ANIME TODAY Talks ASTRO BOY & Anime With Fred Ladd
Posted on: Friday, December 19, 2008
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Episode run down:
Christmas is less than a week away, and things have been extremely busy around Right Stuf, as you can probably imagine. We did, however, find some time to sit down and talk with someone that is widely considered to be a trailblazer in our industry, Fred Ladd. At the end of this month his new book, Astro Boy and Anime Come to the Americas, is being released, and we’ll be talking with him about the unique perspective he has on the history of anime in America.
The music for this episode is from JapanFiles.com’s Quietude and Good Melodies CDs by the AUTOMATICS. We’d like to thank JapanFiles.com for letting us feature music from their CDs, a full list with the times each song was played will be posted at the bottom of this episode’s show notes at AnimeToday.com.
Kicking off this episode is Chad with What’s Hot in the World of Anime and Manga, followed by the first part of Fred’s interview where we talk about the celebration of Osamu Tezuka’s 80th birthday, and Fred’s upcoming book. Next, Nick and Rich will bring you the winners of the Black Jack and Emma contests, and if you haven’t heard yet, the Dark Lord’s trying to get on Santa’s nice list with Right Stuf’s annual 12+ Days of Anime Sale - there’s only a few days left, so keep listening for all the details. Following that, we’ll return to our interview with Fred Ladd and find out his take on the similarities between Kimba and Simba.
You’ll be hearing a new voice this episode as our friend Christy introduces her new segment, If…/then, where she’ll be suggesting a few titles that may peek your interest if you like ARIA The ANIMATION. Lisa Marie’s enjoying a much needed vacation this week but don’t worry, we’ve got her on the slate for next time. In part 3 of Mr. Ladd’s interview we’ll address the “new” anime that revitalized the industry after it’s golden age in the 60s and then race ahead discussing the live-action Speed Racer movie. Rich and Nick will update you on some of the upcoming cons headed your way and then catch up on some of the latest customer reviews from RightStuf.com. In the last part of Mr. Ladd’s interview, we prepare for the upcoming CGI Astro Boy movie with an inside perspective on some of the research done by the production studio Imagi.
What's Hot?
Akari, Aika and Alice are three girls who share a single dream: to become the most talented gondoliers in all of Neo-Venezia! Every day they train toward their goal, exploring all the wondrous sights that the water-covered planet Aqua has to offer. Whether it's spending a day at Carnevale, sharing a beautiful sunset or even crossing paths with the mysterious spirits that dwell in Aqua's shadows, for these three friends, each day is a new adventure in Aria The Natural DVD Collection Part 1, which floats onto shelves January 27th.
It is an era filled with the battles of an endless war, and Sara’s greatest ambition is to follow her brother Ralph -- a legendary ace pilot -- into the stars as a soldier for the Union in their fight against the Deague.
Sara's hopes are soon fulfilled, but the horrors of war crash down upon her. On the eve of her Academy graduation, Sara loses everything when her beloved brother commands a Deague assault force and launches a surprise attack against the school. Amidst the smoking rubble of her dreams, she boldly undertakes a new mission: to confront Ralph and reveal the motives behind his betrayal and to put an end to his treasonous ways by any means necessary. Choose your side when Str.A.In.: Strategic Armored Infantry DVD Box Set lands on January 27th.
Having avenged his father, Afro Samurai thought he’d finally reached the point where he could live a life of peace, but the legendary master is forced back into the game when deeds from his past return to haunt him in the form of a beautiful and deadly woman. The sparks of violence dropped along Afro’s bloody path now burn out of control and nowhere are the flames of hatred more intense than in her eyes. She won’t stop until Afro is schooled in the same brutal lessons he dealt those who stood in his way. There’s no such thing as final vengeance and the cycle of bloodshed spinning around the “Number One Headband” must roll on when Afro Samurai: Resurrection continues down its deadly road in edited, uncut and uncut Blu-ray editions on February 3rd.
