After years of speculation, director James Cameron has stated, in no uncertain terms during an interview on NPR, that he will begin directing a feature film adaptation of Yukito Kishiro's "Battle Angel" (Gunnm) manga series, apparently, this summer. The film will feature a fully CG rendered protagonist and the film itself will be filmed in 3-D.

According to an advertisement in the Japanese Shonen Weekly Magazine, the CLAMP manga series Tsubasa: Reservoir Chronicle will be released as an anime motion picture next year.

Inuyasha: Crimson Island of Horai

Full Metal Alchemist

According to comic industry news website ICv2, FUNimation will release the first two volumes in the "Dragon Ball Z Ultimate Uncut Special Edition" line in April and June, 2005. The new DVD series will present the first 63 episodes of the Dragon Ball Z television series uncut and bilingual for the first time in America. These first 63 episodes were originally edited down to 50 episodes for American TV broadcast and home video release. The Ultimate Uncut Special Edition DVDs will feature remastered video quality and 5.1 surround sound.

In May 2005, FUNimation will begin releasing remastered versions of the first 3 Dragon Ball Z theatrical movies, originally distributed in uncut American DVD editions by Pioneer.

Dragon Ball Z movie 10 will premier on American DVD on March 29, 2005. Movie 11 will debut in August 2005, followed, eventually, by movies 12 & 13.

According to The Magic Box, Square Enix has indefinitely delayed the release of Final Fantasy XII.

In early September, former Nintendo president Hiroshi Yamauchi announced his hope that Nintendo would move into the animation production business. According to The Magic Box quoting from the Nihon Keizai Newspaper, the Nintendo board of directors has agreed with Yamauchi's proposal. Nintendo will formally begin producing anime with accompanying video game tie-ins in 2006.

Today has seen some important news emerge from perhaps the largest anime fansub portal, AnimeSuki. Japan-based producer Media Factory Inc. have requested that AnimeSuki remove links to several of their anime series (which include the popular Gankutsuou and Kimi ga Nozomu Eien).

Typically, Japanese anime producers have turned a blind eye to fansubs (because strictly speaking, they are illegal)- preferring to let them aid in building up a sizable reputation for their work outside of Japan. Fansub distribution is only usually halted once an English speaking nation picks up the respective official distribution rights.

This move by Media Factory Inc. has left anime fans questioning whether or not this could be the beginning of the end for the fansub community- will other Japan-based anime producers follow suit and also request a halt to their distribution?


After yesterday's news that Media Factory Inc. requested a halt to all distribution of their fan-subbed anime, it has been widely assumed this move was in reaction to a fan-subbed version of their Akane Maniax OVA hitting the fansub circuit a few days before the official Japanese DVD release.

Also, in reaction this news, several fansub groups have decided to drop Media Factory Inc. produced anime while others are planning continue their work under the basis that many of Media Factory's series are yet to be licensed for a R1 DVD release.

http://www.animeuknews.net/

UK based DVD distributors ILC Prime have announced the name of their new anime label - 'Animazing' and the first anime DVD release lined up for this new label is The Humanoid. Created in 1986, little is known about this anime except that it is 45 minutes long and will be released by Animazing on the 31st of January.

Their other scheduled DVD releases are Masamune Shirow's (the original creator of Ghost in the Shell) Dominion Tank Police Vol #1 & #2 and La Blue Girl Returns Vol #1 & #2 (hentai)- all of which are expected to hit the UK on 21st March. DVD releases for Project AKO and MD Geist are also expected, but are currently unscheduled.

http://www.animeuknews.net/

AnimEigo has officially informed retailers that all subtitled Superdimensional Fortress Macross TV series DVDs will be discontinued after December 31, 2004. As of the the end of this month, AnimEigo will no longer sell nor distribute any of the Macross TV series single DVDs or DVD boxed sets.

Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence has been awarded the Nihon SF Taisho Award for best science fiction film of 2004 by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of Japan organization.

The film is now the highest grossing theatrical release anime movie in America, among anime films released in under 100 theaters nationwide.

Gainax and Bandai Japan's LaLaBitMarket have announced the production of a limited edition Evangelion editon Apple iPod. The limited edition portable mp3 player will retail at 47,250 yen ($454 USD). Reservations will be accepted from December 22, 2004 until January 16, 2005. Production will begin, for an estimated March 2005 release, when there are 1,000 confirmed pre-orders. A strict limit of only 2,000 Evangelion iPods, with matching embossed earphones and white "Rei Ayanami Plugsuit" carrying case, will be produced.

