Next week is the spring 'Golden Week' holiday in Japan, and many Japanese companies have already started the celebration by closing up for business. Most companies in Japan not already shut down for the holiday will be closed from May 1st through May 6th.
We have a sort of local holiday of our own today, and most businesses in the Winchester, VA area close down today for the annual Apple Blossom Festival parade downtown. Because of the local business closures including mail and shipping services we will be operating on a limited shipping schedule Friday May 1st, with regular orders being processed but ground and postal service orders not shipping out until Monday, May 4th. Most of us are planning to put in a half day and them head out to see the parade.
Have a great weekend everyone!
Jun Planning - Packing Up and Going Home
Black Lagoon Second Barrage: Revy 1/8 Scale Figure Girls Collection
Familiar of Zero: Nekomimi Louise 1/8 Scale Figure
Death Note: Action Figures Series 1 Assortment (Set of 6)
Death Note: Craft Label Misa Amane Figure
Death Note: Final Scene Series Light Yagami Statue
Death Note: Final Scene Series Misa Amane Statue
Death Note: Final Scene Series Rem Statue
Death Note: Final Scene Series Ryuk Statue
Death Note: Vol. 01 Mini Trading Figure (Set of 3)
Death Note: Vol. 02 Mini Trading Figure (Set of 3)
They also made some "Nightmare Before Christmas" stuff, but we don't carry those. The dates on a lot of the Death Note items had already been put on 'TBA' status, so we didn't post any of them for pre-order - because I hate taking pre-orders for releases that appear to be 'iffy'.
Anyway, it's not clear to me yet if they are actually going out of business entirely ('reorganization' can mean anything coming from the Japanese), but they are definitely pulling out of the US figure market for now. We do have significant pre-orders booked for both the Revy and Louise figures shown above, so we're waiting for the final word from Jun Planning regarding the disposition of these figures. We need to know if they intend to fill orders already booked. Right now I don't know, so please don't write in and ask me if they will still be released or not -_^ Hopefully production of these will still go through. I'll post an update as soon as we get the final word.
Death Note: Craft Label Misa Amane Figure
Death Note: Final Scene Series Light Yagami Statue
Death Note: Final Scene Series Misa Amane Statue
Death Note: Final Scene Series Rem Statue
Death Note: Final Scene Series Ryuk Statue
Death Note: Vol. 01 Mini Trading Figure (Set of 3)
Death Note: Vol. 02 Mini Trading Figure (Set of 3)
They also made some "Nightmare Before Christmas" stuff, but we don't carry those. The dates on a lot of the Death Note items had already been put on 'TBA' status, so we didn't post any of them for pre-order - because I hate taking pre-orders for releases that appear to be 'iffy'.
Anyway, it's not clear to me yet if they are actually going out of business entirely ('reorganization' can mean anything coming from the Japanese), but they are definitely pulling out of the US figure market for now. We do have significant pre-orders booked for both the Revy and Louise figures shown above, so we're waiting for the final word from Jun Planning regarding the disposition of these figures. We need to know if they intend to fill orders already booked. Right now I don't know, so please don't write in and ask me if they will still be released or not -_^ Hopefully production of these will still go through. I'll post an update as soon as we get the final word.
Funimations July Releases Now Available for Pre-Order
We got Funi's July release schedule last night, and we've now finished adding them to the site for pre-order. Here's what it looks like:
In addition to these Funi has back filled some of the release slots with re-prices of existing items:
My problem is that I just hate to wait... :-)
Case Closed Season #1 DVD Box Set (Eps #1-26) (Uncut & Unedited) (Viridian Collection)
Claymore, Vol #6, The Awakening DVD
Gungrave Complete Collection DVD Boxed Set
Kyo Kara Maoh!, Season 2, Complete Collection DVD Boxed Set
Paradise Kiss Complete Collection DVD Boxed Set (Viridian Collection)
Rozen Maiden Traumend Complete Collection DVD Boxed Set
Suzuka Complete Collection DVD Boxed Set (Viridian Collection)
XXXHolic TV Series Complete Collection DVD Boxed Set
In addition to these Funi has back filled some of the release slots with re-prices of existing items:
Baki the Grappler Season 1 & 2 DVD Complete Collection (Viridian Collection) - Re-Price down to $49.98 MSRP from $69.98 MSRP
DragonBall Z Season 4 (Eps #108-139) (Re-Mastered) - Re-Price down to $34.98 MSRP from $49.98 MSRP
Elemental Gelade Complete Collection DVD Boxed Set (Thin-Pak) - Re-Price down to $49.98 MSRP from $69.98 MSRP
Galaxy Railways Complete Collection DVD Boxed Set (Viridian Collection) - Re-Price down to $39.98 MSRP from $49.98 MSRP
My problem is that I just hate to wait... :-)
Late Afternoon Arrivals
Never the less, the following items arrived late in the day today and are now in stock:
Case Closed Season #5 DVD Box Set (Eps #105-128) (Uncut & Unedited)
Gurren Lagann, Part #3 DVD Bundle (Eps #19-27) (Bilingual Version)
Heroic Age Collection DVD Boxed Set #1 (Eps #1-13)
Murder Princess DVD Complete Collection Boxed Set
We also received two new manga issues several of you have been asking about:
Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya , Vol #2, Graphic Novel
When They Cry , Vol #2, Graphic Novel
These will begin shipping first thing Monday morning. Have a great weekend everyone!
