Father Geek here with the latest Asia-AICN from Darius25 and his crew of Asian reporters. We have a ton of Anime news today from both Scott Green and a new staff member Moby. Plus we also have a look at the Hong Kong Film Critics awards and guess what CTHD didn't run off with the top prizes.

Well, ol' Father Geek caught a screening of VERSUS a couple of nights ago on the big screen. And... well, having already seen BATTLE ROYALE in a theater, I can say with total convidence that those who label BR a bloodbath, or gore-fest better stay very very far away from theaters showing VERSUS. Because it is one part SHOGAN ASSASSIN, one part DEAD ALIVE (Brain Dead), one part RETURN OF THE LIVING DEAD, and one part EVIL DEAD. BR is no more a bloodbath/gore-fest than SAVING PRIVATE RYAN, or PLATOON, or FISTFUL OF DOLLARS. Sure there are 43 plus killings on screen, but how many are there in say RAMBO, THE SEVEN SAMURAI, or FULL METAL JACKET? BATTLE ROYALE is NO where near as bloody as say NATURAL BORN KILLERS, or any number of Asian Martial Arts flicks made in the 70's. And as for gore... Bava, Fulci, Stuart Gordon, Hershel Gordon-Lewis, Romero, and Savini all have it beat hands down... I can't say that about VERSUS. It is a true comedy of terror, a fierce farce, that while it falls a tad short of the 4 films above that it borrows from, it none the less kicks the butt of such bloody gore epics as BLOOD FEAST, Dr. GORE, THE GORE GORE GIRLS, and THE CORPSE GRINDERS. Well, that's Father Geek's opinion anyway...

Asia-AICN

Hey All. We're back with lots of new and very cool news including news on two Hollywood projects with Bollywood involvement, this year's HK Film Critics Society Awards, and Leon Lai's next film. We are also proud to introduce yet another reporter, Moby, who will give us some more Anime news. When you add Scott Green's reports to the mix, I'm sure you Anime fans will be more than satisfied! Now here's the latest from Asia.

INDIA

- Hrithik Roshan has backed out of one of Tarsem Singh's next films, an Indian version of Hamlet. The English-language film, titled "Aditya", focuses on the title character - an Indian prince living in the state of Rajasthan around the 1850s. Roshan had to step out due to date problems - he couldn't commit to a continuous 15-week shoot in the desert state (Rajasthan). The producers are looking towards other actors as Hrithik's replacement. Might I suggest Shahrukh Khan - just kidding!! He's too old for the role anyway.

- Another Hollywood announcement. Actor Abhishek Bachchan has been signed by Columbia TriStar to star in "The Last Revolutionary". The film, to be directed by Indian director Priyadarshan (Virasat - The Inheritance), is based on the life of an Indian revolutionary named Chandrashekhar Azad. A lavish budget will be spent on the film, which will be made using the English language and will be later dubbed into Hindi. The producers are looking for an American actress to appear opposite Bachchan in the film.

- Miss World 2000, Priyanka Chopra has now joined Bollywood. She has been hired to star opposite Sunny Deol (MAJOR age difference!!) in producer Anil Sharma's The Hero. The casting on this spy thriller is not yet complete. More details on this film will be provided as they are available.

- Directors Abbas-Mustan's Chori Chori Chupke Chupke (Secretly and Quietly) will finally release next week (March 9). The film has been through much controversy when its producers were arrested under allegations of being connected to the Bombay underworld. After many hearings and lawsuits, the producers were given back the rights to the film (which were held by the Indian government) and now all of us can see what all the fuss is about. The thriller stars Salman Khan, Rani Mukherjee and Preity Zinta.

- Here are the latest release date changes/announcements. Director Aziz Garewal's Chhupa Rustam (Dark Horse) will be released on March 16th. The film stars Sanjay Kapoor, Mamta Kulkarni and Manisha Koirala. Director K. Shashilal Nair's One Two Ka Four (One Two Then Four) has been pushed yet another week to March 23. The film stars Shahrukh Khan, Juhi Chawla, and Jackie Shroff. Director Farheen Akhtar's Dil Chahta Hai (The Heart Needs) with Aamir Khan, Saif Ali Khan, Akshaye Khanna and Dimple Kapadia, has been announced for August 19th. Finally, director Vikram Bhatt's Aap Mujhe Achche Lagne Lage (I Have Started to Like You) has been set for a September release. The much anticipated film reunites Hrithik Roshan and Amisha Patel who starred in the blockbuster Kaho Naa Pyar Hai (Say You Love Me).

