More Hellboy this week

By: Brian Thomas
Date: Monday, March 12, 2007

Bandai has announced that they’ve signed a distribution deal with former rival Geneon (formerly Pioneer) to distribute their anime DVDs in North America. Upcoming series like Gunbuster 2, Wings of Rean, Freedom, Demon Prince Emma and Galaxy Angel Rune will all bear the Geneon logo.

Hellboy: Blood and Iron, the second anime feature based on Mike Mignola’s Dark Horse Comics hit, premieres March 17 on Toonami. Hellboy, Liz and Abe battle a legion of monsters to destroy a re-animated vampire queen. Ron Perlman, Selma Blair, Doug Jones and Jon Hurt are all back in the voice cast. DVD to follow in a couple months.

SPOTLIGHT OF THE WEEK

Most anime listed as science fiction is really fantasy, for the most part. Here’s a series that uses a hard science background for adventure and drama.

(O) PLANETES Complete Collection (Bandai) Great science fiction series about a satellite crew that cleans up space junk. Six discs.

NEW DVD RELEASES

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

(O) BABY EINSTEIN: My First Signs (Buena Vista)
(O)   BABY LOONEY TUNES Volume 3: Puddle Olympics (Warner Bros.) The early years of the Looney Tunes – assuming they’re all approximately the same age. Eight episodes.
(O)   BARBIE FAIRYTOPIA: MAGIC OF THE RAINBOW (Universal) Would anyone be offended if I said this is the gayest title ever?
(O)   BEST STUDENT COUNCIL Volume 2 (ADV) School comedy.
(O)   COOL McCOOL Complete Series (BCI Eclipse) Fun 1966-68 Saturday morning spy spoof series created by Bob “Batman” Kane in a 3-disc set, with commentraks, interviews and more.

DAN DOH!!: THE SUPER SHOT Complete Collection
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(O)   DAN DOH!!: THE SUPER SHOT Complete Collection (Bandai) The full series about a kid who can play golf really well.
(O)   DEARS Complete Box Set (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 last month.
(O)   DISGAEA Volume 2: The Netherworld Story (Geneon) During his quest for Netherworld domination, Laharl is attacked by an assortment of assassins including an unlikely bounty hunter that has been following him since the beginning of his journey. Later, Laharl deals with a very energetic girl who claims to be his sister while the Prinnies lead a massive revolt and lay claim to their own country!
(O)   DOCTOR WHO: The Invasion (BBC) Patrick Troughton vs. the Cybermen. Note: episodes 1 and 4 of this 1966 series arte lost, but are here recreated using animation and the original soundtracks.
(O)   ELOISE IN HOLLYWOOD (Anchor Bay) A big time movie producer invites Eloise and Nanny to Hollywood, and the Plaza Hotel’s most famous six-year-old is instantly overcome by visions of overnight stardom and red-carpet premieres.
(O)   EUREKA SEVEN Volume 3(Bandai) Episodes 11-14.
(O)   EUREKA SEVEN Volume 4 (Bandai) Episodes 15-18.
(O)   EUREKA SEVEN Volume 5 (Bandai) Episodes 19-22. 14-year-old Renton joins the rebel GekkoState ship, co-pilots the TypeZero with the mysterious Eureka, and unknowingly becomes part of a grand scheme.
(O)   FANTASTIC CHILDREN Volume 4 (Bandai)
(O)   FANTASTIC CHILDREN Volume 5 (Bandai)
(O)   FANTASTIC CHILDREN Volume 6 (Bandai)
(O)   FULL MOON Volume 4: Her First Kiss (Viz) Episodes 13-16. Full Moon finds trouble at an orphanage, a hospital, a beach party and an audition.
(O)   GREAT HORROR FAMILY Complete Collection (Bandai) Kiyoshi Imawano and his family move into a haunted house. The entire family, except the occult-obsessed father, gains the power to see ghosts and spirits. An undead monk, secret government agents, even UFOs start showing up. It's up to Kiyoshi to find out why the house is troubled by all these strange occurrences and save his family, and possibly the world, from inter-dimensional terrors.
(O)   IGPX: IMMORTAL GRAND PRIX Volume 5 (Bandai)
(O)   IGPX: IMMORTAL GRAND PRIX Volume 6 (Bandai)
(O)   IGPX: IMMORTAL GRAND PRIX Volume 7 (Bandai)
(O)   INITIAL D First Stage: Complete First Season (Funimation) Catch all the racing action.
INU-YASHA
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(O)   INU-YASHA Volume 50: Kikyo and Kagome (Viz) Episodes 149-151. The relentless attack of Princess Abi's bloodsucking demon birds continues, while Inuyasha and his friends race to find their nest. Delayed from last month.
(O)   INU-YASHA Volume 51: The Path to the Netherworld (Viz)
(O)   IZ: Iz and the Zizzles (Fox) A wacky whatchmacallit and its band have adventures. I suspect Snoop Dogg has something to do with this.
(O)   KYO KARA MAOH! Season 2 Volume 3 (Geneon) Due to the return of Morgif, Van da Via Island has turned into an inferno with the restarting of volcanic activity.
(O)   LOONATICS UNLEASHED Season 1 (Warner Bros.) The Looney Tunes become superheroes. As seen on CW. 13 episodes on two discs
(O)   MAMORU OSHII TRILOGY Complete Collection (Bandai) Includes Talking Head, Stray Dog and The Red Spectacles.
(O)   MAX & RUBY: Easter with Max & Ruby (Paramount) Their bunnies, so Easter is like a religious holiday with them.
(O)   MEGAMAN NT WARRIOR Volume 13: Cyber Clash (Viz) Episodes 49-52. Much Netbattling.
(O)   MICHEL Volume 6: Spring Fairy & The Golden Butterfly (ADV)
(O)   MOBILE SUIT GUNDAM SEED: DESTINY Volume 5 (Bandai)
(O)   MOBILE SUIT GUNDAM SEED: DESTINY Volume 6 (Bandai) The more character based Gundam series continues. Also available in collector box with t-shirt.
(O)   MOBILE SUIT GUNDAM SEED Movie Trilogy (Bandai) Re-experience the entire was between Naturals and Coordinators.
(O)   MY-HiME Volume 5 (Bandai) Episodes 17-20.
(O)   MY-HiME Volume 6 (Bandai) Episodes 21-23. Action and romance.
(O)   NARUTO Volume 9: The Scroll’s Secret (Viz) The battles for the scrolls of Heaven and Earth continue inside the Forest of Death. Delayed from last month.
(O)   NICK JR. FAVORITES Volume 5 (Paramount) So if you’re not on there, you’re not Nick Favorites. Sorry, Wubbzy.

