This week I have Gerald from Anime World Order join me to review Fight! Iczer 1 an anime from 1985. With angsty naked schoolgirls, high eyeliner, lesbians, giant robots, the best damn Earth Defense Force EVER and Kaneto Shiozawa as a naked, evil, blonde-haired alien child(!?!) this title has anything and everything. Check out this tribute YouTube video(thanks to Regan for the link):
This week we review Air Gear the manga, They Were Eleven and Birdy The Mighty OVA. Also we talk incessantly throughout the news section. Oh well. You’re not listening to this show for the intellectual quota. Oni talks about furries (I think), I talk about Bandai Visual USA (I’m sure) and we both talk about Miller and Baileys(I’m certain).
Anywho if you need to contact me with hints, questions, comments, requests for reviews and anything else then drop me a line @
Leiji Matsumoto’s Great Yamato #0 which is a sequel to the original series has started streaming the first 45 minute episode for free. With no restriction on location the only thing stopping you is your internet connection! Woot! [Link]
Bandai have announced their new Mobile Suit Gundam series. As the first Gundam to be set in “our” calender this should be good. So long as it doesn’t suck worse than Seed Destiny. [Link]
Bandai Entertainment, at A-Kon, has said they are to distribute the next in the Galaxy Angel series, Galaxy Angel X and its spinoff S special. And no, unlike Bandai Visual, Bandai Ent. won’t be charging 7,431 Yen for each episode. [As Bandai Visual: Expensive is Better!] [Link]
The live action Speed racer movie project has released images of the Mach 5 car from said film. Yay! Everyone leap for joy! Seriously though, the Wachowski brothers have already succeeded at Sci-Fi illusionist bollocks. Why can they succeed with family film illusionist bollocks as well? [Link]
LiveJournal and it’s parent company, Six Apart are going to unsuspend some user accounts which had been suspended due to LJ owners feeling that some users who had lolicon and Shotacon themed LJ accounts were violating the terms of service required by LiveJournal. As a result the owners of LJ are in process of restoring about 250 accounts. My take: if you’re into that aspect of culture, fine. But if what you’re doing violates your TOS with the blog service, tough. You signed your soul away when you joined up. Now it’s time to pay the price. [Link]
And finally Geneon Entertainment US has announced that they are to distribute select titles from their catalogue on Azureus’ Vuze Bit Torrent service. Great. If you live in the US, that is. [Link]
Reviews
Air Gear
This manga by Tenjho Tenge creator Oh!Great is great if you’re a big reader of PlayBoy and I don’t mean for the articles. It’s trying to tell some kind of BIGGER STORY but honestly I don’t think that it matters. All you need to know is that Ikki, the protagonist, is a TOUGH guy! And he skates! And finds women, who he likes, naked!. A lot. Seriously, it’s a good waste of time but no more than that.
This section is noticebly bare bones mostly because I’ve left Oni to write it up. Needlessly to say this is not one title that he was excited about. Despite my attempts, Oni would only agree that it’s something you should watch if you have the time but don’t go out of your way buy this.
Frigging excellent interview with Moto Hagio! All fans of Shoujo or 70’s era manga should read this! [Link]
Birdy The Mighty
I freakin’ love this OVA! Great crisp animation, nice self deprecating humour and a surprising choice for director. After waiting for under ten years to finally watch this, I wasn’t disappointed. The manga has never been published in English but scanalations are around. Chikan Manga are currently translating the remake manga also by Birdy creator Masami Yuuki. I’m looking forward to the remake anime which should be out around the end of the year. If you can find the original OVA on Amazon or eBay well and good if not then hope the fact that it’s a Bandai Visual title might mean they could re-release it themselves. Then again, I’m still waiting for them to release Dangioh so finger’s crossed, huh?
eBay page for Birdy the Mighty stuff WARNING! Just because someone lists something for sale on eBay doesn’t make it so. Always check the seller history before buying [Link]
Edit: Apologies to all who checked in and found the enclosure broken. Thanks to Anonymous for the warning! Despite me reloading the file twice I can’t fix the “slow” robot voice at the start of the podcast. Also I’ve reached the limit of free space on Podomatic so next week we’ll try switching to a new paid web host service. Bear with us again. Thanks to the Root Beer King and Anime Pacific for leaving comments on the site.
Speaking of next week, what are we reviewing? Next week, Oni has said that he wants to tackle Ken Akumatsu’s Negima manga. Hey watch me tear into him over this title. It’s going to get ugly. Me, I’ll be tackling the utter fantastic one shot manga, Town of Evening Calm, Country of Cherry Blossoms by Fumiyo Kouno. Stay tuned. It’s only getting better from here.
As always, I’m constantly checking in the Animejump, Otaku USA, Moonmasters, Fast Karate and GMEP forums. If you spot me, send me a PM.