CHINA / HK

The following was reported by "AccSpy":

- The 7th HK Film Critics Society Awards ceremony were held last week. Chow Yun-fat was the presenter of the night and presented the Best Film award to director Fruit Chan's "Durian, Durian", a film about a mainland college girl who comes to HK as a prostitute. Qin Hailu, who turned in her debut performance in "Durian, Durian", won as Best Actress while the Best Actor award went to Francis Ng for his less-than-leading role in "2000A.D."(HOW???? - D25). The Best Screenplay award went to Chan Hing-kar and Amy Chin Siu-wai for "Jiang Hu: The Triad Zone". Wong Kar-wai nabbed the Best Director award for "In the Mood for Love" while the Special Achievement Award was presented to Yuen Wo-ping. Here are two photos of Chow Yun-fat presenting the Best Actor award to Francis Ng - Francis was embarrassed when Chow claimed himself as Ng's biggest fan on Earth.

Click here to see the first pic:Just Click Now

Click here to see the second pic: Go Here

- Furthermore, "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" claimed yet another four awards, including Best Director and Best Foreign Film at the BAFTAs. Click here to see a pic with Michelle Yeoh backstage after accepting the Best Foreign Film award: Just Click Here

- Leon Lai and Cecilia Cheung will star in director Wong Jing's new comedy about a flirt (Leon Lai) trying to remain faithful to his new-found love (Cecilia Cheung).

- Last week at the HKBO, "Meet the Parents" entered at no.1 while collecting an estimated $2.5 millions HKD in 4 days. Local action movie "Hit Team", from director Dante Lam ("Jiang Hu: The Triad Zone", "Beast Cop") and starring Alex To ("Skyline Cruiser") and Daniel Wu, debuted at the second place. "Cast Away" placed third, "Proof of Life" hung on to no.4, and "Martial Angels" was at no.5.

- "Skyline Cruisers", the loosely-related sequel to 1996's "Downtown Torpedoes", is now on DVD. The film stars Leon Lai, Jordan Chan, Shu Qi, Sam Lee and Michelle Saram. Click here to buy it on DVD: http://us.yesasia.com/prdDept.asp?section=videos&lang=en&code=c&aid=7&pid=1001806703

JAPAN

- The rumours of Mamoru Oshii's next project are true. A producer (who happens to be a close friend of Oshii) has told me that they are finally starting production on the sequel to "Ghost In The Shell". I'll report more on this topic when they actually begin.

- The Japanese edition of Premiere magazine has listed "The Japanese Film Industry's Power 100 List" Here is the best 10 and some other items.

01. Shigeru Okada - CEO of Toei

02. Tsuguhiko Kadokawa - CEO of Kadokawa Publishing Co.

03. Kokai Tokumua - CEO of Tokuma Publishing Co.

04. Hayao Miyazaki - Anime director/writer-"Princess Mononoke"

05. Takeshi Kitano - Director/Actor

06. Nobuyuki Dei - CEO of Sony

07. Shunji Fukasaku - Director-"Battle Royal"

08. Koji Yakusho - Actor - He has been cast for Steven Speilberg's "Memoirs Of Geisha"

09. Yoji Yamada - Director

10. Isao Matsuoka - CEO of Toho

Other Significant items on the list

15. Pocket Monster - Do I really have to tell you what this is????

30. Nagisa Oshima - Director

32 Mamoru Oshii - Director (Ghost in the Shell, Patlabor, Avalon)

46. Shusuke Kaneko - Director - "Gamera" series and upcoming "Godzilla 2002"

47. Shinya Tsukamoto - Director

76. Godzilla!! (YAY! - D25)

- Here are the results from the awards ceremony of the 22nd Yokohama Film Festival.

Best Film - "Kao"

Best Director - Junji Sakamoto of" Kao"

Best Actor - Tadanobu Asano of "Gohatto"

Best Actress - Naomi Fujiyama of "Kao"

Best Supporting Actor - Terunobu Kagawa of "Dokuritus Shonen Gassodan"

Best Supporting Actress - Naomi Nishida of "Nabi's Love"

Best Photograhy - Masazo Inamoto of "Dokuritus Shonen Gassodan"

ANIME

And now, allow me to introduce "Moby" who will be providing us with even more details on Anime in addition to the excellent reports by Scott Green. Now here's Moby's first report.

