(no subject)
It's been awhile, and I only have some random updates. This is mostly news from AX (read: old news)
- Death Note -
Death Note has been licensed for US release, and it will include the same figurines that were released with the Japanese versions. Figurines from the same mold! I'm so pleased they're figuring out how to make me spend money! No dates for the release yet, though. The manga, released by Viz, has ended with volume 12. There were no commitments on Viz's part about releasing volume 13, which has all kinds of series information, including (!!!) L's real name. I know I could just look it up on the internets, but...
AX had a showing of both Death Note live action movies. They were certainly well-done, with excellent graphics for Ryuk, but they had to take some liberties with the ending to the second film. Mello, Matt *love*, and Near do not make an appearance, but I feel the movie does a better job of showing L for the genius he is supposed to be. I personally feel that Light's actor looks like a dork, but everyone else looks their part. I didn't hear any plans to actually release the movies here, but I'm sure they'll come about eventually.
- DMP / June / 801 / Yaoi -
For those who are like me and live under a rock, yet like yaoi, here's some news: Digital Media, Inc is the parent company for DMP. DMP has an imprint for their yaoi books, June, probably to make it ok for people who think boys kissing is creepy to buy the "regular" DMP books. I believe June is actually part of DMP, not a separate company. Well, 801 is actually a new line, owned by Digital Media, Inc. However, it's made of the same people *gasp* that produce the DMP and June manga! I didn't know this, and went on thinking it was an upstart company, and upstart companies tend to have questionable quality at first. It should please everyone (or maybe just me) to know that 801 has the quality processes of DMP/June behind them, even if they are a separate company. I know I was pleased.
Sensitive Pornograph manga has been licensed for release by 801. 801's specialty, for those who don't know, is "hard core." Hard core being defined here as titles too porn-ish for June to release.
DMP/June/801 are rapidly ramping up their release schedule and list of titles, meaning that I will no longer be able to buy *every* book from them that hits the shelves. I had been doing a good job of keeping up, but it will most likely overtake me before I hit graduate school. Thankfully, it means there's enough selection out there that I can finally develop some *taste* and pick and choose which titles I'll pay those prices for. (ack, I ended that sentence badly)
There is an "Only the Ring Finger Knows" novel, volume 4 printed in Japanese. There will be a "Passion" manga, volume 4 released...someday.
- Viz -
Viz is speeding up their Naruto manga releases in order to catch up with Japan, meaning they're releasing one volume a month until January. Hee! They may also be speeding up the anime, I'm not sure. Most of their manga titles (Ouran High School Host Club, Vampire Knight, Backstage Prince, the list goes on) wind up coming out before their scheduled release dates. We'll see how they do with this new schedule for the Naruto manga. Hopefully they don't sacrifice any quality to meet this deadline.
In older Viz news, Zombie Powder (drawn by Bleach's Tite Kubo) has ended. It was 4 volumes long, and it had a fitting ending given the silliness of the story. It gives me confidence that Bleach will have a fitting ending as well. If you like the Bleach manga art, I would definitely give Zombie Powder a try.
- Mushishi -
Mushishi (anime) is being released in the US, and looks to be a promising series. The preview of the anime lead me to buy the book, and even though the art may not be my style, the story was excellent. I believe this is a Del Rey title, and comes with the standard Del Rey translation notes in the back, which are a big help in understanding this book. The Mushishi story has a lot of roots in Japanese folk tales and customs, and if you do pick this up be sure to read the translation notes in the back while read the book, and not after.
Mushi means bug, by the way. Mushishi means "Mushi master." Ewwww.
- Hellsing Ultimate -
Hellsing Ultimate continues to be a fabulous series, worth watching even if you have read the manga and watched the anime. There's something about Alucard on the phone with Integra, telling her how her orders to kill everything in the building is giving him a hard on that I just love. The art is stylistic and explosive, the music fits the mood, and the story brings out more of what made the manga so enjoyable. Speaking of the manga, Amazon seems to think volume 8 has been released!
