June 24th, 2008 by Brack
Via AnimeNewsNetwork’s forum in reaction to the news of Urasawa’s single.
Considering the comparisons 20th Century Boys draws with Stephen King’s works (Stand By Me, IT, The Stand in particular), I suppose it’s not surprising, that like King, he also indulges in musical vanity projects.
Posted in Manga, Music | Tags: 20th century boys, bob lennon, naoki urasawa | No Comments »
June 22nd, 2008 by Brack
All the news you can no longer use from Issue 7 of Manga Mania, cover date January 1994.
UK NEWS:
US NEWS:
JAPAN NEWS:
- Super Soldier Sonic Borgman
- SuperDimensional Century Orguss OAV
- Ranma 1/2 OAV 2
- JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure
- Protect My Earth!
- Dominion
- Cashan
- Heroic Legend of Arislan
- All Purpose Cultural Cat Girl Nuku Nuku II
- Lance
- Devil Hunter Yoko Super Music Clip
- Ah! My Goddess
Posted in Anime, Manga | Tags: Manga Mania, Old News | No Comments »
June 20th, 2008 by Brack
More old news from 1993 courtesy of Manga Mania Issue 6, December ‘93.
Editorial: Figured I might start talking about these too. In this issue, Cefn Ridout bemoans the bad publicity anime was getting in the press. Well, one article in the Independent - “CARTOON CULT WITH AN INCREASING APPETITE FOR SEX AND VIOLENCE” by David Lister (not the Red Dwarf character one presumes). This perceived witchhunt of anime tends to be blown a little out of proportion by anime fans from this time. I think part of the feeling of belonging that a fandom gives a person, comes from the persecution complex most subcultures have, and the niche anime fandom at this time was no different. The people who were buying all those copies of Akira, Overfiend and Guyver are a completely different matter though. I doubt they gave two hoots what people like Lister thought and just wanted more sexy violent cartoons. Which is fair enough. GO TEAM SEXY VIOLENT CARTOONS!
UK News:
Japan News:
- Comet Machine Gun Gakusave
- Super Sonic Soldier Borgman
- KO Century Three Beastketeers II
- Fantasia
- X2
- Ushio and Tora
- Machine God Corps
- The Hakkenden
- Black Jack
US News:
Posted in Anime, Manga | Tags: Manga Mania, Old News | No Comments »
June 18th, 2008 by Brack
This what was being reported in Issue 5, cover date October 1993.
UK News:
US News:
Japan News:
- Wataru
- Super Soldier Borgman
- Cashan
- Arslan Chronicles
- Machine God Corps
- Ranma 1/2 OAV
- Dominion
Posted in Anime, Manga | Tags: Manga Mania, Old News | No Comments »
June 16th, 2008 by Brack
ISSUE 4~! OCTOBER 1993~!
IN THE UK:
Maybe in a later issue Wil Overton will overrate it in his videogame review section. Good lord, the tat that got 7/10s in that section of the magazine, this issue has SD Great Battle II getting the videogame review “average”.
IN THE US of A:
- Anime America (25-27 June 1993) - 1200 attendance listed. Guests: Haruka Takachiho, Monkey Punch, Kenichi Sonoda and Megumi Hayashibara. Described as having great events, but poorly run.
- Anime Expo (2-4 July 1993) - 1800 attendance listed (wikipedia gives 1,693). Guests: Well I don’t know, it lists a load, then says four didn’t show, but beyond mentioning Haruhiko Mikimoto not showing, I don’t know who the other three who didn’t show were. Described as having poor events (presumably down to lack of guests), but well organised.
Depressing thought of the day: The biggest anime-based con in the UK is now roughly at the size of the Anime America of 1993 (and has been for the last few years), and it’s idea of a guest is Monica Rial.
- Dark Horse Comics: Caravan Kidd, Version 2.2
- Eternity Comics: Robotech II: The Sentinels, Robotech: Return To Macross, Robotech: Invid War, Ninja High School, Zilliion
- Viz Comics: Battle Angel Alita, Maison Ikkoku, Ranma, Genocyber, Sanctuary, Pixy Junket, Crying Freeman, Sanctuary, Nausicaa, Guyver, Silent Mobius
- New Society Publishers: Barefoot Gen: Out of the Ashes
IN JAPAN:
Still loving that translation
ELSEWHERE:
Did this ever get anywhere? I remember at one point reading Sparks had the rights to make the film.