Greetings all, since this is my first ASIA-AICN post, I thought I would make it really juicy (with as few grammatical errors as possible so I won't get chewed by the mob on the message boards). First off, however, I must vent. In the last major ASIA-AICN update, a lad by the name of Monkey_King said that Outlaw Star and Cowboy Bebop are two of the best sci-fi anime series to come out of Japan in a long time. He should be flogged, tarred, and hung by his tongue or such an ignorant statement. Alas, Sci-Fi is one thing that Japanese animation houses do extremely well thanks to the cultural emphasis on detail.

While I must agree that Cowboy Bebop and Outlaw Star are two great shows that have garnered mass appeal to limit Sci-Fi Japanese anime to these two titles is like a slap in the face. So that this doesn't come off as hot air, let me back up my statement. Neon Genesis: Evangelion, (currently 4 discs are available on DVD with the 5th hitting store shelves on 3/27), single handedly re-wrote the giant-robot rulebook, if there was such a thing. Martian Successor Nadesico (first 3 DVDs are available with the 4th arriving on the 27th of Feb) re-examines what giant-robot anime is in a hysterical and well-conceived satirical romp to Mars and back. Trigun, while some may debate whether or not it is Sci-Fi, certainly is a highlight on the list. Trigun has just seen the sixth (of an 8 disc series) released. Many were originally turned away from Trigun early on because of its Stooge-esque humor. Those that were turned away however, are missing out on a twisted series that takes a cue from Rorouni Kenshin. If you stick with the series you are treated to a futuristic wild wild west with some great gun slinging action. Another cool Sci-Fi series that has recently found it's way to DVD is Gesaraki (3 DVDs available with a fourth coming soon). Gesaraki definitely isn't for those with ADD and not on medication. It starts of extremely slow, and only picks up later in the series, but the wait is well worth it. Outlaw Star and Bebop are the only two? Think again! Need I go on? Ghost In The Shell? The CGI spectacle Blue Submarine #6? Key: The Metal Idol? Serial Experiments Lain? Spriggan? But I digress, I was brought here to deliver some juicy anime news, and it's time I ended my rant and delivered.

Since we are on the topic of Sci-fi, the biggest Sci-Fi anime news comes from the 1998 film "Jin-Roh". I recently had a chance to watch this "psychological thriller", and while the animation is visually stunning, those of you looking for an anime with a lot of substance to the story should check this out. So when will you get a chance? Well, Bandai Entertainment (who earned points in my book for releasing Outlaw Star as a 2 DVD/9 episodes per volume as opposed to Pioneers "we are going to rob anime fans blind with their sad 3 episode per disc release of Trigun) and Viz Entertainment (who has also earned brownie points with me for their handling of Key) plan to release Jin-Roh here in the US in 2001. Based on their previous releases, I have faith that Bandai and Viz will take the "Crouching Tiger" route by releasing the film subbed with subtitles, as opposed to doing the Disney-comp out of hiring big name stars to ruin the remarkable voice work done in the original film. (Don't get me wrong, as far as dubs go Mononoke is at the top of the list.) As for when we will see Jin-Roh hit DVD. unknown, though it will most likely depend on what Viz and Bandai plan to do for the American release. Jin-Roh will, however, be available this spring on DVD in South Korea. For those of you with region free DVD players, you can import Jin-Roh from Japan, which has been out for some time now and features yummy DTS sound, or the French version that features English subtitles. (Thanks for the info Skull Knight).

On the fantasy front it turns out that one of my favorite anime series, Bastard (was the first series I ever saw and first manga I translated), is coming to DVD in two yummy flavors. The standard version and a pricey $49 version that will contain an action figure. IKETERU!

Ok, now time for some new stuff. (Thanks again to Skull Knight for the 411). There are some pretty exciting series that have just finished their run in Japan and are finding their way into Japanese DVD players. Hopefully a US distributor will pick up these series: First up Senkaiden Houshin Engi. A fantasy romp through Chinese mythology. Houshin Engi is based on the manga series by Ryu Fujisaki. Houshin Engi follows the exploits of Tai Kou Bou as he attempts to restore peace in the human realm (laid to waste by Emperor Chu who is possessed by the infamous demon lord Dakki.). Tai Kou Bou is far from a hero; actually he is somewhat of a buffoon who has the task of capturing 365 of the demons that are roaming the Earth. Houshin Engi is a series that should definitely be brought over - from the heart pumping opening to the amazing fights and off beat humor Houshin Engi will be a definite favorite here in the US.

