By Mariela Ortiz
The theme of this con "We have so much COOL stuff and we WANT to tell you
about it but we CAN'T" <sigh> So many hints.
ADV panel
Matt & David presided over this one, mentioning that ADV was quickly
approaching its ninth birthday. It also appears that Andromeda (the TV show)
will join Farscape in their growing library of live action.
Spriggan is getting its industry premiere in LA on Sept. 7th
courtesy of Dolby, platform release into theatres should be shortly there
after. The eventual DVD will be anamorphic and progressive. Chris, of course
asked about DTS, but that is a little less likely due to licensing issues. It
may in the end be a two disc release, but that hasn't been decided yet.
The big announcement was of course, that they were
co-producing the just announced new Kenshin OVA - and hence have the rights to
them.
Later on in the panel, Matt realized he had forgotten to mention that the
Ninja Resurrection sequel that was in the works was to be a TV series.
A point of amusement to me is that the licensor wants them to rename Sayuki -
Paradise Raiders, heh.
David announced a change in plans with the City Hunter Pre-orders. They will
now be putting up ALL the City Hunter seasons up for pre-order (1, 2, 3 and
91) each season its own box set. Which ever season gets the required amount of
pre-orders, gets made first.
Somewhere around here there were panties thrown.
Many many mentions were mentioned for upcoming Robotech box sets - such as all
the original OPs and EDs (for all three series) AND the pilot dubs for Macross
and Mospeada. The most unique extra they are working on - the Robotech movie,
sans video. They have the rights to the soundtrack, but not the footage, so
the plan is to time the sound to the storyboards!
There are reasons for the Noir mess. They can't talk about it, but don't worry
about it. In the end, we will all be very happy. They also mentioned there are
several versions of the show - and we haven't been seeing the final one.
Keeping with the theme of the con - they have SIX co-productions in the works
in Japan, which they can't talk about yet. Also, keep watching Robotech.com,
as something is brewing there.
The current aim is to have the back catalog done by the end of 2002. Longer
series take precedence over one-shots.
Eva 1 will be re-done. And they are even planning on re-doing the cover of
volume 2 to make them all "match." However plans about this are not yet
finalize - they do seem to include my favorite word - boxes. We'll see. They
even indicated we may be seeing more box sets in the future. Be still my
heart.
Spriggan will determine the future of theatrical releases - as they are
thinking of doing both YUA and the Nadesico movie theatrically. (YUA I can
see, but Nadesico!? Argh)
Not only did someone other than myself ask about the Gekiganger OVA but later
in the panel Tiffany Grant did as well. Keep it up people! Make them give it
to us! I will refrain from mentioning the Gasaraki incident. ^_^
How Dunbine does will determine if they will get other older series. (This was
in response to someone asking if ADV would ever go back and get the Borgman
series - as they released the OVAs a while ago)
Short things -
Sony loves them
They are trying to buy Japan
Its a pretty good guess they have the upcoming Slayers movie
The "Streamline" Dirty Pair shows may get a Japanese 5.1 and will be uncut.
Amusing comment from Matt on how having Carl Macek on their payroll means they
know exactly when rights expire for old Streamline stuff. Infer what you will.
Sakura Diaries - the LD version, will be coming out as a two disc, sub only
set - called the Collector's Edition. True to his word, dlw started work on it
on Monday.
Excel Saga should begin dubbing soon. I pity all involved.
They showed us all the proposed covers for Princess Nine. <plug> Buy this show
</plug>
Bandai
Jerry ran this one. Bandai has been moving offices as of late, causing some
confusion behind the scenes. No major announcements - lots of approximate
dates.
Gundam 0083 in January.
Love Hina in February - stand alone version and disc + box (so help me God.)
Couldn't quite get a release format out of him - but first volume will have 4
eps. Extras are up in the air - its Production IG's call.
Saber Marionette J Again should be out on DVD in January, and SMJ to X should
follow shortly afterwards. Jerry acknowledged that he had been saying the same
things for 2 years now. Where is Saber Marionette R? Well, you see - someone
kinda misplaced the master, so they need a new one from Japan.
Yes, the Bebop box will be sold separately. The Box set itself will have a
soundtrack. Which one? Good question - it seems like OST 1 - but, apparently
they wanted the OP and ED on it. And the ED is not on OST 1.
The (limited) theatrical release of Escaflowne has been pushed back to the
second week of January - thereby pushing back the DVD to 4-6 months after
that. DTS is not that likely, but not out of the question yet. It will be
anamorphic.
Fancy Lala is slated for early next year, but they have not yet decided
whether to dub the songs.
Betterman is currently slated after Love Hina.
They are skipping over Zeta Gundam for now and going to Char's Counterattack.
Odd if you ask me.
The Gundam movies will be coming to DVD - with subtitles - but not till 2002.
Short stuff:
Bandai's classic line was announced kinda sooner than intended so details
about it are still up in the air.
Bebop on CN will have "minimal edits" which means - they have no idea yet. ^_^
Box sets (I hate that word) trigger their own sets of royalty and license
issues - hence why those 0080 and 0083 VHS box sets were discontinued.
