ANIME TODAY Features Anime and Gamers' Guide and Oni-Con Preview in Episode 51!
Posted on: Friday, October 12, 2007
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Episode run down:
In Japan, the second Monday of October celebrates Health and Sports Day to commemorate the anniversary of the 1964 Tokyo Olympics. One way to honor this day and to help cultivate a healthy mind and body is by playing, video games? That’s right, I said video games and Kris and Judy will talk more about the current trends in “edutainment” in the latest Anime and Gamers’ Guide to Japan later in the show.
Another great way to cultivate a healthy mind and body, or at least a happy mind and body, is by going to anime conventions. What could be better than testing out your anime-inspired Halloween costume than by joining the legions of cosplayers at the upcoming Oni-Con in Houston, Texas. Alison and Nick called up chairperson Lee Wilson to find out more on this exciting pre-Halloween convention.
Chad’s got What’s Hot in the World of Anime and then put on your thinking caps for another Uso Deshou mystery plot. Shawne’s starting beggers night early this year with his “In for a Treat” deals on Del Rey manga and books!
Lisa Marie will be reviewing the Young Magician Graphic Novels, and then we’ll have our interview with Lee Wilson of Oni-Con. After that, Nick and Rich will be giving you a rundown of upcoming conventions around the US and Canada. Kris and Judy then join us for the Anime and Gamers’ Guide to Japan where they’ll be talking about “edutainment” video games. Nick and Rich will then return with the 6 winners of our Net Comics contest, and bring you the next month-long contest featuring some great movie packs from Viz Pictures. In Japanese 101, Judy-sensei will be covering the game Rock, Paper, Scissors. And finally, we’ll all be back to bring you some featured customer reviews from our online store.
What's Hot?
Fast forward to the future… A revolutionary new psychotherapy treatment has been invented. Through a device called the “DC Mini,” users can enter people’s dreams and explore their unconscious thoughts. Before the government can pass a bill authorizing its use, one of the prototypes is stolen, sending the research facility into an uproar. In the wrong hands, the device could be devastating, allowing the user to completely annihilate the dreamer’s personality while they sleep. Now it’s up to Dr. Atsuko Chiba to discover who is behind the plot to undermine this new invention, but to do so, she must enter the dream world as her exotic alter ego, code-named “PAPRIKA”… and it will take the skills of both women to save the world! A psychedelic, sci-fi adventure from Satoshi Kon, the acclaimed director of Tokyo Godfathers and Paranoia Agent, PAPRIKA makes its DVD and Blu-Ray debut on November 27th.
At the turn of the century, the Angels appeared on Earth, seeking to wipe out humanity in an apocalyptic fury. Devastated, mankind’s remnants moved underground to wait for the day the Angels would return to finish the job. Now, 15 years later, that day has arrived… but this time, humanity is ready to fight back with mechanized super-weapons known as Evangelions. Now teenagers Shinji, Rei and Asuka and the mysterious organization NERV are what stand between Earth and total destruction! The controversial anime classic Neon Genesis Evangelion is back in a new Platinum Perfect Collection with exclusive tin box on November 27th.
Millie Nocturne has one great goal in life: to be the best in the universe at absolutely everything! But when she tries her hand at being the "best detective," things don’t pan out so well. She ends up with an unwilling partner and encounters two people who will change her life forever: Kane Blueriver, the psi-blade-wielding master of the starship Swordbreaker, and Canal, the smart-mouthed holographic image of the ship's computer. Join this unlikely trio on their adventures as they hurtle through space facing off against intergalactic crime lords, rogue starships, and hijackers dressed as chickens when the Lost Universe DVD Thinpak Collection lands on December 4th.
With the final round of the Chunin Exam only a month away, Naruto receives some special training from one of the three legendary Sannin to summon and master the chakra of the Nine-Tailed Fox Spirit within him. Can Naruto turn this dangerous force into a strength and overcome the odds? Meanwhile, a dark plan that affects the fate of the Hidden Leaf Village begins to reveal itself as the much-anticipated match between Sasuke and Gaara draws near! The favorite orange-clad ninja is back with regular and special edition versions of the Naruto Uncut DVD Box Set 5 also on December 4th.
Save 25% or more on these titles by preordering them from RightStuf.com at least 10 days before their street dates. Get another 10% off by joining the Got Anime purchasing club for Frequent Buyers.
Shawne's Specials and "In for a Treat " Sale!
Halloween’s right around the corner, and you’re in for a treat: Take 33% off the retail price of ALL manga and books from Del Rey – from new series including Pumpkin Scissors, My Heavenly Hockey Club and Psycho Busters to favorites like Tsubasa and xxxHOLiC, Mushishi, and The Wallflower!
From now until October 21st, take 33% OFF the retail prices of all titles from Del Rey - including upcoming releases!
Just use the reusable coupon code treat when you check out through RightStuf.com:
Don’t forget, if you’re a member of our Got Anime purchasing club, you can stack your membership discount for even more savings! If you’re not a member, check out www.gotanime.com to get signed up today!
More great savings in both the specials and the bargain bin this week! Your wallet might be empty but your savings will be large!
In the spirit of Holloween, I’m going to run a little contest. Think that you have what it takes to be a dark lord? Send your holloween picture of your attempt to emulate the dark lord of anime savings to darklord@rightstuf.com, and I’ll pick the best one for a special prize.
Now, it’s back to the lair to work on my nefarious plan for the rest of the year. The tempter of wallets’ work is never done.