Then there is Now and Then, Here and There. When my partner in crime, Skull Knight, first showed me this series my jaw literally dropped. It was only the first episode of the series and I wasn't prepared for NaT-HaT. Besides being beautifully animated, NaT-HaT features a plot that rivals films such as Seven and the Usual Suspects in that it keeps you guessing and has so many twists and turns your not sure what is around the next corner. NaT-HaT is the story of Matsutani Shyuzo; a hyperactive kid. actually hyperactive doesn't do how much of a Speed freak this little boy is. Think of a kid with energy like Spud from Trainspotting, armed with a wooden sword, and is currently attending Jr. High and you can maybe begin to get a mental image. NaT-HaT starts off very comical, showing young Shyuzo's morning activities - breakfast, rushing to school, after school Aikido practice (trying to impress the local Jr. High hot-thang), etc. 15 minutes after what seems to be another pre-pubescent anime romp through growing pains turns into an alternate dimension sci-fi adventure as Shyuzo, while attempting to rescue a strange girl from a robotic serpent, get sucked into a gateway and brought to an alternate dimension called Hellywood!! And the humor ends, NaT-HaT becomes a dark, sometimes depressing adventure as Shyuzo stumbles into a world of plots, counterplots and murder. Hey! He is just a kid! Sure, sounds standard, but you have to see it to believe it.

My Last blurb is about the new Jo-Jo series. For those of you that don't know, Jo-Jo (what was that about only good Sci-Fi anime to come from Japan?) is an interesting modern adventure about individuals who have the spiritual guardians called Stands, which can be summoned to fight on their behalf. Hmmm, my explanation for what a Stand is may be a bit off for those of you who have seen the original Jo-Jo series, but it is kind of hard explaining it to the un-initiated. Let me try to explain a stand like this: Imagine you are about to go toe to toe with a gimp wielding a gun. As the guy pulls the trigger, this apparition appears, hovering just behind you. It catches the bullet in mid-air. if you die, it dies. The mugger tries to flee and you reach out your hand as if to grab the mugger. Your actions are mimicked by the Stand that grabs the punk and breaks him into two with your simple gesture. Just as your actions are reflected by the Stand, pain is also shared. If it gets spanked up, you'll have a few nice scars to remind you. Well the original Jo-Jo series featured Stand possessing individuals fighting the time-stopping Dio. With strange character designs, and even stranger Stand designs. Jo-Jo was a series that left me for one wanting more. Well good news. An OVA series has started hitting Japanese DVDs (3 released so far, with a total of 7 planned). The new OVA series is a prequel to the original Jo-Jo Bizarre Adventures OVA. The animation is 100 times better of course, and the storyline touches on what the Stands actually are, Dio's origins, and how Jo-Jo hooked up with the rest of the Stand weirdoes. In the first OVA, Jo-Jo's introduction is absolutely hilarious. His future comrades approach Jo-Jo, locked up in prison. Jo-Jo doesn't know what the hell this Stand thing is, but every time he puts a gun to his head to end his life, the damn thing appears and catches the bullet. The humor in this sequence comes from Jo-Jo's cellmates that are petrified of Jo-Jo because he is possessed by a demon!!

Hmm, I have some more juicy bits, but I want to string you all along for a bit. Don't want you all to get all the dirt, run off, and leave me now, do I? You all probably would. Anyway, next time you hear from me I'll have more info on DVD releases and some juicy info on some future anime projects in Japan (like the new Battle Angel Alita sequels - Gally is gonna have a new outfit.woo woo).

