ANIME SACRAMENTO NEWSLETTER, OCTOBER-NOVEMBER 2003   Welcome to the October-November 2003 Anime Sacramento Newsletter. Meetings of Anime Sacramento are bi-monthly, usually on the 2nd Saturday of the odd-numbered months, at the private residence of Laurine White, Sacramento, California. Email the editor, LVBwhite@concourse.net for info and directions. I enjoy trading non-commercial Japanese-language anime (such as tv episodes), and do limited freebie-dupes of same. E-mail me about trading tapes and some stuff I have for sale. Anime Sacramento showings are non-smoking, non-alcoholic and non-hentai (if kids are here). The house has plenty on-street parking in front. It's 5 minutes walk from a supermarket and from the Bus 1 route, 10-minute drive from A-1 Comics and diverse cuisine restaurants. There's no set program schedule; it's a social event. If you have allergies, this house has a cat.   September 03 weekend was somewhat of a bust for me. My house got ripped off 2 days earlier, so I wasn't in the mood for a large meeting. Fortunately, only 10 people showed up for the show, which Matt saved by bringing his DVD player and Japanese movies. The thieves had taken my DVD players and one VCR. At least the thieves were not anime fans, didn't take my anime items.   Next meeting will be Saturday, November 15, from 1pm to 10pm. That's the 3rd Weekend of the Month! (also same day as ReccaCon, can't be helped) I may need a DVD player for the meeting only. Thank you kind folks who brought munchies in September. Dinner break is 7-8pm (or whenever). I want to show the Japanese live action movie, Happiness of the Katakuris. Other programming includes Saiyuki Reload #1 (thank you, Ayonoi) more Saiyuki, more Chronicles of 12 Kingdoms, Tsukikage Ran, Ponpoko Tanuki (Studio Ghibli), Flirting Scholar (Stephen Chow). Any requests? Or bring anime DVDs to view with others.   Subscriptions to this newsletter are available, 3 issues for $1.80, 6 issues for $3.60. Make checks payable to Laurine White or send unused postage stamps. If your subscription is expiring, ask to be added to the personal distribution list for the newsletter (it's not an attachment), just send me an email. Remember, if you change your email address, please let me know, to stay on the distribution list. Also let me know if your email is set up to reject distribution list emails. To Unsubscribe to the newsletter, just let me know.   If you have health and happiness, cherish them, because you never know when you could lose them. I lost another friend earlier this year and learned about it months later. Kent Johnson was only 46 when he died last April. Kent was active in Bay Area Hong Kong movie fandom, and later enjoyed Bollywood films. He was a good friend of Larry and Peter Wong, of Eastern Entertainment in San Francisco. Larry and Peter, I was very sorry to hear about Kent's death, and hope he has finally found peace.   Cultural Events: 35th Anniversary International Taiko Festival is Saturday and Sunday, November 22-23 at Zellerbach Hall in Berkeley. For more info, contact the Taiko Dojo Showroom at (415) 928-2456 or email taikodojo@earthlink.net As for the local Sacramento Taiko Dan, if you'd like to check out their schedule, visit http://www.sactaiko.org   ANIME POSTER ART: Japan's Movie House Masterpieces, new art book from DH Publishing, intro by Patrick Macias, 112 pages, 160+ full color poster reproductions, $20 (see Sept 03 Previews below, Books). For more info: http://www.dhp-online.com   Anime: A Celebration on November 1-2 at the UC Berkeley Art Museum & Pacific Film Archive, with 5 anime feature films. For more info, check http:// www.bampfa.berkeley.edu/pfa   Websites of interest: Local: A-1 Comics (http://www.a-1comics.com), my favorite local comics store, at 5800 Madison Ave (SW corner of intersection with Manzanita), not to be confused with A1Comics in Glasgow, Scotland. A-1 also has a branch in Roseville.   