ANIME MANGA GAMES MUSIC FASHION
THE FINAL ACT
January 2013 / Issue 1
2013
The Year of New Beginnings Welcome To The Very First Issue Of ANIME Magazine!! So what do we have in store for you in this first issue? Well in this issue we will have an explosive cornucopia of Japanese pop culture and entertainment in the form of anime, manga, music, games, cosplay, and much more.
So What Is Anime? The word anime – pronounced “ah-knee-may” is an abbreviation of the word animation. In Japan it is used to refer to all animation outside of Japan, and it has also become the term for animation from Japan. Anime is aimed at a variety of audiences and is enjoyed by the Japanese, as well as international fans around the world, of all ages and tastes. It brings Japanese pop culture and is part of Japanese entertainment. In ANIME magazine I hope to bring you up to speed in the latest news in Japanese Entertainment and pop culture, in addition, also to have you enjoy the wonderful content that is inside this magazine such as the review pages, main features, news, release dates, cosplay, and much more.
romance of Rumiko Takahashi’s InuYasha: The Final Act. Then the next feature goes into this action-packed Arabian genre anime called Magi: The Labyrinth of Magic which is a charming reinterpretation of The Arabian Nights tale Aladdin. In Between these fine features, you will find our regular departments chock full of anime, manga, games, and foreign film reviews, new releases page, Anime magazine news, upcoming events, and the best of cosplay page. In addition there is some exciting new I heard of Studio Ghibli making two new films!! Also Sailor Moon had its twentieth anniversary in which they put the news that they are debuting a new sailor moon anime (due in the summer)!! This anime I have known since I was a kid and it stopped at episode 200 of Sailor Stars in 1997 or so. So I am super excited to see what they come up with and how this new anime will turn out. I hope you enjoy the experience of reading this magazine and hope you continue your passion for Japanese pop culture and entertainment. I think I have talked enough... I do not want to keep you any longer from experiencing the exciting first issue of ANIME magazine!!
ENJOY!!!!
New Beginnings Now that we have entered the new year, 2013 has brought forth new beginnings in anime, manga, music, and much more. Especially in the debut of this magazine!! A particular place to look at new anime or continuing anime is in our new releases page , reviews, and main features in which you can look at the latest things coming out or have an in depth look at some of the newest films, anime series, etc. While it is just the beginning of the year we expect 2013 to be an exciting beginning for our new magazine and the viewers that read it.
What’s In This New Issue This issue is full of awesome stuff for you to enjoy!! For our cover feature a new contributor named Ink delivers a look back at the enchanted
Editorial Director Marie Andrus February 2013 Issue 1 www.animemag.com
Editor In Chief Marie Andrus Art Director Marie Andrus
Neo is published every four weeks by the Diamond Comic Distributors. All text and layout remains to be the copyright Anime magazine. This is a fully independent publication and its views are not those of any company mentioned therein. All characters and artwork shown in this magazine remain the copyright and trademark of their respective owners. Some articles and the news section are also copyright of their respective owners. No part of this magazine may be reproduced without the express written permission of the main publisher. Magazine printed in the US.
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Contents FEATURES 02 INUYASHA: THE FINAL ACT A timely look back at InuYasha: The Final Act
08 MAGI: THE LABYRINTH OF MAGIC Aladdin and Ali Baba get a Japanese makeover for a brand new anime show that is coming out shortly
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DEPARTMENTS 06 ANIME NEWS All the latest from the world of Asian Entertainment
13 I WISH Review of the film I Wish from the New Releases page
12 NEW RELEASES Information on upcoming manga, anime, and Asian film
14 ANIME REVIEWS Reviewing the latest anime, manga, asian films, and games
POSTERS
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MAGI: THE LABYRINTH OF MAGIC pg 19 TALES OF VESPERIA: THE FIRST STRIKE pg 18 INUYASHA: THE FINAL ACT pg 20 CONTENTS February 2013
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Ink now gets a deeper look at the concluding season of Inuyasha: The Final Act. It is a season full of journey, adventure, and romance that will sweep you off your feet!
F
or those unfamiliar with InuYasha, it’s an adventure series, based on the manga illustrated and written by Rumiko Takahashi, that started six seasons, 167 episodes, and four movies ago. It begins with a middle school girl, Kagome, who gets pulled through a well on the grounds of her family’s shrine and ends up in the feudal-era Japan. There she spots vast plains, beautiful forests, supple mountains, flowers, and InuYasha— a boy with short dog ears— who is pinned to a tree with an arrow; it is love at first sight. It is also a memory of sorts, as Kagome is intimately linked with this specific feudal past into which she has fallen into. Also an aptitudeamplifying artifact known as the Shikon Jewel has been embedded in her chest since birth, and Kagome turns out to be the reincarnation of the last priestess responsible for said Shikon jewel (Kikyo). The jewel gets ripped from Kagomes body and ends up shattering, shards dispersing throughout the land, and it’s up to half-demon InuYasha and the motley crew of companions he picks up along the way to make the
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FEATURE February 2013
Shikon Jewel whole once more and also prevent its powers from being used by Naraku’s hands. While the English Sub of InuYasha stopped in 2006 sans solid resolution, 2009’s InuYasha: The Final Act doesn’t feel disjointed by the time lapse, nor is it beleaguered by its own history. The flow of these final 26 episodes, I believe, is owed to director Yasunao Aoki (Ruroni Kenshin, Mobile Suit, Gundam Wing), who handled the previous 123. The characters viewers know and love are all assembled, and backstory reiteration in the form of overextended introductions is used just enough to jog the viewer’s memory without evoking long yawns or necessitating entire flashback episodes. In short, InuYasha has done such a thorough job of its world building that its characters’ memories, especially given their dramatic and oft-traumatic nature, remain in viewer’s memories. This along with the animation by Sunrise that mimics if not clones their original style in the preceding seasons, poises InuYasha: TFA for a swift and solid ride to closure. At least it should have. It is after all the concluding part of the Inuyasha series that will have viewers at the edge of their seats.
