Month: February 2007

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This week it’s just the unholy trinity. We review Kekkaishi, InuYasha and Tokyo Majin Gakuen Kenpucho: Tou. It’s a wacky time and we unload lots of opinions about InuYasha.

Tokyo Majin Gakuen Kenpucho: Tou – Download Now!
InuYasha – Wait until it hits the US and NetFlix it.
Kekkaishi – Wait until it hits the US and NetFlix it.

Show Notes

Music

Intro – Aoki Flamme by Yoko Takahashi from Pumpkin Scissors
Outro – Neko Mimi Mode by Dimitri From Paris from Tsukiyomi Moon Phase

News

AnimeFF Scammer wanted by the FBI
Four months ago, the FBI put out a press release touting an indictment against two men for internet auction fraud. One of the two men mentioned in the FBI’s press release has a familiar name: Aaron Edward Ecker.

First Look at Claymore Anime
GA Graphic has published an article on the conclusion of dialogue recording for the first episode of the Claymore anime television series. The article includes the first released screenshots of the upcoming anime adaptation of Norihiro Yagi’s manga.

Geneon Licenses Karin
According to Geneon’s Website, they have acquired Karin and are set to release volume 1 on May 15.

New Kite Anime Announced
The Arms Corporation anime studio has formally announced that Yasuomi Umetsu, the creator and director of the Kite OVA series, will helm a new anime titled, “Kite Liberator.”

Sky Girls TV Series Announced
The official Sky Girls homepage has published an announcement confirming that the 2005 OVA will be further developed as an anime television series.

2 Meter Tall EVA Unit 01 Figure For Sale
Since February 17th, visitors to Kotobikiya’s Radio Hall location in Akihabara have been able to check out the biggest (literally) addition to the world of Evangelion merchandise: a giant model of the Unit 01 robot from the series. The figure itself is manufactured by Akiyama Studio for Gainax. The figure measures 2 meters 9 centimenters (over 6 feet 9 inches) in height and retails for over 1 million yen (10,000 US Dollars). The figure is currently on display only at Kotobikiya. The store is maintaining displays of Evangelion merchandise in anticipation of the new Evangelion movies, the first of which hits theatres in September. Images of the figure can be found here.

Keiichi.net Radio Announces Online Dance contest
Keiichi.net Radio will host The JRHorse Side Project Poster Model Contest to recognize anime fans that enjoy expressing themselves through dance. Contestants in anime themed costumes dance and/or demonstrate their physical flexibility on video which will be hosted online. The best performers will receive a custom-made remix CD by Keiichi.net Reload’s DJ Celes and a $100 gift certificate for the J-List online store. The Side Project Poster Model Contest is now open for entries. Submissions are due by Sunday, April 8th. Please visit the competition’s official site for specific rules and entry guidelines.

First Evangeliwon Shin Gekijouban Teaser Trailer Released
The official Yahoo Japan webpage for the upcoming first “Evangelion New Motion Picture” hosts executive director Hideaki Anno’s official confirmation that the film will be released theatrically on September 1, and the film’s first teaser trailer. The streaming trailer does not contain any footage from the anime.

Osamu Tezuka Exhibit in San Francisco
Asian Art Museum of SF to hold exhibit starting in June

Funimation Controls US Anime Market for 6th Straight Year
According to Nielsen Videoscan data collected from 2001 to 2006, Funimation has been the anime market share leader for the sixth consecutive year, controlling 23.2% of the market.

Studio Ghibli Lines up Art Staff for New Film
Famed background artist and Studio Ghibli veteran Kazuo Oga visited the Ghibli office earlier this month to discuss working on Hayao Miyazaki’s next film. The title of the new film is expected to be revealed in March.

Reviews

Tokyo Majin Gakuen Kenpucho: Tou
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tokyo_Majin_Gakuen_Kenpucho:_Tou
http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=7123
http://www.majin.tv/

InuYasha
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inuyasha
http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=159
http://websunday.net/inuyasha/
http://www.sunrise-inc.co.jp/yasya/
http://www.viz.com/inuyasha/index.php

Kekkaishi
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kekkaishi
http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=6806
http://www.sunrise-inc.co.jp/kekkaishi/
http://www.ytv.co.jp/kekkaishi/index.html

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This is a good week. We’ve got lots of folks around, and we review Sumomo mo Momo mo, Yoshinaga-san’chi no Gargoyle and Kimi wa Petto. Be sure to tune in!

Sumomo mo Momo mo – Wait until it hits the US and NetFlix it.
Yoshinaga-san’chi no Gargoyle – Wait until it hits the US and NetFlix it.
Kimi wa Petto – Download Now!

Show Notes

Music

Intro – Hero’s Come Back by NobodyKnows+ from Naruto – Shippuden
Outro – Neko Mimi Mode by Dimitri From Paris from Tsukiyomi Moon Phase

News

Anime on iTunes
Anime News Network has confirmed that an announcement will be made later this week about the availability of North American licensed, English dubbed anime on iTunes (US downloads only). Individual episodes will be sold for an “affordable price,” in the standard iTunes download to own, DRM protected format. This will be the first time that full episodes of anime are available on iTunes for the North American market.

New Evangelion Movie Premieres September 1
Director Hideaki Anno has announced that the first new Evangelion movie will premiere September 1 in Japanese theaters.