Sacramento Comic Book and Collectible Show (http://www.sacramentocomics.com) will be held on Sunday, December 14, at the Scottish Rite Temple, 6151 H Street, 10am - 4pm, admission $4. Mentioned because Danielle will be running the anime show, and has persuaded Nikaku Animart and Anime-V to be in the dealers room. Let's support this.   Comics & Collectibles, 1904 Fruitridge Rd, (916) 392-2467, on the other side of Sacramento, has no website; it's been recommended by a friend. I haven't visited this shop yet, but it has comics, cards, games and sci-fi.   http://www.sacramentoanime.com posts my newsletters in the "Articles' section of Nicky's website. Check it out.   http://anime.meetup.com - we've been meeting the 2nd Thursday night of each month in mid-town. Check the website if you're interested in meeting new local anime fans. Sacramento is among the top 15 cities for anime meetups.   Fantastic Frontiers (http://geocities.com/fantasticfrontiers/) is a local club for science fiction fans with free club social meetings on the last Saturday of the month. Check the website for events or visit their Yahoo group at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/fantasticfrontiers   Hobby Monkey (http://hobbymonkey.com), comics, cards and collectibles, 3031 Stanford Ranch Rd. #10, Rocklin, has anime wallscrolls, import DVDs, manga, toys, cards, art supplies. I haven't visited this place yet, but they had a booth at the Sac Comics Show, 7 September.   http://www.tigerntigress.com - Chad and Heather are a local couple running an anime art archive (also chat forums, art tutorial, etc.) on their website. If you're into anime art, check it out.   http://jdillon.net/ - because I really like her anime artwork (in BESM publications).   Sacramento Anime Enthusiasts (SanE) http://home.doramail.com/iminsane/main.html - this anime club showed up on a google search, started in 2002, has anime showings the 3rd Friday of every month at someone's house in Rosemont, runs more Shojou and family-oriented anime, and is looking for more members. Standard fare: Generator Gawl, Kare Kano, Kimagure Orange Road, Urusei Yatsura, Fushigi Yugi, Miyazaki. etc. All ages welcome! Contact Mojo Shojo for directions and details.   http://www.baubo5.com/index.html - has lots of spiffy links to Asian humanities, culture, philosophy, literature, and more. I think it's a local website.   http://www.nikaku.com - Nikaku Animart - 615 North 6th Street, San Jose, CA 95112, (408) 971-2822, for anime CDs, books, posters, etc. Visit them when you're in the San Jose area. Not to mention some good Japanese restaurants within a block or two.   http://www.pacificwarriors.com - a Bay Area publisher that has reprinted a trade edition of Jessica Amanda Salmonson's Tomoe Gozen novel, under the title, The Disfavored Hero. They may reprint the rest of the trilogy as well, and the 4th (never published) Tomoe Gozen novel as well. (Thanks to Dale Berry for the info.)   What happened to www.bayareaanime.com??? It was taken over by a band!   http://www.shonenanime.com - has a newbie guide, manga summaries, and a YuYu Hakusho Realms Guide; the site also promotes Shonen Jump.   http://www.nippon2007.org - official website for the campaign to hold the World SF Convention in Japan in 2007.   