Posted in Anime, Manga, Videogames | Tags: Manga Mania, Old News | No Comments »
June 15th, 2008 by Brack
I did a couple of these last year, and not having too much to write about at the moment, I’m going to bring them back.
What are these? Well it’s summaries of the news in the UK manga & anime magazine Manga Mania from 1993. I didn’t actually read them back then, only hoping on in the spring of 1995. These are my little brother’s copies that I took of his hands years later. This is from issue 3, cover date September 1993.
- Viz announces Ranma OAVs.
- Live action Macross (!) announced at Anime Expo. This clearly never materialised, anyone know what this was about?
- Giant Robo Vol. 3 premiered at Anime Expo.
- Pioneer sent “shockwaves” by announcing their plan to have subtitles on their Laser Disc releases of “No Need For Tenchi: Demon Emperor Ryou”, “Moldiver” and “Machine God Corps” I wish they’d left Tenchi Muyo with that translation as it’s title.
- CPM/US Manga Corps releases: Urotukidoji: Legend Of The Overfiend, Area 88
- AD Vision releases: Battle Angel Alita
- LA Hero/US Renditions: Superdimensional Century Orguss Vol. 7 & 8, Ultraman Vol. 9, Macross II Vol. 3
- Family Home Entertainment: Robotech in SP mode VHS with TWO (!) episodes a tape.
- AnimEigo: Urusei Yatsura Vol. 9, AD Police File-I, Kimagure Orange Road Laser Disc Vol. 2
- Dark Horse Comics: Caravan Kidd, Version 2.2
- Eternity Comics: Robotech II: The Sentinels, Robotech: Return To Macross, Robotech: Invid War, Ninja High School
- Now Comics: New Adventures of Speed Racer
- Viz Comics: Battle Angel Alita, Maison Ikkoku, Ranma, Genocyber, Sanctuary, Pixy Junket, Crying Freeman, Sanctuary, Nausicaa
- Crayon Shin-Chan’s first film is released
- Sailor Moon is made into a stage musical
- Eight Man After, Comet Machine School Saber, Kiss Me On The Apple Of My Eye, Big Wars, Cashan and Giant Robo Vol. 3 were released in August in Japan. For now Trish Ledoux’s focus (for it is she that is writing the US/Japan news) seems to be on writing about Japanese OAV releases rather than what was on television then. Which is fair enough, as that’s what was most likely to get a western release. I’m wondering when that coverage in the magazine changed, and if it will coincide with Evangelion’s broadcast.
Posted in Anime, Manga | Tags: Manga Mania, Old News | No Comments »
June 10th, 2008 by Brack
I think I can now pinpoint the problem I have with Soul Eater, and it’s a problem I have with some other shonen titles to various degrees. It’s the Adult Authority Figures.
I mentioned some time ago the difference between Sgt. Frog and it’s antecedent, Urusei Yatsura, in how they treated adulthood. Sgt Frog treats adulthood as being just as fun as childhood, Urusei Yatsura portrays it as some kind of living hell.
Now the difference between Soul Eater and what is obviously my favourite shonen series, One Piece, is also a difference between how they treat adults, but rather than a difference in a philosophical view of adulthood (Soul Eater seems to side more with UY, given Maka’s father’s characterisation), it’s in the use of Adult Authority Figures.
Soul Eater, like many shonen series has the main characters firmly placed as students of older, wiser, characters, who know more than they do. Naruto is an exemplary case of this format, for all the goofing off and disobeying orders that Naruto does, he’s never shown to be smarter than Kakashi. In Soul Eater, no matter how goofy Dr Franken Stein or the Grim Reaper are, they know more than the main characters, and at the current time, the main characters ultimately have to bow to their greater knowledge.
In One Piece, however, all characters who feasibly have authority over the main characters are wrong. Even if, in theory, they are right. Regardless of common sense, fact or circumstance, Luffy’s decisions always end up being the right one in the end. It’s resolutely anti-authority. It’s a bunch of kids having adventures, doing what they want, without adults telling them what to do. Even if some of the kids are 27, 34 and 100+ years old. Part of what turned me off Bleach was the slow turn of the main characters from being anti-authority, to doing what the series’ “grown-ups” want them to do.
The lesson is: if you are going to write an adolescent fantasy, go the whole hog and STICK IT TO THE MAN!