Take care all,

-M0BY-

Send your flames, or praise to moby@voodooextreme.com

ANIME

From Scott Green

More Excel Saga Spin-Off Information

According a post to the Excel Saga mailing list http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ExcelSaga The DVD of the series has a promo trailer for the new spinoff series called "Puni Puni Poemi" is an Excel Saga spoof of magical girl shows. Poemi is described as a chibi-Excel, looking a bit like Sakura of Card Captor Sakura. Her best friend is Futaba-chan, who looks like a chib-Hyatt (the sullen looking girl with dark blue hair). Poemi's family are slaughters by an alien, and she ends up living with Futaba. According to the post "Futaba's family name is something I can't read made of the kanji "ware" and "mamoru". It means "protect our people", and it's a good name, because Futaba and her sisters are an "Earth Defense Family" (have you seen that anime? ^_^ ) Futaba and her six sisters are supposed to protect Earth against alien invaders" "(Poemi eventually turns into a magical girl... I think she found a magical fish, killed it with a kitchen knife and made herself a henshin wand! with the fishbone. ^_^ Guess she didn't want a stupid fish as a magical mascot... ^_^ "

Futaba's family includes Futaba and her six sisters: Nanase, age 28, office lady, the second sister, age 22 has a part-time job at a store, Itsue, age 19, in college. Runs the S&M club and dresses like a S&M Queen, the fourth sister, age 18 looks like grown-up Hyatt except for her bigger bust, Natsuki age 15 in junior high school, Futaba age 10 in elementary school and Hitomi age 3 in kindergarten.

The cast includes

- Kobayashi Yumiko is Poemi (Kobayashi Excel in Excel Saga, Sarah Macdogal in Love Hina).

- Imai Yuka (Wakaba of Utena, Otaru of Saber Marionette) is Futaba.

- Hisakawa Aya is Nanase (Skuld of Ah My Goddess, Kero-Chan of Card Captor Sakura, Yohko of Devil Hunter Yohko, Miki of Utena, Sailor Mercury of Sailor Moon)

- Kawakami Tomoko (Utena of Utena) is the second EDF sister.

- Mitsuishi Kotono is Itsue (Excel in Excel Saga, Mink of Dragon Half, Misato of Evangelion, Pixy of Monster Rancher/Farmer, Sailor Moon).

The post, which contains spoilers for Excel Saga, can be read at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ExcelSaga/message/225 For more information (in Japanese) and images see http://www.jvcmusic.co.jp/m-serve/poemi/chara/

Akira Premier

According to the official Akira http://www.akira2001.com/ theDigital Projection World Premiere of the movie will be at the AMC Empire, Times Square, New York City on March 30th, 2001.

Utena Movie Release Information

A bit of information was sent in to Anime on DVD today from a reader who got a response from Central Park Media about their upcoming Utena releases. According to the information, the Utena movie will be out before the end of the year and if things go well, more TV episodes sometime after that.

Excel Saga Spinoff

A spinoff of the comedy series Excel Saga is in the works based on the brief appearance of Puni-Puni Poemy. The article seems to suggest that the series is an OAV. It will be released March 3rd. Excel Saga is a fan favorite parody of both eastern and western pop culture. The American rights to the series were acquired by ADV films, but the company has yet to announce a release date for the highly anticipated series. The excuse, often jokingly given, is difficulty is translating the dialogue, with in the instance of the series protagonist is often delivered in a rapid, and hyper manner (similar to the diagalogue in Elf Princess Rane, released in the US by Media Blasters.)

Animation Induced Epilepsy Debunked

According to a study published in the Southern Medical Journal the mass incidents of seizures that followed a December 16yh, 1997 airing of Pokemon in Japan the incident was for the most part public panic. The New York Post reports: "Doctors first said the seizures were due to photosensitive epilepsy - the result of a scene in the cartoon that included a series of strobe-like flashes. Within two days some 13,000 children needed medical help for seizures but experts now say only a small fraction of the kids were actually diagnosed with photosensitive epilepsy. In the February issue of the Southern Medical Journal, researcher Benjamin Radford writes: "There's certainly no question that there were at least some epileptic children who were affected. Clearly, some children had photosensitive epilepsy. The answer is that it triggered a case of mass hysteria. What I found most interesting is the notion of how an idea can spread from person to person, and be transformed into physical symptoms."