The Hellsing Ultimate DVDs are nice, but I recommend buying the "Limited Editions" if you can. The first comes with 2 dvds, one for the episode and one with interviews and special features, and a Alucard bust figurine. The second Ultimate DVD special edition comes with 2 dvds again, plus a dvd-sized book showing scenes from the anime and their corresponding rough sketches. This is very nice if you're a big fan of the manga art, since it ties the manga and anime together quite nicely.
- Releasing Japanese art books domestically / Gravitation -
Apparently, the popular opinion is to not release art books here. The Japanese printers use a special kind of flourescent pink ink to print their books that domestic printers cannot replicate. Having it printed (anywhere) overseas raises the cost, like we saw with Earthian. Tokyopop announced plans to release a Chobits fan book, which will be printed overseas (China? Germany? I don't remember), but they had no plans to branch out into the Loveless art book.
Also, no plans for Gravitation doujinshi, either. I ask the same editor-lady every year. She probably thinks I'm nuts.
- Mega64 -
I had some time to kill during AX, so I went to "Mega64: Panel of Mystery" on a whim.
Well. Mega64 loves you
They came out with lights flashing and danced on the stage with capes on for about 3 minutes, then proceeded to show comedy skits on the video screen. My favorite, which they haven't released for public consumption yet, is of one of their own, dressed as FFXII's Van. He runs around his town, telling people he's Captain Basch (you can stop here if you haven't played FFXII). They record people's reactions, which are mostly "....ew...?", but I found it to be quite funny. If you do go to their website, check out the Tetris video!
- Media Blasters -
Media Blasters released Loveless and Sukisho, in case you didn't know. They got the license to release the Haru wo Daiteita OVA, yays.
- The End -
That's all I have. It's only totally late, my bad. I start "pre-class classes" for graduate school August 13th, and that will most likely be a huge eye opener for me. I'm pretty shy around people I don't know, but I hope I'll be able to make a few friends. It's probably too much to hope for that they would be huge anime / manga / etc fans like I am, but I'll keep my fingers crossed.
Love, Supermoo
- Death Note -
Death Note has been licensed for US release, and it will include the same figurines that were released with the Japanese versions. Figurines from the same mold! I'm so pleased they're figuring out how to make me spend money! No dates for the release yet, though. The manga, released by Viz, has ended with volume 12. There were no commitments on Viz's part about releasing volume 13, which has all kinds of series information, including (!!!) L's real name. I know I could just look it up on the internets, but...
AX had a showing of both Death Note live action movies. They were certainly well-done, with excellent graphics for Ryuk, but they had to take some liberties with the ending to the second film. Mello, Matt *love*, and Near do not make an appearance, but I feel the movie does a better job of showing L for the genius he is supposed to be. I personally feel that Light's actor looks like a dork, but everyone else looks their part. I didn't hear any plans to actually release the movies here, but I'm sure they'll come about eventually.
- DMP / June / 801 / Yaoi -
For those who are like me and live under a rock, yet like yaoi, here's some news: Digital Media, Inc is the parent company for DMP. DMP has an imprint for their yaoi books, June, probably to make it ok for people who think boys kissing is creepy to buy the "regular" DMP books. I believe June is actually part of DMP, not a separate company. Well, 801 is actually a new line, owned by Digital Media, Inc. However, it's made of the same people *gasp* that produce the DMP and June manga! I didn't know this, and went on thinking it was an upstart company, and upstart companies tend to have questionable quality at first. It should please everyone (or maybe just me) to know that 801 has the quality processes of DMP/June behind them, even if they are a separate company. I know I was pleased.
Sensitive Pornograph manga has been licensed for release by 801. 801's specialty, for those who don't know, is "hard core." Hard core being defined here as titles too porn-ish for June to release.