Posted in Anime, Manga, Things I Know About Pirates | Tags: bleach, naruto, One Piece, soul eater | 1 Comment »
April 28th, 2008 by Brack
The latest chapter of One Piece introduces a whole load of new characters, who are essentially the peers of Luffy and Zoro in terms of notoriety. And a couple whose notoriety exceeds theirs. Most have obvious historical references in their names but a few are bit tricky.
Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in Anime, Manga, Things I Know About Pirates | Tags: One Piece | No Comments »
January 1st, 2008 by Brack
I checked the couple of recent-ish threads by “Greg” on Arlong Park - the translated web interview with Oda and the Jump Festa coverage. Very interesting stuff.
Also I see Yuichi Nagashima is apparantly Brook’s voice (he debuts on the 6th!). I’m only really familiar with Nagashima’s role as the deputy head on GTO and the sickly Kyasharin in Sexy Commando. So I’m guessing he’ll have a higher pitched voice than I was expecting (I was expecting a deeper, more gentlemanly voice ala Jouji Nakata - check the Club Escaflowne extras on the Escaflowne DVDs, Nakata can do the dirty minded gentleman perfectly, in fact, judging by that, he is one!). Still, Nagashima was good on GTO and Sexy Commando, so I’m sure it’ll be good. Just different.
Stuff on HLJ.com that caught my eye:
Straw Hat’s Flag Knitted Cap
Chopper w/ Wanted Poster - he looks so upset!
One Piece Barrel Mugs - in particular the Sanji one - I love that they are using that picture on merchandise.
I also caught some of the Chopperman special on youtube. Are the commentators on the wrestling bit real people? If so who? Also in the final battle, is that a parody of some of the Giant Robo music or am I imagining things because I want to buy this?
Posted in Anime, Manga, Things I Know About Pirates | Tags: One Piece | No Comments »
December 11th, 2007 by Brack
LCD Soundsystem - Sound Of Silver
Ever since hearing Losing My Edge I’ve been in love with LCD Soundsystem, and by extension DFA Records. This was a great album that I have no qualms about declaring being better than the debut LCD Soundsystem album proper. Only the title track was a little disappointing, being a bit too close to The Mighty Boosh’s “Crimping” in it’s delivery. Everything else was good, good, good with “New York I Love You But You’re Bringing Me Down” my utter favourite.
Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann
Despite claims to the contrary, GAINAX had never really stopped being good, they’d just been being rubbish in equal measure. Hiroyuki Imaishi’s mecha series for kids brought the goodness that GAINAX had been confining to OAVs back to television audience. When animation talent is spread ever thinner in Japan these days, the dense amount of eye candy this show served up was amazing. Coupled with a story by playwright Kazuki Nakashima, it was concentrated anime pop thrills that few shows can match. ADV’s R1 DVDs cannot come soon enough.
Never Not Funny
I picked up on Jimmy Pardo’s podcast late last year after near constant mentioning from The Sound Of Young America’s blog. I think the appearance of Paul F. Tompkins as a guest sealed the deal. After a somewhat sudden end to the first “season“, it came back better than ever with the rotating third guest of season two. After a year, I still can’t wait for Fridays to come around so I can get my fix of NNF.
30 Rock
The best sitcom in the world right now. Despite some truly dreadful trailers for it on Channel 5 in the UK that sucked all the humour from the clips they showed, it seems to have caught on in the UK, at least among critics. Of course, through the evil powers of the internet, I’m watching the second season at the moment, and it’s still going strong though with more of a focus on character’s personal lives rather than the show within the show.
One Piece
Eiichiro Oda’s manga rounded off the epic Water Seven/Enies Lobby saga at the start of the year, and began the more humorous Thriller Bark story full of homage to Tim Burton and Hammer Horror. The now 10 year old series has been credited this year with an increase in Shonen Jump sales in Japan this year, and it’s a good estimate to expect it to run another 10 years. Oda’s boundless imagination (Thriller Bark looks at times like 2 years of doodles escaped onto a page) and the series structure of story arcs that have their own resolutions, seems to guarantee it’s longevity. The anime has suffered a little from talent drain to other shows (Lovely Complex and the aforementioned Gurren Lagann to name but two), but seems a little surer footed as the year ends with even an anime-only filler story proving appealing.
Posted in Anime, Comedy, Manga, Music, TV | Tags: Podcasts | No Comments »
