Geek vs Life

The following is the official press release announcing Sakura-Con’s musical guests.

Seattle, WA1-23-2008 Sakura-Con hosts US debut of Ali Project and welcomes musical guests SCANDAL

Sakura-Con 2008, March 28-30th at the Washington State Convention and Trade Center will host the Japanese band Ali Project for their first ever US appearance. Also confirmed for Sakura-Con 2008 is the Japanese, all girl band SCANDAL. Both are presented with special thanks to NEU BAUHAUS.

Ali Project is a highly accomplished Japanese band with 19 albums to their credit and songs on over 14 anime soundtracks-including series beloved in the US- such as: .hack//Roots, Clamp School, Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion, Noir, Rozen Maiden (TV, Ouvertüre, Träumend), Wish.

Bandai Visual announced yesterday that they had licensed the popular “Harukanaru Toki no Naka de ~Hachiyou Shou~” anime (press release here). Now, most people probably won’t care too much (after all, it is a rather “girly” series), but it is my favorite series. And what will impact many people is the pricing structure.

9 DVDs, 2-3 episodes each, subtitled only… $29.99 each.

Yeah… Basically, $10-15 per episode. I don’t like this idea. And no, it’s not the only series Bandai Visual has done this with. The Galaxy Angel Rune DVDs are 3 episodes, subtitled only, and retail for $49.99. I don’t get this. They’re cutting back on costs by not having to hire scriptwriters to convert translations into dub dialogue, nor having to hire actors. So why are their prices so much higher than everyone else?

This week has been an interesting week, thanks to the news that, as of Tuesday, all Geneon releases after November 6th have effectively been canceled. So we get a “big long list of stuff,” since I’ve been trying to dig up solid info all week on what’s happening to Geneon’s properties.

You know how horrible it is, to get really excited for something, and then have your hopes and expectations dashed? Well, for GvL’s resident otaku, that was last Thursday.

Don’t get me wrong, Fullmetal Alchemist: The Conquerer of Shambala was a great movie, and it was awesome to see it on the big screen. And since I didn’t pay for the tickets, I can’t say it was a waste of my money, since I have the movie to watch at home. But that’s not what this article is about.

Modifying the new key slightly (so that it makes a little more sense)

(S)- Subtitled only
(D)- Dubbed only
^- Check it out (watch/read, don’t necessarily buy)
+- Add to your collection (buy it, and buy the rest of the series, too)
*- First volume in a series or stand-alone volume, or a complete series

Doubling the ^ means that it’s a highly recommended title, whether you buy it or not.

Anime (Release Date- 9/18)
Black Lagoon DVD 3 (Also available in Limited Collector’s Edition)
Dragon Ball Z Season 3 Uncut DVD Set
^Full Moon DVD 6
^ + * Fullmetal Alchemist DVD Box Set 1 (1-4)
* GTO: Great Teacher Onizuka DVD Box Set 1
Karin DVD 3: Thicker than Blood
^ Law of Ueki DVD 9: Cold Survival Game
Noein DVD 5
* Super Dimension Century Orguss DVD 1 (S) (includes series carton)
Super Dimension Century Orguss DVD 2 (S)
* Ramen Fighter Miki DVD 1 (S): Miso Mayhem
* Red Garden DVD 1: Live to Kill
^ + Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Season 1 DVD Set 2 (D)
* This Ugly Yet Beautiful World DVD Complete Collection (Thinpak)
YuGiOh GX DVD 4 (D)

Alright, I’m back, and I have an updated key for you.

(S)- Subtitled only
(D)- Dubbed only
^- recommended title
+- Add to your collection
*- First volume in a series or stand-alone volume

Recommended titles are titles that are worth taking a look at. Collection titles are ones that you should definitely think about collecting the whole series of.

With so many titles coming out each week (especially manga), it’s too hard to try to find a sample of each series.

