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Fanime News & Views
Fanime has come and gone with a few tidbits and lots of "wait till AX!" suggestions from the companies involved. Highlights include FLCL going to Cartoon Network for airing, ADV taking up all of a classic known as Megazone 23, and Bandai gaining alot of girls with Tenshi no Shippo. Still, we must repeat the most important news: FLCL is going to be aired on TV.

Turning it up! Heat Guy J goes online
Pioneer title, touched & blessed by the director and staff of "Escaflowne the Movie", and sporting a soundtrack that makes many drool: Heat Guy J's official US website is starting to fully open. Three clips are available on the frontpage while the internal structure reveals character information, DVD details, and lots of goodies to play with (postcards. AIM icons. the works, baby!). Come experience a very tight impression of Judoh City and its inhabitance.

Coastal Carolina Studios No More
The long time fan favorite dub studio for both sub & dub fans is closing its doors due to lack of work. Yes, Coastal Studios (most famous for Oh My Goddess!, You're Under Arrest, and Blue Submarine No. 6) has not been able to maintain a steady stream of work despite their recent studio expansions during the YUA recording days. This is not the first time the ax has been held over the studio's head but it does seem to be more costly this time around. Scott Houle and all the great folks at Coastal have given us nine wonderful years. Thanks guys & gals, you will be missed.

Officially going into a Full Metal Panic!
Following up on the VoaDS website success, ADV's dynamic HTML duo have finished polishing the gunmetal on yet another website. FMP! features all your standard issue weaponry: show info, cast info, release info, omake info, trailer info, more omake info, wallpaper info, avatar info, and even more omake info. Did we mention it contains info? No!? Well, it does. Those signing up for bootcamp may want to check out the AoD thread for some already located rations and report back if they discover some new sources.

Boogiepop; a Phantom no longer
After some confusion, some panic, and some indifference, the limited edition Boogiepop Phantom boxsets are finally making their way into the hands of the fans. Some enterprising folks went and harrassed the employees at their local Best Buy B&Ms in order to get one early, while others had to wait until the slightly bumped street date of 6/24 or until their TRSI preorders showed up on their doorsteps. For those not interested in buying the set, user “fnordboy” was kind enough to take some pictures. That’s one nice set, indeed.

Comic Party to sport new logo on packaging
While the video will remain untouched, the DVD packaging for Comic Party will feature a new logo even though the original logo has an English version (which appears on the Comic Party banners). People are weighing in their own opinion on just how pretty, ugly, or pretty ugly the new logo is.

Master Keaton: Insurance Man or Indiana Jones? (hey, why not both!)
Teacher, insurance man, veteran, father, archeologist.. you just never know what hat Keaton will put on next. Master Keaton touches on a part of anime many don't seem to explore: reality. Many people have been surprised (happily, mind you) at just how good this show can be. If you're looking for something that is a bit different and covers the globe, then look no further.

Just an old fashion Cowboy...
The Cowboy Bebop movie hits DVD shelves this week and you know the people are in a frenzy over it. How it is, where to find, and even an update on the theatrical money-making status are in this round up. Y'all have fun now and remember to watch Big $hots every night.

Yuki Kajiura Fiction CD Questions
"wolve" has brought up an interesting piece of news. It seems there are some differences between the US and Japan listings of the upcoming cd. Pioneer is handling the US release (and bringing Yuki to Anime Expo) so the questions will have to be addressed at some point. Nothing more fun then having quite a few audience members wanting to ask questions (like this one).

Wherefore art thou, Mazinkaiser?
Moved back, that’s where. So rest easy, Go Nagai robot fans. With that out of the way, the thread degenerated into silliness rather quickly, although surprisingly it was not that inimitable duo of comedic brilliance known as da Original S man and asagiri2040, but rather the semi-respectable David Williams and Shawne Kleckner. In the end, it was decided that drinks are on Shawne and panties are on David. Those going to AX should be sure to have cameras handy.

Go Nagai: Going, going… gone?
Mazinkaiser may still at least have a street date, but other Go Nagai DVD-goodness hasn’t been so lucky. Mere days after the official street date press release, another press release was sent out informing the fans that the Go Nagai collection had been postponed with no new date yet set. From the PR: “A formal announcement will be made in the event that the title is rescheduled.”

Are you ready for a miracle? It's time for the Revival of Evangelion
The box set that every Eva R2 fan has been drooling for is finally here. The boxes are shipped, the people are fairly happy, and the packaging is... well, this is Eva so think "unique". Somebody grab a choir and we'll hit the road to preach the word of Gainax.

