AnimeNation Anime News Blog

Sony has revealed the redesigned Playstation 2. The SCPH-70000CB model PS2 is 75% smaller than the current SCPH-50000 model, and includes a built in ethernet adapter and will now support burnable DVDs. The new, smaller PS2 will continue to retail at $149.99 in America and will go on sale on November 1st. Easily accessible images are available from The Magic Box. Full technical specs are available from Gamespot.

Also according to The Magic Box, Sony has confirmed that the Playstation 3 will use the Blu-ray DVD format. A blu-ray disc can hold up to 20 gigabytes of data.

Nintendo has announced that the Nintendo DS will launch in the US on November 21 and in Japan on December 3, marking the first time that Nintendo has ever launched new hardware outside of Japan. (The reasoning behind the new approach is that the US and Japanese holiday shopping seasons are slightly different. Japanese holiday shopping is generally at its peak around New Year’s.) The price in the US will be $149.99.

The Nintendo DS has a 6-10 hour battery life depending on the applications used. The DS is not compatible with Gameboy and Gameboy Color games. The DS will play Game Boy Advance titles in single player mode only.

At launch, the Nintendo DS will include a playable demo of Metroid Prime Hunters: First Hunt. The DS will also have the “PictoChat” function built into the system, allowing for wireless drawing-and-text-based chat between DS systems.

Source: Gamespot

Killer Movies has published statements from director Charles Stone III regarding his feature film adaptation of Namco’s popular Tekken fighting game franchise. In summation, Stone says that the American movie will be a realistic, believable film dealing with the ultimate fighting circuit and the sports business. In other words, the movie adaptation will eliminate most of the characters, themes and plot elements that characterize the Tekken video games.

Question:
Will the US ever be able to view Devilman? The only DVDs released here are 2 crappy OVAs. Even if you import the TV series, it’s still nothing like the manga or how Go Nagai intended. The series is no long dark; it’s a kids’ show. The imported “Apocalypse of Devilman” is the closest thing we can get to seeing the original intent of Devilman and it isn’t so grand as it’s very vague in its plot development. Do you think that a manga based series will ever be created or the manga itself translated to English? Also have you heard any news on the Devilman major motion picture (live action) currently in production?

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Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence opened in 47 theaters nationwide last Friday, earning $317,722 during the weekend, placing it 28th in weekend gross. Meanwhile, the Yu-Gi-Oh movie fell from 33rd to 50th highest grossing movie of the week, and fell from release in 445 theaters nationwide to 166 theaters nationwide. To date, the Yu-Gi-Oh movie has earned $19.65 million.

Source: Anime News Network

The Magic Box has published three pages of screenshots of Red Entertainment’s upcoming PS2 3D samurai action game Shinsen Gumi Gunraw Den, which features character designs by Rurouni Kenshin creator Nobuhiro Watsuki.

Pop Japan Travel is now accepting reservations for participation in its “Winter Adventure” tour of Japan, scheduled for February 1-9, 2005. The tour will include a visits to Mount Fuji, an genuine onsen (hot spring), the Sapporo Snow Festival, an exclusive tour of an anime production studio in Tokyo, and more.

The official Pokemon website has revealed the locations and dates of the first stops on the 2004 Pokemon Rocks live event tour, which features card game competitions, video game demos, and other live features.

Pokémon Rocks Atlanta, Saturday, October 9th
Pokémon Rocks Minneapolis, Saturday, October 16th
Pokemon Rocks Seattle, Saturday, October 23rd

Article provided by Dessa

Question:
I was wondering about unlicensed anime. Is it illegal to download unlicensed anime? Or does it depend on what the laws are in the country you live in. Because I live in Canada and I know that our laws regarding downloading music and .mp3s are very different than in the US. In Canada downloading music and having it on your computer is not as much of problem because of the way our copyright laws are. But anyway, back to anime, I’m just asking because a lot of people think downloading unlicensed anime is illegal and it doesn’t really make sense to me that it would be.

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Mediaworks has announced the development of a theatrical anime film based on Keiichi Sigsawa’s popular series of Kino no Tabi novels. The movie will tentatively see mainstream Japanese theatrical release next year.

Source: Moon Phase

According to Moon Phase, a Mahou Sensei Negima TV anime will debut in January 2005. Also, veteran voice actress Kikuko Inoue will reportedly play the lead role in the upcoming anime TV series Okusama wa Mahou Shoujo (”Madam/Wife is a Magical Girl”).

Pathfinder Home Entertainment has added its first anime title to its long list of contemporary Japanese live action films licensed for domestic DVD release. Pathfinder will release the 2 episode Tristia of the Deep Blue Sea (Aoi Umi no Tristia) OAV series on December 14th at a $19.98 retail price.

Source: Anime on DVD

Anime News Network has announced a partnership with Protoculture Addicts Magazine, the oldest anime magazine in North America that’s still solvent. Protoculture Addicts will apparnetly retain its present format but will be re-named “Anime News Network’s Protoculture Addicts” as of the January 2005 issue. Anime News Network will also contribute to the magazine’s content.

The Cartoon Network has officially announced plans to broadcast the Cowboy Bebop movie, Metropolis, and two Inuyasha movies (presumably the first two), next year.

Metropolis will air “early” next year. The Inuyasha movies will premier in spring and summer 2005. And the Cowboy Bebop movie will be broadcast in fall 2005.

Source: Anime News Network

Geneon has officially scheduled the debut DVD release of Rumiko Takahashi: Anthology volume 1 for January 11th. The 4 episode DVD will retail at $29.98 or $34.98 with series box. On the same day, Geneon will also release a 4 disc boxed set of Legend of Black Heaven retailing at $99.98.

Geneon will also release 3 new soundtrack CDs on January 11th. Each will retail at $14.99.

Angela: Sora no Koe (J-pop album)
Raxhephon Original soundtrack
Samurai Champloo Best soundtrack

Source: Anime on DVD