"Epilepsy Foundation spokesman Peter Van Haverbeke says TV screens can influence epileptic attacks - but that rarely happens. "It seems fairly unlikely that one cartoon would cause 13,000 children to have seizures," he said." The entire story can be read at http://www.nypostonline.com/entertainment/24867.htm

Third Part of Tenchi Muyo Interview Posted

The Third part of the Interview with Kajishima Masaki, orginally promised for February 16th, has been posted on AIC's Japanese website. An English translation should appear on the English site in a matter of days. http://www.anime-int.com/interview.html#part3

Ranma DVD News

Viz's latest information points to a 6/19 release for Ranma 1/2, Random Rhapsody: The Way We're Not. Running time is 78 minutes (3 episodes) for 29.95$. This is the first volume of the season six release that's planned for simultaneous release with the VHS. According to a recently clarification All Random Rhapsody DVD's will be bilingual (English/Japanese language with selectable English subtitles) and will contain three episodes coming to 78 minutes each. This also applies to upcoming Ceres: Celestial Legend (Ayashi no Ceres) DVD's as well.

Angelic Layer

http://east.sakura.ne.jp/aniba/aninews/japan/ Shonen Ace announced that the next anime adaptation of CLAMP manga, the women responsible to Card Captor Sakura, X, and Magic Knights Rayearth, of Angelic Layer will start at 17:20 April 1 on TV Tokyo. The official title will be "Kidou Tenshi (Mobile Angel) Angelic Layer. Anime Finge has a good article about the series at http://www.animefringe.com/archive/00.02/feature/al/index.php3

Studio Pierrot's Tenshi Ni Narumon U.S. Bound

More Studio Pierrot anime is heading to the US. "Tenshi ni Narumon" has been acquired for North American release. Original concept by HEAVEN PROJECT and produced by Bandai Visual, Studio Pierrot, and TV Tokyo. "Tenshi ni Narumon" ("I'll be an Angel") has been described as a super-cute, anime version of the Adams Family. It is a comedy about a boy who meets a girl with a halo whose mother is a witch, father is a Frankenstein's monster, brother is a vampire, younger sister is a mecha obsessed elf, older sister is invisible, and grandmother is a hag.

Anime On Billboard Charts

Top DVD Sales Billboard Magazine Chart Leaders Weekly charts for the nation's most popular videos as they appear in the March 3, 2001, issue of Billboard magazine:

4. ``Pokemon: The Movie 2001,'' Warner Home Video.

6. ``Sailor Moon: The Legend Begins,'' DIC Entertainment. Video Sales

7. ``Street Fighter Alpha: The Movie,'' Manga Entertainment.

Harlock Saga Website Open

Central Park Media has created a webpage for one of their latest acquisitions, Harlock Saga (part of Leiji Matsumoto's Galaxy Express 999 world). Harlock Saga is an updated retelling of the classic Richard Wagner opera, Der Ring Des Nibelungen, Harlock Saga unveils one of Captain Harlock's adventures regarding how he first meets the young Tadashi Daiba and revisits his relationships with some old friends.

The website contains character descriptions, a number of interviews, detailed glossary, story, image gallery, wallpapers, trailers, and sketches. Here's the url: www.harlocksaga.com

Niea_7 Anime Coming To America

Fanboy Inc. has learned today that Pioneer has licensed the English language rights to Yoshitoshi ABe's anime series, Niea_7. (Pronounced Knee-Ah Under Seven) No details yet as to when it will released or in what formats. According to C.B. Cebulski "The adaptation should be interesting though as the series is full of "in jokes" and lots of Japanese cultural references unfamiliar to many foreigners, even those somewhat familiar with Japan."

The series revolves around an average 18 year old woman Mayuko, whose roommate happens to be an alien named Niea. The series is mostly a comedy about the relationship between the two, but many have commented on its pacing which is deliberately slow at times. See the official web page at www.nieaunder7.net

Vandread Acquired by Media Blasters?

Studio Gonzo, of Blue Sub no. 6 fame informed the fansubbers (as the name implies its fans who translate and subtitle anime titles on their own, usually on works that have not been releases in the US that subbed it, that MediaBlasters had acquired the CGI series Vandread, and that they should stop distributing it. Media Blasters has yet to confirm the acquisition. See the the official page at www.vandread.com

Edited Escaflowne News

Escaflowne has recently completed it first run on Canadian YTV. In its second run it aired the first episode of the shown, which was not aired on its first run, or Fox's partial run on of the series, presumably due to the desire not to alienate the target young male audience with the high school romance in the series' first episode. Bandai has notified distributors that they will be discontinuing production on all Vision of Escaflowne Edited Versions after volume 4.

