Father Geek here along side ol' Scott Green with another epic "All Things" Anime/Manga column for our regular Wednesday work day Aint It Cool News readership. If you are one of those regulars you already know, but if you're new to this series, you have stumbled into a massive news listing of Gaming, Video, DVD, Comic, theater releases, and everything else related to the whole wide world of Manga and Anime. Its all right here in one easy to find location every week about this time, annnnnd it has the latest, and totally different info each & every time. Soooo jump on board and dig into our full to the brim...

AICN Anime Report...

Wednesday, May 8th, 2002...

Manga Preview Spotlight: Junko Mizuno's Cinderalla (52 page Preview)

To be released by Viz

In the words of Monty Python ".and now for something completely different". As with the other entries in their Pulp imprint, Viz delivers the bizarre and wonderful with Cinderalla. It's a grotesquely cute fairy tale, like the quilt Cinderalla knits, sweet, and covered by button-cute, bleeding knives, moaning death's heads, and served hands.

Cinderalla lived happy with her divorced father, who ran a successfully Yakutori restaurant (pucked and kabob-ed bug like birds, with teriyaki source). She loved her work to the degree that she gleefully cleaned up the costumers' vomit. Father eventually finds a new wife, post mortem. After his death of over eating, her father is still able to visit her nightly, as a green dripping zombie. At first this isn't too bad. They are still able to run the restaurant and coexist happily, until he meets a fellow zombie Caroline. Soon, they are married, and Caroline, and her two skanky zombie daughters are living with Cinderalla, and the trio of interlopers begins foisting work on Cinderallla, eating all the food, and harassing the costumers. When Cinderalla objects, they play the zombie guilt card. It's hard to say no to knitting your sister a bra when she counters a refusal with ripping off her breasts to reveal the spiders and snakes in her chest. But just when she can't take it any more, she meets a charming young man. riding a turtle. accompanied by two black, devil winged teddy-bear nurses carrying his IV drips.

Between the casual, non-sexual bare breasts, dripping zombies and cartoon bowls of bird heads Cinderalla is scandalous, outrageous fun. Junko Mizuno has succeeded in creating high caliber pop art.

Anime Preview Spotlight: Astro Boy

Released by Manga Entertainment

Astro Boy return in Japanese TV in 1980 with a new color series written by creator Osamu Tezuka. Manga Entertainment will be releasing the previously unavailable 51 episode series on nine volumes starting in May 28th.

Like the Astro Boy manga (comic), it is impossible not to empathize with the little robot. It's no accident he has become on the defacto symbol of anime. He's so cute, and earnest, it hard not to feel back every time he gets beat up, or his batteries run out (every episode has one or the other, or both).

The series consists of episodic adventures in the child robot's travels. It is a children's show, with bright colors, slap stick humor, and plenty of action, but it is heavier that most children's fair. It fits a seriousness, moral truthfulness and complexity rare in all shows, not just ones for children, into a simple structure. One end is the constantly innocent Astro Boy, and his human guardian who knows the situation and it's solution, on the other end is the problem, a person with a contrarian attitude, or a flaw. The stakes are often high, and the consequence of actions are often a matter of live or death.

For example, Astro goes to a robotic big game preserve here robot animal are hunted. It's creator's greed is blinding him to the fact that real animals killed when they wander in. This is issue is ultimately solved, but is also raises a more speculative question of whether hunting a robotic creation is right without answering it.

The situations can be rather dark, such as an episode about a robot boy who is believed to be defective because his creator/father went to jail before finishing him. The incomplete child is described as being in a state of limbo between life and death.

The animation isn't as flashy as more modern series, but it doesn't skimp on footage, and the hands on touch of Osamu Tezuka more than makes up from dated productions value.

Anime Spotlight: Spriggan

Released by ADV Films

Spriggan was, and still is, ADV's hope for a wide theatrical release of an anime movie, beyond the standard art-house venue. It is in an obvious choice for the mass-market incursion. It is a big summer-blockbuster style action movie with a story that aspires to be Tom Clancy meets Indiana Jones, and action that's a more military minded Matrix. Ultimately, it's military porn with a Metal Gear Solid/Counter Strike edge to it, gun battles, crack squads, real or plausible weapons, and small details like gun cleaning. It is not a wellspring of intelligence, and creativity, but it doesn't insult your intelligence as much as many action blockbusters.

Spriggan is the field operative for ARCAM, an organization that seeks to seal away the knowledge of ancient civilization. Focus it turned to Mount Ararat, the believed resting place of Noah's arc, when a plate is found warning future generations "We return our arts to the dark from which they were created. Thus, they cannot be summoned a second time."

Spriggan is high school student Yu Ominae. The disjointedness of high school student/elite soldier is eventually blunted by the revelation of Yu's past in the movie's final act. One of his fellow ARCUM agents returns to school and begins acting strangely. When you confronts him, he reveals dynamite strapped to his chest, and the words "Noah will be your grave" written in blood.

Yu travels to ARCAM's installation in Turkey to track down the cause of his compatriot's madness. He arrives one step ahead of a trio of American Machine Corps, "Fattman", a cyborg giant hold own lifting helicopter, and a chain gun arm, "Little Boy", a diminutive psychopath with cutting wires, and Colonel MacDougall, a blue child with staggering psychic powers (physic powers).

As the villain names suggest there is a not-too-subtle, but not-too-forceful nod to American arrogance in the movie. But there isn't a political agenda or message in the feature, or much of a meaningful look at ARCUM, or Noah's arc, or the characters. Its about fights with effects live action can only approach.

The backgrounds in the Turkish, and the mountains capture the texture of an exotic local as well as any animated movie ever has. Its back alley urban chase scene have the detail of the ones from the Indiana Jones movies, with the energy, and fluidity of Miyazaki's Castle of Cagliostro. As the plot takes the scenery into the interior of Mount Ararat, it becomes more forgettable, and boring.