There is currently a "war" over the Bebop movie. Yuk.
bebop movie war ouch
Asking Jerry technical questions will get you Richard's e-mail.
Ironcat (yeah - they do manga, deal)
Steve Bennett - who was late.
Ironcat has major changes in its future, possibly including the name of the
company - but they will retain rights to all current titles.
Unlike everyone else - they announced things - like the rest of the original
Miyu series at last - which will possibly be published unflopped and/or in GN
format only, and the Cool Devises manga. (Eek)
They intend to get more series from Hiroshi Aro (Futaba-kun Change) - write
them and tell them which of his titles you want.
Also coming are several Eva artbooks, and possibly the Moldiver manga
Canada is ripe for the taking and keeping sending in letters (snail mail)
asking for Hana Yori Dango.
Synch Point
With its many companies this was a scattered panel.
The Omochabox retail store is opening this fall, and they showed the
commercial for it - featuring the Dejiko they found in that massive audition.
Cute - oddly disturbing.
Plans for the English Newtype continue.
FLCL starts recording in October and they are shooting for a release in
January. It will be on three discs. The ADR script writer is the same one who
did Bebop here.
Tenshi ni Narumon they hope to have the first DVD out in Dec. But being their
first DVD - expect delays. They want to follow a 5-5-4-4-4-4 pattern, but that
isn't definate yet.
Liner notes are about to be put online - and will also be on the DVDs
Right Stuf
<sigh> we pretty much all missed it cause we are baka. Jeff ran it. And
announced Dangaizer 3. If anyone has any other details, please contribute. He
did mention they have some Karekano merchandising rights.
Animeigo
Shin was all alone on this one - despite trying to drag Chris into it.
He showed eps of Macross and talked a lot about technical things.
Work has started on KOR - however the licensor has insisted they use
Macrovision (boo)
The UY movies will follow TV box 3.
Crusher Joe, Bubblegum Crash and Arcadia are all in the works for DVD.
If you have issue with some of the spelling on Macross - blame Harmony Gold,
who were very very insistent that no spelling in Macross match any spelling in
Robotech.
The current idea for YUA TV - Mini box sets 3 discs of episodes + 1 disc of
extras
CPM
Justin and Frank ran this one. They showed the keepcase for the Utena Movie
limited edition - which while resembling a double amaray, isn't one.
Now and Then, Here and There is keeping its name - two dubbed eps were shown
at the con. Its still on track for early next year, the whole series on 3
discs and the english will be 5.1
Labyrinth of Flames is also keeping its name - though gaining an interesting
disclaimer about its lack of labyrinths OR flames.
The extras promise more backstage wackiness with Jessica Cavello.
They have four more titles lined up - but of course couldn't tell us. The
hints - shoujo stuff, TV and OAVs we aren't expecting.
Project A-ko will be redone when the contract expires - they will _try_ to get
the full frame version - but cannot promise it. Other Image titles will be
redone but haven't been decided.
Viz
Along with the familiar Toshi from the video side Carl Horn from the manga
side was in attendance. (yay!)
Fans of Battle Angel will be happy to hear they do intend to publish Last
Order eventually.
Bastard manga begins first week of Dec. They hope to publish more titles in
the future with similar larger page counts (48-64 pages)
The next original Chiho Saito cover for Animerica Extra is the October issue -
which also has the start of a guest column by Scott Frazier.
Here is where they drove me batty :
There maybe two new manga titles from them in December - and if there are, one
will run in Animerica Extra. The other one (provided all goes well) will run
in the "super-size" format and unflopped.
Flee free to guess about these.
Expect a new Gundam series soon. The 0079 manga may be restarted now that the
show in on the air, but they don't know yet.
Taking advantage of the release of Metropolis - they are reissuing their
Tezuka library, Adolf and Black Jack. Good sales will help Black Jack start
publication again.
And now for the video stuff:
Next month they record the last seven episodes of Ranma TV. Toshi will be
happy.
The first Ranma TV box may come out around Nov. (it depends on Pioneer,) later
ones will come out every 3 to 4 months. Toshi thinks it will be priced around
$99.
What networks are interested in Inu-Yasha? Think of "where you already seeing
anime." They are about to dub a pilot episode of it.
If they had only wanted the video rights to IY - they probably would have
gotten them sooner.
Toshi was shocked to hear lack of subs on the songs in Ceres. (Someone else is
producing that title.) He's looking into how that happened - as there were
supposed to be subs of some sort.
Later volumes of Ceres will be bi-monthly, Viz is still trying to figure out
the best way of getting DVDs out.
Most interesting tidbit - they are looking into doing their own DVDs - Pioneer
would no longer handle that part and would just distribute. Back catalog
titles would likely wait till after this switch over. Maison Ikkoku included.
Media Blasters had to cancel its panel since it was scheduled at the same time
they had to break down their booth. They still have two more titles lines up -
and as soon as those deals are settled, John has promised to post them on our
forums. ^_^
Conclusion:
There was news at this convention. Just no new announcements. Boo, why does AX
get to have all the fun?
Mariela Ortiz - Industry Panel Groupie
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