#3: Anime and Manga Publishing Woes

2008 has been a rough year for anime and manga publishers. Several companies have not survived the evolution of the industry, while others are casualties of the struggling economy. Here are a few bit hits publishers (and fans) took in 2008:

The Late, Great Newtype USA

Newtype USA Ceases Publication; PiQ To Take It’s Place

“Also earlier this month, ADV contacted retailers to let them know that Newtype USA would be ceasing publication after the February issue.” Continue reading our original article

After Newtype USA was cancelled, their ‘replacement’ magazine ‘PiQ’ was launched. Here’s a quote of the original press release:

PiQ Magazine

“PiQ Magazine, a publication of PiQ, LLC, is devoted to anime and genre entertainment and bringing the best coverage to readers every month, including product reviews, feature stories and interviews with creators and entertainers, as well as columns by industry experts, examinations of fan culture and insider perspectives and opinions.” – PiQ Magazine Press Release

Soon after it’s launch, PiQ Magazine was canceled:

PiQ, the Magazine Formerly Known As NEWTYPE USA Is No More

“PiQ Magazine, which was the ‘next evolution‘ of NewType USA after they ceased publication is ceasing publication with issue #4.” Continue reading our original article

I’m not too sure what happened there, but there are many, many thoughts on PiQ.

After so much turmoil in the magazine publishing industry, fans were hoping there would be better news. There was none to be found:

State of the Anime Industry in the US

“Recently there has been unrest in the US anime industry. Why is this? Not surprisingly, one big reason is money.” Continue reading our original article.

Here’s another look at trouble at ADV Films from earlier in the year.

Well actually, I guess the industry was all out of good news, ’cause Tokyopop ended up handing out layoff notices too:

Tokyopop Splits in Two

“In early June, Tokyopop announced that they would be restructuring their company. Publishing operations would still be handled by Tokyopop, Inc. However, a new company called Tokyopop Media LLC would be created. This company will take over the comics-to-film and digital units (including the Tokyopop.com website).” Continue reading our original article

UPDATE: There’s also an update regarding layoffs at Tokyopop.

Ok, the restructuring of Tokyopop, the largest manga company in North America was bad news in many ways (fewer titles, fired artists and internal layoffs). But at least stronger manga series will survive, right? Well, time will tell. I think it’s time to run away from the publishing industry and see how the film industry is doing, shall we?

#2: Speed Racer Live Action Tanked At Box Office; Dragonball Live Action Pushed Back

Ouch. Even Hollywood got bad news in 2008. Anime had a rough time in the film industry this year. Speed Racer had a disastrous box office and Dragonball got pushed back into 2009. Let’s reflect back on the two big live action anime films that made the news:

Live Action Speed Racer

Speed Racer Live Action Tanked At Box Office

Although we didn’t cover Speed Racer’s tanking…the film had a buget of $120,000,000 (120 million dollars) and big-name directors (of The Matrix) at the helm. It had a multi-million-dollar marketing blitz. It made $44,000,000 (44 million dollars) at the box office, which is literally considered a disaster in Hollywood.

Rachel wrote an outstanding review of the film, which was very positive. Here’s an excerpt:

“The visuals aren’t just a homage to anime, though, they are anime. The beautiful people and creative character designs populating Speed Racer are what make anime so appealing and unique.

But you don’t have to be an anime fan to appreciate a movie this engaging and fun. It’s hard not to get swept up in the excitement of a race, or a fight with ninjas and colorful villains. The theater audience was cheering as Speed flew down the impossible race tracks- everyone was in on the action. The pervading bubblegum feel of the movie didn’t feel childish, however, just fun. Adult fun. Fun like we imagined adulthood would be like but never was. Fun with an edge, sexy fun but not too naughty.” Continue reading Rachel’s Speed Racer review

Why didn’t audiences go to see Speed Racer in theaters? We’re left scratching our heads, because it was a great example of how anime can be adapted for live action.

Dragonball Evolution

Dragonball Live Action Delayed

As for the Dragonball live action film…reports have been all over the place. There have been reshoots, pulled trailers and delays from it’s original August 15, 2008 release to April 3, 2009. Oh, and it’s now called ‘Dragonball: Evolutions‘. If you care, there’s more info at the official Japanese Dragonball: Evolutions website and dbthemovie.com.

So depending on your viewpoint, the Dragonball delay news could be a good thing because it either A) delays it’s enevitable release or B) gives them time to improve it.

Ok, I’m going to sweep away all of the bad news that 2008 brought to the anime and manga fans and the industry. Let’s look to the internet for hope!

#1: Digital Distribution & Legal Anime Downloads

2008 was the year that anime began to blossom online. Thanks to sites like Hulu, Crunchyroll, iTunes (and YouTube) finally playing well with Funimation, Viz and others…we’re seeing the release windows shrink between Japan and North America (and the world!). Let’s talk about the key video players who helped ’save’ anime in 2008:

Digital Distribution of Anime in 2008

Watch Anime On Hulu

Hulu is one of the best places to watch television online. Their anime section is continually growing, so keep an eye out for new show announcements. Current titles include Slayers, Peach Girl, Shuffle!, Black Blood Brothers, Mushi-Shi and XXXHOLiC. You can check out Funimation’s Anime Series on Hulu or visit the Hulu Anime Directory.

Anime Channels On YouTube

Youtube has only recently begun to add official shows to their site, but there are quite a few to choose from. Current shows include Funimation Anime at YouTube.com and Kadokawa Anime at YouTube.com.

Joost Anime

Joost competes with Hulu for viewers, so expect to see shows you wouldn’t find there like Viz Media Anime at Joost.

Digital Downloads

Digital downloads are different than streaming anime because you can purchase individual episodes and series that you then download to your computer. CrunchyRoll went through some major changes in 2008, which will probably grow exponentially in 2009:

CrunchyRoll Anime Shows

CrunchyRoll features lots of anime series and has a unique pricing model. Check out what CrunchyRoll’s Anime Shows have to offer.

Apple iTunes Store

The iTunes Store has a lot of great content, unfortunately it’s a little difficult to navigate directly to their anime titles. Here are a few links that open to various sections of the store that have anime (all links open in iTunes):

• Funimation Series on iTunes
• iTunes Anime Search
• iTunes Animation Category

NetFlix

Netflix has the most complete anime dvd rental library. They also feature lots and lots of streaming titles through their ‘Watch Now’ feature. They’re also Mac and television set-top friendly. Check out their NetFlix WatchNow Anime Series and Films.

In Conclusion

2008 brought a lot of tough changes to the anime and manga industry. With massive changes to well-established companies, it might look like ‘doom and gloom’ for us fans at first. But look at the bright side: legal digital distribution NEEDED full support from the industry, and that is beginning to happen. Let’s hope 2009 has more positive things to talk about this time next year!

Thank you loyal (and new) readers for traveling with us at The Anime Blog on this crazy anime journey during 2008. Have a safe and happy new year!

Kimba Image: © Tezuka Productions

80th Anniversary of Tezuka Productions

In early November, Tezuka Productions, the studio created by Osamu Tezuka (”The God of Manga”), announced that it will be celebrating the 80th anniversary of its late founder’s birth by posting all his works produced prior to 2000. These releases will be posted over the next three years and will feature approximately 700 manga and 100 anime, including Tetsuwan Atom (Astro Boy), Jungle Taitei (Kimba the White Lion), Ribbon no Kishi (Princess Knight), and Black Jack. Currently, the releases are available only in Japanese. However, Korean and English web sites are in the works, though no opening date has been given for either site.

ANN Story: Tezuka’s 700 Manga, 100 Anime to Be Posted for Free

Japanese Source: Nikkei Net IT+Plus

Seikishi Monogatari location shot

Tenchi Muyo! spinoff Isekai no Seikishi Monogatari Currently In Production

The December issue (which went on sale Nov. 10) of Kadokawa Shoten’s Newtype magazine announced (and confirmed) that Isekai no Seikishi Monogatari, the Tenchi Muyo! spinoff, is now in production. Tenchi Muyo! Ryo-Ohki and GXP creator, Kajishima Masaki will be involved. The spinoff had been in development in one form or another for over a decade. Masaki-san had said in a 2001 interview about Seikishi Monogatari’s main character:

“Seikishi Monogatari is not as deeply entrenched in the Tenchi Muyo! universe as GXP. The only connection is the family name of the main character, which is ‘Masaki’. I don’t think it’s necessary to hide who he is… it’s the story of Tenchi’s half-brother. I had this character in mind before I created the 1st Tenchi Muyo! Ryo-Ohki OVA.“

Seikishi Monogatari character shot

The synopsis of the series itself is described in the ANN article:

“The story is set in an alternate world called Geminar, where countries have fought endless wars with replicas of humanoid Seikishi weapons that they found in ancient ruins. 15-year-old Kenji Masaki, the half-brother of Tenchi Muyo! protagonist Tenchi Masaki, is summoned from another world to Geminar.“

The official Japanese website has streamed three trailers. The first features location images, the second features several of the character designs, and the third shows some of the backgrounds and compares the black and white sketches with the full color renderings. The third trailer also shows some of the backgrounds with several of the characters in place to show the scale.

