*** ANIME NEWS & INTERESTING TID-BITS ***
++ Toonami Schedule Changes In September - The Cartoon Network has released the schedule
for its popular afternoon Toonami Block for the period of September 29 to October 10. The
Cartoon Network appears to be in a pattern of swift rotation of titles, which will give
more properties exposure, but limit the depth of the impression any series can make. The
current Monday-to-Thursday Toonami Block lineup, which debuted on September 1, includes
SD Gundam (5pm ET, PT), Dragon Ball Z (5:30 ET, PT), Cyborg 009 (6pm ET, PT), and Dragon
Ball (6:30 ET, PT).
Starting on September 29, the Monday through Thursday Toonami schedule will be: SD Gundam
(5pm), Samurai Jack (5:30 pm), Transformers Armada (6pm), and Dragon Ball (6:30pm). On
Fridays He-Man replaces Samurai Jack and Hot Wheels Highway 35 takes Dragon Ball's spot.
++ Absolution NeXt has conducted a frank interview with Sean Akins, the Cartoon Network
producer responsible for Toonami, Adult Swim, and SNES. Akins discusses the Total
Immersion Events, Toonami Programming, and more.
Interview excerpts include:
-Kenshin "should have been an Adult Swim show"
-Cartoon network no longer has rights to Tenchi Muyo or Outlaw Star
-"Looking at" Tenchi GXP and OVA
-Regarding Giant Robot Week: "Giant failure! Nobody watched."
-"Doubt" future ADV shows on Cartoon Network
-"Didn't sell too many" Deep Space Bass CDs, "don't count on any more"
++ Tokyopop Offers A 'How-To' Anime DVD - Tokyopop has announced a new October DVD release,
Anime: Concept To Reality, which serves as an introduction to the world of do-it-yourself
computer animation. In addition to two animated short features, "Understanding Chaos" and
"Shadowskin," the $14.99 (srp) DVD includes a 20-minute how-to segment that explains how
to create your own anime from start to finish, including character design, 3D imaging,
voice-over, scoring, and editing.
++ Japanese home video sales plummet after Spirited Away - Now that most Japanese consumers
who would buy or rent Spirited Away have already done so, Japanese home video sale and rental
figures have fallen drastically compared to the inflated sales figures (largely due to Spirited
Away), of the past year. In July 2003, just under 5 million DVDs were sold for 16 billion yen,
compared to 6.8 million DVDs in July 2002 (24 billion yen), a drop of 27% and 34% is units and
sales (yen) respectively. Spirited Away, which went on sale in June of 2002, sold a total of
5.5 million units (DVD & VHS) in Japan.
++ F-Zero to Enter Realm of Anime - On October 7th, Nintendo's F-Zero will begin its career
in television. According to Game Spy Daily, the F-Zero anime, entitled F-Zero: Falcon Densetsu
(or Legend of the Falcon) will air in Tokyo starting in October.
++ Tokyopop Announces Marmalade Boy DVD - Tokyopop recently announced that it is releasing the
first collector's set of Marmalade Boy DVDs in April of 2004. The three-disc DVD set includes
eighteen episodes packaged in a designer hard-cover case. The DVDs contain both dubbed and
subtitled versions of each episode and other "fun" special features. A Tokyopop spokesperson
confirmed that it would be releasing the full run of 72 episodes, but no schedule has been set
for the remaining releases.
++ John Sirabella of Media Blasters has posted a response to recent complaints of improperly
encoded audio on MB DVDs. In addition to outlining the cause of the audio problems, Sirabella
states, "We are now identifying which discs have this problem and will be making a determination
if the disc should be re-authored and if an exchange program will be offered. The determination
and order of the re-authoring will be made based upon the popularity and sales performance of the
release and the available materials."
We'll post more info on this as it becomes available.
++ Tenchi OVA 3 ending theme online - The official Tenchi Muyo! website now features the ending
theme to the new third OVA series. Both Windows Media and Real Player formats are supported.
http://www.tenchi-web.com/c/ryo_p/maintop.html
++ .hack//SIGN episode 28 preview online - Bandai Visual has opened a preview page for their
upcoming .hack//Integration box set release. Among the items to be included is a brand new episode
of .hack//SIGN. Episodes 27 and 28, which did not air in the United States, will be available
domestically in Bandai's release of the series' final (sixth) volume.
http://www.bandaivisual.co.jp/hack_udeden/integration/
++ Looking For Iria? - Iria, which was discontinued by CPM on DVD about 2 years ago, will be
re-released by Media Blasters sometime in the near future. There are hints of some special bonuses
with the re-release, but we will have to wait for Media Blasters to make an official announcement.
Once they do, we'll publish the details and get it posted for pre-order since we know many of you
have been waiting a long time for this title to come back into print!
++ Hellsing on Starz Encore's Action - Beginning October 4th, Hellsing will be broadcast on the
Action network throughout the month. Broadcast will follow Action's usual pattern, with several
new episodes each Saturday and repeats the following Wednesday.
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