Next meeting will be Saturday, January 11, 2002, from 1pm to 11pm. Thank you kind folks who brought munchies in November. Crackers and various sodas are on hand for next meeting. Dinner break is 7-8pm. There's some DVDs on hand for next meeting, or bring along some of your own to show.

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.

For Sale: 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 ($10); SFX GRAFFITI-ULTRAMAN - 4 CDs for $15; SHADOW SKILL original music soundtrack double CD set, very nice music for $10. 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.

Comics Buyers Guide News: Image Comics will publish the Devils Due comicbook adaptation of VOLTRON, concentrating on the "5 Lions" characters. The artists are Mike Norton, Clint Hilinski and Tim Seeley. Voltron is owned by World Events Productions, which wants to relaunch Voltron in several different mediums.

Convention News: A-Kon 14 to be held May 30-June 1st, 2003 at the Hyatt-Regency Hotel, DFW Airport, Dallas, Texas, with dealers room, art show, CosPlay, gaming, music video contest, etc., $35 (check payable to Phoenix Entertainment) for the weekend, send to Phoenix Entertainment, 3352 Broadway Blvd #470, Garland, TX 75043. For more info, visit www.a-kon.com. Email is info@a-kon.com. Guests include Duel Jewel (Japanese Rock Band), Nov Takahashi (president of Studio Hard), Helen McCarthy, PN Elrod, Ben Dunn, Steve Bennett, Elin Winkler, Jonathan Clements, Tiffany Grant, Scott McNeil, and others.

Rightstuf (www.rightstuf.com) News: PRINCESS BLADE (Shurayuki Hime, live action swordplay fantasy film set 500 years in the future, rebels against an oppressive government) has a website: http://www.theprincessblade.com. ADV plans to distribute this to American theaters in 2003. The schedule should be on the website, but I was unable to access it. // For areas that carry TechTV, it's added Anime Unleashed programming. For more info you can visit their website at www.techtv.com/animeunleashed. // Comcast is adding the Anime Network (from ADV Films) to its Video on Demand service in Philadelphia. The 4 anime categories are: Action Zone, Sci-Fi, Comedy Incorrect, and Horror/Martial Arts. It's starting out with 25 hours of anime a week. For more info, check the website at www.theanimenetwork.com // Cartoon Network's Adult Swim is adding 3 new anime titles for 2003: Lupin III, Reign (Alexander the Great), and Trigun. Lupin III begins on Monday, January 13 at midnight.

www.zentertainment.com News: Mainframe is working on a 26-episode tv series based on the Alien Legion Comicbook, about an intergalactic crime-fighting team. // Film rights have been acquired to the Capcom game, Onimusha, to be adapted by Samuel Hadida (Resident Evil).

Animenewsnetwork.com News: The San Francisco Museum of Modern Art has a manga-inspired exhibit, "No Ghost Just a Shell", which will continue until March 16, 2003.

Animenewsservice.com News: Tom Cruise has starting production in Japan of his latest movie, THE LAST SAMURAI, set in the 1870s. It has a $100 million budget, and will include Japanese cast, Hiroyuki Sanada and Watanabe Ken. // Sonny Chiba plays Hattori Hanzo, a sword instructor, in the Tarentino film, KILL BILL.

www.aint-it-cool-news.com News: "Innocence: Ghost in the Shell", a new movie, has been announced for a Japanese release in 2004. It will be a "love story with erotic aspects". // Trigun comics will be published in English. // The International Channel will start airing Fushigi Yuugi in 2003.

Diamond PREVIEWS (diamondcomics.com) October 2002 for delivery in December '02 (except as noted). Comics - Dark Horse - USAGI YOJIMBO: The Shrouded Moon graphic novel, $16 (January); ASTRO BOY Vol 11 graphic novel, b&w, $10 (January); LONE WOLF 2100 #6, color, 32 pages, $2.99 (in January, look for LONE WOLF 2100: Eyes Only Files). Wildstorm - ROBOTECH #0 (32-page one-shot, $2.50), #1 (of 6) 32 pages, $2.95. Image - BASTARD SAMURAI graphic novel #1: Samurai Noir, color, 112 pages, $12.95. Top Cow - BATTLE OF THE PLANETS #1 (one-shot special) b&w, 32 pages, $2.99. Marvel - UNCANNY X-MEN #416, cover & interior by Kia Asamiya, 32 pages, color, $2.25; EDEN'S TRAIL #2 (of 6), 32 pages, color, $2.99. Anarchy - XIN: Monkey King #2, color, 32 pages, $2.99. Antarctic - HOW TO DRAW MANGA Compilation Vol 3 trade edition, 128 pg, b&w, $17.95; DRAGON ARMS #1 by David Hutchison, sword & sorcery, manga-style story & art, b&w, 48 pages, $4.95.