Congress Finally Going After Online Shoppers In Earnest
Internet sales tax is coming. After several years of talk, it looks like Congress is finally setup to start going after online shoppers to pay sales tax on purchases.JammieWearingFool says:
The government's insatiable thirst for tax revenue is about to hit online shoppers, who've largely managed to escape onerous state taxes by shopping at sites such as Amazon.com [and The Anime Corner Store]. So if you've been wondering what to do with that $13-a-week windfall from King Obama, just forward it to your state government.
The big question for us evey time this comes up is how are they going to administer collection of the taxes. Right now, most people are supposed to claim their out of state purchases on their state income tax return and pay 'use tax' on them, but few people actually do and this system is basically unenforceable, so the government wants to shift the burden for collecting online sales taxes onto the businesses that sell on the net. Oh Fun!
But there is huge problem with that. We already collect and distribute sales tax for orders shipped to customers in Virginia (because our warehouse is located in Virginia), of which there is a lot of paperwork, time, and expense involved. How can a business like us possibly hope to collect and distribute tax payments to 50 different state governments with different rules and tax rates. On top of that, many states even have local sales taxes broken down by city or county that have to be collected individually, so there are really maybe 1,000 different jurisdictions across the US that have different sales tax rates and rules. Pretty much impossible for us to do without some sort of centralized system, and that too is a quandary because the Federal Government has no authority to collect taxes for state governments.
To be honest, the libertarian part of me views online purchases as an exercise in civil disobedience to protest already ridiculously high taxation across the broad spectrum of federal, state, and local governments. Of course, most people would never think of it that way, and shop online instead for the deals and/or convenience. But retailer associations that have large brick and mortar memberships have been steadily lobbying for tax parity on online purchases. And of course, states are seeing declining real estate tax revenue and you KNOW they just can't cut spending accordingly, so they are looking to makup the difference anyway possible.
I would prefer to see them leave the system as it is and have each state deal with enforcing their own existing tax laws on their own citizens. That way citizens of each state can deal with the elected officials in their state and local governments directly, just as it's supposed to be. But now that the era of gargantuan federal government is upon us, I'm sure those concerns will eventually be thrown to the wind and we'll all end up paying more. A national online sales tax system is coming, like it or not.
As JammieWearingFool says:
In case you're wondering, and I know you are, this isn't just another Democrat tax scheme. It's bi-partisan confiscation of your money.
Yep, that's about right.
New Character for Evangelion 2.0 - Makinami Mari Illustrious
EVA-EXTRA01 reports that Maaya Sakamoto will play the much speculated on new character Makinami Mari Illustrious in the Evangelion: 2.0 You Can (Not) Advance film. Like previous Evangelion character names, both "Illustrious" and "Makinami" (with different kanji characters) happen to be names of World War II naval ships.
It was also confirmed that Yuko Miyamura will reprise the Asuka role, although the character has been renamed Shikinami Asuka Langley. The project's official website and the second film's teaser, which was shown with the first film, promised the fan-favorite character Asuka, the EVA-02 through -06 units with new designs for many of them, a new eyeglasses-wearing brunette girl character, more fan "service-service", "a shocking new story, and new visuals." Evangelion: 2.0 You Can (Not) Advance will open in Japan on June 27.
Via ANN.
It was also confirmed that Yuko Miyamura will reprise the Asuka role, although the character has been renamed Shikinami Asuka Langley. The project's official website and the second film's teaser, which was shown with the first film, promised the fan-favorite character Asuka, the EVA-02 through -06 units with new designs for many of them, a new eyeglasses-wearing brunette girl character, more fan "service-service", "a shocking new story, and new visuals." Evangelion: 2.0 You Can (Not) Advance will open in Japan on June 27.
Via ANN.
Funimation Discontinued Titles
We'll be putting both of those titles on 'Stock on Hand' status, so get em while they last!
In better news, they have also dropped the MSRP on the Season 2 and 3 DBZ Remastered sets from $49.98 to $34.98, and we've re-priced them both accordingly down to $24.98 each.
Girls Locks 04/03
[Introducing Letters]
(I wanted to study with this notebook, too...)
It's spring!
Good luck with facing your new goals!!
It's her attendance after 1 month again!!!
During her last month's attendance it was still cold, but this time Maki-chan came in completely springlike garments.
Did you all go to the cherry blossom viewing?
As for Maki-chan, "I was cherry blossom viewing while talking a walk."