This week Eeeper reviews, for the retro choice corner, Project A-Ko while Oni reviews Ninja Scroll! Yes I’ve got a co-host now in the form of Oni. Who is he? Well, you’ll just have to listen and find out. He’s been waiting to join the show for a while but only recently could he do so. The tone of the show is going downhill from here on in.
Also at GoogleTalk Voicemail @ eeeperschoice- at -gmail.com
The MyChingo flash voicemail box in the sidebar
Send me an Odeo in the sidebar
Snapvine Voicemail (US)+1-641-985-7800 then press * then 1723766
Please note that all images (excluding Show Artwork included in the mp3) unless otherwise stated are the respective copyright and trademark of their respective owners and licensers. No copyright infringement is meant or implied.
News
The Melancholy Of Haruhi Suzumiya is set for a May release in both standard and vol 1+artbox versions courtesy of Bandai Entertainment. Yes, the hardest working Internet launched anime in history is coming Here’s hoping this doesn’t turn out to be another Azumanga Daioh…[Link]
Also on 25th January just under 1/4 of a million people viewed the special ending of Haruhi from volume 7 of the Japanese DVD when it was posted up on YouTube. A quarter of a million people!?! Have these people no real lives!? Oh, wait. Sorry, wrong person to ask that question… [Link]
Mushishi is being courted for a release of it’s l;ive action version. God, I must have missed this when it first came out. So, on the podcast no offense was meant to Mushishi fans at all. Betcha one of parties interested in the film was ADV and another was Harmony Gold. I mean without any new licences, they only have Robotech to fall back on for profit. Right? Right!? RIGHT!?! Oh here’s that link to Jo Odagiri’s ANN page. [Link]
Funimation announced they have the rights to Mushishi the anime, Ragnarok The Animation and Suzuka. OK, let’s just hope they finally fix their subtitle problems this year….YEAH, RIGHT!!!Christ, I can’t escape from Mushishi! And it’s been given one of the worst re-titles for this year. BugMaster! (As Weevil Underwood(English Version)): Oh no, you’ve broken my Great Moth! We hate that voice actors take on Underwood.
Also Funimation expand their programming block on their Funimation Channel. Now we can watch more DragonBall then ever before! [Link]
Bandai Visual USA have said they will release Gunbuster 2[Link]
Manga Entertainment have announced that they will release the Ghost In The Shell:SAC movie Solid State Society in July. Apparently they weren’t brave enough to release it on Blu-Ray [Link]
I’ve tried to find the article on Anime News Service about Blu-Ray outselling HD-DVD in Japan but as of the time of my writing this, I’ve had no luck…Any one who read it can email me the link at the usual address.
YouTube and Google reps met with members of the The Japanese Society of Rights of Authors and Composers (JASRAC) and The National Association of Commercial Broadcasters in Japan. With literally hundreds of thousands of copyrighted clips of anime available on YouTube, JASRAC is starting to get nervous. What!?! They’re only getting nervous now?!?
The GITS DVD we were talking about can be found here but is now out of print. You might be able to find it on Yahoo.co.jp Auctions but it’s up to you.
And finally, as I promised here is the Wiki Entry on Pentacost
Reviews
Air Gear
Huh? Where’s the review? Sorry the section with Oni ran long so it’s going to be next week before you can listen to Eeeper review this.
Project A-Ko
This amazing movie from 1986 remains one of Eeeper’s favourite anime of all time and set a benchmark for parodies of anime and manga to come. Captain Harlock, Maison Ikkoku and Fist of the North Star are some of the titles that get poked to death in this treat. Eeeper goes all over the world for sport in this review before actually getting to the PLOT. Try and stay with him on this one, it does pay off. Central Park Media released this movie along with the OVA sequels comprising of the DVD volumes Love and Robots and Uncivil Wars. Oni watched Uncivil Wars but Eeeper didn’t so only the first film and part of the OVA’s are covered. This film was one of three VHS available to rent from 24-Hour Video in Eeep’s hometown (the other two being Giant Robo Part One of the OVA and StreetFighter II: The Animated Movie) so it got serious playtime in the Eeep household.
Yeah! This kick ass movie from 1993 has it’s flaws (no character devolpment for secondary characters for one thing) but it’s getting the Manliest award from us. It may be replaced soon ( Mazinger Z and Getter Robo are on order) but for now bask in the glory of it’s testosterone! The plot doesn’t matter! After all it is a public safety service announcement from Yoshiaki Kawajiri. Oni has never tried to review anything before this so his review should be taken in the spirit in which it was approached. Which is the Spirit Of Vengeance. Go Ghost Rider!
