Cartoon Samuel L. Jackson

By: BRIAN THOMAS
Date: Monday, May 21, 2007

Cartoon Jack Bauer premieres tonight online!

After you watch the exciting 2-hour season finale of 24 on Fox tonight, you might want to check out the first segment of the 24 animated prequel online. Day Zero is an original, flash-animated online saga from the producers of 24 that chronicles an early adventure of action hero Jack Bauer. The first of nine new vignettes will premiere at DayZero.com.

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Regular readers may know that I love IMAX and IMAX 3D, and one of the most spectacular uses of the format has been in specially designed 3D CGanime f/x films like T-Rex: Back to the Cretaceous and L5: First City in Space. There’s a new one arriving next week called Dinosaurs 3D: Giants of Patagonia, which will be playing soon at IMAX theaters around the world. It will be among the first attractions at a new IMAX theater in Myrtle Beach, SC, and to celebrate, this week construction began on a gigantic 100-ton dinosaur sand sculpture outside the theater. The sculpture is being created by Team Sandtastic, the artists responsible for the world’s largest sand castles, and will depict an Argentinosaurus, the largest known land animal that ever existed. Can somebody take some pictures as they progress and email them to me?

SPOTLIGHT OF THE WEEK

As seen on Spike TV in the USA and WoWow in Japan:

(O) AFRO SAMURAI (Funimation) Voiced by Samuel L. Jackson, Ron Perlman and Kelly Hu, this funky adventure series tells the tale of a black samurai searching for his father’s killer. Music by the Rza. Director’s Cut edition includes commentrak, interviews, featurettes 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) ALVIN & THE CHIPMUNKS: The Chipmunks Go to the Movies (Paramount) I bet you did not know that. Alvin, Simon & Theodore see “Batmunk”, "Star Wreck: The Absolutely Final Frontier", and "Funny, We Shrunk the Adults".
(O) AVATAR Book 2: Earth Volume 3 (Paramount) Five more chapters. The kids learn of an important vulnerability in the Fire Nation. Now, they must make it to the city of Ba Sing Se in time to tell the King. But Azula and the Fire Nation are already on the move, and it's up to the Avatar and friends to stop them from conquering this ancient city.
(O) BLACK LAGOON Volume 1 (Geneon) Hot new action series from Madhouse about modern day pirate adventure. Limited edition includes bonus disc with behind-the-scenes, music video and more.
(O) DEMON PRINCE ENMA Volume 1 (Geneon) The latest hardcore horror anime from the genius manga artist Go Nagai. Enma is the Demon Prince of the Underworld. His mission is to take back or destroy demons that have escaped to the human world from the Underworld. Boy, I bet he’s just mean because they named him “Enma”.
(O) DI GI CHARAT NYO! Volume 1 (Bandai) Episodes 1-8. Dejiko, Puchiko and Gema travel to Earth from the Planet Di Gi Charat as part of Dejiko's training to become a proper princess, but crash land in a Japanese mall.
(O) DOKI DOKI SCHOOL HOURS Complete Box Set (Geneon) School comedy.
(O) DRAGON BALL Z Season 2 (Funimation) Contains both the Namek and Captain Ginyu Sagas - 35 remastered episodes on six discs.
(O) FRANKLIN AND THE TURTLE LAKE TREASURE (HBO) When his Granny comes down with a mysterious ailment, Franklin and his friends must search for the treasure of Turtle Lake - a talisman that can cure the illness.
(O) GILGAMESH Complete Collection (ADV) Five disc set.
(O) GO DIEGO GO!: The Iguana Sing-Along (Nickelodeon/Paramount) Diego messes with wild iguanas, otters, llamas and anacondas.
(O) GUNBUSTER 2 Volume 1 (Geneon) A runaway becomes a monster-fighting space robot pilot.
(O) HAROLD AND THE PURPLE CRAYON: Let Your Imagination Soar! (Sony)
(O) HAROLD AND THE PURPLE CRAYON: New Worlds to Explore (Sony) Harold grew up to be one of those lunatics who write all over his padded cell in crayon.
(O) HERO HIGH Complete Series (BCI Eclipse) 1981 Filmation Saturday morning series that preceded Sky High by a generation. All 26 episodes plus commentraks, interviews, featurettes, storyboards and more.
(O) JUNGLE BOOK: Rikki Tikki Tavi to the Rescue (Genius) 2006 Kipling-based series.
(O) LEGEND OF THE DRAGON Complete First season (Genius) As the Golden Dragon, Ang must stop the Zodiac Master and Ling, the Shadow Dragon, to protect the universal balance at all costs.
(O) LEGEND OF THE DRAGON Volume 4 (Genius)
(O) LEGEND OF THE DRAGON Volume 5 (Genius)
(O) MAISON IKKOKU Box Set Volume 6 (Viz) More boarding house romantic comedy.
(O) NARUTO OVA: The Lost Story (Viz) Naruto, Sasuke and Sakura are left alone to complete a routine mission, but have to defend the village from rogue ninjas. Also known as Mission: Protect the Waterfall Village and Battle at Hidden Falls. I am the Hero!, this 40-minute 2004 OVA plays like an extended episode of the popular broadcast series.
(O) NODDY: CATCH A FALLING STAR (Funimation) Noddy, Tessie Bear and Martha Monkey are on a camping adventure in Toyland when they find a lost little star. They have to help their new little friend get back home and escape the goblins. The goblins tear the living flesh from their bones. Just kidding!
(O) POKÉMON TOP TEN Box Set (Viz) All Top 10 Most Wanted Pokémon, in special commemorative DVDs.
(O) STUART LITTLE: The Animated Series: All Revved Up! (Sony)
(O) STUART LITTLE: The Animated Series: Fun Around Every Curve (Sony) Three episodes per volume.
(O) TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES Season 1 Part 1 (Funimation) 2003 series. 12 episodes on two discs.
(O) TSUBASA RESERVOIR CHRONICLE Volume 1: Gathering of Fates (Funimation) In a fantasy kingdom, a princess loses her memory and her boyfriend and his pals go on a quest to recover it. New adventures for characters from Cardcaptor Sakura and other Clamp manga series. Also available in a collector box Starter Set with auditions, character guides and more.
(O) YU-GI-OH! GX Volume 3: The King of Copycats (Funimation)

NOT ON DVD CORNER

We welcome the input of Maniacs who want to share input on this section, where we highlight a different genre feature that has yet to come to digital disc format – just send your suggestions to Anime Avalanche in an email identified with “NOT ON DVD” in the subject line.

(O) TOKIMEKI MEMORIAL: ONLY LOVE (ADV? Geneon? Viz? Bandai? Funimation?) The original Japanese computer game was an early example of a “social engineering” type game. You take the role of a student required to win the heart of your crush while outmaneuvering obstacles in high school. It became something of a phenomenon in the 1990s, with enough staying power to continue into this 2006 romantic comedy series, which so far, in the USA, is NOT ON 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!

Questions? Comments? Let us know what you think at Anime Avalanche.