AnimeNation Anime News Blog

The AnimeNation warehouse and offices will be closed tomorrow due to the impending threat of Hurricane Charley.

According to 4Kids’ second quarter earnings press release, they will be releasing “MewMew Power” on FoxBox this fall. So far 4Kids has referred to Tokyo Mew Mew as “Hollywood Mew Mew,” “The Mew Mews,” and “Tokyo Mew Mew.”

Source: Anime News Network

According to the Internet Movie Database, director Mamoru Oshii will be one of 20 directors contributing 5 minutes of film to the Joel & Ethan Coen directed romance film Paris, je t’aime, scheduled for release next year.

Source: Anime News Network

Question:
How have TV censorship standards in Japan changed in the past 10 years and how has it affected anime?

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Denkyu.com has published its distinctive, positive review of AN Entertainment’s Miami Guns DVD volume 2.

MIT University’s Technology Review has published a two page article by director of the Program in Comparative Media Studies at MIT Henry Jenkins, discussing the positive effects of fan involvement and fansubbing in the anime community. The article urges American media distributors to examine the symbiotic relationship between anime fans/consumers and the professional anime industry in both Japan and America in order to apprehend beneficial advice and strategies.

Source: Anime News Network

ICv2 News has uncovered additional detailed information about the DVD collections Bandai will release later this year. All nine of the following limited edition sets will only be available from Bandai until the end of this year.

Release in September:
Banner of the Stars episodes 1-13 set at $49.98
Betterman episodes 1-26 set at $99.98
Love Hina episodes 1-25 plus all OAVs at $149.98
Ronin Warriors episodes 1-39 plus all OAVs at $149.98

Release in November:
Banner of the Stars II episodes 1-13 plus OAV at $49.98
Witch Hunter Robin episodes 1-26 at $149.98
.hack//SIGN episodes 1-27 plus pin set at $149.98
Geneshaft episodes 1-13 at $49.98
Escaflowne episodes 1-26 plus movie at $99.98

TOKYOPOP has announced its acquisition of English language translation rights to Ako Yutenji’s manga series Liling-Po. The official English language version will premier next year.

Source: Jagged Team

Bandai has pushed back the American release of the Playstation 2 Cowboy Bebop game from October 2004 to early 2005.

Source: The Magic Box

The official Japanese website for the live action Cream Lemon movie. The site now hosts a streaming, Real Media trailer and a short, Japanese language history of the anime the film is based on, among other features.

Source: Rakuga Kidou

Bandai of Japan has announced the release of a limited edition, life sized Mobile Suit Gundam Haro PC case. Only 1,000 units will be produced and sold for 99,800 yen each (roughly $898 US). Reservations open on August 12th with the Haro PC case released on October 15th.

The PC case features arms and legs that open and extend by remote control, 21 different phrases spoken by original Haro voice actress Sanae Takagi, and a plaque autographed by mecha designer Kunio Okawara.

Source: Rakuga Kidou

The new anime & furry fanzine titled Furtype is now accepting submissions for its first issue. This includes reviews of anime, manga, comics, movies, TV, video games, and more. Plus additional entires of artwork, fiction, con reports, and links. For more info, please email furtype@hotmail.com.

Article provided by Furtype editor Jer Alford

Question:
Do American fans take anime too seriously? Is anime considered as much of an “art” in Japan as it is here, by the “otaku elite”? Shows like Yu Yu Hakusho and Inuyasha, with their “same crap – different day” tactics seem to point to a negative. Evangelion and FLCL had all the elements of what could be considered art, but (Eva especially) seems like marketing took over. Why are American fans so concerned about anime becoming “mainstream” when it already is mega-commercialized in Japan?

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Central Park Media has announced that the following anime DVDs are now on moratorium, essentially meaning that they are now out of print.

Battle Arena Toshinden
Garzey’s Wing
Silent Service
They Were Eleven
Tokyo Babylon
Voltage Fighter Gowcaizer
Wild Cardz

Source: Anime on DVD

Toei Animation has announced plans for two new anime TV series to debut this fall. Bouken Ou Beat (King of Adventure Beat) will premier on September 30th. The anime adaptation of Masami (St. Seiya) Kurumada’s boxing manga Ring ni Kakero will debut later this fall.

Source: Moon Phase