ReccaCon 2003 will be held Saturday, November 15, 3pm to 10pm, at Los Medanos College in Pittsburgh, CA, $5 admission, videos, swap meet, cosplay, game room, panels. Directions: take Hwy 4 to Pittsburg, take the Loveridge exit, go South on Loveridge Rd, then turn left on E Leland Rd, Los Medano College is on the right, 2700 Leland Rd. Website http://www.reccacon.com   Anime Overdose Festival March 6, 2004 at Santa Clara University, (Bay Area) CA, $10 pre-reg, $15 at the door, cosplay, artists, dealers, video rooms, rpg & videogames, panels, dance, guests Fred Patten & Gilles Poittras. Website http://www.animeod.com   Fanime 2004 (http://www.fanime.com) will be held May 28-31, 2004 (4 days, Memorial Day weekend) at the San Jose (Calif) Convention Center. Check the website for more info.   Stone Bridge Press (http://www.stonebridge.com) - Native American in the Land of the Shogun by Frederik L. Schodt, trade pb $20, is now available. Also books about anime and other aspects of Japanese culture (yakuza films, etc.)   Punk Bunny (http://www.punkbunny.com) designs and makes costumes for your cosplay, sci-fi, Jpop and punk clothing needs. (info came from a flyer)   YaoiCon stuff: http://mangaacademy.com - not sure what this is, but it looks interesting, isg just setting up, so I don't know what works yet: art gallery, student lounge (chat), student store?   Boys of a Feather - half-size color art portfolio, $15, 10 color pictures of pretty guys with wings, is not adult-only, art by Diana X. Sprinkle & Susan Meyer (http://ghostcircles.com)   Broccoli Books (http://www.broccolibooks.com) - Broccoli, a subsidiary of Anime Gamers, will be selling translated manga in the US, starting next year. Titles include Galaxy Angel, Di Gi Charat Theater, and Juvenile Orion #1-5, $9.99 each.   Latest from CPM (http://www.centralparkmedia.com) - CPM now has a relationship with the leading yaoi publisher, Biblos, and has a license to publish (in 2004) the following yaoi manga: Kuzuna #1-3 (from BeBoy), Kunshu Sama no Koi no Oaite, and Kin no Cain (these are adult titles). CPM also has the rights to release the Korean claymation-style, 30-minute fantasy, DOGGY POO, both the DVD and the book. CPM DVD releases: in January, They Were Eleven DVD and Tales of Seduction DVD (aka U-jin Brand). February, Armageddon DVD ($10). March, Birdy the Mighty DVD and Arcade Gamer Fubuki. CPM also has on DVD a live action movie, CLOSE YOUR EYES AND HOLD ME (sort of a Japanese Crying Game) for $30. CPM has a lot DVDs and manga, some discounted to very good prices, check the website.   In 1999, Jesus Castillo, a clerk at Keith's Comics in Dallas, Texas, sold a copy of a CPM adult manga to an adult (an undercover cop). For that "crime" he was sentenced to 180 days in jail, a $4,000 fine, and h hip-hop music and an urban edge. It hopes to begin production next year. (http:// www.indiewire.com)// DreamWorks has set up Go Fish, a distribution arm to set up limited release of specialty movies, such as anime - Millenium Actress and Ghost in the Shell II. (http://www.indiewire.com)// Jackie Chan has committed himself to making Rush Hour 3, Shanghai Dawn, and a new Police Story movie. Those will delay another Hong Kong fantasy film he wants to work on, Time Breaker, in which Jackie plays someone from present day traveling back to ancient times. (Sci-Fi Wire). // Jonathan Frakes is directing a live action Thunderbirds movie, a prequel to the Gerry Anderson supermarionation series. (SciFi.com)   http://animenewsnetwork.com News: The other two manga titles picked up by Del Rey for release next spring are Tsubasa: Reservoir Chronicle (CLAMP) and XXXHolic. // Disney is working on the