The website has also listed the anime’s main cast:

• Hiro Shimono: Kenshi Masaki
• Madoka Yonezawa: Rashara Aasu XXVIII
• Natsuko Kuwatani: Kyaia Furan
• Ayumi Tsunematsu: Mezaia Furan
• Rie Nakagawa: Wauanrii Shume
• Junko Noda: Aura Shurifon

Images ©AIC/VAP

ANN Story: Tenchi Spinoff Isekai no Seikishi Monogatari Confirmed

Japanese Source: Moon Phase Comments

Kami no Shizuku 1

Possible Drama Version of Kami no Shizuku (Les Gouttes de Dieu or The Drops of God)

In January, I had written about how the manga Kami no Shizuku (Les Gouttes de Dieu or The Drops of God) had boosted the sales of the wines mentioned in the story. The manga is written by Tadashi Agi (pseudonym for the sister and brother team of Yuko and Shin Kibayashi) with artwork by Shu Okimoto. I had also mentioned that there were rumors of a live-action adaptation.

It turns out that there may be two adaptations. In August, South Korean actor Bae Yong-Joon (Winter Sonata) expressed interest in developing a drama version. His agency had started the negotiating process with the hope of airing a series in fall or winter of 2009.

A separate Japanese adaptation was announced in November. It will star Kazuya Kamenashi of the idol group KAT-TUN. The drama will air on NTV, Tuesday nights at 10pm starting in January.

The synopsis of the story from mangatraders.com:

“The main character of the manga, a young man called Shizuku Kanzaki, discovers the beauty of wine after his father, a famous wine critic, dies and leaves an unusual will: a description of 12 wines he considers to be the best in the world, comparing them to Jesus Christ’s disciples.

The first person to find these ‘disciples’ will inherit the father’s wine collection, a contest that pits Shizuku against his adoptive brother, Issey Tomine, who works as a sommelier.”

Image of Kami no Shizuku, Vol. 1 from beNippon.com

ANN Story: Kami no Shizuku Wine Manga Gets TV Drama in January

Tokyograph Story: Kamenashi leads “Kami no Shizuku” drama adaptation

Japanese Source: Sports Hochi

bubblegum crisis ova

Bubblegum Crisis Live Action Movie Adaptation

In late October, Anime International Co. Asia PTE Ltd., a subsidiary of Japan’s Anime International Company (AIC) concluded a basic agreement with Cubix International PTE of Singapore to produce a live action movie adaptation of Bubblegum Crisis. The original 8-part OVA was created by Artmic Studio in the late 1980s with episodes being released from 1987 through 1991. The series was scheduled to have 13 episodes but was cut short due to financial problems between Artmic and their production partner Youmex. When Artmic was dissolved in 1997, (another) former partner AIC took over the rights for many of their titles including Bubblegum Crisis.

While the key creative team has not yet been announced, AIC and Cubix are planning to bring in two former Artmic staff members who worked on the OVA, Shinji Aramaki (screenplay and mechanical design) and Kenichi Sonoda (character design) as consultants for the movie. Cubix has announced that their production budget will be several billion yen (tens of millions of US dollars) with plans for a 2011 international release (including the US).

On a related note, another Singaporean company, Axxis Group had announced in a press release from the 2008 Cannes Film Festival some of their upcoming titles of which one was:

“Bubblegum Crisis is a film based on the same-name original anime series from Japan about 4 young female mercenaries fighting for justice.“

This project is supposed to be one of four upcoming live action/CGI feature films. It is interesting to note that this press release was from May 20, 2008.

The Axxis website (click on ‘Axxis Lineup’ then click on ‘Upcoming Titles’ then click on ‘Next’) has also listed the movie as one of its upcoming projects with the following synopsis:

bubblegum crisis live action promotion

“Seven years after the great Kanto earthquake split Tokyo and its people in two, disparities in wealth and power reached an unprecedented peak. ‘Boomer’, machines built to serve mankind, have slowly become deadly instruments in selfish hands, and the city’s citizens are helpless in the shadow of mega corporation Genom’s baronial tower.

A team of four young, female mercenaries who call themselves the Knight Sabers make it their mission to deal with Boomer threats and protect the city. Based on the popular Anime of the same name, Bubblegum Crisis follows the Knight Sabers on their quest for truth and justice.“

My quick research has not turned up what the connection is between the two companies. Both Axxis Group (click on ‘Axxis Lineup’ then click on ‘Completed Titles’) and Cubix have listed the 3D-animated feature, Zodiac – The Race Begins as a completed project. With my limited knowledge, my guess is that Axxis Group is a kind of umbrella company and Cubix is one of its members. As to the differences in the dates, perhaps Axxis was very confident that the agreement would be concluded.

New Bubblegum Crisis Anime

On a side note, ANN reported that according to an AIC press release, AIC is planning on a new animated Bubblegum Crisis as well as plans for selling live-action film rights for its other titles (with new animated versions of those titles as well). However, it appears AIC has taken down that press release.

For anyone who has not seen the OVA, AOL video is still streaming all 8 episodes for free.

OVA image: © 1987 A.I.C., Inc. & Youmex, Inc.

Movie concept art: Axxis Group

ANN Stories: AIC Agrees to Live-Action Bubblegum Crisis Proposal (Updated), Pre-Production Bubblegum Crisis Film Image Posted

Variety Asia Story: Japan’s AIC plans live action “Bubblegum”

Japanese Source: animeanime.jp

KatanaXtreme translation of animeanime story: BUBBLEGUM CRISIS to be made into a live action film ? A production budget of several billion yen toward its showing in US

Naruto Shippuden poster

In last month’s news highlights, I had mentioned that FUNimation Entertainment was trying out a new model which may reduce the impact of fansubs by offering free subtitled streams of Shikabane Hime: Aka (Corpse Princess), which is currently airing in Japan. Each new episode is streamed one week after airing in Japan.

Fighting Piracty: Naruto Shippuden Streamed Right After Airing In Japan

Now Viz Media has decided to try out this model with a higher profile series… Naruto Shippuden, the sequel to Naruto which is set two and a half years after the original series and features a more mature Naruto (relatively speaking). Beginning January 15, Viz will offer an English subtitled episode of Naruto Shippuden that aired on January 8 in Japan. Every Thursday after that will feature an episode which aired in Japan the previous week. Viz will stream these episodes on their official Naruto website, naruto.com as well as using the services of Joost.com and Hulu.com.

Additionally, naruto.com, will stream the first 8 episodes of Naruto Shippuden for free on January 2. The website will then add 8 more episodes every Friday until it catches up to the current third season.

On the same day (Nov. 17) that Viz unveiled this plan, TV Tokyo announced it will stream English subtitled episodes of Naruto Shippuden about an hour after they air in Japan. This stream will be available to paid subscribers of the Crunchyroll video service and will start with the January 8, 2009 broadcast. Seven days after the stream has been available to the paid subscribers, Crunchyroll will then offer the stream free of charge, which will coincide with Viz’s offering.

This is another step for Crunchyroll’s attempt at reinventing itself as a respectable company. In the past few months, they have been able to get venture capital funding and form partnerships with Gonzo and Toei Animation. Now they have partnerships with three more Japanese companies… TV TOKYO Corporation (“TV TOKYO”), SHUEISHA Inc. (“Shueisha”) and Pierrot Co., Ltd. (“Pierrot”). Additionally, ANN has reported that:

“On January 8, Crunchyroll will stop accepting user-submitted videos and other content from individuals, and only host videos approved by copyright holders.“

In addition to Naruto Shippuden, Crunchyroll will stream other offerings from TV Tokyo including Shugo Chara!, Skip Beat!, and Gintama.

The decision to stream English subtitled episodes of Naruto Shippuden has had one more consequence. One of the larger fansub groups, Dattebayo has announced that it will stop subtitling and distributing the show permanently on January 15. A representative of the group (”Interactii”) told ANN that they had never received a cease-and-desist letter from Viz and they want to keep it that way:

“…like any symbiosis, you have to know when its time to move on. That time has come. Viz and Crunchyroll have gotten their acts together and are trying something new, with one of the most popular shows in anime today. I, and the rest of the staff, know that if we continue to subtitle it, they will have to ask us to stop. That’s something they probably don’t want to have to do, because it will most likely make all of you very mad at them. That’s something they really don’t deserve.“

Only time will tell if they follow through with their decision. Also, it is not known if any other fansub group subbing Naruto Shippuden will follow Dattebayo’s lead.

Naruto poster image: © 2002 Masashi Kishimoto / 2007 Shippuden

ANN Stories: Viz to Stream Naruto on Naruto.com Within 1 Week of Japanese Airing (Updated), TV Tokyo to Stream Naruto via Crunchyroll Worldwide (Update 2), Dattebayo to Stop Fansubbing Naruto on January 15

Viz Press Release: A NEW GENERATION, A NEW DESTINY

Japanese Source: BB Watch

The first project is a new theatrical stage adaptation of Mitsuteru Yokoyama’s Tetsujin 28 manga. Oshii-san will be writing the script as well as making his stage-directing debut.

© Hikari Production/Shikishima Juko

Tetsujin 28 has already been adapted into several anime productions spanning the years from 1963 through 2004. There was also a live action movie in 2005. For this adaptation, the cast will feature (from ANN):

“Actress Kaho Minami (Soreike! Anpanman: Ningyo Hime no Namida) will play Shoutarou Kaneda, the 15-year-old hero of the story and the controller of the Tetsujin 28 robot. The other performers include Narushi Ikeda (Gurren Lagann, Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon), Diamond Yukai, Sunplaza Nakano-kun (Odenkun).“

Composer Kenji Kawai (Ghost in the Shell, Death Note films) will also be making his theatrical stage debut as the play’s composer.

The play will open in Tokyo in January 2009 and will move to Osaka in February.

The second project will be an animated movie about Musashi Miyamoto, the legendary swordsman who lived during the early days of the Tokugawa Shogunate (early 17th century) and author of The Book of Five Rings.