DC Comics' CMX manga line has scheduled the release of three new series:

Monster Collection, by Itoh Sei and Yasuda Hitoshi/Group SNE, will debut on March 9, 2005

Sword of the Dark Ones, by Kotobuki Tsukasa and Yasui Kentaro, will go on sale March 16, 2005

The Devil Does Exist, by Takanashi Mitsuba and Takanashi Mitsuba, will debut on March 30, 2005

Source: Jagged Team

Viz has issued an official press release confirming the acquisiton of four new shoujo manga titles:

Times Two, by Shouko Akira
Happy Hustle High, by Rie Takada
SOS, by Hinako Ashihara
Doubt!!, by Kaneyoshi Izumi

And Time Magazine has reported Viz's acquisition of translation rights to Akira Toriyama's Dr. Slump, and Arakawa Hiromu's Full Metal Alchemist manga series.

The International Channel has announced its acquisition of broadcast rights to eight Central Park Media translated anime series:

Record of Lodoss War OVA & TV series
Black Jack
Now and Then, Here and There
Patlabor Original OAV series & TV Series
Project A-Ko
Descendants of Darkness

The English dubbed anime will air during "Asia Street," the International Channel's primetime programming block targeting a young, English-speaking, Asian American audience.

Square Enix has announced that a Final Fantasy symphonic concert series will begin with a February 19, 2005 performance the Rosemont Theatre in Rosemont, Illinois. The concert will be perfomed by the Chicagoland Pops Orchestra and the CPO Festival Choir, conducted by principal conductor of the Chicagoland Pops Arnie Roth, and produced by Final Fantasy composer Nobuo Uematsu.

According to their February TV schedule, Toonami UK will begin their weekday showings of Rave Master on Monday 7th February at 5.30pm (with a repeat showing the following morning at 7.30am).

Rave Master is a 51-episode action-adventure anime that has been showing on the US Cartoon Network for a long time now. We are still waiting to hear about when One Piece and the Adult Swim block will join Rave Master on Toonami UK.

ADV UK have sent out their January 2005 press releases; confirming (amongst others) the first volumes of Get Backers (see cover art to right) and Gad Guard. All of ADV UK's January releases are listed below.
ADV UK 17th January DVD releases
Final Fantasy Unlimited #6
Gad Guard #1
Get Backers #1
Magical Shopping Street Abenobashi #2
Rune Soldier #4
Slayers Premium

Elfen Lied Has been licensed by ADV , but the torrent can still be found off of suprnova.org anyways .

It probobly wont be coming out for a while though .
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Aparently there with be a 24/7 Anime channel released in the UK by Sky next March.

A Cartoon Network representative has announced, via the Adult Swim Forum, that Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex 2nd GIG, the second season of the Ghost in the Shell TV series, will debut on the Cartoon Network next fall.

New episodes of Inuyasha will debut three days a week beginning January 10 at 12:30 AM.

Beginning February 12, 2005, Fullmetal Alchemist will begin airing at 11:30 PM, Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex will follow at midnight, and repeats of Super Milk-Chan will air at 1:30 AM.

Although not yet officially announced or confirmed by AD Vision, Amazon.com has attributed five new English translated manga series to AD Vision:

Full Metal Panic: OVERLOAD!
Line and Igazukin: The Littlest Ninja
Lilith in Wonderland
Maburaho
Yotsubato!

Buena Vista Home Video now hosts a streaming trailer for its upcoming American DVD release of Nausicaa, Porco Rosso, and The Cat Returns. The trailer includes spoken English dubbed dialogue from all three films, featuring celebrity voice actors including Patrick Stewart as Yupa in Nausicaa, Michael Keaton as Porco in Porco Rosso, and Cary Elwes as The Baron in Cat Returns. The trailer is available on all three product pages.

A Cartoon Network representative has announced, via the Adult Swim Forum, that Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex 2nd GIG, the second season of the Ghost in the Shell TV series, will debut on the Cartoon Network next fall.

New episodes of Inuyasha will debut three days a week beginning January 10 at 12:30 AM.

Beginning February 12, 2005, Fullmetal Alchemist will begin airing at 11:30 PM, Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex will follow at midnight, and repeats of Super Milk-Chan will air at 1:30 AM.

But the US already has an 24/7 anime channel called Anime Network or something
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Yeah, I too wish that there will be an anime channel of some sort here (in Israel).
Anyhow, just watched End of Evangelion again, so I'm totally depressed .

With it being the season of good will and all, MVM have published their prospective UK release schedule for the first half of 2005, containing (amongst others) a few new suprises as well as a few important confirmations.
Both Gungrave Vol. 1 and Haibane Renmei Vol. 1 will be hitting the UK on 4th April.
Full Metal Alchemist Vol.1 has been scheduled for a UK release on May 9th, along with the first volume of Read or Die TV.
Their 6th June releases reveal two new suprises; Texhnolyze Vol.1 and Tsukihime Lunar Legend Vol.1 - both previously unannounced MVM acquisitions.