Be sure to listen the commentary track by the English language ADV Director. It's entertaining, and if you don't have a deep respect for the translation process undertaken by ADV, there's something wrong with you.

This Week's Releases

Anime

• Dragon Ball Z - Majin Buu - A Hero's Farewell
• Dragon Ball Z - Majin Buu - Defiance
• Miyuki-Chan In Wonderland
• Mobile Suit Gundam - Movie I
• Mobile Suit Gundam - Movie II (Soldiers Of Sorrow)
• Mobile Suit Gundam - Movie III (Encounters In Space)
• Mobile Suit Gundam - The Movie Trilogy
• Soul Hunter - Game Of Kings (Vol. 4)

Manga

• Big O Part 1 #4 (Of 5)
• Blade Of The Immortal #67 Beasts (Part 2 Of 7)
• Magical Journey Pokemon Part 7 #3 (Of 4)
• Oh My Goddess Part Xi #10 Mystery Child (Part 8 Of 8)
• Ranma 1/2 Part 11 #3 (Of 11)
• Slayers Special #5
• Storm Riders Gn #2
• Vagabond Part 1 #7
• Wolverine & Elektra The Redeemer Hard Copy (by Grep Rucka, and Final Fantasy/Vampire Hunter D character designer Yoshitaka Amano)

Dark Horse will also release the Lone Wolf and Cub The Ogami & Diagro Side Shot t-shirt

The Mobile Suite Gundam movies retell the story of the original Gundam series with some changes to hit the flow of a movie. One of Earth's orbiting colonies has declared itself the independent Principality of Zeon. They have waged a costly war with the Earth Federation through the use of the mobile suits called zakus, green armors that look like a bulky man in a gas mask with spike shoulder plates, and one glowing eye. After months of stalemate the federation have developed their own mobile suits, the samurai style helmeted Gundam. Through a series of accidents the suit came to be piloted by a boy named Amuro Rei, how quickly demonstrated an amazing aptitude in piloting the machine.

Miyuku-Chan in Wonderland is the women's manga development team CLAMP's take only Alice in Wonderland. It's a more risque' take the story, were all of the characters are women. It's more of visual sequence than a story, but CLAMP's character design is undeniably appealing.

English Ghost in the Shell 2 Manga Progress

Studio Proteus, the translaters of the Ghost in the Shell manga (comic) has announced on their web site that Masamune Shirow has completed flopping and modify the pages of Ghost in the Shell, Man-Machine interface for western audiences. . We hope to release the first issues in October. ID3 (Intron Depot) is still in the planning stages and we're still discussing options as to format and a special limited edition.

More Sailor Moon?

Anime Daisuki reports that a new Sailor Moon series, label Sailor Moon X may be released later this year. Speculation is that "X" is 10, in regards to the 2002 10th anniversary of the series.

Online Anime Periodicals

The May issue of AnimeFringe features articles on the popular Japanese-American singer Utada Hikaru, Viz's upcoming release of the The All-New Tenchi Muyo! Manga, and Tomie: The Art of Horror. Reviews include Osamu Tezuka's Metropolis, Zoids Vol.1, Card Captor Sakura: The Movie, Golden Boy Vol.1, Gundam 08th MS Team Movie: Miller's Report, Otaku no Video DVD, and Storm Riders Vol.1.

The anime section of this month's Sequential Tart focuses on shounen ai, yaoi, a cross-genre style of male homosexual romance for a female audience.

New updates to Anime Tourist includes features on the recent ADV and Bandai titles announcments, and news.

Latest Anime From Gundam Creator - King Gainer Manga

Anime News Service reports Tomino Yoshiyuki's King Gainer anime (begins July '02) is headed for manga adaptation in Comic Flapper. The story occurs in a possible future where people are forced to live in domed cities due tio the destruction of the Earth.

ADV Release Dates

ADV will be releasing the six, and final volume of Orphen, entitled "The Third Talisman" on July 30th.

City Hunter: The Motion Picture (aka Goodbye, My Sweetheart) will be released on August 13th.

From press releases:

ADV Films has set a street date of August 13, 2002 for the Bubblegum Crisis Tokyo 2040 Perfect Collection, a special collector's edition package containing the entire BGC 2040 television series on six discs. BGC 2040 is a 1998 remake of the Bubblegum Crisis series from the late eighties, and was directed by Hiroki Hayashi (Tenchi Muyo!) from a script by Chiaki Konaka (Armitage III).

The story: In the aftermath of the great earthquake, one ruthless corporation stands ready to take over the devastated city of Tokyo with an army of synthetic monsters. Only a single band of female vigilantes opposes the monolithic power of Genom - but in this case, four women are all it takes! Armed with the most incredible combat suits ever designed, the Knight Sabers wage a desperate war in the shadows, combating the monstrous by-products of technology run amuck with courage, sweat and blood! Breakneck action combines with state of the art animation and a hard-driving rock soundtrack in the series that redefined the cutting edge and proved "Cyberpunk's Not Dead." Don't miss the excitement as the Bubblegum Crisis Tokyo 2040 Perfect Collection explodes onto DVD.

ADV Films' release of the Bubblegum Crisis Tokyo 2040 Perfect Collection ($89.98 SRP) contains the entire twenty-six episode series on six discs in the English language, along with the Japanese and Spanish language versions with English subtitles. DVD extras include character bios, interactive menus, and ADV previews.

ADV Films has set a street date of September 3, 2002 for the Generator Gawl Perfect Collection, a special collector's edition package containing the entire Generator Gawl series on four discs. Generator Gawl was created by the writing and directing team of Seiji Mizushima and Hidefumi Kimura (Dai-Guard), and produced by Tatsunoko Productions (Battle of the Planets).