© 2009 Miyamoto Musashi: Soken ni Haseru Yume Production Committee (Tentative)

Oshii-san is developing and writing the film, Miyamoto Musashi: Soken ni Haseru Yume (Musashi Miyamoto: The Dream of Riding with Two Swords). The director will be Mizuho Nishikubo (Otogi Zoshi). The film is scheduled for a Summer 2009 release by Production I.G.

ANN Stories:

• Tetsujin 28, Samurai 7 Get Adapted as Stage Plays,
• Oshii Develops, Writes Musashi Miyamoto Samurai Film (Update 2)

Japanese Sources:

• Sports Hochi
• animeanime.jp

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© Yoshiichi Akahito/Square Enix, Shikabane Hime Production Committee

FUNimation Entertainment recently licensed the13-episode supernatural anime series Shikabane Hime: Aka (Corpse Princess), which is currently airing in Japan. According to their press release, it sounds like FUNimation will be experimenting with a model which will attempt to reduce the impact of fansubs. They will be streaming subtitled episodes through partners YouTube.com, Joost.com, and Hulu.com as well as their own website (www.funimation.com)…all for free. The first episode was streamed on October 24.

According to Gen Fukunaga, president and CEO of FUNimation:

“Often by the time a licensing deal is signed to bring a series from Japan to the U.S. the episodes are already available as illegal downloads. In bringing this series to anime fans within days of its premiere we are not only offering unique content and increasing the awareness of the series but we are offering a legal online alternative to illegal file sharing.“

FUNimation is also offering a download-to-own option through www.funimation.com at $1.99 per episode. While the press release did not mention future DVD releases, their license does include DVD rights.

The press release ended by stating:

“FUNimation Entertainment plans to expand its distribution channels and offer similar digital content to U.S. anime fans in the future.“

© 2006 Gonzo/Red Garden Project

In other FUNimation news, three titles which FUNimation acquired from ADV were only 2-3 volumes away from completion before the license transfer. FUNimation had originally announce that these series (Red Garden, Pumpkin Scissors, and Welcome to the NHK) would only be released as box sets…not good news for those who had been purchasing the individual DVDs.

However, a few days later, FUNimation announced that they would indeed be releasing individual DVDs for the final volumes of these series as well as box sets. So good news for everyone in the end.

ANN Stories:

• FUNimation Entertainment Acquires Shikabane Hime: AKA for North American Release
• Red Garden, NHK to End in Boxes, Not Single DVDs
• Funimation to Ship Final Single DVDs for 3 Former ADV Titles

__________

The fourth time was the charm for Taro Aso. He finally became Prime Minister this past September after Yasuo Fukuda resigned. It may be a short lived term, however, since elections will be held no later than September 2009, which is when the LDP’s (Liberal Democratic Party) current four year mandate expires.

© Tokyo International Film Festival

Aso-san is well known as being a big manga fan and humorously referred to this during a speech at the opening ceremony of the Tokyo International Film Festival (TIFF):

“In Japan, I’m not known as the Prime Minister Taro Aso, but more famous as a Manga ‘Otaku’.”

He also noted that many current Japanese TV dramas are based on original manga works. Aso-san then spoke about the Osamu Tezuka exhibition at TIFF:

“Manga reflects the chronological realism. On the other hand, it also laughs the dark perspective of the real world away, and pictures future dreams. The future that Osamu Tezuka drew 50 years ago has been realized now.”

A week later, Aso-san gave his first street speech as Prime Minister in Tokyo’s Akihabara district. The speech concentrated on the economy where he said that the LDP would be trying to improve the economic situation in Japan+. He gave a couple of examples of possible solutions…raising the minimum wage and developing programs which would increase regular full time jobs.

Taro Aso (3rd from right) with director John Woo (3rd from left) and cast from Red Cliff © Tokyo International Film Festival

Aso-san also said that the responsibilities and schedule of being Prime Minister has cut into his manga time. From the Japan Times:

“This is already Sunday this week. I’ve read ‘Sunday’ and ‘Magazine’ of the last week but haven’t got to ‘Jump’Morning,’ ” he said, referring to three major manga for boys and another for adult males.” and ‘

• animeanime Story (translation via KatanaXtreme): Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso visits Tokyo International Film Festival
• ANN Story: Japanese Leader Aso Talks Politics, Manga in Akihabara
• Japan Times Story: Aso Vows to Cure Economic Woes

Images Courtesy Totoro Forest Project Blog

Images Courtesy of Totoro Forest Project Blog

Last year, I wrote a brief article about the efforts of director Hayao Miyazaki, locals, and other volunteers to protect the Fuchi no Mori forest (aka Totoro’s Forest) from new housing development. Their efforts helped the local government purchase and maintain the land.

This past September, the Totoro Forest Project held an auction at the Pixar Animation Studios headquarters in northern California. 190 American and Japanese artists donated 205 pieces of art. The auction raised over $201,000 (US) or approximately 21.1 million yen.

In honor of the event and the contributions, Miyazaki-sama painted the watercolor seen above. This painting as well as the donated art will be on exhibition at San Francisco’s Cartoon Art Museum from September 20, 2008 through February 8, 2009.

The Totoro no Furusato Foundation has raised over 300 million yen (approx. $2.9 million US) since 1990 for the preservation of Totoro’s Forest and surrounding areas west of Tokyo.

• Images: Totoro Forest Project Blog
• ANN Story: Totoro Forest Auction Earns an Estimated US$201,236
• Japanese Source: Yomiuri Shimbun

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© Chabata k, GFDL

Lake Kitana – Winter Image © Chabata k, GFDL

Like the Fuchi no Mori forest, Lake Kizaki has become the focus of fans who want to help maintain and preserve it. The Lake was the inspiration behind the background locales in two anime series…Onegai Teacher and Onegai Twins.

Every year the western Japanese city of Omachi has lit the lake shore with street lights from July through September. However, rising operations costs were about to stop this tradition. Fans of the series heard about this and were able to raise 120,000 yen (approx. $1200 US). They gave this money to the Lake Kizaki Springs Tourism Association to help with the maintenance costs.

Fans have also helped with local cleanup campaigns around the lake.

© 2001 Please!

On a related note, both anime series also featured looks at the local train stops. From September 2008 through August 2009, the Oito train line will be issuing special souvenir tickets with background art from the anime.

• ANN Story: Onegai Anime Fans Raise ¥120,000 for Real Lake Locale

__________

Crayon Shin-Chan Images: © Yoshito Usui/Futabasha, Shinei, TV Asahi

There is an upcoming live action historical romance movie titled Ballad – Namonaki Koi no Uta (Ballad: The Nameless Song of Love). Apparently, it is based on the plot of the 2002 animated movie Crayon Shin-chan: Arashi wo Yobu Appare! Sengoku Daikassen (Crayon Shin-chan: The Storm Called – The Battle of the Warring States).

Since the latter film is a comedy, it is unlikely that the live action movie is a direct remake. However, my sources were rather unclear about this. The most likely explanation is that the animated film served as inspiration for the live action film.

The plot of the 2002 animated movie is:

“Shinnosuke [Crayon Shin-chan] suddenly finds himself in the war-torn medieval ’sengoku’ [Warring States] era. He happens to change history by saving the life of a samurai who is supposed to die there… “

The animated film did win several awards including the Japan Media Arts Festival Animation Category’s Best Prize, the 57th Mainichi Film Awards: Animation Grand Award, 2003 Tokyo Anime Award Feature Film Category Best Prize and others.

The plot of the upcoming live action movie:

Crayon Shin-Chan Images: © Yoshito Usui/Futabasha, Shinei, TV Asahi

A Sengoku-era princess is offered a political marriage with a daimyo of a neighboring state. She turns him down which causes a war. The love story is between her and (I believe) one of her generals. A boy from the future, Shinichi, plays an important role in these events.

The film will feature Tsuyoshi Kusanagi (SMAP member) as the general, Yui Arakagi as the princess, and 11-year old Akashi Takei as Shinichi. The supporting cast includes Michitaka Tsutsui, Yui Natsukawa, Atsuo Nakamura, and Takao Osawa. Takashi Yamazaki (Always: Sanchome no Yuhi) is the director. The film has a 2 billion yen (approx. $20 million US) budget. The battle scenes will make heavy use of CGI. The tentative release date is September of 2009.

The common elements appear to be the setting and the time traveling boy.

• ANN Story: Shin-Chan Film’s Story Remade as Live-Action Film
• animeanime Story (translation via KatanaXtreme): CRAYON SHINCHAN to be a live action feature directed by Takashi Yamazaki
• Tokyograph Story: Kusanagi’s “Ballad” inspired by “Crayon Shin-chan”
• Japanese Source: Sports Hochi
• Ballad – Namonaki Koi no Uta website: www.ballad-movie.jp/

Anime Insider #59 - August, 2008

The August 2008 features include:

• Racing For Time – The chase is on in as Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicle continues the journey in season 2. By Gia Manry
• Master & Commander – In ‘Code Geass’, Lelouch can order anyone to do anything – but there’s a new Geass in Area 11. By Rob Bricken
• A Time To Drill – Seven years later, the troubles of the ‘Gurren Lagann’ Brigade are just beginning. By Rob Bricken
• 50 Years of Tokyo Tower – As Japan’s most-destroyed monument reaches it’s golden anniversary, ‘Anime Insider’ pays tribute. By Andrez Bergen
• Returning Champions – Discover the five new-school remakes of old-school anime and why they rock. By Rob Bricken
• We Will Rock You – Our exclusive interviews with T.M. Revolution and Miyavi. By Summer Mullins
• Vassalord Manga Preview – A cyborg vampire hunter faces his dark side with the help of a wisecracking vampire. By Nanae Chrono

There’s lots of other great stuff in this issue, so be sure to check it out!

