AnimeNation Anime News Blog

Media Blasters has scheduled a number of new anime series releases.

Figure 17 Collection - $69.95 available January 12, 2005
Angel Movie volume 1: I’ll Be Your First Adult (adult anime) - $29.98 available January 1, 2005
Letch (adult anime) - $29.98 available January 25, 2005
Nymphs of the Stratosphere (Stratosphere no Yousei) (adult anime) - $29.98 available February 8, 2005
Marin A Go-Go (Soreyuke Marin-chan) (adult anime) - $29.95 available February 22, 2005

Level C manga volume 1 will retail at $9.99 beginning February 5, 2005.

Source: Anime on DVD

Viz has announced plans to release a limited edition version of Wolf’s Rain manga volume 1 exclusively to Borders and Waldenbooks stores this November. While the first Wolf’s Rain graphic novel retails at $9.99, the exclusive set will retail at $14.99 and include Wolf’s Rain graphic novel 1, a collectible 3D lenticular card, and an illustrated box designed to house both volumes of the manga series.

Galaxy Anime has updated with video previews of Final Fantasy XII and Shenmue Online, the third game in the Shenmue franchise, this one an MMORPG scheduled to launch in Korea.

Just in time for Halloween, Galaxy Anime also now hosts an interview with Ryan Bowling of Sony Computer Entertainment about horror game hit Siren.

According to Anime News Network, the ImaginAsian television network has acquired broadcast rights to Central Park Media’s translations of Roujin Z, A Wind Named Amnesia, Time Stranger (AKA: GoShogun movie), The Heroic Legend of Arslan, Venus Wars, and They Were 11.

The Japan Times has published an extensive article detailing the history of Hello Kitty, Japan’s most successful native fictional character ever, and Hello Kitty’s evolution into even postmodern art as Hello Kitty turns 30 on November 1st.

Japanese website Biglobe also hosts a two minute long streaming Windows Media animation detailing the history of Hello Kitty.

Tomy has opened the official Japanese websites for the upcoming Ichigo 100% and Zoids Struggle Playstation 2 games.

Source: Moon Phase

Sony of Japan has announced that the Playstation Portable (PSP) will go on sale in Japan on December 12, at a retail price of 19,800 yen ($185). By comparison, the Nintendo DS will go on sale in Japan on December 2 and retail at 15,000 yen ($140).

According to official statements from Sony, the PSP’s rechargeable Lithium Ion battery will allegedly last for four to six hours for gameplay, or four to five hours for movies, on average.

Source: GameSpot

Question:
Do you think any Japanese singers will “make it” in the US through anime?

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The official website for the GreenGreen 2: Koi no Special Summer now hosts a downloadable 39.5 Mb MPG anime trailer for the upcoming computer game.

Source: Moon Phase

Moon Phase has linked to scans of the first screen shots of the Mahou Sensei Negima! anime TV series, scheduled to premier on January 5th at 1 AM.

Bandai has officially delayed the release of the Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam DVD boxed set by two weeks. The DVD collection will now be released on December 14.

Source: Anime on DVD

Japanese website Biglobe now hosts a streaming 7:20 Windows Media trailer for Gunbuster. The trailer promotes the Bandai Channel broadcast of the Gunbuster animation, then includes extensive footage of the Gunbuster Playstation 2 action/adventure game scheduled for release on the Japanese Playstation 2 next January.

Source: Rakuga Kidou

Question:
From many people that I’ve been talking to about Anime Expo 2004, a lot of people were mad about Bandai making bootlegs illegal and ADV trying to license stuff since they don’t like fansubbers. The bootlegs I don’t mind. The fansubs I do mind. I know that if an anime is licensed, fansubbers should stop because, if for any reason these things are continuing, anime will slowly die. In my opinion, fansubs are like checking out an anime to see if it’s worth watching and buying after it’s licensed. But from your opinion, will anime slowly die from losing fansubs completely, if it ever happens?

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Anime News Network has published a mixed review of AN Entertainment’s Miami Guns DVD volume 3.

At last weekend’s OniCon convention, AD Vision announced its acquisition of several new anime titles and live action Korean films.

Anime
Godannar (all 26 episodes)
Kita he: Diamond Dust Drops, under an American title such as “Onto the North”
Papuwa (at 26 episodes, this is presumably the 2003 second Papuwa TV series)
The Five Star Stories motion picture
Gakkou no Kaidan, under an American titles such as “Ghost Stories”

Korean Live Action
Guns & Talks
Jail Breakers
Jungle Juice
Marrying the Mafia (AKA: Marry or Die)
No Blood, No Tears
Public Enemy

Source: Anime on DVD