Re: Random thoughts inspired by the April and May 2004 Newtype USA

[D B Malmquist]

"Richard V. Lamb" wrote:

<<snip>>
>
> Madlax, p. 30-31: Where have we seen this before? A 20-something female
> assassin with long dishwater blond hair, a red top, black shorts, and black
> boots hanging around as sweet looking brunette teen with amnesia. Oh, yes,
> Noir! Sure enough, Bee Train is doing the animation production (something
> about those eyes should have given it away, too), Kouichi Mashimo is
> directing, and Yuki Kajiuri is composing the music. I hope they haven't
> gone to the well one too many times!

Yes but this time they introduce a dramatic innovation: bad
haircuts all around.

> Samurai 7: Pretty Hate Machines? I wonder if the NIN fan responsible is in
> Tokyo or Houston. Oh, and kettles with swords and guns--why am I reminded
> of Ayeka's guardians from Tenchi Muyo? Speaking of machines, with Gonzo
> producing this, at least the mecha will be cool!

Not necessarily: the mecha in "Gravion" ep 1 look pretty poor,
and they aren't particularly credible in "Bakuretsu Tenshi" either.

> With Newtype hyping Hikaru no Go, how long will it take for either the show
> or the manga to be licensed?

The manga is licensed; Vol 1 has been released -

http://www.rightstuf.com/cgi-bin/catalogmgr/JpfPinVZn5NNXt0JTT/browse/item/60615/4/0/0

<<snip>>

> Gankutsu-O--The Count of Monty Christo with space elves, produced by Gonzo.
> This looks like it might be worth keeping an eye on.

Any more info about this please? I don't see it on Gonzo's home page -

http://www.gonzo.co.jp/titles/index.html

> Based on the reviews of Samurai Champloo I've read here, it looks like all
> the hype I've been reading the past year is a) justified and b) good for
> both sides of the Pacific, if the show has indeed been licensed by Geneon.

The animation in ep 1 is of cinematic quality IMHO. Simply stunning.

<<snip>>
> No studio feature this month (12 pages of Gundam Seed ate those pages up),
> but Fred Patten's history of the founding of Toei Animation makes up for it!

Any hint of why they're refusing to renew the "Sailor Moon" licenses?

> Aces High--Art imitating life imitating art! Oh, and for the person who
> suggested that Gunbuster was a GAINAX parody of a sports anime, I didn't
> believe you at the time, but it turns out that you were right all along!

The first episode is clearly a sports-anime parody; the others,
not so much.

<<snip>>
>
> Cover Hype-O-Meter since the promo issue in 2002: Gundam Seed 4, Evangelion
> 3, .Hack 2, RahXephon 2, and Angel/Dust Neo (the only anime of the bunch not
> licensed, even if the manga just finished its run in Newtype USA),

I don't think an "Angel/Dust" anime has been created. Is "Newtype USA"
reporting that one is in production?

> Animatrix, Kiddy Grade (an anachronistic pair--future Lumiere and past
> Eclair together), Sakura Wars, Witch Hunter Robin, Angelic Layer, Full Metal
> Alchemist, Maburaho, and Azumanga Daioh each with 1. Whoever pointed out
> the connection between Newtype and Kodansha was right!


<<snip>>

> WTF is "Gonzino"?

An elementary particle of fanservice? Repelled by WIMPS.

> Well, ADV is hyping that the show is produced by Gonzo and directed by the
> most famous director of Sailor Moon (although not *my* personal favorite, as
> I prefer Ikihara, but I'm an Utena fan). They know how to attract the
> otaku! FWIW, my daughter liked what she called the "old school quality" of
> the show. As an expatriate Angelino, I just wish that a show like Cirque du
> Soleil...ahem, "Kaleido Stage" really was headquartered on Santa Monica
> Pier. That would be cool!

<<snip>>

> Official Art of Kiddy Grade--Ooo, look at all the SPOILERS here, starting
> with past, present, and future bodies, along with long life spans. There's
> even a GOTT agent with the power of time control. Anyone here up for a
> Kiddy Grade-Dr. Who crossover? FWIW, anyone interested in using Kiddy Grade
> characters for the 2005 New Year's Challenge (should there be one)
> absolutely must read this article--their powers are all spelled out, even
> down to the episodes some of them appear and it's *official* in case of
> disputes with the referee!

But you'd need to specify that the characters' powers are as given
in the magazine. In the anime they vary noticably from episode to
episode :(

<<snip>>
> Miami Guns is based on a manga by the same fellow who drew the RahXephon
> manga. Really? They don't look anything alike!

I think the manga was created from the TV show, rather than vice-versa
as more frequently the case. In such situations the manga author may
adopt a quite different style than was used in the original anime.

<<snip>>
>
> Oh, look, an ad for a mainstream product--Altoids. Unlike the Scion ad, it
> returns!

Is it just me, or do "altoids" sound like a patent medicine for
curing hemorrhoids?

- dbm

> Another issue done in one sitting! Woo hoo! On to the May Hype-O-Meter,
> then the June issue, already on newstands!
>
> Vince "Professor Plum" Lamb
> "Washuu has crabs!"

[Richard V. Lamb]

"Richard V. Lamb" <profplum@frontiernet.net> wrote in message
news:dVZoc.4895$8L3.4844@news01.roc.ny...

> Next posts--the Hype-O-Meter

Done, at least for April's issue. I still have to analyze the data I've
collected from May.

> and my comments on the May issue.

Here they are!

Cover: What's with Gundam and bishies? Crossover appeal?

Ad: Well, Del Rey wasted *no* time in starting the hype for their line of
mange with a 2-page spread! Oh, and everyone repeat after me--HAREM POTTER!

Madlax, p. 30-31: Where have we seen this before? A 20-something female
assassin with long dishwater blond hair, a red top, black shorts, and black
boots hanging around as sweet looking brunette teen with amnesia. Oh, yes,
Noir! Sure enough, Bee Train is doing the animation production (something
about those eyes should have given it away, too), Kouichi Mashimo is
directing, and Yuki Kajiuri is composing the music. I hope they haven't
gone to the well one too many times!

Samurai 7: Pretty Hate Machines? I wonder if the NIN fan responsible is in
Tokyo or Houston. Oh, and kettles with swords and guns--why am I reminded
of Ayeka's guardians from Tenchi Muyo? Speaking of machines, with Gonzo
producing this, at least the mecha will be cool!

With Newtype hyping Hikaru no Go, how long will it take for either the show
or the manga to be licensed?

Demon Lord Dante makes me think that I should stay away from Go Nagai's
imagination!

If this review is any indication, Sgt. Frog (Kerero Gunsu) is really full of
himself! BTW, Junichi Saito directed this and Kaleido Star (and a host of
other shows going back to Sailor Moon)? There's something to be said about
versatilty!

Gankutsu-O--The Count of Monty Christo with space elves, produced by Gonzo.
This looks like it might be worth keeping an eye on.

Based on the reviews of Samurai Champloo I've read here, it looks like all
the hype I've been reading the past year is a) justified and b) good for
both sides of the Pacific, if the show has indeed been licensed by Geneon.

The character designs in Bokyaku no Senritsu (The Melody of Oblivion) seem
recycled from other anime. Bocca looks like he should be attending Ohtori
Academy and Sayoka should be a Heavyblade in The World.

Hey, today (6/4) is the day that Anime Network rolls out as a regular 24/7
cable outlet instead of a video-on-demand channel. Here's to beating the
"No-chance channel" label!

No studio feature this month (12 pages of Gundam Seed ate those pages up),
but Fred Patten's history of the founding of Toei Animation makes up for it!

Still more lively writing about the Australian comics/manga scene from Cefn
Rideout. Keep it up, mate!

The UK anime scene seems to be looking up--10 new series (including one,
Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple, not yet available in the US), and 10 new
volumes of continuing series. As for the Utena movie being shown at the
London Lesbian and Gay Film Festival, a) it seems here's one anime that has
found an audience outside of otaku and b) "it looks nice, but the plot might
be a tad hard to follow" is classic English understatement!

As much as I like food, I still couldn't get into Chipmunk Cheeks this
month.

"TV anime is boring"--that seems to be a heretical thought from the editor
of Newtype Japan! At least it explains why they have the approach they
do--2-page spreads and lots of stuff on other aspects of Japanese pop
culture.

Aces High--Art imitating life imitating art! Oh, and for the person who
suggested that Gunbuster was a GAINAX parody of a sports anime, I didn't
believe you at the time, but it turns out that you were right all along!

I agree with Fred Patten, we're in a Golden Age of Anime Fandom. Folks,
we've never had it so good and if it gets much better, watch out for the
bust in a few years!

And Gilles Poitras makes good on finishing his series on the "founding
fathers" of a unified Japan. Next, a Tokyo neighborhood.