In early June, Tokyopop announced that they would be restructuring their company. Publishing operations would still be handled by Tokyopop, Inc. However, a new company called Tokyopop Media LLC would be created. This company will take over the comics-to-film and digital units (including the Tokyopop.com website).

The “new” Tokyopop Inc. will be leaner than its predecessor.John Parker, Tokyopop Group President and COO, will take over as Publisher of Tokyopop Inc. and Marco Pavia, formerly the Director of Marketing will be the new Associate Publisher. The former Publisher of Tokyopop Inc., Mike Kiley, will move over to Tokyopop Media in a key senior (though as yet unnamed) position.

The “new” Tokyopop Inc. will be leaner than its predecessor. 39 positions, or about 35% – 40% of the US staff, have been cut. While all departments were affected, Mike Kiley said in an ICv2 (pop culture trade news/information site) interview:

I can tell you that the reduction in force was mainly a function of right-sizing our release schedule, that those people that were closest to the actual production of physical books were more heavily impacted than in more general support categories.

As the above statement implies, the number of releases have also been reduced. The output will now be around 200-225 titles per year, or roughly 50% of the original plan of releasing 500 titles per year.

Information about specific titles has started to become available. Lianne Sentar (freelance rewriter and editor) wrote in her blog that the series she has been working on (Fruits Basket, Saiyuki, Tactics, and Rave Master) have not been canceled. But, she also said that the news was bittersweet since most of the staff editors she worked with have been laid off.

Diamond Comic Distributors Cancels Orders

Diamond Comic Distributors have canceled the July solicitations of over 20 volumes. The list of titles may be found here.

World Manga Impacts

In the area of World Manga (manga produced outside of Japan), Graphic Novelist Rivkah has reported on her blog, that the third and final volume of her Steady Beat series will only be available on the web. There will not, at least for the foreseeable future, be a print version. She also writes that many of Tokyopop’s books will be web-only.

She does mention that she has concerns about how royalties will be calculated for web content. Bettina Marie Kurkoski has bad news. She wrote in her blog that My Cat Loki, Vol. 3 will not be released in web or print form.

Two other World Manga authors have good news. Christy Lijewski says her Re: Play, Vol. 3 will be released in print form. Likewise, Rikki Simons says that Shutterbox, Vol. 6 will be printed.

Why the sudden reduction? In another ICv2 interview, Tokyopop CEO, Stuart Levy said:

The time is now for us to focus our publishing business to overcome current market challenges. Few(er) releases will allow for less cannibalization at retail.

Some of these challenges were mentioned in an ICv2 report released in April. This was presented at their annual Graphic Novel Conference at New York Comic Con…specifically:

Manga sales, including both comics and periodicals, were
about 5% to $210 million in 2007, up from $200 million in 2006. This was the lowest growth rate for manga since ICv2 began tracking sales.

Overall Bookstore Sales

Sales through bookstores were up by a mid-single digit rate, but direct market sales declined 5-10%. The decline in direct sales of manga was due to a reduced emphasis on the category by comic stores, a significant percentage of whom reduced their manga floor space in response to the growing number of releases and the increased difficulty in choosing between them.

Over-all, top manga titles continue to do well, but titles in the lower ranks of releases are having difficulty finding breathing room.

Another factor in the slowing manga growth rate may have been increased competition from publishers of American graphic novel material for space in stores.

Manga Sales Drop In Japan

In Japan, manga sales have been declining for the past 5-6 years. According to a 2007 report from the Tokyo-based Research Institute for Publications (via USA Today), the reasons for the decline are the shrinking pool of potential readers due to falling birthrates, dissatisfaction with the quality of current manga (lack of originality and variety), the print media as a whole has a decline in readership, and the increasing popularity of using the electronic media (cellphones and PCs) as a way of getting manga.

Perhaps the latter influenced Tokyopop’s decision to split their print and digital arms into separate companies…allowing them to position themselves as a leading force in the new medium. Mike Kiley of Tokyopop Media explained the reorganization this way:

I think the most immediate and practical answer is that we wanted to set things up in ways that would very clearly and definitively allow those businesses (Tokyopop Inc. and Tokyopop Media) to focus on what they need to do to succeed. The goals in each company are different and the achievement of those goals is more realistic, more possible if everyone working in each of those companies is very clearly focused.

Tokyopop Japan Updates

On a side note, according to ICv2, Tokyopop’s Japan operation will also be splitting into two. One will be under Tokyopop Media and the other will be under the Tokyopop Group’s holding company. The European operations will be unaffected…at least structurally. After the US division announced their release reductions, Tokyopop UK is planning on cutting their releases by about 20%.

Sources

ICv2 Sources:

• Tokyopop Splits into Two Companies
• Inside the Tokyopop Restructuring
• Graphic Novels Hit $375 Million

ANN Sources:

• Different Fates for Tokyopop’s World Manga Titles
• Tokyopop Manga Volumes Pulled from July Solicitations (Updated)
• Tokyopop to Cut Manga Output in United Kingdom

USA Today Source:

• Manga comics losing longtime hold on Japan

The consolidation of US anime distributors is continuing. On July 1, Bandai Namco Holdings will combine Bandai Entertainment and Bandai Visual USA. The latter will be liquidated by the end of September.

Bandai Visual USA has been shrinking. As of April, they had only two employees. The company head, Tatsunori Konno, moved back to Japan earlier this month.

Bandai Visual USA was established to primarily present collectors’ editions of Bandai Visual titles from Japan. The price structure was similar to their Japanese counterparts and was not warmly received by North American consumers. Last year, the company had over $1.15 million in sales, but had a loss of $595,000.

On a related note, parent company, Bandai Namco Holdings announced their financial numbers on May 8 for last fiscal year which ended in March. The news was not bad, but it also was not good. According to Anime! Anime!, the consolidated income was 460,473 million yen (about $4.4 billion US). This was only a 0.3% increase from last year, and did not meet the projected amount of 480,000 million yen (about $4.6 billion US). Other numbers:

• operating income was 33,411 million yen (about $319 million US)
• recurring income was 36,198 million yen (about $345 million US)
• net income was 32,679 million yen (about $312 million US)

ANN Story:
Bandai Visual USA to be Liquidated by September

Press Releases:
Bandai Namco
Bandai Entertainment
Bandai Visual USA

Anime! Anime! Story (translated by KatanaXtreme):
Namco Bandai’s financial result reveals the hard fight of AM, and visual and music content businesses

__________

In other Bandai news, Bandai Entertainment announced that the Gainax series, Gurren Lagann, will air on the US’s Sci Fi Channel. It will air as part of Sci Fi’s Ani-Monday block beginning July 28. Two episodes will be presented every week through October. The announcement was made earlier this month at the Talks on Gurren Lagann panel discussion which was part of FanimeCon (San Jose, California).

Image © Gainax/Aniplex, KDE-J, TV Tokyo, Dentsu

ANN Story:
Bandai Entertainment Confirms Gurren Lagann on Sci Fi Channel (Updated)

__________

Director Mamoru Oshii (Ghost in the Shell) recently supervised the opening and ending animations for NHK’s new documentary mini-series, Futto Toshi (Effervescent Cities…ANN’s translation of the title is Cities in Tumultuous Change). Production I.G animated the title sequence and Kenji Kawai (Ghost in the Shell movies) composed the music.

The 8-part series premiered on May 18 and focuses on cities which are “becoming new international players with the advance of globalization“. On the NHK website, Shinichi Terazono, Senior Producer (Special Programs Division in charge Futto Toshi) comments about the series:

“This is said to be the year when the world’s urban population is overtaking the world’s rural population. Globalization is also shifting power away from the United States to other growing economic powers. I believe we can present a new type of documentary. The title sequence images have been created by Mamoru Oshii, whose work is popular among young Japanese people, and the pace of the program will be faster than in our conventional documentaries. Dubai is the first rising city of the series, followed by London, Dacca, and Istanbul.“

Image captures taken from a promotional video of the first two episodes of Futto Toshi:
Copyright NHK Japan Broadcasting Corporation. All rights reserved.

ANN Story:
Oshii Oversees Opening, Ending for NHK Documentaries

NHK Reference:
On two new NHK Specials, Futto Toshi (Effervescent Cities), and The Arctic Circle – The Future of the Globe
__________

ADV Films and San Francisco based video sharing site Crunchyroll have teamed up with a digital promotion campaign. The first 12 episodes of the 24 episode series, Welcome to the NHK will be available on Crunchyroll’s website. Currently, episodes 1 – 4 are available (as of May 29). Over the next four weeks, the remaining episodes will be posted, two episodes every Thursday. As a cross-promotion, ADV is also offering Volumes 1 – 3 of Welcome to the NHK DVDs at 50% off the suggested retail price at select retailers.

Crunchyroll has its own promotional tie-in. They are running a contest to find the “Top Otaku”. The contest is open to community members, who have to post photos of their otaku room showing off all their fan stuff. The winners will get Volumes 1 – 4 of Welcome to the NHK DVDs. For full rules, check the Crunchyroll website.

What makes this partnership a little unusual is that Crunchyroll is known for pushing (and often stepping over) the boundaries of copyright law. The site has been popular and, in 2007, Viacom nearly bought Crunchyroll for $10 million. Probably someone in the company realized that the purchase of a company known for posting copyright infringing content would hurt their lawsuit with Google (YouTube) and the deal was dropped. Still, Crunchyroll was able to secure over $4 million of funding earlier this February from venture capital firm Venrock.

ANN Story:
Crunchyroll to Stream ADV’s Welcome to the NHK

Crunchyroll References:
Crunchyroll Pushes the Envelope On Video Copyright
VC’s Back Crunchyroll: Guts? Brains? Or Sheer Stupidity?