Comicsone - BRIDE OF DEIMOS #4 by Yuuho Ashibe, 200 pg, b&w, $9.95; HEAVEN SWORD & DRAGON SABER #4 by Louis Cha & Tony Wong, 120 pages, color, $14; CRAYON SHINCHAN #2 by Yoshito Usui, 200 pages, b&w, $10. CPM - DARK ANGEL Vol.4: Legend of the Sacred Beast, by Kia Asamiya, 224 pages, b&w, $16. Crusade - SHI: The Illustrated Warrior #6 (of 7), b&w, $2.99, Shi vs. Tomoe. Dreamwave - TRANSFORMERS Profile Book 1 (of 4), collection of Transformers artwork, color, 96 pages, $12.95. Ironcat - AMERIMANGA Vol.1#1, four manga-style comics by American artists, b&w, 96 pages, $7.99; MEGATOKYO Chapter Zero, collecting Chapter Zero and extra material, 120 pages, b&w, $9.95. Nice One - GET CARTER! THE LAST DRAGON SCOUT #1, by Hinds, Meihan & Tan, 40 pg, color, $3.50. Radio - FURRLOUGH #120, 32 pg, b&w, $3; MANGAPHILE #18, 48 pg, b&w, $4. Tokyopop - AKIRA CINEMANGA Vol.1 (of 5) graphic novel by Katsuhiro Otomo, 160 pages, color, $15; KARE KANO by Masami Tsuda, 192 pages, b&w, $10; COWBOY BEBOP Vol.2, b&w, $10.

Zines - SHONEN JUMP Vol.1#2, 304 pages, $4.95. NEWTYPE #3, $10. Books - NBM, with artist Patrick Atangan, is beginning a new series of adaptations of Asian folktales. The first is THE YELLOW JAR, about a fisherman who finds a mysterious woman inside a magic jar. Patrick's art is classic ukiyo-e style. THE YELLOW JAR is hardcover, 48 pages$12.95. SAMURAI JACK - The Legend Begins; Chapter Book 1 - Mayhem Mountain; Chapter Book 2 - 7 Labors of Jack, 3 Samurai Jack books, each 80 pages, $4.50. Cards - Official Hamtaro cards & 3-ring binder. Battle of the Planets "Pure Princess", limited to 1,000 sets. T-shirts - Oh My Goddess (fuscia, black, white, blue, 6 different) M-XL $18, XXL $20. Samurai Jack & Aku lounge shirts, L-XL $37.

Action figures - Godzilla Adventure Set 2, 5" figure, five 2.5" figures & diorama playset, $20. Wall scrolls - Ghost in the Shell (2 different) $20 each. Games - Fantasy Flight Games - Dragonball Z Battle Game: Majin Buu Saga, $20; Dragonball Z Battle Game: Fusion Saga, $20. Wonderworld - Dragon Ball Universe RPG box set, $35. Guardians of Order - Big Eyes, Small Mouth: Dungeon, $17. Mongoose - Quintessential Samurai, 128-page sourcebook $20. DVDs - Banner of the Stars Vol 1 (125 min, Bandai, $30, January); Akira DTS Edition (125 min, Pioneer, $25); Fruits Basket Vol 1 (Funimation, 123 min, $40); Hyper Police Vol 2 (Image, 96 min, $20); JoJo's Bizarre Adventure Vol 1 (Super Techno Arts, 90 min, $30); Melty Lancer Vol 1 (Bandai, 75 min, $30); Tsukikage Ran Vol 3 (Bandai, 100 min, $30, January).