Cover Hype-O-Meter since the promo issue in 2002: Gundam Seed 4, Evangelion
3, .Hack 2, RahXephon 2, and Angel/Dust Neo (the only anime of the bunch not
licensed, even if the manga just finished its run in Newtype USA),
Animatrix, Kiddy Grade (an anachronistic pair--future Lumiere and past
Eclair together), Sakura Wars, Witch Hunter Robin, Angelic Layer, Full Metal
Alchemist, Maburaho, and Azumanga Daioh each with 1. Whoever pointed out
the connection between Newtype and Kodansha was right!

How effective have the promo DVDs been as marketing tools? Here's my
personal experience:

Induced me to rent: Excel Saga, Arjuna, Noir, RahXephon, Saiyuki, The
Animatrix, Boogiepop Phantom, Magical Shopping Arcade, K.O. Beast, Angelic
Layer, Full Metal Panic, Azumanga Daioh, Kino's Journey, Comic Party, and
Kaleido Star.

Did not induce me to rent: Samurai Deeper Kyo*, Chance Pop Session*, Sakura
Wars*, Pretear*, Wild Arms, Final Fantasy: Unlimited, The Twelve Kingdoms,
Happy Lesson, and Mazinkaiser.

*Might watch later.

More hits than misses and some misses that may become hits. Yeah, I'll say
it's an effective marketing tool.

WTF is "Gonzino"?

Well, ADV is hyping that the show is produced by Gonzo and directed by the
most famous director of Sailor Moon (although not *my* personal favorite, as
I prefer Ikihara, but I'm an Utena fan). They know how to attract the
otaku! FWIW, my daughter liked what she called the "old school quality" of
the show. As an expatriate Angelino, I just wish that a show like Cirque du
Soleil...ahem, "Kaleido Stage" really was headquartered on Santa Monica
Pier. That would be cool!

Bastof Syndrome--a virtual mecha show?

Well, an obviously original story for Newtype USA. IMHO, this looks like it
should have run in Entertainment Weekly, especially the comment about
Lorenzo Music and Bill Murray covering each others roles in TV animation and
in the movies. While the photos are prettier here, I'm sure that EW would
have paid better!

Heh, I almost snagged a free copy of either a Hirameki H-game or the Anime
Play DVD magazine at Anime Central on the promise that I'd post a review of
it here. On the other hand, I bet you all are glad I didn't!

Official Art of Kiddy Grade--Ooo, look at all the SPOILERS here, starting
with past, present, and future bodies, along with long life spans. There's
even a GOTT agent with the power of time control. Anyone here up for a
Kiddy Grade-Dr. Who crossover? FWIW, anyone interested in using Kiddy Grade
characters for the 2005 New Year's Challenge (should there be one)
absolutely must read this article--their powers are all spelled out, even
down to the episodes some of them appear and it's *official* in case of
disputes with the referee! BTW, I find some naming tropes either too corny
(food, food, and more food) or too obscure (guns for characters in Scrapped
Princess? That took some doing to carry off!) but not the one here. I
enjoy the multiple dualities in a variety of different languages and the
related names from the mythoi associated with each duality.

The skill level of the fan art in Newtype USA is still higher than in
Animerica, but Animerica's insistence on themes for each issue ensure that
every submission is an original composition. I can spot a lot of copies off
the official art in Newtype--something Animerica wouldn't tolerate!

Is Otaku-sensei telling anime clubs how to operate best inside the law
(including legal, but creative, ways of getting funding, such as having the
school buy the anime for the school's library so the club doesn't have to
pay for it), or advising them on the easiest way to drink the corporate
Kool-Aid (clubs as advertising agents)? You decide!

I like the idea of a "Cosplayer Spotlight" and I can't think of a better
(looking ;-) US Cosplayer to kick off the feature than Anya Warner. She
also give good advice to novice cosplayers, too. From Fansview to an
international magazine--you go girl!

OK, ladies, after all the cute girls featured in the Voice Actor Spotlight,
you get a handsome fellow! Enjoy!

I just watched the first three episodes of Bobobo-bo Bo-bobo. LOL! I know
who to recruit for my overpowered ridiculous Easy team next year!

Chrno Crusade and Kaleido Star look like they've started airing/selling as
soon as they've finished their run in Japan. Full Metal Alchemist may just
start airing here even before it's finished in Japan. Quick turnarounds!
Could any of us believed this a few years ago?

Are we not men? We are POLYSICS!

Miami Guns is based on a manga by the same fellow who drew the RahXephon
manga. Really? They don't look anything alike!

Funimation doesn't have any ads in Newtype, but Suncoast certainly is
flogging Funi's crossover hits from the Dragonball franchise and
YuYuHakusho. I hope they flog Funi's more otaku friendly titles just as
hard!

Wasn't "To Heart" an H-game? The manga seems to have cleaned it up into a
fairly standard shoujo story!

I'm still snickering over the episodes of Chromartie High that I watched a
few months ago.

Oh, good, the Borders/Waldenbooks ad still hasn't fallen off the back page
and now there's a Barnes and Nobles ad to go with it. Speaking of which, I
think ads for manga have increased since last month, but I'll have to get
the Hype-O-Meter ready for May to find out.

Heh, even the editorial is a disguised hype for Gundam Seed.

Oh, look, an ad for a mainstream product--Altoids. Unlike the Scion ad, it
returns!

Another issue done in one sitting! Woo hoo! On to the May Hype-O-Meter,
then the June issue, already on newstands!

Vince "Professor Plum" Lamb
"Washuu has crabs!"

[D B Malmquist]

"Richard V. Lamb" wrote:

<<snip>>
>
> Madlax, p. 30-31: Where have we seen this before? A 20-something female
> assassin with long dishwater blond hair, a red top, black shorts, and black
> boots hanging around as sweet looking brunette teen with amnesia. Oh, yes,
> Noir! Sure enough, Bee Train is doing the animation production (something
> about those eyes should have given it away, too), Kouichi Mashimo is
> directing, and Yuki Kajiuri is composing the music. I hope they haven't
> gone to the well one too many times!

Yes but this time they introduce a dramatic innovation: bad
haircuts all around.

> Samurai 7: Pretty Hate Machines? I wonder if the NIN fan responsible is in
> Tokyo or Houston. Oh, and kettles with swords and guns--why am I reminded
> of Ayeka's guardians from Tenchi Muyo? Speaking of machines, with Gonzo
> producing this, at least the mecha will be cool!

Not necessarily: the mecha in "Gravion" ep 1 look pretty poor,
and they aren't particularly credible in "Bakuretsu Tenshi" either.

> With Newtype hyping Hikaru no Go, how long will it take for either the show
> or the manga to be licensed?

The manga is licensed; Vol 1 has been released -

http://www.rightstuf.com/cgi-bin/catalogmgr/JpfPinVZn5NNXt0JTT/browse/item/60615/4/0/0

<<snip>>

> Gankutsu-O--The Count of Monty Christo with space elves, produced by Gonzo.
> This looks like it might be worth keeping an eye on.

Any more info about this please? I don't see it on Gonzo's home page -

http://www.gonzo.co.jp/titles/index.html

> Based on the reviews of Samurai Champloo I've read here, it looks like all
> the hype I've been reading the past year is a) justified and b) good for
> both sides of the Pacific, if the show has indeed been licensed by Geneon.

The animation in ep 1 is of cinematic quality IMHO. Simply stunning.

<<snip>>
> No studio feature this month (12 pages of Gundam Seed ate those pages up),
> but Fred Patten's history of the founding of Toei Animation makes up for it!

Any hint of why they're refusing to renew the "Sailor Moon" licenses?

> Aces High--Art imitating life imitating art! Oh, and for the person who
> suggested that Gunbuster was a GAINAX parody of a sports anime, I didn't
> believe you at the time, but it turns out that you were right all along!

The first episode is clearly a sports-anime parody; the others,
not so much.

<<snip>>
>
> Cover Hype-O-Meter since the promo issue in 2002: Gundam Seed 4, Evangelion
> 3, .Hack 2, RahXephon 2, and Angel/Dust Neo (the only anime of the bunch not
> licensed, even if the manga just finished its run in Newtype USA),

I don't think an "Angel/Dust" anime has been created. Is "Newtype USA"
reporting that one is in production?

> Animatrix, Kiddy Grade (an anachronistic pair--future Lumiere and past
> Eclair together), Sakura Wars, Witch Hunter Robin, Angelic Layer, Full Metal
> Alchemist, Maburaho, and Azumanga Daioh each with 1. Whoever pointed out
> the connection between Newtype and Kodansha was right!


<<snip>>

> WTF is "Gonzino"?

An elementary particle of fanservice? Repelled by WIMPS.

> Well, ADV is hyping that the show is produced by Gonzo and directed by the
> most famous director of Sailor Moon (although not *my* personal favorite, as
> I prefer Ikihara, but I'm an Utena fan). They know how to attract the
> otaku! FWIW, my daughter liked what she called the "old school quality" of
> the show. As an expatriate Angelino, I just wish that a show like Cirque du
> Soleil...ahem, "Kaleido Stage" really was headquartered on Santa Monica
> Pier. That would be cool!

