Anime Pulse

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This week we review Fancy Lala and Negima!?. We also unveil our new subscriber benefit. Listening to us record the show live! Join us as the wackiness ensues.

Negima!? – Download Now!
Fancy Lala – Wait until it hits the US and NetFlix it.

Show Notes

Music

Intro – Rock The LM.C by LM.C from Red Garden
Outro – Neko Mimi Mode by Dimitri From Paris from Tsukiyomi Moon Phase

News

Death Note Notches Fourth Week at #1
Death Note: The Last Name once again held back The Devil Wears Prada to remain the #1 movie at the Japanese box office for the fourth straight week. The only new film to reach the top ten was Toei’s Arigato, which ranked eighth.

Sergeant Frog in February
ADV will release volume 1 of Sergeant Frog in February.

Score Looking for Playtesters
Score Entertainment is looking for Quality Assurance Play Testers who can test their Bleach and Inu Yasha games. Applicants must be 18 or older.

Solid State Society to Premiere at NYCC
The North American premiere of Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex: Solid State Society will be among the anime film screenings at New York Comic Con (February 23-25 in Manhattan). Detailed schedules will be available early next year.

Tokyopop Manga Creator Coming Next Spring
Planetwide Media will release the Tokyopop Manga Creator next Spring. The self-publishing software allows users to create their own manga with Tokyopop characters, backgrounds, logos, icons, and screen shots. Planetwide currently produces Comic Book Creator, as well as Marvel Heroes and Nacho Libre editions.

Naruto Hits Cartoon Network Latin America
Naruto will debut January 1 at 22:30 on Cartoon Network Latin America. It will run Monday through Thursday.

New Naruto Series Next Year
According to an article from Animenation, Shounen Jump Japan has published an advert saying that a new Naruto anime series, Naruto~Shippuden (eg. Naruto~Hurricane Legend) will be airing in Japan starting early next year. According to reports, the anime will start following the manga more strictly than the current series has for the past two years.

Live Action Death Note Spin-Off Announced
Akadot reports that actor Ken’ichi Matsuyama who played the brilliant detective “L” in the live action Death Note movies and provides L’s voice in the Death Note anime, will reprise the role in a live action Death Note spin-off movie.

NPR: The Revenge of Japan’s Nerds
NPR (National Public Radio) has posted an article / radio show about Japanese Otaku in Japan. The article was originally broadcast on November 24 and can be listened to in its entirety (5:30). The printed and audio versions of the article are near identical. It covers Japanese Otaku at the Tokyo Game Show and also briefly mentions Akihabara, maid cafes, Train Man and other Otaku phenomenon.

Witchblade Manga to be Flipped, Unflipped
Top Cow and Bandai Entertainment will publish the same material in two different ways more…

Chew on This: Gundam Pocky
Starting December 11, Japan will be introduced to three varieties of Gundam pocky, each with its own 1/144 scale Gundam model. Bandai and Pocky maker Glico are reportedly targeting 30 year old males with the limited edition snacks.

Reviews

Negima!? – 49:00
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Negima%21%3F
http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=6708
http://www.negima.ne.jp/
http://www.tv-tokyo.co.jp/anime/negima/

Fancy Lala – 64:40
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fancy_Lala
http://pierrot.jp/title/lala/
http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=491
http://www.usagi.org/~doi/lala/

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Happy Gobble Day. Here is the Laura Bailey interview from AX 2006.

Mahalo for listening!

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Here I am, writing the post in LAX. Who loves you baby? This week we review Vampire Hunter D, Yamato Nadeshiko Shichi Henge and Red Garden. Tune in for the fun!

Yamato Nadeshiko Shichi Henge – Wouldn’t kick it out of bed for crackers.
Red Garden – Wait until it hits the US and NetFlix it.
Vampire Hunter D – Wouldn’t kick it out of bed for crackers.
Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust – Wouldn’t kick it out of bed for crackers./Download Now!

Show Notes

Music

Intro – So Long Kids by Ultraklystron from the album Opensource Lyricist
Outro – Neko Mimi Mode by Dimitri From Paris from Tsukiyomi Moon Phase

News

Dragon Ball Returns to US TV
Joins Funimation’s syndicated block on CoLours TV starting Monday more…

Media Blasters Confirms New Licenses
Media Blasters has confirmed to ANN that they will be releasing Ramen Fighter Miki, Girls High (or High School Girls, title likely to be amended) and Kashimashi: Girl Meets Girl. No release dates have been set yet.