The story: In October 2007, Professor Takuma Nekasa uncovers a gene code that will unlock our body's greatest mystery and expose mankind to its greatest threat. So Gawl, Koji, and Ryo - three young scientists from the future - must travel back in time to correct this mistake from the past. The catch? They have only three months to save the world from the mysterious and cunning Ryuko Saito and her Generators, unearthly assassins posing as humans. As Ryo and Koji try to complete their mission, Gawl must become like his enemies to fight on their terms. And it may cost him his humanity. A thermonuclear fusion of action, comedy, and mystery, Generator Gawl draws you into its web of intrigue with eye-catching art, startling plot turns, and compelling characters.

ADV Films' release of the Generator Gawl Perfect Collection ($59.98 SRP) contains the entire twelve episode series on four discs in the English language, as well as the Japanese language with English subtitles. DVD extras include character sketches and ADV previews.

ADV Films has set a street date of July 16, 2002 for the DVD release of The Trouble with Angels - the second stunning volume of the popular anime series, Steel Angel Kurumi.

Steel Angel Kurumi features breathtaking animation from acclaimed studio O.L.M. - famous for their work on the Pokemon franchise - along with an English dub starring some of the most popular actresses in anime: Kelli Cousins (Princess Nine), Monica Rial (Excel Saga), Hilary Haag (Princess Nine), and Kira Vincent-Davis (Martian Successor Nadesico), with a special appearance by one of the hottest actresses in live action sci-fi, Claudia Black (Farscape, Pitch Black).

The Story: She's beautiful, powerful, passionate, and too dangerous to exist. She is the Steel Angel Kurumi-and she's marked for termination. Her enemy? The Academy, a floating fortress of mystery and military might. Their weapons? Powerful androids as lethal as they are lovely. Can Kurumi and her friends reach her creator's secret lab without being detected by the Academy assassins? Or will her Steel Angel siblings succeed in ripping out her Mark II Heart that makes Kurumi so dangerous? With gorgeously animated visuals, in-your-face fight scenes, and a tense, twisty plot, The Trouble With Angels picks up where the smash hit Angel on My Shoulder left off. Featuring anime's hottest actresses in the year's sexiest roles, Steel Angel Kurumi packs a playfully flirty, frequently funny, and always exciting punch!

UFO Princess Site Launches

The official website for Enban Oujo Walkure (UFO Princess Valkyrie) has open here.

Next Lupin III Movie

According to a post on Anime News Service's mailing list, the next Lupin III move will be "Zantestu is on Fire!", focusing on Lupin III's samurai cohort Goeman. The movie is the last appearance of original Lupin III voice actor Yasuo Yamada.

FUNimation has stated that they hope to decease the six month gap between the release of Lupin II movie, and improve DVD extras.

Yu Gi Oh Popular Success

ICV2 reports Upper Deck's American edition of the Yu-Gi-Oh card game is selling out in a hurry all over the country. The product is so hot that in many areas, Starter Sets selling for around $40 And reports from Canada indicate that someone is attempting to counterfeit Upper Deck's English version of the game, although it is unlikely that they will be able to duplicate the security foil found on all Upper Deck products.

The second series of Yu-Gi-Oh Boosters, Metal Raiders is due out in late May. The buzz on this product is strong enough that even stores that don't normally carry CCGs should consider bringing in some Yu-Gi-Oh product.

Websites Take Detailed Looks at Macross

HobbyLink Japan's president, Scott T. Hards, has published a very exhaustive study of the current legal on-goings related to the Macross rights in Japan and North America here.

Figures.com has posted a multi-part look at the series here

Kimgure Orange Road Delay

AnimEigo announced on their mailing list that their production department has found flaws in the Kimagure Orange Road check discs that they received from the replicator. The problem with the glass stamping master means that they had to request a new master from the replicator to avoid playback problems. The new date for the 12 disc set is June 14th.

Metropolis Soundtrack

Domo Records has announced that they will be releasing the soundtrack to Osamu Tezuka's Metropolis. From the listing:

Metropolis-Original Soundtrack

From the velvet smooth delivery of the torch song theme of METROPOLIS, "There'll Never Be Good-Bye" to the rambunctious and infectious ragtime jazz rhythms of the lead track, "Metropolis," the music from the animated original motion picture soundtrack to METROPOLIS is a magical and wildly unexpected as the film itself.

Produced by Toshiyuki Honda, with co-producers Kozue Okada and Shinji Komori, and featuring the talents of Atsuki Kimura and Minako "mooki" Obata, the music from METROPOLIS is the perfect mood setting music for this elaborate production. Inspired performances abound on the 20-track collection including the truly unexpected Joe Primrose penned "St. James Infirmary." Lush orchestral arrangements mesh with snappy jazz tracks in this beautifully crafted musical escapade.

AIC Dissolves Partnership with Dream Network

Anime produces AIC, best known for Tenchi Muyo, and El Hazard announced on their web site that they have he capital and business partnership with Dream Network, known for their online retail site AniMaxis.

Bandai Redesigns Web Site

Bandai Entertainment has launched their new website design at www.bandai-ent.com

More Problems For LPC

The problems continues for LPC, the company that distributes graphic novels to book stores for companies such as Dark Horse Comics, ComicsOne, and TOKYOPOP. CounterPunch reports that after its resent bankruptcy, the bank which originally seized $1.2 million from the distributor's account is threatening to repeat the action when LPC receives this month's payments from book warehouses. The payments are due May 1st.

In an effort to resolve the matter quickly, some publishers tendered a generous offer. It would have allowed the bank to keep the $1.2 million already taken and be paid an additional $750,000 of publishers' money over 10 months, amounting to about 80% of what the bank is after. Bank One turned it down cold.