__________

Speaking of copyright infringement, the Belarusian baked goods and confectionery company, MINSKHLEBPROM, seems to be pushing the envelope with a mascot character shown on the packaging of their chocolate waffle. The character looks suspiciously like Haruhi Suzumiya, the title charater of The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya (light novels, manga, and anime). Several online sites in Japan have nicknamed the Belarusian character “Haruhinov,” “Haruhichov,” “Haruhikov Dekovitch,” and “Haruhinikov Uchujinsky”.

Haruhi Image © 2006Nagaru Tanigawa /Noizi Ito / member of SOS

ANN Story:
Haruhi Lookalike Appears on Belarusian Waffle Packaging (Updated)

Japanese Source:
newAkiba.com

__________

Japan’s Ministry of Tourism is hoping that kawaii will bring in more visitors from China. Earlier this month, the Ministry appointed Hello Kitty as the tourism ambassador to China and Hong Kong. She is very popular among children and young women there and ministry officials are hoping this popularity translates to helping with their “Visit Japan” campaign’s goal of attracting 10 million overseas visitors every year. Last year, there were 8.35 million overseas visitors to Japan, a record high.

It doesn’t hurt that Hello Kitty’s Dream Light Fantasy, a multi-million dollar musical, opened earlier this year in Beijing. The musical is currently touring China and will later visit Malaysia, Singapore, and the U.S. as part of a three year run.

Hello Kitty will be the first fictional character to be used as a tourism ambassador. Past ambassadors include J-pop duo Puffy AmiYumi, Korean singer Younha, and Japanese actress Yoshino Kimura. On a side note, Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs tapped robot cat Doraemon as Japan’s anime ambassador in March.

Picture of Hello Kitty with Japan’s Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Minister Tetsuzo Fuyushiba: AP Photo/Koji Sasahara

Associated Press Story:
Hello Kitty is named Japan tourism ambassador

“I could also read American comics, but I prefer the Japanese ones because they’re less clumsy.”

According to Tokyopop Germany managing director, Joachim Kaps, manga accounts for 70% of all comics sales in Germany. It has become so popular, that they (as well as another publisher, Carlsen Manga) are producing and exporting manga from Germany. One example is Gothic Sports by Anike Hage (Vol. 3’s cover is shown in this month’s manga releases article).

From a units sold standpoint, manga is even more popular in France. Readers there say they prefer the graphics of manga over western comics. They also believe that the stories told in manga address more relevant issues for teens.

Perhaps in reaction to the rising popularity of manga, French illustrator and author Albert Uderzo, best known for his Asterix series, published Asterix and the Falling Sky in 2005. This volume, while still set in 1st century B.C. Gaul (France), departs from the previous 32 volumes by introducing two sets of aliens from outer space. One is the evil Nagma (anagram of manga) who want to steal the Gaul’s druid potion so that they can conquer more planets. The comic also pokes fun at Americans. The other alien group is called the Tadsilweny (anagram for Walt Disney) and they want to confiscate the potion since they consider it a dangerous weapon.

The brief British reference said that Tokyopop UK had it sales double from $4 million in 2006 to $8 million in 2007. There was also mention of British experiments with publishing their own manga with adaptations of Shakespeare and the Bible.

The article mentioned one interesting point. Europe is “the largest consumer of manga outside Japan“. They referred to a report by the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) which said that the combined manga sales in Germany and France “totaled $212.6 million last year” (which probably means 2006). The article did not have a link to the report, but a similar report is mentioned in a ComiPress article. That article states that Germany and France combined for a range of 20.6 billion yen ($188.6 million) to 23.6 billion yen ($216.1 million) while the US that year (2005) had sales of 20 billion yen ($183 million).

On a related note, according to an ANN article, the Japanese government has allocated 147 million yen (about $1.34 million) “to spread anime, manga, and other elements of Japanese popular culture in Eastern Europe“. The money will be used to pay for 30 teachers to go to Hungary and three other countries to teach Japanese and Japanese popular culture.

Business Week Article (via ANN): Europe’s Manga Mania

ComiPress Article: New Report from JETRO on the Manga Market in Germany
JETRO Report (Japanese) and pdf link

ANN Article: Japan Plans 147M Yen to Spread Anime, Manga in Europe

ANN Japanese Sources: Nikkan Sports, Asahi Shimbun

“The main character of the manga, a young man called Shizuku Kanzaki, discovers the beauty of wine after his father, a famous wine critic, dies and leaves an unusual will: a description of 12 wines he considers to be the best in the world, comparing them to Jesus Christ’s disciples.

The first person to find these “disciples” will inherit the father’s wine collection, a contest that pits Shizuku against his adoptive brother, Issey Tomine, who works as a sommelier.”

As wines have been introduced in the manga, readers have been going out to purchase them. According to Reuters, winemakers have noticed the Kami no Shizuku effect:

“The minute it was translated into Korean, we had calls from three importers,” said Basaline Granger Despagne, whose family has grown wine near France’s Dordogne river for 250 years. Their Chateau Mont Perat 2001 Bordeaux appears early on in the manga.

“When it was translated into Chinese, people called us from Taiwan saying, ‘I bought some Mont Perat and sold 50 cases in two days because of the manga’,” she said in a phone interview.

Umberto Cosmo, whose family produces Colli di Conegliano Rosso Contrada di Concenigo, was pleased to hear that his wine appeared in the manga. In a phone interview with Reuters, he said that sales jumped by 30% after the manga came out.

The Decanter.com article also comments about how the manga describes wine:

“The books are notable for their unconventional descriptions of the wines featured. For instance, Mont Perat is likened to a concert given by the rock group Queen, with the wine’s acidity taking the place of Freddie Mercury’s vocals.”

Mangaka Yuko Kibayashi, under a nom de plume, and with the help of her brother Shin plan to continue the series for another four to five years revealing the identity of the 12 “disciple” wines during the course of the series.

Kami no Shizuku is currently published in Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan. Not surprisingly, a French version is scheduled to be published in 2008 with the possibility of an Italian version to follow. Also, there are rumors of a live-action adaptation.

Image of Kami no Shizuku, Vol. 1 from beNippon.com
Image of Château Mont-Pérat (2001) from snooth.com

Decanter.com article (via ANN): Manga comics ignite interest in wine

Reuters Story: FEATURE-Taste of heaven: Manga spreads ‘Drops of God’ in Asia

Pizza Hut has recently been using anime as one way to promote their pizzas. They had product placement within the series Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion and Darker than Black. They had a promotional campaign tied to the theatrical release of the Evangelion: 1.0 You Are [Not] Alone movie. Now, they have a similar campaign under way tied to the shōjo series Maria-sama ga Miteru. According to the series official website…hopefully, I have interpreted the Japanese translation (Babelfish) correctly…customers who buy a medium pizza will get a limited edition Maria-sama ga Miteru design pizza box, while supplies last. Additionally, Pizza Hut Club members will have access to a special computer wallpaper and mobile phone graphic. The campaign will run from January 7 thru February 13. All orders made online will be entered in a drawing where the prizes are a stamp sheet signed by the main cast (1), a script signed by the “Red Rose” cast (3), a script signed by the “Yellow Rose” cast (3), a script signed by the “White Rose” cast (3), and the Season 3 OVA fan disc – Vol. 1 (20). Entry to the drawing can also be made by mail. The entry deadline is February 19. Note: This campaign is for Japan only.

Images © Oyuki Konno/Shueisha, Yamayurikai 02

Maria-sama ga Miteru official website

ANN Article: MariMite Pizza Hut Japan Campaign, Fan Disk Announced
Japanese Source: Moon Phase

In 2006, Nissin Foods celebrated the 35th anniversary of the introduction of one of their most famous products, Cup Noodles, with a campaign called the Freedom Project. It included the usual print and TV ads as well as special 35th anniversary designs for their Cup Noodles. What made this campaign different is that Nissin commissioned the creation of a 6 part OVA called Freedom as its centerpiece. It was created by Katsuhiro Otomo (Akira), who also was the character and mecha designer. Of course, there was plenty of product placement throughout the series.

Last month, Nissin started airing two commercials for another of its products, Donbei Instant Noodles. For this campaign, they have characters from Mobile Suit Gundam sing the praises of Donbei. The “Mieru” commercial shows Amuro Ray delirious from hunger after a long battle and crying for joy when he sees floating bowls of Donbei Udon and Soba.

The other commercial features Zeon leader Gihren Zabi giving his “Sieg Zeon” speech, except he says “Juicy Udon” instead of “Sieg Zeon”.

Tohru Furuya and Banjou Ginga, the seiyū for Amuro and Gihren, reprised their Mobile Suit Gundam roles for the spots.

Nissin has posted both the “Mieru” commericial (in low, middle, or high quality) and the “Eat up, my countrymen” commercial (in low, middle, or high quality). You will need Windows Media Player for playback.

Freedom, Noodle and Gundam Images ©Nissin, Sunrise, Sotsu Agency, and Bandai Visual

ANN Article: Gundam Characters Hawk Instant Noodles in Japan
Japanese Source: Nikkei Trendy Net

Last November, Anime Anime (via ANN) reported that Japanese retailer kamikau.com was offering 20 different styles of tissue boxes with designs from The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya. Each style costs 525 yen (about $4.79 US) and includes 100 2-ply white tissues. Each features artwork from the series on 5 sides. The set of 20 is offered at 10,500 yen (about $95.82 US)…so no discount. To protect the tissue box, kamikau sells a clear acrylic cover for 2100 yen (about $19.16 US). They also offer a customization service, so people can create their own style (using the images found in the 20 pre-made styles) for no extra charge.