Diamond PREVIEWS November 2002 for delivery in January 2003 (except as noted):
Comics - Dark Horse - CLUB 9 graphic novel by Makoto Kobayashi, cute country girl working in big city hot hostess bar, $16 (February); WHAT'S MICHAEL: Fat Cat in the City by Makoto Kobayashi, cute cat in the big city, graphic novel, $9. Wildstorm - ROBOTECH Vol.1 graphic novel, $15; ROBOTECH SOURCEBOOK one-shot, 32 pages, $2.95. Top Cow - BATTLE OF THE PLANETS/WITCHBLADE, color, 48 pages, $7, Spectra base is testing a new weapon - the WitchBlade! Marvel - UNCANNY X-MEN #417 & 418, cover & interior by Kia Asamiya, 32 pages, color, $2.25 each. AGC - AMERICAN MANGAS Vol.1, reprint of Charlton's 1960s comics with art by Sanho Kim, 224 pages, b&w, $17. Anarchy - XIN, Legend of the Monkey King #3( of 3), color, 32 pages, $3.

Antarctic - HOW TO DRAW MANGA #21, b&w, 32 pages, $4.95; NEOTOPIA #1 by Rod Espinosa, the ruler of Floratopia is compassionate, but secretly is a substitute for the real (arrogant & vain) princess, color, 32 pages, $3.95. CGE -If you want to see the comics versions of 2 possible upcoming martial arts fantasy films, check out SCION (#32, medieval & high tech, prince fights to free his world, 32 pages, color, $2.95) and WAY OF THE RAT (#9, from thief to hero, thanks to the monkey master, 32 pages, color, $2.95). Chiseled Comics (www.chiseledcomics.com) - WANDERLUST: Heaven's Fire #1 (of 3) by Bryant Shiu, Interplanetary League fleet menaced by merciless aliens, giant robot action, color, 36 pages, $2.95. Comicsone - CROUCHING TIGER HIDDEN DRAGON #2, color, $14; STORM RIDERS #10, $14; ONEGAI TEACHER: Please Teacher #1 by Yosuke Kuroda & Shizuru Hayashiya, b&w, $10. CPM - LODOSS - Deedlit's Tale #2: Forest of No Return graphic novel, b&w, $16. Dreamwave - SANDSCAPE #1 by Kato, Kang & Sander, desert planet with 2 eternally battling factions, color, 32 pages, $2.95.

Dynamic Forces - BATTLE OF THE PLANETS Vol.1, b&w, $20, this is a reprint collection of Gold Key comics (1979). Gutsoon - FIST OF THE NORTH STAR Master Edition #1, 208 pages, color, $15. I.C. (aka Ironcat) - AMERIMANGA Vol.1#2 by various, 120 pages, b&w, $8. Radio Comix - SPACE RACE! #1 by Favio Montoya, Carrot is a 13-year old rabbit girl who wants to enter the Space Race galactic competition, b&w, 32 pages, $3. Tokyopop - INVU Vol.1 graphic novel by Kang-Won Kim, 4 teen girls find their lives bizarrely intertwined; RAVE Vol.1 by Hiro Mashima, Rave & Shiba are the only defense against Dark Stone's evil powers, 176 pages, b&w, $10; SHAOLIN SISTERS Vol.1 (of 5) by Narumi Kakinouchi, 3 shaolin princesses fight evil, b&w, $10; LUPIN III Vol.2, b&w, $10.

Zines - ANIMATED PLANET #1, for lovers of cartoons & animation, news, reviews, interviews, $5.95. NEWTYPE English Version #4, $10. PROTOCULTURE ADDICTS, Osamu Tezuka issue, $4.95. ORIENTAL FILM REVIEW #4, $8 (better than all those other Asian film zines!). Books - FUSHIGI YUGI Ultimate Fan Guide Vol.2, color, 104 pages, $25. DRAGONBALL Z: How to Draw Action by Michael Teitelbaum, 32 pages, b&w, $5. T-shirts - Battle of the Planets black & grey hockey jersey, L-XXL, $40. Vandred 2nd Stage and X black t-shirts, L-XXL, $17 to $18. Action Figures - GatchaMan Princess, 12" high with variant hands(?), $37 (February). Games - COOKIE FU: Fortune Cookie Fighter, with dice, rules, and fortune cookie, $5 (from Blue Kabuto - www.bluekabuto.com). HEARTQUEST: Romantic RPG in the World of Shoujo Manga, rules, adventures, characters & bibliography, $20 (from Grey Ghost - www.fudgerpg.com). HERO SYSTEM: Ninja Hero, rules, campaigns, creating a martial arts hero, $27 (from Hero Games).