85 publishers use LPC Group as a distributor for their books. LPC had a loan from the bank, with about $2.7 million outstanding. No publisher had signed onto the loan. Most if not all were unaware that LPC had obtained it. The bank acknowledges that LPC was not behind in loan payments. It recalled the loan after deciding LPC was a bad credit risk, essentially asking publishers to pony up for its own bad business choices.

Bank One's position is straightforward. Yes, the contracts between publishers and LPC all stipulate that the books belong to the publishers and are under consignment. But the publishers failed to file forms with state governments that would have "perfected" the consignment. Had they done so prior to the loan from the bank in 1999, publishers would have had first claim to the books and resulting sales. That publishers were unaware of the loan and had no way of knowing it was about to be made in '99 is irrelevant, according to the bank.

Past Ghibli Contributors To Create Original Works

Anime News Service reports Studio Hibari whose talent in the past has been a contribution to the works of Studio Ghibli, has announced an original anime planned for distribution over the internet. Five illustration boards can be viewed on the site's news section.

Upcoming Anime in Japan

From Anime News Service A recent flyer still image features anime style animation still grabs from a pending version (in some media) of Kikou Busou G-Breaker (Ground-Breaker). Based on the Sunrise Interactive giant mecha game currently in release to Playstation 2.

'I'll' by Asada Hiroyuki (running in Shueisha's Monthly Shonen Jump) is to be animated as an OVA. The story is basketball oriented about two boys, Tachibana Akane and Hiiragi Hitonari, who quit playing basketball but after a reacquaintance in highschool, they re-discover their passion for the game. DVD 1 arrives at the end of the year in December, the soundtrack CD is also due a month later in January 2003 and vol. 2 will arrive February 2003. Sony's official website has opened of this month, more info and a trailer will be available in the near future. The I'll OVA will be directed by Kawasaki Itsuro (Wild Arms), with script by Takahashi Miyuki (Doukyusei), character design by Sekiguchi Kanami (Hikaru no Go) and animation by MSC (FLCL, Love Hina Again, Noir, Mahoromatic, Sakura Taisen TV). An I'll fanbook is set for release August, followed by anime design works artbook and image CD album in November. See here

In the Manga, Akane Tachibana and Hitonari Higari are two boys with a passion for basket ball. But as they chose to quit the game. New challenges in High School Basketball however re-animate their passion for the game.

Dragon Drive's anime TV rendition (based on the manga serialized in Shueisha's Monthly Shonen Jump) is to commence broadcast in Japan this July. At the invitation of childhood friend Yukino Maiko, junior high school student Oozora Reiji learns of the virtual reality game Dragon Drive. Yet although he controls the weakest dragon, he's able to beat veteran players. But during special Dragon Drive training, Reiji is suddenly thrown into another world where he takes part in a tournment for dragon trainers. See here.

The Bakuten Shoot Beyblade 2002 Film ("Bakuten Shoot Beyblade 2002 Takao vs Daichi") is due in Japan on August 17th 2002. Morning Star's is adorned with a new image reading "The Second Season Outlaw Star in future 200X!!!". However on the image's opposite side are the words "Don't believe/trust me!"

A sequel OVA of R.O.D (Read Or Die) and in some form for Noir may be in the works.

Crayon Shin Chan on Fox UK

According to Animation Magazine Crayon Shin Chan, renamed simply "Shin Chan" will be broadcast as a part of Fox Kids UK's lineup. There have been rumors of a North American license for Crayon Shin Chan, but no confirmation. Crayon Shinchan is a comedy series about a precocious five year old, who is not so much clever as adult minded, or he would like to think so. The series was subtitled and unedited when it aired in Hawii, including Shin Chan's "shadow elephant", and "ski half naked".

ADV Opens Series Web Site

ADV opens two new series specific web site under the company's main page. The Golden Boy site can be seen here.

"This neato bandito new website sports a spiffy collection of custom-made Desktop backgrounds in the spirit of this little venture. Aside from Kintaro's resume, you'll also be greeted with a section called "Kintaro's Journal." This feature follows the exploits of Kintaro as he goes to work for BCV Films in Tokyo (Which is a parody of ADV). This section will be updated periodically with new entries and doodles, as Kintaro jots down his life-lessons at BCV Films; like the one about Mr. Flatbed."

A Steel Angel Kurumi site can be found here

More On Ninja Scroll TV Series

Anime on DVD confirmed with Urban Vision is working in association with Madhouse on the production of the new Ninja Scroll TV series.

According to their site, "Ninja Scroll, the TV series is now in production! The series will be supervised by Yoshiaki Kawajiri (Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust) and directed by Tatsuo Sato (Nadesico), with character designs by Takahiro Yoshimatsu (Trigun)."

Japanese Anime Video Game Releases

From Magic Box

Capcom will release the PlayStation 2 cel-shaded action game Jojo's Bizarre Adventure: Whirlwind of Gold in Japan on July 25, for 6800 yen.

Bandai is working on a new Digimon adventure game for PlayStation 2, the game is scheduled for release in Japan sometimes this fall.

Bandai will release the PSone fighting game Shaman King: Spirits of Shaman in Japan on June 6, for 5800 yen.

Shaman King is an odd take-off on the fight genre about a show who allows spirits to poses his body to fight. The manga version of the series has been praised for its subversive edge.

Banpresto will release a new GameBoy Color RPG on June 28 called From TV Animation: One Piece - Grand Line Fantasy Adventure, for 4500 yen. This is the sequel of Banpresto's popular RPG from last year, featuring characters from the anime series One Piece. The storyline is based on the anime series, but the game will have original characters and many other new events not found in the original story. A new Adrenaline Gauge system will be added to the battle, which enable you to execute super attacks when the gauge is full.

