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Welcome to our News archive for July 2005 - to see this month's news please click on the button below.
 


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27th July 2005

bfi Anime Season

The British Film Institute (bfi) are to screen a fortnight long season of anime in August at their National Film Theatre in London's South Bank area.  The season kicks off with daily screening of Princess Mononoke from 5th - 11th August and also features animation workshops before Kiki's Delivery Service takes up the Ghibli reins from 12th - 18th August.  Also screening are Steamboy, Perfect Blue, Tokyo Godfathers and a triple bill of Paranoia Agent episodes, but the icing on the cake is Manga's screening of the forthcoming Millennium Actress and ADV's screening of Voices of a Distant Star complete with an appearance by the film's creator Makoto Shinkai for a Q&A session.  If you can get to London over the next few weeks then don't miss it, for more info check out the NFT website (film links are in the top left hand corner).

Source:  Manga Entertainment; ADV Films
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27th July 2005

ADV Press Release for September

ADV Films have confirmed their release schedule for July, which will consist of the following:

Aquarian Age vol 2 - Troubled Dreams
Chrono Crusade vol 4 - The Devil to Pay
Gad Guard vol 5 - Acquaintances
Get Backers vol 5 - Virtual Apocalypse
Mezzo - Shell Two (vol 2)
Peacemaker vol 1 - Innocence Lost
Spriggan Special Edition (with CD Soundtrack)

Some really good stuff coming, with the continuation of popular series like Mezzo and Get Backers, but the focus must really be on the new releases - Peacemaker and Spriggen Special EditionPeacemaker is action packed samurai based on the turbulent beginnings of Japan's Meiji period, and follows the tale of a young warrior who must choose between the bloody path of revenge and the nobler but less satisfying future of peace.  Fans of Rurouni Kenshin (aka. Samurai X) will find plenty to like in this enjoyable series, but people should not overlook ADV's re-release of Spriggen, or class it as a pointless re-issue.  Spriggen Special Edition comes with a host of new extras, including a new commentary track from anime pundit Jonathan Clements (worth buying it for alone) and the CD soundtrack in an impressive embossed slipcase for the decent price of £21.99!!!

Source:  ADV Films
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26th July 2005

Transformers Reconstructed!

With a Michael Bay directed live action Transformers film apparently confirmed for 2007, Metrodome have decided to release a new remastered version of the 1980's animated classic Transformers The Movie!  Due for release on 5th September, Transformers The Movie: Reconstructed features visuals fully remastered from the original film negatives and Dolby Digital 5.1 audio.  Also included are a multitude of extras, ranging from the Japanese trailer through to character biographies, alternate Autobot/Decepticon menus and the entire film script.  The release also includes the first episode of the forthcoming Transformers Headmasters series (otherwise known as Transformers Takara) and a collectors booklet, and best of all will set you back only £15.99!  For more info and some comparison pics have a look at the Transformers website - www.transformersdvd.com - and don't forget to register on their boards for a load of free downloads!

Source:  Metrodome
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16th July 2005

Gantz Rated 15

Volume 1 of the controversial anime series Gantz, due out in the UK on 5th September from MVM, has surprisingly been given a 15 certificate and no cuts by the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) despite containing 'Frequent, bloody violence and strong language'.  This has come as something of a surprise to many, with most fans expecting an 18 certificate and some expecting cuts for violence and sexual content, however it has been in line with recent BBFC decisions on similarly violent titles like ADV Films' gory actioner Elfen Lied.  There is no doubt that had these titles been released several years ago they would have prompted a higher certificate than they do now, but it is good to see the BBFC are taking a more informed approach than the knee-jerk outrage they seemed to display towards anime in the past - long may it continue.

Source:  Anime-On-DVD; BBFC
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13th July 2005

Second Wave of Gollancz/Viz Manga on its Way!

With the first of Gollancz's manga titles - which includes Yu-Gi-Oh! and Dragonball - not due to hit UK shelves until next month it is a little surprising to see the next phase appearing for pre-order on Amazon!  Starting monthly from January 2006 it seems that the UK are going to be getting the classic samurai actioner Rurouni Kenshin and superb romantic comedy Maison Ikkoku, and we will also be getting the supernatural actioner Flame of Recca every two months from March 2006.  Great stuff!!

Source:  Gollancz; Anime-on-DVD; Amazon
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13th July 2005

Anime Game Blitz!