<<snip>>

> Official Art of Kiddy Grade--Ooo, look at all the SPOILERS here, starting
> with past, present, and future bodies, along with long life spans. There's
> even a GOTT agent with the power of time control. Anyone here up for a
> Kiddy Grade-Dr. Who crossover? FWIW, anyone interested in using Kiddy Grade
> characters for the 2005 New Year's Challenge (should there be one)
> absolutely must read this article--their powers are all spelled out, even
> down to the episodes some of them appear and it's *official* in case of
> disputes with the referee!

But you'd need to specify that the characters' powers are as given
in the magazine. In the anime they vary noticably from episode to
episode :(

<<snip>>
> Miami Guns is based on a manga by the same fellow who drew the RahXephon
> manga. Really? They don't look anything alike!

I think the manga was created from the TV show, rather than vice-versa
as more frequently the case. In such situations the manga author may
adopt a quite different style than was used in the original anime.

<<snip>>
>
> Oh, look, an ad for a mainstream product--Altoids. Unlike the Scion ad, it
> returns!

Is it just me, or do "altoids" sound like a patent medicine for
curing hemorrhoids?

- dbm

> Another issue done in one sitting! Woo hoo! On to the May Hype-O-Meter,
> then the June issue, already on newstands!
>
> Vince "Professor Plum" Lamb
> "Washuu has crabs!"

[Stuart J. Browne]

"Richard V. Lamb" <profplum@frontiernet.net> wrote in message
news:qmewc.4875$Gy4.3406@news02.roc.ny...
> "Richard V. Lamb" <profplum@frontiernet.net> wrote in message
> news:dVZoc.4895$8L3.4844@news01.roc.ny...
>
>
> With Newtype hyping Hikaru no Go, how long will it take for either the
show
> or the manga to be licensed?

The Manga is already licensed by Viz, and is serialized in the US version
of 'Shonen Jump'.

> Vince "Professor Plum" Lamb
> "Washuu has crabs!"
>
>

[Stuart J. Browne]

"Richard V. Lamb" <profplum@frontiernet.net> wrote in message
news:qmewc.4875$Gy4.3406@news02.roc.ny...
> "Richard V. Lamb" <profplum@frontiernet.net> wrote in message
> news:dVZoc.4895$8L3.4844@news01.roc.ny...
>
>
> With Newtype hyping Hikaru no Go, how long will it take for either the
show
> or the manga to be licensed?

The Manga is already licensed by Viz, and is serialized in the US version
of 'Shonen Jump'.

> Vince "Professor Plum" Lamb
> "Washuu has crabs!"
>
>

[Robert Sneddon]

In article <40c3d15b$1@dnews.tpgi.com.au>, Stuart J. Browne
<stuart@promed.com.au> writes
>
>"Richard V. Lamb" <profplum@frontiernet.net> wrote in message
>news:qmewc.4875$Gy4.3406@news02.roc.ny...
>> With Newtype hyping Hikaru no Go, how long will it take for either the
>show
>> or the manga to be licensed?
>
>The Manga is already licensed by Viz,

The first issue is available from Amazon.com but not (yet) from
Amazon.co.uk. Given Viz' paranoia about shipping US-licenced stuff to
the UK this could be a problem for fanboys like myself.

There was an announcement a few months back of a licencing deal for the
anime but it was rescinded after a few days and the fansub torrents were
re-established. Still no firm news or even real rumours, but it's such a
popular series I can't see it not getting an R1 deal eventually.
--
Email me via nojay (at) nojay (dot) fsnet (dot) co (dot) uk
This address no longer accepts HTML posts.

Robert Sneddon

[Robert Sneddon]

In article <40c3d15b$1@dnews.tpgi.com.au>, Stuart J. Browne
<stuart@promed.com.au> writes
>
>"Richard V. Lamb" <profplum@frontiernet.net> wrote in message
>news:qmewc.4875$Gy4.3406@news02.roc.ny...
>> With Newtype hyping Hikaru no Go, how long will it take for either the
>show
>> or the manga to be licensed?
>
>The Manga is already licensed by Viz,

The first issue is available from Amazon.com but not (yet) from
Amazon.co.uk. Given Viz' paranoia about shipping US-licenced stuff to
the UK this could be a problem for fanboys like myself.

There was an announcement a few months back of a licencing deal for the
anime but it was rescinded after a few days and the fansub torrents were
re-established. Still no firm news or even real rumours, but it's such a
popular series I can't see it not getting an R1 deal eventually.
--
Email me via nojay (at) nojay (dot) fsnet (dot) co (dot) uk
This address no longer accepts HTML posts.

Robert Sneddon

[Pudde Fjord]

Robert Sneddon wrote:

> In article <40c3d15b$1@dnews.tpgi.com.au>, Stuart J. Browne
> <stuart@promed.com.au> writes
>
>>
>> "Richard V. Lamb" <profplum@frontiernet.net> wrote in message
>> news:qmewc.4875$Gy4.3406@news02.roc.ny...
>>
>>> With Newtype hyping Hikaru no Go, how long will it take for either the
>>
>> show
>>
>>> or the manga to be licensed?
>>
>>
>> The Manga is already licensed by Viz,
>
>
> The first issue is available from Amazon.com but not (yet) from
> Amazon.co.uk. Given Viz' paranoia about shipping US-licenced stuff to
> the UK this could be a problem for fanboys like myself.

Viz is only allowed to publish in America, the japanese are getting
stricter on enforcement of this these days. AFAIK DC was the first US
publisher to thighten their manga distribution.

It's really simple, the companies can't get local publishers to pick up
stuff that's already been around for years. Especially in the UK where
the language is the same.

--
Work like a lion. | Stand like the tree.
Play like a kitten. | Bend like the willow.
Rest like a cat. | Sleep like a log.
..Remove spam..........m..ô¿ô..m.......to mail me..

[Pudde Fjord]

Robert Sneddon wrote:

> In article <40c3d15b$1@dnews.tpgi.com.au>, Stuart J. Browne=20
> <stuart@promed.com.au> writes
>=20
>>
>> "Richard V. Lamb" <profplum@frontiernet.net> wrote in message
>> news:qmewc.4875$Gy4.3406@news02.roc.ny...
>>
>>> With Newtype hyping Hikaru no Go, how long will it take for either th=
e
>>
>> show
>>
>>> or the manga to be licensed?
>>
>>
>> The Manga is already licensed by Viz,
>=20
>=20
> The first issue is available from Amazon.com but not (yet) from=20
> Amazon.co.uk. Given Viz' paranoia about shipping US-licenced stuff to=20
> the UK this could be a problem for fanboys like myself.

Viz is only allowed to publish in America, the japanese are getting=20
stricter on enforcement of this these days. AFAIK DC was the first US=20
publisher to thighten their manga distribution.

It's really simple, the companies can't get local publishers to pick up=20
stuff that's already been around for years. Especially in the UK where=20
the language is the same.

--=20
Work like a lion. | Stand like the tree.
Play like a kitten. | Bend like the willow.
Rest like a cat. | Sleep like a log.
=2E.Remove spam..........m..=F4=BF=F4..m.......to mail me..

[Robert Sneddon]

In article <40c5294b$1@news.broadpark.no>, Pudde Fjord
<puddespamfjord@netscape.net> writes
>Robert Sneddon wrote:
>
>> Given Viz' paranoia about shipping US-licenced stuff to the UK this
>>could be a problem for fanboys like myself.
>
>Viz is only allowed to publish in America, the japanese are getting
>stricter on enforcement of this these days. AFAIK DC was the first US
>publisher to thighten their manga distribution.

I've recently bought US-published manga collections from Studio Ironcat
and ADV in British specialty shops. I was buying the Viz Ranma comic
until about a year ago in the same shops.
>
>It's really simple, the companies can't get local publishers to pick up
>stuff that's already been around for years. Especially in the UK where
>the language is the same.

It's the reason I buy American R1 anime DVDs. There are plenty of
mail-order places in the US and elsewhere who will happily ship to the
UK whereas UK publication of titles I'm interested in is spotty and
usually occurs years after the title has appeared in the States.

--
Email me via nojay (at) nojay (dot) fsnet (dot) co (dot) uk
This address no longer accepts HTML posts.

Robert Sneddon

[Robert Sneddon]

In article <40c5294b$1@news.broadpark.no>, Pudde Fjord
<puddespamfjord@netscape.net> writes
>Robert Sneddon wrote:
>
>> Given Viz' paranoia about shipping US-licenced stuff to the UK this
>>could be a problem for fanboys like myself.
>
>Viz is only allowed to publish in America, the japanese are getting
>stricter on enforcement of this these days. AFAIK DC was the first US
>publisher to thighten their manga distribution.

I've recently bought US-published manga collections from Studio Ironcat
and ADV in British specialty shops. I was buying the Viz Ranma comic
until about a year ago in the same shops.
>
>It's really simple, the companies can't get local publishers to pick up
>stuff that's already been around for years. Especially in the UK where
>the language is the same.

It's the reason I buy American R1 anime DVDs. There are plenty of
mail-order places in the US and elsewhere who will happily ship to the
UK whereas UK publication of titles I'm interested in is spotty and
usually occurs years after the title has appeared in the States.