One Piece is a fun pirate series about Monkey D. Lufi, a boy with a stretching rubber body, and dreams to be the Pirate King.

Upcoming Manga Entertainment Releases

From the press release:

Manga Entertainment will be releasing Vampire Wars on DVD June 25.

Deep in the Arizona desert, a brutal terrorist attack takes place on a NASA base. Ten days later, the corpse of a CIA man is found floating on the Seine in Paris. A French secret service agent, Monsieur Lassar, thinks the two events are connected, but how? He calls in Kousaburo Kuki, a spy, international terrorist and master criminal. Kuki discovers a connection to a film super-star, Lamia Vindaw. Lamia becomes the focus of the Parisian CIA operation and the key suspect in a bizarre vampire cult. To solve the CIA murder investigation, Kuki must discover Miss Vindaw's true identity and save her from a bloody fate!

Psychic Wars, the anime OVA thriller about one man's desperate race to save the earth from Ancient Demons will be available on DVD June 25, 2002 from Manga Entertainment.

A brilliant surgeon, Ukyo Retsu, performs an operation to remove a cancer from a mysterious old woman. The cancer turns out to be a 5,000-year-old demon. This demon is a dark messenger from Japan's ancient past heralding a demonic invasion of the Earth! Ukyo travels to the remains of an ancient city where he finds a gateway into the fabric of time, which enables him to travel back 5,000 years. There, in Earth's past, he discovers a race of demons that are planning to use the gateway to travel to the present in order to destroy mankind and make the Earth their own. Can Ukyo defeat the ancient race of demons and save the Earth, or will mankind be wiped out? Manga Entertainment is proud to release a new comedy anime OVA (original video animation) from Japan- Ghost Sweeper Mikami and will be available at all major video retail outlets nationwide on DVD and VHS June 25th.

Meet Mikami - the gorgeous leader of one of Japan's most successful independent ghost-busting agencies. Together with her eclectic team of exorcists, she's prepared to do battle with any supernatural adversary - for the right price. But when an ancient spirit enlists her aid to deal with a re-incarnated foe, Mikami gets more than she bargained for. As the wicked Nosferatu - a vampire lord able to absorb the very life essence of his victims, begins to turn the city's inhabitants into mindless zombies, Mikami's team must race against time to save the world from a second Dark Age. Watch the ultimate Vampire slayer in this supernatural action-adventure!

Original author: Takashi Shiina. Produced by: Toei Animation Co., Ltd., Japan. Director: Atsutoshi Umezawa. Music: Mike Egan, Dean Anderson, dj? acucrack

New Harlock to Be OAV

From AnimeDaisuki The new Harlock Saga series, Space Pirate Captain Harlock, in production has been changed from a 13 episode TV series to OVA series. The first release is expected in Japan this September.

Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust Theaters

The official Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust website has updated with a new theater listing.

Cinemuerte International Horror Film Festival - 7/6-7/7/02 Vancouver, Canada

The Oak Cinema - 8/9-8/10/02 Baton Rouge, LA

The Fine Arts Theater - 5/7-5/8/02 5909 JOHNSON DR MISSION, KS 66202

ComicsOne and Ironcat Moves to Diamond for Bookstore Distribution

According to ICV2 manga distributors ComicsONe, and Studio Ironcat have movie to Diamond Comics Distributors for distrobution to mainstream bookstores and wholesalers.

Spirited Away featured on Disney Website

The Walt Disney Pictures website now features a blurb about Spirited Away in their "movie info" section on their front page.

Visitors to the website may have to press "next" a couple times to view the blurb. It is a very short synopsis of the film and makes mention of the fact that Spirited Away is Japan's all time top grossing film.

Ninja Resurrection Sequel

Anime Nation reports at the recent Fanimecon convention Matt Greenfield of AD Vision confirmed that AD Vision will be co-producing an upcoming anime television series continuation of the popular Makai Tenshou OAVs, released in America under the name "Ninja Resurrection." Because AD Vision is co-producing, the series will eventually be released in America.

Pia Carrot e Youkoso Movie

Akiba-K News has updated mentioning an anime movie based on the game Pia Carrot e Youkoso will be produced, although the movie will have a new storyline, with the season planned to commence at the end of September 2002. A tentative title could be "Pia Carrot e Youkoso!! ~Sayaka no Natsu Monogatari~"

July Manga Releases

Dark Horse

Issues

In Oh! My Goddess Part XII #1 (of 3): Learning to Love Banpei the robot ask the young mechanically inclined goddess Skuld to help him with his robot girlfriend. Unfortunely his girlfriend loves Skuld.

Blade Of The Immortal #70: Beasts Part 5 (Of 7) continues the nasty feud between the rouge Itto-ryu sword school, and the Mugai-ryu assassins.

The American Lone Wolf and Cub spinoff, Lone Wolf 2100 continues with its third issue. The young girl Daisy, whom Itto is sworn to protect, has been abducted by a local warlord named Godekai. Beaten almost to death during the kidnapping, Itto refuses to give up.

The Super Manga Blast! #24 features new enteries of Seraphic Feature, What's Michael, Club 9, Shadow Star, and 3x3 Eyes.

Collections

3 X 3 Eyes: Summoning Of The Beast Tp

"After living as a human with no recollection of her three-hundred plus years in a mystical Tibetan kingdom, Pai's supernatural powers have returned, but not her memories. These wondrous abilities are an exciting development for a seemingly typical Tokyo teenager...until she discovers that her Sanjiyan, the monstrous source of her power, is on the loose and can only be controlled within her by the Claw of Shiva, a sorcerous artifact that the memory-challenged Pai just happens to have bagged and tossed into the trash! But Yakumo, Pai's mortal-made-immortal boyfriend, is at her side, which for him may not be a good thing. He may be immortal but he's not indestructible, and eternal life isn't much comfort when you're being torn to pieces! "

In Astro Boy Volume 6 a collision with an alien spacecraft sends Astro and the craft's female pilot fifty years into Earth's past.