(O)   NICK PICKS Volume 5 (Paramount) Hey, Nick! Who is Nick Jr.’s mom?
(O)   ONE PIECE Volume 7: New Crew (Viz) When Don Krieg unleashes his array of weapons, Luffy fights him head on, armed only with his bare fists, to save the restaurant Baratie from a hostile takeover. Later, with Sanji joining his crew, Luffy sets sail in pursuit of Nami who has run off with the S.S. Merry Go and ends up at Arlong Park, the headquarters of the terrifying Mermen pirates
(O)   ORANGES: REVENGE OF THE EGGPLANT (Fat Cat/Tempe) Animated fruits & vegetables, but not lame like Veggie Tales. Includes commentrak, behind-the-scenes and deleted footage.
(O)   PLEASE TEACHER! Complete Collection (Bandai)
(O)   PLEASE TWINS! Complete Collection (Bandai)
(O)   POKÉMON ADVANCED BATTLE Volume 7: Shocks and Bonds (Viz)
(O)   POKÉMON ADVANCED BATTLE Volume 8: A Judgment Brawl (Viz)
(O)   S-CRY-ED Complete Collection (Bandai) An Anime Legends release.

(O)   TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES Season 4 (Lionsgate) The front says 39 episodes on five discs, but the back says 40 episodes on four discs. Plus a game, featurettes, a recipe and a cool relief package cover.
(O)   TRINITY BLOOD Chapter 5 (Funimation) Abel Nightroad and Sister Esther have ventured to the heart of the Empire, only to find the enemy deeply entrenched. Limited edition includes 4 tarot cards and booklet.
(O)   THE UGLY DUCKLING AND HIS BIG RACE (Genius)
(O)   THE UGLY DUCKLING IN TALES OF MYSTERY (Genius)
(O)   THE UGLY DUCKLING IN THE ENCHANTED FOREST (Genius) More adventures of Ug and his pals.
(O)   WITCH HUNTER ROBIN Complete Collection (Bandai) Raised in an Italian convent, 16-year-old Robin Sana returns to her native Japan to join the STNJ, a secret organization that captures, rather than kills, witches of both sexes. All six volumes and a pin collection are included in this Anime Legends release.

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) MIGHTY ORBOTS (MGM?) This overlooked 1984 Saturday morning TV series was an American (Fred Silverman of Matlock, Perry Mason, etc.) & Japanese (Yutaka Fujioka of Lupin III, Space Adventure Cobra, etc.) co-production, and one of the first to try to tap into the growing tide of Japanese anime. Set in the 23^rd century, it combined elements of giant robot shows like Voltron with DC Comics’ Metal Men: an eccentric inventor creates a group of robots, each with a specific special power that they use to defend Earth from the agents of the evil intergalactic super-computer intelligence Umbra. When needed, the ‘bots can combine their bodies into one huge composite robot with all of their powers. The animation and designs are fantastic, and the writers were able to give the characters pathos and a great deal of humor. Unfortunately, the series was cancelled after only 13 episodes due to a combination of competition from the toddler-friendly Muppet Babies and Smurfs and a lawsuit filed by Tonka claiming the concept was too close to their GoBots. Though episodes were released in a VHS series, they are thus far NOT ON DVD.

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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