Uber-masculine and all-around cool jock Asuka is a young man with a secret. Despite living in a world where men are expected to act manly, he loves girly things -- sewing, knitting, making cute stuffed animals and reading shojo comics -- and he must hide his beloved hobbies! Ryo, on the other hand, is a girl who can't sew or bake a cake to save her life. Asuka finds himself drawn to Ryo, but she likes only the manliest of men! Can he ever show his true self to anyone, much less to the girl he's falling for? Find out on February 3rd, in Otomen, volume 1.
Step right up! The line forms here for the most incredible pet shop in all of Chinatown…but is it ONLY a pet shop? Inside, the strangely androgynous Count D holds court over a menagerie of strange and bizarre creatures, each of which seems to have been tailor-made for the lost souls who enter seeking a new lifelong companion. Of course, the Count doesn’t give any guarantees on whose lifetime that is, and a certain detective from Homicide has his suspicions that the Count’s motives are far from benevolent. Still, as we all know, sometimes new pets can turn out to be a little more trouble than they’re worth… So enter at your own risk! Something furry, fanged or scaly may be waiting for you at the Pet Shop of Horrors DVD Complete Collection’s grand opening on February 10th.
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.
Fred Ladd!
Previously on ANIME TODAY:
Episode #52: ANIME TODAY Interviews Astro Boy Director Fred Ladd!
Episode #53: ANIME TODAY and ASTRO BOY Director Fred Ladd Talk Early Anime and Live-Action Adaptations!
Fred Ladd on ANN: http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/people.php?id=3791
Fred Ladd on IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0480456/
Astro Boy the Movie: http://www.astroboy-themovie.com/
Right Stuf Contests and Updates
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Congratulations to the winners of our contest celebrating the release of the EMMA: A Victorian Romance – Season 2 DVD Collection! Courtesy of our friends at CMX Manga, the following FIVE runners up each will receive a gift package featuring the first volume of the EMMA manga, as well as the SHIRLEY manga: Teresa L of Fort Valley, Georgia; Christopher B of North Adams, Massachusetts; Bruce W of Elk Grove Village, Illinois; Billy C of Moss Point, Mississippi; and Peggy G of Preston, Connecticut! And congratulations to our grand prize winner, Allyson M of Monroe, North Carolina! She will soon be receiving an exclusive, high-quality replica of EMMA artwork, illustrated by the series’ creator, Kaoru Mori! Remember: To find out more about EMMA, snag avatars and more from the anime, and preview the manga, be sure to check out emma.rightstuf.com!
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Next up, congratulations to Charles M of Grand Haven, Michigan, Jaime D of Orlando, Florida, and Vince L. of Elkton, Maryland! Each of you will soon receive a Black Jack poster created in honor of Vertical’s release of the Black Jack manga by Osamu Tezuka!
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Yoma, monsters driven by a hunger for humans, are a brutal scourge that stalks the land, and they have but one foe… the Claymore. Half-human, half-yoma hybrids who possess extraordinary strength and cunning, Claymore roam from skirmish to skirmish delivering salvation by the edge of a blade... for a fee.
FUNimation and Right Stuf are teaming up to offer listeners the chance to win one of FIVE copies of Claymore DVD 1! To enter – and find out more about this dark, medieval action-fantasy – check out the Contest page in the “What’s Hot” bar at RightStuf.com – before January 15th. We’ll announce the winners during Episode 84 of Anime Today!
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Next up, the drama continues! And we’re excited to offer listeners the opportunity to sample YA Entertainment’s big holiday release The Grand Chef, which stars one of Korea’s hottest actors, Kim Rae Won, and was written by the screenwriter of the award-winning epic Jumong! One grand prize winner will receive a K-drama goodie bag featuring the first three episodes of The Grand Chef, the first three episodes of The King and I, and posters for each! And four runners up will receive gift packages containing the first three episodes of The Grand Chef, plus the series poster! To enter – and see the prizes – check out the Contest page in the “What’s Hot” bar at RightStuf.com – before December 30th. We’ll announce the winners during the next episode of Anime Today!