Oh My Goddess!: Leader Of The Pack Tp is second of three "remastered" volumes restores the "lost" Oh My Goddess! stories and fills in early details of student Keiichi Morisato's life with the beautiful Belldandy, a live-in, literal goddess. Includes material from the previously published 1-555-Goddess.

Lone Wolf And Cub Vol. 24: In These Small Hands Tp continues the Lone Wolf and Cub assasins battle against the Yagyu, with the strength of the father and son's devotion ot the Bushido samurai code.

Seraphic Feather: Seeds Of Chaos Tp

A powerful extraterrestrial technology holds the real promise of curing a future Earth's ills...unless it falls into the wrong hands, where its potential to exploit, enslave, or exterminate mankind is just as real. And the moon, where an alien starship lies ready to give up its secrets, becomes a deadly battleground for possession of the Emblem Seeds, the key to harnessing the technology's incredible power. From ruthless corporate operatives to scientifically augmented government agents to murderous robots of unknown origin, all agendas draw in an ever-tightening ring of deceit and death around the precious Seeds. And young paranormal Sunao Oumi, unwittingly drawn into the maelstrom, may become the key player in the game that will decide the future.

Comicsone Corporation

In Kazan Volume 1 #7 Kazan reaches the end of the road in Goldene, and makes it into the secret throne room of the Water Princess. Kazan's true age, the final fate of Elsie, and the secret of Kamushin are all revealed in this volume's thrilling climax.

Goku: Midnight Eye Volumes #1-3 set features the three volume hard boiled cyber punk take of the Journey to the West Legend (the basis of Dragon Ball) by Buichi Terasawa

Redmoon Volumes #1-6 Set features the first story arc of Redmoon. Philar, a teenage heartthrob who charms ladies with his guitar and sets high scores at the local arcade. After a street gang tries to take him down a notch, he fights back with unexpected strength. As soon as Philar's newfound power comes to light, however, shadowy figures begin to appear in his life. They believe that Philar is the Earthly incarnation of the deposed ruler of the planet Signus.

CPM Manga

Dark Angel Volume Four: Legend Of The Sacred Beast Tp continues Kia Asamiya's swords and sorcery tale.

Record Of Lodoss War: Deedlit's Tale Volume One-Choices begins the shoujo (girl's) version of the classic Dungeons and Dragon style story, focusing on the relationship between the elf Deedlit, and the young knight Parn.

In Record Of Lodoss War: Chronicles Of The Heroic Knight Book 2 Spark and his companions face the Dark Elf who has taken over the beautiful city of Roid. Instead of the end of the quest, they face new conflicts, and bring together new allies to help.

Idea And Design Works Publishing

Idea And Design Works Publishing will be publishing The Art of Armitage, with production art from rmitage III: Poly Matrix and Armitage III: Dual Matrix, including character designs and turnarounds, weapon and machine designs, backgrounds, and production sketches.

Ironcat

Ironcat will be concluding Futaba-Kun Change! with Volume 8 #6 Futana's gender-bending fiancé, Misao, has realized the challenge of winning Futana's heart. However, will his docile ways endear himself to Futana's heart. And once this bit of Shimeru family madness ends, check out the one-shot story about a group of mismatched explorers on a ski trip during their winter break.

You can Me starts with volume 1 #1. Yuu Aimu is a student looking for a place to live, now that he's going to school away from home. But just when he thinks he's found a potential place with affordable rent, poor Yuu discovers there's more to the rumors of ghostly hauntings than he could imagine! Enjoy reading about Yuu's memorable meetings with several resident ghosts, including his new spectral roommate, the cute Mii!

Ironcat will also be releasing Futabakun Change Volume 5 graphic novel, and Vampire Yui Volume 4 #6.

TOKYOPOP

Individual Issues:

In Cardcaptor Sakura #30, "Even though Sakura has collected all of the Clow Cards, her journey has just begun. When she and her friends go to the craft shop one afternoon, her friend Li Syaoran suddenly attacks her. Could Clow Reed, the powerful magician who made the cards, be involved?"

Gundam Wing: G Unit #1 start a Gundam Wing side story. G-Unit takes place around the same time that Lady Une is promoting peace to the colonies. On a resource satellite called MO-V, a revolutionary Gundam project is underway. Unlike previous Mobile Suits, this experimental Gundam, called the G-Unit, is modular, able to be easily reconfigured for use in any environment.

Graphic Novels

Wish Volume 1 Gn begins a new series from CLAMP.

When Shuichiro rescues an angel he is granted a single wish. The problem? Shuichiro can't think of any wishes that he couldn't grant himself. Refusing to leave Shuichiro without granting a wish, Amber the angel moves in with the young doctor to help out around the house and wait for a chance to return the favor. Of course, angels aren't the only supernatural beings wandering the Earth. Soon, demons and archangels alike are stopping by Shuichiro's house, making things difficult for his angelic roommate! "

Cardcaptor Sakura: Passages Vol. 1 (volume 7 of 12) Gn begings the collections of Sakura adventures after she haas collected all of the Clow Cards. A new boy has appears at her school claiming to be the reincarnation of Clow Reed, the powerful magician who made the Clow Cards.

Cowboy Bebop Volume 3 (of 3) Gn features foiur new advanures of bounty hunters Spike, Jet, Faye, Ed and Ein.