See all of Shawne's Weekly Specials!
Check out the Bargain Bin!
Marie's Manga Review: Young Magician
Young Magician is a shoujo supernatural horror manga which, believe it or not, does not contain vampires. Instead, it favors crazed serial killers, corrupt holy orders, and devils of all shapes and sizes. In short, perfect Halloween fare.
The story begins with a series of mysterious murders committed in Hong Kong. Poor, young women are being found dead, their internal organs eviscerated, and the evening news is talking about a second Jack the Ripper on the loose. But two people in the city know that this is no ordinary serial killer: Carno and Rosalite Guino. They’re areomancers from another dimension, and this trip is Carno’s first time on earth. Adopted as a young child after being found alone and amnesic in the middle of a bloodbath, Carno’s been shunned by most of the other Guinos which has caused him to develop quite the anger complex – one that tends to end… badly… for whatever or whoever he’s angry at.
Rosalite’s hoping that dealing with the murdering necromancer at large in Hong Kong might help Carno to direct a little of that anger down a slightly more constructive path – destroying something that really deserves it. But what starts out as a “simple” job to stop a renegade demon soon escalates into a raging supernatural war, with both holy and demonic factions constantly shifting alliances.
I initially picked up Young Magician for the appealing cover art, and was a bit surprised when I discovered just what I had gotten myself into. Manga-ka Narushima Yuri spares no punches when it comes to, say, Carno bisecting every limb of an enemy, and some of the abuse, both subtle and otherwise, would set Social Services’ heads spinning. But there's also often whole chapters that go by without any more bloodletting than a minor papercut as the author plumbs the depths of her characters’ hearts for darkness and light. Sometimes what she unearths is more disturbing than the carnage, and some of the most innocent-appearing characters often, well, aren’t. The scale goes from gray to black; there is no pure white.
But getting back to that appealing cover art: as I mentioned earlier, Young Magician may be gory, but it’s also shoujo, so expect everyone, even the demons, to rate reasonably well on the attractiveness scale. Narushima Yuri also takes full advantage of the innate exoticness of her unearthly cast to create some pretty nice costumes and backdrops.
What I found particularly interesting about Young Magician was the way that the story fluidly morphed from arc to arc. It begins with a murder mystery, as Carno tracks down the killer. Then it briefly evolves into a quirky supernatural story a la Pet Shop of Horrors when Ibuki, a cheerful young man who likes to drink spirits with spirits, is introduced as Carno’s foil, which in turn leads to assassination plots, and so on. It’s actually very much like the late 19th century serial fiction with constantly twisting plots and cliffhangers to keep the audience reading.
Incidentally, when you first pick up the series you’ll probably notice the giant red “explicit content” warning on the covers. Unsurprisingly, that rating is for blood, violence, and some rather disturbing family secrets better left to the book to reveal. Yes, there’s also the odd bit of nudity, but it’s never really that explicit. Either way, though, it’s probably not something you want to leave out for your nine-year-old brother to find, no matter what the “young” part of the title might suggest.
If you put Cain Saga, xxxHolic, and X all in a blender and hit frappe, you might almost be able to approximate the disturbing and creepy – yet also occasionally uplifting – drama of schemes and survival that is Young Magician. Perfect for fans into horror, goth and character drama, assuming that blood doesn’t freak you out. Read this one after that sixth viewing of Nightmare Before Christmas in a single week leaves you hungering for something new this All Hallow’s Eve.
Lee Wilson, chairperson of Oni-Con!
AnimeCons.com: http://www.animecons.com/events/info.shtml/1328
Official Site: http://www.oni-con.com/
The Anime and Gamer's Guide with Kris and Judy
http://www.mapmsg.com/games/statetris/japan/
The Touch Generations logo is a trademark of Nintendo.
© 2007 Nintendo.
http://www.touchgenerations.com/
Right Stuf Contests and Updates
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We’re excited to announce the winners of our latest contest from Net Comics! Congratulations to Arlene F of Baldwinsville, New York; Cindy Z of Gainesville, Florida; Kathryn G of Austin, Texas; Janet S of Kenosha, Wisconsin; Jennifer P of Angola, Indiana; and Eileen L of Saint Louis, Missouri. Each of you will soon be receive a randomly selected canvas tote bag featuring full-color illustrations from either the Let Dai or Roureville series! |
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Viz Pictures has been screening live-action Japanese films in art house theaters across the U.S., but if you haven’t had a chance to catch their flicks on the big screen, we’ve got you covered with our newest contest! We have two prize packages featuring two of their latest films – which just now became available on DVD!
The first prize pack celebrates Katsuhito Ishii’s surrealist tour de force The Taste of Tea and includes a copy of the DVD, a flip book and a figurine.
The second prize package gives you a chance to win their upcoming release Hula Girls, a heart-warming comedy that also was a big winner at the 2007 Japan Academy Awards! In addition to a copy of the DVD, you’ll also find:
- a photo file and CD EP featuring Jake Shimabukuro, who is known as the “Jimi Hendrix of ukulele” and whose music is featured throughout the film
- a lei
- a CD wallet
- Hawaiian coffee and mints and
- a Hula Girls theatrical poster and postcards!
To enter, and have a sneak peek the prize packages, check out our Contests page, under “What’s Hot” at RightStuf.com, and get your entry in before November 8th! We’ll be announcing the winners on the November 9th episode of Anime Today!
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