While walking along the row of cherry trees, Maki-chan thought...
"I'm glad to be a Japanese..."
By the way, you all got one, right?
The SOL! NOTEBOOK is even Maki-chan's favorite, too!!!
"Why couldn't they put it out during my student days..."
She also has an advice for how to use it. "If you are a freshman and are holding a SOL! NOTEBOOK, it should be really easy to make friends!!!!"
You can get it in the SCHOOL OF LOCK! Shop or country-wide at LAWSON!
Maki-chan in the middle of checking your postings...
"There are many posts of freshmen!!!!"
"Are you having an inspection of the school!? Horikita Maki is the head of books club!!! You definitely have to go to the books club!!!"
As expected of the head of the books club!!! You don't even have to care about other invitations!!!
Then Maki-chan suddenly opens the window of the classroom and says, "The spring night wind feels sooo great", ... but all the teaching material got blown off. Tonight is a strong wind, so you rather keep it closed...
Alright, let's introduce a post from the bulletin board.
Actually Maki-chan really has some experience as vice president in the student council!!!
If you were to run for the vice-presidency, "As president you would be alone, where as vice president you would be 2."
"I didn't get into the student council to stand out, I wanted to do a reliable job as the student council and that's why you should want to get into the student council."
[...]
Tomorrow's "KyakuDen" (calling a listener) will be related to "Atashinchi no Danshi"!!!
Do you have a lot of brothers!!??
Then hurry and post a message!!!
Music played: 8cm no Pin Hiiru by chatmonchy
(I wanted to study with this notebook, too...)
It's spring!
Good luck with facing your new goals!!
It's her attendance after 1 month again!!!
During her last month's attendance it was still cold, but this time Maki-chan came in completely springlike garments.
Did you all go to the cherry blossom viewing?
As for Maki-chan, "I was cherry blossom viewing while talking a walk."
While walking along the row of cherry trees, Maki-chan thought...
"I'm glad to be a Japanese..."
By the way, you all got one, right?
The SOL! NOTEBOOK is even Maki-chan's favorite, too!!!
"Why couldn't they put it out during my student days..."
She also has an advice for how to use it. "If you are a freshman and are holding a SOL! NOTEBOOK, it should be really easy to make friends!!!!"
You can get it in the SCHOOL OF LOCK! Shop or country-wide at LAWSON!
Maki-chan in the middle of checking your postings...
"There are many posts of freshmen!!!!"
"Are you having an inspection of the school!? Horikita Maki is the head of books club!!! You definitely have to go to the books club!!!"
As expected of the head of the books club!!! You don't even have to care about other invitations!!!
Then Maki-chan suddenly opens the window of the classroom and says, "The spring night wind feels sooo great", ... but all the teaching material got blown off. Tonight is a strong wind, so you rather keep it closed...
Alright, let's introduce a post from the bulletin board.
Actually Maki-chan really has some experience as vice president in the student council!!!
If you were to run for the vice-presidency, "As president you would be alone, where as vice president you would be 2."
"I didn't get into the student council to stand out, I wanted to do a reliable job as the student council and that's why you should want to get into the student council."
[...]
Tomorrow's "KyakuDen" (calling a listener) will be related to "Atashinchi no Danshi"!!!
Do you have a lot of brothers!!??
Then hurry and post a message!!!
Music played: 8cm no Pin Hiiru by chatmonchy
What Would Jesus Watch - (cartoon edition)
SUPERBOOK!
FLYING HOUSE!
SUPERBOOK!
FLYING HOUSE!!
SUPERBOOK!!!
FLYING HOUSE!!!
TILTON!!!!!!!!
SUPERBOOK EASTER!!
FLYING HOUSE SALOME DANCE!!
TILTON!!1!!
Whew... glad that's settled.
SPECIAL BONUS: WHAT BIBLE EDITION STARRING ANIME CHARACTERS WOULD JESUS READ?
The Flying House Bible, of course. Starring Corky!
And this makes Tilton happy.
Remember kids - Superbook and Flying House say JESUS IS JUST ALL RIGHT WITH THEM!
(actual dialog in this scene: "Hey it's Jesus!!"
This is of course not to be confused with the religious animation of Hikyou-Kisei Studios, including their famous show Genki no Bakagai no Eluron.
FLYING HOUSE!
SUPERBOOK!
FLYING HOUSE!!
SUPERBOOK!!!
FLYING HOUSE!!!
TILTON!!!!!!!!
SUPERBOOK EASTER!!
FLYING HOUSE SALOME DANCE!!
TILTON!!1!!
Whew... glad that's settled.
SPECIAL BONUS: WHAT BIBLE EDITION STARRING ANIME CHARACTERS WOULD JESUS READ?
The Flying House Bible, of course. Starring Corky!
And this makes Tilton happy.
Remember kids - Superbook and Flying House say JESUS IS JUST ALL RIGHT WITH THEM!
(actual dialog in this scene: "Hey it's Jesus!!"
