An Avalanche of Anime News

Mike Ferreira (Editor) — December 28th, 2004 — 16:48
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Media Blasters has announced that they have acquired the rights to the Iczer-One OVA series. The series, which was previously released by US Renditions, will be released on one DVD under the Americanized title, Iczer.

Media Blasters has acquired the rights to the Blame! anime series. The six-episode series does not have a release date at the moment.

The Japanese TV Asahi network has recently opened its website for the upcoming Xenosaga anime series. The site contains story information, character descriptions, and a staff list.

Japanese television network NHK has announced that new television specials of the recently concluded Planetes and Mujin Wakusei Survive will air on the network on December 31, 2004 and January 2, 2005 respectively.

According to Ultra Jump Magazine's webpage, the first OVA to Tenjoh Tenje will be released on March 16, 2005. The OVA, titled Tenjoh Tenje: Ultimate Fight will continue the television series' storyline.

Viz has announced that several manga titles will debut under their name in the first months of 2005. The first volumes of Legendz, Dr. Slump, Doubt!!, Happy Hustle High, Times Two, and SOS will be released next year. Legendz and Dr. Slump will be released under the Shonen Jump line in May, with a suggested retail price of $7.99US. Doubt!!, Happy Hustle High, Times Two, and SOS will be released under Viz's standard line in March with a suggested price of $9.99US.

April will see the debut of Viz's Shonen Jump Advanced line. This line of manga is aimed at the older teen and young adult audience, and will see the same $7.99US price tag that the traditional Shonen Jump line will premiere with the first volumes of Eyeshield 21, Hunter X Hunter, and I''s.

Viz has announced that they will be releasing several anime titles in the first quarter of 2005. The latest installments of Inu-Yasha, volume 26: Curse of Generations and volume 27: Brothers in Arms will hit stores in February with a suggested retail price of $24.98US. Flame of Recca volume 2: Secrets of the Hokage, Boys Over Flowers (Hana Yori Dango) volume 9: Lovers on the Run?!, and Project ARMS: 2nd Chapter volume 3: Survival of the Fittest will be released in January,with a suggested retail price of $24.98. Project ARMS: 2nd Chapter volume 4: A Soldier's Pride and Boys Over Flowers (Hana Yori Dango) volume 10: Love Triangle from Hell! will be released in March, also with a suggested price of $24.98. For the younger audience, Viz plans to release volumes 7 and 8 of Pokémon Advanced as well as volumes 6 and 7 of Zoids: Chaotic Century, each with a suggested retail price of $14.98. February sees the release of the Pokémon Master Quest box set and Mega Man NT Warrior volume 4. Mega Man will hold a suggested retail price of $14.98US, while the Pokémon Master Quest box will be priced at $39.98US.

Central Park Media has announced that they will be releasing the entire Cyber City (Cyber City Oedo 808) series on one specially priced DVD. Dubbed the Final Collection, the disc will contain all three episodes of the series, as well as director's commentary on the first two episodes of the series, an art gallery, a sketch gallery, and a collection of trailers for the series. The Final Collection will be released on March 8, 2005 and will be available through April 30, 2005 with a suggested retail price of $9.95.

Central Park Media has announced that they will be releasing several titles in March, 2005. Black Jack: Biohazard, the final volume of the medical mystery drama, will be released with the second series box set. The Patlabor: Mobile Police TV series volume 10 will also see release during the month of March. All of the titles will be released on March 8, 2005. Black Jack: Biohazard has a suggested price of $19.95US, Black Jack DVD Collection 2, will retail for $49.95US, and Patlabor will have a price tag of $29.95US.

ADV Films will be re-releasing the You're Under Arrest! the Motion Picture DVD on February 15, 2005. While the series does not look to be joining the company's "Essential Anime" line at the moment, the DVD will receive 5.1 treatment, as well as an anamorphic transfer.