USA Anime and Manga Report

USA Anime and Manga Report

         September 2003 Volume 8 Number 9 Issue #93

Contents:

     Editorial:

     Press Releases:

   A.D. Vision, Inc. Announces Launch Of ADV Toys 

   Pioneer Entertainment (Usa) Inc. To Become Geneon Entertainment (USA) 
Inc. After Acquisition 

    Release Information:

        Anime Releases by Date.

        Anime Releases by Title.

        Magazine and Translated Manga Releases by Date.

        Japanese Cinema Releases by Date

        Select Anime Related Goods Releases by Date.

        Short List.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------
---
Editorial

This month we have press releases. on AD Visions new toy unit and a name 
change for Pioneer as a result of their being bought out recently.

For me the big news is two new folks joining what is now a team effort 
to get this newsletter out each month. Erin Michael Winking and Clarissa 
C. S. Ryan are now helping by each covering specific companies. I still 
would like to get a few more folks assisting so that things would work 
smoother. However their work and that of Daniel A. Wilson is already a 
big relief. Thanks guys.

Number of New Entries in this issue:

   Anime:   48
   Manga & Magazines:   19
   Cinema:  0
   Other:   0

Thanks for corrections and additional information go to:

Clarissa C. S. Ryan - Regular contributor

Daniel A. Wilson - Regular contributor

Erin Michael Winking  - Regular contributor

-------------------------------------------------------------------------
---
Press Releases:

-------------------------------------------------------------------------
---

A.D. VISION, INC. ANNOUNCES LAUNCH OF ADV TOYS 

NEW DIVISION WILL CREATE TOYS BASED ON THE FIRM'S JAPANESE ANIMATION, 
MOTION PICTURE AND MANGA (JAPANESE COMIC/GRAPHIC NOVEL) HOLDINGS 

A.D. Vision, Inc. formally announced the founding of ADV Toys, the 
firm's new merchandise division and the latest major initiative of the 
Houston-based international multimedia concern. Initially announced in a 
far-reaching July 4, 2003 panel discussion at Anime Expo (Anaheim, 
California), the division will create toys and collectible merchandise 
based upon the firm's extensive film, manga (graphic novel) and original 
content holdings. 

"We are launching ADV Toys at an opportune moment," said A.D. Vision, 
Inc. President and CEO John Ledford. "Consumers who came to love 
Japanese animation, manga and other genre forms in their childhood and 
adolescence now have the resources to acquire and collect high-quality 
toys and models based on their favorite titles. And for younger age 
groups, we've identified extensive opportunities in age- and 
budget-appropriate toys and collectibles." 

"As with all of this firm's divisions and major strategic initiatives, 
our cross-promotional capability is key to our launch of ADV Toys," 
continued Ledford. "We're able to reach consumers and potential 
consumers through ADV Films, ADV Manga, the monthly magazine Newtype 
USA, and via the Anime Network as well; it's an example of synergy at 
its best." 

About ADV Toys
ADV Toys is the toy division of A.D. Vision, Inc., parent company of ADV 
Films, Newtype USA, ADV Manga Anime Network and more. Founded in 2003, 
with outstanding licensing traction in the U.S. and overseas, ADV Toys 
is poised to become a major player in the toy licensing and distribution 
market. More information is available via http://www.advfilms.com. 

-------------------------------------------------------------------------
---
Pioneer Entertainment (USA) Inc. To Become GENEON ENTERTAINMENT (USA) 
INC. After Acquisition 
Sep 26, 2003 

Company Best Known For Introducing Anime To Millions In North America 

LONG BEACH, Calif. - On October 1, 2003, Pioneer Entertainment (USA) 
Inc. (NYSE: PIO - News), the premier provider of Japanese anime in North 
America, will officially change its name to GENEON ENTERTAINMENT (USA) 
INC. On that date, Tokyo-based advertising giant Dentsu Inc., will 
acquire a majority of the outstanding shares of Pioneer Entertainment, 
and its sister company, Pioneer LDC, Inc. .Geneon, a new word combining 
³generate" and ³eon" embodies Pioneer Entertainment¹s creative 
capabilities to produce new entertainment with eternal value. .Mr. 
Yosuke Kobayashi will continue to serve as President of GENEON 
ENTERTAINMENT (USA) INC. 

³We have built a solid and respected reputation as a licensee among 
publishers, rights holders and anime producers in Japan."said Mr. 
Kobayashi. .³With Dentsu as our new parent, we anticipate tapping into 
its global resources as well as our own to expand our anime offerings to 
the growing North America audience." 

Recognizing the potential of Japanese animation in the U.S. marketplace, 
Pioneer Entertainment began licensing and distributing a variety of 
popular Japanese programming including Tenchi Muyo!, Pokémon, Dragon 
Ball Z and Armitage , among others, introducing anime programming to the 
American home viewing audience. .Under Pioneer Entertainment¹s guidance, 
the launch and distribution of the Pokémon franchise became a phenomenon 
in itself with sales exceeding 25 million units. .The success of the 
series served as a testament to the foresight of the company and its 
licensing partners. .The company has become a leading supplier of 
Japanese animation in the U.S., boasting a 36% share of the anime DVD 
market and an impressive library of titles that have been seen on large 
and small screens throughout North America. 