DVDs - Argento Soma Vol.1 DVD (Bandai), 125 min, Feb) $30. Arjuna Vol.3 DVD (Bandai) 75 min, $30. DESCENDANTS OF DARKNESS: Vampire's Lure DVD (US Manga Corps) 75 min, $30. DEVIL LADY Vol.1 (AD Vision) $30. GIGANTOR DVD Box Set (Rhino, epi 27-52) 650 min, $60. Lupin III Vol.1 DVD: World's Most Wanted (Pioneer) 150 min, $25. REIGN Vol.1: Obsession of Alexander DVD (TokyoPop) 60 min, $30. UTENA; Impatience & Longing DVD (Software Sculptures) 75 min, $30. ART OF ACTION DVD (Asian film clips, interviews, hosted by Samuel L. Jackson) $25. CDs - Lupin III CD Soundtrack $15.

Diamond PREVIEWS December '02 for delivery in February '03 (except as noted): Comics - Dark Horse - SERAPHIC FEATHER: Target Zone (March) 240 pages, b&w, $18. Wildstorm - THUNDERCATS: The Return #1 (of 5), 32 pages, color, $2.95. Image - JUNKBOT ROTOGIN #0 by Jason Lee & J.Karim, robot tournaments are illegal, so robot fighting has gone underground, monthly, 24 pages, color, $2.50; WITCHBLADE: NOTTINGHAM one-shot, Nottingham goes to Japan, color, 48 pages, $5. Antarctic - HOW TO DRAW MANGA #22, 32 pages, b&w, $4.95; NEOTOPIA #2, 32 pages, color, $3.95; GOLD DIGGER POCKET MANGA #1 by Fred Perry, digest, 128 pages, b&w, $12.95. CPM - PRINCESS PRINCE Book #1, b&w, 336 pages, $16; FRONTIER LINE Vol.1 by Yoshihisa Tagami, 6 tales of mecha war, b&w, $16. Curtis - Curtis Comic Value Pack #2 - bundle of all 13 titles, issues #2 (Korean manga), $28. Gutsoon - FIST OF THE NORTH STAR Vol.2, 208 pages, color, $15.

I.C. - YOU & ME Vol.2#1, b&w, 32 pages, $2.95; YOU & ME Vol.1 graphic novel, $16. TokyoPop - AKIRA CineManga Vol.2, color, $15; GATEKEEPERS Vol.1, b&w, $10; KIM POSSIBLE CineManga Vol.1 (of 4), color, $8; PEACH GIRL Sophomore Year Vol.1, b&w, 192 pages, $10; SCRYED Vol.1, b&w, $10. Zines - ANIMATION MAGAZINE Jan '03, focus on Bandai, $5.95. NEWTYPE #5, $10. Wizard ANIME INVASION #6, focus on Lupin III, $5. Anime T-shirts - "Anime Junkie" black longsleeved 100% cotton, X-XXL, $23 - $24. Action Figures - YuYu Hakusho Series 2 & 3, $11 each figure, 4 figures per series. Mothra Plush 15" cloth version, $20. BotP Zoltar Disguise Action Figure, with 3 interchangeable heads, $12. Vampire Hunter D Meier Link minibust, 7" high, $40. DaiMajin vinyl model, 7.5" high, $25. Wall Scrolls - X & YuYu Hakusho, $18 each.

DVDs - AI YORI AOSHI Vol.1 Faithfully Yours DVD (Pioneer), $30. CAT GIRL NUKU NUKU Vol.1 DVD (AD Vision) $30. ARIEL DVD (US Manga Corps) 143 min, $30. CHOBITS Vol.1 DVD (Pioneer) 100 min, $30. DNA2 Metamorphosis DVD (USManga Corps) 75 min, 430. EXCEL SAGA Vol.5 DVD (AD Vision) 100 min, $30. FLCL Vol.2 DVD (Synchpoint), 60 min, $30. .HACK//SIGN Vol.1 DVD (Pioneer) 50 min, $30. KARE KANO Vol. 3&4 DVDs (Right Stuf) 150 min each. $30 each. CDs - NOIR soundtrack $15. YuGiOh $17, Sailor Moon-Full Moon Collection $13.
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End of December 2002 - January 2003 Anime Sacramento Newsletter
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Post by Nicky Townsend (www.sacramentoanime.com) with permission from Laurine White