Anime DVDs (Release Date 9/11)
Ah! My Goddess Season 2 DVD 3: Reunited & It Feels So Good
^ + Avatar: The Last Airbender Season 2 DVD Collection
Best Student Council DVD 6: Don’t Go! Hello
Burst Angel (Bakuretsu Tenshi) DVD 3: East Meets West
Burst Angel (Bakuretsu Tenshi) DVD 4: Hired Gun
* Hare+Guu DVD Box Set
Guyver DVD 6: Panemonium’s Ransom
Kyo Kara Maoh! Season 2 DVD 6
+ Mushishi DVD 2
Princess Princess DVD 3 (S): Family Secrets
Shonen Onmyoji DVD 2
* Spider Riders Season 1 DVD Set (D)
* Wings of Honneamise DVD/BluRay Combo (also available with DVD/HDDVD Combo)
^^^^^^^^^^ + * Xenosaga DVD 1: Enter the Gnosis

If you haven’t already noticed, I have not been able to get up this week’s anime (and related) release list. I regret to inform everyone that it will not be appearing this week.

However, I relay the following things that have prevented me from getting it up in a timely manner this week (in true geeky nature):

1) It has been requested that I give more recommendations for those who are not as anime-savvy as I. However, this is difficult, due to a) so many titles come out each week that I’ve never even heard of, let alone can recommend, and b) so many titles would read “go find volume 1,” as you can’t just jump in on the middle. So I’ve been trying to work out a series of “introduction to anime (and related)” articles.

2) Work (blah… always have that)

Sorry it’s running late, I just had someone move in with me, we’ve been messing with getting the router set up… So the list’s not even formatted. Or organized by date. It is alphabetized, though…

My recommendation for the week is Story of Saiunkoku volume 1, although it’s probably a bit too girly for most of the regular crowd. Basic story: Poor girl wants to be an official in ancient China/Japan-type country. Too bad girls can’t be officials. But the emperor’s an idiot who doesn’t do anything. So some of the other officials hire the girl to be his “consort” (wife/concubine/whatever you want to call it) and teach him to be a better emperor. Oh, did I mention that he’s good looking, and so are many of the other court officials? Yeah, it’s that kind of show.

All this week, IGN has the first episode of Xenosaga the Animation available for viewing, so I decided to see how bad it was. I was pleasantly surprised. *listens to crickets chirp, since everyone else is gone to PAX*

I was quite upset and annoyed with ADV’s decision not to use ANY of the cast of the games (especially Crispin Freeman), but, for the most part, the cast was very well done. Of the main cast, those that are introduced and voiced in the first episode are Shion, KOS-MOS, Allen, Margulis, Jin, Virgil, the “100-series realian”, and Albedo. Shion’s voice was nice, not outstanding, but not bad, either. KOS-MOS, on the other hand, I was shocked wasn’t her voice from Episodes I and III, since she voiced her perfectly. Allen’s voice could’ve been a bit better, but it still works alright. He sounded a bit young. Margulis was decent, but I miss his voice from the games. Jin and Virgil both had voices that fit them, as did the “100-series realian”. Albedo’s voice… It’s no Crispin Freeman, and he’s not quite as creepy/insane as I’d like, but it’s good!

Hey, I got the list up before anything on it came out!

Anime

08/21/07- 009-1 DVD 1 (also available with artbox)
08/21/07- Big O II DVD Complete Collection (Anime Legends)
08/21/07- Bloodhound: The Vampire Gigolo DVD 3 (LiveAction)
08/21/07- Burst Angel (Bakuretsu Tenshi) DVD 1: Death’s Angel
08/21/07- Burst Angel (Bakuretsu Tenshi) DVD 2: A New Tokyo
08/21/07- Fate/Stay Night DVD 5: Medea
08/21/07- Galaxy Angel AA DVD 2
08/21/07- Gunslinger Girl DVD 1
08/21/07- Gunslinger Girl DVD 2
08/21/07- Innocent Venus DVD 1: Grave New World
08/21/07- Kashimashi: Girl Meets Girl DVD 2 (S): Triangles Hurt
08/21/07- Le Chevalier D’Eon DVD 4: Ancient Regime
08/21/07- Peach Girl DVD 4
08/21/07- Solty Rei DVD 6
08/21/07- Toho Live Action Film DVD 4-Pack (S) LiveAction
            Rainbow Kids, The Family Game, My Secret Cache, All About Our House
08/21/07- Toho Tripple Feature: Mysterians/Varan/Matango DVD LiveAction

Yeah, I’m late again. I was busy last weekend. Next week’s should be on time.