Yep, it’s our first give away and up for grabs is the first volume plus artbox of Fafner! Yeah I know it’s an Evangelion rip-off but it’s brainless, entertaining stuff anyway. The competition is open to all regardless of location. Only stipulation is that you must be able to play Region ! DVD’s . That’s it. To win you’ll have to listen in.
Open Request to all podcasters! If you have a podcast promo that you think we can play on our show send them in, please!
Also speaking of podcasts, we are now on Digg,Technorati,Podcast Pickle and also Podcast Alley. Please add us to them! We need all of your help! Don’t make us beg! It’ll be embarrassing and sticky….
Next Week: Oni will be reviewing the classic shoujo sci-fi film, They Were Eleven. While Eeeper will tackle another Kawajiri title from 1995, Birdy The Mighty plus the late review of the manga Air Gear by Oh!Great. Just in time for the anime from ADV.
This week I review the manga’a Infinite Ryvius by SUNRISE and Legal Drug by CLAMP and the retro choice anime OVA Giant Robo! Woo-hoo! Free nuclear-powered robots for everybody!
This week’s show has NO news as I haven’t had time to check the news. Yeah I heard that Haruhi Suzumiya got licensed. The whole of the anime related internet has heard. If you want to know my opinion on Haruhi check out show 03. Normal news service will be resumed next show.
Also at GoogleTalk Voicemail @ eeeperschoice- at -gmail.com
The MyChingo flash voicemail box in the sidebar
Send me an Odeo in the sidebar
Snapvine Voicemail (US)+1-641-985-7800 then press * then 1723766
Please note that all images (excluding Show Artwork included in the mp3) unless otherwise stated are the respective copyright and trademark of their respective owners and licensers. No copyright infringement is meant or implied.
News
No news this week
Reviews
Infinite Ryvius
This manga created by original creators Hajime Yatate(insider joke: look up on google who actually is Hajime Yatate) and Yousuke Kuroda(original scriptwriter) with art from Shinsuke Kurihashi. This is published in two volumes by the now-defunct Comics-One and it’s successor DRMaster. Told from the perspective of Aoi Housen, and her roommates Kozue Izumi and Reiko Ichikawa and while it’s not following the plot exactly it’s excellent. Full of tension and all that good stuff, it’s a nice addition on your shelf next to the DVD of the original show. WARNING: UNLESS YOU WANT THE SERIES SPOLIED FOR YOU, WATCH THE ANIME FIRST
CLAMP always do great stories even if sometimes the actual plot makes no sense. That is true for Legal Drug, a three volume manga originally in Japan by Kadokawa Shoten and in the US/UK by TokyoPop. This follows the adventures of two psychics Kazahaya and Reiko who work for Kakei at the GreenDrug Store pharmacy. As well as doing regular jobs, the two boys have to do “special” deliveries for Kakei that utilise their mental skills. Only complaint I have is that CLAMP haven’t finished this story, as they are currently working on other projects.
I’ve been promising myself I’d get round to this title sooner or later. This is the best title that I’ve seen in the last year and that’s all there is to it. Listen to my review for more info and why I think this.
Well we come to the end of another terrible show, folks. Next show, I might have a surprise for you. Metacarpals crossed! Next show I’ll be reviewing the manga Air Gear, the anime Ninja Scroll(Yosh!) and in the Retro Choice section I have the classic anime, Project A-ko! Wooo-Hooo!
It’s still not dead!?!..Errr…I mean, Welcome back! This weeks show has thrills, spills, chills and that weird fluff you find between your toes after you’ve put on a new pair of socks….
On this weeeks show I review the manga Basilisk by the late Futaro Yamada and art by Masaki Segawa, the Playstation 2 game Yakuza and in the Retro Choice I review the OVA series Sohryuden or Legend of The Dragon Kings.
Also at GoogleTalk Voicemail @ eeeperschoice- at -gmail.com
Please note that all images (excluding Show Artwork included in the mp3) unless otherwise stated are the respective copyright and trademark of their respective owners and licensers. No copyright infringement is meant or implied.
Basilisk is Samurai Action the way I like it. Nice Scenery, great characters and a boat-load of Ninja-action and hemoglobin. Just when Jubei thought he could retire as the baddest samurai, Gennosuke turns up looking for the toughest motherf*&^er around award.
The review of PS2 game Yakuza replaces an anime review that I started to review but realised was too thin given the size of the series. I played Yakuza for about two or three days and thought it might be worth reviewing. Let me know if I should continue to review games or not.
Sohryuden was another anime that I watched on Channel 4 back in the day. I remember it being longer but time has refreshed my memory. It’s a fairly decent anime but if I could be blunt it’s a poor man’s X. Only watch it if you’ve already seen X or you’re bored of X. Anybody got any better alternatives let me know. The link to AWO’s review of They Were Eleven(which I mentioned in the review) can be found here