Photos: Š Rumiko Takahashi / Shogakuken, Yomuiri TV, Sunrise 2009
February 2013
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EDITORIAL
TOP:
Kagome and Kikyo with the Shikon Jewel.
MIDDLE LEFT:
Left to right: Shippo, Sango, Miroku, Kagome, and InuYasha
BOTTOM RIGHT:
Kagome and Inuyasha exiting the tunnels of the mountain.
The Back & Forth Of War
Betrayed By History
A little too emulative of its characters’ journey, the episodic flow falters at times from its stopand-go formula. This is not altogether unbefitting, however, the travel, grind, then level up repetition is meant to spotlight each individual’s growth so that, toward series end, the group has also unwittingly grown stronger, more cohesive, individual attacks often prove ineffective or at the most only serve to identify a weak spot beyond the effect of the original attack, while combinations comprising different variations of not only technique but team member synchronicity start taking down top-tier baddies like bosses. This also leads to disappointing instances of abruptly abandoned battles wherein powerful foes retreat after the slightest hint of possible defeat. However, this too is a form of leveling up for them; villains smartly bolster their own capabilities in order to come back and fight with greater chance of victory. This is part of a dangerously balanced and carefully waged war in their feudal era. This group has been through a lot throughout this series and they will pull through this war era.
Any well-oiled machine can be said to run smoothly, but parts of the whole bear individual stresses. Such vulnerabilities are exactly what make the members of InuYasha’s party prone to rattling and growth. As the villain at the root of this series, Naraku, in addition is almost nearly indestructible and boasts a masterful ability to manipulate perception and emotion. He sees into and exploits the personal histories of InuYasha and his friends/allies to instill within those individuals self-doubt and hatred as to corrupt their purity of thought and intent, subsequently rendering the team’s efforts useless. Naraku is not even pulling any punches. Relying on the human heart’s propensity to never fully forget or forgive past injuries, even if exposed as deceptions, Naraku uses how he put Kikyo and InuYasha against each other to corrupt Kagome’s perception of both. This in the end this ends up threatening Kikyo’s life as well as Kagome’s own power of purification. Likewise, Kohaku, demon hunter Sango’s younger brother, carries around the guilt of having killed his father and
The Power Of Love Although the ending to the original InuYasha was adequate in an “If we never get another season, let’s set our heroes on a noble quest into the infinity of imagination” kind of way, many threads were left dangling in confusion. No-one was to blame; the manga was still being written, so the anime took a little break. Luckily, InuYasha: The Final Act is the ending for which many fans were waiting very anxiously for. Familial love, the love of and for friends, and of course romantic love are all prevalent themes in this final chapter. But perhaps the best love of all is the wide disappointment from fans that called for the resurrection of the series.
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FEATURE February 2013
TOP LEFT & BELOW:
One of Naraku’s minions and Naraku himself with the darkened Shikon Jewel.
TOP MIDDLE:
InuYasha punching Koga in order to save him from Naraku.
TOP RIGHT:
The group visiting the Demon Potions Master to cure Miroku.
village while under Naraku’s control. This is leveraged by Naraku to not only undermine Kohaku’s own effectiveness and drive him down ultimately futile paths but also to distract his sister Sango with the sadness relatives carry for one another. Sango gets a double whammy when she and her monk, Miroku, are shown the wind tunnel fate that befelt his father (destined to be Miroku’s fate as well). While Miroku laughs at the attempt to rattle his nerves, he is subsequently shaken by how much horror he sees in Sango’s eyes. If betrayal, murder, and death are not dark enough, consider the history of Kagome
“InuYasha has done such a thorough job of its world building that its characters memories, especially given their dramatic and traumatic nature, remain in viewer’s memories.”
In The Periphery
The Leaden Anchor Of Time
InuYasha: The Final Act does feature some subtle touches a la Sunrise that help enhance the threat of danger. Largely, these can be seen in the effects of miasma on nature: birds falling from the sky; forests of withered skeletal trees; and wildlife running in fear of unnatural decomposition. For a bit of fun, there’s also a scene where the same crescent moon on Sesshomaru’s forehead appears, chiseled in rock face and sky, after a blow from his Meido Zangetsuha. Little touches like those add a sense of realism and playfulness to a series with a primary focus on its characters’ actions.