dub for the Studio Ghibli animated feature, Whisper of the Heart, hiring Brittany Snow for one of the voices. // Ronny Yu (Warriors of Virtue, Bride of Chucky) is trying to get the rights to make a live action version of Blood: The Last Vampire. // A 2nd season of Jubei-Chan is in production in Japan. // Bandai has the rights to release Gundam Seed and Wolf's Rain. Bandai will release a DVD boxset for Zeta Gundam, and will release .hack//SIGN episodes 27-28 on the .hack//SIGN DVD Vol.6. // Cartoon Network will start running the Superior Defender anime series in December.   http://www.kungfucinema.com News: Tsui Hark will be busy for the next few months. He will be directing a live action INITIAL D movie, to be filmed in both China and Japan. He also plans to make a movie, Seven Swords of Mount Tian, based on a novel by Liang Yusheng. Shooting starts next February, about 7 swordsmen rescuing some Ming rebels from the Manchu conquerors of China. (Not that movies with similar plots arts haven't been made hundreds of times before.) Tony Leung Ka-Fai plays one of the swordsmen.   http://www.rightstuf.com News: Del Rey does not have the rights to publish the 12 Kingdoms manga in English, at least not yet, but might get the rights sometime in future.// ADV has acquired the license for the Korean animated feature, My Beautiful Girl. It will have a limited theatrical release in 2004. // URLs of interest mentioned by RightStuf: http://www.aicanime.com/introanime/index.html - flowchart introduction to anime production, set up by Anime International Company (AIC) http://www.angeliclayerdvd.com - good stuff website for Angelic Layer (from CLAMP)http://www.witchhunteronline.com - website for Witch Hunter Robin, from Bandai http://www.knightsofthezodiac.com - official website for St. Seiya   http://www.monkeypeaches.com News: John Woo is planning to make his first musical, about a 1930s pickpocket who wants to join a crime family. After the success of "Chicago", WB is willing to invest in a musical.// Zhang Yimou is filming his 2nd martial arts movie, Shi Mian Mai Fu (Ambush from 10 Directions), starring Takeshi Kaneshiro, Zhang Ziyi, and Andy Lau. It deals with a love triangle during the Tang dynasty. Most of the movie is being filmed in the Ukraine, since shooting would be more expensive in China.   http://www.zentertainment.com News: Jessica Biehl will co-star with Wesley Snipes in BLADE: TRINITY. She'll play the vampire-slaying daughter of Whistler (Kris Kristofferson). Parker Posey will play a vampire, while Ryan Reynolds is another vampire hunter. Blade's fellow vamp hunters might even get a spinoff movie.// Sci-Fi Channel has Joel Silver producing Time Patrol, a drama based on the stories by Poul Anderson.// The upcoming CatWoman movie stars Halle Berry is the title character, Benjamin Bratt as a police detective, and Sharon Stone as the villainess.// Joss Whedon plans to direct a movie based on his Firefly tv series. Shooting starts in early 2004.// Lucy Lawless will develop her own WB series for fall '04.// WB has ordered a pilot for one of those alternate reality series (like Smallville, Tarzan), this one for The Flash, the latest in a series of Flashes, who time travel and get mentored.// NBC is working on a Transylvania tv series for fall '04.   Disclaimer: What follows is just a small selection of the Diamond anime-related offerings, especially Tokyo Pop manga titles (http://www.tokyopop.com).   