--
Email me via nojay (at) nojay (dot) fsnet (dot) co (dot) uk
This address no longer accepts HTML posts.

Robert Sneddon

[Rob Kelk]

On Tue, 8 Jun 2004 11:00:33 +0100, Robert Sneddon
<nojay@nospam.demon.co.uk> wrote:

>In article <40c5294b$1@news.broadpark.no>, Pudde Fjord
><puddespamfjord@netscape.net> writes
>>Robert Sneddon wrote:
>>
>>> Given Viz' paranoia about shipping US-licenced stuff to the UK this
>>>could be a problem for fanboys like myself.
>>
>>Viz is only allowed to publish in America, the japanese are getting
>>stricter on enforcement of this these days. AFAIK DC was the first US
>>publisher to thighten their manga distribution.
>
> I've recently bought US-published manga collections from Studio Ironcat
>and ADV in British specialty shops. I was buying the Viz Ranma comic
>until about a year ago in the same shops.

IIRC, it was about a year ago that Viz stopped publishing the Ranma
comic - they've switched to only publishing graphic novels (in the
smaller size) for the older series. Can you still get those, or has Viz
stopped exporting them as well?

<snip>

--
Rob Kelk <http://robkelk.ottawa-anime.org/> robkelk -at- jksrv -dot- com
"I'm *not* a kid! Nyyyeaaah!" - Skuld (in "Oh My Goddess!" OAV #3)
"When I became a man, I put away childish things, including the fear of
childishness and the desire to be very grown-up." - C.S. Lewis, 1947

[Rob Kelk]

On Tue, 8 Jun 2004 11:00:33 +0100, Robert Sneddon
<nojay@nospam.demon.co.uk> wrote:

>In article <40c5294b$1@news.broadpark.no>, Pudde Fjord
><puddespamfjord@netscape.net> writes
>>Robert Sneddon wrote:
>>
>>> Given Viz' paranoia about shipping US-licenced stuff to the UK this
>>>could be a problem for fanboys like myself.
>>
>>Viz is only allowed to publish in America, the japanese are getting
>>stricter on enforcement of this these days. AFAIK DC was the first US
>>publisher to thighten their manga distribution.
>
> I've recently bought US-published manga collections from Studio Ironcat
>and ADV in British specialty shops. I was buying the Viz Ranma comic
>until about a year ago in the same shops.

IIRC, it was about a year ago that Viz stopped publishing the Ranma
comic - they've switched to only publishing graphic novels (in the
smaller size) for the older series. Can you still get those, or has Viz
stopped exporting them as well?

<snip>

--
Rob Kelk <http://robkelk.ottawa-anime.org/> robkelk -at- jksrv -dot- com
"I'm *not* a kid! Nyyyeaaah!" - Skuld (in "Oh My Goddess!" OAV #3)
"When I became a man, I put away childish things, including the fear of
childishness and the desire to be very grown-up." - C.S. Lewis, 1947

[Robert Sneddon]

In article <90fbc0919bfpus193usasire5ap05vbkf6@4ax.com>, Rob Kelk
<robkelk@deadspam.com> writes
>On Tue, 8 Jun 2004 11:00:33 +0100, Robert Sneddon
><nojay@nospam.demon.co.uk> wrote:

>> I've recently bought US-published manga collections from Studio Ironcat
>>and ADV in British specialty shops. I was buying the Viz Ranma comic
>>until about a year ago in the same shops.
>
>IIRC, it was about a year ago that Viz stopped publishing the Ranma
>comic

Ah. I was buying them from my comics store but after the foofaraw about
licencing they disappeared from the shelves rather abruptly. I think it
was before they stopped printing the comics totally but I'm not sure. At
some point I need to go through my collection and find out what ones I'm
missing; I started collecting the series from issue 1 but missed a few
in the later days.

> - they've switched to only publishing graphic novels (in the
>smaller size) for the older series. Can you still get those, or has Viz
>stopped exporting them as well?

I was looking at the "wall-o-manga" in the Forbidden Planet in Glasgow
last week and I didn't spot any Viz titles per se.
--
Email me via nojay (at) nojay (dot) fsnet (dot) co (dot) uk
This address no longer accepts HTML posts.

Robert Sneddon

[Robert Sneddon]

In article <90fbc0919bfpus193usasire5ap05vbkf6@4ax.com>, Rob Kelk
<robkelk@deadspam.com> writes
>On Tue, 8 Jun 2004 11:00:33 +0100, Robert Sneddon
><nojay@nospam.demon.co.uk> wrote:

>> I've recently bought US-published manga collections from Studio Ironcat
>>and ADV in British specialty shops. I was buying the Viz Ranma comic
>>until about a year ago in the same shops.
>
>IIRC, it was about a year ago that Viz stopped publishing the Ranma
>comic

Ah. I was buying them from my comics store but after the foofaraw about
licencing they disappeared from the shelves rather abruptly. I think it
was before they stopped printing the comics totally but I'm not sure. At
some point I need to go through my collection and find out what ones I'm
missing; I started collecting the series from issue 1 but missed a few
in the later days.

> - they've switched to only publishing graphic novels (in the
>smaller size) for the older series. Can you still get those, or has Viz
>stopped exporting them as well?

I was looking at the "wall-o-manga" in the Forbidden Planet in Glasgow
last week and I didn't spot any Viz titles per se.
--
Email me via nojay (at) nojay (dot) fsnet (dot) co (dot) uk
This address no longer accepts HTML posts.

Robert Sneddon

[Stuart J. Browne]

"Robert Sneddon" <nojay@nospam.demon.co.uk> wrote in message
news:vfeGb3T1tfxAFwmg@nojay.fsnet.co.uk...
> In article <90fbc0919bfpus193usasire5ap05vbkf6@4ax.com>, Rob Kelk
> <robkelk@deadspam.com> writes
> >On Tue, 8 Jun 2004 11:00:33 +0100, Robert Sneddon
> ><nojay@nospam.demon.co.uk> wrote:
>
> >> I've recently bought US-published manga collections from Studio
Ironcat
> >>and ADV in British specialty shops. I was buying the Viz Ranma comic
> >>until about a year ago in the same shops.
> >
> >IIRC, it was about a year ago that Viz stopped publishing the Ranma
> >comic
>
> Ah. I was buying them from my comics store but after the foofaraw about
> licencing they disappeared from the shelves rather abruptly. I think it
> was before they stopped printing the comics totally but I'm not sure. At
> some point I need to go through my collection and find out what ones I'm
> missing; I started collecting the series from issue 1 but missed a few
> in the later days.
>
> > - they've switched to only publishing graphic novels (in the
> >smaller size) for the older series. Can you still get those, or has Viz
> >stopped exporting them as well?
>
> I was looking at the "wall-o-manga" in the Forbidden Planet in Glasgow
> last week and I didn't spot any Viz titles per se.

Viz stopped international shipping of alot of their products last year as
well, which affected me in AU.

However, other places (like RSI, TFAW etc.) have no issues international
shipping whatever they can get their hands on ;)

I use both of the above, as well as a few local importers for most of my
manga/comic goodness! As well as R1 DVD's.

bkx

[Stuart J. Browne]

"Robert Sneddon" <nojay@nospam.demon.co.uk> wrote in message
news:vfeGb3T1tfxAFwmg@nojay.fsnet.co.uk...
> In article <90fbc0919bfpus193usasire5ap05vbkf6@4ax.com>, Rob Kelk
> <robkelk@deadspam.com> writes
> >On Tue, 8 Jun 2004 11:00:33 +0100, Robert Sneddon
> ><nojay@nospam.demon.co.uk> wrote:
>
> >> I've recently bought US-published manga collections from Studio
Ironcat
> >>and ADV in British specialty shops. I was buying the Viz Ranma comic
> >>until about a year ago in the same shops.
> >
> >IIRC, it was about a year ago that Viz stopped publishing the Ranma
> >comic
>
> Ah. I was buying them from my comics store but after the foofaraw about
> licencing they disappeared from the shelves rather abruptly. I think it
> was before they stopped printing the comics totally but I'm not sure. At
> some point I need to go through my collection and find out what ones I'm
> missing; I started collecting the series from issue 1 but missed a few
> in the later days.
>
> > - they've switched to only publishing graphic novels (in the
> >smaller size) for the older series. Can you still get those, or has Viz
> >stopped exporting them as well?
>
> I was looking at the "wall-o-manga" in the Forbidden Planet in Glasgow
> last week and I didn't spot any Viz titles per se.

Viz stopped international shipping of alot of their products last year as
well, which affected me in AU.