Kagome’s modern life is scripted to never seem of any real consequence, save the banal importance of the occasional exam. No one in her main circle of friends or family is dying or in frail health, and her loving, overly supportive family is very accepting of her basically living out the larger part of her middle school life in feudal-era Japan battling demons and picking up dog-eared, half-human boyfriends. The most subtle and well-played aspect of this series, however, is that Kagome’s sporadic appearances in the modern era, while serving mostly as comic relief, show
that time progresses without her. Thus her emotional center becomes a reminder of her physical absence and fosters a subconscious sympathy for those she leaves behind. Kagome’s cohabitation then introduces a stress for her character: that ticking clock of consequence against which all humans weigh their daily decisions. When this is brought front and center, the choice between the past (personal history) and the future (possible history) seems the sharpest of blades wielded by the most cold-blooded of masters for all it is able to cut from Kagome’s life. Kagome has the choice if she wants to stay or to go from the feudal-era. FEATURE February 2013
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News PREVIEW / EVENTS / RELEASE LISTS
NEOAWARDS
Announces the Best Anime Movie For 2012 Just recently the NEO Awards had begun and now the full results came in. Winning the NEO Award for Best Anime Movie of 2012 was Fullmetal Alchemist: Sacred Star of Milos, released in the UK by Manga Entertainment. This movie marked the final appearance of the Elric brothers on our screens at least, for now – so it was fitting for the readers of NEO to decide and vote for who they wanted to win. Full Metal Alchemist beats Studio Ghibli’s latest title, Arrietty, to the top spot, which is no small feat! “The guys at Aniplex and BONES will be so upset to learn that Full Metal Alchemist: Sacred Star of Milos has been the one voted best anime movie of 2012,” said Jerome Mazandarani of Manga Entertainment. He also sent a shout out to readers saying thank you for making this show a success.
OBLIVION ISLAND Manga has announced that they have picked up the rights to Oblivion Island: Haruka and the Magic Mirror. The film marks Production IG’s first foray into CG animation with Shinsuke Sato at the helm, as
BIGBANG!!
schoolgirl Haruka is transported to the land where discarde
Sell Out Wembley
This K-pop band have sold out shows in every country they’ve visited on the “BIGBANG ALIVE GALAXY TOUR 2012” to date, and the UK is no different! Within minutes of the phenomenal Korean boy band’s Wembley Arena date for 15 December going on sale, tickets had completely sold out, forcing the main organizers YG Entertainment and Live Nation to add an additional date on 14 December. At the time of writing, tickets were still available and ranged in price from 60-90 England pounds. That’s not all! Fans were also offered three different options to boost their tickets for the ultimate BIGBANG experience. One option was to get the glow accessories, their tour T-shirt, and tour laminate, another option was to get the goodies above and early entry by paying a little bit extra, and lastly you can get there during their sound check with everything else above. Further details are available from livenation.co.uk
toys live. Look for Haruki on DVD on March 25 2013
THE MICRO HEAD4 N’S Formed from members of the group Fanatic Crisis and D’espairsRay, The MICRO HEAD 4N’s made their first appearance at Hyper Japan, You can catch their debut CD courtesy of Bishi-Bishi. A beginning From the End is out now.
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NEWS February 2013
The Sword Identity Fight for your right to party... sorry teach
MVM has picked up Hu Xaofeng’s martial arts film The Sword Identity. Hu wrote the screen play from his one novel and also serves as the action choreographer on the production. The story involves a lone swordsman called Liang Henlu (Song Yang) who moves to the town of Shuangye hoping to open a martial arts school. Yet tradition demands that before he can do so, he must fight and defeat representatives from the four local martial arts schools. To make matters more complicated, Liang’s weapons of choice- a long sword- resembles a Japanese katana and foreign weapons are banned under the Chinese rules. Qie (Ma Jun) is the top swordsman in town and he starts spreading a rumour that Liang is actually a Japanese pirate in disguise, but Liang finds an unlikely ally in Sailan (Xu Fujing) a member of a quartet of dancing girls, after he teaches her how to wield a blade. The Sword Identity will be released in 2013.
NEW TRAILER For Space Pirate Captain Harlock
Back in 2010, Toei Animation unveiled the first glimpse of their CGI reboot of Space Pirate Captain Harlock. Three years later, the first official trailer has appeared online, giving a small glimpse of what the studio has planned for one of anime’s most iconic characters. The Captain Harlock manga by Leiji Matsumoto debuted in 1977 and his many adventures were adapted into an anime the following year. The series was released in Europe in the early 80s, making the good old Captain a pioneering anime ambassador. The new movie is to be directed by Shinji Aramaki who directed the CG Appleseed in 2004 and Appleseed: Ex Machina in 2007. Harutoshi Fukui is writing the script and with a budget of US$30 million, the film is Toei Animation’s most ambitious project. The movie is due to be released in Japan in Autumn 2013. Fingers crossed for a UK distributor!