Dragon Knights Volume 3 (of 17) Gn "Part dragons. Part knights. All glam! Beneath Draqueen Castle lies a secret staircase to a forbidden room, and behind a hidden door lies. well, no one knows, but it's probably pretty scary!"

In GTO Volume 5 (of 20) Gn biker turned teacher Onizuka tries to help a girl with low self estam in a talent show, but his nemesis, the lecherous vice-principal Uchiyamada, has other plans in store. .

In Gundam Wing: Endless Waltz Gn the five Gundam pilots have one the war, and decide to destroy their robotic Gundam weapons to usher in the era of piece, but Mariemaia Khushrenada, the young heiress to Treize is ready to start a new conflict between Earth and the colonies.

Invu Volume 2 (of 2)

Four teenage girls find their lives intertwined in the most bizarre ways imaginable! When Sey's mom suddenly leaves for Europe, the 16-year-old is left with a new, supposedly "normal" family, the Kangs. Yet, when Sey's foster brother turns out to be a sister, she begins to realize that her new home is weirder than her former one!

Love Hina Volume 4 GN

Three's Company on steroids! Can Keitaro survive living in an apartment with five cute girls? The Hinatahouse is about to get some new tenants. Naru's old tutor and secret crush, Seita Noriyasu, stops by with his adopted daughter Sarah, a spunky 7-year-old American. With Naru's affections drifting to the charismatic older Seita, Keitaro is in danger of losing his one true love.

Marmalade Boy Volume 3 (of 8)

A twisted teen romance for the new millennium! The rumors about Miki and her "stepbrother" Yuu are scandalous enough, but the latest relationship to hit the gossip mill is even more shocking. Miki's best friend Meiko is seeing her teacher Nachan?! At least this takes the heat off of Miki's love triangle. for now.

Paradise Kiss Volume 2 (of 3) GN

High fashion meets hot romance! Though Yukari never expected it, she is now the new model for the student-clothing label, Paradise Kiss, and part of the fashion world. Her parents didn't expect it either -- in fact, they forbid it. But Yukari continues to see her fashion friends and gets kicked out of her house! Now she needs a place to live, but is not about shack up with George, the designer she just started seeing. Yukari will have to grow up fast if she's going to live alone.

Parasyte Volume 11 GN (of 12) continues the award-winning sci-fi/horror series of graphic terror. The police raid on the Parasyte stronghold of City Hall isn't going quite as planned. The Parasytes' secret weapon, the invulnerable fighter Goro, is slaughtering police and military forces.

Other graphic novels include Island Volume 5 (of 7), Mars Volume 3 (of 15), Real Bout High School Volume 3 (of 6), The Skull Man Volume 3 (of 7), Sorcerer Hunters Volume 11 .

The six volumes of Magic Knight Rayearth will be re-releases. Join Hikaru, Umi, and Fuu in as they meet in a magical fantasy-adventure in the land of Cephiro, which they have been summoned by Princess Emeraude to help save.

Art Books

THE ART OF MAGIC KNIGHT RAYEARTH VOLUME 2 ART BOOK by CLAMP

Welcome to the land of Cephiro, where the only hope for the magical country resides in the bravery of three young girls from the real world! Magic Knight Rayearth was the seminal fantasy series that skyrocketed the manga creation team CLAMP to international superstars. Now they are the most published creators in America. The Art of Magic Knight Rayearth features over 75 full-color paintings from CLAMP, most of which have never before been seen in America. The book also includes a black and white supplement on the making of the Rayearth manga. SC, 7x10, 100pg, FC (2 of 2) $19.99

THE ART OF CARDCAPTOR SAKURA VOLUME 3 ART BOOK by CLAMP

A wonderful full color art book for Cardcaptor fans! Cardcaptor Sakura was the top- selling girls manga in Japan and now America. Now fans can collect all of the full-color artwork from CLAMP featuring their favorite characters! The Art of Cardcaptor Sakura contains over 100 full color pictures from the series, most of which have never before been seen in America! SC, 7x10, 100pg, FC (3 of 3) $19.99

GUNDAM TECHNICAL MANUAL VOLUME 5 G GUNDAM

The ultimate guide to the newest Gundam series in America! In the distant future, man has found a new way to settle disputes between nations - one-on-one Gundam battles with the Earth as the arena! But this 13th annual Gundam battle is different from the rest because a new nanotechnological weapon has entered the fray! SC, 5x7, 92pg, b&w (5 of 5) $12.99

CARDCAPTOR ANIME BOOK VOLUME 6 TP by CLAMP

When Sakura Avalon opened the mysterious Clow Book in her dad's library and released the cards inside, she inadvertently signed on for the challenge of a lifetime. Something is out of tune at Readington Elementary when the Song card appears in the school music room. Things get weird when young Sakura finds herself three inches tall in her quest for the Little card. And her brother Tori is being haunted by a mysterious card that looks just like Sakura! SC, 5x7, 148pg, b&w (6 of 12) $14.99

Viz Communications

Issues

The Animerica Extra July 2002 Volume 5 #8 manga anthology features new enteries in Fushigi Yugi, Video Girl Ai, Chicago, Steam Detectives, Utena, and Marionette Generation, and introduces the popular shoujo series Mint to Bokura.

Pulp Volume 6 #8 is the final issue of the Pulp manga anothology. In a melancholy scene, looking out upon the World Trade Center, Ash explains to Eiji the Hemingway story from which his nom de guerre comes. (Banana Fish continues from here on in the pages of Animerica Extra); Dance Till Tomorrow: While the local yakuza kingfish hides in Bondage Horse blackface at Suekichi's crib, we meet the elderly gent who once proposed to Aya, explaining Tomo's remark on page 8 of PULP Volume 6 #4; Short Cuts: Gonguras in a box, Sonomi's Marilyn Manson T-shirt, and "Usamaru" creates a gigantic, gorgeous ko-gal splash page.

