Bandai wants me to remind you that the ESCAFLOWNE movie is playing at the UA Market Square at Arden Fair. I don't know if it will play for more than one week. www.escamovie.com

Next meeting is Saturday, May 18, 2002, from 1pm to 11pm. Thank you kind folks who brought munchies in March. Cookies and lots of sodas are on hand for next meeting. Dinner break is 7-8pm. Back rooms are off-limits except for the women's lounge. On the schedule is probably another Hong Kong movie on DVD, VIOLINIST OF HAMELN 21-24, the concluding episodes of LEGEND OF BASARA, and some other stuff.

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, so I can keep you on the distribution list. Also let me know if your email is set up to reject distribution list emails.

Recommended anime shopping: Nikaku Animart, 615 North 6th Street, San Jose, CA 95112, (408) 971-2822, (website - www.nikaku.com) for anime CDs, LDs, books, posters, etc. Send a long SASE (self-addressed stamped envelope) for their latest catalog. For translations, contact Sue Shambaugh, 11800 Thrift Road, Clinton, MD 20735. Send her a long SASE for a list of what she has available. I (Laurine White) have Japanese CDs for sale: RED - music soundtrack album from STEAM BOY DETECTIVE and BLUE, a drama album, same anime series, $10 for the set; ULTRAMAN ACE double CD set ($15); SFX GRAFFITI-ULTRAMAN - 4 CDs for $20; SHADOW SKILL original music soundtrack double CD set, very nice music for $15. I also have a non-commercial copy of DRAGONS FOREVER for $2. Is anyone interested in three robot model kits, Net Attacker Glitch, Scratch, and Net Defender E-Male? They are Skill Level 1, and I'll let them go for the cost of postage.

Convention News: Darn, I missed WonderCon, due to coming down with bronchitis, but I hope to make an appearance at Fanime. Big Apple Anime Fest is scheduled for New York over Labor day Weekend, August 30 to September 2nd, in Times Square. For more info, visit www.bigappleanimefest.com. I'll be in San Jose for Worldcon that weekend.

Possible pilots for fall season shows: "Paranormal Girl" (ABC) - FBI recruits a psychic teen. "Haunted" ((UPN) - ghost of a murder victim helps a detective. "Time Tunnel" (Fox) - remake of the Irwin Allen series. "Birds of Prey" (WB) - 3 women crime fighters in a Batman spinoff. "Lost in Oz" (WB) - woman leads a revolt in Oz. "Firefly" (Fox) - space western from Joss Whedon (13-episode commitment already).

TV Guide for April 13-19 had an article on 10 quality kids' programs, including PBS: "Angelina Ballerina" (starts in May), "Cyberchase", "MythQuest" (KVIE cable 7, Saturdays); Fox: "Galidor: Defenders of the Outer Dimension" (live action, Saturdays); ABC: "Totally Spies"; Cartoon Network: "Samurai Jack", "Grim & Evil"; Disney: "Kim Possible" (starts in June); WB: "Phantom Investigators" (starts May 25).

Comics Buyer's Guide for April 19 had an article on the growing popularity of translated manga, including titles published by Dark Horse, CPM, Tokyopop and Viz. CPM plans to emphasize graphic novels with fewer monthly manga titles.

Cartoon Network announced a 2nd season of BIG O, to play in the US before it runs in Japan. (Thanks, Matt)// Universal is shooting THE HULK movie near Telegraph Hill in San Francisco, and neighbors are complaining about the noise of shooting.

Rightstuf (www.rightstuf.com) News - Stone Bridge Press is publishing Anime Quizbook 2: Torments from the Top 20. This fall Stone Bridge Press plans to publish Anime Explosion! The What? Why? & Wow! Of Japanese Animation by Patrick Drazen and Animation on DVD: The Ultimate Guide by Andy Mangels.// Pioneer announced plans to release X TV series (Studio Madhouse, director Yoshiaki Kawajiri, 24 episodes) this fall. Media Blasters announced rights to release the recent Leiji Matsumoto tv series, COSMO WARRIOR ZERO.

Zentertainment (www.zentertainment.com) News: Rights to Bruce Lee's likeness have been bought by ShinCine for use in a kung fu movie, DRAGON WARRIOR.// John Woo will produce a pilot for USA Network called RED SKIES, about a Chinese policewoman (Vivian Wu) who comes to L.A. and joins the FBI.// Warner Brothers may make a film, THE LAST SAMURAI, starring Tom Cruise as an American training the Emperor's troops in the late 19th Century. Ed Zwick will direct.// Somebody plans to remake BILLY JACK, this time starring Keanu Reaves. (He isn't a much better actor than Tom Laughlin.)// Threshold Entertainment has the rights to make a live action film based on NINJA SCROLL.// Arnold Schwarzenegger may star in a new Conan movie, with John Millius writing the script. (They should have turned the Red Sonja movie into the 3rd Conan film, instead of waiting until Arnie got this old.)// Fox has the rights to make a live action DragonBall movie.// Looks like Warren Beatty will be replaced by David Carradine in the Quentin Tarentino film, KILL BILL.// Disney plans animated sequels to Jungle Book, Tarzan, Mulan, and others.