The Last Kung Fu Monk
Eureka has announced two new Japanese titles joining the Masters Of Cinema range in April. Bakumatsu Taiyo-Den, by Yuzo Kawashima, concerns Sheji, a hustler forced to work in a brothel to pay off his debts. The Complete (Existing) Films of Sadao Yamanaka collects the surviving work of the main director from the 1930s.
TOKYO FIST Following on from their Bluray edition of Tesuo: The Iron Man and the release of the Kotoko last year, Third Window Films continues to explore the work of director Shinya Tsukamoto with the very acquisition of his deranged 1995 boxing drama Tokyo Fist. They will release this action-filled DVD later this summer.
Ocean Heaven Jet Li is showing his kind and caring side in this film. Jet plays Sam Wang, a widower who splits his time between his job at an aquarium with looking after his 22 year old son Dafu, who is autistic. When Sam is diagnosed with cancer, he resolves to make sure that Dafu will be able to take car of himself when Sam is no longer around.
Kyary Begins World Revolution! It was predicted That Harajuku’s Kawaii Queen Kyary Pamyu Pamyu would be big in 2013. It turns out that this was true and she is starting a world tour. There is even one special performance to be in the UK. Tickets to see Japan’s Fashion monster are actually sold out nearly as fast as the world tour show was announced. So we should expect a packed crowd in the UK and in the other destinations of her tour.
If you weren’t lucky enough to get tickets you can still get her latest single that came in January 30. Kyary has now become the new face of Tokyo after her video of PonPonPon, which has over 40 million views- a figure that is impressive in the pre-PSY era. Japan has caught up with her notoriety and she is now plastered in about every advertising form imaginable and is still going strong!
But teaching Dafu life’s basics is a challenge. It is a wonderful film and is tentatively scheduled for a DVD release in February courtesy of Metrodome.
© All images and articles on this page are copyrighted and property of their respective owners.
Zhang Li Peng writes, directs and stars in The Last Kung Fu Monk, the story of Li Long, a Shaolin monk who leaves China and heads to New York to look after his nephew following the death of his brother. Once in the Big Apple, Li Long opens a martial arts school to make ends meet but attracts the attention of the local mob and is forced to compete in illegal prize fights. Zhang, who plays the lead role, is himself a former student of the Shaolin Temple in China. After studying since childhood, Zhang moved to Holland in his 20s, and began teaching martial arts there, before relocating to New York, which is now his hime. He has been featured in martial arts magazines, and also in a documentary on PBS in the States. The Lask Kung Fu Monk is his directorial debut, and is due out on DVD from High Fliers Films on 28 January. Zhang’s second film, the historical martial arts drama called The Resistance, will follow in March.
MASTERS OF CINEMA
MAGI THE LABYRINTH “Magi delivers superbly timed comedy moments and brilliant action set-pieces.”
B
RAVE Heroes, bold adventures, princesses and plenty of moral lessons - the fables of One Thousand and One Arabian Nights have been retold for centuries, in many countless forms. Now prepare to see the likes of Aladdin and Ali Baba in a whole new light, in Magi: The Labyrinth of Magic!
Fables Re-Imagined You know the basics of Aladdin’s story, tricked by his uncle, finds a lamp, awakens the genie, gets three wishes, and saves
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FEATURE February 2013
Photos: Š Shinobu Ohtaka / Shogakuken, Aniplex USA 2012
OF MAGIC the day. Magi does not follow that story. This world is one dominated by magic, where many unexplained towers and dungeons spontaneously appear. Years earlier, beckoning adventurers with the promises of riches and power. Though no one has ever returned after entering these dungeons. Here, Aladdin is a sprightly ten-year-old , who is accidently causing trouble through his naive and optimistic view of the world. Ali Baba, meanwhile
BY NEO
is closer to his original fairy-tale roots, an aspiring merchant, but at only 17, is also much younger than his mythical counterpart. Neither are exactly what they seem though - Aladdin has very little knowledge of who, or even what, he is. His early memory concerns sitting in a darkened room, talking with his Djinni, Ugo. Ali Baba, in turn, has knowledge and skills that only royalty should have, yet he claims to be a mere street urchin. The
pair meet when they cross a violent slave trader, and find themselves being dragged into one of those aforementioned (and very lethal) dungeons. Soon joined by a freed slave girl with fearsome fighting prowess, Morgiana (named after one of the title characters servants in the original Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves). The trio set off to conquer the remaining structures. They are entering a fearsome journey filled with adventure. FEATURE February 2013
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TOP:
Ali Baba, Aladdin, and Morgiana continuing their epic journey.
BOTTOM LEFT:
Ali Baba fighting against Jamil, the slave owner of Morgiana
RIGHT:
Aladdin using his special magic powers to save the others.
