Astro Boy 1980

By: BRIAN THOMAS
Date: Saturday, November 19, 2005

Right Stuf International, one of the first US video labels to bring Japanese anime to the USA such as their original ASTRO BOY series in 1987, have announced ANIME TODAY, the first commercial podcast show devoted to anime and manga. The bi-weekly show can be downloaded direct from Rightstuf.com.

Meanwhile, Central Park Media is making the first episode of RECORD OF LODOSS WAR: CHRONICLES OF THE HEROIC KNIGHT in order to promote the complete series box set. You can find it a CentralParkMedia.com/ipod.

We have 3 copies of KING OF THE HILL Season 5 in the Prize Closet today! To win one, just send an email that contains your name and address to psycho@psychotronic.info with "KING HANK" in the subject line.

We also have five 6-packs of recent titles from Geneon Entertainment to give away. Each package includes SAMURAI CHAMPLOO Volume 6, JUBEI-CHAN 2 Volume 3, TOKYO UNDERGROUND Volume 5, FAFNER Volume 3, MERMAID FOREST Volume 3 and DAPHNE IN THE BRILLIANT BLUE Volume 5. For this prize, put "GENEON 6" in the subject line.

SPOTLIGHT OF THE WEEK

Two series box sets down. One to go.

(O) ASTRO BOY Complete Box Set (Manga) Complete 52-episode 1980 revival series of Osamu Tezuka's most famous creation in an 8-disc set! Plus alternate opening, Japanese scenes deleted from US versions, 24-page booklet and more.

NEW DVD RELEASES

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

(O) AEON FLUX Complete Animated Collection (Paramount) All ten episodes of

the serial that inspired the current Charlize Theron theatrical live-action feature on 3 discs. With commentraks, two featurettes and more.
(O) BOTTLE FAIRY Volume 1: Spring & Summer (Geneon) Episodes 1-6. Four fairies want to become human beings and studu Japanese culture in this sugary series from the director of MAO-CHAN.
(O) DAPHNE IN THE BRILLIANT BLUE Volume 5: Treasure (Geneon) Episodes 17-20. Sexy Nereides agents are stuck taking care of an abandoned baby and an injured undercover agent, while Maia's memory may be returning.
(O) GHOST IN THE SHELL: STAND ALONE COMPLEX Second Gig Volume 2 (Manga/Bandai/Anchor Bay) Episodes 5-8. Section 9 attempts to protect the prime minister from a death threat. Is Individual Eleven behind it? Also available in special edition that includes a DTS disc, playing card and mouse pad.
(O) GHOST IN THE SHELL: STAND ALONE COMPLEX Season 1 Volume 1 (Manga/Bandai/Anchor Bay) GITS starts at the beginning on UMD for the PSP.
(O) HAPPY LESSON Complete Collection (ADV) Five sexy teachers move in with orphaned teen Chitose and drive him crazy. All 14 TV episodes and three OVAs in a thinpak set.
(O) KING OF THE HILL Season 5 (Fox) More turmoil in Arlen, Texas. All 20 episodes on three discs, including the 100th episode. And we're giving them away (see above).
(O) KONG: KING OF ATLANTIS (Warner Bros.) Cartoon feature sequel(?) to KING KONG in which a clone of Kong is linked to a young boy cybernetically, which of course means they're friends. This causes conflict when the evil queen of Atlantis tricks the giant ape into an alliance that... Weren't there some people worried that Peter Jackson would soil the sanctity of the original KONG with his remake?
(O) MOBILE SUIT GUNDAM SEED MOVIE 3 (Bandai) A new battleship is sent to hunt down the renegade ship Archangel. Extended edition, also available in a collector box with room for all three movies. Also available in a collector box.
(O) MOBILE SUIT ZETA GUNDAM Chapter 2 (Bandai) The Titans continue to battle the resistance forces. Ten episodes on 2 discs.
(O) THE POLAR EXPRESS (Warner Bros.) Big budget Christmas CGanime fantasy about a boy who takes a magical train to the North Pole, with the voice of Tom Hanks and a vaguely creepy based on the pseudo-realistic book illustrations. Widescreen and narrowscreen 2-disc editions with deleted song, PC game demo, behind-the-scenes featurettes and more. Also available in a gift set with snow globe and wooden toy train.
(O) REDWALL: The Movie (Funimation) Medieval animal adventures of a novice monk mouse who becomes a warrior, based on the popular novels. Includes games, featurettes, interview with author Brian Jacques and more.
(O) ROBONIMAL PANDA-Z THE ROBOMATION Volume 2 (Bandai) Pandatron to the rescue! Plus 3-D cartoons.
(O) SAMURAI CHAMPLOO Volume 6 (Geneon) Episodes 21-23. Jin hooks up with a mysterious blind girl who turns out to be an assassin.
(O) S-CRY-ED Volume 3 (Bandai) Episodes 19-26. Kazuma and Ryuho make sacrifices to unleash more Alter power to battle Kyoji Muho. Includes commercials, sound comics and more.
(O) SPIKE & MIKE'S SICK & TWISTED FESTIVAL OF ANIMATION: Contagious (Shout Factory) Fourth collection of shorts ranges from the cute to the disgusting.
(O) STAR OCEAN EX Volume 6: The Legendary Warrior (Geneon) Episodes 23-26. Claude and company battle an army of drones toward the robot tower. Includes pencil board.
(O) TENCHI MUYO GXP Set: Police Diary 1 (Funimation)
(O) TENCHI MUYO GXP Set: Police Diary 2 (Funimation) Two 2-disc sets collect all 14 episodes.
(O) TRIGUN: Limited Edition Collector's Edition 1 (Geneon) The first 14 bounty huntin' episodes on three discs in an embossed metal case, plus an exclusive bullet necklace.
(O) WINX CLUB Volume 2: The Power of Dragon Fire (Funimation) 6 more episodes of fantasy plus music videos.
(O) WOLF'S RAIN Limited Complete Collection (Bandai) A pack of wolves hunts for the promised land. All 26 TV episodes, 4 OVA episodes and soundtrack CD, all in one box.
(O) YUMERIA Volume 2: Tossing & Turning (ADV) Episodes 5-8. A horny teenage boy with supernatural powers is surrounded by sexy girls while fighting to save the world.

And be sure to check back next weekand every weekfor CINESCAPE's Anime Avalanche! And check in every Tuesday for the latest DVD Shopping List!

Anime Avalanche (© 2005 Brian Thomas) is our weekly animation column. Brian Thomas is the author of the massive book VideoHound's DRAGON: ASIAN ACTION & CULT FLICKS, available now!

Questions? Comments? Let us know what you think at DVDShoppingList@cinescape.com.