www.animenewsservice.com News - BLADE II is such a hit that David Goyer has been hired to write a script for BLADE 3. He'd like to set it 20 years from now, when vampires rule the world.// ADV has the rights to the anime tv series, NOIR, and plans to release it in 6 DVD volumes.// Cartoon Network will change its Toonami line-up on June 3rd. Sailor moon will be back, along with a new show, Tottoko Hamtaro, about a curious golden hamster, his owner Laura, and his hamster pals.// CRAYON SHIN-CHAN has been added to the daily Fox Kids line-up.// Bandai plans to release a collectible Godzilla line of action figures, starting this fall. The toys include 6.5" and 2.5" figures as well as 3.5" adventure sets. Prices will range from $6 to $20.

www.aint-it-cool-news.com News - There is the possibility of a BERSERK 2 anime series, but it would be too violent for tv.// Disney plans an American theatrical release for the Miyazaki movie, SPIRITED AWAY, possibly September 20th.

www.animetourist.com News - TNN has announced its own block of adult animation to start in early 2003, including "Gary the Rat" with the voice of Kelsey Grammer.

Diamond PREVIEWS (www.diamondcomics.com) March 2002 for delivery in May '02 (except as noted). Comics - Dark Horse will release LONE WOLF 2100 #1 (of 4) by Mike Kennedy & Francisco Ruiz Velasco, color, 32 pages, $2.99; 100 years from now Itto, bodyguard for a renowned scientist, and Daisy, the scientist's daughter, are on the run from Cygnat Owari Corp, men & machines who will stop at nothing to capture Daisy; fully authorized by Kazuo Koike. Dark Horse - ASTRO BOY Vol.4 by Osamu Tezuka, b&w, 216 pages, $10. Image will bring out the trade pb version of BULLETPROOF MONK, the comicbook version of the forthcoming movie starring Chow Yun-Fat & Sean William Scott. John Woo wrote the introduction, full color, 80 pages, $10. Marvel brings out MARVEL MANGAVERSE #2 with a Ben Dunn cover, 40 pages, $2.99 (Capt. Marvel, Galactus, Inhumans). Anarchy Studios comes up with a new version of Monkey King, XIN #1 Alpha Preview Edition, with intro to the series, which starts in July, preview edition 24 pages, color, $2.50.

Antarctic Press - HOW TO DRAW MANGA #15, 32 pages, b&w, $4.95; MANGAZINE #33, 140+ pages, $9. Avatar & Comic Cavalcade present the SHI: POISONED PARADISE Preview by Billy Tucci & Karl Waller, b&w, 16 pages, $5.95, advance look at this summer's series of Shi thru the ages. Comicsone.com - TOMIE Complete Set (Junji Ito Horror Comic Collection), b&w, $17.50; JOAN Complete set by Yoshizaku Yasuhiko, color, $39.50; WILD 7 #1, b&w, 200 pages, $10. CPM - GEOBREEDERS Book 3, 224 pages, b&w, $16; WEATHER WOMAN Vol.1 by Tetsu Adachi, 176 pages, b&w, $16. Crossgen - WAY OF THE RAT #1, a thief will become the greatest fighter in China, with only Princes Mai and a talking monkey as his allies, by Dixon, Johnson & Ryder, color, 48 pages, $2.95. Dreamwave - TRANSFORMERS: GENERATION 1 #2 (of 6), color, 323 pages, $2.95. Radio Comix - FURRLOUGH #113, the monthly zine with furries in sf & medieval adventures, b&w, 32 pages, $3. TokyoPop - with lots of manga titles, from Sakura to Saint Tail, most are 48 pages, b&w, $3, as well as manga trade editions (LOVE HINA, RAGNAROK, etc.).

Zines - WIZARD ANIME INVASION #3, $4.99, covering Yu-Gi-Oh, Kia Asamiya interview, Toonami, and greatest anime love stories. FEMME FATALES Vol.11 #5/6, with Women of Asian Cinema, $12. GIANT ROBOT 325, interviews with Asian movie directors & other Asian pop culture stuff, 88 pages, $4.95. Books - FUSHIGI YUGI ULTIMATE FAN GUIDE, 112 pages, color, $25. PRIME TARGETS: Transformers Guide to Beast Wars & Machines by Lars Pearson, $20. Cards & Games - 72-card set for Samurai Jack, 24 packs per box, the collectors 3-ring binder is $20. Legend of 5 Rings: Way of the Ninja 96-page sourcebook, $25. Weapons - The Sais of Elektra, two 19" sais with black leather handles and a black wooden wall plaque, 2nd in the Marvel Universe collection, ready in June for $184.95. Action Figures - Samurai X-Rurou ni Kenshin 4-piece set, Kenshin, Kaoru, Hajime, Sanosuke, 7" high, several points of articulation, $40 for the set. Sailor Moon bottle cap toppers, 2" high, $2.50 each.

