Forum Buzz
By da Original S Man & asagiri2040

12/17/03 Edition

Important News

System Update: AoD Holiday Party Coming!
Just kidding.. =P It's over, we're safe for another year. FaeFae kept threatening to let Flood play with our DVD collections (well, S-Man's big collection) if we didn't. 0_0;;

A special reminder to all who wish to join the forums, be sure to check out:

And now, onto the forums...

.hack//SIGN volume 6 Limited Edition
After a listing for a Limited Edition version of the final volume of .hack//SIGN appeared on TRSI’s site, rampant speculation ensued. A couple of days later, Bandai’s Jerry Chu had some concrete info ready. The regular edition will contain episodes 23-26, plus the extra episode 27, called Integration. The LE will contain all of that, plus episode 28, called Unison, which is both the final episode and the fan-made episode. None of this is to be confused with the .hack//Liminality OAV, being released with the games, or with .hack//GIFT, yet another extra episode, to be released with the final game. Clear? Good.

Geneon New Title Announcements for March - May
Geneon's newest title solicitation contained some treats for all. First off, the 7th and final DVD for Chobits will be at the lower price of $19.98 for the 3 Recap episodes and (*drum roll*) the 10 minute Chibits short which released earlier this year. Secondly, all those Mahoromatic fans which have been dying for both a box for their 6 DVDs AND the Summer TV Special can now have their choice: Mahoromatic: Summer Special DVD single, w/Box, or w/Box & w/Figure. The Mahoromatic box will be large enough for hold all 7 Mahoromatic DVDs. The third and final treat is that April 6th will see the first Texhnolyze DVD with single and w/Box option. Check out the thread to see all the upcoming titles and their dates/prices.

Prétear: To Box or Not to Box
Another ADV box, and another “how sturdy is it?” guessing game on the part of many a potential buyer. Thanks to some people who’ve purchased a copy or seen it in stores, we’ve determined that it’s of the folded cardboard variety, much like the box for RahXephon, Super Gals!, or Neo Ranga. The price and/or quality isn’t right for some on-the-fence fans who’ve needed a push one way or the other, so they’re voting with their wallets and passing on the show entirely. The rest of a thread involves discussion about just how important boxes are, why Bandai and Geneon can consistently sell sturdier boxes for less, and other items of that nature.

Uchuu no Stellvia licensed (apparently)
In an interview with AN Entertainment’s John Oppliger, it was revealed that AN Entertainment had attempted to license several shows, yet was turned down due to those licenses having already been acquired by other companies. The shows in question were Princess Tutu, Scrapped Princess, and Uchuu no Stellvia. Some fans were excited about the apparent fact that these shows are now certain to be seen in R1. Other fans were indifferent, as these licenses were almost certainly a given. At any rate, it’s now all about wondering who’s got them.

Thoughts in the key of X
Confused by the ending of X? Disappointed by the ending of X? Then this is the thread to read. The general consensus seems to be that it’s not that the ending is bad, but that you need to attach greater significance to certain events during the show for it to seem less like a cop-out and more like a good conclusion. Beware: this thread is as spoiler-filled as they come.

Leiji Matsumoto & The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen
"littleharlock" dropped a small piece of intresting news for all those Matsumoto fans. The R2 Japan release of LXG will carry a manga version of "20,000 Miles Under the Sea". Kinda puts to shame that free comic book that Circuit City is offering with the live action movie.

Geneon Anime Music March Titles
Continuing to pick up and release a variety of anime series, Geneon has announced that Marth 16th will see Neon Genesis Evangelion OST2, .hack//Game Music Collection, and the Utena fans should be estatic to see the Utena OST seeing the light on US shores. With 19 new titles now available since their July re-launch, 2004 will be quite busy if they keep up the 3 titles a month release schedule.

BBFC Questionaire
The British Board of Film Classification review and rate titles to insure that the British public is aware of the content of a film or series. However, the BBFC has taken up a questionaire on their website to get the opinions of the viewing public on the accuracy of their policies. The questionaire is in the form of a popup so please make sure you're pop-up blocker is turned off if you wish to add your "agree/disagree" opinion to the matter.

Interstella 5555 - The Search For Digital Omake
Lance Heiskell noticed one of the hidden Easter Eggs on the recent Daft Punk DVD and has posted how to find it. Of course, if you happen to know of others then we'd all like to hear about it. In other news, DaftPunk.com has restarted with a new splashpage featuring upcoming figures for each of the band members in Interstella 5555 and their hero Shep. How can you resist Leiji character designed action figures?

R1 Bits & Pieces
How long will Yukikaze be? 5 episodes, 2 discs. Did anyone ever win that Trigun guitar contest? Possibly. Will Nintendo buying Bandai affect their anime releases? No, because that’s NOT what happened. Was the Someday’s Dreamers box an LE item? Yep. Will the Zoids: Chaotic Century discs be uncut? Nope.

