Homer's Big Yellow Head!

By: BRIAN THOMAS
Date: Saturday, August 13, 2005

It's been a while since we've opened up the Prize Closet over here in Anime Avalanche, so it's about time we do a giveaway. So here we go, courtesy of Geneon. We have 5 copies each of these recent DVDs! To win a copy of RUMIKO TAKAHASHI ANTHOLOGY Volume 4: Weird Stuff, just send an email that includes your address and "RUMIKO" in the subject line to DVDShoppingList@Cinescape.com.

To win a copy of SAMURAI CHAMPLOO Volume 4, do the same, only put "FUU" in the subject line. Good luck, and I hope you win. Not you get out of the way! It's YOU I want to win!

As always, prizes will be awarded based on skill.

SPOTLIGHT OF THE WEEK

Yeah, yeah, yeah. I know. I ate up a lot of space bitching about the impractical packaging on this season, and how it doesn't match the previous volumes, and it doesn't stand up on the shelf, and you can't stack them... Yada yada. But I can't deny that the content rules: some of the best episodes ever, plus the commentraks make them worth watching at least twice. Plus, it's so intriguing the way the writers keep teasing us about the upcoming movie.

(O) THE SIMPSONS Complete Sixth Season (Fox) All 25 episodes on 4 discs with commentraks, featurettes, multi-angle, deleted scenes, commercials, animatics, storyboards, 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) ALIEN PLANET (Sony) Speculative documentary featuring interviews with Big Thinkers like Stephen Hawking, Jack Horner and George Lucas along with plenty of f/x footage of life on other planets.
(O) BOYS OVER FLOWERS Volume 12: Neverending (Viz) More fun and romance.
(O) CASPER: A Spirited Beginning (Sony)
(O) CASPER'S SPOOKIEST TALES (Sony)

(O) CROMARTIE HIGH SCHOOL Volume 4: Mount Rockmore (ADV) Final volume brings graduation ceremonies to this supremely dorky comedy series send-up of "tough school" manga, sort of in the same vein as HARVEY BIRDMAN in the USA. Includes culture notes (get a clue), extra clips and more.
(O) DISNEY TIMELESS TALES Volume 1 (Buena Vista) Includes the classic shorts "Prince & the Pauper" (with Mickey, Donald & Goofy), "Three Little Pigs", "Tortoise & the Hare", "Grasshopper & the Ants" and "Pied Piper".
(O) DISNEY TIMELESS TALES Volume 2 (Buena Vista) Includes "Wind in the Willows", "Ugly Duckling", "Ferdinand the Bull" and "Country Cousin".
(O) GATCHAMAN Collection 2 (ADV) Go Science Ninjas! The remastering of the 1970s series continues with volumes 3 and 4 (each available separately) with new Alex "He-Man" Ross covers and voice actor commentraks, plus a bonus disc with interviews, audition footage, video version of a manga story and more.
(O) GUNGRAVE (Geneon) First 2 episodes on UMD
(O) HELLSING Volume 1 (Geneon) First 2 episodes on UMD
(O) INU-YASHA Volume 32: Glow of the False Jewel (Viz) Inuyasha and friends encounter a demon holding the Jewel of Four Souls.
(O) MABURAHO Volume 3: The Witching Hour (ADV) Kazuki only has three spells left before he turns to dust. Includes featurette with commentrak.
(O) MADLAX Volume 3: The In-Between (ADV) Episodes 9-12. Madlax helps an executive who uncovers evidence of shady business at her megacorporate employer.
(O) MAGIC KNIGHTS RAYEARTH Economy Box 2 (Media Blasters) With commentrak, outtakes and more.
(O) MY NEIGHBORS THE YAMADAS (Buena Vista) Wacky 1999 family comedy based on the popular "Nono-chan" comic strip. With behind-the-scenes featurette and complete storyboards.
(O) PHANTOM (Media Blasters) When a man spots a contract killer at work, he's given a choice of training to be an assassin himself, or becoming her next target.
(O) POM POKO (Buena Vista) 1994 Ghibli Studios film (aka RACCOON WAR) in which raccoons fight to save their forest. With complete storyboards.
(O) SAMURAI GUN Volume 1: Cocked & Loaded (ADV) A band of rebel samurai adopt new technology to fight the Shogun's forces. Includes outtakes. Also available in collector box.
(O) SPIRAL Volume 6: Notes of Truth (Funimation) The Blade Children take on the Hunters in final battle.
(O) TENJHO TENGE: Round Two (Geneon) Maya's trip to the bowling alley becomes a nightmare when a squad of top Executioners attack. Includes translucent mini pencil board.
(O) ULTRAMANIAC Volume 3: Magical Store (Geneon) Maya sends Nina a cursed doll, asks Yuta to help look for the Holy Stone, and generally shakes everyone up.

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.