Anime
08/14/07- Air TV Series DVD 1
08/14/07- Beck DVD 2
08/14/07- Best Student Council DVD 5: Special Talents – Crazy Times
08/14/07- BoBoBo-Bo Bo-BoBo DVD 4
08/14/07- Cat’s Eye DVD 1 (S) (with series carton)
08/14/07- Cat’s Eye DVD 2 (S)
08/14/07- Graveyard of Honor DVD (S) (LiveAction)
08/14/07- Initial D Season 2 DVD Box Set
08/14/07- Kurau: Phantom Memory DVD 3: Binary Complex
08/14/07- Loonatics Unleashed DVD Season 2 (D)
08/14/07- Nobody’s Boy Remi DVD 1 (S) (includes series carton)
08/14/07- Nobody’s Boy Remi DVD 2 (S)
08/14/07- Orguss, Super Dimension Century DVD 1 (S) (includes series carton)
08/14/07- Orguss, Super Dimension Century DVD 2 (S)
08/14/07- 3×3 Eyes DVD 2: Legend of the Diving Demon
08/14/07- Pani Poni Dash! DVD 5: Delinquent Genius
08/14/07- Popotan DVD Box Set
08/14/07- Tekkaman Blade DVD Set 3 (S)
08/14/07- Tokko DVD 3
08/14/07- Wings of Rean DVD 3 (S)
08/16/07- Slayers Season 1 DVD Set Uncut

Okay, so I’m late with this, and most of it came out today…

Anime (and related) Releases (August 7th)

Air Gear DVD 4: Wings Reborn
B’t X (Beat) DVD 3
Darkwing Duck DVD Collection 2 (D)
GTO: Great Teacher Onizuka DVD Box Set 1 (DVD 1-5)
Gakuen Heaven DVD 3 (S): Secret Summers
Hakkenden Dog Warriors DVD 2
Kannazuki No Miko DVD Box Set
Lady Ninja Kasumi DVD 1 (S) LiveAction
Mar DVD 2
Naruto Uncut DVD Box Set 4 (also available in Special Edition)
Rumbling Hearts DVD Box Set
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Fast Forward DVD 2 (D)
The Tick vs. Season 2 DVD (D)
Weather Report Girl DVD
When they Cry (Higurashi) DVD 2
Zatch Bell! DVD 11 (D)
.hack//ROOTS DVD 3 (also available in Special Edition with MP3 Case)

Manga (listed by release date)

Here’s a list of this week’s Anime, Manga, and related releases, plus my recommendation for the week:

Note: DVDs marked with (D) means it’s dubbed (or English) only. DVDs marked with (S) means it’s subtitled only. DVDs unmarked have both audio tracks.

Anime (Released July 31)-

Beet the Vandel Buster DVD 2
Bleach DVD 5
El Hazard OAV Series DVD 2
Hand Maid May Box Set DVD + Extras CD-ROM (Limited)
Hikaru no Go DVD 9
Mushishi DVD 1 (also available with Artbox)
Naruto DVD 14 (D)
Ranma 1/2: Season 2 DVD Box Set: Anything Goes Martial Arts
The Third: The Girl With the Blue Eye DVD 1: Encounter

Manga (listed with release date)-

Don’t worry, no spoilers. But while you wait for my HP7 review (I’m at 407 words right now… so I am working on it… it’s hard to get all my thoughts on the book and the series into words), I thought I’d entertain you with today’s Ask John article from AnimeNation, on the subject of John’s opinion on the possibility of a Harry Potter anime:

Ask John, via AnimeNation