Advent DVD

By: Brian Thomas
Date: Monday, February 19, 2007

This April, Digital Hollywood University of Digital Content will open the first international anime research lab. Staffed by top anime studio directors, writers and producers, the lab will is intended to further research into anime production, theory, criticism, and history, with an additional interest in anime-related academic study. The adoption of digital technology, labor outsourcing, and other topics challenging anime production will also be tackled. Subjects like these are commonly discussed off the record in any industry, but since anime has been such a huge business in Japan for so long, it’s about time the gears of academia were put to work on the field.

SPOTLIGHT OF THE WEEK

The second CGanime feature spun off from the video game series hasn’t been given the sort of high profile theatrical release the first one enjoyed, but it has been building up a great deal of positive word of mouth since its Japanese release.

(O) FINAL FANTASY VII: ADVENT CHILDREN (Sony) Two years after the end of the video game Final Fantasy VII, ex-mercenary Cloud Strife is forced out of isolation when three mysterious men kidnap and brainwash the city's children afflicted with the Geostigma disease, a plague consuming the human race. 2-disc set includes Making-Of, deleted footage, featurettes and more. Limited edition collector’s set includes postcards, script and book.

NEW DVD RELEASES

Here’s a rundown of the constant stream of anime comin’ at ya on DVD from around the world:

(O) BASILISK Volume 5: The Shades of Night (Funimation) The wager that started the war is revealed. Includes behind-the-scenes. Also available in limited edition includes booklet and card set.
(O) BEET THE VANDEL BUSTER: The Sacrifice (Westlake) First four episodes. A demon race known as Vandels terrorize mankind. The Zenon’s Warriors struggle against the tyranny of the Vandels, along with Zenon's determined younger brother, Beet. In a dramatic showdown, the Vandels Dark Overlord Beltorze faces off against the Zenon Warriors. But when Beet's actions compromise the team, Zenon is forced to take action that will affect Beet and the Zenon Warriors forever!
(O) LE CHEVALIER D’EON Volume 1: Psalm of Vengeance (ADV) Fictionalization of the real life Charles d’Eon de Beaumont, a diplomat, writer, spy, and Freemason known as one of the best swordsmen in France, whose true gender was a source of speculation well into the late 18th century.
(O) CURIOUS GEORGE: Zoo Night and Other Animal Stories (Universal) The popular monkey in educational adventures.
(O) DEARS Volumes 1-4 Complete Box (Geneon) One year ago, an alien spacecraft crashed into Tokyo Bay, leaving the entire crew stranded on Earth with no means of returning home. In no time, the aliens are granted Japanese citizenship and begin participating in a home-stay program with the local people in order to learn all about human culture. When one DearS goes astray and wanders into the life of an ordinary high school student named Takeya, the adventure begins. Delayed from two weeks ago.
(O) FATE: STAY NIGHT Volume 2: War of the Magi (Geneon) The Magi have assembled and the War for the Grail has begun. A new battle begins as the next Servant attacks and draws blood. Who could Rider's master be? Shiro must be extra careful as even his closest friends could be deadly enemies. Nonetheless, Shiro isn't your typical master as he reveals when he attempts to have Saber interact with his "normal" lifestyle and introduces her to his teacher, Ms. Fujimura and his close friend, Sakura.

(O)   FLUSHED AWAY (DreamWorks/Paramount) The latest feature from Aardman Animation, creators of Chicken Run and Wallace & Gromit, opens November 3 and promises more of their trademark fun. Hugh Jackman voices a posh London rat who has an adventure and learns about life on the other side of the toilet from streetwise Kate Winslet. Widescreen and “fullscreen” editions include music video and featurette.
(O)   GUNBUSTER (Image) Earth's first faster-than-light ship is attacked by unidentified space monsters lost. Six years later, Noriko Takaya, daughter of the ship's commander, enters the Okinawa Girls' Space Pilot High School, vowing to be a pilot and follow her father's trail to the stars. One of the first anime series officially released on home video in the US (by US Renditions and Central Park Media back in 1988), this girls & giant robots fan favorite finally gets onto DVD in this 3-disc set.
(O)   HOLLY HOBBIE & FRIENDS: Secret Adventures (Sony Wonder) Psst! The secret is all about the Hobby family maple syrup recipe.
(O)   MISS SPIDER’S SUNNY PATCH FRIENDS: A Froggy Day in Sunny Patch (Lionsgate) Yes, yes – but what of her Shadow Patch Enemies? Why doesn’t anyone talk about them?
MOON PHASE Phase 4 (Funimation) More vampire intrigue. Includes postcards.
(O)   NEGIMA Magic 601: Magic and the Dark Arts (Funimation) Negi Springfield and the girls of Class 2-A throw a surprise party, though Death hangs heavy over all. With “schoolgirl commentrak”, bloopers and more.
(O)   NERIMA DAIKON BROTHERS Volume 2: Show Me Your Daikon (And I’ll Show You Mine) (ADV) Hideki, Ichiro, and Mako farm daikon by day, and battle slimy record producers, pachiniko-mad hags, monstrous nurses, flatulent hospital administrators, and hot police babes, by night. Also available in collector box.
(O)   ORIGIN: SPIRITS OF THE PAST (Funimation) A young boy named Agito enters a forbidden sanctuary where a glowing machine resides. This machine preserves a young girl named Toola, who has a mission entrusted by her from the past. Three-hundred years into the future, the Earth's environment has been ruined by the interference of mankind, and in between the 300 years, the forest has come to life and is at constant war with man. The first feature from Studio Gonzo borrows quite a bit from Miyazaki films.
(O)   PARADISE KISS Volume 2 (Geneon) Soap opera.
(O)   ROBIN HOOD: QUEST FOR THE KING (Genius) CGanime feature with animals playing all the parts – just like in Disney’s version.
(O)   SAMURAI GUN Complete Collection (ADV) In 1860s Japan, a special breed of samurai stands against the Shogunate, armed with superior strength, speed, agility…and guns!
TACTICS Volume 3
© Anchor Bay
(O)   TACTICS Volume 3 (Mania/Anchor Bay) Haruka, the Demon-Eating Goblin, questions his reliance on Kantaro’s team while also growing closer to them.
(O)   WHAT’S NEW SCOOBY-DOO? Complete First Season (Warner Bros.) All 13 episodes on two discs, plus a bonus episode and bloopers.

NOT ON DVD CORNER

(O) THE WIZARD OF SPEED AND TIME (Anchor Bay?) While working for Disney in the 1970s, enterprising filmmaker Mike Jittlov made a short demonstrating his various skills. Combining stop-motion and pixilation, it’s basically a music video for a fanciful song (also written and recorded by Jittlov) about a Wizard who can run at super-speed, bring inanimate objects to life, and perform other miracles. Especially considering the primitive conditions it was filmed under, it’s pretty amazing, and it’s been a festival favorite ever since. The B-fest 24-hour B-movie marathon runs it at least once annually, sometimes upside-down and backwards. In the 1980s, Jittlov used the short as the highlight of a feature detailing his trials in getting it made in humorous fashion. As it turned out, though given a small theatrical release followed by tape and laserdisc editions, producer/actor Richard Kaye, who plays the evil producer in the film, reportedly imitated art by cutting distribution deals behind Jittlov’s back. The still energetic Jittlov has tons of material that would make for a truly amazing deluxe DVD.

And be sure to check back next week—and every week—for Mania’s Anime Avalanche! And check in every Tuesday for the latest DVD Shopping List!

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