Azumanga Diaoh Korean R3 Release Details
Want Azu, can't wait for ADV, can read/understand Japanese & Korean, AND have a little over $112 US greenbacks burning a hole in that pocket of yours? Guess what! Then you may already be on your way to snagging a copy of the Korean R3 release of the show everyone is talking about. The set is next to impossible to find online for shipping but people are determined to try. Just look at those extras and tell me you wouldn't plop down the money without a second thought.

Manga: Read, Flip, Repeat.
Another week to break that piggy bank open and rush down to the book store for those much needed collections of text and artwork.

Central Park Media

I.C. Entertainment

TOKYOPOP

New Manga Titles in Japan

Not quite the best thing since sliced bread…
It’s not just good, it’s great! Fantastic! Incredible! Nay, it may even be The Best Show Ever In The History Of Anime!! Or so they say. If you’ve ever been suckered by the hype and burned as a result, here’s the place to tell your sob story. Or, perhaps, to persuade someone to give a show another shot after they had abandoned it due to excessive hype.

Priorities, schmiorities… why not just buy it all?
Lack of disposable income means the DVD “to buy” list gets shorter. Still, the fans must finish their favorites and start some new ones. Noir, RahXephon, and Utena are among the “must finish”, while Haibane-Renmei, The 12 Kingdoms, and Witch Hunter Robin seem to be some of the more popular “must have” titles. Post your list of necessary evils, and check out how many others are in the same boat.

AnimeOnDVD Recommendation Pre-voting
Several series are closing in on their due date and it's up to the fans to show what they have to turn in. Take a whirl in the recommendation machine.

Dude, Company X so has Show Z!!
With con season entering full-swing, it’s time for the inevitable guessing game, thanks this year to user “ibby”. It seems obvious that some shows will be licensed, but will it be this year or next? And by whom? With some degree of licensing certainty created by the Pioneer / Rondo Robe connection, as well as a wild X-factor in the form of FUNimation, things are quite a bit different this time around. Give us your list, and then wait and see how your guessing mojo meaures up!

Just what is the future of DVD?
DVDTalk recently sparked some conversation on just where the media format which has knocked down the VHS reign is heading. Lots of talk and intelligent discussion on how piracy & conversion will be dealt with as we continue on.

Personal online photo galleries of Japan
Kinda of an old thread that has been revived, some more photos of the land so many anime fans worship are up. Raja & wrex, as well as the older links) are worth taking a look at. There is nothing more overlooked than how beautiful a city can be at night from above.

Weekly 'Questions' Crash Course
So, you think we can't ask something new huh... Well, we'll prove you wrong & were willing to bet a large amount of money we don't have and could never produce. Are you brave enough to take on this challenge? (and don't forget to add your own thoughts)

NewType™ July DVD
July issues of Newtype USA are starting to surface. We all know you want to know what is on the DVD (there's a magazine?). July gives fans King of Bandit Jing & K.O. Beast to sample and make up their minds. Now if a certain someone that mods the forums would get off his butt and finish those DVD covers...

Lupin the 3rd Video Game to steal PS2
Master thief Lupin the Third is coming to the US on Playstation 2. Bandai Entertainment and Pioneer appear to have teamed up to give the ever growing fan club Lupin watchers (and Fujiko worshipers) a chance to own their own copy of fun this fall. The game retains the anime quality & style of that seen in the 2nd series now airing on Cartoon Network.

Harry Potter
Nothing to say, really. Pottermania continues on even here on the forums and must be mentioned.

Legends of Galactic Heroes needs YOU!
One large series. One large price tag. Many dedicated fans needed to sign up. If you want this series and are seriously willing to hand over the cash to see it, then you may want to look into signing up. Otherwise, we'll have to listen to Chris bring up this show over and over and over again until it is released in R1.

Quote of the Week

"That nice guy, Matt Greenfield answered my question despite the evil DLW trying to thwart me being called on." - Jim Lazar

When not stopping trouble (or starting it) on the AoD Forums, S-Man can be found working on the database project at Crystal Acids and asagiri2040 can be found not updating his Rising Sun Alternative website. It's 6:00am.. why the hell am I still writing this at 6:00am? Why can't some studios with those huge lists of licensed shows that are not out in R1 yet (you guys know the ones I'm talking about) email Coastal and setup to use the studio. How come Swirl Recordings (work includes: AnimEigo's Vampire Princess Miyu OVA, Kitty's Karma Sutra, RighStuf's Vanilla hentai series, and Media Blaster's Tokyo Vice) gets to record the Urusei Yatsura: Only You movie dub!? It's not like they've been known for quality (or even being halfway decent) before now.