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We’ve got a great show for you this week. We review Azumanga Daioh and Cromartie High School Live Action. We also do updates on Mushishi and Black Cat.
Azumanga Daioh – Download Now!
Cromartie High School (Live Action) – Wouldn’t kick it out of bed for Crackers.
Mushishi – Download Now!
Black Cat – Download Now!
Show Notes
News
GunXSword Roundtable Interview
TheOtaku.com has translated a roundtable interview with the director, writer, and character designer of the new GunXSword series, along with one of its voice actors. The interview was conducted last weekend at Sakura-Con.
New Monkey Punch Anime
Musashi, a new anime series from the creator of Lupin the 3rd, will premiere April 9 on Japan’s BS-i network.
Anime Village Returns with Free Eureka 7 Episode
The first episode of Eureka 7 will be streamed free for a week beginning April 16, courtesy of Bandai’s newly revived AnimeVillage.com. The episode will also be availalbe for purchase and download. “To be able offer free streaming for one week is a tremendous value to our fans and customers and it is part of our plan to introduce legal digital distribution, which is very important to our business,” said Ken Iyadomi, President of Bandai Entertainment.
Transformers, Even Stevens Star Close to Deal
Shia Labeouf is in final negotiations to star in Michael Bay’s Transformers film. Shooting is scheduled to begin in May, with a theatrical release on July 4, 2007.
Tokyo Governor is Not a Mickey Mouse Fan
Tokyo Governor Shintaro Ishihara denounced Mickey Mouse at the opening of the Tokyo International Anime Fair, according to UPI. “I hate Mickey Mouse,” he reportedly said. “He has nothing like the unique sensibility that Japan has. The Japanese are inherently skilled at visual expression and detailed work.”
Late Night Ghibli on TCM
Six Ghibli films for TiVos and insomniacs in May
http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/article.php?id=8656
Hyde in Anaheim, San Francisco in July
L’Arc~en~Ciel’s Hyde will be performing July 2 at Anaheim’s House of Blues and July 5 at Slim’s in San Francisco. Hyde’s US debut album, Faith, drops June 27.
G4TechTV Canada Wants to Air Anime
G4TechTV Canada has applied to have its license amended by the CRTC in order to allow it to dedicate up to 15% of its airtime to “drama and comedy.” While the application makes no mention of what kind of “drama or comedy” content G4TechTV is interested in airing, sources at the network have confirmed that there is interest in creating a completely new, and independent, Anime Unleashed block for Canadian viewers. Comments for the CRTC can be left here.
Hyde in Anaheim “Not Yet Been Confirmed”
Hyde’s Anaheim concert at the House of Blues “has not yet been confirmed,” Tofu Records tells ANN. The Ticketmaster listing has been removed. Hyde is still scheduled to play July 5 in San Francisco.
Still no New Anime Unleahed on G4
While comments made by G4 staff two weeks ago suggest that Anime Unleashed has not been cancelled, and is merely on hiatus due to technical problems, no new airings of the block have been added to G4’s online schedule.
Italian Police Seize 400 Pirated Anime Titles
Italian police raided three stores in Rome and Bologna and seized about 400 pirated titles, according to Mainichi News. This is the first time authorities have exposed a case of pirating anime in Europe. The case had been investigated since October 2004, when the Association of Copyright for Computer Software made a complaint to six Japanese companies, including Kodansha and Shueisha.
KOTOKO Coming to Anime North
The Starship Operators and Please Teacher! singer will perform at Anime North, which is May 26-28 in Toronto. KOTOKO’s debut US album, -hane-, drops in June.
Biblios Bankrupt
Biblos, one of the largest Japanese publishers of Boys-Love / Yaoi manga, has announced that it is bankrupt and ceasing all operations effective immediately.
http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/article.php?id=8669
2006 Eisner Nominations
Osamu Tezuka’s Buddha and Cromartie High Nominated for Eisners
http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/article.php?id=8670
Gonzo Film Nominated for Annecy
Gonzo announced its Origin – Spirit of the Past film had been nominated for the Annecy International Animated Film Festival. We previously reported Production IG’s xxxHOLiC had also been nominated. Winners will be announced during the festival, June 5-10.
Production IG Prez Lecture Online
Anime Pulse has recorded Production IG President Mitsuhisa Ishikawa’s lecture at the University of Colorado at Boulder in its latest podcast. They also have a transcript online.
Penicillin Coming to A-Kon
Vocalist Hakuei and guitarist Chisato from Penicillin will perform at this year’s A-Kon, June 9-11 in Dallas. Their “Penicillin nano” single and album are set for a summer release, though no plans for US editions have been confirmed.
Red Hot Chilli Peppers Song For Death Note
Dani California, a song from the Red Hot Chilli Peppers upcoming album Stadium Arcadium, will be the theme song for the upcoming Death Note live-action movie. The Dani California video can be viewed in its entirety here.
No New Gatchaman
The Gatchaman commercials are actually reruns of the same commercials that were produced in fall 2000 and are available on Rhino’s Best of Battle of the Planets DVD set. There is no new Gatchaman in the works, only another run for the old NTT commercials.
Naruto for Xbox 360
Ubisoft announced it is developing a Naruto game for Xbox 360. It is scheduled for North American release in 2007.
Podcast Promos
Happy House of Hentai
Otaku Generation
Anime 101
Reviews
Azumanga Daioh
http://www.advfilms.com/titles/azumanga/
http://www.imagica.com/shop/azumanga/
http://www.jcstaff.co.jp/sho-sai/aztv-shokai/azumatv-story.htm
Cromartie High School
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0454250/
http://www.lovehkfilm.com/panasia/sakigake_cromartie_high_school.htm
Mushishi
http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=5923
http://www.mushishi.jp/
http://avexmode.jp/animation/mushishi/
Black Cat
http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=5245
http://www.j-blackcat.com/
http://www.tbs.co.jp/anime/blackcat/