The opening episodes strike a perfect balance between teasing out secrets to hook viewer’s interest, and answering enough questions surrounding the cast so as not to frustrate. Aladdin is soon revealed to be a Magi, able to channel vast, arcane energy, and one of a select few prophesied to choose the kings of the mortal realm. Although the sources of his amnesia remains unexplained, we get enough hints to begin forming theories, and the same goes for the truth of Ali Baba’s past, and Morgiana’s long-lost homeland. Beyond the character development, Magi also delivers superbly timed comedy moments and brilliant action set-pieces - sometimes both at once, because as the giant genie Ugo rampages in combat, his head is still comically trapped in Aladdin’s flute!
“So now prepare to see the likes of Aladdin and Ali Baba in a whole new light in Magi: The Labyrinth of Magic!” 10
FEATURE February 2013
Gods, Monsters and Genies Magi was first published in manga form in June 2009, in Shogakukan’s Weekly Shonen Sunday AnthoWeekly Shonen Sunday anthology. The second major series from artist Shinobu Ohtaka, known for his earlier manga Sumomommo Momomo the prolific creator has produced 14 collected columns of high adventure in the first three years since its debut. The second major series from artist Shinobu Ohtaka, know for his earlier manga Sumomomo Momomom, The prolific creator has produced 14 collective volumes of high adventure in the three years since its debut. The anime adaptation is directed by Kji Masunari, perhaps most recognizable to anime readers for his recent (and rather brilliant
movie, Welcome to the Space Show. Masunari evokes a similar sense of wonder and excitement here as in his screen effort, and displays as much whimsy and creativity as he in other films, which explored the world of spirits and gods. There’s clearly a Disney influence at work in places - Aladdin having a flying carpet (though the Disney version was never stored as a turban, as it is here), and his genie Ugo being blue are the two most prominent points. Consider these homages more than anything, as the similarities end there! The tone for the series overall is most comparable to Fairy Tail, with its blend of intriguing characters, comedy, and action. Where Magi will go on to be as lengthy or successful as Hiro Mashima’s series remains to be seen.
EDITORIAL February 2013
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NEW RELEASES 2013 Anime DATE
TITLE
28/01
Journey to Agartha
28/01
Canaan Collection
04/02
Tiger & Bunny Part 1
04/02
Bodacious Space Pirates Part 1
11/02
DISTRIBUTOR
DATE
TITLE
12/03
Cage of Eden 9
Kodansha
12/03
Wallflower 30
Kodansha
DISTRIBUTOR
14/03
Mobile Suit Gundam: The Origin 1
Kodansha
Kaze/Manga
14/03
Ai Ore! 8
VIZ Media
MVM
14/03
Awkward Silence 3
VIZ Media
Kaze/Manga
14/03
Bond of Dreams, Bond of Love 3
VIZ Media
MVM
14/03
Devil and Her Love Song 7
VIZ Media
Eden of the East Complete Collection
Manga
14/03
Hayate the Combat Butler 21
VIZ Media
11/02
Baka and Test: Summon The Beasts Series
Manga
14/03
Neon Genesis Evangelion 3-in-1
VIZ Media
18/02
Needless part 2
MVM
14/03
Skip Beat 3-in-1 3
VIZ Media
25/02
Bleach Movie 4: Hell Verse
Kaze/Manga
14/03
Stepping on Roses 9
VIZ Media
04/03
Dragon Ball Z Season 6
Manga
19/03
Love Hina Omnibus 5
Kodansha
04/03
Shana 2:1
MVM
19/03
Kitchen Princess Omnibus 3
Kodansha
11/03
Bleach 10.2
Kaze/Manga
19/03
Battle Angel Alita: Last Order 17
Kodansha
11/03
Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion 2
Kaze/Manga
21/03
The Limit 4
Kodansha
18/03
Dream Eater Merry Collection
MVM
21/03
Genshiken Season Two
Kodansha
18/03
Naruto Shippuden Box 12
Manga
26/03
Negima! Magister Negi Magi Omnibus 6
Kodansha
25/03
Mardock Scramble: Second Combustion
Kaze/Manga
26/03
Fairy Tail 24
Kodansha
25/03
Oblivion Island
Manga
28/03
GTO: 14 Days in Shonan 8
Kodansha
08/04
Shana 2:2
MVM
28/03
Tenjo Tenge 11
VIZ Media
22/04
Tiger & Bunny Part 2
Kaze/Manga
28/03
Vampire Knight 16
VIZ Media
22/04
Garei Zero Collection
MVM
28/03
Bakuman 18
VIZ Media
13/05
Dragon Ball Z Complete Season 7
Manga
28/03
FMA 3-in-1
VIZ Media
28/03
One Piece 66
VIZ Media
28/03
Psyren 9
VIZ Media
28/03
Rosario + Vampire 2: 11
VIZ Media
11/04
07-Ghost 3
VIZ Media
11/04
Fushigi Yuugi Genbu Kaiden 11
VIZ Media
Manga
DISTRIBUTOR
Asian Film
DATE
TITLE
08/02
Missions of Love 2
Kodansha
08/02
Book of Human Insects
Kodansha
14/02
Bloody Monday 9
Kodansha
14/02
Ayako
Kodansha
DATE
TITLE
14/02
Knights of Sidonia 1
Kodansha
25/01
The Last Stand
15/02
Flowers of Evil 4
Kodansha
28/01
Encounters Of The Spooky Kind
22/02
Genshiken Omnibus 3
Kodansha
28/01
The Last Kung Fu Monk
22/02
The Limit 3
Kodansha
28/01
The Woodsman And The Rain
28/02
Deltora Quest 10
Kodansha
28/01
Warriors Two
28/02
Air Gear 27
Kodansha
01/02
I Wish
28/02
Fairy Tail 23
Kodansha
11/02
Ocean Heaven
28/02
GTO: 14 Days in Shonan 7
Kodansha
25/02
Reign of Assassins
28/02
Sailor Moon 9
Kodansha
04/03
Death Game
28/02
Negima! Magister Negi Magi 37
Kodansha
04/03
The Resistance
28/02
Bleach 3-in-1 4
