Anime Ain't It Cool Anime News

Cloud · Mar 13, 2001

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http://www.aint-it-cool-news.com/display.cgi?id=8299

The rumours of Mamoru Oshii's next project are true. A producer (who happens to be a close friend of Oshii) has told me that they are finally starting production on the sequel to "Ghost In The Shell". I'll report more on this topic when they actually begin.

ANIME

And now, allow me to introduce "Moby" who will be providing us with even more details on Anime in addition to the excellent reports by Scott Green. Now here's Moby's first report.

Greetings all, since this is my first ASIA-AICN post, I thought I would make it really juicy (with as few grammatical errors as possible so I won't get chewed by the mob on the message boards). First off, however, I must vent. In the last major ASIA-AICN update, a lad by the name of Monkey_King said that Outlaw Star and Cowboy Bebop are two of the best sci-fi anime series to come out of Japan in a long time. He should be flogged, tarred, and hung by his tongue or such an ignorant statement. Alas, Sci-Fi is one thing that Japanese animation houses do extremely well thanks to the cultural emphasis on detail.

While I must agree that Cowboy Bebop and Outlaw Star are two great shows that have garnered mass appeal to limit Sci-Fi Japanese anime to these two titles is like a slap in the face. So that this doesn't come off as hot air, let me back up my statement. Neon Genesis: Evangelion, (currently 4 discs are available on DVD with the 5th hitting store shelves on 3/27), single handedly re-wrote the giant-robot rulebook, if there was such a thing. Martian Successor Nadesico (first 3 DVDs are available with the 4th arriving on the 27th of Feb) re-examines what giant-robot anime is in a hysterical and well-conceived satirical romp to Mars and back. Trigun, while some may debate whether or not it is Sci-Fi, certainly is a highlight on the list. Trigun has just seen the sixth (of an 8 disc series) released. Many were originally turned away from Trigun early on because of its Stooge-esque humor. Those that were turned away however, are missing out on a twisted series that takes a cue from Rorouni Kenshin. If you stick with the series you are treated to a futuristic wild wild west with some great gun slinging action. Another cool Sci-Fi series that has recently found it's way to DVD is Gesaraki (3 DVDs available with a fourth coming soon). Gesaraki definitely isn't for those with ADD and not on medication. It starts of extremely slow, and only picks up later in the series, but the wait is well worth it. Outlaw Star and Bebop are the only two? Think again! Need I go on? Ghost In The Shell? The CGI spectacle Blue Submarine #6? Key: The Metal Idol? Serial Experiments Lain? Spriggan? But I digress, I was brought here to deliver some juicy anime news, and it's time I ended my rant and delivered.

Since we are on the topic of Sci-fi, the biggest Sci-Fi anime news comes from the 1998 film "Jin-Roh". I recently had a chance to watch this "psychological thriller", and while the animation is visually stunning, those of you looking for an anime with a lot of substance to the story should check this out. So when will you get a chance? Well, Bandai Entertainment (who earned points in my book for releasing Outlaw Star as a 2 DVD/9 episodes per volume as opposed to Pioneers "we are going to rob anime fans blind with their sad 3 episode per disc release of Trigun) and Viz Entertainment (who has also earned brownie points with me for their handling of Key) plan to release Jin-Roh here in the US in 2001. Based on their previous releases, I have faith that Bandai and Viz will take the "Crouching Tiger" route by releasing the film subbed with subtitles, as opposed to doing the Disney-comp out of hiring big name stars to ruin the remarkable voice work done in the original film. (Don't get me wrong, as far as dubs go Mononoke is at the top of the list.) As for when we will see Jin-Roh hit DVD. unknown, though it will most likely depend on what Viz and Bandai plan to do for the American release. Jin-Roh will, however, be available this spring on DVD in South Korea. For those of you with region free DVD players, you can import Jin-Roh from Japan, which has been out for some time now and features yummy DTS sound, or the French version that features English subtitles. (Thanks for the info Skull Knight).

On the fantasy front it turns out that one of my favorite anime series, ******* (was the first series I ever saw and first manga I translated), is coming to DVD in two yummy flavors. The standard version and a pricey $49 version that will contain an action figure. IKETERU!

