that they have acquired the English language translation rights to the 52 episode Project Arms anime TV series and the original Arms manga the animation was based on. Created by Ryoji Minagawa, co-creator of Spriggan, Arms is a dark action/adventure story reminiscent of Bio-Booster Armor Guyver.

Source: Anime on DVD

Disney and Studio Ghibli representatives revealed at last weekend’s American premier of Spirited Away that Disney will theatrically distribute both a subtitled and a dubbed version of Spirited Away in American theaters tentatively beginning September 20th. American producer and personal friend on Hayao Miyazaki John Lasseter will be supervising the American release of Spirited Away, hopefully assuring the most credible and artistically sound release and support of the film in America as possible.

There are plans to release 2 Ghibli films on American DVD later this year and 4 next year. The delay is mandated by the Studio Ghibli requirement that particular films be released on Japanese DVD before they are released on American DVD. The forthcoming American Ghibli film DVDs will be in Japanese with optional subtitles. English dialogue tracks will be included if they exist, but Disney will not be recording new dub tracks specifically for the American DVD releases. All of the American Ghibli film DVDs will be mastered in Japan to maintain the superb image and sound quality typical of Japanese produced anime DVDs.

Source: Ain’t It Cool News

In anticipation of the upcoming release of the American re-make of seminal Japanese suspense/horror film The Ring, Dreamworks Pictures has created a hidden internet teaser not accessible through the DreamWorks homepage. The promo spot should be very cool for fans that are familiar with, or have seen the original Japanese movie, but probably won’t make sense to those unfamiliar with the film.

Fans of John Woo’s classic double-fisted gunplay will appreciate the upcoming Japanese film Guncrazy. The film, staring Japanese actress and supermodel Ryoko Yonekura, is a film in two halves detailing a pair of Japanese woman who rely on guns and violence to exact revenge on mobsters. The film is scheduled for Japanese theatrical release on May 11th. An exciting and violent trailer is available on the film’s Japanese official site.