This is of course not to be confused with the religious animation of Hikyou-Kisei Studios, including their famous show Genki no Bakagai no Eluron.
Horikita Maki ~AtaDan-team at official announcement event~
Today was the official announcement of Fuji TV's new comedy dorama called "Atashinchi no Danshi" (Starts 4/14, 9pm) with Horikita Maki in the starring role as the mother of 6 siblings.
"About half a year ago, I said that I would like to try myself at the role of a mother, but I'm a bit surprised by how soon it got realized." Horikita commented at the event. Horikita plays a girl named Chisato who moves from cardboard houses to net cafés in order to run from the bill collectors who are after her disappeared father's 1 million yen high debt, and then suddenly becomes the mother of 6 blood-unrelated siblings.
The siblings are all ikemen, but each of them has an unique and deep character. They all are pretty much self-willed individuals and none of them accepts Chisato as their mother. Horikita about the situation, "Please watch how they start to develop bonds just like in a real family."
Strike Witches Coming to America - Oh My!
Funimation announced this week that they have acquired the license for the loli pantsu anime Strike Witches, so a US release is now on the horizon.
The question is, how will Funi approach marketing an anime in the US whose primary appeal consists of the suspiciously pantsu-resembling trousers of its rather young cast, and which in Japanese DVD format tastefully lavished attention on the breasts of 12 year old girls... it should be interesting to see how much 'editing' the release will have to get to make it sellable here in the states.
The question is, how will Funi approach marketing an anime in the US whose primary appeal consists of the suspiciously pantsu-resembling trousers of its rather young cast, and which in Japanese DVD format tastefully lavished attention on the breasts of 12 year old girls... it should be interesting to see how much 'editing' the release will have to get to make it sellable here in the states.
episode32:The return of the Psychogun
Im back,this week I talk about:
-animefansubs
-Locke the superman
-the new Cobra ova
-Regans recommendations
-the offical podcast of the ANIMELOVE!!
download the show HERE
Media Blasters Delays and Date Changes
No sooner did we finish digesting the list of Bandai changes when Media Blasters shot us a list of date changes. Here's what is being rescheduled from the Anime Works and Kitty lines:
1) The Bible Black New Testament, Vol #3, Second Scripture DVD (Adult) has been pushed up three months from April 28th to July 28th. Uggg, that's not going to make anyone happy.
2) The Voltron: Defender of the Universe DVD Collection #8 Box Set has been pushed nearly three months from Apri 28th to July 21st. It's worth noting that this is the 2nd time this has been bumped, I think it was originally scheduled for release in January way back when.
3) Just as we started getting excited about it, both versions of Genshiken 2 - The Society for the Study of Modern Visual Culture, Vol #1, Full Circle which were originally scheduled for June 30th have been delayed with a new release date TBA. We've moved it onto our 'unknown' date list until MB updates it.
4) The Twelve Kingdoms Complete Collection DVD Boxed Set (Eps #1-45) also originally scheduled for June 30th has been delayed with a new release date TBA. We've moved it onto our 'unknown' date list as well.
It's been a long day, so I'm posting these without comment for now, except maybe for a ~sigh~...
1) The Bible Black New Testament, Vol #3, Second Scripture DVD (Adult) has been pushed up three months from April 28th to July 28th. Uggg, that's not going to make anyone happy.
2) The Voltron: Defender of the Universe DVD Collection #8 Box Set has been pushed nearly three months from Apri 28th to July 21st. It's worth noting that this is the 2nd time this has been bumped, I think it was originally scheduled for release in January way back when.
3) Just as we started getting excited about it, both versions of Genshiken 2 - The Society for the Study of Modern Visual Culture, Vol #1, Full Circle which were originally scheduled for June 30th have been delayed with a new release date TBA. We've moved it onto our 'unknown' date list until MB updates it.
4) The Twelve Kingdoms Complete Collection DVD Boxed Set (Eps #1-45) also originally scheduled for June 30th has been delayed with a new release date TBA. We've moved it onto our 'unknown' date list as well.
It's been a long day, so I'm posting these without comment for now, except maybe for a ~sigh~...
More Delays and Cancelations from Bandai
The folks at Bandai broad sided me this morning with a surprise batch of date changes and cancellations which we just finished updating on the store site:
1) The Wolf's Rain Perfect Collection DVD Boxed Set (Anime Legends) has been bumped from April 7th to May 5th.
2) The Gundam Seed Destiny DVD Collection #2 Boxed Set (Anime Legends) has been bumped from April 21st to May 19th.
3) Both versions of the first bundle of the Gundam 00 (Eps #1-9) have been pushed from May 19th to June 16th.
4) The Flag Complete Collection DVD Boxed Set (Anime Legends) and the Zegapain Complete Collection DVD Boxed Set (Anime Legends) which were both scheduled for May 5th have been CANCELED.
