Howl's Moving Picture in theaters!

By: BRIAN THOMAS
Date: Saturday, June 11, 2005

Good day. Welcome to the Great White North. Manga has announced that this summer they'll be strengthening their bond with Anchor Bay (who distribute their collaboration with Bandai GHOST IN THE SHELL: STAND ALONE COMPLEX) when ABE begins distributing their DVDs all over Canada.

SPOTLIGHT OF THE WEEK

A new Miyazaki feature!

(O) HOWL'S MOVING CASTLE (Buena Vista) If you're lucky enough to live in one of the cities playing this new feature from Hayao Miyazaki in theaters, get out there and see it. The number 3 box office champ in Japan. Sources say that some theaters are showing prints in Japanese with subtitles, but don't worry if you can't find one. The dub is well done, and this is one of those movies where looking down to read is a distraction. Some fans are actually grumbling that "it's no SPIRITED AWAY". Did they want a remake? Review elsewhere on Cinescape.com.

NEW DVD RELEASES

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

(O) ANIMATED HAGGADAH (SISU) Celebrate Passover the claymation way! (Look out for the Golem!)
(O) ARTHUR GETS LOST (Sony) Yay!

(O) BAKI THE GRAPPLER Round 1: Warrior Reborn (Funimation) Hanma Baki is the son of the world's strongest wrestler, and he aims to take over someday, no matter who he has to fight. Also available in collector box.
(O) DICE Volume 1 (Bandai) New cyborg heroes of DNA Integrated Cybernetic Enterprises, as seen on Cartoon Network. Special edition volumes include action figure.
(O) DRAGON DRIVE Volume 8: Ri-on's Plot (Bandai) Reiji and Meguru both battle mental obstacles. A new kid arrives. Includes lenticular pencil board.
(O) FAIRLY ODDPARENTS: School's Out the Musical (Paramount) Parents control their wild kids by putting them in summer school, which backfires via musical theater. Plus bonus episodes, shorts, and the Fairly Oddparents on MTV's TOTAL REQUEST LIVE show.
(O) GALAXY ANGEL Z Volume 3: Angel Buffet (Bandai) The Angels get super powers. Will they use them to fight evil, or just to fight each other? Plus a bonus "date" episode.
(O) GATCHAMAN Volume 1: The Legend Begins (ADV)
(O) GATCHAMAN Volume 2: Meteors & Monsters (ADV) The Science Ninja Team fights global terrorism in the classic original TV series known in the edited US version as G-FORCE and BATTLE OF THE PLANETS - now with box art from the swishy brush of comics great Alex Ross! Six episodes each, with commentraks, karaoke and more.
(O) GATCHAMAN Collector's Box 1 (ADV) 3-disc set includes the first two volumes plus a bonus disc of behind-the-scenes interviews and other extras.
(O) HELLO KITTY'S ANIMATION THEATER: Magical Places (ADV) Kitty intervenes as the heavily armed Pekkle, Batz and Keroppi are caught in a Mexican Standoff. 6 episodes.
(O) HELLSING Volume 1: Impure Souls (Geneon) The Hellsing Organization fights a secret war against creatures of the night.
(O) JIBJAB: The Early Years (Sony) For years, the folks at jibjab.com have been producing some of the funniest cartoon shorts on the web. Now their cut-out creatures sell Budweiser. And they're on DVD.
(O) KIRBY: FIGHT TO THE FINISH THE MOVIE (Funimation) Spaceships attack Dreamland, and Kirby goes on a quest to find out where they're coming from.
(O) KOI KAZE Volume 2: Budding Attraction (Geneon) Typical teen soap. A boy now lives with the girl he has a crush on. She doesn't have a clue, and considers him a confidant. He suffers.
(O) MABURAHO Volume 2: Magic & Mayhem (ADV) Kuzuki must try to hold onto his DNA, but using up all his spells to save it will doom him. Includes English voice actor commentrak and more.
(O) MACROSS PLUS Collection (Manga) In a sci-fi mecha version of TOP GUN, a rebellious jet pilot competes with an old rival in testing a new anti-alien fighter. All four episodes in a 2-disc box set
(O) MAGICAL MEOW MEOW TARUTO Volume 3: Magic Journeys (Bandai) Taruto tries to find the perfect snowcone, but runs into a ghost!
(O) MAGIC KNIGHT RAYEARTH Box (Media Blasters) A trio of tween girls is summoned to become heroes in another dimension in this 1994 hit series. All 20 episodes plus outtakes, interviews, and more on a bonus disc.
(O) MASTER MOSQUITON (Media Blasters) Complete OVA series. A vampire is bound to serve teenage girl treasure hunter looking for a better form of immortality.
(O) MELODY OF OBLIVION Volume 1: Arrangement (Geneon) In the 20th century, mankind fought and lost a war with monsters. Now secret groups are planning to rebel. (O) NOIR (ADV) Hit series about an expert female assassin and a deadly amnesiac in a web of intrigue. Complete series, with interviews and more.
(O) OVERMAN KING GAINER: Exodus 3 (Bandai) The monstrous first Overman is awakened.
(O) PLANETES Volume 1 (Bandai) Sunrise Studios presents the adventures of a team assigned to collects space vehicle debris before it becomes hazardous. 5 episodes on 2 discs with commentrak, interviews with dubbing cast and a NASA official, and more.
(O) RAMBO Volume 1: A World of Trouble (Lions Gate)
(O) RAMBO Volume 2: Enter the Dragon (Lions Gate) At the height of popularity for Sylvester Stallone movies, his Rambo character became the star of this awkward G.I. JOE knock-off Saturday morning cartoon. Much like with Conan, the writers had to stretch their imaginations to keep a killing machine from appearing threatening. Oy. 11 episodes per volume.
(O) SHADOW STAR NARUTARU Volume 2 (Central Park) Based on the hit manga about a girl and her odd alien friend.
(O) SONIC X: Revenge of the Robot (Funimation) A quick hedgehog.
(O) SPIDER-MAN: THE NEW ANIMATED SERIES (Sony) UMD
(O) STELLVIA: Foundation 5 (Geneon) Students are recalled to Stellvia from vacation when UFO activity increases.
(O) TARZAN 2 (Buena Vista) The ape man grows up in this new direct-to-video prequel to the hit Disney version in stories that seem to be culled from Edgar Rice Burroughs' JUNGLE TALES OF TARZAN. With pop-up annotation track, behind-the-scenes featurette, music video, games and more.
(O) TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES: Return of the Ultimate Ninja (Funimation) Ultimate Drako sends the Turtles into four different dangerous dimensions.
(O) THOMAS & FRIENDS: Best of James (Anchor Bay)
(O) THOMAS & FRIENDS: James Learns A Lesson (Anchor Bay) Ho, I am so above these baby cartoo- - Hey, didja know these come in editions that include a train toy?!
(O) WAVE TWISTERS (Image) A psychedelic sci-fi apace adventure set to the hip-hop beats of DJ Qbert. Includes commentrak, behind-the-scenes featurette, the source files from the film on DVD-ROM, concert clips and more.
(O) WHAT'S NEW SCOOBY-DOO? Volume 5: Sports Spooktacular (Warner Bros.) A ghost tries to stop a baseball player from breaking his home run record, a giant sand worm threatens an off-road race, and Daphne & Velma become professional wrestlers.

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.