AnimeNation Anime News Blog

AnimatedBLISS has reprinted official press releases from Buena Vista Home Entertainment and Warner Bros. giving the first official confirmation of release dates for the Region 1 Kiki’s Delivery Service, Spirited Away, Castle in the Sky, and AniMatrix DVDs.

The AniMatrix short film collection will be released on VHS and DVD on June 3rd. Beginning February 4th, four of the 9 AniMatrix shorts will be streamed for free at The AniMatrix.com:

“The Second Renaissance – Part 1,” written by Larry and Andy Wachowski and directed by Mahiro Maeda (Blue Sub No. 6), will go online on February 4th.

“Program,” written and directed by Yoshiaki Kawajiri (Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust) will be available online in March.

“Detective Story,” Written and Directed by Shinichiro Watanabe (Cowboy Bebop) will be available online in April.

“The Second Renaissance – Part 2,” written by Larry and Andy Wachowski and directed by Mahiro Maeda, will go online in May and lead into The Matrix Reloaded, which opens in theaters on May 15th.

Question:
How many episodes are scheduled for Ghost In The Shell: Stand Alone Complex, Mobile Suit Gundam Seed, Naruto, and Rockman EXE.?

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John Sirabella has officially revealed to Anime on DVD that Media Blasters has acquired the translation and distribution rights to the current Juuni Kokki (Record of 12 Countries) and recently concluded Samurai Deeper Kyo anime TV series, and the 1992 theatrical anime fantasy movie Weathering Continent.

According to Anime on DVD, TOKYOPOP has confirmed that they have licensed 6 new manga titles for English language translation and distribution: NieA_7, Brigadoon, the shoujo adventure series Baby Birth and Wild Act, Saber Marionette J, and Brain Powerd (which will be re-named in America “Brain Powered”).

According to Anime News Network, TOKYOPOP has also licensed the yaoi manga series Fake and Gravitation. Fake is tentatively scheduled to premier in English in May, and the first volume of Gravitation manga will follow in June.

Amazon.com now has detail about the three upcoming R1 Studio Ghibli DVD releases: Spirited Away, Kiki’s Delivery Service, and Castle in the Sky. All three films will be presented in anamorphic wide screen with optional English, Japanese, French, and Spanish audio tracks, and include introductions by Disney producer John Lasseter, original storyboards, Japanese trailers, and English language voice talent featurettes. The Spirited Away DVD will also include “The Art of Spirited Away” and “The Making of Spirited Away.”

Source: Nausicaa.net

The first DVD volume of the 3 episode Sakura Taisen Ecole de Paris OAV series will debut in Japan on March 19th. The 30 minute long DVD will retail for 6,090 yen (roughly $52). This new OAV series marks the first time characters from Sakura Wars 4 will appear in Sakura Wars anime.

Source: Natsume Goushin Ryu Dojo

Question:
What does Asuka mean by the last line in the End of Evangelion movie, “How disgusting”?

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DVDFile has reported that the double disc special edition American DVD versions of Spirited Away, Kiki’s Delivery Service, and Castle in the Sky (Laputa) will be released on April 15th. DVDFile has posted the first look at the DVD cover art, and states that each DVD will include the original Japanese language audio track and a “new English dub.”

Source: Anime on DVD

AD Vision has officially opened its English language RahXephon homepage.

Source: Anime on DVD

On the 15th, Animation World Network confirmed that Japanese licensing company ShoPro Entertainment, a 50% owner of Viz Communications, would be presenting the Rockman.exe anime TV series to American television networks for consideration of possible American TV broadcast. Animation Insider has reported that ShoPro Entertainment definitely will release the Rockman anime in America, which is not the same impression given by the earlier report that the series is simply under consideration for possible American release.

Source: Anime News Network

On January 20th the AnimeNation News Page reported that the “Superior Defender” program to be broadcast on the Cartoon Network this fall will most likely be the Japanese Ganbare! SD Gundam anime TV series from 1993. AnimeNation has received several e-mail responses to this news article arguing that Superior Defender cannot possibly be a show from 1993 because the American release Superior Defender toys shown pictured by Raving Toy Maniac include a Gundam W Wing Zero. Gundam W did not premier in Japan until 1995.

In defense of AnimeNation’s original speculation, there has been no confirmation that the American Superior Defender toys will all actually appear in the Superior Defender animation. There is no existing anime in Japan that includes Super Deformed Gundam Wing mecha, and Sunrise Studios of Japan has not announced any plans to produce a new SD Gundam TV series this year. There is only 1 existing SD Gundam TV series in Japan, the one that aired in 1993. There has been no SD Gundam animation at all released in Japan, or even scheduled for production, since 1993, two years before the premier of Gundam W.

Question:
How much .hack is there out there? I know the game will come with an anime DVD. Last time I looked it said .hack//LIMINALITY. How is that related to the upcoming .hack//SIGN releases?

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Manga Entertainment has issued an official press release announcing the upcoming DVD release of Bio-Booster Guyver and the Fist of the North Star TV series to American DVD.

On February 25th, Manga will release The Guyver, the long awaited sci-fi action series. This popular 12 half hour episode series is now presented on 2 explosive DVD volumes featuring 6 episodes per disc and specially priced at $24.95 SRP each. The DVDs are loaded with extras including English and Japanese languages, English subtitles, Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound, character bios, data files, original Japanese intros, photo gallery, Manga extras plus a free poster included in each DVD.

March 25th will introduce the first two volumes of the landmark Japanese TV martial arts series Fist of the North Star, first time available on DVD. One of the most highly popular and recognized brand names in the anime business worldwide, the Fist of the North Star series consists of 36 half hour episodes now contained on 5 bone crunching DVD volumes. Each DVD contains 7 episodes (bonus episode on volume 5) and features digitally remastered 4×3 picture, motion menus, English and Japanese languages, English subtitles, character bios, photo gallery, prologue, Japanese credits along with Manga extras. The complete DVD collection features Episodes 33, 34, 35 and 36, never before released in the US on VHS.

Source: Anime on DVD

AnimationHQ will be hosting a chat session with American dub voice actress Wendee Lee on Saturday, January 25th at 4 p.m. (EST)/ 1 p.m. (PST).

Source: Anime on DVD

New York University has announced plans to offer a course titled “Anime” under its Asian studies curriculum. The course will, “Explore the popularity of anime in relation to the cultural conditions of contemporary Japan and to the context of cultural globalization which is radically transforming the way audio-visual images are produced and consumed.”

New York University’s Center for Advanced Digital Applications will also be offering an eight-session summer class titled “Anime: Japanese Animation-The Look,” a course primarily intended for animation industry professionals and focusing on the distinct, technical production aspects of Japanese animation.

The University of Nevada’s Division of Educational Outreach will offer a course titled “Introduction to Anime” March 8 and April 26, 2003. The course is open to the public and as its name implies, will be a broad, introductory level discussion of anime and what anime is.

Source: Anime News Network