Images © 2006 Nagaru Tanigawa/Noizi Ito/member of SOS and © 2006 Morizane – Shoji Co., Ltd. All Rights Reserved.

Anime Anime Article (Japanese): 涼宮ハルヒの憂鬱」のボックスティッシュ インターネットで限定販売

ANN Article: Not-So-Daily Link of the Day: Haruhi Tissue Boxes

In the past anime and manga have been used to promote beauty and personal hygiene products for women (The Rose of Versailles bath powder sets) and children (Shin-chan Eau de Toilette, Body Fresh Spray, and Cologne). Now, the hair product division of German-based company Schwarzkopf & Henkel (home care, personal care, and adhesives) will be introducing a new line of hair coloring products for men.

Pictured above and below are the current line of bleaching and darkening products.

According to ANN, “the new lineup will include more unusual colors: beige, ash, gray, blonde, khaki (greenish tint), and blood (reddish tint)”. The projected price for each color is 700 yen (about $6.43 US). The launch date is February 4, 2008.

The characters used for the 2007 line and those that will appear on the 2008 line come from the high school fighting manga Crows and its sequel Worst by Hiroshi Takahashi. Here is a synopsis of Worst from DMP:

“Worst is a high impact gang-related title that deals with teenage boys fighting their way through high school on order to gain respect. There is no room for deceit and underhanded tricks at the notorious High School ‘Suzuran.’ These young men follow a strict honor code when it comes to brawling, very reminiscent of the mafia in the early days. Traditionally called a ‘Yankee Manga’ (’Yankee’ having a different meaning and pronunciation than in English) typically involves delinquent young men and thugs like ‘Hana Tsukishima’ who is making his way through the ranks to rule over the rest at school.”

You will notice that the main character, Hana Tsukishima, doesn’t appear to have much hair and that he isn’t on any of the products above. Not to worry, Schwarzkopf & Henkel is using his image to sell their line of facial tissues.

On a related note, last October, a live-action prequel called Crows Zero directed by Takashi Miike opened in theaters around Japan and Korea. Schwarzkopf & Henkel used this as an opportunity for cross promotion. They gave away posters signed by Takahashi-san and the film’s star Shun Oguri (Hana Yori Dango).

Product Images: ©2007 Schwarzkopf & Henkel K.K. All Right Reserved
Character Images: © Hiroshi Takahashi (Monthly Shonen Champion) 2002-2007

ANN Story: Manga Used to Sell Hair Coloring Products…for Men

Japanese Source (which also shows a photo of the upcoming product line): Sankei Shimbun

Finally, one more piece about products for men. It seems the juggernaut of kawaii, Hello Kitty, has decided to enter the arena. Sanrio Co. will be rolling out a line of products aimed at young men including bags, watches, and T-shirts. The products will go on sale in Japan this month with later releases planned in other Asian nations as well as the US.

There will be some minor modifications to the look of Hello Kitty for men. According to Sanrio (via the Associated Press), the shape of the head will feature:

“…a more rugged, cool look to appeal to men in their teens and 20s. For example, a picture of the cat on a $36 black T-shirt has the words, ‘hello kitty,’ instead of the usual dots for the eyes and nose.”

While this will be the first time Sanrio has developed Hello Kitty items specifically for men, they did have a trial run of sorts last fall. They collaborated on a “limited edition” of men’s clothing with designers in Tokyo’s Harajuku section. This was noted in the Hello Kitty World blog.

As to why Sanrio decided to enter the men’s fashion market, spokesperson Kazuo Tohmatsu said:

“We think Hello Kitty is accepted by young men as a design statement in fashion.” He added, “Young men these days grew up with character goods. That generation feels no embarrassment about wearing Hello Kitty.”

Photos of Products: © Associated Press/AP Photo/Koji Sasahara
Images of Hello Kitty: © 1976-2008 Sanrio Co., Ltd.

Associated Press Story (via The Miami Herald): Hello Kitty targets hip young (tom)cats

ANN Story: Hello Kitty Takes on Men for Next Conquest

Viz Discontinues MAR Anime Series

MRA Troubles

Viz Media has discontinued DVD releases for the MAR anime series after volume 4. This was originally reported by AnimeOnDVD and later picked up by ANN. When ANN questioned Viz Media, their public relations department gave them the following answer:

“As in the case with all entertainment companies, we are constantly evaluating the titles we release and how they are released, and at this present time these titles are under evaluation. We do however still have the license to produce these titles, and they are still available for viewing on Toonami Jetstream.”

However, only half the episodes have been dubbed and it is uncertain if Viz will have the remainder dubbed.

The other title referred to in the reply is the strategy game series Hikaru no Go. ANN has reported that some retailers have said that the series would no longer be released on single DVDs, which means there is still a chance that Hikaru no Go will be released exclusively in a boxed set. Viz has released some titles in this manner including The Prince of Tennis and Buso Renkin.

ANN Story: Viz Responds to Questions about MAR, Hikaru no Go DVDs

Here are a couple more pieces of bad news, but at least they have a silver lining:

Bandai Makes Up For Defective Disks

Earlier this month retailers Right Stuf and Robert’s Anime Corner Store reported issues with some releases from Bandai Entertainment. The affected titles are Gundam Seed Destiny Vol. 12 regular and special editions, Eureka Seven Vol. 11, Flag Vol. 2, and My-Otome Vol. 4. On January 9, Bandai Entertainment issued a press release which confirmed the defective discs. It described the problem as “a result of a duplicator’s error which created playability issues on some DVD consoles and personal computers“. The titles have been recalled from stores and replacements will be shipped when they become available. For customers who already purchased defective discs, the press release states:

“A special link on the www.bandai-ent.com site will be active beginning 1/17/08. Customers who purchased the above mentioned titles and are experiencing difficulties should click on the link and follow instructions for the replacement program. This link is only for replacement discs of the above listed titles.”

ANN Story: Bandai Entertainments Confirms Recall on 4 DVDs

Image of the January 2008 issue of Newtype USA is from the Newtype USA site.

Newtype USA Ceases Publication; PiQ To Take It’s Place (!)

Also earlier this month, ADV contacted retailers to let them know that Newtype USA would be ceasing publication after the February issue. ADV had licensed Newtype USA from Kadokawa Shoten who publishes the original Japanese Newtype magazine. The first issue was the November 2002 issue (not counting the “0″ issue released at Anime Expo 2002). ADV is planning to replace Newtype USA with a new magazine called PiQ. In an email sent to subscribers who were concerned about the status of their subscriptions, ADV wrote:

“We will be launching a new magazine that will be on sale in mid-March. Titled PiQ, the magazine will cover anime, manga, video games and other aspects of pop culture of keen interests to you. All existing subscribers will have their remaining issues fulfilled at a two-to-one ratio, meaning you will get double the number of magazines delivered straight to your doorstep! We hope you stick with us and give the new magazine a shot. We’re sure you’ll love it!“

As to why they are ceasing publication of Newtype USA, the email ADV sent to retailers mentioned (according to AnimeOnDVD.com, January 10 listing) “the changes…relate to licensing needs that go back to Japan.” Additionally, AOD noted that this decision was also “likely the result of the changing landscape in the US market“. AOD pointed out, “Anyone who has a copy of the magazine can tell easily where a good chunk of their advertising came from when you notice just how much Geneon Entertainment pushed their goods there“.

ANN Stories: Newtype USA to Cease Publication; A.D. Vision to replace Newtype USA with PiQ in March

Okay, let’s move on to some better news…first up a freebie of sorts:

Sci Fi Channel Doubles Anime Programming Blocks

More Anime on Sci Fi

Good news for US audiences…the Sci Fi Channel will be doubling their anime blocks. In addition to their Ani-Monday block (11pm – 1am ET), Sci Fi will start a 2-hour block on Tuesday nights in the same time slot. Okay so that amounts to just another 2 hours per week.

Still, this is a promising development. If Sci Fi is planning to try to compete with the first two hours of Adult Swim’s weeknight block, then they will eventually strip their anime programming Monday thru Friday.

The new block…yet to be named, though Ani-Tuesday doesn’t have the same ring as Ani-Monday…will start in February.

Just Another Ani-Monday

Here is what will be shown on Ani-Monday in February:

• Feb. 4 – Ninja Scroll
• Feb. 11 – Tactics/Noein
• Feb. 18 – Tactics/Noein
• Feb. 25 – Tactics/Noein

Here is what will be shown during the Tuesday block in February:

• Feb. 5 – R.O.D. (Read or Die)
• Feb. 12 – Appleseed
• Feb. 19 – Kai Doh Maru
  
• Feb. 12 – X

It looks like Mondays will primarily be used to show series and Tuesdays will primarily be used for movies.

Starz Edge Adjusts Anime Block Schedule

In another bit of TV related news, the cable premium channel Starz Edge, is moving its Animidnight block to Mondays at midnight (i.e., Tuesday morning). Here is the upcoming schedule:

• Jan. 28 – Desert Punk, Episodes 21 & 22
• Feb. 4 – Desert Punk, Episodes 23 & 24
• Feb. 11 – Hellsing Ultimate, Episodes 1 & 2
• Feb. 18 – Ghost In The Shell: Stand Alone Complex Solid State Society
• Feb. 26 – Black Lagoon, Episodes 1 & 2

Two points of interest…first the parent company of Starz Edge is Starz, LLC. Starz, LLC also owns Manga Entertainment which supplies the majority of Sci Fi’s Ani-Monday offerings. With this move, Animidnight will be aired at the same time as Ani-Monday and Sci Fi’s Tuesday anime block.