DBZ Goes HD
DVD Season Sets in February 2007 more…

4Kids Loses $256k in Q3
Revenue down $2 million from Q3 2005 more…

Miyazaki Featured in Time Asia
Time Asia has honored Hayao Miyazaki as one of the continent’s Artists & Thinkers over the last 60 years.

Sergeant Frog in February
ADV will release volume 1 of Sergeant Frog in February.

New One Piece Movie Trailer
The official site for One Piece: Episode of Alabaster – Sabaku no Ojou to Kaizoku Tachi now hosts a short teaser trailer. The film will premiere March 3 in Japan.

Nana 2 Movie Trailer Online
A full-length theatrical trailer for the second and final Nana movie is now online and available for viewing through the movie’s official site. Japan’s Apple site also hosts normal and HD versions of the trailer. The movie is set to hit theatres in Japan on December 9.

Dir en Grey to Tour America in February
Dates announced for 16 cities more…

Organic Hobby Introduces Witchblade Figure
Organic Hobby has announced an 8″ figure of the lead character from Gonzo’s new Witchblade anime. “Masane Amaha” will be available in April for $50.

AnimeTV Coming to Internet in January
According to a press release from Bang Zoom! Entertainment, a new show called “AnimeTV” will be premiering on the Internet in January 2007. The show will be hosted by Johnny Young Bosch and feature commentary on anime, video games and other things coming into the industry. It will be available for free download via Apple iTunes and YouTube. Click the link for more info.

Reviews

Yamato Nadeshiko Shichi Henge – 32:25
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yamato_Nadeshiko_Shichi_Henge
http://www.tv-tokyo.co.jp/anime/yamanade/
http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=6818

Red Garden – 45:50
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Garden
http://anime.excite.co.jp/redgarden/index.html
http://www.gonzo.co.jp/works/0609.html
http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=6804

Vampire Hunter D – 57:50
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vampire_Hunter_D
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vampire_Hunter_D:_Bloodlust
http://www.vampirehunterdbloodlust.com/
http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=238
http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=654

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This week we have a good episode, with some news and stuff. We review Black Blood Brothers, Code Geass, and Harukanaru Toki no Naka de.

Black Blood Brothers – Wouldn’t kick it out of bed for crackers.
Code Geass – Hangyaku no Lelouch – Wouldn’t kick it out of bed for crackers.
Harukanaru Toki no Naka de ~Hachiyou Shou~ – Wait until it hits the US and NetFlix it.

Show Notes

Music

Intro – Metamorphose by Yoko Takahashi from Kono Minikukumo Utsukushii Sekai
Outro – Neko Mimi Mode by Dimitri From Paris from Tsukiyomi Moon Phase

News

Voltron Returns to Cartoon Network
Adult Swim will air the original Voltron series Monday-Thursday at 5:30 a.m. starting next week. The show will also be available on Adult Swim Fix online.

Paprika May Contend for Oscar
Paprika is one of sixteen films listed by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences as “expected to compete” at the 79th Academy Awards. It will be eligible for nomination only if it will be screened in LA by the end of the year. Nominees will be announced January 23.

Solid State Society Interviews
Production I.G has updated its Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex – Solid State Society interview series, this time with scriptwriter Shotaro Suga. Their interview with producer Tomohisa Nishimura is still available here.

Grave of the Fireflies on TCM Sunday
Turner Classic Movies will air the English dub of Grave of the Fireflies Sunday at 10 p.m. Eastern. EST.

Death Note Wins Japanese Box Office Weekend
Death Note: The Last Name topped the Japanese box office last weekend, pushing Kisarazu Cat’s Eye World Series and Flags of Our Fathers to second and third place. Meanwhile, Toho’s Nada SoSo fell to seventh place after five weeks in the top three.

FLCL Ultimate Edition Delayed
Anime on DVD has reported that the scheduled November 21st release of the FLCL Ultimate Edition DVD set has been delayed until December 26th.

Ranma 1/2 Wraps up Next Week
Volume 36 of the Ranma 1/2 manga will be released next Tuesday. The series “has been a staple of the Viz Media catalog for over 14 years,” according to the company, “and remains one of the company’s longest running manga titles and one of the longest running manga series in North America.”

theOtaku @ Vegas Con
theOtaku is supporting AnimeFF & Anime Vegas, a Las Vegas anime convention that is donating all proceeds to the Susan B Komen Breast… full story »

Reviews

Black Blood Brothers
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Blood_Brothers
http://character.biglobe.ne.jp/BBB/
http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=6449

Code Geass – Hangyaku no Lelouch
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Code_Geass
http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=6704
http://www.geass.jp/
http://www.mbs.jp/geass/index2.html
http://www.animax.co.jp/feature/index.php?program=NN10000378
http://character.biglobe.ne.jp/geass/

Harukanaru Toki no Naka de ~Hachiyou Shou~
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harukanaru_Toki_no_Naka_de_Hachi
http://www.gamecity.ne.jp/neoromance/
http://www.tv-tokyo.co.jp/anime/haruka/
http://haruka8tv.gamecity.ne.jp/
http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=4484

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This week we do some reviews (gasp) and talk about stuff. We review Busou Renkin, .Hack//Roots, Hanoka and Chigo does a preview review of Harukanaru Toki no Naka de ~Hachiyou Shou~.