Ok, now time for some new stuff. (Thanks again to Skull Knight for the 411). There are some pretty exciting series that have just finished their run in Japan and are finding their way into Japanese DVD players. Hopefully a US distributor will pick up these series: First up Senkaiden Houshin Engi. A fantasy romp through Chinese mythology. Houshin Engi is based on the manga series by Ryu Fujisaki. Houshin Engi follows the exploits of Tai Kou Bou as he attempts to restore peace in the human realm (laid to waste by Emperor Chu who is possessed by the infamous demon lord Dakki.). Tai Kou Bou is far from a hero; actually he is somewhat of a buffoon who has the task of capturing 365 of the demons that are roaming the Earth. Houshin Engi is a series that should definitely be brought over - from the heart pumping opening to the amazing fights and off beat humor Houshin Engi will be a definite favorite here in the US.

Then there is Now and Then, Here and There. When my partner in crime, Skull Knight, first showed me this series my jaw literally dropped. It was only the first episode of the series and I wasn't prepared for NaT-HaT. Besides being beautifully animated, NaT-HaT features a plot that rivals films such as Seven and the Usual Suspects in that it keeps you guessing and has so many twists and turns your not sure what is around the next corner. NaT-HaT is the story of Matsutani Shyuzo; a hyperactive kid. actually hyperactive doesn't do how much of a Speed freak this little boy is. Think of a kid with energy like Spud from Trainspotting, armed with a wooden sword, and is currently attending Jr. High and you can maybe begin to get a mental image. NaT-HaT starts off very comical, showing young Shyuzo's morning activities - breakfast, rushing to school, after school Aikido practice (trying to impress the local Jr. High hot-thang), etc. 15 minutes after what seems to be another pre-pubescent anime romp through growing pains turns into an alternate dimension sci-fi adventure as Shyuzo, while attempting to rescue a strange girl from a robotic serpent, get sucked into a gateway and brought to an alternate dimension called Hellywood!! And the humor ends, NaT-HaT becomes a dark, sometimes depressing adventure as Shyuzo stumbles into a world of plots, counterplots and murder. Hey! He is just a kid! Sure, sounds standard, but you have to see it to believe it.

My Last blurb is about the new Jo-Jo series. For those of you that don't know, Jo-Jo (what was that about only good Sci-Fi anime to come from Japan?) is an interesting modern adventure about individuals who have the spiritual guardians called Stands, which can be summoned to fight on their behalf. Hmmm, my explanation for what a Stand is may be a bit off for those of you who have seen the original Jo-Jo series, but it is kind of hard explaining it to the un-initiated. Let me try to explain a stand like this: Imagine you are about to go toe to toe with a gimp wielding a gun. As the guy pulls the trigger, this apparition appears, hovering just behind you. It catches the bullet in mid-air. if you die, it dies. The mugger tries to flee and you reach out your hand as if to grab the mugger. Your actions are mimicked by the Stand that grabs the punk and breaks him into two with your simple gesture. Just as your actions are reflected by the Stand, pain is also shared. If it gets spanked up, you'll have a few nice scars to remind you. Well the original Jo-Jo series featured Stand possessing individuals fighting the time-stopping Dio. With strange character designs, and even stranger Stand designs. Jo-Jo was a series that left me for one wanting more. Well good news. An OVA series has started hitting Japanese DVDs (3 released so far, with a total of 7 planned). The new OVA series is a prequel to the original Jo-Jo Bizarre Adventures OVA. The animation is 100 times better of course, and the storyline touches on what the Stands actually are, Dio's origins, and how Jo-Jo hooked up with the rest of the Stand weirdoes. In the first OVA, Jo-Jo's introduction is absolutely hilarious. His future comrades approach Jo-Jo, locked up in prison. Jo-Jo doesn't know what the hell this Stand thing is, but every time he puts a gun to his head to end his life, the damn thing appears and catches the bullet. The humor in this sequence comes from Jo-Jo's cellmates that are petrified of Jo-Jo because he is possessed by a demon!!

Hmm, I have some more juicy bits, but I want to string you all along for a bit. Don't want you all to get all the dirt, run off, and leave me now, do I? You all probably would. Anyway, next time you hear from me I'll have more info on DVD releases and some juicy info on some future anime projects in Japan (like the new Battle Angel Alita sequels - Gally is gonna have a new outfit.woo woo).

Take care all,

-M0BY-
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Anime Ain't It Cool Anime News

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Anime Ain't It Cool Anime News

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Cloud Administrator
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