AnimeNation Anime News Blog

AnimeNation’s offices and retail store will be closed on New Year’s Day.

From The Digital Bits:

You’ll be surprised to learn that a new and completely hidden bonus feature has been discovered on the R1 DVD release of Miyazaki’s Castle in the Sky. You can’t access it from the menus at all, but there’s a hidden video file (a .VOB file) on the disc featuring a 20-minute Japanese TV documentary on the making of the film. You can only access it via DVD-ROM by searching through the individual VOB files. Unfortunately, it’s not subtitled, so our best guess is that it was originally intended to be included on the disc as a regular feature, but was “dropped” at the last minute for unknown reasons (so the menu links and subtitles were left off).

According to The Magic Box, Bandai of Japan has scheduled the release of “SD Gundam G Generation Seed,” the latest entry in the super deformed strategy RPG game series, for February 19th. Bandai has also scheduled the release of a Saiyuki Reload game for the Playstation 2 for March 18th.

Question:
In 2002 someone asked you what your favorite titles of the year were. So my question to you… What are your favorite titles of 2003? What impressed you this year?

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Four months after revealing that she had cervical cancer, Hong Kong pop star and actress Anita Mui died early Tuesday morning due to complications related to her condition. Friends and family, including superstar Jackie Chan were on hand at the hospital where she had been admitted after slipping into a coma.

In addition to a hugely successful singing career, Mui starred in nearly 50 films including nine martial arts-related titles. Close friends with Jackie Chan, she delivered memorable acting performances in three of his best films including Mr. Canton and Lady Rose (1989) (AKA Miracles), Drunken Master II (1994), and Rumble in the Bronx (1995). She also played opposite Jet Li in my Father is a Hero (1995). Arguably Mui’s best action role was leading Michelle Yeoh and Maggie Cheung in the superhero actioner The Heroic Trio (1993). However, the supernatural drama Rouge (1987) is regarded as her best screen performance, for which she won Best Actress at the Hong Kong Film Awards.

Before she succumbed to illness, Mui was determined to fulfill her scheduled appearance in Zhang Yimou’s second martial arts film, tentatively titled House of Flying Daggers. Anita Mui, who was unmarried, died at the age of 40. She leaves behind many fans around the world who will mourn her passing.

Source: Kung Fu Cinema

A short WMV format trailer for the upcoming OAV series Tenbatsu Angel Rabbie is now available for download in a zip file.

Source: Rakuga Kidou

Question:
What have been the titles that have led to the anime boom in the US? Isn’t Akira one of the main ones?

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The Tokidoki Journal fan site has published an extended, highly positive review of AN Entertainment’s 3 volume DVD release of Omishi Magical Theater: Risky Safety.

The official Japanese homepage for the Mezzo Forte TV series now hosts a 15 second long MPG trailer, the first trailer released that features all new animation from the upcoming Mezzo TV series. The trailer is available in MPG and MPG2 formats. MPG2 requires appropriate installed video codecs or DVD-ROM player software to play properly on a computer.

Source: Rakuga Kidou

Kadokawa Publishing has officially announced the development of an anime TV series based on Mine Yoshizaki’s best selling manga serial Keroro Gunso.

Source: Aniota News

According to Yahoo Japan, Studio Ghibli has delayed the theatrical release of Howl’s Moving Castle from July 2004 until November 2004. The film’s production is significantly behind schedule, mandating the delay.

Source: Anime News Network

The Cartoon Network has released its early 2004 broadcast schedule. Witch Hunter Robin is scheduled to premier on Monday, February 16th at midnight.

Source: Anime News Network

The Magic Box now hosts 3 pages of screenshots from the upcoming Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex game for the Playstation 2.

Additional images are available from the Japanese Game Watch site.

Question:
Are there any anime that deal with time travel besides Inuyasha?

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The AnimeNation offices will be closed on December 25th and 26th for the Christmas holiday. The AnimeNation walk-in retail store will be closed on Christmas day and open during normal business hours on December 26th.