Certain volumes of Flag and Zegapain have been out of stock and unavailable from Bandai for awhile now, and we've had all the old volumes left in stock on closeout for a couple months as Bandai told us they did not intend to reprint them. With the AL sets canceled, that leaves the future availability of these titles hanging, and I'm going to try to get some clarification on this today. You know, are they REALLY canceled, or just delayed or will the original volumes be repressed now or should we just forget the whole thing. I'll post an update here if I get anymore info.
UPDATE: For the time being we are going to go ahead and try to restock all the single DVD's in both Zegapain and Flag until such time that Bandai decides what they are going to do with these series. They will be back up on the store site shortly.
1) The Wolf's Rain Perfect Collection DVD Boxed Set (Anime Legends) has been bumped from April 7th to May 5th.
2) The Gundam Seed Destiny DVD Collection #2 Boxed Set (Anime Legends) has been bumped from April 21st to May 19th.
3) Both versions of the first bundle of the Gundam 00 (Eps #1-9) have been pushed from May 19th to June 16th.
4) The Flag Complete Collection DVD Boxed Set (Anime Legends) and the Zegapain Complete Collection DVD Boxed Set (Anime Legends) which were both scheduled for May 5th have been CANCELED.
Certain volumes of Flag and Zegapain have been out of stock and unavailable from Bandai for awhile now, and we've had all the old volumes left in stock on closeout for a couple months as Bandai told us they did not intend to reprint them. With the AL sets canceled, that leaves the future availability of these titles hanging, and I'm going to try to get some clarification on this today. You know, are they REALLY canceled, or just delayed or will the original volumes be repressed now or should we just forget the whole thing. I'll post an update here if I get anymore info.
UPDATE: For the time being we are going to go ahead and try to restock all the single DVD's in both Zegapain and Flag until such time that Bandai decides what they are going to do with these series. They will be back up on the store site shortly.
INTO THE MACHINE!!!
Lodging deep within the brains of millions of prepubescent youths, JACK AND THE WITCH is one of those movies you see on some UHF station's afternoon movie timeslot when you're home from school with a fever or it's a rainy summer day or you're stuck at the relatives and are aimlessly turning the knobs on that giant woodgrained RCA monster - the knobs make that satisfying "klunk" as you switch from channel 2 to channel 3, and you have to fiddle with the tint once you get up into those rabbit-ear channels, and you sit there by the set inhaling ozone and faint scorched plastic until things look just right.
Twenty years later you thumb through some incomprehensible Japanese book listing every animated film ever released in Japan from 1941 until 1990 or so, and you see a picture that jogs your memory hard, like a fist, and you stand there shocked as you realize that no, you didn't DREAM that movie or IMAGINE it or HALLUCINATE it after one too many shots of Dimetapp Children's Cough Syrup - it actually exists, for once your memory isn't cheating. There actually is a Japanese animated film about little witches who fly broom-helicopters on fire missions against a spectacularly homely boy named Jack and his carload of animal friends, there really is a movie filled with spooky castles and crumbling balustrades and legions of devilish imps, featuring a giant machine that exists only to turn friendly woodland creatures into evil witches.
That's JACK AND THE WITCH, a movie seemingly produced to give children nightmares and confuse the hell out of adults. Released in 1967 by Toei Animation Company in between two rock 'em sock 'em CYBORG 009 films, JACK isn't based on a fairy tale or a popular manga or an ancient legend. It's its own thing, a bastard cross Between some whimsical Hanna Barbera TV cartoon and all the scary parts of the best Disney movies.
Directed by Japanese animation pioneer Taji Yabushita, JACK is not nearly as linear as some of his more familiar works like ALAKAZAM THE GREAT (1960) and ADVENTURES OF SINBAD (1962). However, JACK's flat character designs combined with lush, expressionistic backgrounds are proof positive of Toei's mid 60s schizoid split between wannabe Disney and wannabe UPA. Released over here by American International, this film was dubbed by Titan Productions, the outfit that handled Astro Boy, Gigantor, and many other imports. Close listeners can hear Corinne "Trixie" Orr and Billie Lou "Astro Boy" Watt voicing several different characters. Other than impacting the subconciousness of impressionable youths, this film made almost no impact on American anime fandom at large - American anime fans would obsess over early Miyazaki films and the voice talent of EIGHTH MAN, but lacking star animators or super robots, JACK AND THE WITCH spent years in obscurity, or at least a slightly higher level of obscurity than it now currently enjoys.
OUr titular hero Jack is a cleft-palated young hellraiser with his own car full of animal chums. Yeah, that's it, that's all the introduction you get. As the film opens he's bombing through the house - yes, driving IN THE HOUSE - in his Model T, blissfully ignorant of things like legal driving age or roads or seat belts. Well, wouldn't you know it, after a song about how the world is a lovely place, he gets into a race with a little girl witch named Allegra who rides a chopped and channelled broomstick/helicopter. Happens all the time. Allegra offers Jack a ride on her broomstick and takes him straight to an evil castle. Don't accept rides from strangers, kids!