Diamond PREVIEWS (http://www.diamondcomics.com) September 2003 for November delivery (except as noted). Comics - Dark Horse - HELLSING Vol.1 trade pb by Kohta Hirano (Dec) 208 pg, b&w, 5"x7", $14. Wildstorm - ROBOTECH: From the Stars trade pb, 160 pg (collects RoboTech issues 1-6); ON THE ROAD TO PERDITION: Book 2: Sanctuary by Max Allan Collins, 96 pg, b&w, $7.95, what happened when O'Sullivan and his son were on the run from bounty hunters; THE LEAGUE OF EXTRAORDINARY GENTLEMEN Book 2 hardcover by Allan Moore, 228 pg, color, $25 (yes!). Image - SEI: Death and Legend graphic novel by Sho Murase, color, 64 pg, $6.95, old Japanese legend of Izanagi's insanity of the Izanami's death; STREET FIGHTER #3, color, 32 pg, $2.95, monthly, cover and backup story by Kia Asamiya. TopCow - BATTLE OF THE PLANETS: Destroy All Monsters trade pb, color, 208 pg, $20 (collects issues 10-12). ADV (New!) - AZUMANGA DAIOH Vol.1 manga by Kiyohiko Azuma, 168 pg, b&w, $10; FULL METAL PANIC! Vol.1 by Gatou & Tateo, 168 pg, b&w, $10; FULL METAL PANIC! Film Book, 168 pg, color, $20; RAHXEPHON Bible, 100 pg, color, $20.   Antarctic - NINJA HIGH SCHOOL Pocket Manga Vol 1 by Ben Dunn, 128 pg, b&w, $10. Beckett - RUULE: Ganglords of Chinatown #1, a Chinatown without hope is ruled by the ganglords, color, 48 pg, $5.95. CrossGen - WAY OF THE RAT: Traveler Vol.1: The Walls of Zhumar (collects #1-6), 160 pg, color, $9.95. Comicsone - SHAOLIN SOCCER #2 by Andy Seto, 128 pg, color, $14; LEGENDARY COUPLE #6 by Tony Wong, 128 pg, color, $14. CPM - AQUARIUM Vol.1 by Tomoko Taniguchi, 200 pg, b&w, $10. Gutsoon - FIST OF THE BLUE SKY Vol.3 by Hara Tetsuo & Buronson, 190 pg, b&w, $9.95. Ironcat - A.I. REVOLUTION Vol.1 by Various & You Asami, 216 pg, b&w, $9.95, can Midori fall in love with a humanoid robot? Sentai - RAVEN'S END #1, b&w, 32 pg, $2.95, a samurai finds his wife dead and son missing. Shanda - FURRY NINJA HIGH SCHOOL STRIKES BACK #2 (of 2), b&w, 40 pg, $5; SHANDA THE PANDA #39 by Various, furry adventures, 40 pg, b&w, $5. TokyoPop - RISING STARS OF MANGA Vol.2 (of 4), b&w, $10; SHIRAHIME SYO SNOW GODDESS TALES by CLAMP hardcover, 128 pg, b&w, $20, the snow princess is crying. Vertical - TEZUKA'S BUDDHA by Osamu Tezuka, 2 hardcover volumes, $25 each, "this life of Buddha is one that all ages and persuasions can enjoy, for Mature Readers" (HUH?)). Via Media - TALES OF THE HERMIT #1 (Castle in the Rain) and #2 (Yamabushi & Homecoming) by Westbrook & Ratti, hardcovers, b&w, $30 each.   Zines - Wizard Anime Insider #11, $5, with 12-page Fruits Basket Manga preview, a look at EVA. AnimePlay Magazine #3 DVD, $10. (http://www.animeplay-mag.com) G-Fan #66, 68 pg, $4.95. Jade Screen Vol.2 #2, interviews with Stephen Chiau & Kane Kosugi, $7.95. Books - Best of Jackie Chan: Screen Power Vol.2, 138 pg, $40. ANIME POSTER ART by DH Publishing with real anime poster art, 112 pg, color, $20. Fushigi Yugi Ultimate Fan Guide #1, 112 pg, color, $25. Designing With Kanji: Japanese Character Motifs for Surface, Skin & Spirit, by Okentani & Lowitz, 146 pg, b&w, $15. Action Figures - Lain 8" dolls, fully articulated, cloth jacket and dress, $25 each. Cowboy Bebop plush Ed & Ein 9", $14. Wall Scrolls - Chobits - $18 each (2 different). DVDs - Anime Works - Berserk TV Season 1, 25 episodes, $100; 12 Kingdoms Vol.3: Coup, 125 min. $30. Pioneer - Last Exile Vol.1: First Move, 100 min. $30; L/R Vol.1, 100 min. $30. Bandai - Love Hina Movie box set, 225 min. $60. US Manga Corps - Heroic Legend of Arslan, 240 min, $50. Universal - Millenium Actress, 87 min, $30. ADV - Pretear Vol.1, magical girl, 100 min. $30; Sorcerer Hunters OVA collection, 75 min. $25; Zaion Vol.2: Devastation, 60 min. $25; Slayers Return, 60 min. $20; Princess Blade live action, 95 min. $20. Anime Test Drive DVD Program - $8 Sample DVDs for Maze, Now & Then, Patlabor, Ping Pong Club, Lodoss War, for more info, check out http://www.centralparkmedia.com/news/news.cfm?NewsID=21   Diamond PREVIEWS October 2003 for December delivery (except as noted). Comics - Dark Horse (for January) - ASTRO BOY Vol.23 ($9.95), BERSERK Vol.2 by Kentaro Miura ($12.95), TRIGUN Vol.2 by Yasuhiro Nightow ($14.95); MEGATOKYO Vol.2 by Fred Gallagher & Rodney Caston ($9.95). Wildstorm - THUNDERCATS: Origins-Heroes & Villains by Ford Gilmore & Ken Siu-Chong, color, 48 pg, $3.50. Image - REALM OF THE CLAW #2 (of 6) by Stan Winston, color, 32 pg, $2.95, bi-monthly, cat gods in the jungle; SOUL OF A SAMURAI #4 (of 4) by Will Dixon, color, 48 pg, $5.95. Marvel - Spider-Man LEGENDS Vol.4, Spider-Man goes to Japan to rescue Wolverine, $14. ADV (b&w, $10 each) - DEMON PALACE BABYLON Vol.1 by Hideyuki Kikuchi; DEMON CITY SHINJUKU Vol.1, also by Kikuchi; GUNSLINGER GIRL Vol.1 by Hiroshi Aida; THOSE WHO HUNT ELVES Vol.1 by Yu Yagami. Antarctic - LEGENDS FROM DARKWOOD #1 (of 3) by Reid & Kantz, b&w, 40 pg, $3.50, a fairy tale; SHOUJO #4, b&w, 48 pg, $5.95, bi-monthly, tales of love, drama & fantasy. Beckett - RUULE: Ganglords of Chinatown #2, color, 48 pg, $5.95, teen outcast has visions to overthrow the ganglords.   Comicsone - STORM RIDERS 2: Invading Sun Vol.1, 128 pg, color, $10; NOW Vol.1 by Sung Woo Park, 200 pg, b&w, $10, catpeople & lost fighting arts; BLACK LEOPARD #2 by Wing Shing Ma, color, 160 pg, $15. CPM - ALIEN NINE Vol.1 & 2 by Hitoshi Tomizawa, b&w, $16 each. Gutsoon - CITY HUNTER Vol.4, b&w, $10. HK Comics - CROUCHING TIGER HIDDEN DRAGON Vol.5, color, $14. Ironcat - HOW TO BE AN ANGEL Vol.1 by Kumiko Kikuchi, b&w, $13. iBooks - ICARO Vol.1 (of 2) by Jiro Taniguchi & Moebius, color, 160 pg, $15, a young man can fly (Mature Readers). Moonstone - WELCOME BACK MR. MOTO #1 (of 3), b&w, 32 pg, $2.95, Mr.Moto helps a young man released from an internment camp. Radio - FURRLOUGH #132, b&w, 32 pg, $3, has a lovely Heather Bruton cover. Sentai - NINJA HIGH SCHOOL: Timeblast #1 video game comic, color, with CD-Rom for PC, $10. Shanda - FOUR-FOOTED FURRIES OneShot, b&w, 40 pg, $5 (Mature Readers). TokyoPop (all are b&w, $10) - AI YORI AOSHI Vol.1 (of 9) by Kou Fumizuki; B'TX Vol.1 (of 16) by Masami Kurumada); GIRL GOT GAME Vol.1 (of 6) by Shizuru Seino; PITA-TEN Vol.1 (of 6) by Koge Donbo; SHOW DROP Vol.1 (of 6) by Choi Gyung-ah.   Zines - Wizard Anime Insider #12 with EVA, Kenshin, Kill Bill, $5. AnimePlay Magazine 34, $10. Super 7 #4, dedicated to Japanese Toy Culture, Go Nagai's DevilMan is featured, $5.95. Books - AMANO: The complete Prints, color, 292 pg, $40. MANGA! MANGA! The World of Japanese Comics by Fred Schodt, reprinted $25. DRAW YOUR OWN MANGA: All the Basics, translated by Yuriko Tamaki, $20. TEZUKA School of Animation Vol.1&2, Tezuka Productions, $14 each. Action Figures - Trigun 9" plush, $13. Rayearth Mokona 8" plush, $25. Kamen Rider bobble heads series 1 & 2, $5.50 each. Games - BESM D20: Trigun sourcebook, $40. DVDs - TokyoPop - Anime: Concept to Reality (do-it-yourself computer animation)(Oct) 100 min, $15. Hirameki - Idol Fighter Su-Chi-Pai (by Sonoda), 60 min, $25; Soar High Isami Vol.1, 80 min, $25, the new Shinsengumi. AnimeWorks - Sadamitsu (#1-4), 100 min, $30. ADV - Dirty Pair: Nolandia, 50 min, $20. USManga Corps - Spirit Warrior: Regent of Darkness, 48 min, $20. CrossGen Digital Comic Books - SCION Vol.1-2, WAY OF THE RAT Vol.1-2, $12 each volume. ------------------------------ End of October-November 2003 Anime Sacramento Newsletter www.sacramentoanime.com | Posted with the express permission from the author, Laurine White