FLCL Movie

According to thishttp://www.gainax.co.jp/flcl/movie/index-e.html Gainax (makers of Evangelion, Nadia, and Wings of Honneamise) page, trailers for an FLCL MOVIE "will start appearing in early February."

Miyazaki on/Ghibli

According to a post on the Nausicaa.net mailing list the Japanese version of "Premiere," a movie magazine, published a "The Most Powerful 100 of Japanese Film Industry" list. Hayao Miyazaki was ranked 4th, highest among movie directors. Late Mr. Tokuma, the president of Tokuma Publishing, was ranked 3rd.

1. Shigeru Okada, the chairman of Toei (movie company) and Japan Film Industry Association.

2. Tsuguhiko Kadokawa, the president of Kadokawa Publishing. Kadokawa also produces films.

3. Yasuyoshi Tokuma

4. Hayao Miyazaki

5. Takeshi Kitano

6. Nobuyuki Idei, the CEO of Sony

7. Kinji Fukasaku, a film director

8. Koji Yakusyo, an actor (Shall We Dance?)

9. Yoji Yamada, a film director (Tora-San series)

10. Isao Matsuoka, the chairman of Toho (movie company)

Ghibli opened its own book page at here http://www.ntv.co.jp/ghibli/shuppan/index.html . It lists the books that Ghbli has published. According to the page, Ghibli is going to publish a book about Masahiro Ioka, the art director of "Heidi" and "Anne of Green Gables," in April. An Article by Takahata-San and staff interviews, including Miyiazaki, will be in the book as well.

Cartoon Network Anime News

Cartoon Network has made a number of announcements about their future anime lineup but explicitly in a press conference, and less outright through the schedules on their web site at http://www.cartoonnetwork.com The most significant announcements are that they have acquire the rights to the original Dragon Ball, telling the story ok the hero of Dragon Ball Z, Goku as a children, as well as 96 episodes of Dragon Ball Z for the 2001-2002 season. Big O is currently schedule to starting airing at 5:30 on April 2nd. Big O is commonly described as a combination of Batman: The Animate Series, James Bond, and Giant Robo.

Cartoon Network executives held a press conference this morning in New York City to unveil new original programming and online activities that will be launched this summer and throughout the 2001-2002 television season. Toonami additions for 2001-2002 include 96 new episodes of Dragonball Z, and , debuting in summer 2001-six new anime series to premiere in 2001--Mobile Suit Gundam,Pilot Candidate, Gundam 8s, Outlaw Star, Big O and the original Dragonball. Cartoon Network will becomes the television home to DC Comic characters Batman and Superman, showcasing such popular Warne rBros.'s action series as Batman: The Animated Series, TheAdventures of Batman & Robin, The New Batman/SupermanAdventures and Superman. Other new shows include Time Squad, a new, original half-hour comedy series to launching June 2001, Samurai Jack, a new, original half-hour action-adventure series to launch in August 2001, Justice League, a new one-hour action-adventure series based on the popular DC Comics series to launch in November 2001 and Grim & Evil, a new, original half-hour comedy series to launch in October 2001.

The press release can be read at http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/010221/2380.html

According to online schedules, for the week beginning Monday, March 26th, Dragon Ball Z will be shown twice every night at midnight. After that week, the Midnight Run consists of Dragon Ball Z at 12:00AM and Tenchi Universe at 12:30AM. On the day the Midnight Run changes to DBZ and Tenchi (Monday, April 2nd), "Big O" premieres. Like its Midnight Run predecessor on Saturday, The Rising Sun will be cancelled. Saturday, March 3rd, will be the last day (at least for a month). The weekday schedule will be as follows:

4:00PM - Sailor Moon

4:30PM - Gundam Wing (Edited)

5:00PM - Dragon Ball Z

5:30PM - Big O

6:00PM - Tenchi in Tokyo

6:30PM - Superman: The Animated Series

Ah My Goddess Movie Home Video Release Details

Ah! Megami-sama The Movie is out in Japanese video rental stores on 3/21. The DVD's of the film are out 3 months later on 6/20 in 2 versions: Normal (AC3) (6800 Yen) and DTS/AC3 Special Edition (12800 Yen). There will be a second disk with each including staff and seiyuu (voice actor) interviews.

Darius 25 back to say goodbye. Remember, if you have information regarding any film industry in Asia, please contact our Asia-AICN offices at atshrivas@home.com. See you all next week.