Gainax and Animate Introduce Evangelion Drinks
On April 12th, fans of the legendary Gainax series Shin Seiki Evangelion (Neon Genesis Evangelion) will have the chance to “drink” the anime as well as watch it. Gainax, Movic and retail store Animate have announced that they will be selling special cases of Neon Genesis Evangelion soft drinks. The drinks can be purchased at Animate stores or from the EVA store on the Gainax website.

Japanese Government: “Promote Anime and Manga”
On February 9th, the Japanese Government announced the second 5 year agenda for the promotion of Japanese Culture in other nations. Among the top priorities outlined in the plan, one is to increase the amount of cultural exchange between Japan and other nations – an effort in which Anime and Manga will play a significant role.

Dororo Records Third Straight Japanese Box Office Win
The live action film based on Osamu Tezuka’s Dororo manga is once again the winner of the Japanese box office weekend, marking the film’s third straight win since its debut.

The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya Dub Cast Announced
The English dub cast, and ADR director for Bandai’s upcoming release of The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya, has been announced in The Adventures of the ASOS Brigade: Episode 002, which was uploaded to the ASOS Brigade website last night.
ADR Director – Eric P. Sherman
Haruhi Suzumiya – Wendee Lee
Mikuru Asahina – Stephanie Sheh
Yuki Nagato – Michelle Ruff
Kyon – Crispin Freeman
Itsuki Koizumi – Johnny Yong Bosch
Ryouko Asakura – Bridget Hoffman
Tsuruya-san – Kari Wahlgren

New Anime Series Sites Opened
Right Stuf has opened its official English language homepage for the domestic DVD release of To Heart. Viz has opened its official English language homepage for the Death Note anime television series.

Idolmaster Xenoglossia Trailer Released
Japanese multimedia site @nifty now hosts a 90 second streaming trailer for the upcoming Idolmaster Xenoglossia anime television series. The trailer is available in small and large resolution versions.

Reviews

Sumomo mo Momo mo
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sumomo_mo_Momo_mo
http://www.tv-sumomo.com/
http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=6555

Yoshinaga-san’chi no Gargoyle
http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=6582
http://www.avexmovie.jp/lineup/gargoyle/index.html
http://www.garkun.com/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yoshinaga-san%27chi_no_Gargoyle

Kimi wa Petto
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kimi_wa_Petto
http://www.tbs.co.jp/kimipe/
http://www.jdorama.com/drama.665.htm

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This week we have a different sort of show. We go through news and review Bleach. Then we give over the rest of the show to an interview with Adam, the man behind theOtaku.com. He takes us through how Anime FF ran a scam to defraud the Susan B. Korman Breast Cancer foundation. Listen in.

Show Notes

Music

Intro – XTC by Psychic Lover from Witchblade
Outro – Neko Mimi Mode by Dimitri From Paris from Tsukiyomi Moon Phase

News

theOtaku.com suspends news reporting
Adam over at theOtaku.com has suspended normal reporting in order to break the story behind Anime FF and Anime Tour for the Cure.

Sakura-Con Announces Four New Guests
Seattle, Washington based Sakura-Con has announced four new guests who will attend this year’s convention: Hideyuki Kurata, Kouta Hirano, Yashuhiro Nightow and K.T. Gray.

World Cosplay Summit 2007 to be Held in Nagoya
The 2007 World Cosplay Summit will be held this summer in Nagoya, Japan. This year’s event will feature teams from Brazil, China, Italy, Thailand, Germany, Singapore, France, Mexico, Spain, and Japan. A Brazilian team won the 2006 title.

Split Infinity Anime Film in the Works
The anime adaptation of Piers Anthony’s Split Infinity series will be a film, according to Anthony’s site. He originally announced the adaptation on his site in October.

Switch Manga, Rin Yoshi Accused of Plagiarism
Shueisha suspends the publication of all manga by Rin Yoshi

Bandai Entertainment Licenses Tide-Line Blue and My-Otome
Bandai Entertainment has sent out a press release announcing that they have acquired My-Otome and Tide-Line Blue. The first volumes will be released in June and summer respectively. At Anime Expo 2006, Bandai Entertainment announced that they were in negotiations for the license to My-Otome.

Kadokawa to Sell BitTorrent Films in US
Over 200 titles, including The Ring

Sunadokei becomes TV Drama
Live-action adaptation of Ashihara Hinako manga comes to Japanese TV

First screenings of 5 Centimeters per Second Announced
Latest feature from director of The Place Promised in our Early Days debuts on March 3rd in Shibuya

Hellsing OAV Episode 3 Delayed
Production on the third Hellsing OAV episode is behind schedule, delaying its release until later this year. It was originally scheduled for a February 9 release in Japan.

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Welcome back. We’re officially old enough to retire. This week we review Ray the Animation, the Detective Conan Live Action OVA and Get Backers.

Ray the Animation – Wouldn’t kick it out of bed for crackers.
Detective Conan Live Action – Wouldn’t kick it out of bed for crackers.
Get Backers – Download Now!

Show Notes

Music

Intro – Peach Headz Addiction by Breath Frequency from Black Lagoon
Outro – Neko Mimi Mode by Dimitri From Paris from Tsukiyomi Moon Phase

News

Normally there would be news here, but since ANN is down. Not this week.

Reviews

Ray the Animation
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ray_the_animation
http://ray.tv/
http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=6163

Detective Conan Live Action
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Detective_Conan
http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=454
http://www.ytv.co.jp/conan_drama/index_set.html

Get Backers
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Get_Backers
http://www.advfilms.com/titles/getbackers/
http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=1840