Gundam SEED Cast List
On Sunday during an online chat, Jerry Chu of Bandai announced the Gundam SEED dub cast. Gundam Wing fans will be glad to see several of the VAs from the series are returning with new characters to voice, as well as, some fine up-and-coming Vancouver regulars of recent anime titles getting parts. SEED follows the Earth Alliance at war with the ZAFT with young 16 year old Kira Yamato (Matt Hill) caught up in the fight. Of course, those who have been following SEED are probably more concerned with whose voicing the beautiful Lacus Clyne. In this case, Chantal Strand has been given the honor of playing the idol singer.

ADV Cast lists for Gravion & BASToF Syndrome
Fresh off her Azumanga cast guessing game, Janice Williams is back with two more IS&M dub cast lists to announce. Gonzo's Gravion is a 13 episode sci-fi/giant robot number with very nice character designs. And BASToF Syndrome (Korean animation title "BASToF Lemon") follows 3 gamers trying to figure out why events in a game also affect the real city of Xenon.

Pwetty DVD Covers for the Week
Yukikaze's gains R2 the plane fanservice covers from the reverse side of the Japanese release while GXP gains new artwork instead of character fanservice covers that the R2 DVDs & VHS tapes sported.

Infinite Manga
TP's Jake Forbes strikes twice this week. First with news that the AYA manga will not have the previously mentioned dust jacket and then with a holiday themed Sergeant Keroro poem for having "ruined Christmas".

Broccoli

Comics One

TOKYOPOP

Viz

Recommendations Rundown
For something special this week, we’ve got a new poll up and running, thanks to “B-Rad Lascelle,” that asks which title seemed not so hot to you, and then snuck up behind you and smacked you wildly upside the head with a trout of goodness and enjoyment. This poll also makes good use of data collected from the original poll conducted four months ago, so hopefully your own “sleeper hit” is amongst the choices.

In other Recommendations happenings, we’ve got “tengu” with a recommendation for Gundam Seed, “SuzakuSeikun” with a request for some comments about Strawberry Eggs, “jarhead” with a request for some help deciding which of TRSI’s many bundle specials this week is worth the cash, and plenty more people with their own unique recommendations needs. So, click the links and help some fellow fans out, eh? And, with Christmas little more than a week away, don’t forget to take a peek at the Christmas Anime thread for all your themed marathoning needs, and to inquire as to whether or not a particular episode may be worth including. If we get the transient facts, then we feel the info high!

GONZO's New 2004 Anime: Bakuretsu Tenshi
Gonzo Digimation already has their plans ready for a new series. Blatantly advertising an upcoming LE promo DVD as "GirlsX GunsX3D CG Mecha", it obviously will be catering to many fans with the two cute girls featured. The title translates as Explosive Angel so there will probably be a little "action", too. ;-)

Ai Yori Aoshi Japanese Promo Posters
S-Man, being the devoted fan he is, has posted up several photos of AYA promotional posters he's imported from Japan. The large images cover the DVD release for two first season DVDs, the PS2 game, and two covering the first ~Enishi~ DVD release. If you're a fan of the kimono goddess, you must check these out.

Wallpapers Wallpapers Wallpapers!
Feel the need for some new wallpapers for your desktop? We've got ya covered! ;-)

Initial D - Fourth Stage
While the First Stage has just started releasing in the US, the Japanese will start viewing the Fourth Stage in April with a special recap episode to catch people up. The new series is reportedly going to carry the CG generated race scenes like previous stages but will also be cel shading the races to blend in more with the regular animated moments of the series.

t.A.T.u. anime coming in November 2004
Russian singing duo t.A.T.u. have an anime movie coming out next year. "Teisuu" mentions that their producer has been thinking of doing about doing something like this for awhile so he may have gotten his wish. Live action parts are being documented to premier in May, according to the website.

Spider-Man 2 Trailer
Everyone's favorite webhead is coming back to the silverscreen and Doc Ock is looking to squash him. Of course, he's just one of many from the editing of the trailer. Harry Osborn will, no doubt, have an ax to grind. John Jameson also makes an appearance which should have many jumping in hopes that Spider-Man 3 will bring in Venom's debut. What's a friendly neighborhood Spider-Man to do?

Silly Qs for the Week
Not answering questions makes baby Ryo-ohki cry.

Star Wars goes Kama Sutra!
Proof that there is always someone with more time on their hands than you, "Sugei" has run across one such website which takes Star Wars fandom to another level. Is it work safe? Well, does your company hold something again AT-ST lovin? =P

Quote of the Week

"Now the previously-thought-impossible has happened: we get a box... WITH A FIGURE! I danced for joy (naked) when I heard the news." - FunktasticMatt

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. Tell the truth... you'd buy the title outright if this description was true. ;-)