AnimeNation Anime News Blog

Have A Safe and Happy Halloween!

Anime on DVD has compiled an interesting list of compliments and suggestions for improvement for each of the major American anime distributors, garnered from forum posts by fans.

Toon Zone has reported that beginning Monday, November 4th, Pokémon and Yu-Gi-Oh will air on the Cartoon Network on week nights from 9:00 to 10:00 pm.

G-Gundam will go back on the air on November 4th at midnight, during Toonami’s Midnight Run. Back-to-back episodes of G-Gundam will also be broadcast on Saturdays from 2-3pm.

Source: Anime News Network

The Magic Box has reprinted screenshots of the upcoming GameCube adventure/simulation game Shaman King: Soul Fight, based on the popular anime TV series, and GetBackers: Recapture! All Sets!, a fighting game with character design based on the popular manga that was recently turned into an anime TV series.

Question:
Is there any anime aimed at adult viewers outside of hentai? A friend and I are arguing about whether or not anime is only for kids. He seems to insist that through his research anime is only intended for the 4 -18 year old demographic, and that your average working class Japanese would not have anything to do with anime. I tend think that he’s too broad in his assessment. Who is right?

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According to a Japanese language newspaper article published by Asahi.com, demand for anime in Japan is now at its highest peak ever. There are more anime programs broadcast on Japanese television now than at any previous time in Japanese history. Satellite TV network Animax debuted several years ago broadcast anime re-runs. As of last year the network began airing new, original series and now has over a million paying subscribers. Pay-per-view anime and streaming broadband internet distribution of anime in Japan are also now increasing in frequency. Overseas interest in anime is also fueling market interest in anime from major Japanese corporations including Mitsubishi, who see anime as a possible investment against the depressed Japanese economy.

In April 2000 there were 20 new anime TV series broadcast. Now there are 34 new works being broadcast. This sudden massive increased demand for anime has some critics speculating that the current anime industry in Japan may not be big enough to be able to meet demand. As a result, some are speculating that the quality of current and future anime productions may suffer in a compromise of quantity over quality.

Source: Natsume Goushin Ryu Dojo

Bandai has announced that the first DVD volume of Ronin Warriors/Yoroiden Samurai Troopers OAVs will be available on March 18, 2003.

AD Vision will release a 2 disc, 12 episode DVD collection of the American produced Megaman cartoon on January 21, 2003. The 286 minute DVD set will retail for $29.98.

Source: Anime on DVD

A limited number of Vandread Second Stage volume 1 DVD with collector’s box sets were released without their advertised free holographic foil card. Pioneer reports that unfortunately there are no foil cards left, so consumers that did not receive the promised premium are now eligable to receive an alternate, replacement premium. Pioneer has posted instructions for consumers to follow to receive a replacement premium item.

Source: Anime News Network

Question:
I am always amazed at the quality of the traditional & CGI anime cut scenes in many of today’s video games. Why do the game companies not spend a little bit more to flesh out the cut scenes in to full fledged anime selections? I would think fans of the specific games and anime in general would be interested in owning completed versions of such great works of animation.

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ComicsOne has officially announced plans to release the first volume of English translated Onegai Teacher manga in January. ComicsOne will be working in conjunction with Bandai Entertainment, who will be releasing the anime TV series that the manga is based on in May 2003.

The 12 episode (plus 1 OAV) long Onegai Teacher anime TV series from January 2002 is the story of an attractive alien observer and high school teacher who is forced into marrying one of her students to maintain her Earth identity. The light comedy/romantic drama was a major hit on Japanese television and has quickly become a small cult hit among American fans.

Source: Anime News Service

Quoting from The Magic Box, Squaresoft has revealed new details and images of the upcoming Final Fantasy X-2, scheduled for Japanese release next March. The game will star Yuna, Rikku and a third new female character. In the game, because now Yuna is world famous, her clothing is a disguise to allow her to travel freely. Square also confirmed that plans for a “Rikku Version” Final Fantasy sequel have been canceled.

Korean gaming news site Ruliweb is hosting numerous large, high resolution images of the game along with the 2 minute long promotional trailer for the game in MPEG format.

Squaresoft has opened its official homepage for Final Fantasy X-2 as well.

Sega has released new images of Sakura Taisen: Atsuki Chishioni, the extended, expanded remake of the original Sakura Wars game. The game is scheduled for Japanese release on the Playstation 2 next spring.

Source: The Magic Box

Question:
Will they be continuing Candidate Pilot, or are the ten episodes in the boxed set the only episodes created?

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A representative of the San Diego Asian Film Festival has enlightened AnimeNation with some details about last week’s announcement that the anime film Steamboy will premier at the 2002 Tokyo Fantastic Film Festival. Only brief clips of the movie will be screened at the Tokyo film festival, along with an update on the status of the production. Production is anticipated to finish late next year for a probable 2004 release.

Wizard Entertainment’s Anime Invasion Magazine is now seeking an associate editor and freelance writers. An applicant seeking employment as an editor for anime related material in Wizard Magazine should be proficient in copy editing using AP style, have journalism writing experience and expert knowledge of anime and manga. Send a letter explaining your qualifications and writing samples to:

Wizard Entertainment
Attn: Douglas Goldstein
151 Wells Ave.
Congers, NY 10920

Anime Invasion Magazine is also seeing freelance writers with experience in journalistic or creative writing, and intimate knowledge of anime and/or manga. Experts on major mainstream hits including Gundam, Dragon Ball Z, Sailor Moon and others are especially desirable. Any special qualifications such as having every episode of a series on tape are a plus. Interested candidates should send a letter explaining your qualifications in depth along with writing samples to:

Wizard Entertainment
Attn: Robert Bricken
151 Wells Ave.
Congers, NY 10920

Source: Anime News Network