DMP/June/801 are rapidly ramping up their release schedule and list of titles, meaning that I will no longer be able to buy *every* book from them that hits the shelves. I had been doing a good job of keeping up, but it will most likely overtake me before I hit graduate school. Thankfully, it means there's enough selection out there that I can finally develop some *taste* and pick and choose which titles I'll pay those prices for. (ack, I ended that sentence badly)
There is an "Only the Ring Finger Knows" novel, volume 4 printed in Japanese. There will be a "Passion" manga, volume 4 released...someday.
- Viz -
Viz is speeding up their Naruto manga releases in order to catch up with Japan, meaning they're releasing one volume a month until January. Hee! They may also be speeding up the anime, I'm not sure. Most of their manga titles (Ouran High School Host Club, Vampire Knight, Backstage Prince, the list goes on) wind up coming out before their scheduled release dates. We'll see how they do with this new schedule for the Naruto manga. Hopefully they don't sacrifice any quality to meet this deadline.
In older Viz news, Zombie Powder (drawn by Bleach's Tite Kubo) has ended. It was 4 volumes long, and it had a fitting ending given the silliness of the story. It gives me confidence that Bleach will have a fitting ending as well. If you like the Bleach manga art, I would definitely give Zombie Powder a try.
- Mushishi -
Mushishi (anime) is being released in the US, and looks to be a promising series. The preview of the anime lead me to buy the book, and even though the art may not be my style, the story was excellent. I believe this is a Del Rey title, and comes with the standard Del Rey translation notes in the back, which are a big help in understanding this book. The Mushishi story has a lot of roots in Japanese folk tales and customs, and if you do pick this up be sure to read the translation notes in the back while read the book, and not after.
Mushi means bug, by the way. Mushishi means "Mushi master." Ewwww.
- Hellsing Ultimate -
Hellsing Ultimate continues to be a fabulous series, worth watching even if you have read the manga and watched the anime. There's something about Alucard on the phone with Integra, telling her how her orders to kill everything in the building is giving him a hard on that I just love. The art is stylistic and explosive, the music fits the mood, and the story brings out more of what made the manga so enjoyable. Speaking of the manga, Amazon seems to think volume 8 has been released!
The Hellsing Ultimate DVDs are nice, but I recommend buying the "Limited Editions" if you can. The first comes with 2 dvds, one for the episode and one with interviews and special features, and a Alucard bust figurine. The second Ultimate DVD special edition comes with 2 dvds again, plus a dvd-sized book showing scenes from the anime and their corresponding rough sketches. This is very nice if you're a big fan of the manga art, since it ties the manga and anime together quite nicely.
- Releasing Japanese art books domestically / Gravitation -
Apparently, the popular opinion is to not release art books here. The Japanese printers use a special kind of flourescent pink ink to print their books that domestic printers cannot replicate. Having it printed (anywhere) overseas raises the cost, like we saw with Earthian. Tokyopop announced plans to release a Chobits fan book, which will be printed overseas (China? Germany? I don't remember), but they had no plans to branch out into the Loveless art book.
Also, no plans for Gravitation doujinshi, either. I ask the same editor-lady every year. She probably thinks I'm nuts.
- Mega64 -
I had some time to kill during AX, so I went to "Mega64: Panel of Mystery" on a whim.
Well. Mega64 loves you
They came out with lights flashing and danced on the stage with capes on for about 3 minutes, then proceeded to show comedy skits on the video screen. My favorite, which they haven't released for public consumption yet, is of one of their own, dressed as FFXII's Van. He runs around his town, telling people he's Captain Basch (you can stop here if you haven't played FFXII). They record people's reactions, which are mostly "....ew...?", but I found it to be quite funny. If you do go to their website, check out the Tetris video!
- Media Blasters -
Media Blasters released Loveless and Sukisho, in case you didn't know. They got the license to release the Haru wo Daiteita OVA, yays.
- The End -
That's all I have. It's only totally late, my bad. I start "pre-class classes" for graduate school August 13th, and that will most likely be a huge eye opener for me. I'm pretty shy around people I don't know, but I hope I'll be able to make a few friends. It's probably too much to hope for that they would be huge anime / manga / etc fans like I am, but I'll keep my fingers crossed.
Love, Supermoo