Second, Starz Edge was originally going to air Hellsing Ultimate, Episodes 3 & 4 on February 18. However, Geneon USA (not dead yet) has told ANN that “episode 4 will not be ready with an English-language track next month“. Another issue was the fact that episode 4 is not scheduled to be released in Japan by Geneon Entertainment (Geneon USA’s parent company) until February 22. It will be interesting to see when and if an English dub of episode 4 will be available for broadcast…and if it will ever make it to DVD.

ANN Stories: America’s Sci Fi Channel Adds Anime on Tuesdays; Hellsing Ultimate 4 Unavailable for Starz Edge Next Month

Now on to the sales…

Big Anime Sale at Amazon.com

Amazon.com is having a sale they call the Big Anime Sale. You can save up to 50% on a select list of over 225 DVDs. No end date is listed for the sale.

AnimeNation’s New Year’s Sale

AnimeNation’s current sale is called their New Year’s Sale and it is essentially a continuation of their Overstock Sale.

You can save up to 60% on a select list of items. There is no end date listed for the sale.

RightStuf! Savings On Viz Media Products

RightStuf! has a new sale called Take Note: Savings That Rule. You can save on products from Viz Media.

You can take 33% off the retail prices of all books and graphic novels. You can take 40% off the retail prices of all DVDs. This includes pre-orders. The coupon code is takenote and it expires on January 20 at 11:59 pm CST.

Borders Bookstores Coupon

Borders is offering a printable coupon for 20% off one item when purchased at a Borders store. Read the fine print for the exclusions. The coupon expires on January 21, 2008.

Save 20% At Borders

Geneon Update

There has been one recent interesting tidbit in the Geneon situation. Navarre CEO Kerry Deacon held a conference call to talk about his company’s recent quarterly earnings report. Navarre is the parent company of FUNimation. Part of the call dealt with the impact of Geneon’s recent withdrawal on its FUNimation division.

Mr. Deacon said, "Generally we believe it could be positive to our position in the marketplace, both from a sales and a content acquisition basis." He specifically mentioned that Geneon had some "very strong content such as Sailor Moon, Van Helsing, and Black Lagoon, whose futures are unknown."

However, the above comments should be tempered by the fact that the main reason for the conference call was to discuss Navarre’s most recent quarterly earning’s report. That report had some bad news. The net sales of its publishing segment (which includes FUNimation) was down 22%…sales of $27 million which was down from $34.7 million from the same period last year). The report noted that most of this drop was due to FUNimation. There were a couple of mitigating factors which should make this report sound less dire. First, FUNimation’s product schedule is weighted towards the first and fourth quarters, so light sales during the second quarter is expected. Second, it was reported that FUNimation did meet sales and profit expectations for the quarter.

ICv2 Article: Geneon’s Fall a Positive for FUNimation?
ANN Story: Funimation’s Sales, Profit Meet Lowered Expectations

Bandai Namco Holdings Restructures

In other business related news, Bandai Namco Holdings (the holding company for the Namco Bandai Group) will be restructuring. They will transfer the home and arcade game business of Banpresto to Bandai Namco Games…both companies are subsidiaries of Bandai Namco. They will also move two of Banpresto’s subsidiaries, PleasureCast Co., Ltd. and Hanayashiki Co., Ltd. (both involved with the operation of amusement parks), to become subsidiaries of Namco Ltd. Banpresto will then concentrate on developing prizes for game center and arcade game machines.

Of more interest to anime fans will be Bandai Namco’s takeover bids of two other subsidiaries, Bandai Networks Co., Ltd. (mobile communications) and Bandai Visual Co., Ltd. (film production and distribution). Currently, Bandai Namco owns 62% of Bandai Visual shares and 70% of Bandai Networks shares. The plan is to buy shares through December 10 and conduct stock swaps for shares it cannot buy. The estimated cost of these takeover bids is 19.1 billion yen (about $173.7 million US). Why the takeover bids? According to an Anime Anime article:

"…the planned TOB [take over bids] of Bandai Visual and Bandai Networks aims at promoting the quick management decision-making for realizing the Group’s mid and long-term strategies. Officials of Bandai Namco HD say that, by holding 100% share of the two companies, the Group will be able to further generate synergies and maximize corporate values."

Until the takeover bid is complete, there should be little effect on Bandai Visual USA which is a subsidiary of Bandai Visual. Bandai Entertainment should remain unaffected since it is a separate subsidiary of Bandai Namco.

VarietyAsiaOnline Article: Bandai takes over subsidiaries
Anime Anime Article (via Katana Xtreme translation): Bandai Namco reorganizes business operations through TOB of Bandai V and Bandai Networks

Now on to some manga news.

Manga News

Classic Hollywood Movies Adapted As Manga

A new Japanese venture enterprise (with investors like Optrom, Inc., OGGI, Contents Bank Corp., and Glovic Co. Inc.), Manga Bank, has recently inaugurated a series of DVD/manga sets which adapt classic Hollywood movies into manga. The first four offerings in this series are Casablanca (1942), Charade (1963), Stagecoach (1939), and Wuthering Heights (1939).

Each 128-page manga will be based on the movie script and will be sold in a set with a DVD of the original movie. The movies will be subbed in Japanese. The sets will sell for 1,380 yen (excluding tax) which is about $12.71 (US). Mangaka Kenshi Hirokane (Human Crossing and Division Chief Kosaku Shima) is supervising the artists who are adapting the movies to manga.

Manga Bank is taking advantage of the fact that the copyrights for these films have expired in Japan. It should be noted, however, that all but Charade are still copyrighted in the US, so these sets may not make it to the States or will be sold at a higher price to compensate for paying the rights holders their fee. As to why they are taking this approach with public domain material, according to an Anime Anime article (via a Katana Xtreme translation) , Manga Bank says:

"There are plenty of bargain DVDs of public domain software, but too many rivals without copyright protection made the competition very severe. MANGA BANK’s project would aim to differentiate their products by adding the value of cartoon on those DVD."

ANN Story: Casablanca, Other Hollywood Movies Adapted into Manga
Japanese Source: AV Watch (includes pictures of DVD and manga)
Anime Anime Article (via a Katana Xtreme translation): Movies with expired copyright to be cartooned

Manganovel’s Online Manga Service

In an earlier sales article, I had mentioned a new online manga service called Manganovel. This service allows consumers to purchase manga at prices close to those found in Japan and East Asia mainly by removing the middleman (in this case this means the translators and editors). Readers may upload their own translations via Manganovel’s MangaReader software. As the Executive Director of Manganovel, Kunimatsu Atsushi says, "Every user is a translator”.

Publishers Weekly has an article which describes Manganovel’s (brief) history and methodology. It also has a short history of manga distribution especially in the digital medium.

The article mentions that the service is still Windows only. The manga is kept on a private server in Japan and the user access the material via the MangaReader software.

While there are no stated plans of expanding to the Mac OS, Kunimatsu-san does mention that plans are in the works for PDA and cellphone access. He specifically mentioned the iPhone and iPod Touch. According to the article, he said that "While most cellphones would require manga to be reformatted for smaller screens, the iPhone’s large screen and unique interface is ideal for MangaNovel’s service."

ANN Story: MangaNovel’s User-Translated Manga Service Expands
Publishers Weekly Comic Week Article: MangaNovel Offers Digital Access, User Translations

Manga on Apple iPhone

Speaking of the iPhone, I had written in an earlier news article that software developer Voice Bank had demonstrated software which can convert manga for Apple iPhone screens at the Red Herring 2007 “Insight Japan” conference, in Kyoto.

On November 17, Voice Bank showed their prototype software (which can also display manga on the new iPod Touch) at the International Comic Artist Conference in Hong Kong. They, along with the Digital Manga Association, also announced the creation of the Digital Manga Project which will be the delivery service for providing manga for the iPhone/iPod. According to their press release, the service "enables users to view Manga on their iPhone/iPod touch by Safari".

Images of the Digital Manga Project on the iPod are from Voice Bank posted with their press release.

ANN Story: Manga Prototype Viewer for iPhone/iPod Touch Displayed
Voice Bank Press Release (via ANN): Voice Bank has Started Delivering MANGA for iPhone/iPod touch Users, as ‘Digital Manga Project’ with Digital Manga Association of Japan

As to why there seems to be an interest in developing online manga services, according to ANN, the Japanese research firm, Impress R&D reported that Japan spent about 10.6 billion yen (approx. $97.4 million US) on electronic comics or manga in 2006. The breakdown was about 2.4 billion yen (approx. $22 million US) via personal computers and about 8.2 billion yen (approx. $75.4 million US) via mobile devices like phones.

In comparison, the breakdown for 2005 was 1.1 billion yen (approx. $10.1 million US) via personal computers and 2.3 billion yen (approx. $21.2 million US) via mobile devices. This means that Japan spent 3.4 billion yen (approx. $31.3 million US) in 2005 on electronic comics. So sales jumped by over a factor of two in 2006.

ANN Story: Report: Japan Spent 11 Billion Yen on E-Manga in 2006
Impress R&D Report (Japanese): 電子書籍の市場規模は182億円、対前年度比約2倍に拡大 うち電子コミックの市場規模は106億円

Culture Day In Japan

Finally…November 3 was a national holiday in Japan…and it has been since the Meiji Restoration. It was originally celebrated as The Emperor’s Birthday. After Emperor Meiji passed away in 1912, the day then became known as Culture Day. The purpose of the holiday is to promote culture, the arts, and academics.

With this day in mind, the survey firm Oricon had sent out a questionnaire to 2000 people asking which cultural figure represents Japan. The number two selection turned out to be director Hayao Miyazaki (My Neighbor Totoro and Spirited Away). He was a rather distant second, however. He had received 56 votes.