After last week's news that Rave Master will be premiering on Toonami UK on February 7th, the Toonami website has confirmed (in a new FAQ) that One Piece will be hitting the channel at some point in April.

Also, in reference to the much talked of Adult Swim block, Toonami UK have stated that "We are still looking into the possibility of having an adult swim block." However, this will most likely be featuring the original comedy (Harvey Birdman and Aqua Teen Hunger force) and not the anime from the popular US Adult Swim block.

I have to watch Oh My Goddess the OVA after watching that so as not to want to kill myself

Grave of Fireflies is another WW2 Japan anime, seen it? I haven't, but its only a matter of time.

There are people out there, like that Dear John guy over on Animenation who are insaenly pro-purist, and when reading his articles he doesn't have a high opinion of people who watch dubs either, speaks down to them when they write in letters and talks about dubbing as 'rape' of culture.

Square Enix will release Fullmetal Alchemist and the Broken Angel in North America on January 18th. The PS2 RPG game was released in Japan in December 2003. Full Metal Alchemist and the Broken Angel is rated "T" for Teen and will carry an MSRP of $39.99.

I prefer watching in English because its less hastle, but I do hate it when they don't do a good dub. Luckily lots of companies such as ADV and Pioneer/Geneon and to a lesser extent Funimation when they can be bothered (like Fruits Basket as opposed to DBZ), make good attempts, especially ADV and Geneon.

Not available in Scotland I have almost all UK anime releases, but its a rather small selection. Most of my imports are Utena, Sailor Moon, Slayers, Dragonball, Your Under Arrest, Lodess War etc based.

Grave of Fireflies is another WW2 Japan anime, seen it? I haven't, but its only a matter of time.
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I liked the dubbing for Fruits Basket. Yuki's voice sounded a lot better; in the original he sounded like a girl. Just my opinion. 

You could try eBay for some DVDs, but do not get bootlegs. I was tempted by the complete series of Wolf's Rain, but I thought it over and decided to get the legit DVDs. The bootlegs were just Japanese with subtitles, and I read had really bad quality.

UK newspaper The Telegraph have produced a very informative article about Japanese animation. While naturally talking up the latest Miyazaki record breaker Howl's Moving Castle, the article also features quotes from UK anime enhusiast Jonathan Clements and includes an image of Rei from "Anime classic" Neon Genesis Evangelion.

There is an interesting slant on the current state of the anime industry in Japan, especially highlighting the financial plight of many Japanese animators who are often under-payed and forced to leave the industry before reaching middle-age.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/arts/main.jhtml...31/bfanim31.xml

2004 has proven to be, if nothing else, an exciting year for UK anime fans. We have sampled the highs of an increased number DVD releases (mostly courtesy of ADV and MVM) and the lows of acclaimed (and popular) anime series being regularly snubbed by British TV channels (probably in favour of yet another reality TV show).

Anime (in the UK) in 2004, while undoubtedly a small niche of interest for most in this country, has been subtly creeping into the British mainstream conscience. No one can argue with increased DVD sales and releases, a new (and mostly dedicated) anime magazine in NEO and the largest UK anime convention attendance (at AmeCon 2004) for a long time. This has been a year of slow but sure progress, spent building the foundations for the further success of anime in UK.

This is our review of anime in the UK in 2004, an epic trilogy of articles detailing this past year- our favourite UK DVD releases, our favourite fansubbed anime, the UK's highest and lowest points in 2004 and even our favourite UK anime websites! Happy new year and the best of luck in 2005!

http://www.animeuknews.net/viewarticle.php?showarticle=18

No, I was saying it was a good dub, as opposed to DBZ

That's what I said.

The dub of Wolf's Rain was also excellent. Blue's English actor was also her Japanese.

According to Bookscan, the Rurouni Kenshin volume 1 was the best selling graphic novel of 2004 in mainstream American bookstores. The second best selling graphic novel of 2004, in mainstream retail outlets, was Fruits Basket volume 1, although, because of the differences between the cover prices of the two books, Rurouni Kenshin volume 1 sold more copies but Fruits Basket earned more money.

The highest grossing graphic novel of 2004, in mainstream sales, was Art Spiegelman's 9-11 reflection, In the Shadow of No Towers, which sold almost as many copies as Rurouni Kenshin volume 1 but at more than double the cover price.

Bookscan results exclude sales from specialty retailers including comic book and anime shops.

According to Japanese site Moon Phase, Fushigi Hoshi no Futago Hime (literally, "Mysterious Star of the Twin Princesses") will debut in April as a 52 episode anime TV series broadcast by Fuji TV.