Bastard!! #8: Fighter!! Part 3

Unable to defeat Dark Schneider with her magic, the magician-swordswoman Kai Harn lets loose the dreaded cockatrice, whose touch can turn flesh to stone! But the clueless personality of Lucien Renlen reasserts itself just when Dark Schneider least needs it, leaving him lost in the dark woods in a cape and robes several sizes too big for him.

The Big O Part 2 #1

Even with a massive hole punched in its chest, Dorothy Two, Dorothy's giant "sister" robot, still functions - and the criminal Beck is behind the controls! Violently wresting control from Dorothy's creator Timothy Wayneright, who designed the android in the image of his lost daughter, he fuses Dorothy to the mainframe of Dorothy Two, taunting Roger Smith to destroy one if he wants to destroy the other!

Silent Möbius: Blood Part 11 #1 (of 5), with Lum Cheng settling in to the A.M.P. and Yuki recovered from her injuries, the A.M.P. is back in full force. Rally Cheyenne is making preparations for what could be the A.M.P.'s final battle against Nemesis.

Other issues include The All-New Tenchi Muyô! Part 1 #3, Ceres, Celestial Legend Part 3 #2, Dragon Ball Z Part 5 #7 (of 12), Dragon Ball Part 5 #2, Inu-Yasha Part 6 #15, Medabots Part 2 #3 and 4 (of 4), Neon Genesis Evangelion Part 7 #3, Pokémon Adventures Part 7 #4 (Of 5), Ranma 1/2 Part 11 #5, Vagabond Part 1 #9, and Zoids #6.

Collections

Bakune Young Volume 3 Tp

Bakune Young wants to rule the world, but isn't smart or rich enough to get elected. But one thing he's good at is fighting. There's no army he won't fight, no weapon he won't use, to wipe out the yakuza, the police, and everyone else who stands between him and world domination! So when Bakune kidnaps the Don of Nippon for a 100 trillion yen ransom, he unleashes a chain of bloodshed like nothing Japan has ever seen. Now karmic retribution has fallen upon Bakune; lying comatose in a hospital bed after the hostage massacre, he seeks redemption - or at least someone to change his diaper. SC, 264pg, b&w $16.95

Bastard!! Volume 1 Tp by Kazushi Hagiwara

The kingdom of Metallicana is under attack by the dark forces of four evil armies sweeping the world. As orcs and giants besiege their citadel, the desperate defenders turn to a legend that a virgin's kiss may awaken "Dark Schneider," an ancient evil wizard sealed within the body of Lucien, a seemingly normal 14-year-old boy! Dark Schneider, the chaotic, lecherous wizard, has returned to life. only barely restrained by the magic that forces him to obey his host body's teenage stepsister, Yoko!

Dragon Ball Z Volume 9 Tp

Goku and Captain Ginyu - trapped in each other's bodies due to Ginyu's mind-swapping powers - fight it out to the end.

Gundam: The Origin #2 Gn

In the civil war, half of humanity is wiped out, and Zeon's army of Zaku mobile suits is the deciding weapon. With the Federation's first Gundam out of action, Amuro miraculously stumbles upon a second unit! Now, in control of a machine with unparalleled destructive power, will Amuro's actions do more to help the colony's survivors or hurt them?

Junko Mizuno's Cinderalla Gn

Junko Mizuno's Cinderalla is this uniquely styled artist's take on the classic fairytale. Her delirious color illustrations, while displaying super-flat cuteness, also incorporate elements of grotesquerie and politically sharp black humor. Her style has been described as "cute-but-deadly" and "grotesque-cute." Dad and the stepsisters are zombies, "Cinderalla's" family runs a yakitori restaurant, and the sickly Prince is on permanent I-V support! Mizuno turns this classic story about class, labor, and the social role of women on its head with a distinctly post-pop, post-feminist consciousness.

Ranma ½ Volume 20 TP

Genma recieves a letter than Ranma's mother is coming to visit, a problem because he promised his fomer wife that that Ranma would grow up to be the manliest of men or face seppuku (ritual suicide). Volume 19 will be available again.

Pokémon Adventures Volume 1: Wanted: Pikachu!, Magical Pokémon Journey Volume 1: Party With Pikachu Tp, the ultra cute shoujo (girl's) series, Art Of Pokémon: The First Movie, Pokémon Tv Animation Comic Volume 1, and four volumes of Toshihiro Ono's Pokemon will be re-releases.

Ceres: Celestial Legend Volume 1: Aya Tp will be re-released Yû Watase's newest supernatural manga thriller, now in graphic novel format! Aya and her twin brother Aki are summoned to the massive Mikage house where their family reveals to them a secret: both are descendants of supernatural beings out of a fairytale! Even more shocking, Aya's family views her as a liability, and now they want her dead!

Gundam Wing: Episode Zero Tp, with the history of the Gundam Wing boys will be re-released.

Medabots Volume 1: A Boy And His 'Bot Tp, collects the manga adaptation of the anime being shown on Fox Kids.

Revolutionary Girl Utena Volume 2: To Plant Tp Utena is forced to duel the student counsil's Juri, and Miki.

The first volume will be re-released. Utena has entered the prestigious Ohtori Academy only to be challenged to a sword duel by the Student Council Vice President, and she wins! The prize? By winning the duel, Utena has inadvertently become engaged to Anthy Himemiya-the "Rose Bride!"

Viz will also be releasing the Fushigi-Yûgi Special Collector's Box, with a wall scroll featuring Tamahome; sleeping eye blinders in the shape of Mitsukake's cat; a treasure box that speaks to you with the voices of two of the original Japanese cast members; a Chichiri mini figure; a 100-page notepad; incense burner with ten scents $99.95.