Busou Renkin – Wouldn't kick it out of bed for crackers.
.Hack//Roots – Wait until it hits the US and NetFlix it.
Hanoka – Even if you receive it as a present, burn the Disc and piss on the ashes.

Show Notes

Music

Intro – Ashita no Kioku by Naozumi Takahashi from Black Blood Brothers
Outro – Neko Mimi Mode by Dimitri From Paris from Tsukiyomi Moon Phase

News

Tokyopop Keeps the Gravitation Coming
Tokyopop will release volume 1 of the Gravitation Ex! manga on February 13, 2007.

Article on Yaoi Explosion
ICv2 has posted an article on the “recent Yaoi Explosion,” looking over all the licenses announced at last weekend’s Yaoi-con and also the challenges faced by hardcore Yaoi publishers.

Yu-Gi-Oh! Season 1 Returns to 4Kids TV
Yu-Gi-Oh! season 1 will air at 11 a.m. on 4Kids TV (via local Fox affiliates) starting this Saturday. The season debuted in 2001 on the WB network. Yu-Gi-Oh! Capsule Monsters will continue to air at 10 a.m.

Afro Samurai Hits Spike TV on January 4
The five-episode Afro Samurai anime starring Samuel L. Jackson will premiere January 4 on Spike TV. It will air in Japan later next year.

Live Action Blood: The Last Vampire
Production I.G agrees to Ronny Yu’s Blood live-action remake. more…

Speed Racer a Go!
Wachowski Brothers Version of Speed Racer to Premiere Summer 2008. more…

New Street Fighter Movie in the Works
Live-Action Movie Focusing on Chun Li Due out in 2008 more…

Claymore Anime
According to Monthly Shonen Jump Magazine (not to be confused with Weekly Shonen Jump), Norihiro Yagi‘s Claymore is to be adapted into an anime TV series. No details about when the Claymore TV series will debut. Claymore is currently being released in North America by Viz Media.

Maison Ikkoku’s Godai Cast
Newcomer Taiki Nakabayashi (21) has been cast as Godai in the upcoming live-action adaptation of Rumiko Takahashi‘s Maison Ikkoku. Nakabaya was chosen from over 3200 applicants, several of whom can be seen auditioning for the part in this video on the official website.

AX Launches Travel Store
Anime Expo has launched a Travel Store through IAN.com. The site offers discounted airfares, hotels, and car rentals.

Geneon Discontinues Sherlock Hound
Geneon has confirmed that they will cease distributing Sherlock Hound DVDs as of April 30, 2007.

ADV Announces January Releases
First volumes of Best Student Council, Coyote Ragtime Show, Utawarerumono, and Moeyo Ken in January 2007 more…

Bandai Channel Blocked from Foreign Access
Bandai Channel, which streams the first episodes of several anime series in Japanese, has been blocked from access outside of Japan.

Blood+ on Cartoon Network
Blood+, which is licensed in North American by Sony Pictures, is set to receive a TV broadcast on Cartoon Network. The broadcast date and schedule has not yet been announced or confirmed.

Hellsing Ultimate Website
Geneon has put up a splash page on their Hellsing Ultimate website, which includes a short trailer.

Viz Announces Bleach Merchandise Licenses
Two companies will release licensed Bleach merchandise in the US and Canada. Great Eastern Entertainment has been licensed to produce: patches, wristbands, jewelry, pins, plushes, key chains, wall scrolls, and arm, hand, and headwear. C&D Visionary has been granted a license for buttons, stickers, Lucite key chains, magnets, shoelaces, and postcards.

ROD TV on G4TechTV Canada
G4TechTV will air ROD the TV starting Monday.

Illumitoon & Westlake Acquire Bobobo-Bo Bo-Bobo
Illumitoon and Westlake have announced the acquisition of Bobobo-Bo Bo-Bobo. In May, Toei announced that it had appointed Joy Tashjian Marketing Group to handle licensing of the show. Illumitoon will release Bobobo-Bo Bo-Bobo in 2007.

