DVD Vision Japan has published an exclusive interview with voice actor Jamie McGonnigal, star of Arcade Gamer Fubuki, Magic Users Club, and F-Zero Legend. In the interview Jamie talks about his life on Broadway, his professional life, his status a gay role model, and his views on the Bush Administration.
In response to significant consumer demand, DreamWorks Pictures has announced the release of a revised Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence DVD that includes a proper English language subtitle track. First edition copies of the DVD contain only a closed caption track. The Innocence DVDs that have a “v4″ marked on their spine are the remastered version. The official Ghost in the Shell 2 website has a form that consumers may fill out to receive a replacement for their first edition DVD.
The domestic Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence DVD remains Japanese language only, presumably to retain the artistic and cultural integrity of the film.
Source: Anime on DVD
Time Warner and Itochu Corp. have announced plans to jointly produce new anime for simultaneous broadcast on the Cartoon Network in Japan and North America. The joint venture is expected to be established with 3 billion yen (US $29 million) by this June, and will seek funding from other broadcasters, animation studios, and toy manufacturers. By April 2006 the joint venture is expected to be producing 3 weekly shows 20 million yen (US $190,000) per episode budget, 20 to 50 percent higher than the current average budget for anime TV series.
Source: Anime News Network
Ain’t It Cool News has published a scathing review of Takeshi Miike’s latest samurai action/fantasy film Izo.
Japan’s CQ Motors has announced plans to release a limited edition electric car, designed by Dragonball creator Akira Toriyama, this March. The single seat QVOLT is the fourth small electric car in the ChoroQ line. The QVOLT will have a top speed of 30 km/h (18 mph) and a range of 80 km (48 miles). It will cost 1,990,000 yen (US $19,000 approximate). The QVOLT will be available in 5 colors, but only 9 QVOLT cars will be manufactured.
Source: Anime News Network
DVD Vision Japan has updated with 8 new product reviews:
Fullmetal Alchemist DVD volume 1
Cromartie High School (advance review)
Bubblegum Crisis: Tokyo 2040 volume 1 Essential Anime edition
Revolutionary Girl Utena manga review
Record of Lodoss War manga volume 1
Ghost in the Shell Original Soundtrack volume 1 review
Yu Yu Hakusho Tour Tactics video game review
Ninja Gaiden video game review:
Question:
Why hasn’t the rest of Fist of the North Star been licensed yet? From the numbers of DVDs stores have placed out and from what I’ve heard, it seems to be fairly popular. The series looks pretty cool, plus it has tons of action, blood and fighting and violence. (which generally helps series do better in America, like Berserk and Hellsing). So all that being said, why hasn’t any company jumped at the opportunity of licensing Fist of the North Star yet?
The official Japanese website for the Sentou Yousei Shoujo Tasukete! Mave-chan OAV now hosts a streaming trailer in narrowband and broadband Windows Media and Real Player formats. The trailer is accessible through the link labeled “NEWS” on the main page of the site.
Source: Moon Phase
The official website for Gainax Studio’s upcoming anime television series Kore ga Watashi no Goshujinsama (He is My Master) now hosts a 2 minute long streaming trailer. The “ecchi” comedy will premier on Japanese television in April. Please note that the trailer contains brief nudity. The trailer is accessible in the website’s “News” section.
The 3 episode Petit Cossette OAV series will be compiled as a single feature film and broadcast on the WOWOW Japanese television network on March 31. The WOWOW official site now hosts a 2:30 long streaming Windows Media trailer for the feature, in 500K broandband and 56K narrowband resolution.
Source: Moon Phase
Synch Point has delayed the release of the standard and limited edition versions of the Aquarian Age “movie.”
The limited edition, originally scheduled for release on February 22, will now be released on March 22.
The standard edition, originally scheduled for release on March 22, will now be released on April 19.
The standard edition DVD will retail at $29.95 and include both half-hour OAV episodes, an Aquarian Age card game tutorial, Japanese ads for the card game, an image gallery, and a bonus booklet.
The $59.95 limited edition will be limited to 10,000 copies and include the DVD, a trading card box, Aquarian Age cards, a soundtrack CD, the Aquarian Age: Juvenile Orion graphic novel 1, and 3 three Aquarian Age: Juvenile Orion keychains.
Source: ICv2 News
From January 28th through February 24th, McDonalds restaurants will offer exclusive Duel Masters collectable game cards and toys in Happy Meals. There are 15 different premium Duel Masters TCG cards in the promotion, including five only available at McDonalds. Each Happy Meal includes three cards and an accessory toy.
Source: ICv2 News
Ain’t It Cool News has published a new, mixed review of Howl’s Moving Castle, based on a screening of the film at the Rotterdam International Film Festival.
Question:
There’s so many OVAs and movies for hentai, but those wouldn’t be shown on TV (unless maybe there’s a pay channel, like Playboy in America). It would be interesting to know of any hentai TV series out there. If there are, are they actually hardcore hentai or softcore?
French video game news site Jeux-France now hosts page scans from Famitsu Magazine revealing the first images of the Playstation 2 game tentatively known only as “Namco x Capcom.” The strategy RPG, similar in style to Banpresto’s Super Robot Wars game series, features over 200 Namco and Capcom characters. The game is being developed by Monolith Soft, the developer of Xenosaga and Baten Kaitos, and is tentatively scheduled for Japanese release in May.
Source: Quiter