VIZ Media
28/02
Naruto 60
VIZ Media
28/02
Nura: Rise of the Yokai Clan 13
VIZ Media
28/02
One Piece: 3-in-1 5
VIZ Media
28/02
Tegami Bachi 12
VIZ Media
28/02
Toriko 14
VIZ Media
07/03
Paradise Kiss 3
Kodansha
12
RELEASES February 2013
DISTRIBUTOR Lionsgate Cine Asia High Fliers Third Window Cine Asia Arrow Films Metrodome Entertainment One MVM High Fliers Films
I Wish
At The Speed Of Magic
RELEASE DATE: FEBRUARY 1 DISTRIBUTOR: ARROW FILMS
Koichi (Koki Maeda) and his brother Ryunosuke (Ohshiro Maeda) have lived apart from each other ever since their parents split up. Koichi lives with their mother Nozomi (Nene Ohtsuka), while Ryunosuke went with their dad, Kenji (Joe Odagiri). Although the brothers talk on the phone all the time, they both wish their family could be reunited. A high speed
bullet train link is being built to connect their two towns, and Koichi hears that when the trains going in opposite directions cross each other at their top speed, it will create an energy field capable of granting wishes. So the brothers vow to meet up at the precise point on the track and make the family whole again. I Wish will be released theatrically on February 1 by Arrow Films.
EDITORIAL February 2013
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Reviews
15
16
15
Available: 11 February Label: Manga Certificate: 15 Discs: 4
Eden of the East Complete Collection Collecting together all 11 episodes of the original Eden of the East series, along with the two movies, King of Eden and Paradise Lost, plus the ova, this is the ultimate Blu-ray collection for fan of the series. Three months after a missile strike hits Japan, Japanese tourist Saki Morimi gets the shock of her life outside the White House in Washington DC. She gets into trouble and is helped by Akira Takizawa who has no memory, but that is not the most surprising thing about him. Yes, he’s stark naked and has a mobile phone which is charged with 8,200,000,000 in digital funds Thus begins a whirlwind adventure for Akira and Saki, as they start to uncover the mysterious game that Akira is a part of - set up with the inten-
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REVIEWS February 2013
Retail Price: $49.99 Running Time: 592 mins
By Amanda Young tion of transforming Japan forever. Akira is not the only player and not everyone is trying to achieve the same outcome. The series is undoubtedly one of the best anime thrillers in recent years, and although the quality dips with the first movie, is still good. Eden is a mature and rewarding franchise, and if you haven’t seen it yet, this is the perfect way to do so. Available: February 1 Label: Manga
VERDICT: This collection of Eden of the East proves that mature and
Certificate: 12
thoughtful anime can provide thrills and spills in equal measure.
Discs: 3 Retail Price: $39.99
ANIME
EXTRAS
Running Time: 300 mins
14
REVIEW RATINGS Eden of the East
14
Clannad After Story
15
Tales of Vesperia: First Strike
15
Journey to Agartha
16
Ninja Gaiden 3: Razor’s Edge
17
Encounters of the Spooky Kind
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Clannad After Story Second verse, same as the first By Amanda Young
Tales Of Vesperia: The First Strike Doctors recommend plenty of fresh air and exercise Something is wrong in the forests around the town of Shizontania. The energy force known as Aer is usually benign and can be harnessed to power a technology called Blastia that can generate force fields or energy bursts. When Aer gathers in high concentration, it turns from green to red, and causes mutations in the natural world. Now the woods around the town are mutated monsters, and it is up to the troops under the command of Captain fedrok to uncover the source of the Aer before the town is overrun. Yuri Lowell and Flynn Scifo are new members of Fedrok’s squad, fresh out of the academy. Yuri is headstrong and impetuous while Flynn is a stickler for order, tidiness, and discipline. These two are roommates as well as comrades in arms. The odd couple provides some snap to the interplay between the young Knights. They both have something to prove and a chip on their shoulders. Joining Yuri and Lowell in the service of the crown are twin sisters Hisca and Chastele. Their personalities are less developed than the main characters. There is no real romance in the plot line, but the script does hint at stirrings of the heart between Flynn and Princess Estellise, a childhood friend of the young swordsmen. As the prequel to a video game, The First Strike stands up surprisingly well as a movie in its own right and you don’t need to be a fan of the game to understand events in the storyline. This First Strike looks great, with high quality animation and a smooth blending of hand drawn and CG techniques. The design work is solid- it is easy to tell the characters apart, despite the leads all wearing the same uniform , and the monsters are suitably menacing. Action scenes are the best in this show too, especially thanks to strong direction and the excellent animation.