However, other places (like RSI, TFAW etc.) have no issues international
shipping whatever they can get their hands on ;)

I use both of the above, as well as a few local importers for most of my
manga/comic goodness! As well as R1 DVD's.

bkx

[Richard V. Lamb]

"D B Malmquist" <d.b.malmquist@com.swap-com-and-rcn.rcn> wrote in message
news:40C17C2D.7D342657@com.swap-com-and-rcn.rcn...
> "Richard V. Lamb" wrote:
>
> <<snip>>
> >
> > Madlax, p. 30-31: Where have we seen this before? A 20-something
female
> > assassin with long dishwater blond hair, a red top, black shorts, and
black
> > boots hanging around as sweet looking brunette teen with amnesia. Oh,
yes,
> > Noir! Sure enough, Bee Train is doing the animation production
(something
> > about those eyes should have given it away, too), Kouichi Mashimo is
> > directing, and Yuki Kajiuri is composing the music. I hope they haven't
> > gone to the well one too many times!
>
> Yes but this time they introduce a dramatic innovation: bad
> haircuts all around.

LOL!

In Noir, Mirielle's hairdresser played an important, albeit brief, role. I
guess she's one character who *isn't* repeating in this incarnation.

> > Samurai 7: Pretty Hate Machines? I wonder if the NIN fan responsible is
in
> > Tokyo or Houston. Oh, and kettles with swords and guns--why am I
reminded
> > of Ayeka's guardians from Tenchi Muyo? Speaking of machines, with Gonzo
> > producing this, at least the mecha will be cool!
>
> Not necessarily: the mecha in "Gravion" ep 1 look pretty poor,

You know, I don't recall "giant robots" as being the kind of mecha that
Gonzo ever did well. Submarines and steampunk airplanes, OTOH...

> and they aren't particularly credible in "Bakuretsu Tenshi" either.

Phooey. It seems that Gonzo isn't sticking to its knitting by not paying
attention to the execution of their mecha designs, which is something they
are known for. However, I suspect that mecha isn't really what either
Gravion or Bakuretsu Tenshi is about. It's fanservice, especially T&A, with
Gravion representing the T (Mizuki Tachibana, who posed for the centerfold
for this issue, has already been nominated for the Being Upfront website and
David Watson has posted that he'll include her in the update) and Bakuretsu
Tenshi the A.

> > With Newtype hyping Hikaru no Go, how long will it take for either the
show
> > or the manga to be licensed?
>
> The manga is licensed; Vol 1 has been released -
>
>
http://www.rightstuf.com/cgi-bin/catalogmgr/JpfPinVZn5NNXt0JTT/browse/item/60615/4/0/0

Ah, thank you! I've recalculated the Hype-O-Meter because of that.

BTW, this has lead to a very productive discussion among the rec.arts.manga
regulars, who have made the same comment and are now on a tangent about
exportation of manga in English to the Commonwealth.

> <<snip>>
>
> > Gankutsu-O--The Count of Monty Christo with space elves, produced by
Gonzo.
> > This looks like it might be worth keeping an eye on.
>
> Any more info about this please? I don't see it on Gonzo's home page -
>
> http://www.gonzo.co.jp/titles/index.html

And there is no URL in the review in Newtype USA, either, so that doesn't
help. That's probably because this series is under production and may not be
ready for release this year. There is not even a network listed yet.
That's not unknown; Samurai Champloo got almost a year of hype in Newtype
USA before it aired in Japan--I could only imagine how long the advance hype
was in Newtype Japan. Anyway, here's the information from the article:
Mahiro Maeda, the director of Blue Submarine No. 6 and The Second
Renaissance segments of The Animatrix is directing. He has a
Japanese-language site at www.inuboe.com. Gonzo Digimation is producing.
No other people are mentioned, although Media Factory and GDH are also
mentioned in the copyright line. The project has its genesis in an attempt
to animate an science-fiction novel based on The Count of Monte Christo (I
can only think of two SF stories with that source of inspiration, only one
of which, The Stars My Destination by Alfred Bester, is a novel. The other,
Grendel by Larry Niven, is a short story. Maybe there's one in Japanese
with which I'm not familiar. Any ideas?). When securing the rights became
too difficult, Maeda decided to develop an original SF adaptation of the
public domain source material. Hence, space elves (or humans that look like
them).

Hope that helps!

> > Based on the reviews of Samurai Champloo I've read here, it looks like
all
> > the hype I've been reading the past year is a) justified and b) good for
> > both sides of the Pacific, if the show has indeed been licensed by
Geneon.
>
> The animation in ep 1 is of cinematic quality IMHO. Simply stunning.

I'll be keeping my eye open for more reports. I'm sure I'll read lots of
them!

> <<snip>>
> > No studio feature this month (12 pages of Gundam Seed ate those pages
up),
> > but Fred Patten's history of the founding of Toei Animation makes up for
it!
>
> Any hint of why they're refusing to renew the "Sailor Moon" licenses?

Nope. This article was all history and concentrated on the late 1950s, with
the release of the short Doodling Kitty, which came out before Panda and the
Magic Serpent, the first feature from Toei. Patten cites Doodling Kitty as
the beginning of the current tradition of anime (as all the pre-WWII
material was lost or destroyed). Nothing past the 1970s.

> > Aces High--Art imitating life imitating art! Oh, and for the person who
> > suggested that Gunbuster was a GAINAX parody of a sports anime, I didn't
> > believe you at the time, but it turns out that you were right all along!
>
> The first episode is clearly a sports-anime parody; the others,
> not so much.

I see the rest as GAINAX thinking of reinventing the mecha genre, before
they produced Evangelion. Speaking of which, I wonder how well Asuka
Langley and Jung Freud would have gotten along.

> <<snip>>
> >
> > Cover Hype-O-Meter since the promo issue in 2002: Gundam Seed 4,
Evangelion
> > 3, .Hack 2, RahXephon 2, and Angel/Dust Neo (the only anime of the bunch
not
> > licensed, even if the manga just finished its run in Newtype USA),
>
> I don't think an "Angel/Dust" anime has been created. Is "Newtype USA"
> reporting that one is in production?

No, although I recall reading something in Newtype recently about a director
moving onto another project after directing Angel Dust. Unfortunately, I
couldn't find it in the May issue. It must have been in the April issue,
which my daughter has. I searched for "angel dust" anime in Google and
didn't find anything about an anime, but I did find that there was a
Japanese live action horror film released in 1999. Since the manga came out
in 2001, I don't think they're related. I'll keep looking for any material
on that, though.

> > Animatrix, Kiddy Grade (an anachronistic pair--future Lumiere and past
> > Eclair together), Sakura Wars, Witch Hunter Robin, Angelic Layer, Full
Metal
> > Alchemist, Maburaho, and Azumanga Daioh each with 1. Whoever pointed
out
> > the connection between Newtype and Kodansha was right!

That should be Kadokawa Shoten, not Kodansha! Wow, did my brain misfire
when I typed that!

BTW, were you going to type something here when you posted this? It looks
like you forgot to!

> <<snip>>
>
> > WTF is "Gonzino"?
>
> An elementary particle of fanservice? Repelled by WIMPS.

LOL!

"Gonzino" was listed among all of the co-advertisers for Kaleido Star, right
beside the Anime Network logo, so it looks like another cable channel. A
Google search reveals that it's actually Gonzo's division for children's
anime. At least, I *think* that's what it is. The one place I could find
any information on Gonzino was a French-language site and while I can sort
of read French, I'm not fluent. Here's the URL:

http://www.dvdanime.net/critiqueview.php?id_critique=1212

And here's the relevant passage:

"Nouvelle création de Jun'ichi Sato (Sailor Moon, Junkers come here, Magic
User's Club, Pretear, Strange Dawn, Princesss Tutu...), la série animée
Kaleido Star a vu le jour en 2003 au sein de Gonzino, le département
spécialement créé par le studio Gonzo pour produire des séries TV à
destination d'un jeune public."

Does anyone fluent in French have a better translation?

> > Well, ADV is hyping that the show is produced by Gonzo and directed by
the
> > most famous director of Sailor Moon (although not *my* personal
favorite, as
> > I prefer Ikihara, but I'm an Utena fan). They know how to attract the
> > otaku! FWIW, my daughter liked what she called the "old school quality"
of
> > the show. As an expatriate Angelino, I just wish that a show like
Cirque du
> > Soleil...ahem, "Kaleido Stage" really was headquartered on Santa Monica
> > Pier. That would be cool!

Again, did you have something more to say?

> <<snip>>
>
> > Official Art of Kiddy Grade--Ooo, look at all the SPOILERS here,
starting
> > with past, present, and future bodies, along with long life spans.
There's
> > even a GOTT agent with the power of time control. Anyone here up for a
> > Kiddy Grade-Dr. Who crossover? FWIW, anyone interested in using Kiddy
Grade
> > characters for the 2005 New Year's Challenge (should there be one)
> > absolutely must read this article--their powers are all spelled out,
even
> > down to the episodes some of them appear and it's *official* in case of
> > disputes with the referee!
>
> But you'd need to specify that the characters' powers are as given
> in the magazine. In the anime they vary noticably from episode to
> episode :(

Would you like me to post the powers for the record?

> <<snip>>
> > Miami Guns is based on a manga by the same fellow who drew the RahXephon
> > manga. Really? They don't look anything alike!
>
> I think the manga was created from the TV show, rather than vice-versa
> as more frequently the case. In such situations the manga author may
> adopt a quite different style than was used in the original anime.