The official Japanese Saishu Heiki Kanojo anime website http://www.saikano.net/ now hosts a streaming Quicktime trailer for the two episode Saishu Heiki Kanojo: Another Love Song OAV series, scheduled for Japanese release this summer. The trailer is accessible by clicking on the right side image button on the website's "Information" page.

Anime Crash has officially confirmed its acquisition of translation and distribution rights to the new Korean animated family show Olympus Guardianslink.

The Anime Crash website http://www.animecrash.com/ has updated to now hosts streaming Quicktime trailers for its Korean and Japanese produced animated series acquisitions, Geisters, Ki Fighters, Shiden, and Olympus Guardians.

Momentum Asia have announced that Casshern will be tearing it's way into (most likely limited) UK cinemas on 18th February and will be quickly followed by a DVD release on 21st March.

Casshern is the much anticipated live-action adaptation of a vintage sci-fi anime series of same name. Click here to view the trailer. http://www.apple.com/jp/quicktime/trailers...ern_medium.html

AD Vision has scheduled release dates for several American anime DVD debuts:

Tree of Palme & Noir volume 1 (WMV HD version) will retail at $29.98 each beginning March 8th
Gravion Zwei, the second Gravion TV series, will debut on March 8th in a $29.98 disc only edition and a $39.98 disc with series collector's box edition.
The Five Star Stories movie will retail at $29.98 beginning March 15th.
Cromartie High School volume 1 will be released on March 15th in a $29.98 disc only edition and a $44.98 DVD with manga and series collector's box edition.

The Konami TV website now hosts a streaming Windows Media trailer for the Otogi-Jushi Akazukin OAV with action figure set scheduled for Japanese release on February 20th. The trailer is available in narrowband link and broadband link resolution.

Former Newtype USA Magazine writer Corey Henson has accused Newtype Magazine of altering one of his negative product reviews. According to Henson, Newtype Magazine changed the content of one of his reviews, without his consent, to soften the impact of the review's critical statements. Henson's full accusation and comparison of his original writing to what was published in the current issue of Newtype USA is available on the Anime on DVD Forum. As yet, Newtype USA Magazine has not responded to the accusation of intentionally disregarding journalistic integrity.

ADV Manga has scheduled the domestic release of six new English translated manga titles for March 7th. Each book will retail at $9.99.

Cromartie High School
Kids Joker
Kyrie
Muteki Kanban-musume
Orphen
Yo-u

I know. Just the way to you wrote it I though it was as if you though I hadn't. Must have been the tone I read it in.



Not over here. But I heard it had mixed reviews. Good animation, bad plot they said.
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InuYasha the movie 2 sould be out in canada soon... I like that Idea

Anime in Canada Updates
Canada's Teletoon television network will air two segments from The Animatrix each night from 10-10:30pm from March 14-18th. The shorts will repeat at the same time the following week.

Witch Hunter Robin will finish its run on YTV on March 4. Back-to-back episodes of Inuyasha will air in its place on March 11 and 18 from 10-11pm.

The highly anticipated first Inuyasha movie, "Affections Touching Across Time," will air on March 25 from 9-11pm.

The .hack//SIGN anime TV series will debut on the YTV network on April 1st at 10:30pm.

The finale of Dragonball Z will air on March 25. It's unknown at this time whether it will start over or be replaced on April 1.

And in related anime news significant to Canadian anime fans, FUNimation's Lance Heiskell has announced on the Anime on DVD Forum that the Fullmetal Alchemist DVD Starter Set will be available in Canada exclusively from Future Shop stores beginning March 25th.

Viz has revealed specific details about its recently announced Shojo Beat manga magazine. Beginning in July 2005 the monthly magazine will retail at $5.99 per issue, and VIZ will offer a special six-month introductory annual subscription special of $29.95 coinciding with the debut. Beginning in May, a special preview issue will be available at specialty retailers and summer anime and comic conventions.

The magazine will initially carry six different continuing stories:

NANA (NANA) by Ai Yazawa
Absolute Boyfriend (Zettai Kareshi) by Yuu Watase
Crimson Hero (Koshoku Hero) by Mitsuba Takanashi
Kaze Hikaru (Kaze Hikaru) by Taeko Watanabe
Godchild (God Child) by Kaori Yuki
Baby and Me (Akachan To Boku) by Marimo Ragawa

VIZ will also simultaneously debut a Shojo Beat graphic novel line, which will offer an ongoing library of new shojo titles at $8.99 each.

AD Vision Delays Scheduled Releases
AD Vision has indefinitely delayed the release of the following three DVD releases:

Dirty Pair OVA Collection, originally scheduled for release on March 1
Noir High Definition DVD volume 1, originally scheduled for release on March 8
Princess Tutu DVD volume 2: Traum, originally scheduled for release on March 8