Turns out Allegra and her more adult witch commander-in-chief Auriana all live in the terrifying castle and their hobby is turning innocent children and woodland creatures into hideous imps of Satan. This is accomplished by means of a giant machine made up of mostly of bones. "INTO THE MACHINE!!" the imps chant as our heroes are vaccummed into its depths. "INTO THE MACHINE! INTO THE MACHINE!!" It's a rhythmic cry that scarred the memories of many a TV-watching kid. Jack escapes the harpy machine- but mouse pal Squeaker doesn't!
Jack's animal posse escapes the creepy, gargoyle-carved-pillared castle with their own harpy prisoner, an amiable sort who's not averse to fun. Their impromptu dance party back at the house is interrupted by Jack's return; not to mention a fierce claw-chain attack by Allegra, which is halted by the simple expedient of whacking her on the skull with crockery until she's unconscious. Stricken by sympathy, Jack stops the animals from exacting any more violence on Allegra, but he's repaid by her knocking him down as she wakes up and escapes. Cheer up Jack, it won't be the first time a girl makes a sucker out of you. Every hesitant schoolyard crush is writ large on the animated stage here as Jack comes to grips with his strange new feelings towards this weird female creature.
Anyway, Jack and the animals realize they've got to rescue Squeaker. Their castle home invasion is sidetracked by Allegra, who's their friend again! Sure she is! She tricks our heroes and they fall into a pit populated by giant bugs and talking Sid & Marty Krofft mushrooms. But all psychedelic experiences must eventually come to an end and soon it's time for Jack to face the harpy-transforming machine. INTO THE MACHINE JACK! Saved at the last minute by desperate anti-wind power sabotage by Barnaby the Bear, Jack must now travel to the ice caves to rescue Allegra, who was banished there for her failure! Jack has a thing for the bad girls. He frees the witch-sicle with a smash from a huge crescent wrench - but then must face the angry vengeance of Auriana, whose swinging pendant chain sends Jack and Allegra into a crazy underwater volcano dimension of swirling psychedelic colors! When Jack's captured animal pals trick Harpy Squeaker into breaking the witch-queen's crystal ball, Auriana's power takes a serious hit - Jack and Allegra pop back into the regular non-psychedelic world (or at least as regular as this film gets) and Auriana changes into a weird Oni-type goblin, inflates a giant dinosaur skeleton balloon, and sets a time bomb before she escapes!
However, as it always happens in these movies, the witch is hoist by her own petard and both the castle and the witch are destroyed in a giant explosion. All the harpies are changed back into the little boys and girls and animals they once were, and the ruined castle changes into a beautiful forest. Allegra changes from her creepy witch look into a blonde. As the film wraps, children and animal friends ride off into the sunset in Jack's car, the end credits roll over dramatically-lit shots of actual models built of the film's characters, and early 70s children all over the world have nightmares.
Did I mention that JACK AND THE WITCH is a strange film? Too bizarre for younger children, not nearly comprehensible enough for older children, and possessed of none of the pretentious artistry that allows adults to admit they enjoy cartoons, it's an odd beast that refuses to be neatly categorized. Perhaps the last gasp of Toei's struggle to produce fairy-tale Disney style animated features, its European facade is permeated throughout by hints of Asian folkways; the Oni-demon Auriana transforms into, the sasumata-carrying harpy guards, and the swirling bands of fire lifted straight from Yabushita's work on SARUTOBI SASUKE. Maybe the legacy of JACK AND THE WITCH goes beyond entertaining kids in 1967; perhaps its destiny is to put us all back in touch with that confused pre-teen trying to make sense of the mysterious ways of a world that gives us girls who are sweet one minute and scary the next; a world that gives us movies like, say, JACK AND THE WITCH.
Twenty years later you thumb through some incomprehensible Japanese book listing every animated film ever released in Japan from 1941 until 1990 or so, and you see a picture that jogs your memory hard, like a fist, and you stand there shocked as you realize that no, you didn't DREAM that movie or IMAGINE it or HALLUCINATE it after one too many shots of Dimetapp Children's Cough Syrup - it actually exists, for once your memory isn't cheating. There actually is a Japanese animated film about little witches who fly broom-helicopters on fire missions against a spectacularly homely boy named Jack and his carload of animal friends, there really is a movie filled with spooky castles and crumbling balustrades and legions of devilish imps, featuring a giant machine that exists only to turn friendly woodland creatures into evil witches.
That's JACK AND THE WITCH, a movie seemingly produced to give children nightmares and confuse the hell out of adults. Released in 1967 by Toei Animation Company in between two rock 'em sock 'em CYBORG 009 films, JACK isn't based on a fairy tale or a popular manga or an ancient legend. It's its own thing, a bastard cross Between some whimsical Hanna Barbera TV cartoon and all the scary parts of the best Disney movies.