Teaming with many of Japan¹s top production companies including GONZO, 
Madhouse, and Production I.G, Pioneer Entertainment has served as a 
creative partner in developing several anime favorites including 
Armitage Dual-Matrix, Hellsing, Strawberry Eggs, SoulTaker and Fushigi 
Yûgi Eikoden . .In addition, the company licenses titles created by some 
of Japan¹s most popular and prestigious filmmakers and has entered the 
theatrical arena with strategically planned releases of motion pictures. 

Committed to meeting the needs of the ever-changing global business 
environment, Dentsu has expanded its business far beyond the scope of 
the typical advertising firm, and into the arena of the entertainment 
business. .In Japan, Dentsu has made investments in the production of 
Hayao Miyazaki¹s Spirited Away and Princess Mononoke . .The company¹s 
entertainment portfolio also includes Japanese distribution rights for 
Lord of the Rings and the television distribution rights for Buena Vista 
properties. . Aggressively pursuing the production and distribution for 
animation television programming, the company is also seeking the 
overseas distribution and sales of Japanese animation franchises such as 
Astro Boy and Kirby . .The synergy created from Dentsu¹s acquisition of 
Pioneer Entertainment will result in the promotion of Dentsu¹s 
entertainment-related business and a strategic entry into the software 
content industry. 

Pioneer Entertainment (USA) Inc. (www.pioneer-ent.com) is a full-service 
producer and distributor of entertainment software including film, 
music, animation and television shows on VHS and DVD. .Headquartered in 
Long Beach, California, Pioneer Entertainment is part of the Pioneer 
North American Group. . Its parent company, Pioneer Corporation, is a 
leader in optical disc technology and a preeminent manufacturer of 
high-performance audio, video, computer and cable television equipment 
for the home, car and business markets. Pioneer Corporation focuses on 
four core business domains including DVD, display technologies, Digital 
Network Entertainment and components. Founded in 1938 in Tokyo, Pioneer 
Corporation and its affiliates employ more than 34,000 people worldwide. 
Its shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: PIO - News). 

Dentsu Inc., founded in 1901, is the largest advertising agency brand 
and the fifth largest marketing and communications organization in the 
world. Based in Tokyo, Dentsu offers national, multinational and global 
clients the most comprehensive range of advertising and marketing 
services through its unique "Total Communications Services" approach. 
Dentsu has pioneered and set global standards for integrated 
communications, which in latter years have been adopted by a number of 
major international networks. The group has more than 6,000 clients and 
14,447 full-time employees in both Japan and in its offices overseas. 
.Consolidated billings (net sales) for fiscal term 02/03 were recorded 
at ¥1,692.9 billion. .Dentsu is publicly quoted on the Tokyo Stock 
Exchange. 

-------------------------------------------------------------------------
---


Each month when the new issue of this newsletter is uploaded to the web 
a notice is posted on the following newsgroups:
   rec.arts.anime.misc
    rec.arts.anime.fandom
    rec.arts.anime.info

referring people to the newsletter on my web page at:

     http://www.koyagi.com/USAAnimeRelease.html

Enjoy, & don't hesitate to send comments.

         -Gilles-
         [EMAIL PROTECTED]

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Whenever possible dates are from information supplied or published by 
the companies listed, via email, in their ads, Web pages or Usenet 
postings.

When information is not from the companies I have noted the source.

Information is organized by:
   Street Release Date [Year-month/day (if available)] TITLE IN CAPS
      Note: Titles from the following companies will likely be on the 
      shelves later than announced.
         Viz - all dates are shipping dates
         CPM Manga
         Manga Entertainment
         Studio Ironcat
         Tokyo Pop
         
   Format (VHS, LD, CD-ROM, Magazine, Etc.)
   *Company Name*
   Any other useful information. (Unless indicated prices are in U.S. 
dollars)
   Verification [If I have seen the item on store shelves]

And by:
   TITLE followed by the release date for easy checking for items you 
are anxious to have.

DVD language information:
   DVD without further information means language unknown.
   DVD - Bilingual - Japanese and English voice tracks including 
subtitles
   DVD - Subtitled = Only Japanese with English subtitles.
   DVD - Dubbed = Only English only in English re-dub format,
   Jpn - Japanese
   Eng - English
   Fre = French
   Spa = Spanish

-----------------------------------------------------------------

"Hybrid CD-ROM" means CD-ROMs that run on both the Windows and Macintosh 
operating systems. 

New & significantly updated entries have their date followed with a note.

Any errors I am notified of will be noted & corrected in the next 
release.

I include information for releases from the previous month's releases 
due to the fact that it sometimes takes far too long for titles to reach 
many localities due to distribution or production delays. 

Permission is granted to re-post this list on any BBS or electronic 
service as long as no extra fees are charged for downloading it.

Web page duplication of this newsletter is not permitted, instead please 
link to:
     http://www.koyagi.com/USAAnimeRelease.html

If you have a store you regularly use you may wish to give them the URL 
of this document for their reference. I will also directly email this 
newsletter monthly to retailers upon request.