Wall Scrolls - Battle of the Planets - $15, Bruce Lee Jeet Kune Do - $10, Cowboy Bebop - $18, Slayers Trio - $18, Trigun Insane Eye - $18, Yu Yu Hakusho - $18, Dawn Wall Scroll #2 (art by Joseph Linsner) - $15. Videos/DVDs - from Manga Entertainment - EVA DEATH & REBIRTH, 90 minutes, July, dub $20, sub $25, DVD $30; GS Mikami, 60 minutes, dub $20, DVD $25; RED HAWK (Korean), 90 minutes, DVD $30. AnimeWorks - GUNDRESS THE MOVIE, 135 minutes, dub $20, DVD $30. Funimation - LUPIN III Secret of Twilight Gemini, 90 minutes, dub $20, DVD $25. Pioneer - SHERLOCK HOUND Case File III DVD, 100 minutes, $30. Voyager - STAR BLAZERS Comet Empire Pt 4, 112 minutes, DVD $30; STAR BLAZERS Quest for Iscandar 6-disc set, $150. CD - BOOGIEPOP PHANTOM and Other Music, from Right Stuf, $15.

Diamond PREVIEWS April 2002 for delivery in June '02 (except as noted). Comics - Dark Horse will release ASTRO BOY Vol 5 for $9.95 in July; LONE WOLF 2100 #2 (of 4) for $2.99 in June, and WHAT'S MICHAEL: A Hard Day's Life for $8.95 in July; also an AKIRA portfolio by Katsuhiro Otomo for $20 in June. Wildstorm - BLACK SUN #1 (of 6), battling a demon lord in Hong Kong, by Aaron Watanabe & Jeff Mariotte, 32 pages, $2.95. Image - MICRONAUTS #1, color, bimonthly, 32 pages, $2.95. Top Cow - WITCHBLADE: Obakemono one-shot, a feudal Japanese WitchBlade adventure, color, 80 pages, $10. Antarctic - HOW TO DRAW MANGA #16, b&w, 32 pages, $5; MANGAZINE 34, 140 pages, $9; TWILIGHT X Bk 1: After War, collapse after World War 2002, b&w, 600 pages, $50. Avatar - SHI: Poisoned Paradise #1 (of 2) by Tucci/Waller, color, 32 pages, $3.50. Comic Cavalcade - SHI: Poisoned Paradise #1/2, color, 16 pages, $3.95. Comicsone - STORM RIDERS #4 by Wing Shing Ma, 120 pages, b7w, $12.

CPM - SLAYERS Super Explosive Demon Story Book 1, 192 pages, b&w, $16. Crusade - SHI: Illustrated Warrior #1 (of 7), b&w, 32 pages, $3. Dreamwave - TRANSFORMERS #3, monthly, color, 32 pages, $2.95. Ironcat - VAMPIRE YUI Vol 4 #5, b&w, 32 pages, $2.95; FUTABA-KUN CHANGE! Vol 8 #5, same info. Radio - FURRLOUGH #114, b&w, 32 pages, $3; UNUSUAL U #1, bimonthly, same info; MANGAPHILE #16, b&w, 48 pages, $4. Titan - TRANSFORMERS Vol 4: Matrix Quest, 144 pages, color, $20. Tokyopop - too many titles to list; Anime Guides - Cowboy Bebop Vol 5, 100 pages, Vol 6, 80 pages, $13; Art of CardCaptor Sakura Vol 2, 120 pages, $20; PEACH: Miwa Ueda Art Book, 100 pages, color, $20; Art of Magic Knight Rayearth, 92 pages, color, $20. Books - NIEA UNDER 7 Ultimate Fan Guide, 112 pages, color, $25. HOW TO DRAW DRAGONBALL Z by BS Watson, 32 pages, b&w, $5. HOW TO DRAW MANGA by Katy Coope, for kids, 64 pages, color, $7. 100% JACKIE CHAN: The Essential Companion, 160 pages, $26.

2003 Calendars - Battle of the Planets - $14; Ladies of Anime - $14; Sailor Moon - $13; Samurai Jack - $13; Best of Anime - $14; Yu-Gi-Oh - $14; Masamune Shirow - $13; Usagi Yojimbo - $13. Action Figures - Final Fantasy X, Tidus, Yuna, Seymour, ships in July, $11 each. Bandai StudioWorks, Buinda, Kikaida, Hakaida, poseable, $17 each. Micronauts, 3.75", ships in August, $8 each. Big Trouble in Little China Series 1, 7" high, 6 different, July, $11 each. Bastard Series 2, Gabriel, Polno, 7" high with wings, July, $18 each. Cowboy Bebop Spike Spiegel, 6" high, poseable, July, $12. Video/DVDs - ADV - CITY HUNTER: Secret Service DVD, 90 minutes, $30; EXCEL SAGA Vol 1 (#1-5), $30; NADIA Vol 9 (#30-33), 100 minutes, dub $20, DVD $30. Software Sculpture - SLAYERS Collection #1-26, DVDs $130. CDs - Metropolis Soundtrack (ST), $19; Tenchi the Movie ST $17, Real Bout High School ST, $15; Virtua Fighter 4 ST, $15.
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end of April - May 2002 Newsletter

Archived with the permission of the author, Laurine White
http://www.sacramentoanime.com