Directed by Japanese animation pioneer Taji Yabushita, JACK is not nearly as linear as some of his more familiar works like ALAKAZAM THE GREAT (1960) and ADVENTURES OF SINBAD (1962). However, JACK's flat character designs combined with lush, expressionistic backgrounds are proof positive of Toei's mid 60s schizoid split between wannabe Disney and wannabe UPA. Released over here by American International, this film was dubbed by Titan Productions, the outfit that handled Astro Boy, Gigantor, and many other imports. Close listeners can hear Corinne "Trixie" Orr and Billie Lou "Astro Boy" Watt voicing several different characters. Other than impacting the subconciousness of impressionable youths, this film made almost no impact on American anime fandom at large - American anime fans would obsess over early Miyazaki films and the voice talent of EIGHTH MAN, but lacking star animators or super robots, JACK AND THE WITCH spent years in obscurity, or at least a slightly higher level of obscurity than it now currently enjoys.
OUr titular hero Jack is a cleft-palated young hellraiser with his own car full of animal chums. Yeah, that's it, that's all the introduction you get. As the film opens he's bombing through the house - yes, driving IN THE HOUSE - in his Model T, blissfully ignorant of things like legal driving age or roads or seat belts. Well, wouldn't you know it, after a song about how the world is a lovely place, he gets into a race with a little girl witch named Allegra who rides a chopped and channelled broomstick/helicopter. Happens all the time. Allegra offers Jack a ride on her broomstick and takes him straight to an evil castle. Don't accept rides from strangers, kids!
Turns out Allegra and her more adult witch commander-in-chief Auriana all live in the terrifying castle and their hobby is turning innocent children and woodland creatures into hideous imps of Satan. This is accomplished by means of a giant machine made up of mostly of bones. "INTO THE MACHINE!!" the imps chant as our heroes are vaccummed into its depths. "INTO THE MACHINE! INTO THE MACHINE!!" It's a rhythmic cry that scarred the memories of many a TV-watching kid. Jack escapes the harpy machine- but mouse pal Squeaker doesn't!
Jack's animal posse escapes the creepy, gargoyle-carved-pillared castle with their own harpy prisoner, an amiable sort who's not averse to fun. Their impromptu dance party back at the house is interrupted by Jack's return; not to mention a fierce claw-chain attack by Allegra, which is halted by the simple expedient of whacking her on the skull with crockery until she's unconscious. Stricken by sympathy, Jack stops the animals from exacting any more violence on Allegra, but he's repaid by her knocking him down as she wakes up and escapes. Cheer up Jack, it won't be the first time a girl makes a sucker out of you. Every hesitant schoolyard crush is writ large on the animated stage here as Jack comes to grips with his strange new feelings towards this weird female creature.
Anyway, Jack and the animals realize they've got to rescue Squeaker. Their castle home invasion is sidetracked by Allegra, who's their friend again! Sure she is! She tricks our heroes and they fall into a pit populated by giant bugs and talking Sid & Marty Krofft mushrooms. But all psychedelic experiences must eventually come to an end and soon it's time for Jack to face the harpy-transforming machine. INTO THE MACHINE JACK! Saved at the last minute by desperate anti-wind power sabotage by Barnaby the Bear, Jack must now travel to the ice caves to rescue Allegra, who was banished there for her failure! Jack has a thing for the bad girls. He frees the witch-sicle with a smash from a huge crescent wrench - but then must face the angry vengeance of Auriana, whose swinging pendant chain sends Jack and Allegra into a crazy underwater volcano dimension of swirling psychedelic colors! When Jack's captured animal pals trick Harpy Squeaker into breaking the witch-queen's crystal ball, Auriana's power takes a serious hit - Jack and Allegra pop back into the regular non-psychedelic world (or at least as regular as this film gets) and Auriana changes into a weird Oni-type goblin, inflates a giant dinosaur skeleton balloon, and sets a time bomb before she escapes!
However, as it always happens in these movies, the witch is hoist by her own petard and both the castle and the witch are destroyed in a giant explosion. All the harpies are changed back into the little boys and girls and animals they once were, and the ruined castle changes into a beautiful forest. Allegra changes from her creepy witch look into a blonde. As the film wraps, children and animal friends ride off into the sunset in Jack's car, the end credits roll over dramatically-lit shots of actual models built of the film's characters, and early 70s children all over the world have nightmares.
Did I mention that JACK AND THE WITCH is a strange film? Too bizarre for younger children, not nearly comprehensible enough for older children, and possessed of none of the pretentious artistry that allows adults to admit they enjoy cartoons, it's an odd beast that refuses to be neatly categorized. Perhaps the last gasp of Toei's struggle to produce fairy-tale Disney style animated features, its European facade is permeated throughout by hints of Asian folkways; the Oni-demon Auriana transforms into, the sasumata-carrying harpy guards, and the swirling bands of fire lifted straight from Yabushita's work on SARUTOBI SASUKE. Maybe the legacy of JACK AND THE WITCH goes beyond entertaining kids in 1967; perhaps its destiny is to put us all back in touch with that confused pre-teen trying to make sense of the mysterious ways of a world that gives us girls who are sweet one minute and scary the next; a world that gives us movies like, say, JACK AND THE WITCH.