Reviews

Busou Renkin
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Busou_Renkin
http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=6601
http://www.xebec-inc.co.jp/anime/busourenkin/
http://www.busourenkin.com/
http://www.tv-tokyo.co.jp/anime/busourenkin/

.Hack//Roots
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hack_Roots
http://www.tv-tokyo.co.jp/anime/hack_roots/
http://dothack.wikia.com/wiki/Roots
http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=6248

Hanoka
http://www.animenfo.com/animetitle,3805,wgoovd,hanoka.html
http://www.rams.jp/hanoka/
http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=6786

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This episode we reflect a bit on the past and speculate on the future. But we also get a chance to do some reviews. We review Trinity Blood, Bartender, Muteki Kanban Musume and Like the Clouds, Like the Wind (Kumokaze).

Trinity Blood – Wouldn’t kick it out of bed for crackers.
Bartender – Wait until it hits the US and NetFlix it.
Muteki Kanban Musume – Download Now

Like the Clouds, Like the Wind (Kumokaze) – Wouldn’t kick it out of bed for crackers.

Show Notes

Music

Intro – Secret World by Akiyama Miki from Tactics
Outro – Neko Mimi Mode by Dimitri From Paris from Tsukiyomi Moon Phase

News

Lik-Sang Out Of Business
Online retailer Lik-Sang, quite possibly the largest video game importer, declared that they will be closing their doors effective immediately. Th… full story »

Seven Seas Starts Yuri Line
Seven Seas is launching a dedicated Yuri line of manga called Strawberry. The first Strawberry titles will arrive in 2007: Strawberry Panic, Saigo no Seifuku, and Tetragrammaton Labyrinth. Each title will be printed in large 5 7/8″ x 8 1/4″ format.

Geneon Looking for Assistant Producer
Geneon Entertainment is looking for bilingual (English-Japanese) Assistant DVD Producer.

Utawarerumono to Keep Name
In August, ANN was informed by ADV Films that they were planning on releasing the Utawarerumono under the moniker “Shadow Warrior Chronicles.” However ADV has now confirmed with us that Utawarerumono will be released using its original Japanese name, the first volume will be called “Utawarerumono: Mask of a Stranger.” Chris Oar of ADV Films said “Originally we wanted to make it as accessible to as many people as possible,” adding that they decided to reverse this decision following fan-feedback.

Toki wo Kakeru Shoujo Wins at Catalonia
Studio Madhouse’s Toki wo Kakeru Shoujo won the Best Animated Film award at the International Film Festival of Catalonia. Based on Yasutaka Tsutsui‘s 1965 novel, the film is currently screening in theaters throughout Japan. Tokyo Godfathers, Steamboy, and Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children competed in previous years but were not up for the Best Animated Film award at the most recent festival.

Production I.G to re-Animate Reideen
Production I.G and Tohokushinsha Film Corporation have announced that they will produce a new Reideen anime TV series, based on the original “Yuusha Raideen” TV series by Yoshiyuki Tomino. The new TV series will be released in Spring 2007 and directed by Mitsuru Hongo. The official (Japanese) website is here.

Angel’s Egg Live Action… Sorta
Shin Togashi has directed a movie entitled Tenshi no Tamago, however it bears no relation to the almost identically named anime directed by Mamoru Oshii (the two movies have the same name in Japanese, however the Japanese spelling is different, “天使のたまご,” for the anime(using Hiragana for Tamago) and “天使の卵” for the live-action movie (using Kanji for Tamago)). Tenshi no Tamago is a drama about an art student who falls in love with his girlfriend’s older sister. It is based on the eponymous book by Yuka Murayama. The movie’s website is here.

Funimation Announces New Broadcast Rights
Funimation has informed us that they have acquired the broadcast rights to Revolutionary Girl Utena and His & Her Circumstances, both licensed from Enoki Films; the company also confirmed the broadcast rights to Hare + Guu. Utena joins the channel’s lineup on November 20th, with the other two titles premiering at a later date.

Reviews

Trinity Blood – 67:35
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trinity_Blood_%28anime%29
http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=4874
http://trinityblood.tv/
http://www.kadokawa.co.jp/toribla/index.php
http://www.wowow.co.jp/anime/toribla/

Like the Clouds, Like the Wind (Kumokaze) – 61:10
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Like_the_Clouds%2C_Like_the_Wind
http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=2041
http://www.vap.co.jp/kumokaze/
http://pierrot.jp/title/kumokaze/index.html

Bartender – 53:05
http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=6816
http://www.bartender-tv.com/

Muteki Kanban Musume – 40:10
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muteki_Kanban_Musume
http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=6606
http://www.onimaru.net/
http://character.biglobe.ne.jp/special/onimaru/
http://www.telecom-anime.com/onimaru/

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We’ve got a great show this week. The whole crew is here. We review Kemonozume, Gokusen and Gin-iro no Kami no Agito. Join us as hilarity ensues.