VERDICT: A pastel colored tear-fest. Switch this series on,
VERDICT: While the overall tone is light and playful, it finds the right balance between
and get ready to take a hanky out for crying. It is a beautiful anime with an intriguing story-line and compelling characters.
humor and danger. Missions are fraught with peril and not all the characters emerge unscathed. The First Strike is much better than Tekken: Blood Vengeance. Well done!
ANIME
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ANIME
Available: 3 December Label: Manga Certificate: 12 Discs: 1 Retail Price: $19.99 DVD / $24.99 Blu-ray Running Time:110 mins By David West
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This Continuation of Clannad continues much as you would expect a show to continue. That is to say, for those not really into the gentle pace of this type of anime series, this will all seem unspeakably boring. But for anyone who takes pleasure in the quiet contemplation of characters interpersonal relationships, there is a definite satisfaction to be had from the conclusion of this series. We will experience massive amounts of tragedy, weeping, sadness, and gnashing of teeth. Tomoya is really suffering more in this series on top of what he had to go through in the very first season of Clannad. It is a show to behold. On these discs are episodes 13-25 - the original show lasted for a 22 episode run, and Manga has included the three extra episodes, one of which is a conclusion to the sad affairs of Tomoya (our hero), one of which is a summary of the series as a whole, and the final of which concerns itself with events that take place in an alternate timeline. All in all, Clannad After Story lives up to the promise of its earlier episodes, and although some might find it as heartbreakingly predictable as an episode of the Jeremy Kyle Sow, this at least proves that there will always be an audience for the miseries of men.
Journey To Agartha A moving tale encumbered by to many ideas Available: 28 January Label: Kaze / Manga Certificate: 12 Discs: 1 DVD and 3 (In the Collectors Edition) Retail Price: $19.99 DVD / $24.99 Blu-ray, Collector’s Edition $34.99 Running Time:116 mins
Asuna is a bright girl whose passed away when she was just a child. Now she lives in a small rural town with her mother, who works long hours in a hospital in her spare time. Asuna listens to a homemade radio powered by a crystal her father gave her. Once, she had heard a strange song on that radio and since then, she’s been trying to find it again. One day after school, she is confronted by a huge creature on a bridge, and is only saved from the beast by the intervention of a boy call Shun. He is from a land called Agartha, which legend says is a place where the dead can be returned to life. Makoto Shinkai’s new film is a touching look at people coping with loss, set against a fantasy backdrop. From the director of 5 Centimetres Per Second and The Place Promised in Our Early Days, Journey To Agartha (originally known as Children Who Chase Lost Voices From Deep Below) is suffused with a profound sense of sadness. The movie looks wonderfulalthough, more so than in his earlier works. With a brave young heroine, magical creatures, and spectacular backdrops,
By David West
there are shades of Studio Ghibli throughout the story. On the script front, Shinkai tries to pack to many ideas into a running time. There is not enough opportunity for many of the central relationships to develop any emotional depth, which is particularly true in the case of Asuna and Shun, the boy who saves her on the bridge. The theme of loss is expressed with the greatest clarity in the character of Morisaki, a substitute teacher at Asuna’s school who has never been able to move on following the death of his wife. Asuna wants to go to Agartha but not to look for her father, but rather serves the role of being the eyes through which the audience experiences the strange place. A recurring story device that is overused in the script is for Asuna to be threatened with impending death by some hostile creature of creatures, only to be rescued at the very last moment. The monsters themselves are creepy and weird and the film has moments of fairly intense violence and menace, so it might be too much for younger viewers.
VERDICT: Despite various shortcomings mainly in the plotting and the pacing, Journey To Agartha is still an impressive outing and adventure from director Shinkai, even if it is not quite up to the lofty high standards of his other previous anime films. The central theme of this story , that it is our own ability to feel loss that makes us human, is undeniably powerful and moving
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REVIEWS February 2013
EXTRAS
Encounter of the Spooky Kind
Ninja Gaiden 3: Razor’s Edge Fan’s choice Available: Now Console: Wii U Certificate: 18 Retail Price: $49.99 Publisher: Koei Developer: Team Ninja
By Neil Short
Multi-platform releases are usually much of a muchness. The same game, ported to a different console, but with the same features, graphics, and capabilities as every other version. With the launch of Nintendo’s new Wii U console, though the multiformat landscape has changed, because whilst the Wii U is on a par with the graphical capabilities of the other current-gen consoles, it also features an extra dimension thanks to its amazing Game Pad controller. In this instance, though, the controller is actually a hindrance rather than a help, but the Wii U version is still a vastly superior option to the PS3 and Xbox 360 versions. After vocal criticism of the original launch of this game, Koei have addressed many of the problems that dogged the game, rectifying it with this new edition. The results, whilst still not perfect, make this game the best edition for Ninja Gaiden fans. Problems with gameplay have been addressed, with the introduction of a much-needed skills progression system, plus it offers far more of a challenge than its predecessor, making this the kind of hard-core offering that Nintendo was hoping would entice serious gamers in their droves. Added to the gameplay changes, which dispense of many of the frustrating QTEs, are two bonus levels featuring Ayane from the Dead or Alive franchise- a supplement that Koei fans are sure to appreciate.
