AnimeNation Anime News Blog

Central Park Media has announced a number of DVD purchase incentives, taking effect this fall.

Consumers that purchase one of the following specially marked DVD sets will be eligable to recieve one free DVD from a list of 12:

Yoshiaki Kawajiri DVD brick [Demon City Shinjuku, A Wind Named Amnesia, Birdy the Mighty DVDs 1 & 2] ($39.99 SRP)
Black Jack DVD collection ($49.99 SRP)
ShootFighter Tekken DVD collection ($49.99 SRP)
Now and Then, Here and There DVD collection ($69.99 SRP)

Consumers that purchase the World of Narue DVD collection plus Graphic Novel 1 set (retail price $79.99, release on October 26th) will recieve a coupon redeemable for a free copy of World of Narue graphic novel 2.

On October 19th, Nightwalker and the Heroic Legend of Arslan will be re-released in English dubbed only bare bones double disc DVD sets retailing at $19.99 each. (The bilingual DVD versions with bonus features will remain available at regular price.)

On November 2nd, the RG Veda, Mask of Zeguy, Tales of Seduction by U-Jin, Grappler Baki, and Judge DVDs will all be re-priced to $9.99 each.

Source: Anime on DVD

Wired Magazine has published an article about anime piracy and Bandai Entertainment’s recently announced lawsuits against dealers that sold unlicensed anime merchandise at Anime Expo. The article estimates that as much as a third of Japanese animation products in the United States may be counterfeit.

Source: Anime News Service

Question:
Many say that the relationship between Luffy and Nami from One Piece will develop into a romance. I disagree because I feel as though they have a brother/sister relationship. Do you agree? What’s your opinion on this matter?

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FUNimation has opened an opinion poll to determine if there is interest in FUNimation creating a cable television network that would broadcast non-stop English dubbed, uncut anime.

Source: Jagged Team

At last week’s San Diego Comic Con, Bandai Entertainment officially announced plans to begin publishing English translated manga in March 2005. Books will retail in the $9.99 - $10.99 range and will include the original Japanese color pages, and dust jackets. Unlike certain other domestic manga publishing companies, Bandai will focus on quality, instead of quantity with it manga acquisitions and releases.

Bandai also announced that the company will sponsor the production of an anime series titled “DICE,” to be animated by Xebec Studios.

Bandai confirmed that its domestic release of the Dear Boys basketball anime TV series may have its name changed for America, into something more “masculine.”

Source: Anime on DVD

At last week’s San Diego Comic Con, Viz announced that Maison Ikkoku DVD boxed set 4 will be released on November 23rd and will only be available from viz.com and Right Stuf International.

Viz representatives confirmed that the Japanese broadcast of the Inuyasha TV series will conclude with episodes 166 & 167, broadcast as a back-to-back special in September.

A post to the Anime on DVD Forum also reveals that Viz is “re-evaluating” (read: canceling) the domestic DVD release of the Corrector Yui anime TV series due to poor sales.

Furthermore, the odds of some Viz back catalog titles being released to DVD are very slim, as are the odds of an American release of the Please Save My Earth “movie.”

Source: Anime on DVD

The International Herald Tribune has revealed that the Cartoon Network will debut the “Hi Hi Puffy AmiYumi” animated series this November. The series is based on the J-pop duo Puffy, best known to Americans as the group that performed the theme song for the American Teen Titans cartoon.

The article does not cover any details behind the production, but considering that the Puffy animation does not seem to be scheduled for Japanese release, it seems to be an American produced animated series.

Source: Anime News Service

The official Japanese homepage for the Elfin Lied TV series now hosts streaming Flash versions of the show’s opening and ending animation sequences. Please note that the footage contains nudity.

Source: Moon Phase

Adult PC game studio Terios has announced that its game Ikinari Happy Bell will be adapted into an anime TV series.

Comic Gum Magazine has announced that Keitaro Arima’s popular manga Moon Phase will debut as an anime TV series this October. The animation will be produced by Shaft (co-producers of Gainax’s KonoMimi TV series). Moon Phase will be directed by Akiyuki Shinbou (SoulTaker, Petit Cossette) with character designs by Masahiro Aizawa (Gadguard, Yukikaze).

Source: Moon Phase

Critical Mass has announced the next two titles in its domestic release of the Vanilla Series adult anime. The Classroom of Atonement (Shokuzai no Kyoushitsu) DVD will contain both 30 minute episodes and retail at $24.95 beginning September 28th. The Hooligan DVD will contain both 25 minute episodes and retail at $24.95 beginning October 26th.

Koge-Donbo, the popular illustrator/manga artist of hit series including Di Gi Charat and Pita-Ten, will make a personal appearance to sign autographs at the Anime Gamers retail store in California on August 3rd from 11am to 12pm.

Question:
Is there a large fanbase for musical or musician-themed anime? Every now and then I see an anime that’s all about a rock band or something similar and I just scratch my head. Is anyone watching these anime and what is the most popular one today?

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Anime Advanced has published a very positive review of AN Entertainment’s Miami Guns DVD volume 1.

At this week’s San Diego Comic Con, Dark Horse Comics officially announced its acquisition of translation and distribution rights to two new manga titles:

Monkey King, by Katsuya Terada: The baddest ape in ancient China is on an impossible mission to find the sacred scrolls of the Buddha. Available in March 2005.

Hipira: The Little Vampire, written by Katsuhiro Otomo and drawn by Shinji Kimura: A vampire tries to find his way to Hell, which is like heaven for vampires. Available in April 2005.

Source: Anime on DVD

The official Japanese website for the upcoming Elfin Lied TV series now hosts a “Type B” trailer.

Source: Moon Phase