If you're talking about the RahXephon manga, I think you're right. I looked
at manga and it looks very little like the anime. It's about as different
as the Escaflowne shonen manga is from the anime! However, the style of
Miami Guns looks nothing like the RahXephon manga, either!

> <<snip>>
> >
> > Oh, look, an ad for a mainstream product--Altoids. Unlike the Scion ad,
it
> > returns!
>
> Is it just me, or do "altoids" sound like a patent medicine for
> curing hemorrhoids?

LOL!

I think the Altoids people have decided to market their "curiously strong
gum" to teens and twenty-somethings, a group that the demographic people I
hang around with call "Millennials". I guess they've decided that Newtype
is a good place to reach the more culturally adventurous members of that
generation.

> - dbm
>
> > Another issue done in one sitting! Woo hoo! On to the May
Hype-O-Meter,

Next.

> > then the June issue, already on newstands!

In a new thread.

Vince "Professor Plum" Lamb
"Washuu has crabs!"

[Richard V. Lamb]

"Richard V. Lamb" <profplum@frontiernet.net> wrote in message
news:qmewc.4875$Gy4.3406@news02.roc.ny...

> On to the May Hype-O-Meter,

Here it is!

Hype-O-Meter for the May 2004 Newtype USA

Anime Series* being hyped (ranked by page count+)

Gundam Seed 14.26 p.
Gravion 10.13 p.
Kaleido Star 9.27 p.
Kiddy Grade 6.67 p.
Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence 6 p.
Demon Lord Dante 3.1 p.
Comic Party 2.5 p.
Azumanga Daioh 2.13 p.
Chrno Crusade 2 p.
Kaze no Yojimbo 2 p.
World of Narue 1.3 p.
Samurai Deeper Kyo 1.06 p.
Gravitation 1 p.
Jo Jo's Big Adventure 1 p.
Burn Up Excess 1 p.
BASTof Syndrome 1 p.
Dragon Drive 1 p.
Bird Island 1 p.
Megazone 23 1 p.
Miami Guns 1 p.
Way of the Warriors 1 p.
Magical Play 1 p.
Slayers Premium 1 p.
Galerions: Rion 0.83 p.
Gunparade March 0.75 p.
Mask of Zeguy 0.75 p.
Akira 0.75 p.
Samurai Champloo 0.67 p.
Kimigure Orange Road 0.6 p.
Disney's Miyazaki Releases 0.5 p.
Wedding Peach 0.5 p.
Marmalade Boy 0.13 p.
Saikino 0.13 p.
Gunsmith Cats 0.13 p.
Mao-Chan 0.13 p.
Chobits 0.13 p.
Tokyo Godfathers 0.1 p. (in Giveaways)
(Hidden in ads for chains or licensees: Revolutionary Girl Utena TV, Slayers
TV, Descendants of Darkness (0.08 p. each), I'm Gonna Be An Angel, FLCL
(0.07 p. each), Dragon Ball Z, Dragon Ball GT, Yu Yu Hakusho, Witch Hunter
Robin, Initial D (0.06 p. each)).

* Only series licensed for North America counted; series only available in
Japan ignored.

+ Total number of pages or fractions of pages of feature articles, reviews,
and ads. No weighting for front or back cover. Centerfold = 8 pages.
Poster = 4 pages. Postcards = 2 pages. DVD = 1 page.

US licensees advertising, ranked by number of pages of ads:

ADV 11 p.
Bandai 3 p.
Del Rey 2 p.
Playhut 2 p.
Right Stuf 1 p.
Super Techno Arts 1 p.
Anime Works/Media Blasters 1 p.
Hirameki/Anime Play 1 p.
AnimeNation 1 p.
Geneon/Pioneer 1 p.
Central Park Media/U.S. Manga Corps 1 p.
Broccoli/Synch Point 1 p.
Toyspress.com 1 p.
Tokyopop 1 p.
AnimeEigo 0.5 p.
ComicsOne.com 0.25 p.

Anime/Manga Chain Retailers Advertising (by pages mentioned in all ads, not
just ads by the chains themselves)

Suncoast 21 p.
Best Buy 14 p.
Fry's Electronics 11 p.
FYE 11 p.
Amazon.com 10 p.
Sam Goody 9 p.
Game Stop 6 p.
Media Play 6 p.
Right Stuf* 4 p.
Borders 4 p.
Waldenbooks 4 p.
AnimeNation* 3 p.
Barnes and Noble 3 p.
Akibaotuku 2 p.
Kinokuniya 2 p (really 1.5 p. of ads)
AnimeOneStop.com 1 p.
Buy.com 1 p.
Tower Records 1 p.
Anime Gamer 1 p.
DeepDiscountDVD.com 1 p.

*These are both licensees and retailers. Here I only cited those pages
where they were co-advertising anime other than their own licensed products.

Manga (pages of advertising and reviews)

Sgt. Frog* 2 p.
Hikaru no Go* 2 p.
Gundam Seed 1.5 p.
xxxHolic 1.5 p.
Tsubasa 1.06 p.
Five Star Stories 1.06 p.
Negima 0.94 p.
Bug Boy 0.67 p.
Galaxy Angel 0.67 p.
Hana-Kimi 0.6 p.
Alien Nine: Emulators 0.5 p.
Eerie Queerie 0.5 p.
Aria 0.5 p.
The Ruler of the Land 0.5 p.
To Heart 0.5 p.
Chrno Crusade 0.5 p.
Pretear 0.5 p.
The Red Snake 0.38 p.
Kill Me, Kiss Me 0.33 p.
DNAngel 0.33 p.
Shutter Box 0.33 p.
Blue Inferior 0.17 p.
Desert Coral 0.17 p.
Kagerou-Nostalgia 0.17 p.
St. Marie 0.17 p.
Top Speed 0.17 p.
Para Para 0.17 p.
Tokyopop Sneaks 0.15 p.
Di Gi Charat Theater 0.14 p.
Samurai Deeper Kyo 0.14 p.
World of Narue 0.1 p.
Peach Girl 0.1 p.
(Hidden in ads for retailers or licensees: Initial D (0.08 p.), Juvenile
Orion (0.07 p.), Shaman King, Dragon Ball Z, Yu Yu Hakusho, Alice 19th (0.06
p. each), Ai Yori Aoshi, Crescent Moon, Lament of the Lamb, Saiyuki, Tokyo
Babylon, Mahoromatic, Suikoden III (0.05 p. each)).

*Reviews of associated unlicensed anime; manga licensed.

It looks like hype for manga is up this month. Three pages of that can be
accounted for by the four Del Rey manga alone! Let's see if the trend
continues.

Vince "Professor Plum" Lamb
"Washuu has crabs!"

[Richard V. Lamb]

"D B Malmquist" <d.b.malmquist@com.swap-com-and-rcn.rcn> wrote in message
news:40C17C2D.7D342657@com.swap-com-and-rcn.rcn...
> "Richard V. Lamb" wrote:
>
> <<snip>>
> >
> > Madlax, p. 30-31: Where have we seen this before? A 20-something
female
> > assassin with long dishwater blond hair, a red top, black shorts, and
black
> > boots hanging around as sweet looking brunette teen with amnesia. Oh,
yes,
> > Noir! Sure enough, Bee Train is doing the animation production
(something
> > about those eyes should have given it away, too), Kouichi Mashimo is
> > directing, and Yuki Kajiuri is composing the music. I hope they haven't
> > gone to the well one too many times!
>
> Yes but this time they introduce a dramatic innovation: bad
> haircuts all around.

LOL!

In Noir, Mirielle's hairdresser played an important, albeit brief, role. I
guess she's one character who *isn't* repeating in this incarnation.

> > Samurai 7: Pretty Hate Machines? I wonder if the NIN fan responsible is
in
> > Tokyo or Houston. Oh, and kettles with swords and guns--why am I
reminded
> > of Ayeka's guardians from Tenchi Muyo? Speaking of machines, with Gonzo
> > producing this, at least the mecha will be cool!
>
> Not necessarily: the mecha in "Gravion" ep 1 look pretty poor,

You know, I don't recall "giant robots" as being the kind of mecha that
Gonzo ever did well. Submarines and steampunk airplanes, OTOH...

> and they aren't particularly credible in "Bakuretsu Tenshi" either.

Phooey. It seems that Gonzo isn't sticking to its knitting by not paying
attention to the execution of their mecha designs, which is something they
are known for. However, I suspect that mecha isn't really what either
Gravion or Bakuretsu Tenshi is about. It's fanservice, especially T&A, with
Gravion representing the T (Mizuki Tachibana, who posed for the centerfold
for this issue, has already been nominated for the Being Upfront website and
David Watson has posted that he'll include her in the update) and Bakuretsu
Tenshi the A.

> > With Newtype hyping Hikaru no Go, how long will it take for either the
show
> > or the manga to be licensed?
>
> The manga is licensed; Vol 1 has been released -
>
>
http://www.rightstuf.com/cgi-bin/catalogmgr/JpfPinVZn5NNXt0JTT/browse/item/60615/4/0/0

Ah, thank you! I've recalculated the Hype-O-Meter because of that.