Seems like the gaming world is going anime game mad at the moment!!  First up was Atari's shock UK release earlier this month of Saint Seiya, a one on one beat-em-up based on the anime of the same name for the Sony PlayStation 2Atari weren't satisfied with just this though - they've also released a special edition of their popular fighting game Dragonball Z: Budokai 3 on the PS2, and finally appear to be bringing the frequently delayed Yu Yu Hakusho: Dark Tournament to the PS2 later this month.  If this wasn't enough Namco are also getting in on the act with a 9th Sept release on PS2 and Nintendo Gamecube pencilled in for Hello Kitty Roller Rescue, a budget kiddie orientated adventure game which boasts 20 playable characters to help Kitty fight off aliens intent on stealing boxes from 'Sanrio Town',

Source:  ePlay
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7th July 2005

UMD Madness

Following Optimum's announcement of a UMD (Universal Media Disc) release for Appleseed, several other anime releases in the format have come to light.  According to Play.Com we should see the Manga Entertainment stalwarts Akira and Ghost in the Shell hit the shelves on the 2nd September - the day the Sony PSP, the console the UMD format has been developed exclusively for, is finally released in the UK.  As well as these we should also be getting Transformers The Movie (5th Sept), an unspecified Neon Genesis Evangelion release (30th Sept) and La Blue Girl Returns (5th Sept), just in case you really wanted to shock that old lady on the bus...

Source:  Play.Com
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7th July 2005

Robotech Artwork

Manga Entertainment have released the cover artwork for their forthcoming release of Robotech vol 1, and we must say it looks damn good - click here for a sneak peek...

Source:  Manga Entertainment
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5th July 2005

Appleseed Release News

Optimum Releasing have sent us a press release for their forthcoming release of the futuristic actioner Appleseed.  Based on a story from Ghost in the Shell creator Masamune Shirow, the new Appleseed film has turned heads with its cel-shaded visuals and a pumping soundtrack featuring the likes of Paul Oakenfold, and will hit UK shores for a limited theatrical run on 19th August.  The film will be available to buy just one month later on 19th September, and is not only to be released on DVD but also on UMD (Universal Media Disc) - a format specifically designed to be played on Sony's forthcoming handheld console, the PlayStation Portable (PSP).  With the console out just over a fortnight before, Appleseed is not only Optimum's first release on the format, but amongst the first UMD feature film releases too.  To read the Press Release in full, please click here.

Source:  Optimum Asia
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5th July 2005

DVD Monthly Goes Anime Mad!

The current issue of DVD Monthly magazine has an absolutely huge anime competition in it!  Up for grabs is an anime DVD collection comprised of pretty much all of Manga Entertainment and MVM's current anime catalogues, that's over 100 DVDs in all, including such great titles as Fullmetal Alchemist, Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex and Haibane Renmei.  Make sure you enter, the comp can be found in issue 67, which has a pic of Arthur Dent from Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy on the front.

Source:  MVM, Manga Entertainment
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5th July 2005

Out in July!!

4th July 2005

Paranoia Agent vol 1 - Enter Lil' Slugger (MVM) Cert: 15
Ranma 1/2 Movie 1 - Big Trouble in Nekonron China (MVM) Cert: PG
s-CRY-ed vol 2 (Beez) Cert: PG
Witch Hunter Robin vol 2 (Beez) Cert: PG

11th July 2005

Mobile Suit Gundam Movie II - Soldiers of Sorrow (Beez) Cert: PG
Mobile Suit Gundam Movie III - Encounters in Space (Beez) Cert: 12
Salaryman Kintaro vol 2
(Artsmagic) Cert: 15
Stratos 4 vol 2 (Beez) Cert: 12
Yu-Gi-Oh! vol 11 (Contender Entertainment) Cert: PG

18th July 2005

Aquarian Age vol 1 - Awakening (ADV Films) Cert: PG
Chobits vol 3 - Darkness Descends
(ADV Films) Cert: 12
Chrono Crusade vol 3 - The World, The Flesh & The Devil
(ADV Films) Cert: 12
Cowboy Bebop vol 6
(Beez) Cert: 15
Fullmetal Alchemist vol 2 - Scarred Man of the East
(MVM) Cert: 15
Gad Guard vol 4 - Collections (ADV Films) Cert: PG
Get Backers vol 4 - Battles with the Past (ADV Films) Cert: PG
Mezzo vol 1 - Shell One (ADV Films) Cert: 15
R.O.D. The TV vol 2 - The Undercover Student (MVM) Cert: 12
Sakura Diaries Collection (ADV Films) Cert: 15
Trigun vol 4 - Gung Ho Guns (MVM) Cert: 12

25th June 2005

Salaryman Kintaro vol 3 (Artsmagic) Cert: tbc

Source:  MVM, Manga Entertainment, ADV Films, Play.Com
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