Pricing Philosophy / Price Reduction on Kitty / Price Parity on Viz
You guys know that, when I put my business hat on, I don't like gimmicky sales, savings clubs, buyers points, bargain bins, and other bait and switch techniques many retailers use to get your attention and money. Our philosophy has always been to have fair pricing everyday (for everyone) backed up by good service, which is why we only run 3 or 4 sales a year and are very deliberate with our pricing policies. In order to provide good service and keep enough inventory to fill most orders next business day, we need to keep things at a certain pricing level. Also, from a business perspective, I have no desire to participate in the recession generated 'race to the bottom' that some other retailers seem to want to engage in. We'd like to be around and continuing to serve Anime fans for years to come, and selling things at a loss to attract customers is definitely not the way to run a business for the long term.
All that said, we've always had a policy to pass on any major pricing agreements we are able to negotiate with a studio or vendor direct to you. While the wholesale level pricing for most Anime products has been pretty much fixed for the last couple of years (or tied to the exchange rate in the case of imports), we've encountered two pricing events recently that are worth mentioning:
1) It's amazing what you can accomplish with a rock hammer and twenty years. We have finally been able to bring you a better deal on Kitty titles (Media Blasters Adult line), and as a result we've reduced the price on ALL Kitty Adult DVD titles across the store by 8%. This is not a sale or other gimmick or temporary promotion, but a permanent price reduction, so no need to miss the rent next month to load up, the new lower prices will be there whenever you need them.
2) Viz has moved their wholesale DVD distribution from Simon & Shuster over to Warner Entertainment in an attempt to get their titles better penetration among big box retailers. While the wisdom of this move is debatable, it's done and Warner started shipping Viz DVD back lists and new releases to retailers today. When the move was first announced we knew there would be trouble because, frankly, Warner doesn't like to do direct business with retailers that won't buy a couple million bucks annually, and while we do a good volume of Viz, it's impossible to come close to those levels on one Anime line. Anyway, we worked on them for two months and got them to authorize us for a direct account anyway, which gives us the best wholesale pricing level available on Viz products. The problem is that Warner has a really bizarre pricing schedule based on the retail price column a particular product falls into. It varies from item to item and even the best column is not as good as the former pricing we received through Simon and Shuster, so in essence the move to Warner equates to a pretty big wholesale price increase on Viz products for all retails. We've pained over it for awhile and decided NOT to raise our prices to you but instead maintain the same price structure we've always applied to Viz's DVD releases.
Good news on pricing comes in different packages.
And there is another caveat with the Warner deal. Warner makes all retailers sign an agreement not to ship ship titles to customers prior to the street date. Now you know how we feel about that, so we're going to play that one by ear for awhile, if you know what I mean. -_^
All that said, we've always had a policy to pass on any major pricing agreements we are able to negotiate with a studio or vendor direct to you. While the wholesale level pricing for most Anime products has been pretty much fixed for the last couple of years (or tied to the exchange rate in the case of imports), we've encountered two pricing events recently that are worth mentioning:
1) It's amazing what you can accomplish with a rock hammer and twenty years. We have finally been able to bring you a better deal on Kitty titles (Media Blasters Adult line), and as a result we've reduced the price on ALL Kitty Adult DVD titles across the store by 8%. This is not a sale or other gimmick or temporary promotion, but a permanent price reduction, so no need to miss the rent next month to load up, the new lower prices will be there whenever you need them.
2) Viz has moved their wholesale DVD distribution from Simon & Shuster over to Warner Entertainment in an attempt to get their titles better penetration among big box retailers. While the wisdom of this move is debatable, it's done and Warner started shipping Viz DVD back lists and new releases to retailers today. When the move was first announced we knew there would be trouble because, frankly, Warner doesn't like to do direct business with retailers that won't buy a couple million bucks annually, and while we do a good volume of Viz, it's impossible to come close to those levels on one Anime line. Anyway, we worked on them for two months and got them to authorize us for a direct account anyway, which gives us the best wholesale pricing level available on Viz products. The problem is that Warner has a really bizarre pricing schedule based on the retail price column a particular product falls into. It varies from item to item and even the best column is not as good as the former pricing we received through Simon and Shuster, so in essence the move to Warner equates to a pretty big wholesale price increase on Viz products for all retails. We've pained over it for awhile and decided NOT to raise our prices to you but instead maintain the same price structure we've always applied to Viz's DVD releases.
Good news on pricing comes in different packages.
And there is another caveat with the Warner deal. Warner makes all retailers sign an agreement not to ship ship titles to customers prior to the street date. Now you know how we feel about that, so we're going to play that one by ear for awhile, if you know what I mean. -_^
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