the quiet time is not so quiet

Apologies for my lack of blog here for the past few weeks. I've been busy as heck on a few real-life projects that have taken my time and energy that otherwise would have been spent talking about thirty-year old Japanese cartoons, and for that I am deeply sorry. At any rate here's what's been going on instead:



This weekend is the Toronto Comics Arts Festival which I am a volunteer at. It's two days of indy cartoonist stars and legends of comic art meeting the public at the Toronto Public Library Main Branch - and it's free! So if you have a free couple of days it's well worth your time.

Two weekends later:



That's right, it's Anime North, Canada's number-one Japanese animation festival! I'm on staff at that show as well. Additionally, I will be on a "Classic Anime" panel Saturday at noon, and Sunday at 1pm I will be delivering an illustrated lecture on the influence of Western literature upon Japanese animation (meaning: Captain Future, among other things). And Saturday night... well, Saturday night is special.



That's right, Anime Hell returns to Canada for one night only of cerebral-cortex-crushing video madness. Followed by TOTALLY LAME ANIME: AFTER DARK!! Don't miss it.

And then I go to a wedding and then May is over and I spend June goofing off. Er, I mean, writing for Let's Anime!! Of course. See you then!

Anime Expo to Host Maid Cafe - Volunteers Needed

Hmmm, perhaps I'll actually go this year. Anime Expo is now seeking volunteer maids and hosts to staff its first AniMaid Café.

Requirements are:

• Must be at least 18 years of age or older
  
• Must have a great personality and work well with others (this disqualifies me...)


• Must be in good health*


• Must be willing the make/buy his/her own Maid/Host outfits (subject to approval)


• Must be able to make meetings for trainings (Most trainings will be conducted in the Southern California region consisting of Los Angeles and/or Orange County areas)

Interested individuals/parties should send an email correspondence to animaidcafe@yahoo.com with basic information about themselves and a picture. Further information will be provided upon receipt of initial application.

Anime Expo will be held at the Los Angeles Convention Center between July 2-5.

*Cybernetic bodies and/or retired combat maids may be allowed under certain circumstances...

New ADV, Nozomi, and Viz Releases - Now Available for Pre-Order!

In addition to July release info from Bandai this week, we have also built new summer releases for pre-order from ADV, Nozomi, and Viz. Here's what we've got:

ADV July (Re-releases):

All Purpose Cultural Cat Girl Nuku Nuku DVD Complete Collection (Re-Issue)
Aquarian Age Complete Collection DVD Boxed Set (Re-Re-Issue)
Mezzo: Danger Service Agency Complete Collection DVD Boxed Set (Re-Re-Issue)
Those Who Hunt Elves Complete Collection DVD Boxed Set (Re-Release)

ADV has taken advantage of the final demise of Central Park Media to pickup some of their previous licenses on the cheap, so they will also be re-releasing in July:

Grave of the Fireflies DVD (Re-Release)
MD Geist DVD (Re-Release)
Now and Then, Here and There Complete Collection DVD Boxed Set (Re-Release)
World of Narue DVD Collector's Series Boxed Set (Re-Release)

(I was hoping to see Lodoss War on that list, but it looks like we'll just have to be patient a little longer.)

Viz August Releases:

Bleach, Vol #19 DVD
Hunter x Hunter DVD Boxed Set #3 (Eps #31-45)
Naruto DVD Collectors Boxed Set #15 (Uncut) Limited Edition
Pokemon All Stars Collection DVD Boxed Set #2

Nozomi:

Rental Magica DVD Collection #1 (Eps #1-13)

The release date for Rental Magica is currently TBA but will probably be set for early fall.

Code Geass Lelouch of the Rebellion R2 Now Available for Pre-Order! [UPDATED]

We just got Bandai's July schedule this morning, and it's excellent. Looks like Bandai is still alive and kicking and determined to maintain their presence in the R1 market.

We've now added all of the following to the site for pre-order, including the first bundle of Code Geass Lelouch of the Rebellion R2 for pre-order. Here's what Bandai's full July release schedule looks like:

Code Geass Lelouch of the Rebellion R2 DVD Bundle #1 (DVD #1-2)
Code Geass Lelouch of the Rebellion R2 DVD Bundle #1 (Limited Edition)
Eureka Seven Complete Collection #2 DVD Boxed Set (Anime Legends) (Eps #27-52)
Freedom (Freedom Project) Complete Collection DVD Boxed Set
Ghost Slayers Part #3 DVD Bundle (Eps #21-30)
Hayate the Combat Butler DVD Bundle #1 (2 Disks) (Eps #1-7)
True Tears Complete Collection DVD Boxed Set (Anime Legends)

The R2 limited edition will include Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion Manga Vol #4.

In addition to the new announcements, we also have another schedule change. The Kurokami The Animation Part #1 DVD Bundle (Disc #1&2) (Eps #1-8) that was originally scheduled for June 16th has been DELAYED and put on TBA status. My understanding is that Bandai decided to prioritize their resources for the release of Code Geass R2 (they wanted it coming out the same month as Anime Expo) and that Kurokami will pop back up on the release schedule in August or September.

True Tears get's a reprieve and will be released all at once as a boxed set, which is much better than we would have gotten last year under the old Bandai Visual label. And don't forget Hayate the Combat Butler. That title has been on my 'A' list all year, so I'm very excited to see it finally get on the schedule! :-)

Funimation Delay and My Life In Hell…

Funimation sent us over one schedule change late Friday afternoon. The Kaze no Stigma Season #1 Part #1 DVD Boxed Set (Eps #1-12) has been bumped back a week from June 30th to July 7th. I think they read my comment about so little new content scheduled for July and did it to get back at me. :-)

And, since this was hardly worth a whole post, let me direct your attention to the center ring where we have a pair of flaming disembodied legs pushing a shopping cart:

From the fact that nobody is paying the slightest bit of attention to a disembodied pair of robotic legs aimlessly pushing around a shopping cart while actively on fire, I'm going to guess it's happening on the campus of an engineering school.

This of course, is a premonition of my life in hell. It combines all the elements: Shopping carts, fire farts, and disinterested bystanders. The only thing missing is the upper half of my body being forced to endure the full brunt of the toxic, flaming, otherworldly flatulence generated by cranky, unsatisfied BitTorrent downloaders. If you guys wanna know what I'll be doing post online Anime dealer, it'll probably be that...