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.

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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

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Press Releases:

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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.

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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. 
=2EGeneon, a new word combining "generate" and "eon" embodies Pioneer 
Entertainment's creative capabilities to produce new entertainment 
with eternal value. .Mr. Yosuke Kobayashi will continue to serve as 
President of GENEON ENTERTAINMENT (USA) INC.

"We have built a solid and respected reputation as a licensee among 
publishers, rights holders and anime producers in Japan."said Mr. 
Kobayashi. ."With 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!, 
Pok=E9mon, Dragon Ball Z and Armitage , among others, introducing anime 
programming to the American home viewing audience. .Under Pioneer 
Entertainment's guidance, the launch and distribution of the Pok=E9mon 
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 Japan's 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 
=46ushigi Y=FBgi Eikoden . .In addition, the company licenses titles 
created by some of Japan's 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 Miyazaki's Spirited Away and Princess Mononoke . .The company's 
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 Dentsu's acquisition of Pioneer Entertainment will 
result in the promotion of Dentsu's 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. 
=2EHeadquartered 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 =A51,692.9 billion. .Dentsu is publicly quoted 
on the Tokyo Stock Exchange.

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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]

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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 =3D Only Japanese with English subtitles.
        DVD - Dubbed =3D Only English only in English re-dub format,
        Jpn - Japanese
        Eng - English
        Fre =3D French
        Spa =3D Spanish

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"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.

The full version is at:

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

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.
-- 
Gilles Poitras
Profession: Librarian    Obsession: Anime
http://www.koyagi.com
[EMAIL PROTECTED]

--
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Email submissions to [EMAIL PROTECTED] and questions about the newsgroup
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