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Shawne's Specials and the 12 + Days of Anime Sale!
See all of Shawne's Weekly Specials!
Check out the Bargain Bin!
If…/then with Christy
Hello, listeners! My name is Christy, and I’m here with a brand new segment for Anime Today called If…/then, where I take a title that’s currently garnering a lot of attention amongst fans and let you know what other shows I think you might also enjoy.
One of the titles currently generating a lot of positive buzz amongst fans is Right Stuf’s own ARIA: The ANIMATION. ARIA centers on Akari Mizunashi, a young woman who leaves her entire life behind in order to pursue a career as one of Neo-Venezia’s undines – the city’s premiere female gondoliers. Throughout the first season, we follow Akari as she meets fellow undine hopefuls and interacts with the mass of visitors who flood the resort planet’s shores.
ARIA is an excellent example of how to make so called “slice-of-life” shows work. Instead of just showing us what life is like on Neo-Venezia, we get to share in each experience with Akari. While the show’s pacing ebbs and flows just like the waters the undines navigate, there is still an immediate connection to the characters, so you never miss those action packed scenes that other shows use to try and pull in audiences. Instead, you are drawn to the simple, yet compelling everyday existence within the world of Neo-Venezia.
So if you are one of the many fans who has fallen in love with Akari’s story, there are a couple titles you may enjoy watching to tide you over as you wait for ARIA: The NATURAL Part I’s release on January 27, 2009.
Like ARIA, Kino’s Journey is episodic in nature without ever feeling dull or repetitive. Driven by a desire to see the world, Kino travels from city to city only ever staying for three days – long enough to experience some of what each stop has to offer, but not long enough to ever feel tied down. Each episode introduces both Kino and the audience to a new land so every moment is a fresh experience and has that same sense of immediacy you feel when watching ARIA. Kino’s Journey is a show that stays with you long after the final episode is over.
No, there are no overarching plots to save the world. Instead, as the title might suggest, the story is about searching and discovering the world as we go along--the destination is the least important point.
Though it doesn’t take place on a futuristic Mars-come-new-Venice, the Catholic, all-girls school setting of Maria Watches Over Us may seem, on the outset, just as foreign and exotic to some of us.
As with ARIA, Maria gives viewers a peek into the lives of a close-knit group of women. It is a delicate blend of the seemingly everyday minutia of the characters’ lives combined with deep and meaningful stories. It is the girls’ connections to one another that make each episode a “must see.” It doesn’t matter who you are, or where you’ve come from, but everyone can find some element of this story to relate to.
If either of these titles has piqued your interest, both Kino’s Journey and seasons 1 and 2 of Maria Watches Over Us are available on RightStuf.com
Now that you’ve heard some of my suggestions for ARIA: The ANIMATION follow-up viewing, I want to hear your recommendations. Did you enjoy ARIA, and do you have a great rec you’re dying to share with others? Post your thoughts on our Anime Today forums in the ARIA If…/then thread. You’ll also find threads for future If…/then segments, and we’d love to get your early input on them. You never know -- you just might hear your recommendations on an upcoming episode.
What our customers are saying
Music this episode featured from:
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Quietude by the AUTOMATICS
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Good Melodies by the AUTOMATICS
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0:02:41 --- 04. Sweets Can Save Us
0:06:44 --- 07. Outside
0:21:50 --- 01. Introduction
0:22:17 --- 08. Im a Love Bird
1:11:09 --- 06. Good Night My Sweet Heart
1:14:26 --- 10. Longing For Your Smile
1:16:48 --- 03. Dandy R
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0:00:00 --- 11. Step Into Christmas
0:18:31 --- 02. Cruel to Be Kind
0:43:36 --- 05. Scuba Scuba
0:47:42 --- 04. We re Not Deep
1:30:54 --- 09. Keep on
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