Kemonozume – Wouldn’t kick it out of bed for crackers (low).
Gokusen Anime – Wouldn’t kick it out of bed for crackers.
Gokusen Live Action – Download Now!
Gin-iro no Kami no Agito – Wait until it hits the US and NetFlix it.

Show Notes

Podcast Pickle Contest Winners

1. Sazabi04 vts234
2. Standoffline kayutori
3. Chrchick244
4. Bigcathead cedrickwind
5. Medivh27

Music

Intro – The World by Nightmare from Death Note
Outro – Neko Mimi Mode by Dimitri From Paris from Tsukiyomi Moon Phase

News

Mushishi Movie Trailer Released
The official Japanese homepage for Katsuhiro Otomo’s live action film adaptation of Yuki Urushibara’s Mushishi manga now hosts a streaming Flash trailer. Click the blue button in the bottom right corner then select a viewing size. The film will open in Japanese theatrical release next year.

4Kids Among Best Performing Stocks
The Motley Fool has created a list of the ten best performing stocks of the past decade. In tenth place, 4Kids Entertainment, which has provided a 2,842% return on any money invested in 1996. In that period, the price of a single 4Kids share has increased from $1.75 to $18, splitting twice (3:2 and 2:1) in 1999. At its peak in 1999, after the splits, the stock reached a high of $93.

Gedo Senki US Release in Jeopardy
Earthsea author calls out Sci-Fi Channel for sitting on rights more…

Video Footage of Miyazaki Designed Clock Available
Fan site Ghibli World now hosts a video clip of Japanese television preview footage of the Shiodome NTV Tower clock designed by Hayao Miyazaki. The clock is scheduled to debut to the public on December 20th.

Hood of Horror Premiere’s Tonight
Snoop Dogg‘s Hood of Horror, which includes numerous sequences animated by Madhouse, will premiere tonight at Screamfest 2006. The movie will be released to theaters on November 17.

Central Park Media Discontinues Titles
Legend of the Dragon Kings, Agent Aika, Birdy The Mighty and others discontinued more…

Warren Ellis Writing Anime Inspired Castlevania
Dark Horizons linked a news item at Film Junk which indicates Transmetropolitan author Warren Ellis will be writing the script for a direct-to-video Castlevania animation film. Of note is the following section of the article: …chairman and CEO of Panacea Entertainment Eric Gardner, had this to say: I think there will be anime elements of it, but it’s going to be more hints of anime as opposed to traditional, full-blown anime – we’re hoping it has a very distinctive, unique style that’s instantly recognizable as what will become the animated Castlevania brand.

Reviews

Kemonozume – 36:00
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kemonozume
http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=6722
http://kemonozume.net/
http://www.wowow.co.jp/anime/kemono/

Gokusen – 50:30
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gokusen
http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=3371
http://www.ntv.co.jp/gokusen/
http://www.ntv.co.jp/a-gokusen/

Gin-iro no Kami no Agito – 1:16:45
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gin-iro_no_kami_no_Agito
http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=5488
http://www.gin-iro.jp/

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We’re back from NDK and finally recovered. We talk all about the con and tell wacky stories. We also review Demonbane. Check it out.

Demonbane – Even if you receive it as a present, burn the disc and piss on the ashes.

Show Notes

Podcast Pickle Contest Winners

1. Sazabi04
2. Standoffline
3. Chrchick244
4. Bigcathead
5. Medivh27

The NDK Chigo drunk story – 53:00

Music

Intro – Rolling Star by YUI from Bleach
Outro – Neko Mimi Mode by Dimitri From Paris from Tsukiyomi Moon Phase

News

San Francisco Hotel Gets Anime Makeover
San Francisco’s Best Western Miyako Inn will adopt a “Japanese pop culture persona”, starting with a contest to rename the hotel. The new theme will be “an energetic, optimistic expression” of anime, manga, J-Pop, and street fashion, said Matt Harvey, Creative Director of Joie de Vivre Hospitality, a boutique hotel operator that took over the 125-room hotel in May.

Split Infinity Anime Film Coming Soon
Sci-Fi/Fantasy writer Piers Anthony announced his Split Infinity novels will be receive an anime film adaptation.

Reviews

Demonbane – 67:45
http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=6512
http://www.demonbane.com/
http://www.demonbane7.net/web/tobira_1/index.html