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Quote: *** ANIME NEWS & INTERESTING TID-BITS ***
+ Appleseed will be in 3 parts - Following news from the Tokyo International Anime Fair
that there were plans for a second Appleseed movie, it has been revealed that there will
in fact be 3 Appleseed movies. Without even waiting to gauge the success of the first movie,
it has been decided that production would start on the second movie, with its release planned
for 2005. Preparations for the second movie began even before the completion of production on
the first movie, back in September. The first Appleseed Movie premieres in Japan on April 17th
and will be released in North America by Geneon this summer.
+ Big Apple Anime Fest 2004 Cancelled - The Big Apple Anime Festival has announced that the
2004 event is officially and completely cancelled. The next event will take place in 2005,
with no further updates expected from BAAF until late 2004. This does not come as much of a
surprise to us considering how poorly the 2003 show was organized and administrated.
+ Live Action Witch Hunter Robin Confirmed - The Sci Fi channel announced several of their new
shows for 2004 and 2005, confirming earlier suggestions that they were producing a live action
TV-series based on Witch Hunter Robin.
+ Gundam Seed Sells 1 Million DVDs in Japan - Bandai Visual announced yesterday that they had sold over
1 million copies of Gundam Seed on DVD. The first volume sold over 100,000,000 copies, while the
one million copies mark was reached with the eleventh volume. According to the statement, Gundam
Seed has not only attracted traditional adult Gundam fans, but also younger fans and female fans.
+ Grrl Power! To be released Simultaneously - Although ADV Films had previously announced that
Makasete Iruka! would be released in North America before its Japanese release (and still states
this on their website) Japanese Website MangaZoo quotes ADV's John Ledford as announcing at the
Tokyo Anime Fair that the OAV would be released simultaneously in Japan and North America. Stated
reason for the simultaneous release: to circumvent piracy
+ Lucasfilm has announced the release date for the last Star Wars film. - Episode III, as the
yet-untitled film is currently known, will open on May 19, 2005. Lucasfilm is planning a near
simultaneous worldwide launch for the sixth and final Star Wars film. The one major exception
to the worldwide simultaneous release will be Japan, where the film will open in July, which
has become the traditional month for Star Wars films to open in Japan.
+ 'Anime Unleashed' to Survive Merger As Well As 'Robot Wars' - According to a FAQ posting
on the G4 Website, Tech TV's Anime Unleashed programming block will survive Tech TV's
acquisition by the G4 network. The sale of Tech TV to Comcast, which plans to roll Tech
TV into its G4 network, initially left the fate of Tech TV's Anime Unleashed block up in.
According to the postings on the G4 Website, the two networks will run independently until
the merger receives the customary approvals. Then the networks will merge into the "nation's
24/7 television network about video games, technology and the gamer lifestyle." Among the
Tech TV series specifically mentioned as being part of the new merged network are: Anime
Unleashed, X-Play, Screen Savers, Gear, and Robot Wars.
+ Bandai Cancels SD Gundam - Bandai has informed us that release of the 5th and 6th DVD volumes of
Superior Defender Gundam have been cancelled until further notice. We will post more details as they
become available.
+ Geneon Gives Read or Die Fans a Book from their DVD's - Geneon has announced plans for its DVD
release of R.O.D. the TV (see "Geneon Announces Five New Anime Series"), the TV series sequel to
the Read or Die OVA released last year by Manga Entertainment. The special collectors edition will
include a DVD book in which to store all of the DVDs in the series, a first departure from the
collectors boxes that most anime companies are offering collectors now. According to Geneon's Chad
Kime, the connection between the reading themes in the anime and a DVD "book" was "too perfect to
resist." The three expressions of this property, the OVA, the anime series, and the manga, all have
different names, even though all have some common characters, themes, and settings and are by the
same writer (Hideyuki Kurata). The OVA was Read or Die, the TV series is R.O.D. the TV, and the
manga (not yet picked up for the States) is Read or Dream.
+ Another Great series licensed by ADV - In a recent press release, ADV announced the
acquisition of exclusive Home Video and Broadcast rights for the anime series Chrono (Chrno)
Crusade! There was no word on exactly when we can expect to see it, but ADV made it clear that
it will be featured on the Anime Network, and will be available on DVD sometime later this
year. We'll be sure to keep you posted!
+ Madhouse to Produce 'Natural Born Kittens' - Corsham Entertainment has reached an agreement
with the Japanese anime production company Madhouse under which Madhouse will produce a 26-episode
"teen plus" anime series based on the Natural Born Kittens property created by U.K. anime artist
Larry Bundy, Jr. Corsham Entertainment is a UK production company formed by Star Wars producer
Gary Kurtz and Bionicle co-creator Alastair Swinnerton. Madhouse has produced some of the finest
anime films of recent years including Ninja Scroll, Millennium Actress, Tokyo Godfathers, Vampire
Hunter D, and the Animatrix.
+ Three Miyazaki Classics Out in August - Although Buena Vista Home Entertainment has not yet
announced the U.S. release dates for the trio of Miyazaki films it plans to release this year,
several online sites are already advertising Porco Rosso, Nausicca, and My Neighbor Totoro for
sale with an August 31 street date. The release at the start of the fourth quarter makes perfect
sense for these titles, each of which is a "must have" for both anime fans and retailers.
Miyazaki's Spirited Away was the #2 anime bestseller of 2003, and these films, although made
earlier in his career, are every bit as good.
+ Koikaze Trailer - Geneon Japan has a 20 second trailer online for Koikaze here.
http://www.geneon-ent.co.jp/rondorob...e/preview.html
+ More Jing from Tokyopop - In addition to the completely new titles, Tokyopop has also set
a September 7th release for the second Bandit King Jing manga series, Jing, King of Bandits
- Twilight Tales.
+ Guardians of Order Gets Neon Genesis Evangelion - Guardians of Order, Inc., in
association with ADV Films, will publish RPG fan guides based on Neon Genesis Evangelion.
There will be two volumes covering the original TV series and the re-released director's
cuts. Both will be released this fall.
+ Raijin Comics On Hiatus - According to a press release posted on the Raijin Comics
Website, the publisher has decided to put both its (now) monthly Raijin magazine and the
associated Raijin Graphic Novels on hiatus. Publisher Horie Nobuhiko stated: "Based on
research with readers, retailers and distributors, we have come to a conclusion -- our
publications, though appreciated by hardcore manga fans, are not penetrating a larger
market. In order for us to reach a broader market, Raijin Comics and Raijin Graphic Novels
will be placed on hiatus for the time being. We will be taking time out to come up with
ways to broaden the appeal of our publications, retooling stories and overall editorial
content. Raijin Comics Issue 46 and the June Graphic Novel releases will be the last
issues (for the time being)." | |
04-09-2004, 11:25 PM 