BTW, this has lead to a very productive discussion among the rec.arts.manga
regulars, who have made the same comment and are now on a tangent about
exportation of manga in English to the Commonwealth.

> <<snip>>
>
> > Gankutsu-O--The Count of Monty Christo with space elves, produced by
Gonzo.
> > This looks like it might be worth keeping an eye on.
>
> Any more info about this please? I don't see it on Gonzo's home page -
>
> http://www.gonzo.co.jp/titles/index.html

And there is no URL in the review in Newtype USA, either, so that doesn't
help. That's probably because this series is under production and may not be
ready for release this year. There is not even a network listed yet.
That's not unknown; Samurai Champloo got almost a year of hype in Newtype
USA before it aired in Japan--I could only imagine how long the advance hype
was in Newtype Japan. Anyway, here's the information from the article:
Mahiro Maeda, the director of Blue Submarine No. 6 and The Second
Renaissance segments of The Animatrix is directing. He has a
Japanese-language site at www.inuboe.com. Gonzo Digimation is producing.
No other people are mentioned, although Media Factory and GDH are also
mentioned in the copyright line. The project has its genesis in an attempt
to animate an science-fiction novel based on The Count of Monte Christo (I
can only think of two SF stories with that source of inspiration, only one
of which, The Stars My Destination by Alfred Bester, is a novel. The other,
Grendel by Larry Niven, is a short story. Maybe there's one in Japanese
with which I'm not familiar. Any ideas?). When securing the rights became
too difficult, Maeda decided to develop an original SF adaptation of the
public domain source material. Hence, space elves (or humans that look like
them).

Hope that helps!

> > Based on the reviews of Samurai Champloo I've read here, it looks like
all
> > the hype I've been reading the past year is a) justified and b) good for
> > both sides of the Pacific, if the show has indeed been licensed by
Geneon.
>
> The animation in ep 1 is of cinematic quality IMHO. Simply stunning.

I'll be keeping my eye open for more reports. I'm sure I'll read lots of
them!

> <<snip>>
> > No studio feature this month (12 pages of Gundam Seed ate those pages
up),
> > but Fred Patten's history of the founding of Toei Animation makes up for
it!
>
> Any hint of why they're refusing to renew the "Sailor Moon" licenses?

Nope. This article was all history and concentrated on the late 1950s, with
the release of the short Doodling Kitty, which came out before Panda and the
Magic Serpent, the first feature from Toei. Patten cites Doodling Kitty as
the beginning of the current tradition of anime (as all the pre-WWII
material was lost or destroyed). Nothing past the 1970s.

> > Aces High--Art imitating life imitating art! Oh, and for the person who
> > suggested that Gunbuster was a GAINAX parody of a sports anime, I didn't
> > believe you at the time, but it turns out that you were right all along!
>
> The first episode is clearly a sports-anime parody; the others,
> not so much.

I see the rest as GAINAX thinking of reinventing the mecha genre, before
they produced Evangelion. Speaking of which, I wonder how well Asuka
Langley and Jung Freud would have gotten along.

> <<snip>>
> >
> > Cover Hype-O-Meter since the promo issue in 2002: Gundam Seed 4,
Evangelion
> > 3, .Hack 2, RahXephon 2, and Angel/Dust Neo (the only anime of the bunch
not
> > licensed, even if the manga just finished its run in Newtype USA),
>
> I don't think an "Angel/Dust" anime has been created. Is "Newtype USA"
> reporting that one is in production?

No, although I recall reading something in Newtype recently about a director
moving onto another project after directing Angel Dust. Unfortunately, I
couldn't find it in the May issue. It must have been in the April issue,
which my daughter has. I searched for "angel dust" anime in Google and
didn't find anything about an anime, but I did find that there was a
Japanese live action horror film released in 1999. Since the manga came out
in 2001, I don't think they're related. I'll keep looking for any material
on that, though.

> > Animatrix, Kiddy Grade (an anachronistic pair--future Lumiere and past
> > Eclair together), Sakura Wars, Witch Hunter Robin, Angelic Layer, Full
Metal
> > Alchemist, Maburaho, and Azumanga Daioh each with 1. Whoever pointed
out
> > the connection between Newtype and Kodansha was right!

That should be Kadokawa Shoten, not Kodansha! Wow, did my brain misfire
when I typed that!

BTW, were you going to type something here when you posted this? It looks
like you forgot to!

> <<snip>>
>
> > WTF is "Gonzino"?
>
> An elementary particle of fanservice? Repelled by WIMPS.

LOL!

"Gonzino" was listed among all of the co-advertisers for Kaleido Star, right
beside the Anime Network logo, so it looks like another cable channel. A
Google search reveals that it's actually Gonzo's division for children's
anime. At least, I *think* that's what it is. The one place I could find
any information on Gonzino was a French-language site and while I can sort
of read French, I'm not fluent. Here's the URL:

http://www.dvdanime.net/critiqueview.php?id_critique=1212

And here's the relevant passage:

"Nouvelle création de Jun'ichi Sato (Sailor Moon, Junkers come here, Magic
User's Club, Pretear, Strange Dawn, Princesss Tutu...), la série animée
Kaleido Star a vu le jour en 2003 au sein de Gonzino, le département
spécialement créé par le studio Gonzo pour produire des séries TV à
destination d'un jeune public."

Does anyone fluent in French have a better translation?

> > Well, ADV is hyping that the show is produced by Gonzo and directed by
the
> > most famous director of Sailor Moon (although not *my* personal
favorite, as
> > I prefer Ikihara, but I'm an Utena fan). They know how to attract the
> > otaku! FWIW, my daughter liked what she called the "old school quality"
of
> > the show. As an expatriate Angelino, I just wish that a show like
Cirque du
> > Soleil...ahem, "Kaleido Stage" really was headquartered on Santa Monica
> > Pier. That would be cool!

Again, did you have something more to say?

> <<snip>>
>
> > Official Art of Kiddy Grade--Ooo, look at all the SPOILERS here,
starting
> > with past, present, and future bodies, along with long life spans.
There's
> > even a GOTT agent with the power of time control. Anyone here up for a
> > Kiddy Grade-Dr. Who crossover? FWIW, anyone interested in using Kiddy
Grade
> > characters for the 2005 New Year's Challenge (should there be one)
> > absolutely must read this article--their powers are all spelled out,
even
> > down to the episodes some of them appear and it's *official* in case of
> > disputes with the referee!
>
> But you'd need to specify that the characters' powers are as given
> in the magazine. In the anime they vary noticably from episode to
> episode :(

Would you like me to post the powers for the record?

> <<snip>>
> > Miami Guns is based on a manga by the same fellow who drew the RahXephon
> > manga. Really? They don't look anything alike!
>
> I think the manga was created from the TV show, rather than vice-versa
> as more frequently the case. In such situations the manga author may
> adopt a quite different style than was used in the original anime.

If you're talking about the RahXephon manga, I think you're right. I looked
at manga and it looks very little like the anime. It's about as different
as the Escaflowne shonen manga is from the anime! However, the style of
Miami Guns looks nothing like the RahXephon manga, either!

> <<snip>>
> >
> > Oh, look, an ad for a mainstream product--Altoids. Unlike the Scion ad,
it
> > returns!
>
> Is it just me, or do "altoids" sound like a patent medicine for
> curing hemorrhoids?

LOL!

I think the Altoids people have decided to market their "curiously strong
gum" to teens and twenty-somethings, a group that the demographic people I
hang around with call "Millennials". I guess they've decided that Newtype
is a good place to reach the more culturally adventurous members of that
generation.

> - dbm
>
> > Another issue done in one sitting! Woo hoo! On to the May
Hype-O-Meter,

Next.

> > then the June issue, already on newstands!

In a new thread.

Vince "Professor Plum" Lamb
"Washuu has crabs!"

[Richard V. Lamb]

"Richard V. Lamb" <profplum@frontiernet.net> wrote in message
news:qmewc.4875$Gy4.3406@news02.roc.ny...

> On to the May Hype-O-Meter,

Here it is!

Hype-O-Meter for the May 2004 Newtype USA

Anime Series* being hyped (ranked by page count+)

Gundam Seed 14.26 p.
Gravion 10.13 p.
Kaleido Star 9.27 p.
Kiddy Grade 6.67 p.
Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence 6 p.
Demon Lord Dante 3.1 p.
Comic Party 2.5 p.
Azumanga Daioh 2.13 p.
Chrno Crusade 2 p.
Kaze no Yojimbo 2 p.
World of Narue 1.3 p.
Samurai Deeper Kyo 1.06 p.
Gravitation 1 p.
Jo Jo's Big Adventure 1 p.
Burn Up Excess 1 p.
BASTof Syndrome 1 p.
Dragon Drive 1 p.
Bird Island 1 p.
Megazone 23 1 p.
Miami Guns 1 p.
Way of the Warriors 1 p.
Magical Play 1 p.
Slayers Premium 1 p.
Galerions: Rion 0.83 p.
Gunparade March 0.75 p.
Mask of Zeguy 0.75 p.
Akira 0.75 p.
Samurai Champloo 0.67 p.
Kimigure Orange Road 0.6 p.
Disney's Miyazaki Releases 0.5 p.
Wedding Peach 0.5 p.
Marmalade Boy 0.13 p.
Saikino 0.13 p.
Gunsmith Cats 0.13 p.
Mao-Chan 0.13 p.
Chobits 0.13 p.
Tokyo Godfathers 0.1 p. (in Giveaways)
(Hidden in ads for chains or licensees: Revolutionary Girl Utena TV, Slayers
TV, Descendants of Darkness (0.08 p. each), I'm Gonna Be An Angel, FLCL
(0.07 p. each), Dragon Ball Z, Dragon Ball GT, Yu Yu Hakusho, Witch Hunter
Robin, Initial D (0.06 p. each)).