The number one selection was Takeshi Kitano (aka Beat Takeshi) with 350 votes. He is somewhat of a renaissance man. He is a comedian, actor, presenter, author, poet, painter, (briefly a) video game designer, film editor and film director. Some of his films include Violent Cop, A Scene at the Sea, Sonitine, and Zatōichi. He was also in the North American film Johnny Mnemonic. He is probably best known to the Japanese public for his work on television.

Indeed, it is possible that he is best known to international audiences as host of the 1980s game show Takeshi’s Castle. According to TBS’s website, the show is described as:

"The world’s funniest, and perhaps most difficult, games challenge 120 participants in each program. Games include scaling walls, dodging boulders and leaping across a booby-trapped pond. There’s no script, just lots of laughs as contestants try to catch a football in knee-deep mud or pole-vault across a river."

In the US, the show has been repackaged and heavily edited. It started airing in 2003 on TNN (later known as Spike TV). The US version of the show is known as MXC (originally Most Extreme Elimination Challenge). Takeshi-san’s character (Count "Beat" Takeshi) is known as Vic Romano on MXC.

According to the ANN Story, the 2000 voters were "…evenly divided between five age groups (middle/high schoolers, vocational school/college students, workers in their 20s, workers in their 30s, and workers in their 40s) and both genders."

Image of Takeshi Kitano taken by Rita Molnár at the 2000 Cannes Film Festival

Image of Takeshi’s Castle 1986 cast: © Tokyo Broadcasting System

ANN Story: Poll: Miyazaki is #2 in Representing Japan’s Culture
Japanese Source: Oricon Poll Results

Recently, the Suginami Anime Museum (SAM) in Tokyo has announced that it will be hosting a memorial exhibit in ÅŒsaka-san’s honor. It will feature original art from Clockwork Fighters Hiwou’s War (right), Mobile Suit Victory Gundam, and other works. The exhibit will run from November 27 through December 9.

ANN Story:
Hiroshi ÅŒsaka Memorial Exhibit Announced

SAM Announcement (Japanese):
緊急告知！『アニメーター・逢坂浩司　追悼展示会』開催
(literal translation from Google: Emergency announcement! The animator Hiroshi Ousaka memorial exhibition, held)

SAM General Information Flier (in reasonably good English)

There is not much information so far, but it looks like another North American anime licensee is going into limbo. Illumitoon Entertainment appears to have suspended its titles. According to ANN, retailer Right Stuf International has “reclassified the DVDs of B’tX Volumes 3-5, Beet the Vandel Buster Volumes 2-5, and Bobobo-bo Bo-bobo Volumes 2-8 as ‘discontinued’.” They have also listed AM Driver as being “not available for purchase”. So far, Illumitoon has not commented.

There is some good news, however. A new North American licensee has appeared…New Galaxy Anime, based in Humboldt, California. According to their press release, they will:

“…specialize in family-friendly fare, particularly of the shoujo genre. Releasing rare, vintage titles with high nostalgic value will also be a priority.“

Their first title will be The Fantastic Adventures of Unico (1981), directed by Osamu Tezuka. Here is a synopsis from the ANN Encyclopedia:

“Unico the Unicorn has the amazing power to make anyone he meets happy. Whether it’s because of his personality or the powers of his horn, no one knows. However, the gods become jealous of Unico, thinking that only they should be able to decide or allow people to be happy. Unico is banished to the Hill of Oblivion, and the West Wind is ordered to take him there. She can’t stand giving this fate to Unico, so Unico’s adventures begin, as the West Wind takes him from one place and time to the next, in a neverending journey to escape the wrath of the gods.“

New Galaxy’s “coming soon” page also lists Unico in the Island of Magic as a future release.

Image of VHS cover is from an Amazon.com customer.

ANN Stories:
Illumitoon’s B’tX, Beet, BoBoBo-Bo DVDs Discontinued (Updated)
New Anime Licensee Announced with Unico as 1st Title (Updated)

In the 1990s, Takashi Okazaki fused his love of Japanese samurai movies with the musicians he watched on old Soul Train shows (US music/dance TV series). The result was a manga called Afro Samurai. However, it attracted only a modest readership.

In 2001, it caught the eye of Eric Calderon, an American executive working at the Japanese animation studio GONZO…he is now in charge of GONZO’s creative international business development. Mr. Calderon provided support for the adaptation of the manga to anime. The project got a big boost when actor Samuel L. Jackson agreed to be the voice actor for Afro and when musician/producer RZA agreed to provide the music. The result was a 5 episode TV series which aired on the US cable network, Spike TV in January 2007.

In an interview posted by the Mainichi Daily News, Okazaki-san commented on the surprising success of Afro Samurai:

“I never expected Afro Samurai to get this huge. It started out as doodlings I made in college. Now, I have Samuel doing Afro’s voice, and lots of black kids thanking me for creating an awesome hero,” he said. “I just can’t believe it.”

The show has even won a following in Japan. After airing on the Japanese satellite channel WOWOW in May, a movie version opened in Tokyo on October 27. Afro Samurai has also been shown on MTV Australia and Britain’s Adult Swim channel.

In the works is a video game for the Xbox 360 platform.

A second season has been green lighted and is expected to air on Spike TV in early 2008. As to what the season will be about, Okazaki-san explained in the interview:

Having finally slayed Justice at the end of series one, Afro “loses his way, gets tired of all the killing,” Okazaki said. The series, he said, follows Afro as he finally “wakes up to his destiny, which is to be the world’s No. 1 warrior.”

And Afro’s new enemy is an alluring female warrior, according to Okazaki.

“Seduction and violence — those are musts for American TV,” he said.

Image of Takashi Okazaki: AP Photo/Koji Sasahara

Mainichi Daily News (English) story:
After US run, Afro Samurai returns to Japan

Earlier this year, David wrote an article about the Superflat Artists Panel at Anime Central 2007. One of the founders of the movement, Takashi Murakami, recently dove into the world of anime by directing his first animation, kaikai & kiki (two of his most recognized characters). The 10 minute episode premiered on October 29 at the Los Angeles Museum of Contemporary Art (MoCA) as part of its © Murakami show. It was produced by Murakami-san’s own Kaikai Kiki studio in Tokyo. New installments of kaikai & kiki will be shown at future exhibition tour venues. You can find a link to watch a trailer of the episode on MoCA’s Murakami page.

The © Murakami show features selections of Murakami-san’s work to date. It includes painting, sculpture, and film. The show runs from October 29 through February 11. If you are there on November 8 at 6:30pm, Chief Curator Paul Schimmel will lead a free walkthrough of © Murakami.

The exhibit also has an embedded Louis Vuitton boutique where visitors may purchase Murakami enhanced Vuitton handbags…assuming they can afford to. In 2003, Murakami-san and Louis Vuitton’s Marc Jacobs (both shown here at the gala opening party for the exhibit) signed a deal for Murakami-san to provide Superflat artwork for several of the company’s bags. This, while a bit controversial, shows that Murakami-san is not shy about the commercial side of art. He has been known to peruse Bill Gates’ writings for management tips. He has recently written a book titled The Theory of Art Entrepreneurship.

His art shows do a brisk business of selling T-shirts, key chains, mugs, etc. all adorned with his artwork. For a more detailed look at Murakami-san, the commercialism controversy, and the validity/future of Superflat, you can read this LA Times article by Bruce Wallace.

Note: Besides Mr. Jacobs and Murakami-san, the gala which was held on October 28, also had a guest list including music producer Pharrell Williams (live-action Voltron project), actress Christina Ricci (Trixie on the live-action Speed Racer), & Rapper and anime fan Kanye West (who also performed a short set at the Vuitton boutique).

Image from kaikai & kiki: © Takashi Murakami/Kaikai Kiki Co., Ltd.

Image of Louis Vuitton Eye Love Monogram bag: © Louis Vuitton

Image of Takashi Murakami & Marc Jacobs: Brian Lindensmith/PatrickMcMullan.com…©Patrick McMullan

ANN Stories:
Artist Takashi Murakami to Premiere Anime Short in L.A. (Updated)
Murakami’s Los Angeles Opening Attracts Celebrities

Variety Story:
Murakami’s toon touch takes flight

Other Sources:
Museum of Contemorary Art’s Murakami page
Around Murakami’s Superflat world (LA Times article by Bruce Wallace)
Kanye West, neo-Pop star (LA Times Calendar review of Kanye West at the gala)
Style.com 1 (Brief review of gala)
Style.com 2 (Source of Vuitton bag photo)

Earlier, I had written about an Amusement Game Center which will be opening on November 11 with a theme centered around Crayon Shin-chan. Now, not only can children play in a Shin-chan environment, but they can also smell like Shin-chan…or at least smell like the newly released official Shin-chan Eau de Toilette, Body Fresh Spray, and Cologne products.

Spanish fragrance maker Air-Val International, has started selling the official Shin-chan products. On their website, Air-Val describes the aroma as:

• Notes: Fresh, citrusy, fruity, musky
• Top Notes: Bergamot, orange, grapefruit, lemon, mandarin, leafy green
• Heart Notes: White flower, lily of the valley, freesia, peach, apple, melon
• Down Notes: Musk, violet

The Eau de Toilette comes in a 50 ml bottle; the Body Fresh Spray comes in a 100 ml bottle; and the cologne comes in a 350 ml (in the shape of Shin-chan) bottle.

Images from Air-Val site: © 1990 USUI YOSHITO / © 1992-2007 SHIN-EI & TV Asahi / All rights reserved. Licensed by FUNimation & TV Asahi

ANN Story:
Official Shin Chan Cologne, Eau de Toilette on Sale