An old classic returns By Calum Waddell At the same time as Fortune Star is re-releasing such old classics as Encounters of a Spooky Kind on Blu-ray editions in their native Hong Kong, the UK is only getting them on DVD. Ah well, at least this means that these older examples of Cantonese brilliance are still with us - and when it comes to this Sammo Hung- directed classic (in which the big man also stars) we can be thankful for such favours. This 1980 Kung fu shock-fest carries elements that potentially influenced The Evil Dead series but, taken on its own accord., this is simply an excellent progression of the then hit or miss Hong Kong fantasy genre, which was once largely indebted to po-faced ghost stories. The plot involves Hung agreeing to spend the night in a haunted mansion in which various untoward things happen. Admirably, Hung allows his film to bring on the goods early on - we open with a talk between ghouls and it is not long before all kinds of dastardly evil is trying to run riot around our hero. The ghosts themselves are uniquely Easter, and the atmosphere is beautifully realised - although we would still wager, all these years later, that Mr. Vampire is a slightly superior version of the theme which Hung instigated with this masterwork. That said, if you do not have this film in your collection then run, don’t walk, to your nearest HMV. VERDICT: A Wii U offering that’s actually superior to the versions available on other consoles, Razor’s Edge offers the best Ninja Gaiden 3 experience .
FILM
EXTRAS
Available: Now Label: Cine Asia
VERDICT: A Wii U offering that’s actually superior to the versions available
Certificate: 15
on other consoles, Razor’s Edge offers the best Ninja Gaiden 3 experience .
Retail Price: $12.99 DVD Running TIme: 98 mins
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EDITORIAL February 2013
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EDITORIAL February 2013
WHAT DOES
ANIME MEAN TO YOU? Anime has one of the most appealing types of artwork, in my opinion! The drawing style itself is what got me into anime in the first place, Anime has huge differences with other Animation, but what exactly does Anime mean to ?
Anime Is Usually Seen As Animation From Japan Whenever people think of Anime, most will think of Animation from Japan. Why? Because perhaps the only type of animation we’ve been exposed to comes from Japan. We hardly get animation from other countries such as Korea, China, Taiwan, and India with similar art styles. Whenever I think of the word “Anime”, I see a distinctive art style, or a number of different, yet similar art styles. The eyes are usually bigger in anime than Western Animation, the mouth and nose are much smaller too.
Anime Is For All Ages! Anime has complexity that many children can’t understand. I think most Anime are aimed at teenagers or older. Though depending on the anime it can be for younger children. I myself watched anime (Sailor Moon, Dragon Ball Z) when I was a kid. People all over of all ages watch anime. Most shows and movies are centered for kids, adolescents, or young adults, but there are also many animes that are made for the older crowd. There are many genres in anime with categories like comedy, romance, action, or drama. There is even anime with content meant
specifically for boys (shounen) and girls (Shoujo). Not everyone likes anime and that is their own personal choice.
What Is So Great About Anime? To me anime has more respect in both America and Japan because it has a more developed story line, better animation quality, and more complex characters than other cartoons and animations. I love anime and it immerses me into the story and the characters. Anime, targets a wider range of viewer. In most cases while the children enjoy the action and fight scenes, adults and young adults appreciate the complexity of the story and its emotional content. I definitely appreciate the thought and process that went into the story and the animation itself. In addition I love the character development. In Anime characters grow as the story goes along. A good example would be “Dragon Ball Z” where the characters grow as the story goes along. I get attached emotionally with the character and grow as they grow, it really involves the viewer and I enjoy getting into a good anime. I also enjoy and also hate waiting for a new episode. The anime gets the viewer so “hooked”, keeping the story hanging at the end at every episode. It brings me back and others back to watch the next episode. Anime writers intentionally end every episode by not giving a definite conclusion to the story. I enjoy the
suspense and look forward to the next episode.
Can Another Country Also Create Anime? Yes. I believe so! Because I see Anime as an art style. I don’t think a particular art should be “copyrighted”. If an art style is particularly appealing, then why must only one country use it? How many people out here are artists and get inspired by Anime? I think Anime-styled art is one of the most appealing types of art to me! This brings me to my next point. I think if a country has the drawing styles of an Anime, and it also has similar types of storytelling format, then it can also have and make their own Anime. I mean Avatar: The Last Airbender is an American-made anime which has that the same story-telling format and their own anime drawing style, so to me yes other countries can have and make their own anime.
Some Last Words Anime is great in that is takes all these parts and combines it into a beautiful anime. Anime is a part of who I am and my personality and is important to me. I hope others will think about how they feel about anime and see how I feel about it, that they will appreciate just as much as I do.
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