* Only series licensed for North America counted; series only available in
Japan ignored.

+ Total number of pages or fractions of pages of feature articles, reviews,
and ads. No weighting for front or back cover. Centerfold = 8 pages.
Poster = 4 pages. Postcards = 2 pages. DVD = 1 page.

US licensees advertising, ranked by number of pages of ads:

ADV 11 p.
Bandai 3 p.
Del Rey 2 p.
Playhut 2 p.
Right Stuf 1 p.
Super Techno Arts 1 p.
Anime Works/Media Blasters 1 p.
Hirameki/Anime Play 1 p.
AnimeNation 1 p.
Geneon/Pioneer 1 p.
Central Park Media/U.S. Manga Corps 1 p.
Broccoli/Synch Point 1 p.
Toyspress.com 1 p.
Tokyopop 1 p.
AnimeEigo 0.5 p.
ComicsOne.com 0.25 p.

Anime/Manga Chain Retailers Advertising (by pages mentioned in all ads, not
just ads by the chains themselves)

Suncoast 21 p.
Best Buy 14 p.
Fry's Electronics 11 p.
FYE 11 p.
Amazon.com 10 p.
Sam Goody 9 p.
Game Stop 6 p.
Media Play 6 p.
Right Stuf* 4 p.
Borders 4 p.
Waldenbooks 4 p.
AnimeNation* 3 p.
Barnes and Noble 3 p.
Akibaotuku 2 p.
Kinokuniya 2 p (really 1.5 p. of ads)
AnimeOneStop.com 1 p.
Buy.com 1 p.
Tower Records 1 p.
Anime Gamer 1 p.
DeepDiscountDVD.com 1 p.

*These are both licensees and retailers. Here I only cited those pages
where they were co-advertising anime other than their own licensed products.

Manga (pages of advertising and reviews)

Sgt. Frog* 2 p.
Hikaru no Go* 2 p.
Gundam Seed 1.5 p.
xxxHolic 1.5 p.
Tsubasa 1.06 p.
Five Star Stories 1.06 p.
Negima 0.94 p.
Bug Boy 0.67 p.
Galaxy Angel 0.67 p.
Hana-Kimi 0.6 p.
Alien Nine: Emulators 0.5 p.
Eerie Queerie 0.5 p.
Aria 0.5 p.
The Ruler of the Land 0.5 p.
To Heart 0.5 p.
Chrno Crusade 0.5 p.
Pretear 0.5 p.
The Red Snake 0.38 p.
Kill Me, Kiss Me 0.33 p.
DNAngel 0.33 p.
Shutter Box 0.33 p.
Blue Inferior 0.17 p.
Desert Coral 0.17 p.
Kagerou-Nostalgia 0.17 p.
St. Marie 0.17 p.
Top Speed 0.17 p.
Para Para 0.17 p.
Tokyopop Sneaks 0.15 p.
Di Gi Charat Theater 0.14 p.
Samurai Deeper Kyo 0.14 p.
World of Narue 0.1 p.
Peach Girl 0.1 p.
(Hidden in ads for retailers or licensees: Initial D (0.08 p.), Juvenile
Orion (0.07 p.), Shaman King, Dragon Ball Z, Yu Yu Hakusho, Alice 19th (0.06
p. each), Ai Yori Aoshi, Crescent Moon, Lament of the Lamb, Saiyuki, Tokyo
Babylon, Mahoromatic, Suikoden III (0.05 p. each)).

*Reviews of associated unlicensed anime; manga licensed.

It looks like hype for manga is up this month. Three pages of that can be
accounted for by the four Del Rey manga alone! Let's see if the trend
continues.

Vince "Professor Plum" Lamb
"Washuu has crabs!"

[Captain Nerd]

In article <VQ5yc.2013$ju2.1528@news01.roc.ny>,
"Richard V. Lamb" <profplum@frontiernet.net> wrote:

> "D B Malmquist" <d.b.malmquist@com.swap-com-and-rcn.rcn> wrote in message
> news:40C17C2D.7D342657@com.swap-com-and-rcn.rcn...
> > "Richard V. Lamb" wrote:
> >
> > <<snip>>
> >
> > > WTF is "Gonzino"?
> >
> > An elementary particle of fanservice? Repelled by WIMPS.
>
> LOL!
>
> "Gonzino" was listed among all of the co-advertisers for Kaleido Star, right
> beside the Anime Network logo, so it looks like another cable channel. A
> Google search reveals that it's actually Gonzo's division for children's
> anime. At least, I *think* that's what it is. The one place I could find
> any information on Gonzino was a French-language site and while I can sort
> of read French, I'm not fluent. Here's the URL:
>
> http://www.dvdanime.net/critiqueview.php?id_critique=1212
>
> And here's the relevant passage:
>
> "Nouvelle création de Jun'ichi Sato (Sailor Moon, Junkers come here, Magic
> User's Club, Pretear, Strange Dawn, Princesss Tutu...), la série animée
> Kaleido Star a vu le jour en 2003 au sein de Gonzino, le département
> spécialement créé par le studio Gonzo pour produire des séries TV à
> destination d'un jeune public."
>
> Does anyone fluent in French have a better translation?

Well, the 'fish says:

New creation of Jun'ichi Sato (Sailor Moon, Junkers come here, Magic
User's Club, Pretear, Strange Dawn, Princesss Tutu...), the animated
series Kaleido Star was born into 2003 within Gonzino, the department
especially created by the Gonzo studio to produce series TV with
destination d'un young public.

Guess it isn't quite fluent? ^_^

Cap.

--
Since 1989, recycling old jokes, cliches, and bad puns, one Usenet
post at a time!
Operation: Nerdwatch http://www.nerdwatch.com
Only email with "TO_CAP" somewhere in the subject has a chance of being read

[John C. Watson]

On 06/10/2004 22:28, in article
cptnerd-763C40.22281510062004@news-50.sjc.giganews.com, "Captain Nerd"
<cptnerd@nerdwatch.com> wrote:

> In article <VQ5yc.2013$ju2.1528@news01.roc.ny>,
> "Richard V. Lamb" <profplum@frontiernet.net> wrote:
>
>> "D B Malmquist" <d.b.malmquist@com.swap-com-and-rcn.rcn> wrote in message
>> news:40C17C2D.7D342657@com.swap-com-and-rcn.rcn...
>>> "Richard V. Lamb" wrote:
>>>
>>> <<snip>>
>>>
>>>> WTF is "Gonzino"?
>>>
>>> An elementary particle of fanservice? Repelled by WIMPS.
>>
>> LOL!
>>
>> "Gonzino" was listed among all of the co-advertisers for Kaleido Star, right
>> beside the Anime Network logo, so it looks like another cable channel. A
>> Google search reveals that it's actually Gonzo's division for children's
>> anime. At least, I *think* that's what it is. The one place I could find
>> any information on Gonzino was a French-language site and while I can sort
>> of read French, I'm not fluent. Here's the URL:
>>
>> http://www.dvdanime.net/critiqueview.php?id_critique=1212
>>
>> And here's the relevant passage:
>>
>> "Nouvelle création de Jun'ichi Sato (Sailor Moon, Junkers come here, Magic
>> User's Club, Pretear, Strange Dawn, Princesss Tutu...), la série animée
>> Kaleido Star a vu le jour en 2003 au sein de Gonzino, le département
>> spécialement créé par le studio Gonzo pour produire des séries TV à
>> destination d'un jeune public."
>>
>> Does anyone fluent in French have a better translation?
>
> Well, the 'fish says:
>
> New creation of Jun'ichi Sato (Sailor Moon, Junkers come here, Magic
> User's Club, Pretear, Strange Dawn, Princesss Tutu...), the animated
> series Kaleido Star was born into 2003 within Gonzino, the department
> especially created by the Gonzo studio to produce series TV with
> destination d'un young public.

Here's Gonzo Digimation Holdings' description:

<http://www.gdh.co.jp/english/about_gdh.html>

<http://www.gdh.co.jp/english/enter.html>

--
Ciao,
John

John C. Watson
World Otakunization Project, Happy Valley Division

<http://www.georgedillon.com/web/html_email_is_evil.shtml>