Richard V. Lamb
5th June 2004, 08:11 AM
"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!"
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!"